OSIRIS is probably one of the only, if not the only Arabic Progressive rock band ! Another of their originalities, and not a small one: those musicians come from Bahrain, a small country of the Persian Gulf. The AL-SADEQI brothers and their friends issued two very good opuses during the Eighties, now reissued by Musea: an eponymous album in 1982 and "Myths And Legends" two years later. On both of them, they perform an elaborated and delicate Progressive rock based on melodies full of variations, of instrumental blends and of ethereal developments. Those musicians like multiple combinations between numerous instruments (Guitar, two keyboards, flute, vibraphone & percussions). Despite their origins, their music doesn"t sound old and proves to be as strong, elaborated, virtuoso and inspired as that of equivalent Anglo-Saxon bands (CAMEL, CARAVAN, GENESIS, FINCH...) with an instrumentation worthy of the best. As a bonus, some welcome oriental influences can be heard in some parts. Only issued as a promotional tape in 1989, "Reflections" shows a luxurious and highly sophisticated fresco. "Beyond Control - Live" comes from a 1991 concert. The band refused to use overdubs to remain honest with their music and audience. Those eight tracks blend extracts of their three albums with four previously unreleased compositions. This surprising music can easily be compared with the best, both in composition and in interpretation ! "Visions From The Past" (2007) is the title of the much awaited brand new studio album, a concept about the story of an old man who refuses the "modern" Bahrein and regrets the time when everyone had an innocent and simple way of living. Using traditional poetry from the Arabic Gulf (Translated in English in the booklet), OSIRIS mixes arabic rhythms and traditional instruments, with a brilliant melodious Progressive rock music in a vein near CAMEL and GENESIS. Splendid ! "Visions From The Past" is in fact the sequel of an epic piece of work performed by the band during the mid-Eighties, named "Tales Of The Divers". It eventually resurfaced in the year 2010, as a live recording captured a quarter of a century earlier. Here"s another experiment of melting the music and traditions from Bahrain within the band"s Progressive rock sound, with the help of arabic poetry and a traditional rhythm band. The limited recording conditions of the time are fortunately balanced by a great effort spent on modern remastering techniques, helping the listened to fully appreciate this lost gem. Now it"s time to dive deep !