EMKOG SAMPLER

This sampler is a quite rare case, when such kind of release is released by many of PA collaborators and even more - have high ratings from them! Having this release for some months, I return to listen it time to time, so I have my matured opinion on it right now.

Being not a fan of symphonic prog (and similar/related music, as over-arranged mellow crossover, bombastic eclectic,etc), and having no love/interest for samplers/compilations in general, I obviously was far not the best person for such release.

So - besides of all reviews,written by guys with much bigger interest and experience in such music, my on ecould be mostly interesting for music fans as I am.

For very beginning - I really like this album! I wonder by myself, but it's truth! Music there in whole is melodic modern keyboards based progressive rock without being too bombastic, obviously cloned from some great bands of the past, and professionally played.

All the idea of this compilation is just to represent best examples of musical bands/projects, founded by or related with multi instrumentalist,vocalist and producer Dan Britton. To be honest, I never heard any of this band before.

Birds and Buildings are represented by 3 songs, so they are let say head-liner of this release. Very competent well-balanced melodic music, with all space for all instruments (including sax) soloing. Kind of high quality modern prog rock (mainstream) in its best. In moments close to progressive fusion, with nice guitar work, this band is my biggest sympathy from all presented on this compilation.

Deluge Grander sound quite similar, but keyboards dominate there, and all sound is more symphonic and even bombastic in some moments (excellent Spanish guitar opening still presented though). I really like both songs as well. To be honest, bigger part of material presented sound as one band's different time and line-up's releases, what is not strange at all.

All Over Everywhere is more multi-instrumentalist and composer Trinna Kesner's project, just with Dan Britton as collaborated musician. Music is more different from both previous bands, compositionally and by sound, more kind of melodic dreamy songs with very pleasant female vocals.

Cerebus Effect, last band,presented on this compilation, is prog jazz fusion project (with Canterbury influence), where Dan Britton was just one of band's member. Again , very competent and professional composition, well played as well.

Besides of bands/compositions as above, all other CD space is filled with one long (20+ minutes) demo medley of outakes, alternative versions and some future compositions).

I believe that this sampler was released just to attract listeners attention to musical bands, working under Dan Britton's Emkog label's umbrella. And I can confirm this release does this work perfectly.