POWER AND OUTCOME

This is Essential Progressive Music

In an alternate universe, where musicians were honored as much as war-mongers and wealth-accumulators, where intelligent, virtuosic, passionate, stunning music was as heralded as pop-showmanship and pandering, where kindness, wisdom, and public concerns mattered as much as financial piracy and cold-blooded near-legal theft and exploitation- CAST would be world renowned, loved, and respected.

Longevity

"Power and Outcome" has been reviewed various times before. It's fitting to honor it now, at the forty-year anniversary of this venerable, prolific, force-of-nature band of musicians.

It is fitting to honor Luis Alfonso Vidales, who in 1978 founded CAST, which has become a symbol of nearly unbelievable virtuosity and musical passion, and who provides most of the musical composition and direction upon which other musicians build, together giving us these gems.

Promoting progressive music

CAST and CAST members have traveled the world, performing their progressive music for audiences who love and admire this band.

Most of all, the music

Here, "Power and Outcome" represents much if not all that makes CAST and this album essential progressive music, and to quote from this website, "a masterpiece of progressive rock music".

Consider the bold musical maelstrom opening track, "Rules of the Desert". True, there are spoken words (minor quibble, lyrics are not easily found for this album), but this is mostly instrumental beauty.

I review all sorts of music under the Progressive Rock rubric, and try to evaluate it on its terms. Does it succeed in fulfilling its stated aims? Does the band play well together as an ensemble? Is it mixed and produced in acceptable fashion? Is the art work appropriate and appealing? What are the lyrics telling us about this work? What level of musicianship is demonstrated? Any stand out performances? What are the quibbles and concerns and growing edges?

I review albums I don't personally like, yet value for what they are and what they say.

"Power and Outcome" however, strikes me where I live, "scratches my itches" in most ways.

Its stated aims

CAST was intended to focus on symphonic progressive music at a time when progressive music was under attack in the late 1970's, as the intelligentsia of that era were pontificating that progressive music was bloated, pompous, and overblown foolishness.

By contrast, "Power and Outcome" and opening track "Rules of the Desert", fulfill these stated aims. The music is superb.

Superlatives come to mind

For instance: grand, vibrant, glorious, majestic, seething, relentless, passionate, joyful, inventive, energetic, creative, and soaring. The heart of the music is the vision brought by Luis Alfonso Vidales and his use of keyboards- grand piano, organ, orchestral settings, synthesizers.

If I'm not greatly mistaken, he's had excellent classical training, and brings that plus a progressive music lover's heart to the mix.

Musicianship

Each musician appears to be technically skilled. I was captivated by the interplay, sometimes quite intricate and interwoven, of guitar, violin, synthesizer, organ, undergirded by the superb rhythm section. At times I found the drumming exquisite- notably on "Through Stained Glass", but always present. Tasteful, rambunctious, dynamic.

Guitar work was amazing- leads flowing like a hot knife through butter, tones and textures bringing various moods. The dancing violin added zest and fire.

Perhaps because of the instrumental fire and purity, the vocals sometimes seemed like an afterthought, and the lyrics I was able to capture were adequate. I found myself thinking that an all instrumental CAST album would definitely be a must-have.

In sum

An "Essential: masterpiece of progressive rock music."

Originally published in www.progressiverockfanatics.wordpress.com/

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