CRESSIDA

I rate this a five after very careful consideration. Ultimately, the organ lines won out: this band has to be heard to be believed. Angus Cullen's vocals are warm, rich, and complicated, with an impressive amount of control, and Peter Jennings is a magician, weaving complex organ lines that seem, in the moment, effortless. Often compared to other early English prog groups (Fantasy, Gracious etc.), and likewise often intimated to be the least of this august company, I would argue the inverse. There is a competence of songwriting, a sense that is both holistic and powerful - putting on a Cressida album is, for me, an act of complete trust in a band. There are no moments of sudden mediocrity or forgettable filler. Consistency, coupled with some of the best lyrical work in early prog, elevate this the status of completely necessary music. Find it. Listen. Enjoy.