INTO THE DREAM ... DISCIPLINE LIVE

There are some extremely exciting progressive rock bands coming out of the States at the moment, and Discipline are one of those which I am convinced are about to make it big. This live album shows them at their best, with Matthew Parmentier at his most threatening. Matthew is more Gabriel than Fish, and he somehow manages to provide all of the keyboards as well as being the focal point. The line-up is completed by Joe Preston Boulds (guitar), Matthew Kennedy (bass) and Paul Dzendzel (drums). While they sound nothing like the classic Genesis line-up, it is with them that they musically appear to have the most in common.

So instead of going to see ReGenesis, or buy albums by bands that are either shadows of their former selves or by bands who wish that they had been around twenty years before, get this album which is by one of the exciting talents that are around making music for today. While I am a hardened fan of Spock's Beard as you all know by now, Discipline are a different facet of the same musical area, much more 'progressive' and full of passion and depth.

Feedback #57, March 2000

A prog live record you should not skip ...

...because of the music style they play as well as, of course, the excellent performance as demonstrated by this live album. Well, I look back this album after I have been really satisfied with their new album released in 2011 : To Shatter All Accord, after I did review their first two albums Push & Profit (1994) and Unfolded Like Staircase (1997) couple of months ago. Well, finally I love this band, really. One of the things that I like about the band is its accentuated vocal line ? it's really wonderful, I would say.

The concert starts off with Crutches (12:46) from second album 
Unfolded Like Staircase. At first listen it's actually not an interesting track. Bu it then grew on me as I enjoy the guitar work that quite dominates the music as well as vocal. Next is The Nursery Year (5:29) from debut album Push & Profit which is basically a slow tempo track using powerful vocal and soft keyboard work. The song moves emotionally in gradual way with powerful vocal, memorable melody, backed with music that turns into higher tones. The track is quite unique in style and mood, it's an enjoyable performance. 
Canto IV (Limbo) (13:47) is taken from the band's second album Unfolded Like Staircase. It starts off with something foxtrot using piano combined with guitar and drums. It flows nicely into a powerful break led by piano, followed by guitar solo. The theatrical vocal line that follows is becoming a point of attraction of this album. The music that starts quite slow becomes much complex when it turns at approx minute 5 followed wonderfully by organ solo and guitar solo. It's so nice listening to this track. I like the way vocal flows and of course the music that follows. 


Carmilla (10:11) is taken from debut album Push and Profit . It is another excellent symphonic prog music with intriguing intro through combined guitar and soft keyboard work. The song provides balanced combination of ups and downs with emotional vocal work. The tiny keyboard work at background sounds like a mellotron. It reminds me to the music of King Crimson and Van der Graff Generator in simpler way. The song changes dramatically at approx minute 5:58 to the new King Crimson style especially on guitar work that is similar to Adrian Belew augmented by long sustain keyboard at background and then moves in crescendo with stunning guitar work. Systems (8:04) is also taken from debut album Push and Profit. The epic Into The Dream (22:04) is another point of attaction due to its duration, and is taken from Unfolded Like Staircase. comprises multi segments with relatively long duration, individually, with keyboard-based music as main rhythm section combined tempo changes augmented with powerful mellotron inserts. The inclusion of neo prog style guitar solo has enriched the song textures. There are some soft guitar riffs but they are faraway from being a prog metal.

Overall, it's an excellent addition to any prog music collection. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Discipline's first live album offers selections from the band's live appearance at Orion Studios' "Showcase" venue, allowing them to combine the warmth of a live performance before an enthusiastic audience with the recording quality of the studio. Matthew Parmenter's patter between the songs is omitted, presumably to keep the album to a single disc, but on the plus side the band are on top form and there's a great selection of tracks presented - everything from Unfolded Like Staircase except Before the Storm (decent live rendition of which are on Live Days and This One's For England), a smattering of material from Push and Profit, and an early rendition of Between Me and the End, which would not emerge on a studio album until Matthew Parmenter's Astray. Although a few tracks from here also made it to the more expansive Live Days, there's enough that's exclusive to this release to make it worthwhile for every Discipline fan.