Search - Catapilla :: Changes (Dig)

This is a good hear

Robert Cossaboon | The happy land of Walworth, NY | 10/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Changes, the second and final album by Catapilla, is a very atmospheric piece of music that seems to harken most to Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. This is not to say they are copy-catting the band. Far superior to their first album, Changes is a smokey, sometimes otherworldly album laden with organ and saxophone riffs that play off of each other as much as they swirl about trying to express themselves through their own solo, if that makes sense. The best examples of this interplay are on the long cuts, "Reflections" and "Thank Christ For George". Here the band locks into one glorious groove and stays with it. "It Would Only Happen To Me" is a nice standout for the awesome sax solo in the second half of the song. It's a beautiful lasting impression to leave the listener, since that would be the last song Catapilla would record. Graham Wilson's guitar is understated, which is a wonderful change for the many progressive rock bands that try for overkill with the guitar-keyboard line up. The band's most distinguishing feature, and still the most problematic since their first album, is Anna Meek, the vocalist. Whereas she went for the freak-out effect on the debut album, she seems somewhat muffled on Changes. That's not to say that she can be understood now. Flawed, but engaging vocals aside, Changes is a wonderful listening experience."

All the makings of a better album than their debut

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 09/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit that Catapilla really did their homework when they recorded their second (and final) album, Changes in 1972. The band witnessed a lineup change, but vocalist Anna Meek and saxist Robert Calvert are still here. By the way, this Robert Calvert isn't the same Robert Calvert of Hawkwind. This Robert Calvert had later appeared on albums from the likes of Amon Duul UK (basically John Weinzlerl of Amon Duul II with Calvert and Ozric Tentacles members) and Mother Gong, even after the other Robert Calvert (of Hawkwind fame) had died in 1988.



Catapilla now added a keyboardist who included some low-key electric piano and organ, which I though was a nice addition to the band's sound. What I really felt made Changes a better album than their debut is Anna Meek. On their debut, she tended to scream and shriek, which she doesn't do that here making it easier on the ears. The band also mellowed out more, and I like the more experimental and atmospheric approach they do here. I heard comparisons to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, but that album was starting to be recorded by the time Changes came out, so there's no way Catapilla could have heard Dark Side of the Moon. Perhaps because of the mid-paced atmospheric passages and the presence of sax that's not unlike Dick Parry's use of that instrument on The Dark Side of the Moon that gave the Floyd comparison. Honestly, I really thought Catapilla had a sound like no one else's. There's that jazz-influence, but you couldn't compare them to Colosseum (who were Catapilla's Vertigo labelmates), and no way could you compare them to Yes or Genesis. So those who dislike their prog being unoriginal (not that I have a problem with that, as long as the music is well-done), you shouldn't have a problem here.



Although I do think their debut is excellent, really it's Changes that is the better of the two and I highly recommend it."