Windchase - Symphinity (1977) [Reissue 2000]

Windchase was founded by guitarist/vocalist Mario Millo and keyboard player Toivo Pilt, both survivors of the recently dissolved Sebastian Hardie. Symphinity continues along the same symphonic and highly melodic trail that Sebastian Hardie, blazed through the Australian music scene: Millo's Latimer-influenced guitar leads splatter against Pilt's grandiose keyboard walls while the rhythm section keeps things cooking nicely, propelling rather than leading things. Interestingly, Millo and Pilt write separately, both writing four tracks, and both taking a short solo piece, on piano and acoustic guitar, respectively. Though Camel is the obvious role model for these blokes, they play across the spectrum, with "Horsemen to Symphinity" being a primarily instrumental symphonic stretch (and an excellent one at that), while at the other end "Flight Call" is a poppy, though still lavishly-arranged number like the mellower parts of Breathless. "Glad to Be Alive" has a string arrangement that coats the vocal sections with too much syrup, but the main melody is gripping and the instrumental sections are delightfully bouncy with chiming tuned percussion used for a good effect. On the stately "Gypsy" Millo's guitar reaches perhaps its most emotionally wrenching orbit, while Pilt gradually layers keyboards behind his soloing, adding harmonic and textural complexity to a relatively straightforward composition (I especially like the way he occasionally "shadows" Millo's guitar with subtle harmony lines on a synth). "No Scruples" is an up-tempo number with very Genesis-like organ work and a middle section where Pilt gets to coax a few wild solo licks out of his synth. In contrast to the more song-oriented material, the album's longest track "Lamb's Fry" is essentially a jam-piece where Millo goes for a fuzzier and more psychedelic solo style when not providing wah-tinged comping for Pilt's explorations on synthesizer and Fender Rhodes; it also sounds rather fragmented and dated, and is the album's weakest link. Throughout the album the power of this music is in thoughtful, colourful arrangements and inspired performances that transcend the deceptively-simple structures and accessible melodies, and when all these elements click, the music is nothing short of magnificent; however, this is not everywhere, and some pieces could have been developed further. Overall not as good an album as Sebastian Hardie's Four Moments, but still a minor jewel in the crown of melodic, accessible symphonic prog that especially Camel fans should find compelling. Musea's CD re-release (FGBG 4333.AR) includes a live version of "Horsemen to Symphinity", performed in 1998 by Millo and his solo band. ~ Kai Karmanheimo





Track Listing

01. Forward We Ride (1:39)
02. Horsemen To Symphinity (8:33)
03. Glad To Be Alive (8:06)
04. Gypsy (4:47)
05. No Scruples (6:29)
06. Lamb's Fry (9:39)
07. Non Siamo Perfetti (1:57)
08. Flight Call (4:36)
09. Horsemen To Symphinity (Live performance - Mario Millo & Men from Mars 1998) (11:55)

Produced by Gerry Stevens & Windchase

The Band

• Mario Millo - Vocals, Gibson S1, Gibson L5-S, Mandolin, Acoustic guitars, Tubular bells
• Toivo Pilt - Hammond C3 L-111 Organ, Grand Piano, Mini Moog, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, Arp 2600, Solina, Omni string synth, clavinet D6, handclaps and vocals
• Doug Bligh - Drums, Percussion (various), Backing vocals and Handclaps
• Duncan McGuire - Bass guitar

*****
• Doug Nethercote - bass guitar on Glad To Be Alive and No Scruples

Notes

First released 1977 through Festival Records Pty. Ltd
CD Edition released in 2000 by Musea with Bonus Track





Many thanks to the original uploader: yalinc