Blue Mammoth





BLUE MAMMOTH
Blue Mammoth
(MASQUERECORDS MRCD0911)

Blue Mammoth is established in 2009 by Julian Quilodran (bass) and Andre Micheli (vocals, keyboards). They know eachother since 2003 and already have done several musical projects. Micheli, a graduated from the music education of the federal University of Rio de Janeiro, is responsible for most of the compositions on the debut album of Blue Mammoth. Besides Quilodran and Micheli the band excist of Thiago Meyer (drums) and Andre Lupac (guitar). 

The band is influenced by progressive rock of the late seventies / early eighties, with major references to IQ, Eloy and Genesis. Metamorphosis and Who We Are sound like Eloy complete with the characteristic guitar parts and the vocals which reminds me of Frank Boremann. In Growin’ the synthesizer parts of Micheli sounds like Martin Orford at the time of Tales Of The Lush Attic and in Resurrection Day Micheli and Lupac duel eachother with solos. Another strong reference is the music of Kansas, which you here in the firmly The Sun’s Face Through Dark Clouds, that opens with a vocal fugato on the main theme. 

The music is atmospheric, without degenerating in musical delights. The main message of this album is that progressive music does not have tob e bombastic to entertain, and concerning atmosphere it certainly brings back the referred period with examples like the albums of Genesis and Steve Hackett. Sprawling tracks with lots of room for keys and (acoustic) guitar solos, including cello and flute which support  the regularly returning  polyphonic choirs. The result is a surprisingly good debut album which put the Brazilian progressive rock back on the map.

Tracklist:

Overture. The Awakening of a Giant
The King of Power
Winter Winds
Coda. Back Again
Metamorphosis
Growin’
Who We Are
The Sun’s Face Through Dark Clouds
Same Old Sad Tale
Farewell My Lady
Hero
Solitude
Resurrection Day
Infinite Strangers 

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