Beggars Opera - Close To My Heart (2007)

Repressing. EU edition of this 2007 album from the legendary Scottish Prog Rock band. Beggars Opera released a spate of classic albums in the early 1970's. After fading from the 'live' gigging scene, founder member Ricky Gardner began to suffer from illness which also prevented any further recording. However, in 2007 the guitarist and his wife keyboard player and vocalist Virginia Scott released Close to My Heart, an album that had taken them 10 years to compose and record. Together with drummer Tom Gardiner, they devised this 12 track set of performances that heralded a Beggars Opera comeback. Most of the pieces are tightly constructed in length and don't roam into 'Prog' instrumental excess. The vocals are prominent, while an intriguing atmosphere is provided by tough guitar riffs and meandering Mellotron themes. The effect has been compared to a blend of Pink Floyd with Hawkwind symphonic space age moods. Repertoire.