NEPENTHE

The 1993 band comprised Matt Mizenko (bass), Todd Mizenko (guitars), Jamie Boruch (drums), Eddie Konczal (keyboards), who all performed on the Nepenthe release, plus singer Keith Watlington. In these days of glossy magazines devoted to prog music plus all the websites devoted to the topic, it can sometimes be difficult to remember that when this album was released none of that existed and the only publicity came from underground fanzines and word of mouth. I ran 'Feedback' and felt I had a very good handle on what was happening in the UK, a pretty good idea of Europe, but only had contacts with a few record labels in the States so unless an album was released on something like Kinesis or Magna Carta, I never heard it. Consequently, this album is new to me, and I was simply blown away by just how good it is. Here we have a prog band who are certainly not performing as if it is a debut, bringing together the idea of Neo with the commerciality of Crossover plus melodic rock stylings which makes this an album which is still relevant and enjoyable today, more than 30 years after it was released.

Not all prog albums from back then have aged well, as some were pretty much demos, but here we have something which is well produced and a load of fun the very first time it is played and just keeps getting better. True, it is a commercial and very American style of prog, but is one I have enjoyed a great deal, and it is strange to come across this only because I was sent an album to review which had been released 32 years later. Well worth investigation if this style of prog is to your liking.

Nepenthe set aside any mark of adventurous and complicated textures and focus on producing atmospheric Progressive/Art Rock, much based on lyrical moments and epic musicianship.Their sound is close to compatriots CATHEDRAL (the 90's band) or a less heavy ENCHANT with careful electric guitars, lovely background piano and supporting synthesizers, sometimes with a nice symphonic sound.Reasonably enough and having a vocalist like Rosenfeld with his pure clean and sensational voice, the compositions contain plenty of vocal-based material with series of great perfomances.These are surrounded by some nice musicianship with short instrumental breaks, even with a spacey synth sound, mostly guided by down-tempo solo explosions by Todd Mizenko and the orchestral synths of Konzal.A couple of tracks have a discreet Neo Progressive sound with more up-tempo feeling and straightforward music like ''Sorrow'' and ''Brethren'' with pretty nice guitar work, good choruses, catchy grooves and light symphonic keys throughout.Some more demanding themes would really have helped the band, which ended up to build just a cult local fame around their name.

A short activity followed the album with Rosenfeld being replaced by Vince Ascoli, formerly of the Yes tribute band Relayer, and Nepenthe recording the EP ''Mercury'' in 1999 along with the cover track ''"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears for the Childlike Records album ''"Parachute Pants''.These would be sadly the last Nepenthe recordings with the band splitting up shortly after.

Do not expect a huge impact on the first listenings of this album as Nepenthe's sole release is definitely a grower with a semi-personal sound and some great atmospheres throughout.Recommended, especially to fans of Neo Prog or modern 90's US Prog along the lines of ENCHANT, TILES or CATHEDRAL.

In 1993 they released their first CD "Turning The Tide" under the name ARS NOVA and in 1994 they changed their name to NEPENTHE, a word that describes something capable of making one forget grief or suffering.

In 1995 they began the recording of "Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt", that was released in 1997. This is obviously a very talented group with songs containing many atmospheric mood and tempo changes, together with intricate guitars and bass. But it's not only the musicians that are great. The vocalist Jason is a very good singer too. Although this sometimes being a very intricate album the choruses are very catchy.

If you like very beautiful progressive music, this is very good and definitely worth owning. In my opinion this is one of the best albums from 1997.

The band is currently working on their new album that probably will be titled "Thistle, Thorn and Ember". They also got a new lead vocalist in Vince Ascoli who used to sing in the YES tribute band RELAYER.