ROY ROGERS MEETS ALBERT EINSTEIN

Given the largely instrumental nature of this album, the droll title, and the spacious rhythms mixed with combinations of guitars in riffs and soundscapes, an argument could almost be made for 'Roy Rogers Meets Albert Einstein' as a very early prototype for post-rock music. I say almost because there is also a liberal use of synthesizers and electric piano along with sporadic vocals, none of which are typically employed by the more well-known post-rock bands. And at their heart several songs are clearly based on faiely pedestrian rock arrangements, particularly "Dimension Snatch" and "Robotiko" in the first section titled 'Ride in the Dark'.

Still, this is an interesting turn for Sigmund Snopek III following a couple albums under the band name Snopek which were more traditional rock fare with little to suggest Snopek's progressive leanings. The classically inspired title track is both a return to form from his 'Virginia Woolf' and 'Trinity' period, and also a preview of the sort of classical/jazz/New Age sound he would adopt in the latter nineties.

And speaking of jazz the group indulges in some free-form speckled with light Beefheartian noise later in the title track and on the third set 'Song Sing to the Doldrum King', which also features some of the heaviest as well as the most mellow passages on the album. I'm not sure at times where this thing is going but it has the feel of something much more substantive than anything else Snopek recorded in the late seventies or early eighties.

This is the only Snopek album I bought as a download, simply because the CD version is too expensive in my opinion to merit picking it up. I continue looking for this one every time I visit a used record store though in hopes I can score a cheap vinyl or used CD copy.

There's actually surprisingly little information about this album on the web or elsewhere, but I do know Snopek recorded it in the waning days of the Snopek band's existence and used different producers, engineers and musicians than the ones that appear on most of his other albums. Much of the music is played by Snopek himself, not unusual since except for the Snopek band recordings he has a tendency to feature himself heavily on his studio releases.

I'm tempted to life this one up to four stars simply because it is better than 'Trinity' which I did rate as a three star effort. But its not quite as engaging or varied as 'Virginia Woolf', which I also gave three stars so I think three is as much as I can do here. And possibly I should revisit the 'Virginia Woolf' rating as that is clearly the best Sigmund Snopek III has to offer in terms of progressive music as far as I'm concerned. Mildly recommended and if you find a cheap vinyl or CD copy, give me a call.

peace