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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Neo-Prog Artistry !, August 15, 2000
If you are a fan of progressive rock music, this is most definitely one of the best bands to emerge from the milieu of neo-prog bands. Each of the four members are very skillful and tasteful musicians. The sound they create together is wonderfully symphonic and thematically well developed. Melodies weave constantly in rhythm and sound with excellent drum work that keeps the movements together with expressive percussive beats. Themes are developed by selecting the right instrument: be it; guitars, synthesizers, piano, etc. The music itself is a journey of aural magic. You just never know where the melody is going but it's exciting being taken there.The mellotron's are used extensively and add a very warm and full symphonic undercurrent to the ever changing stream of music. The guitar sings with a sustaining eerie rock tenor that finds itself lifted by the expansive sounds of harmonious keyboard rhythms. The songs evoke a range of emotion from positive to pensive to sometimes tragic. The solo performances are not your typical speed guitar and keyboard stuff but are very thought out melodies that string you along it's musical plight. There are no wasted notes here, it's all there for a reason. The bass guitar and percussion are married to provide a solid bed of intricate and moving counterpoint melodies. Listening to them alone takes another listening too, to appreciate what they together add to the framework of the piece. The overall sound of the band is very refreshing without being dreamy. And because the music is so complex and unpredictable in it's design you can't help but wait to savor every note. The vocal harmonies are very good and the singing is akin to gentle giant and genesis. The vocals are secondary to the music and I guess that's why so much of the time is spent on developing musical themes. The weakest point of Underground Railroad is their lyrics. In their attempt for an obscure and allegorical lyric nothing is really remembered in the message.Though, I don't want to minimize the fantastic vocal arrangements nor the vocal melodies themselves. But then again maybe their more interested in what they play than in what they say. Finally, I found this work to be a truly brilliant musical journey, rekindling my musical passions for exquisite progressive rock music.'Through and Through' is a must for any serious prog fan and one that will not dissappoint.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Progressive and avantgardistic, January 15, 2001
I know that review readers always want to have comparisons to other bands they know, but in this case, it's quite difficult, because this band has its very own distinctive style. A crossbreed of Spock's Beard, Echolyn, and Henry Cow is probably closest. The music is very complex and polyphonic, with massive synth arrangements. It frequently disintegrates rhythmically and harmonically, giving it a somewhat avantgardistic flavour. Most of the music is written by guitarist Bill Pohl and keyboarder Kurt Rongey, who have already published some prog rock on the italian "Mellow Records" label.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Shows Great Potential, October 11, 2004
I had the experience of seeing these songs played live at NEAR Fest in 2001.
Let me say first, these guys are more than capable players/composers who have a refreshing disregard for commercial concerns, staying true to their muse. They also have amazing ears for texture, mood and orchestration.
The Strong Points: Their instrumental ability, especially Kurt Rongey's lush symphonic keyboards and Bill Pohl's Holdsworth-inflected guitar work (with one big difference, he doesn't feel the need to spew out constant streams of 64th notes at Warp 8). They play very tight and really listen to each other. I love the unpredictable and mysterious chord progressions and melodies. How to describe them? Think choice bits of early Genesis, Happy The Man, Gentle Giant, a bit of Allan Holdsworth and Canterbury prog thrown in. A very dense, heady brew
The Weak Points: The lyrics seem pointlessly esoteric just to be esoteric. Kurt Rongey is one fine keyboardist/composer but vocalizing is NOT his forte'. Quite honestly, if the band went completely instrumental altogether it would work in their favor. Another pet peeve is the rather needless proliferation of gratuitous synth bleepings and what not, sometimes the music just needs to breathe and have open space.
If the band just took those last couple criticisms to heart and worked with them they would be one very potent instrumental band with lots of surprises and delights for any listener.
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