STRUGGLE FOR LIFE (ESSENTIAL)

The best introduction to AFTER CRYING. Really, an essential album to understand the band. Music flows from classical and melodic to dark and depressive, including improvisation numbers with an impressive instrumentation variety. This Hungarian fantastic "chamber band", evidently clasically trained, is a very innovative thing in progressive music. Too much highlights in this album, specially the beautiful KC's "Starless"version, with John Wetton. Highly recommended.

Dear cousins Hungarians, where are you hiding! Having heard only two Hungarian prog bands (Solaris and After Crying) I'm certain that it's a qualified prog country. First things to notice about both bands is the very high playing skill, most likely received by classical training, and the inclusion of classical instruments such as flute. After Crying has also violin, cello and trumpet.

This is the 1-CD version of live compilation and shows the band's mastery at stage. It's hard to say how well the chosen pieces represent the output, but I do hope this is NOT 'the best of After Crying' as I would see it (I'm on my way of hearing more). There's an epic 'Conclusion' dedicated to Keith Emerson and it really sounds like ELP as their most pompous. Also 'Radio Rarotonga', the first song after the instrumental opening number, seems pointless to me with its spoken repetitive narration. But the rest is fine chamber rock - including beautiful melodies played by gorgeous trumpet for example - that leaves me hungry for more. I like the singer's voice as well. The final number 'Starless' features John Wetton and is very faithful to the original in King Crimson's Red. Definitely a band not to ignore.

A True Masterpiece Symphonic Prog live album!

As I was sitting at the Semarang airport to fly back to my hometown Jakarta last weekend, I purchased a pocket book titled As a Man Thinketh by James Allen from a small bookstore located at the boarding room. It's a matter of habit whenever I read a book I used to play music and because I did not have a luxury of decent stereo set, I opened my LifeDrive PDA and select album from p-tunes software. As I guessed that this book must be a philosophy one, I selected a live album by After Crying "Struggle for Life" which I had been listening to it and liked it very much - that's why I ripped the CD and installed it to my PDA. It was not a wrong choice at all because the pocket book is really great with heavy philosophical content about man and how he can control life and destiny using a single power: thought! Yeah man .. even though I was waiting for my flight I did enjoy the waiting very much because I learned the book content accompanied by great music by After Crying. What a life! Well - don't get me wrong! There is no direct connection between the book and the music but . the nuance where I absorbed the book contents into my mind and my heart was smoothly accompanied by great music of After Crying.

So . let's talk about the music and forget about the book because this is not the right forum doing it, isn't it? I would be very happy to share the book that definitely help shape my life (oh yes, I'm sure) with you. Just drop me an email. I owned this CD (used) quite late already - it was October last year, I think, when a friend of mine offered me with an unbelievable price of US$ 5.50. By the time I owned I only heard the band's music from CDs that I loan from another friend. I did like the CD right away I spun it and since then I repeated the CD at my player. It's a compilation of After Crying live concerts. The opening track "Viaduct" serves as a platforms to embark for further musical ecstasy. At first glance this track reminds me to the music of SAGA with its pulsating keyboard sounds in ambient style. The music builds firmly into a fanfare style with trumpet solo followed by riffs and dynamic drumming with all instruments played together. Looking at this opening track only you might be pretty sure that it's gonna be an awesome live performance presented right here in this live album.

The next track "Radio Rarotonga" is basically a narration using non-English (Hungary?) language which is translated in English as printed in the sleeve note. It basically tells a story on a small island Polynesia - one of the world's largest platinum suppliers. There is little music presented here except some background keyboard, percussion and trumpet at small volume, at the back of narration. However, it's a very interesting one to enjoy - at least for myself. I especially like when the narration says "Radio Rarotonga" . it's cool!

Track 3 "Pilgrim's March" (oh what a coincidence - this is the month of March!) was the first track that blew me away the first time I spun this CD last year. It's basically a medium tempo music featuring guitar solo in instrumental song. The guitar solo is really stunning augmented by tight bassline and dynamic drumming / percussion. When the flute takes the solo, the rhythm section uses powerfully accentuated percussion sounds augmented with excellent bass lines. That's how the instruments are played and I haven't talked abpout how the melody builds up in this song. Yeah, the melody builds up wonderfully throughout the track played intertwiningly by guitar and flute. It's hard to deny how great this track is. I always repeat this track whenever I play this CD.

