EMKOG SAMPLER

Emkog Sampler is a compilation CD of the various projects of instrumentist/songwriter Dan Britton. He was kind enough to send me this album to review it, even if he might have notice that I did not know much of his work. I have only one Deluge Grandeur (The Form Of The Good) and this sample includes a track from that album (albeit mastered in a different way). I also heard (but do not own a copy of ) Birds And Buildings Bantam To Behemoth. I should say I was not really impressed by neither at first. After several spins, however, my opinion changed,. The same goes with this CD. It takes quite some time to sink in, but it was worth it.

Besides the two aforementioned bands Emkog has tracks form other Brittons´s works with names like All Over Everywhere and Cerebus Effect. The styles are quite differente from each other as far as I can tell. Deluge Grandeur for exemple is leans definitly towards symphonic prog while Birds And Buildings is a much more jazz rock/fusion project (a bit like Frank Zappa instrumental albums). The only common thread I found on all works is the classic King Crimson sound. Like Robert Fripp´s old band, Britton´s music is quite daring, taking a lot from the avant guard but also much from more simple, melodic approach. This delicate balance between the simple and the complex seems to be eluding most KC followers over the years, but Britton got it. And that´s where his major power lies: his compositions are intricated, alright, but are also accessible and coherent, even if sometimes it takes some time to really ´get it´.

Of all the tracks here I specially liked All Over Everywhere´s Art Of the Earth and Gratitude. The latter is one that caught my atention from the very start and, to me, is the CD´s highlight with its beautiful big mellotron sound, a thrilling build up and emotional vocals. Emkog also has the aforementined remastered version of Deluge Grandeur´s Aggrandizement, which by the way sounds here much better than on the original album. But I should say that no tune here is weak. they all have their strong points, even the ones I´m not really a big fan of the style (Birds And Buildings and Cerebus Effect are way too jazz rock/RIO/avant guard for my taste, and still I found them listenable and charming after some time).

Conclusion: Dan Britton is one of prog best new songwriters I´ve heard recently. His work is quite remarkable and powerful, and I think everyone who is into progressive music should listen to one or more of his projects. And this sample is a good start for that. After this CD I´m looking forward to listen to some of his other works I Definitly recommended. 4 stars.