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Prog Collective — Seeking Peace
(Purple Pyramid CLO3217, 2022, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2023-10-18

Seeking Peace Cover art

After a diversion for an album of cover tunes, Prog Collective returns with Seeking Peace, which does not contain any cover tunes, though I hesitate to use the word “original” anywhere in conjunction with this music. As I remarked in reference to Worlds on Hold (2021): “I put the word in quotes because originality isn’t the intention here. These six tunes are intended to sound like latter-day Yes, and they do, despite the presence of musicians from other bands.” Many of the usual suspects are here — Jordan Rudess, Chester Thompson, James LaBrie, Patrick Moraz, Steve Stevens, Geoff Downes, David Sancious, Steve Morse, Jon Davison, Steve Hillage, Graham Bonnet — on a single track each. This is prog by the numbers, assembled out of stock parts left over from other prog albums, and every note is in place, captured with the crystal clarity of modern production without a trace of grit or emotion. If you look at the Bandcamp page for the album (linked below) you’ll see that the guests are given equal billing with the track titles, and there are no credits for anyone else. This is telling: When Rudess is playing keyboards and Thompson playing drums, who’s on bass? Who’s singing? Who’s playing guitar? And who wrote the song? They don’t tell us because it doesn’t matter. By all means, if you’re a fan of any of the guests, give it a listen, and if you like it go ahead and buy it. I wouldn’t want my cynicism to get in the way of your enjoyment, and forgive me for not sharing in the sentiment.

Filed under: New releases, 2022 releases

Related artist(s): Steve Hillage / System 7, Patrick Moraz, Billy Sherwood, David Sancious, Geoff Downes, Steve Morse, Chester Thompson, Prog Collective

More info
http://theprogcollective.bandcamp.com/album/seeking-peace

 

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