|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
 |
 |
Ratings:
The * rating (½-5) is my personal, entirely subjective and completely partisan rating of the music.
There is, of course, no 'Tron rating.
|
Finisterre Gerard |
Gods Child Gracious! |
 |
Storybook (2001, 77.21) ****In LimineOrizzonte Degli Eventi Hispanica Altaloma Macinaaqua, Macinaluna Asia Phaedra Canto Antico |
Current availability:
Finisterre and their various offshoots (notably Höstsonaten) are known as Mellotron users, so, as with Anekdoten, they only find their way into this section due to using samples live. Storybook documents their excellent set at Progday festival '97, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in front of a strangely muted crowd, though I believe the band played an afternoon set, which is never especially conducive to audience reaction. The album seems to be a slightly expanded reissue of Finisterre Live at ProgDay '97, adding their version of PFM's Altaloma, although I don't know if that means their whole set is now available. Musically, Finisterre's speciality is lyrical, symphonic progressive rock in the grand Italian '70s tradition, with little, if any of the irritating neo-prog tricks that crop up in so many bands' sound since the '80s.
In case there was any doubt, many of the Boris Valle's 'Mellotron' chords are held way over the eight-second limit, but then, where were they going to find a Mellotron in that neck of the woods? (Actually, you'd be surprised...). His entire use (on every track) consists of standard strings, strengthening the PFM connection, although the band really do have their own sound, with much Fender Rhodes in evidence, though not in the overused jazzy way that so many players insist upon. This makes me hungry to hear the band's studio albums, assuming the 'Tron on them is the real deal, of course. Saying that, the music's what actually matters, and it's well worth the seasoned prog fan's effort. Shame about the Crimson/Genesis quotes in the last two songs; Finisterre don't need to resort to such tricks. Anyway, a damn' good introduction to one of the better new Italian bands.
 |
Power of Infinity (2004, 42.13) ***Caravan on the MoonOnly the Light Infinity Warning! Warning! Blue World part I-III |
Current availability:
So-so Japanese neo-proggers Gerard used a Mellotron on their first two, mid-'80s albums, after which it was presumably sold/scrapped/whatever, so it comes as a surprise to hear one on 2004's Power of Infinity. A couple of solo sections give the game away; these are samples, albeit pretty good ones, source unknown (M-Tron?). The album sounds almost nothing like their '80s work; the closest obvious comparison is ELP, although Toshio Egawa's keys work is less Emersonian than several others I could name.
Although the band are at their best when writing instrumentals, Alex Brunori (from '80s Italian band Leviathan) guests on most tracks. To be honest, I feel the album might have been better without his contributions, but if vocals are what the band wants... The quality of the material varies, with opening instrumental Caravan On The Moon and closing three-parter Blue World probably being the best, dragging the album's rating up half a star. Fake 'Tron on most tracks, with a couple of solo string parts, without swamping the album, unlike so many sample users. So; not bad modern Japanese prog, though far enough from 'outstanding' to maybe not be worth bothering with.
 |
Aluminum (1996, 43.34) *** |
|
| This is the Real World? Princess, Princess Need Female Elvis Space Boy 2001 Heart of Extasy Picture This |
Lift Me Up Serve Yourself |
|
Current availability:
Gods Child [sic] were an American powerpop outfit whose second album, Aluminum, has been rumoured to have some Mellotronic input. A close listen to the intro to track 5, Space Boy, reveals 'Tron string samples that sit well in the mix, but don't stand up quite so well on their own. The band's material is nearer '90s indie than classic powerpop, so don't go expecting a Cheap Trick soundalike here (sadly), although those faux 'Tron strings are on most tracks. The band later morphed into Joe 90, named in homage to Gerry Anderson's late-'60s 'Supermarionation' series.
Incidentally, for more information on the persistent US misspelling of aluminium, the 13th element of the periodic table, have a look at: World-Aluminium.org, home of the International Aluminium Institute.
 |
Echo (1996, 54.12) ***½Oil Pressure (Orphans of the Crocodile)Spring Faith Summer Mangroove Autumn Cynic's Gate The Homecoming Winter Echo (including Comics - a Cancer Called Rupert) |
Current availability:
Gracious! are, of course, known as one of the first major Mellotron bands, if by 'major' you mean 'put two albums out on small labels in the early '70s'. Their eponymous debut has an awful lot less 'Tron on it than you might expect, although This is... Gracious! fared rather better. As they split before their second album was even released, it came as quite a surprise to be lent an advance tape of a new Gracious! album in the early '90s, although upon closer examination, it became apparent that it was basically the original band's rhythm section, Tim Wheatley and Robert Lipson, with one Sev Lewkowicz taking the place of the three absent members. In fairness, original guitarist Alan Cowderoy appears on one track, but this really isn't Gracious! as we knew them.
The album finally got an official release in 1996 by those nice people at Centaur in Dundee, although (to my knowledge) the band never played live, or promoted it in any other way. So; what's it like? Well... Difficult to describe, is the easy answer. It has a variety of influences, some familiar, some not. It's certainly 'prog', with several lengthy tracks that work their way through the usual range of time, tempo and mood changes, although it veers perilously close to neo-prog slop in places. I suppose the most obvious comparison is with the likes of Spock's Beard, although it's interesting to note that this would've been recorded before the first 'Beard album appeared. Anyway, 'modern prog' if you like, or even if you don't.
Lewkowicz plays what have to be Mellotron string samples on two tracks, Oil Pressure and Echo itself, although the former is the only one to feature it to any great extent, which isn't really that great; one 'T' had it been real. Anyway, not a bad album, not really directly comparable with anyone much at all, which has to be a fairly good thing, at least. Don't go expecting anything like the original band, and you can't go too far wrong.
