GRATUITOUS FLASH

Abel Ganz

Neo-Prog

3.25 | 84 ratings

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SouthSideoftheSky
Special Collaborator
Symphonic Team

Dead flash

My first acquaintance with Abel Ganz was with their most recent studio album at the time of writing, Shooting Albatross. After now having heard the band's previous four studio albums from the years 1984 to 1994, I must say that all of these are radically different from the 2008 outing. While in Shooting Albatross I could hear a lot of Caravan as well as some Jazz and Folk influences, in this debut album I hear only lukewarm keyboard-driven Pop Prog. The compositions are rather average throughout and the worst of the lot has to be the tedious Keen On The Job. There is indeed some keyboard "flash" to be found here, but it only sounds inspired on a few short passages, the intro to the opening track being a good case in point.

Prog fans are bound to take an interest in the 16 minute plus composition, The Dead Zone, that closes the album. While not "dead" as such, this is hardly excellent Prog. I can imagine this impressing someone who had never heard any other progressive Rock before, but for experienced listeners this will most likely appear as average material. Not bad as such, but I find it hard to be excited about this music.

The lead vocalist here is none other than Alan Reed, better known for his long time contribution to Pallas. Reed's voice is distinctive and I always find him great to listen to - indeed, he's one of my preferred vocalists - but his presence is not enough to help these tame compositions up. I think it is fair to say that Abel Ganz was, at least at this point in time, a second rate Neo-Prog band.

For fans and collectors only

SouthSideoftheSky | 2/5 | 2011-6-18

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