AFTER THE STORM

There is a very good chance that you haven't heard 17 of the 24 songs that are on this two disc set. The vast majority of these songs were previously unreleased and all the songs have been donated by the artists to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Nearfest and Nearfest Records have donated the manufacturing costs as well. All funds raised through the sale of this double cd set are going to Habitat for Humanity. I have to say that the music impressed me so much that I seriously considered giving this a 5 star rating. Yes, it's that good ! And there is so much variety, most of the Prog genres are represented.

Disc one starts off with ECHOLYN's "15 Days", it was written specifically for this compilation. Great lyrics as you can imagine as well as some terrific hammond organ play.This is a powerful song man. HAPPY THE MAN is up next with "Libby It Is" recorded live at ProgDay 2005. This is a previously unreleased instrumental, and it's wondrous. FM's "Random Harvest" from "Surveillance" had not been released on cd when this compilation was put together. Ben Mink on electric violin is great, as are the vocals and backing vocals. CAMEL's "After All These Years" was originally released on the Japanese version of "A Nod And A Wink". The guitar solos from Latimer are both beautiful and emotional. Up next is Mike Keneally and he covers both "Time Table" and "Apocalypse in 9/8" from GENESIS in this song. Some amazing guitar late in this one. SPOCK'S BEARD does "Shining Star" live. The original version is on "Feel Euphoria".The guitar really stands out on this one. IQ gives a song called "Chemical Rain" and this really is the work of Michael Holmes who wrote and produced it. He sampled Peter Nicholls vocals from "Subterranea" and did the rest himself in what is an atmospheric IQ song like you have never heard before. KRAAN adds a new song called "Silver Buildings" from there latest album called "Psychedelic Man". I will be searching for this album because this song is so good. Hendrix sounding guitar, with some mellow passages. MOSTLY AUTUMN does an uptempo song with female vocals called "Ghost in Dreamland" from "Storms Over Still Waters". IZZ follows with a song called "My River Flows" the title track. The lead guitarist can flat out play, as evidenced here. Some ripping guitar solos. From "Evolution" NEKTAR does "Phased By The Storm" which has some good organ play and Gilmour like guitar solos. The mellotron doesn't hurt either. Sean Malone performs a song called "Grace" that was recorded live at NEARfest 2004. I can only imagine how emotional it must have been to hear and see this played live.This is a beautiful and tender song folks.

Disc Two starts off with a KANSAS song called "Song For America" with help from The London Symphony Orchestra. This was originally released on "Always Never The Same". It was so good to hear Roine's vocals on the next song by THE FLOWER KINGS. It seems like it's been a while since i've played this great band. They offer up an alternate mix of "A King's Prayer". Another powerful and emotional song. WOODENHEAD who are from the New Orlean's area do "Buzz Beat" live. I hadn't heard this band before now but after listening to this all week I am going to get at least one of their albums. I love this song ! Fripp-like guitar with some killer bass and check out the drumming. DJAM KARET are another incredible band who treat us with "The Shattering Sky" an instrumental that starts out a little experimental before we get some intricate guitar, followed by mellotron (yes !) organ and some nice bass lines. Neal Morse gives us "Sleeping Jesus" a mellow live song with Portnoy on drums. The lyrics are meaningful and Portnoy plays like he's from another planet ! Unbelieveable drumming towards the end of this song. THE MUFFINS do "Essay R" an alternative mix from the "Bandwidth" album. The horns sound great and there is a blistering guitar solo too. I need to find this album. CARAVAN does "Love Song With A Flute" with Pye Hastings on vocals and Jimmy Hastings on flute, and Jimmy's incredible. ANGLAGARD blesses us with the bonus track that is on "Hybris" called "Ganglat Fran Knapptibble". And what a song it is with warm flute melodies and mellotron. Talk about complex ! LITTLE ATLAS are great ! The guitar sounds fantastic on this song called "On And On". ARJEN ANTHONY LUCASSEN does an alternate version of "Pools Of Sorrow / Not Over You". I like the acoustic guitar with the lead guitar over top. This turns into a spacey PINK FLOYD like tune. Nice. CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO give us a live recording of KING CRIMSON covers like "21st Century Schizoid Man" and "Vrooom", they call it "Zudoko Bushi". The sound isn't the best on this one, but it's cool having Tony Levin on bass and Pat Mastelotto on drums. The last song is a good one from PENDRAGOn called "Sou By Sou 'West". It's from their latest record called "Believe". With Nick Barrett, Clive Nolan, Peter Gee and Fudge Smith, enough said.

The prog community is trying to do it's share, and I think it's cool that we can all help out and get some amazing music in the process.