$6.99

GALADRIEL plays a refined and delicate Progressive rock evoking the best of YES, as well as the Italian school at its height (BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO, LOCANDA DELLE FATE...). The first album "Muttered Promises From An Ageless Pond" (1988) displays delicate guitar lines, splendid synthesizers waves, a lot of rhythm breaks, melodic detours, harmonic richness, polished and astonishing arrangements. It includes two unreleased tracks amongst which the superb 11 minutes long "The Year Of The Dream - Summit". "Chasing The Dragonfly" (1992) mixes delicate Progressive rock with other musical influences (Ethnic musics, African or oriental...), and also refers to flamenco-rock and classical music (RAVEL or DEBUSSY). The musicians also alternate between accoustic and agressive guitars, succeeding thus in realizing a perfect osmosis between those styles, and a coherent music. The third album "Mindscapers" (1997) also crowns another success, by changing both band-members and inspiration. GALADRIEL offers a great concept-album on a science-fiction topic. The creativity, sophisticated and elaborated melodies and instrumental parts have a lot of coherence, and this added to the sensitive vocal parts are a few of the strong points in this very good CD. GALADRIEL is taking the role of a master in Progressive rock and tries to reach this flamboyant, lyrical, emotional and elaborated Progressive rock rich in melodies and technicity, produced by YES and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR at their best. Not to be missed !