EPILÓGUS

There are 3 versions of this Compilation, One CD with 18 tracks,a Double CD with the 18 tracks plus extra live concerts, film soundtracks and for the first time the entire 1976/77 "Bartok" album on CD, and a legal download version with 11 tracks.

The version I am reviewing is the version with 11 tracks.

I agree with Eric's review saying the compilation has Varied and Pleasant tracks, this compilation has many styles, because Panta Rhei - tried many styles including Symphonic Prog Rock, late 1970s Progressive Funk/Jazz Rock and 1980s Instrumental Electronica - even soundtrack for Films and apparently Ballet as well.

"Peer Gynt Suite" a 20 minute symphonic epic heaven, Panta Rhei covers Grieg's composition, and has many changes throughout, Kalman Matolcsy - Hammond organ and analogue synth wizardry is a highlight of this song, including a powerful performance of the Rhythm section from Beke and Szalay, Alex Szalay manages to add a modest guitar solo during the last moments of the track, excellent full on Prog, with a nice choir voice, clearly the best track on the compilation.

"Tropical Fever","Grand Canyon" and "Mandarin": these three tracks consist of shorter timed tracks, with a completely different style from the previous track, the tracks are more jazz orientated, with funk bass lines and a disco-esqe and really retro analogue synths, this can cause difficulties at times, but more listening is required to love the tracks better, these Jazz fusion tracks are quite good.

The other tracks vary style and this time less rock orientated, more electronic, in fact these tracks are pure electronic, some are quite good, but the rest seem poor and cheesy, which is a let down, and the worst less proggier than the Fusion / Symphonic tracks. "Breaking Waves" - OK but nothing special, electronic ballad track, 80s style with the cheaply synths, not the same essence as the electronic prog of the 1970s.

"Riviera" - Quite boring, this is a rather dull and slow synth tracks with really cheesy synths, sound commercial and sound like a cheap 80s action cop TV series, a mediocre track that is not prog either.

"Purple River" - Beter track but still lacking character,this Electronica tracks is a bit more Prog this time, with synth solos sounds like an Moog synth from the 1970s, the synths has a nice landscape like the early Wakeman era of Yes sounding.

"Avalanche" - Sounds like a soundtrack for an action film, again recorded during the mid 1980s, this electronic track is more high tech possibly recorded with a Fairlight Computer, very commercial sounding, but does have some Prog Tendencies, this is a more louder, upbeat track with a rhythm making more easier to the listener,this track is average but not Excellent.

"Walk In The Forest" - A ballad electronic track which is rather simple and not very stimulating, the synths are weak and the song is more mediocre

"USA" - Sounds like another Computerized track, and is a middle of the road, simple composition, track, this is poor track that I not really fond of.

"Memories" - Very Poor and my least favorite track, this track makes me cringe a lot and has embarrassing synth solos, sorry but "Memories" is quite cheesy and depressing.

In general a Good compilation with some weak tracks, the Peer Gynt Suite will be appreciated by Proggers and "Tropical Fever" is another personal favorite, some electronic tracks are nice but some of the others are not. Worth a listen and a ideal compilation if your new to this band and want a taster of their music. Good but not really essential, the 18 track and double CD would be a better value, the 18 track version, listed on PA features tracks from the 1983 LP "PR Computer" with Electronic music recorded on custom build synthesizers and the music is much better and will appeal better to Prog fans.

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