Chessboard, the third album from Brazilian prog act Tempus Fugit, was originally released in 2008, and now being reissued by the folks at Masque Records in a deluxe digipack complete with stunning artwork. If you are familiar with this band, you are probably well aware that their debut Tales From a Forgotten World came out in 1997 and was followed quickly by The Dawn After the Storm in 1999, then nothing much was heard from the band till Chessboard many years later.
The band here is comprised of Henrique Simões ( guitars ), Ary Moura (drums), André Ribeiro ( bass), and André Mello ( keyboards & vocals), with a few guests helping to round things out. Musically, Chessboard is firmly in the symphonic/neo-prog realm, with influences seeming to range from Genesis, Eloy, Yes, Camel, Pink Floyd, Satellite, and early Marillion. Some very nice keyboard work from Mello throughout the CD, and he has a very melodic, dreamy vocal style, though some might cringe at his heavily accented English and wish that he sung these songs in Portuguese. The guitar playing of Simões has that Hackett/Rothery/Latimer feel to it, quite tasty & melodic with plenty of finesse. All of these elements, along with some wonderful lead bass lines from Ribeiro, are on display in the gorgeous 10 minute piece "Only to Be With You", easily one of the highlights here. The two part "My Princess" is another lovely track, filled with stunning, Eloy styled synths, ethereal vocals, and biting guitar solos.
Kudos to Masque Records for re-introducing Chessboard to prog fans who perhaps didn't check it out the first time around. It's a very solid prog album from a band who have a lot to offer.
Track Listing
1. Pontos de Fuga
Part I (1:12)
Part II (3:27)
2. Unfair World (7:58)
3. Only to be with You (10:07)
4. The Princess
a) My Princess (4:23)
b) Tears from the Sky (3:20)
5. Chessboard
a) The Game of Life (11:03)
b) The Living (8:27)
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