This may be a concept album, but the songs are instrumental, allowing you to ponder what parts exactly inspired them to create the sounds. With “Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon…Ford” I wonder which parts exactly. Sure, I can picture little humans being decanted with that organ swell. More progressive rock should be this good, each part of the song, the flexible bass and the wonderful flutes make it an early highlight. It is so tasteful, I rarely adore certain segments but about 1:40 into the song you’re treated to something so smooth. Echoes of bands created long after these guys come into my mind.
Flutes are all over the album. Most of the musicians seemed to be experts with them. Woodwinds aren’t a thing used as often on albums, but judging from this recording, I doubt many could do them the same level of justice. Just alone, the flutes create a dialogue far richer than someone simply reading lines out of the book. It is wonderful.
Pieces of folk pop up here and there, particularly on the tracks “Soma” and “Malpais Corn Dance”. Of course, you can find everything that ever happened on the album in the massive finale “The End”.
Even with the level of quality seen in the previous tracks, “The End” ups the ante. Parts of this song reach such great heights. Flutes introduce the songs, easing you into the chaotic journey. Organs and flutes mesh together to form a sort of complimentary theme, a grandiose send-off. A tragic guitar appears out of nowhere. Tempos increase and decrease, jazzy elements are brought in, and a dark drone comes in. When I first heard this drone, I stopped everything. It just overwhelmed whatever it was I was doing. Yes, it is that powerful. Flutes are played as quickly as I think is physically possible.
Dig it if you have it. Sadly they only made one album. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful experience through progressive rock way ahead of its time.