Raindance Nevada

Raindance

Gryphon

Transatlantic Records, 1975

REVIEW BY: Loznik

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 11/04/1998

If you have never heard of Gryphon, the music of Camel overlapssome of the territory Gryphon covers, should you need a point ofreference from a slightly better-known group.

Raindance was Gryphon's fourth album, released after atriumphant tour of the United States in 1974, in which they openedfor Yes during the Relayer Tour that year. The success and critical acclaim ofGryphon's third release, Red Queen To Gryphon Three, created a platform for the bandto expand their horizons and led to the lucrative 1974 tour.

Raindance represents just such an expansion, but many"purists" will claim it is an inferior album - it compromises theprogressive credentials they band had established up until then.It's the old problem though - to please a wider audience, yousometimes need to alienate an audience you already have.

Au contraire, I say, or I would if I were French. There are manygood ideas and some exceptional music to be heard here. Gryphon'sTrad Folk roots, the traditional (and archaic) wind instruments,and the progressive direction commenced with Midnight Mushrumps (the second album) are all much inevidence, but these sounds and styles are fused and imbued withrock and pop themes that lead to an interesting, if sometimesuneven, listen.