THE WORLD

Mid 80´s to 90´s beginning, the time when the art genre was left to ruin, falling down, but some heroes didn't abandon the boat; independent acts resisted - as I mentioned in Iconoclasta "soliloquio" and Coda reviews - now some more history: the 1985 "The Jewel" (4****) by Pendragon was one more vinyl salvation island in low creativity music ocean (popish was "the thing") and the 1991 "The world" (3***) was the reborn from ashes!

Maybe because of the dark ages fame, some 80's prog works don't get the respect they deserve.I consider the tracks of "The Jewel" 1985 vinyl "circus", "oh divineo" and "Alaska" among the best Pendragon ever made, they show more than easy listening neo prog, they have killer keyboards [by Rik Carter, Clive Nolan would join in "kowtow" (2**)] and guitar solo interplay! Harmonies were creative, bombastic and dynamic, at least in these 3 tracks.

Pendragon "The Jewel" with IQ ".lush attic"(1983) and "the Wake"(1985), Pallas and our mainstream saver Marillion projected the foundations for a new prog language. It's curious that even old mainstream got modern language keeping neat prog: ELPowell (1985), quite unexpected good effort. I'm concentrating this review in most famous England bands, I know in many countries prog was resisting as independent acts as I mentioned in Iconoclasta "soliloquio" and Coda reviews.

Anyway Pendragon and IQ succumbed to the popish plague; the first with the 1988 "kowtow" and the last with "Nomzamo" (1987). In this context we must give the credit to Hogarth Marillion 1989 "Season's End" (***) still a neat record [they would succumb with the 1991 "Holidays in eden"(*1/2)].

But it's not easy to kill prog. A peculiar story of going to commercialism for a later return to prog format occurred with Pendragon 1991 "The world". IQ would reborn in 1993 with "Ever" and Marillion in 1994 with "Brave". While "Ever was an outstanding return, "The World" was only a nice and beautiful record, too linear as keyboards were doing only a wall to Nick Barret guitar and vocals fantastic developments, there was no more killer solos like in "The Jewel", but extended beautiful harmonies. Oh yes, Clive Nolan was playing and producing many new bands in early 90´s as Casino, Shadowland, Landmarq, etc.in 1995 formed Arena. So the cd era arrived to prolification and here we are still listening prog. Hey I'm Gentle Giant, 70´s, adventurous and innovative music fan, just remembering how was the beginning of cd era.