BOOK IN HAND

A very talented multi-instrumentalist but above all a gifted keyboardist,American musician Kurt Rongey is mostly known as a member of complex prog rock outfit The Underground Railroad.Already at the age of 10,Kurt had learned piano and drums,later to study composition and Classical piano.While studying,Kurt prepared his first solo work,eventually released in 1991 on his own Long Dark Music label.

''Book in hand'' is an impressive mix of Symphonic Rock and Avant-Fusion with plenty of great keyboard work.More impressively,Mr. Rongey handles all instruments and vocals in this album with no help at all from other musicians,making this difficult mix quite an achievement.His classical studies are evident in parts of his compositions,especially in the more symphonic-oriented passages,where you can listen to obvious GENESIS and E.L.P. influences,characterized by the bombastic Hammond organ,piano and church organ work.This particular style is often supported by Fusion-esque complicated keyboard parts and atmospheric grandiose synths with a strong amount of breaks in the style of U.K.,TUNNELS and early MASTERMIND.Some tracks though like ''A glance'' or the following ''Dark'' are almost entirely built around synths in an Avant-Symphonic-Electronic style with little variety but with a dominant obscure atmosphere you can't do else but enjoying.

This is a great work,close to the likes of bands like ATAVISM OF TWILIGHT,BIRDS AND BUILDINGS or DELUGE GRANDER.A nice Fusion/Symphonic Rock affair with lots of twists and turns and a fantastic item for keyboard fanatics.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.