Ireland
Progressive Rock, Symphonic Prog
Best progressive rock band to have emerged in Northern Ireland, Fruupp doesn't know it yet but they only have a short year left to live when their Modern Masquerades come out. If, a few months earlier, the band had just lost its historic keyboardist, Stephen Houston, who had left to live his religious fervor to the full – the man would end up as a vicar – a worthy replacement was quickly found in the person of John Mason. So it's a whole new band full of energy that records this fourth opus, proving that it still has a lot to say. Unfortunately, the beautiful promises glimpsed on this final album were not kept, since in 1976 Fruupp decided to definitively cease its activities, abdicating like many progressive artists in the face of the punk wave that was sweeping the United Kingdom.
If we find on Modern Masquerades the perfectly chiselled symphonic rock side of the beginnings, like Gryphon, the music offered is now less baroque, although the cover could have suggested the opposite. The Irish develop here a more energetic and more direct progressive rock, going so far as to offer passages that are sometimes downright jazz-rock (the entire second part of "Mystery Might", the central break of "Sheba's Song") at the limit of l improvisation, proof of undeniable technical mastery. The intensive use of electric piano contributes a lot to this jazzy feeling and to the new sound identity of the group.
That being said, Fruupp's progressive rock remains above all in the purest British style of the 70s. 'we often think of Camel from the Mirage period ("Misty Morning Way") or Genesis (the keyboard opening of "Mystery Might" furiously resembles that of "The Carpet Crawlers"). To continue in the references, we will also spot some harmonies and changes of direction like Gentle Giant.
The high point of the disc, the 10 minutes of "Gormenghast" constitute a pure moment of happiness, in a hushed and symphonic vein which remains very close to traditional Fruupp. Rather paradoxical when you know that the song in question was actually written by the new kid on the block, John Mason! We will note in passing the presence of a few lines of saxophone of the best effect, works of a certain Ian McDonald, the ex-King Crimson having been entrusted with the responsibility of the production (clear and limpid, as we knew so well the do in the seventies).
If Modern Masquerades is quite recommendable, certain weaknesses nevertheless prevent the album from reaching the heights, and undoubtedly explain why History has not really retained the name of Fruupp. First of all, the singing, provided by bassist Peter Farrelly, is frankly nondescript and brings nothing to the compositions. Then, the pop-rock side of the end of the 60s like The Beatles or Caravan on "Masquerading With Dawn", and even more the unbearable "Janet Planet", really breaks the atmosphere.
Members
Vince McCusker (guitar, vocals), Peter Farrelly (vocals, bass), Stephen Houston (keyboards, oboe, cello, violin, 1971-74), John Mason (keyboards, 1975-76), Martin Foye (drums)
Track Listing
01. Misty Morning Way (6:56)
02. Masquerading With Dawn (7:16)
03. Gormenghast 10:46)
04. Mystery Might (8:22)
05. Why (4:11)
06. Janet Planet (2:57)
07. Sheba's Song (8:32)
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