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This is a compilation of 11 bands on the progressive label
Moonchild. The bands are Crucible, New Sun, Fig Leaf, Jeremy,
Pruett & Davis Group, Truth In Advertisement, Blue Shift, Magus,
Indeed, Smokin' Granny, and Deluc.
Here's a presentation of the tracks:
1. Fig Leaf "The Humble Poet".
Album: "The Humble Poet" released 1997.
Fig Leaf is a great band from Norway. This is actually the only
album I haven't heard with Fig Leaf and this is one of the best
tracks. Fig Leaf is one of the better groups today in Norway.
Their influences are Emerson Lake & Palmer, Genesis, Peter
Hammill, Jimi Hendrix, King Crimson, Megadeth, Rolling Stones,
Santana, The Who, Yes and Frank Zappa, and I think you can hear a
little bit of all those artists in Fig Leaf's music.
2. Crucible "Over The Falls".
Album: "Tall Tales" released 1997.
This is my favorite track on this compilation. I really like the
organ and the guitar playing on this track. This track is really
breathing 70's progressive rock. I really hope I get the chance to
hear the whole album, as this track is a true progressive
masterpiece.
3. Deluc "Identity".
Album: "8th Wonder" released 1997.
An instrumental track with a band from Australia from their debut
CD. This is also one of the better tracks on this compilation. The
music is close to Progressive Metal, and if the whole album is of
the same standard it have to be really exciting.
4. Pruett & Davis Group "Ascension".
Album: "Time's Arrow" released 1997.
Wow, this is great! The track is almost entirely acoustic. Rick
Pruett and Mark Davis are both playing steel and nylon string
acoustic guitars, and they are accompanied by Jerry Peek on four
and six string bass guitars and a drummer named Chip Lunsford. The
four first tracks on this compilation are all of very high
standard.
5. Smokin' Granny "Crankcase".
Album: "Smokin' Granny" released 1997.
This is a great track with skilled players that are mixing funk,
jazz and prog. They're somewhat reminiscent of Boud Deun and Fred
Frith. The most remarkable thing is the great sax that has got a
leading role in the music. The guitar playing is really good too.
6. New Sun "Cyrus Gore".
Album: "Affects" released 1998
This is a reasonable track but a little bit uninteresting. It's
also very long with its 9:49 minutes. If they had kept the best
ideas from the song, and cut it down in length it might have been
more interesting.
7. Indeed "Poindexter's Army Of Hissing Android Alien Spiders".
Album: "Freak Mountain" released: to be announced.
This is a track from Indeed's forthcoming album. Indeed is a
one-man band with multi instrumentalist Brian Hirsch handling all
the playing. He's also one of the two founders of the Moonchild
label. On this track he's continuing on his already established
musical direction. As usual it's all-instrumental.
8. Jeremy "Earthquake".
Album: "Salt the Planet" release date to be announced.
Jeremy is, just like Brian Hirsch, a multi instrumentalist. He's
playing guitars, keyboards, bass and drums. The music is
instrumental electronic prog in the same vein as Brian Hirsch.
9. Blue Shift "Rome".
Album: "Not the Future I Ordered" released 1997.
A good track with a singer that is somewhat reminiscent to Jon
Anderson and Geddy Lee. An interesting prog band.
10. Magus "108 Steps To Babaji".
Album: "Traveller" released 1997.
This is an interesting track that is very calm and beautiful.
Music to relax too.
11. Truth In Advertisement "Ponderances On Things Above".
Album: "Balance" released 1996.
This is a two-man band that is playing very beautiful music. Mark
Reynolds is playing drums, keyboards, bass and singing, while Gina
Salá is handling the singing.
There are some great tracks on this CD, but also some fairly weak.
This is a good introduction to some interesting bands you should
check out. You just have to have some indulgence with the weaker
tracks.
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