HOLDING PATTERN

Underground US Prog band from Connecticut,formed around 1978 by guitarist Tony Spada.The other main force of the band was drummer Robert Hutchinson with Jerry Lalancette contributing on bass and Mark Tannenbaum performing on grand piano and analog keyboards.Holding Pattern released a self-titled 4-track EP in 1981,which succeeded some airplay and built a cult base of fans around the band.The same album was released in 1998 in CD format by Cleefo Records.

This short instrumental EP kicks off with the Symphonic/Fusion ''Another point of view'',based on Spada's shifting melodic and dramatic guitar playing and the dominant moog synths of Tannenbaum,featuring a fine number of breaks and ending up to be a mix of Canterbury Fusion with CAMEL-esque Melodic Rock.The following ''Honor before glory'' is a whole other story.Low-tempo composition with again some haunting guitar performance by the talented Spada and a great symphonic-styled middle section with keyboards on the forefront,somewhate like a cross between CAMEL, SEBASTIAN HARDIE and GENESIS.From this point on starts the more Fusion side of the band. ''Jigsaw Dream'' is a great Canterbury/Symph/Fusion piece in the vein of HAPPY THE MAN with fantastic synths and organ next to some LATIMER-like guitar work, featuring also some very complex breaks already from the start.However Spada's still sounds very personal than being a simple copy of ANDY LATIMER.''Out of the tunnels'' will close the album in the opening style: dramatic guitar playing over technical Fusion-esque keyboard solos with nice shifting changes and alternating tempos, making this track more of Tannenbaum than a Spada's highlight.

A very good underground US release of virtuosic Progressive Rock in the vein of HAPPY THE MAN, MR. SIRIUS or KURT RONGEY.Strongly recommended to all fans of the Symphonic Rock/Fusion affair...3.5 stars.