PUSH & PROFIT

My first experience with Discipline started with their 1997 album "Unfolded Like Staircase". I was amazed with the music quality produced by this American prog band. When I visited their official site, I could see that the lead vocalist seemed like imitating Peter Gabriel with its mask. The music of Discipline can summarized this way, probably: early King Crimson with vocalist's voice quality in between Peter Hammill (VdGG) / Greenslade's or Nick Barrett (Pendragon) vocalist and the music is combined with neo prog. So what would it be like? Yeah, it's a mixture of everything, I think. But, you will find there is no such single track as bad or good ones as every single track is truly excellent. If you like symphonic prog music with soaring keyboard / organ sounds which sometimes turn out to be a mellotron, you will definitely enjoy this album.

The opening track "Diminished" (7:36) moves slowly in mellow style with good vocal clarity. The piano work that accompanies the singing in the middle of the track is really good. It's a good catchy opening track. The second track "The Reasoning Wall" (7:22) moves the music in more energetic way and giving a chance to guitar player to play his howling guitar work. It's an excellent track. "Carmilla" (9:39) is another excellent symphonic prog music with intriguing intro through combined guitar and soft keyboard work. The song provides balanced combination of ups and downs with emotional vocal work. The tiny keyboard work at background sounds like a mellotron. It reminds me to the music of King Crimson and Van der Graff Generator in simpler way. The song changes dramatically at approx minute 5:58 to the new King Crimson style especially on guitar work that is similar to Adrian Belew augmented by long sustain keyboard at background and then moves in crescendo with stunning guitar work

The music turns to break with slow tempo "The Nursery Year" (5:18) using powerful vocal and soft keyboard work. The song moves emotionally in gradual way with powerful vocal backed with music that turns into higher tones. "Faces Of The Pretty" (4:47) is probably the band's interpretation of straight rock music with stunning piano as well as guitar solo. "Systems" (7:26) brings the music back into serious theme where the song has good opening and transparent vocal. "Blueprint" (6:02) is an upbeat track with dynamic bass lines followed with nice keyboard / organ work. The album concludes with another nice track "America" (7:42) which has similar style with early Pink Floyd (Meddle album).

Overall, this is an album that is quite strong in terms of composition as well as performance. This can entertain those of you who love vintage nuance because this album is in a way influenced by King Crimson, Van der Graff and Genesis. Keep on proggin' .

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW