Toulouse Engelhardt Toulousology Review by Gary Hill
Featuring a lot of acoustic based folk textures and some jazz, this one might not be the best fit for progressive rock, but really that’s what it is. Whatever you call it, though, it’s a strong set that works really well.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Fire in O’Doodlee’s Popcorn Factory
This is lightning fast and very intricate. At times it feels a bit like early Genesis, but mixed with an almost bluegrass vibe.
Blind Watchmaker While the general motif hasn’t changed, this one is even more like the acoustic work from early Genesis. It’s certainly not as fast as the opener. That doesn’t mean it’s any less potent. Of course, after the one minute mark it becomes lightning fast with some great instrumental work.
Revelations at Lunada Bay Folk meets progressive rock and a lot of other sounds on this tune. It reminds me at times of Pink Floyd and at other points of Steve Howe.
“Toullusions” of Anji There’s certainly more of a rock nature to this. The acoustic jamming is simply incredible and we get some jazz and some country and some definite blues as this is built. There are definitely a lot of changes in the mix of this thing.
Young Goodman Brown joined the Confederacy Today We get a real down home blues feel on a lot of this. Still, there are bits that call to mind some of Jimmy Page’s instrumental work along with Steve Howe and others.
River Eclectium: Xel-Ha...”Where the Waters are Born” Far gentler, there is quite a bit of jazz here merged with sounds not far removed from Steve Howe or early Genesis.
River Eclectium: Let the River Answer Somehow this intricate and energetic number feels like traveling music. It’s another great instrumental on a disc that’s full of them.
River Eclectium: Deep River Starting sedate and tentatively, this number feels a lot like the folky side of Steve Howe’s solo work. It’s another good tune and is rather bouncy.
Mosrite Devotion: Pressed Hams There’s some great echoey presence here and this little number has a lot of country music, along with jazz in the equation.
Mosrite Devotion: Beavers in a Hot Tub! Here we get a playful little number that’s just plain fun.
Mosrite Devotion: Autopia Also playful, this is a bit weird for my tastes. There’s certainly both jazz and RIO in the mix here.
Melting Stars...Breathing Heavens This mellow piece continues the same basic musical concepts heard with the first several pieces. It’s another nice one.
Albert’s Gyroscope Here we have another piece that could pass for a Steve Howe folky solo number.
Air to the Quiver of Angel Wings And, this is also the same basic idea. That said, it’s not getting stale at all.
Third Stone from the Sun Intricate and powerful, this is much more pure progressive rock.
Lavender Ascension This is intricate and involved and quite pretty. It’s one of the most powerful tunes on the whole set.
Fire in O’Doodlee’s Popcorn Factory (Live) The set is closed by this live version of the album opener, making for a nice bookender.
