Gracious - Gracious CD
SKU
28-UNIJ1422199.2
“Generally there were two kinds of prog, the more open, warm approach of the Moody Blues and Yes, or the darker, difficult stylings of King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator. If only someone had the ability to fuse these two schools together as one - imagine what fate would await such a band?
Total anonymity it turns out. Gracious's debut is an accomplished and promising platter that shows strong and diverse writing and compositional skills, yet went absolutely nowhere in the marketplace. It's a shame because side one in particular is packed with goodies, Martin Kitcat's diverse and stimulating keyboard work lending a baroque touch to the tense yet catchy Introduction and the soothing yet ironic Heaven. Charming vocal harmonies and well-played instrumental breaks keep things interesting, culminating in Hell which runs through a dizzying array of genres including a hip-hop breakdown. (I'm serious. I know it's 1970 but vocalist Paul Davis briefly raps on the track.) After the controlled, somewhat polite nature of Introduction and Heaven, Hell sees the band going fully in the other direction with a dynamic freefrom piece that goes from sinister bass synth freakout to big rock riffing to a bar room piano singalong.
Unfortunately Side 2 is dull by comparison. Kitcat's solo spot Fugue In D Minor shows off some good playing but doesn't have much to say musically, while seventeen minute epic The Dream is a meandering chore that lacks cohesion.
Still, plenty of other big bands, prog or othrwise, had debuts that were worse than this and went on to bigger things. So did Gracious, but sadly those were ignored too...”-RYM
- LabelUniversal Japan
- UPC4988031422199