GALLERY

Another dive into the unknown with this Gallery by Animator, a band I never heard of till recently. That's what happens when you want to check out all those neobands, you will have to gamble every once in a while. It will lead to one of my shorter reviews because Animator appeared to be an average band so no epical stories this time.

Most dominant aspect of the bands music are the vocals to me and for two reasons. First they decided to let the vocals be a major factor in (most of) their songs and second these vocals don't appeal to me at all. It's not that they are poor, it's more the way of singing that bothers me. It's a bit of a whining voice and I don't know if it's a deliberate choice to sing this way or that it's simply the way Tim Brooks sings but whichever it is I can't get used to it in a positive way. And that's a pity because it turns out to be one of the main reasons why I will give the rating of my choice in the end.

Another thing that was slightly disappointing to me are the instrumental contributions in most of the songs. One of the reasons I like neo is those instrumental parts in songs. They are there in some of the songs like some fine guitar passages but they are rare and worse is that the keyboards play an insignificant part in the songs. Exception to this are the opening and final song where the piano tunes are really nice. The only other track that impressed me is Inward Collapse with great guitar play.

Not a very positive review, I know and it could lead to the assumption that this is a poor album but actually it's not quite the case. Most of the none mentioned tracks are average but that doesn't mean they are bad or poor. And I also have to say that if you have no problems with the vocals this is really a nice album. To me it can lead to one final score only and that is three stars.

Animator - this neo prog band from Illionois, USA, is an obscure band that manage to release only one album in 1990 named simply Gallery at Rotamina records. But I come now and say it loud, what an album, excellent from first to last note, unexpected pleasent surprise. I can compare with for ex Iq with some symphonic prog moments not far from UK. Great musicianship, inventive passages, very good pieces and above all an one hell of a keyboard player - Stacey Kreici - the cherry on the cake here. I must considered this unknown album as one of the most great neo prog albums from entire neo prog zone. Better then many neo albums praised all the time here, quite original in places, with strong ideas and solod arrangements. The voice is ok, fits perfectly in this kind of music,Tim Brooks is a great vocalist with a superb tone of voice, not like almost all other neo prog singers who sound like Peter Gabriel meets Fish, he is diffrent and good for sure. The music is complex, quite more complex then an usual neo prog album, developed, lenghty from 11 pieces, 6 alre over 7 min, enough room to show us thy know bussines in this domein. They succeded for sure with this Gallery, smooth piano or keyboards passages who interludes with guitar in a perfect manner. I must tanks a friend of mine from Turkeya prog lover like me, who gives me this album, because I, after 2 years of searching high and low of this album I lost the battle, but surprise surprise, he gives me a copy of this unknown and almost forgoten tresure of this subgenre. Great stuff, my fav pieces, A First Impression - the opening track, shows the excellent ideas this band had, only piano and bass - superb piece and very elegant, remind me a litle of Savatage in atmosphere, Cycles another worthy track and Choices, the rest are very ok. So a very strong album, desearves for sure 4 stars, quite unknown by many but worth to be discoverd for sure. Elegant and with a lot to offer, all neo prog fans must listen to this treasure, even those who like symphonic prog will find something intristing in some passages. Recommended, 4 stars easely. It's a shame that bands with such talent and imaginative ideas gone unnoticed in prog circles and with each year passing by they fall into oblivion deeper and deeper. Sad

Unknown US band from Central Illinois, but definitely among the pioneers of the Prog revival in the USA, performing a more demanding style of music in a still dark period.The live performances indicate that Animator, aka Tim Brooks on lead vocals, Rik Ruzga on guitar, Jay Hawkins on bass, John Hawkins on drums and Stacey Kreici on keyboards, were active since the early-80's and their only effort was the obscure ''Gallery'' album from 1990, released on the unknown Rotamina Records.

Animator delivered a very ENCHANT-like Neo Prog with also references to compatriots NEPENTHE and CATHEDRAL, before these bands even existed or released anything.The sound remains grounded on the lighter side of Progressive Rock with strong RUSH influences throughout, based on the warm, sensitive and clear voice of vocalist Tim Brooks and the use of more spiritual lyrics.The music is melodic, mostly guitar-driven Progressive Rock with an epic atmosphere at moments produced by the clever use of synthesizers and the less used but elegant piano parts of Kreici .Rik Ruzga offers non-stop series of catchy guitar moves, the rhythm section is also very tight and the songs, though not particularly complicated, contain a fair amount of breaks.What does not sound quite good are the sometimes high-pitched vocals of Brooks and a certain similarity between the tracks' structure.

The band seems to have been alive since the early-90's.After Animator one or more members reputedly participated in a full-blown Prog concept of Starcastle's Gary Strater named Lush, which never officially released an album.

Good ENCHANT-like Melodic Prog with nice vocal harmonies and a very epic atmosphere at moments.Warmly recommended to all fans of the light side of Prog.