VARIOUS ARTISTS: Odyssey: The Greatest Tale

Cover	Release	Style
	2005	Classic Symphonic Rock
	Label
	Musea Records
	Website
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	Contact
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	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	219:59	MUSEA FGBG 4534.AR
	Review by	Rating
	Christoph	9,5/10
english	Review
Admit it: which genre suits the epic narratives of Homer better than symphonic rock? The stories about Odysseus’s quest belong to the oldest in world’s history. They have intrigued generations because of their universal recognition and the strong imagery of human live and suffering. Thus the Odyssey became part of mankind’s cultural heritage and the canon of Western art. It shows how ambitious Musea Records’ new project really is. The experience the French label enjoyed with “The Colossus of Rhodes” is paying off very well. Yet the bill of “Odyssey: The Greatest Tale” is even more impressive. As on “Colossus”, the nine participants were expected to take some conditions into account. Each contribution is based upon a specific book from the Homeric tales, in such a way that this 3CD box reflects the complete Homeric narrative over more than three hours. Sympho has rarely been so epic. Also, each song should breathe the spirit of classic prog, which means a duration of more than twenty minutes, and the use of analogue instruments evoking the vintage sound of the seventies. France is represented well here with the two top bands XII Alfonso and Minimum Vital. What they have contributed, belongs to the very best they ever did. Moreover, Minimum Vital’s writing is an example of composition. The folk influences are evident and the spiritual Yes sounds are popping up more than once. Nonetheless both groups obviously have a vision of their own on their primal source of inspiration. Swedish Simon Says guarantees a heavier prog rock, featuring Emersonian keys and a hellish tempo. You will not being bored for one second. Canadian Nathan Mahl delivers convincing sympho in the Camel vein, no wonder since keyboard player Guy Leblanc’s role on the progosaurus’s latest album. The Argentinians from Nexus make a very strong impression here: an awesome composition that is exquisitely executed. In a similar style and yet in their own way, Brazilian Aether show how talented they are. Especially the guitar makes for some melodic beauty. Consorzio Acqua Potabile (C.A.P.) revives the classic Italian school with lots of flute, hammond organ and acoustic guitar. Perhaps not very original, but the captivating performance lifts this band beyond suspicion. The bucolic character is systematically interrupted by heavier passages. The most theatrical version comes from Tempano from Venezuela, starting with some vocal drama and ending in a romantic postlude with mellotron and acoustic guitar. The most notorious participant however is American Glass Hammer, serving an epic in the same vein as on their terrific “Inconsolable Secret” album. Unnecessary to say that this firm literary drama settles perfectly within the theatre of prog. Even more, this collection brings us very close to the golden era of the seventies. It sets the standard all future collection records will be measured with! “Odyssey: The Greatest Tale” is a real tour de force and simply one of the best albums recently recorded. A real power horse from the Musea stable!
Musicians
NATHAN MAHL (Canada), NEXUS (Argentina), GLASS HAMMER (United States), XII ALFONSO (France), SIMON SAYS (Sweden), CONSORZIO ACQUA POTABILE (Italy), TEMPANO (Venezuela), MINIMUM VITAL (France) and AETHER (Brazil)
Tracklist
CD1 (73:29) 1. Nathan Mahl - Chapter I: Of Longings, Suitors, Deities And Quests... (24:07) 2. Nexus - Chapter II: El Regreso-The Return (27:50) 3. Glass Hammer - Chapter III: At The Court Of Alkinoos (21:32) CD2 (79:23) 4. XII Alfonso - Chapter IV: From Ismarus To The Land Of Death (I. Ismarus, Land Of The Cicones/II. Seventeen Days Of Open Sea/III. The Land Of The Lotus Eaters/IV. The Land Of The Cyclops/V. The Island Of Aeolus & The Land Of Laestrygonians/VI. Circe's Island/VII. The Land Of Death) (26:01) 5. Simon Says - Chapter V: Minds Of Mortal Men - Meander Tales (25:40) 6. C.A.P. - Chapter VI: Sulle Ali Del Sogno - Odissea: Libri XIV, XV, XVI (28:15) CD3 (68:07) 7. Tempano - Chapter VII: (I. Hecatombe/II. Book XVII - Odysseus Arrives At The Palace/III. Book XVIII - The Suitors Torment Odysseus/IV. Book XIX - The Beggar Meets Penelope/V. Parnasus) (24:14) 8. Minimum Vital - Chapter VIII: Etranger En Sa Demeure (22:22) 9. Aether - Chapter IX (21:31)


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