SUMMER IN TOWN

Excellent Russian Symphonic/Progressive Rock group, found sometime in mid-70's in Gorky (now Nizhniy Novgorod) by a very young keyboardist Sergey Kornilov.Horizont was one of the most active groups in ex-Soviet Union, performing hundreds of concerts.However the band had to grow some 10 years before releasing an official album.It was the great ''Summer In Town'', released in 1985 on the Melodyia label.Kornilov was supported by a second keyboardist Andrey Krivilev, drummer Valentin Sinitsin, bassist Alexey Eremenko and guitarist Vladimir Lutoshkin with a few session members contributing on vocals.

The album opens with the very melodic and Classical-influenced ''Snowballs''.8 minutes of majestic musicianship through the dual keyboard attack on organs, harsichord and synthesizers next to very delicate piano interludes, accompanied by a solid rhythm section.Vladimir Lutoshkin contributes with very atmospheric guitar playing at moments.Excellent composition and a file next to GENESIS, THE ENID or E.L.P..''Chaconne'' has to be one of the best tracks ever recorded by a Symphonic Rock group.It develops through its 10 minutes from a hypnotic Classical/Electronic piece to a superb Space/Symphonic Rock opus.It opens with very atmospheric synth layers, while in the background there is an ever-growing majestic guitar melody.The very GENTLE GIANT- like short middle break will give birth to one of the most haunting melodies ever written, much in the vein of Estonians IN SPE, this is superb, grandiose and highly symphonic Space Prog with deep bass, melodic guitars and tremendous synths.The flipside of the original LP is dedicated to the eponymous 18-min. epic.Here Horizont completely turn around in terms of music, presenting a work of highly complex Progressive/Avant Rock with strong RIO, Symphonic Rock and Classical influences.''Summer in town'' is a composition full of unusual breaks and radical changes, half-dissonant, with many atonal moments next to very atmospheric keyboard passages, complicated guitar exercises, electronic segments and Avant-Garde dominant piano parts, definitely an acquired taste but undoubtfully a work of pure beauty, whether you like this type of music or not.

Fortunately the album has been reissued by Boheme in CD format, so anyone can taste these three pieces of music, created by possibly the best Russian band of the time.Highly recommended to all fans of Progressive Rock,4.5 stars.