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Various Artists — Kinections: The ProgDay Support CD
((Not on label) no#, 2005, CD)

by Paul Hightower, Published 2006-05-01

Kinections: The ProgDay Support CD Cover art

Anyone acquainted with the North Carolina-based ProgDay festival knows full well the challenges this annual event has confronted in years past, having faced its imminent demise more than once. And while bigger events like NEARfest or Baja Prog have weathered their own share of difficulties, ProgDay is the best example of what a grassroots community can pull off when they put their hearts and minds into it. This CD is part of that effort (fans will be heartened to know that a 2006 festival is in the works). Spearheaded by Lew Fisher of the Progressive Music Society, this compilation features a nicely varied set of tracks from nine artists. Some, such as Trettioåriga Kriget, are ProgDay alumni lending back-catalog material to the album. Others like Gert Emmens, who has contributed a tasty slab of Berlin-school EM with “The Warlock Returns,” are trying to aid the cause with unreleased tracks. Elsewhere the listener will find folk-rock from Strawbs, instrumental jamming from Djam Karet, Nordic dürm und strang from Wobbler, and avant-Cantebury from The Muffins. Guy Manning gets the largest slot with the as yet unreleased nearly 18-minute gently sympho epic “Top of the Mountain.” Prog rock will remain a niche style for the foreseeable future and those wishing to keep it alive could do worse than contribute $10 to the cause while picking up a neat little package of what the genre has to offer. Who knows, sharing this collection with a friend may just create another supporter.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 33, 2005 releases

Related artist(s): Gert Emmens, Guy Manning, The Muffins, Strawbs, Djam Karet, Sonus Umbra, Various Artists, Trettioåriga Kriget, Nathan Mahl, Wobbler, Dave Newhouse (Manna / Mirage), Paul Sears

 

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