Gaudi (1987)
We love Gaudi. Everyone say it with me. “We love Gaudi”.
‘Gaudi’ was the final record from The Alan Parsons Project and it gets its name from the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. The overall concept and theme of the album revolve around his life and work. Why the band chose to conceptualize their entire record around Antoni Gaudi is a mystery to me, but it really works. The record, though, is also not as clear cut on its concept like the bands earlier Edgar Allan Poe album or even their Sci-Fi ‘I Robot’ record.
The album opens with the epic and unforgettable "La Sagrada Familia," named after Gaudi's unfinished cathedral in Barcelona. The track features a lush orchestral arrangement and sets the tone for the album's grandiose sound. It doesn’t get anymore grand than this song.
Following that is “Too Late”, which deals with the tragic death of Antoni Gaudi. “Closer To Heaven” is very nice sonically, but it doesn’t have a lot of replay-ability to me. “Standing On Higher Ground”, on the other hand, is a thumping 1980’s powerhouse of a song while “Money Talks” is punchy track with a driving mechanic rhythm.
“Inside Looking Out” is a gorgeous ballad and the record is all tied together with a perfect bow on top with the instrumental “Paseo de Gracia” finishing things off.
Musically, ‘Gaudi’ is a masterpiece. The bands production skills shine through on every track, with intricate arrangements and impeccable sound quality. The album is also notable for its use of orchestration, which gives all the songs a cinematic quality. They followed popular 80s music trends on this record with their use of synthesizers, drum machines and even some light sampling.
‘Gaudi’ is a fitting tribute to the life and work of Antoni Gaudi, and a testament to the talent of The Alan Parson’s Project. It's a downer that the band's penultimate album, Stereotomy, was a bit of a let down, but ‘Gaudi’ more than makes up for it. If you're a fan of lite prog rock turned 1980s pop rock, orchestral arrangements, or just good music in general, ‘Gaudi’ is definitely, without a doubt, worth a listen.
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Highlight Songs:
La Sagrada Familia
Standing on Higher Ground
Too Late
Paseó de Gracia
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Gaudi is not the greatest looking album cover, but it sure as hell is one of The Alan Parson’s Projects greatest albums. It is worth buying, absolutely. Go buy it, now. I will wait.
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Overall Rating:
4.5 Stars
