RICK WAKEMAN & TONY FERNANDEZ: ZODIAQUE

Does "Edgar Wakeman" exist? As many have written, finding a relationship between the music and the constellation which titles the track is quite impossible. It's also singular that the order of the tracks is not the same of the zodiac, like he has composed the tracks and decided the order without reading the title, but what I mean is that this album is very different from any other Wakeman's album.

"Sagittarius" sounds very similar to Tangerine Dream of the late 70s/early 80s. Its final fadeout is a pity. As for "Silent Nights", that I have just reviewed, also this album has moments that I clearly remember. I also remember incredibly well the last time I have put the vinyl on my turntable in 1989. "Capricorn" sounds closer to Vangelis, and this is surely not a bad thing, even though Rick Wakeman doesn't need to sound similar to anybody else.

"Gemini" is a swing but the melody is a bit trivial. It sounds "already listened", and if it's true that I have already listened to it, I think it will give the same impression even on the first time, "Cancer" is a cheesy new-agey piano piece in Yanni style,

"Pisces" and "Aquarius" are similar but effectively the second usually contains the first. They are both newage flavored instrumentals but Aquarius is more interesting.

"Aries" seems more Vangelis stuff than Wakeman's. Not bad but far from being a masterpiece. Following it,"Libra" is my favorite track here. Slow and atmospheric has something in common with the Tangerine Dream output of the same period (we are in 1989).

With "Leo" one can expect to hear something roaring, Rick puts here "Dooh" synth voices. The rhythmic section can vaguely remind of African percussion. That's all.

"Virgo" is a short grotesque waltz whose melody can again remind to Vangelis, but if this is a remind, the first 20 seconds of "Taurus" have the same tempo of Chariots of Fire, then instead of a pompous theme there's just some calm newage as well as the following "Scorpio" which is not bad if you like the genre.

Just a newage and probably uninspired album for collectors.