EPILÓGUS

Panta Rhei was a Hungarian four piece band that made music between 1974 and 1982. Then keyboard player Kalman Matolscy founded P.R. Computer with some other members of Panta Rhei (between 1982 and 1987).

On this CD you will find 18 compositions from both periods. Panta Rhei their sound is a pleasant mix of classical, rock, synthi-pop and symphonic rock. The one moment you will hear heavy classical organ waves, the other moment a catchy rhythm and cheerful synthesizer runs. During my listening sessions bands Walter (now Wendy) Carlos came up to my mind as bands like Trace, ELP and Ekseption (without brass) and the synthy-pop from The Eighties. Most songs are keyboard-dominated (organ, synthesizers, strings, clavinet), the rhythm-section plays fluent and dynamic and at some moments you can enjoy electric guitar and female choir (no Mellotron!). My highlight is the long opener Peer Gynte Suite featuring tasteful, fat synthesizer flights and many fluent and melodic shifting moods. All other tracks are short (around 3 minutes), they sound pleasant and varied.

EPILOGUS: FILM, SYMPHONIC ROCK, ELECTRONIC AND FUSION MUSIC - all on one compilation!!

There are 3 versions of this Compilation, One CD with 18 tracks,a Double CD with the 18 tracks plus extra live concerts, film soundtracks and for the first time the entire 1976/77 "Bartok" album on CD, and a legal download version with 11 tracks.

The version I am reviewing is the version with 11 tracks.

I agree with Eric's review saying the compilation has Varied and Pleasant tracks, this compilation has many styles, because Panta Rhei - tried many styles including Symphonic Prog Rock, late 1970s Progressive Funk/Jazz Rock and 1980s Instrumental Electronica - even soundtrack for Films and apparently Ballet as well.

"Peer Gynt Suite" a 20 minute symphonic epic heaven, Panta Rhei covers Grieg's composition, and has many changes throughout, Kalman Matolcsy - Hammond organ and analogue synth wizardry is a highlight of this song, including a powerful performance of the Rhythm section from Beke and Szalay, Alex Szalay manages to add a modest guitar solo during the last moments of the track, excellent full on Prog, with a nice choir voice, clearly the best track on the compilation.

"Tropical Fever","Grand Canyon" and "Mandarin": these three tracks consist of shorter timed tracks, with a completely different style from the previous track, the tracks are more jazz orientated, with funk bass lines and a disco-esqe and really retro analogue synths, this can cause difficulties at times, but more listening is required to love the tracks better, these Jazz fusion tracks are quite good.

The other tracks vary style and this time less rock orientated, more electronic, in fact these tracks are pure electronic, some are quite good, but the rest seem poor and cheesy, which is a let down, and the worst less proggier than the Fusion / Symphonic tracks. "Breaking Waves" - OK but nothing special, electronic ballad track, 80s style with the cheaply synths, not the same essence as the electronic prog of the 1970s.

"Riviera" - Quite boring, this is a rather dull and slow synth tracks with really cheesy synths, sound commercial and sound like a cheap 80s action cop TV series, a mediocre track that is not prog either.

"Purple River" - Beter track but still lacking character,this Electronica tracks is a bit more Prog this time, with synth solos sounds like an Moog synth from the 1970s, the synths has a nice landscape like the early Wakeman era of Yes sounding.

"Avalanche" - Sounds like a soundtrack for an action film, again recorded during the mid 1980s, this electronic track is more high tech possibly recorded with a Fairlight Computer, very commercial sounding, but does have some Prog Tendencies, this is a more louder, upbeat track with a rhythm making more easier to the listener,this track is average but not Excellent.

"Walk In The Forest" - A ballad electronic track which is rather simple and not very stimulating, the synths are weak and the song is more mediocre

"USA" - Sounds like another Computerized track, and is a middle of the road, simple composition, track, this is poor track that I not really fond of.

"Memories" - Very Poor and my least favorite track, this track makes me cringe a lot and has embarrassing synth solos, sorry but "Memories" is quite cheesy and depressing.

In general a Good compilation with some weak tracks, the Peer Gynt Suite will be appreciated by Proggers and "Tropical Fever" is another personal favorite, some electronic tracks are nice but some of the others are not. Worth a listen and a ideal compilation if your new to this band and want a taster of their music. Good but not really essential, the 18 track and double CD would be a better value, the 18 track version, listed on PA features tracks from the 1983 LP "PR Computer" with Electronic music recorded on custom build synthesizers and the music is much better and will appeal better to Prog fans.

Peer-less

"Epilogus", while technically a compilation, is one of the most interesting releases by Panta Rhei. The album consists of a mixture of unreleased material, and a selection of tracks from the band's second album "PR computer".

The feature track here is a 22 minute interpretation of Grieg's " Peer Gynt Suite" recorded in 1976. The piece, which features the voices of Bartok Choir of the Eotvos University; opens with the most familiar part of the suite, "Morning", with the main theme being vocalised by the choir. The vocalising continues intermittently throughout the track, supported by atmospheric keyboards. Kalman Matolcsy adds some improvised keyboards including synthesised strings and Wakeman like synth runs as the piece develops well beyond Grieg's original work. About a third of the way through, the familiar strains of "Hall of the mountain king" (as used by Rick Wakeman on "Journey to the centre of the earth") can be heard, the section developing to a frantic crescendo before the drums pull the synths back for an encore. This really is a quite remarkable piece which has been criminally hidden away for too long. The band show a confidence and proficiency here which, had they exploited it, could have taken them to lofty heights.

Seven of the tracks are lifted straight from the band's second album "PR computer". These are all short synthesiser dominated pieces reminiscent of the likes of Vangelis, Wakeman and Jarre. While they are enjoyable, they are rather lightweight and pop based, with little lasting appeal.

The remaining 10 tracks are previously unreleased recordings made by the band between 1984 and 1987. The line up on these tracks is the trio which recorded "PR computer", and is thus devoid of drums or vocals. Tracks such as "Tropical fever" and "Grand Canyon" reflect the jazz side of the band's influences more than anything on their two official albums had done, the synthesiser being decidedly funky at times. Most of the other unreleased tracks here could have been included on the "PR computer" album, as they are similar to the synthesiser dominated pop which appeared there. As such, they are pleasant in a Jean Michel Jarre sort of way, without ever really offering anything substantial. The best of the bunch is "Avalanche", a sub-3 minute run through some commercial but alluring synth.

In all, "Epilogus" is an album dominated by one inspired, unique, and essential piece. The reminder unfortunately comes across as something akin to filler in comparison; which is admittedly unfair, but a conclusion most listeners will be likely to reach.

This album may still be available for free download via the band's official website. If it is, I would recommend it as the "Peer Gynt suite" alone is essential listening.