Big Ears

A lot of the time I was listening to Frumpy, I was thinking TH won't care for this! You strike me as a neo man (to my traditionalist). I like the literary analogy, but I am not going to start believing it for a second. In any case, you are the James Joyce of Music Banter, wheareas I barely feature.

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My Journal: Rabbiting On

Unknown Soldier

As I don't know Frumpy (and amazed that I don't) I'd say BE knows more than me, even though he has stated there are albums on my journal that he wasn't familiar with.

TH always seeks melody in his music and if there's not a clear and obvious melody, it's hard to get him into it. Hence his dislike for Captain Beyond and his hatred for extreme metal, despite the fact he constantly continues to torture himself in his 'meat grinder' with low key extreme metal bands!

My Frumpy review should be up later.

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Unknown Soldier

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
I wasn't overly impressed by the opening few minutes, quite simply as the band sounded too much like Pink Floyd (not the biggest Pink Floyd fan here) but it quickly became apparent that vocalist Inga Rumpf had a dominant voice and as "Good Winds" went on I noticed how good her voice was and after 4 minutes in I noticed a greater depth to the band, despite the fact that the song went back to sounding like Pink Floyd again.

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
As Trollheart said, the opening song has a very heavy organic seventies prog vibe and this was something very unique to its era as well.

3. What did you think of the later tracks?
The rockier the tracks got the more impressed I was overall. The organ was seemingly there to remind us that the band were still a progressive rock band.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Absolutely loved the vocalist. I thought he uuurrr she was ok on the opening song BUT on "How the Gypsy Was Born" she went through the roof as far as I was concerned and it was another good performance on the other two songs after. It ocurred to me after a few listens that Inga Rumpf actually sounds like a female Steve Perry at times, especially his earlier stuff with Journey.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
Without any shadow of a doubt, it's the sort of thing that I'm always looking for.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
I've listened to it about three times now at it still impresses me.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
As usual I never paid that much attention to the lyrics.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
The album was full of soaring keyboards and guitars and so yes I was impressed. The keyboard sections reminded me of Ken Hensley's work with Uriah Heep. Have to say guitarist Rainer Baumann really impressed me as well.

9. What did you think of the production?
A big production seventies style here, loud and bombastic and just the sort of thing I'm a sucker for.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
Surprisingly this is a band that seemed to have dipped under the radar as far as I'm concerned.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
Progressive rock/space rock and really is designed to appeal to a hard rock listener rather than a weedy progger.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Impressed me on the first listen and have to say that it became even more impressive on further listens.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
"How the Gypsy Was Born" I love anything with a great vocalist and a track that is full of driving energy. It reminds me a bit of a cross between a whole host of classic 1970s cuts and mid-era Fleetwood Mac (which was of course the best Mac ever) Closely followed by the album closer "Duty".

14. And the one you liked least?
Probably the opening track "Good Winds"

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
Can't say as I'm unfamiliar with the rest of their material.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
Hell yer, I've been boring or thrilling people with "How the Gypsy Was Born"

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
Pass.

18. Did the album end well?
"Duty" was the closer that the album deserved and was a real melting pot for the band's instrumentals. There was no doubt that this band were accomplished artists in every way. "Duty" also has a great galloping sound as the song's jam reaches real intensity at times.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
I like the idea of four songs, there were certain section of some of the songs that could've been improved and I know the band had the ability to do so. But maybe on further listens I might be less critical.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
I wouldn't call the album cohesive but the songs do sit together.

Ratiing: 8.5 out of 10

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Unknown Soldier

Ever heard of Yes?

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Trollheart

I have to admit to not being the biggest Yes fan: I only listened to their later stuff like "90125" and "Big generator". I found a lot of their 70s material overdrawn and frankly boring, though again as I say I haven't heard that much. To put that in perspective, I recorded off the telly the 35th anniversary concert and after about ten minutes stopped it and erased it --- what's that cross for you're carrying? Hey! Put me down!!

No, I never heard of an album (not EP) with only four tracks. I was used to 4 tracks per side on the old vinyl, specially ELO, but never an album that was comprised of four tracks total.

Thanks for the compliment BE: right back atcha. You're right about melody, which is why I also hate experimental music in general, and the idea of a thing someone spoke of once, the sound of photocopiers running for an hour, does nothing for me. I like my music to be, well, musical. Though I wouldn't accuse Frumpy of not being musical. It just wasn't totally my thing, though perhaps if I listened a few more times I might have got into it. But at this point I have Plankton's album on constant repeat in advance of my review of it, so I didn't feel it merited another spin. Unlike It Bites, which once I heard two tracks off sent me in search of a place to buy it.

Guys, we should do a collaborative review sometime. Would be fun!

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Anteater

A prog fan without a hard-on for Relayer or Close To The Edge? That's rare.

I'll be reviewing the Frumpmeisters tomorrow.

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Anteater's 21 Fav Albums Of 2020

Anteater's Daily Tune Roulette

Big Ears

How would it work?

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My Journal: Rabbiting On

Trollheart

I don't really know. Maybe we'd choose an album, each write our review of it and we could then sort through who takes what part, like maybe I could do the intro and first few tracks, you could do the middle and US the end, or maybe we'd take another approach. Or we could review it "live" over Skype or something and write our thoughts then edit them later. I really don't know how it would get sorted but you two guys sound like you would be fun and rewarding to work with.

Just an idea...

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Paul Smeenus

2 points:

So is Tales from Topographic Oceans

2. Why am I not in this club???

Big Ears

TH, count me in for the group review.

Paul, it's not up to me, but I am sure you can consider yourself in the club.

I forgot to thank Electrophonic for suggesting Frumpy. Anyone seen him?

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My Journal: Rabbiting On