Red Queen To Gryphon Three has stood the test of time as an
excellent progressive rock piece. The album centers around a game of
chess, with each track around ten minutes in length. The symphonic
structure of the movements intricately combine rich textured strings
with medieval horns, reminiscent of 16th century England. The keyboards
bridge together certain passages with just the right intensity so that
they keep from modernizing the album's feel. While some progressive rock
can seem over the top or contrived, Gryphon mixes subtlety with
diversity to formulate beautiful streamline music. The use of the
bassoon and krumhorn gives this album depth and a profound musical
element not found in other bands of the same nature. The tempos and
accents express moods that are structured for each piece precisely, such
as the brainstorming arrangements in "Opening Move" and the victorious
finale heard throughout "Checkmate," the last song on the album. The
absence of vocals lets the music carry extra weight, enhancing the
vision of the chessboard in the mind's eye. (by Mike DeGagne)
Personnel:
Brian Gulland (bassoon, crumhorn, horn, recorder)
Richard Harvey (crumhorn, horn, keyboards, recorder, wind)
Philip Nestor (bass)
David Oberle (drums, percussion)
Graeme Taylor (guitar)
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Malcolm Bennett (bass)
Ernest Hart (organ)
Pete Redding (bass, guitar)
Tracklist:
01. Opening Move (Gulland/Harvey/Oberle/Taylor) 9.45
02. Second Spasm (Gulland/Taylor) 8.19
03. Lament (Gulland/Nestor/Taylor) 10.48
04. Checkmate (Gulland/Harvey/Oberle/Taylor) 9.47
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