LIVE AT ROSFEST 2005

I really like this band and it's potential to be a really good prog band. The studio Album Moments of Clarity is a great initial CD for this band from Florida. This is a good follow up to the first CD. If you know anything about me you would know I love live music especially live prog music. This CD shows that CV has some heart and soul to their music as well as well written songs and prog epics.

This is certainly not AOR. They are definitely drawing from their influences especially Yes and Kansas. The trick is can you make those influences into something that is unique to you. I think they do that pretty well. As with most American prog there is a definite signature of rock underlying the music that plays out harder live. The vocal harmonies are good and that says something in this day and age of lousy prog vocalists. Decent virtiousity in the bass, keys, drums guitars. The recording here is pretty good although some squelching in the upper range on a couple of songs.

I am looking forward to hearing their next release due out spring of 2006. They also will be at Calprog 2006. They will blow Kino off the stage. :-)

All of the selections here are taken from MoC except for a 16 minute plus tribute to prog masters Spocks beard, Yes, Kansas, Dream Theater and ELP and a new piece called In a World. For these two songs I will give it a 4. For In a WOrld I see this bands future and it looks bright.

I must say, I really loved Cryptic Vision's first CD, "Moments of Clarity", but seeing these guys perform live was like getting a direct infusion of nuclear power. From the opening notes these guys were ON. I was suddenly wide awake, aware and clearly in the presence of some kick ass great players. Todd Plant sang his heart out and man this dude could hit those high notes. By the end of the show he was totally spent and it was a good thing they had run out of time as I do not think Todd had even one short encore left in him. One cool thing these guys did was a medley supposedly paying homage to prog gods of days past. They started with "The Water" by Spock's Beard, Yes "Yours Is No Disgrace", Kansas "Song for America", Dream Theater "Erotomania" and ELP "Karn Evil 9". Now while I do not think bands like Dream Theater or even Spock's Beard should be or even could be considered prog gods of old, I suspect no one could argue that both those two bands are clearly influences of Cryptic Vision. I could not imagine a better opening act for Sunday and it was funny that while some missed the opening minutes of their set, most of the weekend attendees did get to see these guys and how they put their entire heart and soul in their music. Next year I bet a lot more people make sure they are on time for the Sunday opening band as you just never know. Cryptic Vision has definitely raised the bar.

Stephen Ellis, Prog4you.com