INVENTION OF KNOWLEDGE

As a teenage prog fan I was privileged to have listen and buying many of the classic albums during the early 70's. My passion for the genre waned however during the 80's, and it wasn't until the mid of the 90's and the emergence of band's like Glass Hammer, Spock's Beard and The Flower Kings, fronted by Roine Stolt, that my interest was rekindled. Somehow they captured and revitalised the sound and the spirit of the early 70's, whilst retaining their own identity.

However, my personal tastes have shifted towards to a darker and heavier music in the past years, in part due to the influences of my two sons. Still, I've always kept in constant contact with my musical roots, namely Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Genesis, Camel, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant and Van Der Graaf Generator, the bands that have had the longest and greatest impact during my lifetime, since my teenage beginning until these days.

Anderson and Stolt are two prog musicians that began their musical career in the 70's. Anderson is best known as the lead singer of the prog rock band Yes, which he co-founded in 1968 with bassist Chris Squire. He was a member of the band across three tenures between 1968 and 2008. Many consider him as the soul of Yes. He is also noted for his solo career and collaborations with some artists, including Vangelis, Roine Stolt and Jean-Luc Ponty. He has also appeared on albums of King Crimson, Tangerine Dream, Iron Butterfly, Mike Oldfield and Glass Hammer. Stolt is a Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer. He is a major figure in the Sweden's prog rock history. Many consider him as the father of the Swedish prog rock. He was in two of his country's most successful prog rock bands, Kaipa in the 70's and The Flower Kings in the 90's. He has collaborated with other prog artists, participating in many other prog projects.

It was in that context that "Invention Of Knowledge" falls. Still and despite so many years of career of both, Anderson and Stolt were never together in the studio. In fact, the two met only twice. Anderson sent music to Stolt, including those he had worked with some of his other musical contacts years before. Anderson and Stolt continued to develop the original ideas via Internet, and in 2015, Stolt then put together a high class ensemble that recorded the music.

When we heard that two legendary figures of prog rock, the ex-Yes vocalist Anderson, and Stolt of The Flower Kings, Transatlantic, and Kaipa, would be joining together to create an album, expectations were indeed quite high. Thankfully, the duo didn't frustrated all those expectations, as their initial recording together, "Invention Of Knowledge", brings together all the elements of what we love about all the classic acts they have each been involved with over the years.

The music contained on "Invention Of Knowledge" is melodic symphonic prog rock music, filled with grand sweeping arrangements that allow Anderson his still enchanting vocal delivery. Stolt with his tasty guitar playing is great, at times seeming to pay tribute to the legendary Steve Howe. The album sounds like a meeting of Yes and The Flower Kings, but I don't think any of us expected anything otherwise, really. Much of "Invention Of Knowledge" has an epic, long form broadness that isn't unlike "Tales From Topographic Oceans" or some of The Flower Kings more grandiose releases such as "Unfold The Future" or "The Sum Of No Evil". The opening three part title suite is a perfect example of that, chock full of majestic arrangements that allow Stolt's nimble guitar lines to weave and battle with quirky keyboard tapestries, all while Anderson's pixie melodies grab the listener by the heart. "Knowing" has a more "Going For The One" feel, with a catchy melody that will instantly grab you much like "Wonderous Stories" did all those years ago, but at over 10 minutes long, of course it leaves plenty of room for alluring guitar solos, sumptuous keyboards, and some few lead seductive bass lines. The charming "Chase And Harmony" combines lush, pastoral sections with moments of symphonic, almost classical orchestrations, Stolt's guitar work at times captures the majesty of Brian May, while the emotional three part "Everybody Heals" suite contains some lovely Anderson's lead vocals supported by rich backing vocals and gorgeous piano and synthesizer works, with Stolt also dropping in a few inspired lead guitar solos. The closing number "Know..." pushes past the 11minute timeframe and is easily the most pastoral track here on "Invention Of Knowledge", filled with drifting keyboard washes, melodic guitar leads, and some Anderson's great vocal passages.

Conclusion: If you are a bit disappointed by the most recent Yes' offering, I urge you to give "Invention Of Knowledge" a try. You might be pleasantly surprised. "Invention Of Knowledge" maybe falls short of perfection, but this is prog personified and it's easily one of the strongest progressive rock albums released in the last years by the classic prog generation. It might sounds to you too much close to "Tales From Topographic Oceans" or to "Olias Of Sunhillow", but I don't care. I still love both albums. This is a majestic epic prog album, hand crafted by two of the legendary masters of the genre. Get your copy of this beautiful piece and thank you Anderson and Stolt for sharing this great music with us.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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