Grandbell - The Sun And The Embryo

Year of Release: 1996
Label: Progressive Rock Worldwide
Catalog Number: PRW022
Format: CD
Total Time: 71:12:00

South-America strikes again with yet another fine example of warm symphonic sounds with a strong nature for acoustic instruments to extra underline the musical intentions. With The Sun And The Embryo, Grandbell offers us sort of a concept album. As with Yes, the band's lyrics examine mythical, supernatural subjects with life as a central idea. "We can climb the mountain of being, we can drink the etheric colors of high places, we can reach the star of real self ..."

The music contains various folk elements such as flute, tabla and twelve-string guitar. Weird is without any doubt the voice of Renato Jardim, which is almost like a double of Jon Anderson (the voice, not the guy!). At times you would think that the great Yes-man has done something on the side between the recordings of Olias Of Sunhollow and Songs Of Seven! The use of flute in "We Are The Universe" is like Yes teaming up with Jethro Tull. There's also some very nice piano here.

Grandbell is also the trademark for strong, building themes of which "The Real Love's Revolution" is a very nice example, as flute, clavinet and violins support the main theme in a very lyrical way. Nice! Practically all of the material was written by singer Renato Jardim who also produced the album, so that sort of sums up why this is such a great album from a vocal point of view. Whilst Jon Anderson seems to be very much in love with everything Brazilian maybe he and Renato Jardim should try and get together one day?

Tracklisting:
We Are The Unverse (8:54) / The Last Thunder (4:26) / The Real Love:s Revolution (8:07) / Phoenix's Springtime (8:58) / Liberty (6:22) / The Sun And The Embryo (8:17) / Victory In The Garden Bell (6:37) / Spiral (7:11) / Make Me Wonder (8:54) / Nascer Do Sol (4:26) / Constant Flames (8:07)

Musicians:
Renato Jardim - vocals, 12-string guitar
Dant? Junior - electric and acoustic 12-string and 6-string guitar
Filipe Lua - drums, tabla
Henrique Kunz - keyboards
Juliano Pereira - bass
Roberto Reolon - flute, keyboards

Discography:
The Sun And The Embryo (1996)

Genre: Symphonic Prog

Origin BR

Added: March 21st 2001
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

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Language: english