Axis - Axis (1973) GRE

Greek Heavy Prog rock band formed in Paris in 1970, Axis recorded 3 albums mixing styles of progressive and hard rock. Dimitris Katakouzinos and Demis Visvikis eventually joined up as members of the backing band for Demis Roussos.

(FRA/ Riviera/ 1973)

Tracklisting

01 Waiting a Long Time (4:26)
02 Sewers Down Inside (6:19)
03 Materializing the Unlimited (5:03)
04 Asymphonia I (5:05)
05 Suspended Precipice (1:48)
06 Roads (5:05)
07 Asymphonia II (2:50)
08 Dancing Percussion (2:38)
09 Pa Vu Ga Di (3:44)
10 The Planet Vavoura (4:05)

AXIS

Formed in Paris in 1970, Axis recorded 3 albums mixing styles of progressive and hard rock. Dimitris Katakouzinos and Demis Visvikis eventually joined up as members of the backing band for Demis Roussos.

Dimitris Katakouzinos - bass
Demis Visvikis - keyboards, vocals, percussion
Chris Stassinopoulos - guitar
George Hadjiathanassiou - drums, percussion

The second album by this Greek band who lived in France. I've been told that their two other albums are both non-progressive, but this one is a REALLY progressive album! It's incredible diverse and features almost everything: heavy progressive, trad/free-form jazz, Crimson-like passages, experimental and atmospheric Tangerine Dream-like Mellotron-parts, Canterbury-like jazzy progressive and grandiose, symphonic parts with church-organ and choir. The only thing that doesn't do much for me is the most far out free jazz on "Asymphonia". But the rest is GREAT! The opening track "Waiting a Long Time" is a great heavy-progressive track, and at the end the track suddenly turns into a part where it's played by a trad-jazz arrangement. And the album just continues to surprise the listener with unexcepted turns. "Sewers Down Inside" features Tangerine Dream-like flute-Mellotron and creates some great atmosphere. "Materializing the Unlimited" sounds like a good Crimson-instrumental with great Mellotron. "Suspended Recipe", "Roads" and "The Planet Vavoura" are all more in a Canterbury progressive vein. Jazzy, but the band managed to give it a sound of their own by using the Mellotron on these passages (not very common in jazz-influenced progressive). A great and VERY progressive album, but be aware that I've also seen this album listed as "Sewers Down Inside" and that their third (and non-progressive) album also was called "Axis". And thanks to my good friend Bill for making me aware of this band!
(Review from : Vintage Prog)