"Shadow Song" starts with excellent flute and tick tock clicking at the back followed with powerful voice line. This track is heavily influenced by classical music especially the piano work at the background. The piano solo itself indicates the jazzy influenced wonderfully followed with violin solo and later with trumpet solo. Great track. "Burlesque" is more obvious indicates the classical music through stunning piano solo. It reminds me to Keith Emerson's "Honky Tonk Train Blues" even though it's different. The rhythm section of next track "To Black - excerpt II (improVision)" reminds me to the collaborative work of Jon and Vangelis but this time After Crying uses trumpet solo to bring the music into a silent long sustain keyboard work. The later segments of this track reminds me to the music of King Crimson especially Island album.

CONCLUSION (31:32) is an epic that comprises track 7 - 14. It's probably the center of this album because the composition is comprehensive combining the slow opening of "Conclusion" (track 7) which comprises vocal and piano at background. The music flows in crescendo into dynamic one in the vein of Keith Emerson because this track is a tribute to him. I can see the music is really dynamic with frequent style changes. Even though keyboard plays important role, trumpet, guitar and drums also play critical roles. This track also contains silent part with piano solo.

It moves seamlessly to next "Arrival of The Manticore II/1" (the title reminds me to ELP) with dynamic combination of compact keyboard work, tight bass lines and energetic drumming. Wow! It's really great - especially the segments with ELP style but this time guitar plays obvious role. This groundbreaking track is continued with "Cello-Guitar" duet which demonstrate how powerful the band's musicianship here. Other instruments are also given a chance to perform solo including: "Piano Solo", "Drum Solo" and "Trumpet Solo". All of them are played excellently and stunningly. Definitely, you cannot skip this track as it indicates that the band's music is truly great! No exaggeration I apply here with my statement - the music of this album is top notch and it deserves 5 stars rating! I even want to cry when the Cello and Guitar duet take place in this epic. Not that the solo is great but overall - the accompanying music is terrific!. The piano solo is also killing me especially when the basslines sound like using acoustic bass guitar in jazzy style. The drum solo is also amazing. Well, this is definitely a five star-rating music. Top notch!

The last track is a cover of King Crimson song "Starless" where it features John Wetton at vocals and bass guitar. Basically this track is played very similar with the one performed by King Crimson. This is one of my King Crimson favorite tracks and it's performed wonderfully by After Crying and John Wetton. Even the guitar playing is very similar with the one played by Mr. Robert Fripp of King Crimson.

All tracks recorded 24-track analogue except track 15 recorded 24-track digital. This compilation of '99 live recordings and a '97 recording is produced by Zenei Rendezo. What also interesting is the excellent cover artwork designed by Beleznai Kornel, DOT Studio. The mastermind of CAST, Alfonso Vidales, also appears in the credit list at the sleeve note. Dunno what exactly he was doing with respect to this album, but it's great knowing him being thanked by the band.

How should I recommend you after a long review? Of course, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you to purchase this album. It's a true masterpiece of symphonic prog album with great sonic quality. Keep on proggin' .!

Progressively yours, GW

Fantastic live album by the symph masters from Hungary. These guys are some of the most talented in the business and they pull off their sound, mini-orchestration and prog, with flare and dynamicism. Right off the bat, 'Viaduct' is in your face, bombastic in an ELP way and rocks! In fact, if you're a fan of ELP, you'll love these guys and they will do a killer King Crimson when need be, (last track is the classic KC song 'Starless' with John Wetton on vocals and bass!). It's when you listen to the monumental 31:32 minute track, 'Conclusion' that you'll realize how fantastic these guys are. It's a tour-de-force that has to be heard. My only complaint is the spoken-word music-less track, 'Radio Rarotonga'. Why they would do something like that in a live setting is beyond me. Sure, it works on a concept album, but live? Naaa! But that's a minor quibble. This is one of the best live albums of symphonic prog recorded in the 90's and a must have. 4.5 stars for sure.

Available as both an 'essential' single CD or as a full length double (which also contains 3 mp3 songs as well as plenty of other stuff to download), this captures Hungary's top progressive band on the road. And this really is progressive rock at its' very best. While in some ways similar to King Crimson (the one cover is of "Starless" which features guest John Wetton on bass and vocals), they are much more diverse than that. Songs veer from the very short to the very long, from the simple to the incredibly intricate. During the opener "Viaduct" there is a breathtaking trumpet run (yes, trumpet) competing with the electric guitar for dominance.

It is not an album to be played in the background, but rather one that demands total attention and if the listener is prepared to give the time then they will be much rewarded. Hungary has a lot to offer in the way of music, and After Crying have already performed at Baja Prog in Mexico. This is their eighth (and ninth) album on Periferic, and all that I have heard of theirs I have most definitely enjoyed. If you like 'proper' prog, and not 'neo-prog' then search these guys out