SUMMER IN TOWN

Certainly a more eccentric band you'll not find. I'd call this sympho-prog, but unlike a lot of sympho bands, it doesn't sound like they were influenced by "easy" orchestral music like Tchaikowsky or Elgar. Quite the contrary, this album runs the gamut from the more intense moments of Stravinsky to the all-out avant-garde-isms of Xenakis. If ever there were an "avant-sympho" album, this is it!

It starts off serenely enough with the Yes-like "Snowballs". But things soon snowball (ha ha!) out of control with "Chaconne" which pits a soaring orchestral melody against a dark, Magma-like riff. Things go totally bonkers with the "Summer In Town" suite, which starts off dark and get progressively more crazed, with sustained piano pounding and wild synthesizer squeaks closing out the piece.

It's hard to find someone to recommend this to. Neo-heads would run a mile from its more dissonant, avant-garde tendencies. On the other hand, it's probably too rooted in symphonic forms to attract "serious" avant fans. I guess the only ones I could recommend it to are other weirdos like me, who aren't loyal to one particular style and just like to listen to music that's good and unique. This is definitely a one-of-a-kind album, it's literally impossible to compare it to anything else I've heard. For sheer originality, they deserve renown.