PROGRESSIVE ROCK ANTHOLOGY

A collection of old and newer prog concert clips on a low-priced DVD by the Classic Rock Society, the company that has supported Mostly Autumn and Karnataka (included as bonuses). All other bands have existed since late 60's or early 70's. I think the band choices are quite nice; it's hardly anyone's dream list but nor is it full of not-exactly- prog, like Various Artists prog compilations tend to be. All are acclaimed prog bands (+ solo artist Rick Wakeman), though being in a middle league in fame - except Wakey and ELP of course.

An introduction text - slow and big fonts - runs on the screen during the track beginnings, which gets irritating in time. It would have been better to have just the needed concert infos in the cover sheet. And track lengths. Otherwise the editing is good.

'Take a Pebble' (ELP -71, edited) has artistic film material of tree branches and ripples mixed into the concert shooting and it looks fine. Curved Air ('Vivaldi') are intruded irrationally by tropical fish that the text excuses. So what, it is overlong anyway to keep watching Darryl Way's violin play. Sonja Kristina is present too. Family's 'Weaver's Answer' is the third rarity from early 70's, sadly the monotonous song fails to show the band at its best. Also Focus is from the 70's, nothing special to say about it. They were visually quite uninteresting band it seems.

Caravan, Wakeman (correction: a track from Six Wives of Henry XIII, I forgot which one), Nektar and Barclay James Harvest are each from a concert dating around early 90's, but 'Desolation Valley' (originally on Nektar album Tab in the Ocean) mixes old and new concert shootings surprisingly seamlessly and is a highlight of the DVD. BJH's 'Mocking Bird' is another highlight even if fat John Lees' voice sounds stuffy. Caravan ('For Richard') sounds as good as ever.

Mostly Autumn's 13-minute 'Mother Nature' is fine (but I'd chosen something else) and Karnataka reminds me of Clannad. Hopefully I sometimes hear more of them. In all, not a bad purchase at all for 10 euros.