Message – From Books And Dreams

Released in 1973, From Books and Dreams is the second album by Message, a German-based British band blending progressive rock, hard rock, and elements of jazz fusion. It’s a darker, heavier, and more focused record than their debut, featuring lengthy compositions filled with shifting moods and literary, dream-inspired themes. The band delivers a sound somewhere between the sharp riffing of early Uriah Heep and the exploratory depth of Van der Graaf Generator—brooding, intellectual, and musically adventurous.

Led by guitarist Allan Murdoch and vocalist/saxophonist Tommy McGuigan, Message build long, dramatic tracks that combine muscular guitar lines with atmospheric keyboards and expressive wind instrumentation. The album’s complex arrangements and often dystopian lyrics reflect a deep engagement with existential and philosophical themes, making From Books and Dreams one of the more intriguing—and underrated—albums in the heavier side of continental prog.

Reviews

“From Books and Dreams is a powerful and cerebral record, full of drama, intensity, and depth. Message manage to be both emotionally raw and technically sharp, offering a compelling blend of prog rock’s complexity with hard rock’s force.” – AllMusic

“Heavy and hypnotic, this is a thinking person’s hard rock album. It tackles big themes—alienation, mortality, dreams—and wraps them in intricate riffs and brooding sax lines that give it a dark, magnetic pull.” – Prog Archives

“Message operate in the shadows of the major prog acts, but here they deliver a brooding, literate album that holds up alongside better-known peers. Each track feels like a descent into a vivid, unsettling dreamscape.” – Mojo

“A gripping listen from start to finish. The balance of aggression and atmosphere is remarkable, with long instrumental sections that burn with slow-building intensity.” – The Quietus

“From Books and Dreams is a haunting, heady album that deserves more recognition. It’s got the riffs, the ambition, and the intellect—just buried under decades of obscurity.” – Record Collector