SYMPHINITY

This album brings me fond memories cause through it I found a bunch of prog-heads from different parts of my city with whom I fraternize until today. Everything was casual and started in a newsstand where the dealer, a humble guy, was playing an album (this one) that caught my attention. The rest is history but the underground net of prog-lovers in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is much greater than someone could dream of - we'll take the power sooner or later.

I knew nothing then about WINDCHASE or even that some band members made part of another group, apparently more respected. The matter is that I enjoyed "Symphinity" and believed and still believe that it's a good album for relaxing after hearing some other dark or introspective prog works - we all need stuff like that from times to times.

Sound here is a blend of soft art & symphonic rock with agreeable pop-rock tunes, being the first seriously influenced by the likes of YES or CAMEL with some FLOYD touches and the second much in the lines of BEATLES or ELO. The short 'Forward we ride', the opening track, may be misleading with its colorful Italian spot; it's only an impression - the rest of the album goes in a totally different way. Pure progressive hearts will discover soon that the pop-rock approach works better than the prog-rock one.

The instrumental 'Horsemen to Symphinity' is catchy and amusing being a bit stronger in its live version attached in the 2000 CD issue as a bonus track. 'Glad to be alive' is an uplifting pop song, with fine vocals. The following track, 'Gypsy', intends to be a kind of blues-rock but the result is boring.

'No scruples' looks more like a YES cover but vocals are somewhat diverse. 'Lamb's fry' brings a bit of late psychedelia where sound effects mix with jazzy tunes providing a fair and hearable moment. The acoustic 'Non siamo perfetti' intends to bring back the peninsular ambience but it's too short to be remembered. 'Flight call', the original closing track, reminds me some cheesy late 60s melody and that's all.

Overall, with a fairly correct production and counting with skilful band members we may say that "Symphinity" is a good album however not really essential.