 | Paternoster (1972)Genres: progressive rock, heavy progressive, proto prog |
review by daniel
“Morning peace dusty air / Clean your teeth and comb your hair
Dressed in clothes you always wear / Go to work I won’t be there
Lunchtime snackbar eating chips / Ketchup’s running down your lips
Deadeyed waiters selling bibs / Which you have to fix with clips
Sitting waiting find an end / Meaningless with no comment
Is this life in your own hand / People are like grains of sand”
Imagine these lines sung by a guy that sounds as if his only motivation in life is the fact that he can commit suicide whenever he chooses. The supporting music is heavy, slow paced, melancholic and dominated by the organ. That is Paternoster.
This is truly a concept album about misery. The lyrics all deal with misery in one form or another; the misery of modern life, like in the lines quoted, the pollution destroying the environment and the oppressive dogmas of the pope (in the brilliantly titled “The Pope is Wrong”). The music is not that complex (only organ in addition to the usual bass, drums and guitar) and the musicians are not exactly King Crimson material. Still, it is a very good album with a rough underground charm to it (if you like the pessimistic approach).
