| Artist: | Theatre |
| Title: | No More Rhymes, But Mr. Brainstorm |
| Label: | Mellow Records MMP 177 |
| Length(s): | 59 minutes |
| Year(s) of release: | 1993 |
| Month of review: | 02/1996 |
| 1) | The Lie (a Typical Situation) | 6.35 |
| 2) | Treacherous Money | 7.13 |
| 3) | Shades | 5.00 |
| 4) | Diddle Riddle (Mr. Brainstorm In The Middle) | 13.00 |
| 5) | Grannies | 5.15 |
| 6) | Black Bride | -- |
| 7) | Little Princess | 11.03 |
| 8) | Spleen | 3.49 |
| 9) | La Maschera (the Lie - Reprise) | 6.35 |
Remarks: if you look on the back of the CD, it is stated that all tracks are by Giorgio Bartoloni, but within the booklet the credits are mostly to Tonko and sometimes to Foi? I tend to think the latter is correct. Bartoloni probably mixed all of them or something like that. Also, Theatre dedicates the album to itself and then goes on with 'to all groups who hardly try to stay together' making me wonder whether what they write is also what they mean. Personnally I would think the most logical thin to say is 'to all groups who are trying hard to stay together'. On the booklet track 6 is timed to 2.57 and 7 to 11.03. It turns out they are that long together. Still, 59.11 is a respectable length.
The singing is quite alright and at times even good and the artwork is very good (made by the bands guitarist, composer and singer Tonko). The drawings are not very friendly or uplifting, but are rather a sign of a pessimistic view on people and life.
The first track on the album sounds good to me. The keyboardsound is a little overfamiliar but I like the layered vocalization on this track. The guitarwork reminds me of Marillion.
The second track starts out with keyboards (again, a little on the too familiar side). This track is a little weaker than the previous and has quite a few Marillion echoes. The vocal melody is a little weak at times.
Granny starts out quietly and should be regarded as a ballad. This is one of the tracks that sound (especially vocally) like the last Egdon Heath album. A good, emotional track.
The fourth track is rather flowing and after a while becomes more involved reminding me of Watcher of the Skies in a good way.
The next track is acoustic, a bit too much like Cinema Show, and although low on originality an acceptable breakpoint.
Black Bride, moving into the Little Princess, on the other hand is like a horror story with the blood dripping as it were. Very scary and dark stuff.
The closer (closer?) is a quiet ballad to give you time to get to grips with all you just heard.
The actual last track on this album is the Italian version of the first.