CONFLICT AND DREAMS

This album is my first experience with CAIRO. I did hear a better than average rendition of "Squonk" on a tribute to GENESIS CD put out by their label, MAGNA CARTA. I'd heard they were supposed to be some kind of ELP clone and while there are some moments where they sound incredibly like the former, that make them no different from let's say... THE FLOWER KINGS who also do a good ELP. This album is all over the place when it comes to picking out influential references including GENESIS and even RUSH. What I like about this album is the sencerity in the compositions. They aren't so much aping the great bands, more like paying homage to their predicessors. Their music in terms of content and fluidity is their own.

I can't say that you will hear anything that hasn't been heard before if you're a long time fan of the genre as I am, but it's done with enough tweaking and enough freshness that it doesn't take away from the fact that this band is above average in musicianship and in creativity. None of their songs are "knockoffs" of older more traditional songs. You won't catch yourself going, "that sounds like Supper's Ready" or that reminds me of "Roundabout". or any such nonsense. The most amazing thing to me about this CD and the band that produced it, are from the U.S. I wasn't sure American bands had the wherewithall to produce this quality progressive material. NORTH STAR got close with "TEMPEST" but in the end they missed the mark.

This album is a good addition to any collection but just misses the "Essential" tag by a hair.