WITHOUT INTRODUCTION

A band that makes the golden age prog lover clamor "Have you heard these guys?", and one more drop in the bucket of brilliant but completely missed stateside progressive rock, Polyphony's only release is what seekers of the early stuff, the real deal, would sell their sister to the Arabs for. "How could I have missed this?" you wonder naively in deep denial that surely any old prog act worth knowing, you know. Psych/Space yes, but as part of a firmly symphonic framework I would describe more as post-psychedelic art rock: or what became Prog. King Crimson's influence is palpable in some places, and as an early review glibly suggests, "Try to imagine a band whom upon hearing ELP's 'Tarkus' for the first time indulges in heavy amounts of mescaline and drops by the studio to have a go". Fair enough, but there's a lot more to this work than some tripping, impressionable musicians having fun. This dog hunts.

Keyboardist Craig Massey's wonderful 'Juggernaut' is fourteen minutes of unrestrained organ-based prog hitting you like an old friend suddenly spotted, a shared language, a secret exchanged. I mean this is what Keith E. and the boys were doing between takes and on weekends, something Rick Wakeman could really sink his teeth into during a relaxed moment.

Mind you, these fellas don't match the seasoned virtuosity of those greats, but frankly this is the good stinky stuff after it's been laying in the sun for a couple weeks-- completely authentic Prog, and from a group of Americans. 'Ariels Flight' (a clear homage) cooks something fierce, just tops, with drummer Chris Spong hitting mad under Massey's relentless organ & Moog, neat little jazz breaks, unforeseen surprises, and guitarist Glenn Howard's very competent singing. It morphs into a circus clown boiled-as-an-owl after work as he stumbles to his trailer, and continues onto vocal and very prog 'Crimson Dagger'.

Yummy in my tummy. Some scrumptious old time Symph that'll smell-up your house with the odor of early progressive rock and not go away for days. Your pets and family will have to stay with friends but it's worth it if you have a taste for the classic era with a rough edge. Fantastic.