Pendragon - The Masquerade Overture

Here is Pendragon’s eagerly awaited tenth album, and the question that everyone is asking was whether they could surpass ‘The Window Of Life’. Well, to my ears they have managed it with ease. They have built on the strengths displayed particularly on ‘Window’ and its predecessor ‘The World’ and have produced a masterpiece. There is a greater depth to the overall proceedings and I am sure that this is because of the time they could spend recording and honing. Nick’s guitarwork has never been quite this fluid and when combined with Clive’s keyboards the effect is glorious. Fudge and Peter have also relished the opportunity to shine, and together Pendragon show how a top band can gel to produce music of the very highest quality. Pendragon have been going since 1978 and have been at the forefront of the UK underground progressive scene for almost as long. It is a sad indictment of the music industry that this album will probably sell more than forty thousand, but if they had been called Pink Floyd or Genesis and produced an album nowhere near as good as this it would sell millions. It is a record to be savoured, like a rich red wine: just let the music take control and have the keyboards wrap around you while the guitars lift you up as you soar away. This is a brilliant masterpiece. Yes, there are nods towards the aforementioned Floyd and Genesis, but Pendragon have their own sound. If you get one of the initial fifteen thousand, then you will have another CD containing edit and extra tracks. Oh, and the artwork must be contender for cover of the year. What are you waiting for? Go and buy this. Now.