Grace - Poppy

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 1996
Time: 59:51
Size: 138,3 MB
Label: Cyclops
Styles: Progressive Rock/Neo-Prog
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Burglars - 3:42
 2. Sing Something Simple - 3:37
 3. Anorak Of Fire - 5:07
 4. Resurrection - 3:49
 5. Oklahoma - 5:25
 6. Heart And Soul - 6:05
 7. Secret Garden - 8:22
 8. Touch - 4:50
 9. The Wolf - 4:46
10. Emily - 4:52
11. Rich Men Singing - 3:10
12. Court Of Despair - 6:01

Musicians:
Mac Austin - vocals;
Dave Edge - guitars;
Dave Rushton - bass;
Mark Price - keys;
Harry Davies - flute, sax, dustbins;
Tony Hall - drums, vocals.

After two CD on Cyclops this is their third release on the label. I wasn't too happy about their two other CDs, because well it all sounded a bit lame and superficial. It turns out to be better this time, and as such is an invitation to listen to their other albums again as well.
Their third on Cyclops, Grace does not wander too much from the trodden paths of their previous efforts: typically English progressive/melodic rock with some folk influences. But where the previous albums did not really touch me enough, this album has enough vitality to it to be at least charming. Coupled with Cardiacs-like joyfulness we easily get an enjoyable album, not very deep, musically, but full of enthusiasm. Contrary to most progressive acts Grace likes the simple up-tempo melodic rock song and I have to admit they pull it off well, with tracks like Burglars and Touch. A song like Resurrection for instance has the energy inherent in Marillions Market Square Heroes (the live version on Real to Reel) and of course the album also has its share of ballads, Heart and Soul for instance (although with a loud chorus), the sweet, folky Secret Garden, and the interesting, Eastern Emily, where the singer reminds me of Bryan Ferry. The album also contains a number of more serious tracks like Oklahoma, about the bombing, that reminds me of Grey Lady Down, The Wolf, and the percussive, Celtic Court of Despair. The drinking song Rich Men Singing might be fun to hear once, but after that its not so interesting. The lyrics are quite good and better than what the average progband can think of.

Poppy