EMKOG SAMPLER

BIG apology to the Emkog that I only had a chance to write a review about this excellent sampler today even though I already received the CD couple of months ago. But it does not mean that I never listen to this sampler. In fact, I have been listening to it many times because of two reasons: first, I am happy there are many new prog groups that would continue to carry progressive music flag in the future - and they are good ones. Two, the sampler is really excellent because it combines various types of prog music which some of the bands I was quite familiar through a documentary DVD titled Romantic Warriors.

Deluge Grander was the one that I knew from Romantic Warriors DVD and it really impressed me when they performed live - especially the keyboard player. In this ampler DG opens its work with 'The Solitude of Miranda' which really blew me away at first spin. I am sure you will agree with me that their music is dynamic, many tempo changes and quite fast in tempo. It continues beautifully with the next track 'Birds Flying Into Buildings' by Birds and Buildings which reminds me the music is quite in the vein of Passport with great sax work backed with keyboard and dynamic drumming - with relatively fast tempo. 'Art of the Earth' by All Over Everywhere starts mellow with piano touch back by basslines and vibraphone followed with female vocal in distanced voice style. The music is more symphonic than having jazz components like the two previous tracks. 'Yucatan 65: The Agitation of the Mass (excerpt)' by Birds and Buildings starts nicely with acoustic guitar work plus flute in atmospheric style. The music moves nicely with great guitar work. 'Nine Against Ten' by Cerebus Effect starts with fast tempo complex music using keyboard as main instrument. It reminds me to ELP even though it's not the same style. The guitar solo is really stunning. The track has good interlude with sort of jazzy style using bass guitar solo. 'Miracle Pigeon (early version)' by Birds And Buildings is also another excellent track with relatively complex composition. 'Gratitude' by All Over Everywhere is another symphonic prog / neo prog music with female vocal.

At the end of the sampler there is 'A Big Blob of Demos and Early Versions of Forthcoming Music' with relatively long duration (20:13) which I also enjoy the music - mainly dominated with keyboard and piano.

Overall, it's an excellent prog music collection (sampler) even though the sound quality is not that good; maybe because it's just a sampler. Keep on proggin' ....!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW