Trion - Tortoise - by Winston Arntz |
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Tracks: 1. Tortoise 2. The New Moon 3. Hindsight 4. Radiation part 1 5. Jemetrion 6. Radiation part 2 7. The Seagulls 8. Hurt 9. Tribulation 10. Spectrum Of Colours |
| “A fun-project for ourselves”...in the liner notes multi instrumentalist Edo Spanninga descibes how Trion was born. Spanninga got guitarman and bandmate from Flamborough Head Eddie Mulder to join in, as well as Odyssice’s drummer Menno Boomsma. While testing recording equipment music this project emerged and will without a doubt will be warmly welcomed by the Prog & Symfo scene. Why? Because the total look and feel of Tortoise as the album that came out of it is a feastly tribute to the legendary era where all things important in Prog Rock happened. |
| So
it is no wonder that the look of the album cover, which is the first thing
you see before you hear the actual music carry a very familiar identity,
the identity we know so well of Yes, Uriah Heep, ASIA and may others.
But how could this band have made contact with Roger Dean? A closer look learns that the artwork has been done by Jasper Joppe Geers, a dutch artist that obviously highly influenced by Dean. I wouldn’t know what Dean himself would think of this but it beautifully done and fits a tribute very well. |
| At tribute without actually being a tribute. Trion created music that roots from the 70’s, so lots of Mellotron, guitars, organs and intricate rhythms. It is an instrumental album so I guess Gabriel or Anderson didn’t have the time? The main influence is Genesis, the very beginning of the album already makes that clear. After a while I hear the Steve Howe and Steve Hackett style creeping in. The total sound is as if Genesis recorded an instrumental album back in the 70’s, just after Peter Gabriels departure and Steve Howe left Yes for Genesis. The album got shelved and never saw the light of day. It isn’t only Genesis and Yes, sometimes Pink Floyd like moments come sailing by and also early Rush and Kansas are heard in Trion. |
| But actually it is an album made in 2003 by three Prog worshippers who in playful mood created music that is played fantastic, has all the traditional elements of a so called legendary album(except the vocals). This is a wonderful and remarkable way of paying tribute I must say. |
| It
also is a conceptual album and tells “A turtle’s tale”.
Jemetrion is a tortoise with a desire to stand out, do something new.
He finds his fullfillment in music, by creating his own sound. A simple but nice story that is transferred to music that has more complexity. A wonderful combination. A wonderful project that deserves a wonderful 8. |
| Cyclops
Records – www.gft-cyclops.co.uk |
| Winston Arntz/2003 |