Arabesque ‎– Tales Of Power (1973-79, CD, Usa)

Tracklist:
1. An Epic: Krail Mountain (11:53)
2. Cobbler's Knob (10:42)
3. We (The Farmer Song) (7:42)
4. The Forgotten Pond (4:51)
5. As The Novelty Wears... (8:37)
6. Arcanum of Atlantis (10:37)
7. Except For Dreaming (live 1978) (12:06)

Musicians:
August Smarra / guitar, lead vocals
Budd Kelly / keyboards, lead & backing vocals
Tom Ketterer / bass, backing vocals
Jim Renda / drums, glockenspiel, percussion
RJ Ketterer / vibes, percussion, backing vocals

Arabesque Founded in Pittsburgh, USA in 1973 - Disbanded in 1979.

Just when you thought all precious rocks had been extracted from the old symphonic prog mine, comes this incredible gem which practically no one had ever set eyes on. How this band managed to go unnoticed for over thirty years is a mystery. What is not a mystery is that thanks to Shroom Productions - a Texas based label specializing in the re-issue of old lost treasures - the music of ARABESQUE will now delight thousands of new symphonic prog fans. The band members come from a working class suburb of Pittsburgh and were around from 1973 to 1980. Their music is complex, dynamic, well structured and expertly performed, in an early GENESIS-meets-CAMEL sort of style. The band consists of August Smarra on guitar and vocals, Jim Renda on drums, Tom Ketterer on bass, R.J. Ketterer on vibes and percussion, and Budd Kelly on keyboards and lead vocals.
Their album "Tales of Power", issued in cd format in 2002, is made up of recordings dating from 1973 to 1979. Following the great symphonic tradition, they have the fantasy-like lyricism of GENESIS, the instrumental ornery of YES (guitarist Smarra pulls out all the stops in true Steve Howe fashion), the vocal inflexions of STRAWBS' David Cousins (do we detect a slight Scottish, Fish-y accent here?), the ethereal magic of HAPPY THE MAN, and a touch of psychedelia à la IRON BUTTERFLY. More than half the tracks clock in at 10 minutes + and all are well constructed and expertly performed. As for the production, it is not perfect but surprisingly good, considering the year these recordings were made.
Highly recommended to all progheads who thought they knew the whole symphonic catalogue by heart.