CRESSIDA

This was really a band I like! Cressida was a no-name for me before I went on a cruise to wonderful Riga last weekend. On way back Cressida played and made us all totally amazed. This was an amazing reunion 42(!) years after their second and last record. This is Cressidas first record with an artistic cover showing fragments making a symbol and some clouds in the back ground. It feautires Angus Cullen on vocals, John Heyworth on guitar, and vocals on track 5, Peter Jennings on organ, harpsichord and piano, Kevin McCarthy on bass and Iain Clark on drums. Of them sadly Heyworth is dead but the other's still going strong, very strong actually.

Ok, then was then, and a good one! The sound of Cressida is light and very artistic. The perhaps most obvious is Peter Jennings talanted organ play and of course Angus Cullens soft emotional voice. If you don't know how they sound, think about a micture of Caravan and Van der Graaf Generator. Do you like those bands, I do, and so I like Cressida. On twelve almost similar good tracks they let their music talk to us is an honest manner. Unlike most other proggers these men mostly did short songs and they're so sweet. The album is even so it's hard to pick the best songs for you but the sweeping organ solos in "Winter is coming again" or the friendly vocals in "Lights in my mind" could make them that. Or perhaps(as usual) the longest track's the best: "Tomorrow is a whole new day" is a perfect song if you just would like to listen a little. I like Clark's tasteful drumming, McCarthy's bass and Heyworth elegant guitar. I also find Cullen's pure voice unique even if clear similarities could be felt to Hammill or Hastings. But what is making this record a five star record is the progressive organ which takes inspiration from classical and mainstream music but mostly from its own player. I look forward to review their next: "Asylum". I find this perfect!

Favourites: Tomorrow is a whole new day (10/10), Lights in my mind(10/10), WInter is coming again(10/10), Home and where I long to be(10/10), Depression(10/10), Cressida(9/10), The only earthman in town(9/10) and Down down(9/10)