PROGNOSIS 2.2

This is the latest sampler from the Classic Rock Presents Prog magazine. The rumour on the street is that this magazine will soon be called simply "Prog" and will get a makeover of sorts. I'm glad to hear it's doing well. This particular sampler has songs that are all new to me, in fact i''ve only heard three of the eleven artists featured. So yeah it was interesting to hear some new music and overall this is a pretty good record.

Ben Craven is up first with an okay track that opens with atmosphere as the guitar comes in. It's building before it settles around 3 minutes and almost spoken vocals follow. BLUENECK is next with a mellow opening with reserved vocals, piano and strings. It's fuller after 3 minutes when the vocals stop as this continues to the end. Not the greatest song in my opinion. COMEDY OF ERRORS is better. I like the vocals and the contrasts. A nice instrumental section ends it. DISTRICT MYTHS opens with laid back piano as it builds including the addition of vocals. It settles 1 1/2 minutes in but not for long. Frank Carducci offers up the best track so far. It's the longest at around 10 minutes. Piano plays over top before we get a calm with vocals a minute in. I'm reminded of older PENDRAGON 2 1/2 minutes in. Another calm around 5 1/2 minutes and flute comes in too. Reserved vocals before 7 minutes then it kicks back in at 8 minutes.

IONA's "Another Realm" is next although it's really an edited version of part II of it. A Celtic vibe with piano, laid back vocals and a beat before we get some really good guitar. Atmosphere ends it. KNIGHT AREA's "Summerland" is one of the better songs. It's quite powerful with lots of synths. I like the guitar solo late. Guy Manning is next with my favourite song on here by quite a bit. It's the passion and emotion that really comes through, and it's the only track on here that moves me. It sounds like aboe, flute, piano and later some steller guitar. My God ! So good. MORPHEUS RISING is another excellent tune. Atmosphere to start as chunky bass then drums join in. Riffs follow then vocals. It's a fairly heavy, mid paced song. Great sound here. MR.SO & SO has some good lyrics and I like the acoustic guitar early on. Piano and vocals after 2 minutes then it kicks in with guitar. OZONE PLAYER & Matt Howarth end it in style. A cool sounding rhythm and it picks up after a minute. Vocal melodies a minute later.

So some interesting music to check out for anyone who bought this edition.