STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

In the mid-Nineties I discovered the incredible progrock from the Hungarian formation After Crying. This 2-CD set is a very comprehensive musical compilation of their best work and their stunning skills on a wide range of instruments. You can compare After Crying with Gentle Giant concerning the complexity of the music and versatility of every musician. The sound of their music has elements from ELP (bombastic keyboards) and King Crimson (Fripperian guitar) but in general it's a unique blend of classical, jazz, rock, symphonic and avant-garde: a combination of Keith Emerson keyboards, trumpet, fiery electric guitar in "Viadukt", soaring keyboards, repetetive guitarplay and powerful drumbeats in "Stalker", howling electric guitar, a wailing cello and powerful trumpet in "Suburban night", piano, cello and contrabas in the Gentle Giant sounding "Goblin dance", sensitive Fripperian guitar (like Edhels) in "Pilgrim's march" and a superb rendition of King Crimson's classic piece "Starless", goose bumps! After Crying doesn't make very accesible progrock because the combination of classical instruments (please, take a look at the track listing) and modern electric equipment and the variety of styles begs for an adventurous taste and most progheads are very conservative. An example: a few years ago I attended a gig in Holland during their world tour, I was one of the 40 visitors....! But this didn't bother the band, they played very inspired and enjoyed the hugh response from the 40 fans. EXCELLENT AND UNIQUE PROG!!

Available as both an 'essential' single CD or as a full length double (which also contains 3 mp3 songs as well as plenty of other stuff to download), this captures Hungary's top progressive band on the road. And this really is progressive rock at its' very best. While in some ways similar to King Crimson (the one cover is of "Starless" which features guest John Wetton on bass and vocals), they are much more diverse than that. Songs veer from the very short to the very long, from the simple to the incredibly intricate. During the opener "Viaduct" there is a breathtaking trumpet run (yes, trumpet) competing with the electric guitar for dominance.

It is not an album to be played in the background, but rather one that demands total attention and if the listener is prepared to give the time then they will be much rewarded. Hungary has a lot to offer in the way of music, and After Crying have already performed at Baja Prog in Mexico. This is their eighth (and ninth) album on Periferic, and all that I have heard of theirs I have most definitely enjoyed. If you like 'proper' prog, and not 'neo-prog' then search these guys out.

Feedback #57, March 2000