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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Head With Wings Comfort In Illusion Review by Gary Hill Modern guitar based progressive rock is the order of business here. There are only three songs here, but this isn't a particularly short EP as none of the song are especially short. That said, it is still quite a bit shorter than an album (about 20-minutes). I'd say that this release progressives from the weakest track to the strongest, but nothing here is weak. It's just in comparison. It starts tasty, but turns sublime as it continues. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021 Volume 5. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.

Track by Track Review

Of Uncertainty A cool prog concept brings this into being. The vocals come in over the top, and the track moves forward with style from there. There are hints of alternative rock and modern pop and R&B in the mix here. There are some guitar based instrumental moments that really bring the prog home to roost. I really dig the shift to a different section later, and then particularly enjoy the powered up, harder rocking movement that emerges from there. When it comes back out into the song proper, it feels a bit more inspired and involved.

Contemplating The Loop An intricate guitar based arrangement starts things here with keyboards adding flavoring over the top of it. The tune fires out from there in a cool, energized modern prog arrangement. As strong as the opener was, this really raises the bar from there. It has so many cool twists and turns. The contrast between mellower and more rocking modes is exceptional, too.

In A House Without Clocks They saved the best for last. A mellower and rather intricate concept brings this into being with some sound-bites in the arrangement. Eventually those sounds drop away and the song moves forward from there. It turns to a killer rocking mode from there. This makes me think of It Bites just a little. The cut continues to evolve from there, eventually shifting to a seriously hard rocking movement late.

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