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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Cairo (USA)

Time of Legends

Review by Gary Hill

Each Cairo album seems to be better than the one before. When you consider how strong their debut release was, this has to be no easy feat, but they have done it again. Time of Legends finds the group turning in a killer performance in the classic progressive rock style that they have made their own. True, the influences of such groups as Yes, ELP and Genesis are still here, but those are the tools of the style, and really hard to stray too far away from. Cairo have created their own sound from the seeds that those groups planted in the history of the progressive rock genre.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2001 Year Book Volume 1 at  garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2001-and-2002.

Track by Track Review
Underground
Coming across with a very positive and traditional prog style, this cut is a great way to start the album. It feature sections that touch on the sounds of many classic prog bands ranging from Yes and Genesis to ELP.
The Prophecy
Starting in somewhat hushed but chaotic tones, this one has a weird feel to the introduction - almost disquieting. As the main riff enters, it explodes in a frantic classic prog style that feels a lot like ELP at times. It continues in this instrumental fashion for quite a time, including a great keyboard solo. When the vocals finally enter, they are heralded by the cut dropping to a melodic balladic mode. This one builds up gradually from there. This is a very strong cut. It gets quite Yesish on the instrumental break with some very Howeish guitar work.
Scottish Highland
Pretty, balladic keys begin this cut, and the mode gradually builds from there. It is a brief and enchanting instrumental.
You Are The One
Very dramatic in its arrangement, this is a killer classic prog type of composition. It is a wonderful piece and features an awesome instrumental break that flows very well.
Cosmic Approach
Beginning very quiet and slowly, this instrumental is another cut that really evokes the name ELP. The rhythmic textures on the track are quite unique.
Voming Home
Coming in hard and triumphant, this cut really represents Cairo at their best. It drops to a slower dramatic segment for a time. This is another highlight of the album and another song that does wax a bit ELPish at times. It breaks into a rather unusual and quite powerful instrumental jam. As much as they pack into this one it feels much longer than its 7 or so minute length.
The Fuse
Starting in a great up-tempo prog groove, this one just comes in smoking. It keeps right on jamming in a great retro sort of progressive rock groove. After a time, the cut stops and reinvents itself. In fact, this instrumental continues changing and evolving throughout its duration.
  
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