REMEMBER THE COLOURS

In a display of endless inspiration and as the ink on the layouts of the ''1910'' CD's hadn't yet dried, High Wheel ented the Pegasus Musik Studio in Hohenrain to record their second album.The recordings took place between March and June 1994 and all compositions were written by Wolfgang Hierl.The band found also a distribution home on the Rockwerk label and ''Remember the colours'' was released during the second half of 94'.

This work shows a turn of the group towards more refined and polished compositions with an evident, clear symphonic attitude.Actually this collection of ten short and long tracks sounds a lot like the German answer to the rising American band ECHOLYN.GENESIS and GENTLE GIANT appear to be the biggest sources of inspiration of a group, that is not afraid to put powerful rhythmic runs next to laid-back pastoral soundscapes and this time they do it with so much comfort.Excellent multi-vocal arrangements are all over the album, supporting an otherwise very strong musicianship, that contains lovely piano interludes, nostalgic Hammond organs and careful use of synthesizers, far from the excessive display of the 80's and 90's Neo Prog acts.Some tremendous and bombastic guitar moves are surrounding the good keyboard parts and all tracks are full of sudden surprises, sensitive melodies as well as energetic performances with rich and dense instrumental ideas.Lots of mellow acoustic textures with light organs and piano and deep lyrical content keep a very good balance.The three long tracks are definitely in the right direction with strong symphonic and lighter folky influences, containing some great flute parts and a fair amount of shifting moods.On these arrangements High Wheel sound very close to Italians MALIBRAN except the aforementioned ECHOLYN comparison.

''Remember the colours'' is indeed a tasty fruit of 90's Symphonic Rock with blinks both on the past and present.Recommended to all fans of Classic-styled Prog, who love technical brilliance and intricate melodies in their music...3.5 stars.