Titanic - 1970 - Titanic

Titanic

1970

Titanic

01. Searchin

02. Love is love

03. Mary Jane

04. Cry for a Beatle

05. Something on my mind

06. Firewater

07. Schizmatic mind

08. I see no reason

Bonus tracks on CD release:

09. Half

10. Santa Fe

- Kenny Aas / Organ

- Kjell Asperud / Drums

- John Lorck / Drums

- Janne Loseth / Guitar

- Roy Robinson / Vocals

Norway is not precisely the cradle of Progressive Rock, but a band formed in 1969 when the genre was still on diapers, a group of musicians from Oslo, decided to form a Hard Rock band inspired in legends such as LED ZEPPELIN and DEEP PURPLE, but gave a step forward and created a unique sound that blended all this influences with our beloved genre and a strong Psychedelic element.

The original lineup was formed by Kenny AAS playing the organ and bass, Janne LOSETH in charge of the guitar and vocals, John LORCK as drummer and Kjell ASPERUD who added percussion and vocals.

Their first real hit single, the SANTANA oriented "Sultana" almost peaked the UK charts reaching a surprising (for a foreign band not coming from USA) fifth position.

But their recording career had started a year before with the self titled debut. By that point TITANIC had recruited the British vocalist Roy ROBINSON, who not only gave them a more international sound allowing the band to reach the UK and North American markets, but turned into a compositional force of the band.

Their second album "Sea Wolf" is released in 1971, after this album Kenny AAS leaves the band and is replaced with Helge GRØSLIE with whom they release their definitive "Eagle Rock" in 1973 in which they present us a clearly Psyche, Heavy Prog release and a mature sound with an impressive Hammond performance and chorus in the vein of URIAH HEEP.

The band kept releasing albums until 1979 when they disband, however TITANIC rejoined a couple of times with several changes in the linup, and in February 2009 they surprised us with their latest release "Ashes & Diamonds" with Roy ROBINSON and John LOSETH as the only members who were present on their first LP back in 1971.

A strong Hard Rock and Psyche band with evident Prog leanings that deserves to be included in Prog Archives, mainly for their early 70's releases.

The fantastic opener ''Searchin'' is the first jewel available. It is the archetype of a strong heavy-prog track. The work on the organ is fabulous and is only shy of Lord or Hensley. (but not too much). Also to be noticed is the excellent percussion work (but this is another asset of ''Titanic'').

The heavy and psychedelic mood goes on with another winner: ''Love Is Love''. It is again a very powerful and dynamic song. Just listen to the superb bass/drums section. Absolutely brilliant. This really kicks ass my prog friends. The second highlight.

''Titanic'' has also released some wonderful prog-rock ballads like ''Mary Jane''. It is quite amazing to see that the arrangements were signed William Sheller (a popular French singer but almost unknown in those times). It is a romantic keyboards-oriented song with a catchy melody but there's also a sad side to it. This album is really excellent so far.

''Titanic'' is probably paying tribute to the Fab Four with ''Cry For A Beatle''. Vaguely jazzy and intending to be melodic. It is funny but can't be considered as a great track.

The B-side of the vinyl opens with the heaviest song from this work: ''Something On My Mind''. Almost doom intro, but of course what categorizes this band is the use of the heavy organ. It is also the occasion for the band to integrate a more guitar-oriented track (the first one so far). Not for delicate ears to say the least. But I bloody like it.

The next couple of songs (short ones) are a little weak in comparison. Too much brass in here for ''Firewater'' and a old fashioned sound for the heavy-psych ''Schizmatic Mind''. None of these songs are bad but they just don't play in the same league than the other pieces.

Now. ''La pièce maîtresse'' as far as I'm concerned. The wonderful ''I See No Reason'' clocking at over eight minutes. It starts as a heavy-rock ballad (again organ and bass are all mighty) and it slowly offers a wonderful crescendo part full of soooooo pleasant keys as well as nice backing vocals. It speeds up to offer the most emotional guitar solo from the whole album (and probably from their entire discography). It is an excellent moment of heavy prog music. The fourth highlight. It was the closing number of the original album.

The CD version offers both songs from their hit single: ''Half Bread'' and ''Santa Fe''.

Both sides of the band are represented here: the melodic and rock ballad-oriented with enjoyable keyboards for the former (which was the B-side) and the punchy and very much percussion (''Santana'') oriented ''Santa Fe''. The extravagant beat is really kicking and the sound is pretty similar to the one of ''Sultana''. But that's another story.

I'm really pleased that ''Titanic'' has been added to PA. They fully deserve it (but maybe in another category). If you're in for Purple, Heep, Atomic Rooster etc. I highly recommend this very good album.