CAVERNS OF YOUR BRAIN

So this is Prog American Style? New Orleans band Lift pay tribute to the giants of Symphonic Prog such as Yes , Genesis, and ELP with Caverns of Your Brain. Originally released in the late 1970's as a bootleg LP, it was reissued on CD in the early 90's. My own copy was "permanently borrowed" from a friend who knew all-too-well about my musical tastes and didn't really expect it back anyway. With Banks-esque keyboards, Squire-like bass guitar, and Anderson-inspired vocals, Caverns of Your Brain contains four tracks that sound as if they could have been written and recorded from across the pond back in 1972.

"Simplicity" is a rousing opener with a soaring vocal from Courteny Hilton-Green and mellotron from Chip Gremillion over superb rhythm section work from Grevemberg and Kelleher. "Caverns" follows with beautiful keyboards from Gremillion and nimble-fingered guitar work from Ricahrd Huxen. "Buttercup Boogie" is a hard driving boogie track that keeps its prog leanings thanks to beautiful B3 and synth work from Gremillion as well as Huxen's superb lead guitar. However, the highlight of the LP is the long closing track "Tripping Over the Rainbow". With Gremillion's ethereal B3 and synth over more rhythm section excellence from Grevemberg and Kelleher, this tune provides some of the most dynamic moments of Caverns of Your Brain.

Yes, this particular album is a rarity, but these tunes are avaiable in other compilations/packages direct from Greg Walker. Even though it's highly derivative, it is adventurous music. So if you are true prog connoisseur, and you can find Caverns of Your Brain, by all means get it. It is highly recommended!