I have a confession to make. Some days, with the pressure of work, and the a life that means I spend a hell of a lot of time traveling, I sometimes feel a sense of trepidation when a few hours off means I won’t just be relaxing with a favourite film or classic CD, but instead I have to put a new release on the stereo and start typing. When that feeling arises, its hearing magnificently crafted works like Big Elf’s ‘Cheat The Gallows’ that reminds me just how lucky I am! Opening with swirling keyboards and a clarion cry to watch ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’, this Los Angeles four piece have taken the best of 70’s UK prog and amalgamated it into their own massive symphonic sound.
Ziggy Stardust vocals blend with Emerson Lake and Palmer organ riffs, whilst the spirit of Dave Gilmour’s finest guitar work shines through in ‘The Game’ and ‘Money It’s Pure Evil’. The latter track, a worthy successor to Pink Floyd’s own ‘Money’, at little over three minutes being one of the shortest and punchiest tracks of the CD, screams of the evils of consumerism gone mad.
More seventies classic sounds are skillfully reborn for a new generation that may be ignorant of the original material, with the pomp of The Alice Cooper Band coming through in the pumping riffs of ‘The Evils of Rock and Roll’, the compulsive guitar work and interplay with bass and drums building up and up with classic Mellotron lines, the jumbled finale invoking the image of the band ascending to the stars in their own neon flying saucer.
Whilst I keep on harping on at how retro Big Elf sound, this is in no way a criticism. Music constantly reinvents itself, and if a band is going to have influences, why not the over the top pomp of seventies stadium rock? The popular music chart is starting to be littered with electro-pop acts that are rehashing the sound of the eighties, with assorted pop puppets miming to keyboard samples, so why not bring back the era where live musicianship rivaled and bettered the best classical players of any orchestra?
Big Elf are hitting the UK this October, variously opening for Dream Theatre and Opeth at a massive Wembley show, and then headlining at assorted club shows. Metal they aren’t, but if I can manage it, I will be at one of the shows.
http://www.myspace.com/bigelf
http://www.bigelf.com
