Seventh Wave - Psi-Fi (Janus)

I threatened to do this weeks ago and here it is. I know almost nothing about this middle 1970s “prog” duo, except that Kieran O’Connor and Ken Elliot combine the whimsy of Bowie’s most interesting work with the stereophonics of Dark Side era Floyd, and they produced one of the all-time masterpieces of any genre.

No they didn’t really, and in fact, a fair amount of Psi-Fi is interesting only in that it shows a different side of synth-pop than, say, Suicide; I barely remember the first half. However, the last two tracks on the album, “Camera Obscura” (in compound duple!) and “Star Palace of the Somber Warrior” (Not!) are truly masterpieces. “Plastic Palace Alice,” sing-shrieks one of them, “Through the looking glaaaaaaasss,” as a relatively harsh dissonance inducts the listener. Connected by a swirling droning display of technology that gives “On the Run” a run for its money, these two mini-musicals represent symphonic rock at its finest, timbre for once rivaling tone constructs for innovation. The lyrics are delivered with all the conviction of innocence, as impassioned as Peter Gabriel in finest form and as clever as … er … Ambrosia? Yes, that seems fair—Ambrosia on their first two albums anyway. Actually, the theatricality of Ambrosia’s delivery isn’t so far away from Seventh Wave, the latter boasting fine harmonies and good through-composition in the romantic style of those obsessed with the theater of Wagner-induced outward and inward journeys.

At their best, Seventh Wave combine Avant-Garde sound experiments with the often pretentious but somehow charming excesses of progressive rock, and if you’ll accept an album of the week for two tracks, they’re sure to provide some nostalgic fun.

~ Marc Medwin