Saturday 18 May 2019

Trikolon - Cluster (1969)


The one and only album from this German band.

The band was a trio with a lineup of trumpet, keyboards, bass, drums and vocals.

This album was compiled by one album and an unreleased track by the masters of hidden gems, the record label Garden Of Delights. They released this package in 2003. As the new version is better than the impossible to find original album, this is the version this review is based on.

The CD is over one hour long, in short.

The album is also live. But it is the only thing we got from this long forgotten band. The sound is more than acceptable, too.

It is almost impossible to understand that this music was recorded in 1969 as it predates the first ELP albums. OK, The Nice had released some albums. But Trikolon was Emerson, Lake & Palmer even before they became that band.

In short, take classical music in the vein of Johan Sebastian Bach, fuse it with rock and early Yes. That is when you get this album.

There is lots of keyboards here and a lot of classical music like fugues and suites. The vocals is rather harsh. The music is loud and brash. The inclusion of a trumpet lead track pretty hilarious... and good.

There is even a good version of Blue Rondo here.

The studio track Fugue is very good and hints that this band could have become something really big. But they did not.

The band split up and then formed the band Tetragon who released two albums. Two albums I have just ordered.

This album though is a hidden gem one to enjoy.

3.5 points

 

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