Triumvirat's fourth album has probably gotten the best remaster treatment of all the ones I have heard so far from EMI. Crystal clear and rich sound is the end result, which does a great job of making a real good album even better. While no Spartacus or Illusions on a Double Dimple, this CD ranks just under those two classics in the Triumvirat discography.
It seems that each release by these guys had that one stupendous epic, here being the amazingly beautiful "A Day in the Life", featuring Jurgen Fritz and his lovely piano and synth work. For this record the band added vocalist Barry Palmer, who added a world of sophistication and melody to the bands output on the vocal cuts. "I Believe" in particular, is a great way to kick off the CD, a solid symphonic rock tune if there ever was one. His powerful pipes add a dramatic flair to the ELP bombast of the two part "The History of Mystery", which also features virtuoso Moog solos from Fritz. After the melodic "A Cold Old Worried Lady", which is a great vehicle for Palmer, the band kicks into overdrive on "Panic on 5th Avenue." This tune really dictates why Triumvirat were always labeled ELP clones. From the Emerson inspired Hammond workouts of Fritz, to the manic drum fills of Hans Frangenberg, this tune is like a leftover from Tarkus. The title track is mellow rock tune with soaring vocals from Palmer, and the bonus cut is the single "Take a Break Today", a quirky sing-along tune with symphonic keyboard arrangements and rippling bass lines.
In short, one of the better Triumvirat releases, and remastered even better
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