OLD LOVES DIE HARD

I remember with Triumvirat's Old Loves Die Hard album, their fourth studio effort, released in 1976, I first heard and bought the album in 1988, and I was overwhelmingly impressed. Juergen Fritz's keyboard work, especially, moved mountains for me,with it's dazzling technique and real emotion. Yes, I do miss Helmut Koellen's presence in the band, but Barry Palmer as lead vocalist, and a returning Dick Frangenberg on bass, do some fine things on this record. Though I don't like Old Loves as much as their previous work, this still qualifies as a great record of their's.

Triumvirat are my favourite band, and always will be. At times, though, when I hear Old Loves Die Hard, I can't help but feel that in some ways when singer-songwriter-guitar player Helmut Koellen left the band at the end of '75, things were shaken up for Triumvirat. Koellen was an important and integral part of the band's sound. Still, in the same breath, even without him, this album is a strong, solid effort, both instrumentally, and vocally.

I am quite impressed with the suite "A Day In My Life", where Juergen Fritz really shines, especially in the section for solo piano, which is quite moving. Fritz's keyboard skills also come to the fore in the long side two track "Panic On 10th Avenue", which is an interesting listening experience. Sometimes, though, the bass and drum work that unites with Juergen's keys is not quite as engaging or exciting as on previous albums.

Regarding new vocalist Barry Palmer, he is a fine singer, being emotive without overdoing it, which is nice.

Though Old Loves has some things really going for it, I do confess that it signals slightly the start of the decline in quality of Triumvirat's opus's, in terms of progressiveness. Still, a great record, though. Four stars.