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Various Artists (Concept albums & Themed compilations) - Romantic Warriors: A Progressive Music Saga CD (album) cover

ROMANTIC WARRIORS: A PROGRESSIVE MUSIC SAGA

Various Artists (Concept albums & Themed compilations)

 

Various Genres

3.90 | 18 ratings

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Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
5 stars What do you expect more from a progressive music documentary?

Whenever I watched the live DVD of prog bands like Transatlantic, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, Marillion, The Flower Kings, etc. I always interested with what typically called as 'bonus' material or in some cases 'disc 2' that comprises 'the making of' or 'the stories behind the scenes. To me, that is more interesting to watch than the concert itself. Why? By watching it then I know what is the concept behind the making of the DVD. One of the DVDs that I enjoyed very much on the bonus material was one of the Steve Hackett's ones (I completely forget which title). Sometime the bonus material could improve my appreciation towards the concert or the 'main menu' DVD for example the 'Genesis When In Rome'. The concert did not impress me musically but when I looked at the concept I was amazed then with the DVD despite moderate musical quality due to degrading voice of Phil Collins.

Amazing Progressive Music Documentary

This prog documentary impressed me the first time I got the package. First, I like the artwork that is really wonderful, depicting the progressive nuance and I felt like this is dedicated to me, I felt like I live in the best environment that fits my taste, really! Well, you might say it's simple because it's just a digipak packaging but the meaning of the artwork tells the whole story of progressive music. It's like saying 'Welcome to progressive world mannn?!!!'. It serves like a welcoming speech for the potential watchers. Second, I love the contents of the DVD which really fits with the excellent sub-title: 'A Progressive Music Saga'. Well, of course the main title reminds me to the legendary album by Return to Forever, one of my idols in prog music. Typically, I learned the typically stuff specific to one band only because the DVD was released by that band. But in here I got the whole picture of progressive world.

There are five chapters in the DVD: RoSfest & Prog World Map, Orion Sound Studio, Gentle Giant, ProgDay, NEARfest. Each chapter serves its purpose nicely. Wha surprised me really is the sound quality. Before I played the DVD I thought that the sound would be like a bootleg record. It's not. You will hear most of the footages with excellent sound production.

It's by coincidence that prior to watching this DVD I watched, with my proghead friends, the Rush 'Beyond the Lighted Stage' which is also a documentary of the band. But this RW DVD tells the story about the music that we all love: progressive. Since the opening part of the DVD I already impressed with the narration as well as short speeches by prog musicians starting with DFA about how they made prog music, Phideaux, Cheer- Accident, Roine Stolt. The good thing about having the speeches were the live footage like the concert by Karmakanic demonstrating Roine's guitar solo as well as Jonas Reingold bass-playing. The speech by Mike Potter is also very nice and encouraging as he tells a bit of history about progressive rock history with bands like King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, etc. The other thing interesting is the cast of rooms full with progrock posters. This is something that I really envy because I do NOT have any one of those posters posted beautifully on the wall.

I have seen references of prog music usually on a printed material like books and this is my first time watching a DVD about the music that I really love. One thing very innovative about this DVD is the appearance of progressive world map with its history starting from 1966 with musicians like Jeff Beck, Procol Harum and Moody Blues. None of these musician / bands I have never considered it as prog music but they had strong influence to the development of prog music. The idea of putting the progressive rock history in the forms of map with narration (starting at minute 9:55) is really innovative and brilliant. I cannot imagine how much the effort that has been spent by the movie maker as typically the prog history dealt only with time, not much with 'places' in the world map. The narration while the map is indicated by a blinking light is very good and it's encouraging ? especially for those who were there in late 60s and late seventies.

The story also tells about how prog was dwindled by punk music. But the story goes on with Scandinavian bands as well as US progressive metal. It then continues wth a footage of Prog Day. What is interesting is the interview with prog fans that are typically old men who tried to influence their sons with prog music.

One band that I have never heard before called themselves as Cabezas de Cera. Oh man .. this band is truly amazing! Their music is truly 'out of the box' with wonderful drummer and guitar (sitar?) player plus one in soprano sax. I relay want to have their CD. It must be an amazing record! Another band Deluge Grander is another unique band in symphonic prog scene. They made an excellent footage in this DVD. There is also nice footgae on a prog studio which accommodate prog band to play prog, like Oblivion Sun. The studio opens twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days in a year. It's a nice place to prog! The music of Cheer Accident is also nice, played live as a footage right here as well, plus interview with the band.

The DFA footage is also impressive especially with its song from the 4th album which I also purchased when the band played in Jakarta, Indonesia. The radio broadcaster makes her talks about prog followed then with a footage interview with Roine Stolt, Phideaux (who impressed me that he actually listened to King Crimson 'Red' as well). For theose who have the Gentle Giant on the Box DVD, it may not surprise you because theis one is taken from that DVD. But it's OK to make the full story complete. For those who have not seen the DVD, this is an excellent one especially coupled with Gary Green interview. Funny Way .. oh man .. what a great tune! Yes, you are right Mr Gary Green .. "Prog is timeless!".

The most interesting part of the DVD is the later half as there are many great footages from Prog Day and NEARFest. The Prog Day is an excellent prog vibes while the crowd enjoy the music at an open air, sit and relax while the prog bands play beautiful music. There is also footage from Japan prog record, Poseidon, who has made hundred titles of prog music. The performance its artist named as Qui is really good. The NEARFest footage is also another great entertainment to me as many bands like Deluge Grander, DFA, Cabezas de Cera make their live footages here.

Conclusion

If you expect there is something legendary presented here, like ELP, Yes, King Crimson, Yes, you would regret. This DVD focuses more on prog music nowadays and its future developments. I am amazed with the variety of styles they bands presented here make and most of them (like Cabezas from Mexico) have gone beyond traditional prog boundary. They have pushed the envelope further. But you can see the influences, especially from Gentle Giant, are right here at these bands. And also, of course with bands like Van der Graaf or King Crimson.

I really appreciate the producer who have made this wonderful progressive DVD reference that is very impressive and make the watchers feel confident that prog rock is alive and it's growing, at least musically it's much innovative. Personally, I have never heard bands like Cheer-Accident, Deluge Grander, Cabezas, Qui. But all of them are great bands and I believe they are the future of progressive music. Kudos for Adele Schmidt and Jose Zegarra Holder. This is a great progressive music DVD! It's a more than 4.5 stars rating! For those of you who claim yourselves as proghead, you must have this! Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Gatot | 5/5 |

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