Esperanto are one of the hardest groups to pin down. All 3 of their albums are different from each other. Of course if you name your band after a made up international language and have constantly shifting lineups, then you're destined to be confounding. Their debut is tough sledding while Danse Macabre is a prog rock classic.
Last Tango, their 3rd and final release, is an album I'd given up on, but decided one more listen might be in order. While certainly the centerpiece track 'The Rape' is full-on prog, the rest is geared more towards AOR. They have a very unique sound here, and one I finally began to embrace. Comparisons are not readily available, but it is still familiar. Picture mid 70s Renaissance joining The Alan Parsons Project before Tales of Mystery and Imagination. How does one grasp that? One could see why a major label would drop these guys. Who could possibly be the audience? After all these years, not only did I enjoy a +1 bump, but I also see future growth here. One of a kind, and very intriguing.
Ownership: CD: 2001 Si-Wan. Online purchase (2002). Papersleeve edition with a full history in English and 2 bonus tracks. The first bonus 'In Search of a Dream' is of unknown origin, the other a 45 single. I've had the original LP before, and it remains very easy to find here in the States. The overall package makes the CD the desired release.
2002; 4/25/23 (new entry)
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