Cressida (3) – Asylum

being so jealous about the 215 people who own this record. But the repertoire reissue is fantastic. I do not understand how such a georgeous band did only make 2 albums.

My favorite Prog rock album in existence, composed by the phenomenal Cressida; an obscure British group that contributed to prog rock in a jazzy, mellow way that flows and ebbs gently like rolling hills.

This piece has none of the harsh, sharp, and abrasive tones that groups like Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or Yes were so fond of, and none of the latter’s screeching either. No this instead is a masterwork of melodic vocals overlayed across a soft and tranquil synthesizer soundscape. “Asylum”, the title track, bursts onto the scene with bright tones and warm, talented playing with an almost droning sound due to its repetition though it is in no manner offensive to the ear or mind. This may be in part due to the band’s excellent use of song length and lack of over-performed and stale length. There are, indeed, only two songs on the 40-minute album that I would consider lengthy, with the next track “Munich” being a 9 and 1/2 minute masterwork of soft light and loving lyric. This piece, as well as the final, and longest, track on the album “Let them Come when They Will” have no slight amount of jazzy sound to them. They are epic and complete sounding, leaving somehow nothing and everything to the imagination of the listener, and deeply affecting to the spirit.

Among the other tracks there is no weak point. Each one gracefully moves like a slow moonlight ride back and forth, and in synthetic harmony fuse together to form this, in my opinion, one of the greatest albums ever written and played. Certainly not to be missed, and a must-have of the discerning collectors library.

10/10

Favorite Track: Munich