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For You the Old Women (1976)Genres: progressive rock, symphonic rock |
”For you the Old Women” have a solid reputation of being among the very best North American releases ever. And it’s not hard to understand why, for this is really top-notch symphonic progressive rock. Overall they show a strong Genesis inspiration but hints of Yes and Gentle Giant can also be heard, still they have a distinct style of their own. On the five songs making up the album they include everything that’s good in the symphonic-progressive style; excellent drums, bass, keys (including Hammond organ, mini-moog, piano and farfisa), and guitars. Add to this some splendid flute playing and the odd trumpet, played by the singer. Mirthrandir also stood out in that that they had two guitar players. The music then is often very intensive, complex and energetic but always with softer, calmer moments thrown in. “Light of the Candle” even offers some space rocking moments and “Number Six” has a very Yes-like section and an ending that sounds very much like Gentle Giant. They close the album with the 15 minute masterpiece “For Four”, a song that really captures all things we want in our symphonic rock; the superb playing, the hard assaults, the acoustic moments, changes in tempo and time, and so on… This album gives you pleasure already on first acquaintance and then when you have got to know it properly it will reveal thousands of little things to notice on every song. The only complain I can come up with is the singer’s high voice in the intensive parts, it can sometimes be a little too shrill, though not much to really complain about. A fantastic album, a must for the symphonic-progressive lover, this album is better than any album by Genesis.
