Gryphon
Raindance

With "Red Queen To The Gryphon Three" from 1974, success for Gryphon is launched, so much so that Steve Howe, the guitarist of Yes, wants them as support in the 1975 tour of his renowned Prog band! In the meantime, Philip Nestor leaves and is replaced by Malcolm Bennett who, besides playing the bass, assists Harvey with a second flute.

With these small changes, in the Summer of 1975, "Raindance" is released, which in the opinion of many is not the worthy successor to the "golden brick" of the previous year. Personally, I would instead say that it is the weakest and most foreign chapter of the small yet artistically robust discography of the Gryphons. Moreover, in this fourth album, the sung pieces return.

There are certainly notable moments like the opening "Down The Dog", a fun and well-played piece, where in the introduction, they didn't miss the barking of a dog probably recreated by a synthesizer. A piece with strong Funky tones. The title track should not be underestimated either, a good piece of electronic music with a delicate flute that traces a veiled melody, always growing during its flow like a river. Just a bit further, we find a tribute to the Beatles' "White Album" with "Mother Nature's Son", whose arrangement is very faithful to the original by Lennon-McCartney. Certainly not to be overlooked are: "Fontinental Version" on the model of "The Uniquiet Grave" from their debut, the lively instrumental "Wallbanger" written by Harvey, the short but concise "Don't Say Go" by Taylor, and finally the "dark" and "gloomy" 16-minute suite "(Ein Klein) Heldenleben" recorded in October 1974. In conclusion, the Medieval and Renaissance airs always remain, but this time more as a leading sound backdrop; however, they are almost entirely abandoned in favor of a very sophisticated and articulated pop in the following album, which is the group’s epitaph; of which I will speak to you in the next review.

"Red Queen To Gryphon Three" and "Raindance" have been reissued on CD by various labels, but always the "Castle Essential" brings them together in a single box set, as had already happened with the first two albums.
In terms of sales but not style, with "Raindance," Gryphon loses a lot. Perhaps not for this last event or perhaps yes, guitarist Graeme Taylor, who has been with the band since its genesis, leaves the scene, followed by the recently arrived bassist Malcolm Bennett.

At this point, Gryphon enters a recording silence for two years, from 1975 to 1977. I believe that by now, from my writing, it has been established that "Raindance" is not at the level of the previous discographic chapters of Gryphon, but with this, it cannot be said that it is their decline, on the contrary, in my opinion, it should be fully re-evaluated in every facet and nuance.

After all, today we couldn't even hear half of an album played like this!