Red Queen to Gryphon Three
Artist: Gryphon
Label: Talking Elephant
Time: 4 Tracks / 38 minutes
 
There’s no one quite like Gryphon (although Gentle Giant might fit the bill if they were more flowing and played krumhorns).

Two students in the Royal College of Music, Richard Harvey and Brian Gulland began the band, and their technical knowledge shines on this instrumental disc. Each of the four tracks has at least two or three themes, and they are so freely counterpointed and improvised over that it is hard to keep track of when one ends and another begins. That’s the delight – seeing proper musicians play with themes so huge that they are practically complete melodies.

“Opening Move” sets the band’s stall out, featuring most instruments. So it is a complete break when “Second Spasm” comes in like medieval banquet entertainment, recorders blazing. But – like opposing pieces in a chess game? – an insistent guitar riff breaks in, only to be checked by two krumhorns, who sound like bragging ducks in mating season. When the guitar returns, it is like a military parade in Trumpton. Then the guitar takes up the original recorder theme and on it goes…

It is easy to see why many Gryphon fans consider “Lament” to be the best track on their best album. Its main two tunes are lovely minor key motifs, played initially on recorder and bassoon, and then the first is reprised on a gorgeously-toned synth. They are appealing enough on their own, but this eleven minute piece also intricately develops each theme. Harvey’s recorder rocks harder than Ian Anderson’s flute as it plays out and leaves you wanting more. This track also shows why Steve Howe invited three of the band play on his first solo album Beginnings.

Some of the military drum rhythms of “Checkmate” remind us that chess is played with kings, queens and knights, and hints of “Lament” reprise here, showing us that this represents four stages of one game.

The album seems to be both prog rock and medieval folk fare, mixing electric guitar and synths with acoustic woodwind. Its melodies are so strong that they drive the disc, leading David Oberlé to be remarkably underemployed as a drummer and spending a lot of his time accentuating the tunes with percussion.

Gryphon never sounded more cohesive and melodious. This should appeal strongly to lovers of Gentle Giant, Camel, Yes and  Bundles -era Soft Machine, and it is like these acts at their most fluid. It is superb stuff!
 

Derek Walker

Gryphon - Raindance  (last updated 2/27/11)

One of the most quintessential British mid-‘70s prog albums.