BANTAM TO BEHEMOTH

Birds And Buildings

Eclectic Prog

4.22 | 543 ratings

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snobb
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator

For a first time I heard Birds and Buildings on Emkog sampler. I liked those few songs, and at first possibility I just decided to listen their full album (the only for today).

Album's opener is absolutely great heavy symphonic fusion composition, melodic,complex, nervous, with perfect guitar on the first half, and fantastic sax melodic line contouring (a la Klaus Doldinger on early Passport albums). If album's compositions were like this, album would be a real masterpiece!

"Terra Fire" is good song, complex and melodic, with Dan's vocals (ok, vocals are not stronger element there). Less symphonic, more fusion, but this time with some mellow (or pop) elements. "Tunguska" starts as mix between later synth-pop Camel and new age,but soon become more complex,energetic. I still don't like this song too much (later Camel is far not my beloved band, plus same vocals and even some bombastic arrangements!).

" Caution Congregates and Forms a Storm " starts as ballade but continues as symphonic rock instrumental very soon. " Chronicle of the Invisible River of Stone" is more relaxed,even slightly melancholic song with female vocals. Reminds a bit some Oldfield songs (just a bit more complex).

On "Chakra Khan" music returns to zeulish sound of album's opener. Almost pure zeuhl composition, it still isn't so great as "Birds Flying Into Buildings", but just confirms, what is the band's strongest side. "Battalion" is zeuhl-influenced song,possibly not so original though.

"Sunken City, Sunny Day" ,album's closer, is down tempo keyboards-based symphonic/new age song, enough tasteful, but possibly not the best final for such great album.

In all, this album is great one, but very eclectic as well. Possibly, Dan Britton tried to attract too wide listener,adding so different compositions in one album. If all the album sounded as zeuhl influenced opener (and two more songs of the same direction), it could be a really great release for fans of zeuhl. Some other compositions are more symphonic/synth-based prog oriented, and usual such listener will hardly accept zeuhl or more complex jazz fusion.

In all cases, really good release. I will wait for the next one with real interest!

snobb | 4/5 | 2010-11-29

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