Proto Kaw Blows My Mind
You simply must - must rush out and buy Proto Kaw's latest release, 'The Wait of Glory.' That said, let's do a little history.
Proto Kaw had their inception in 1970, when guitarist and budding composer Kerry Livgren joined his musical might with the distinct voice of Lynn Meredith. Together they founded a band named Kansas...that went nowhere. The band broke up dispirited, and Kerry later re-founded Kansas in '73. This refurbished incarnation, originally adopting the moniker 'White Clover,' went on to record some of the most amazing progressive rock ever conceived by man. Oh, and 'Dust in the Wind,' if that rings any bells.
BUT...in 2002 some original demos layed down by Kansas' seminal line-up emerged, and attracted widespread attention by strange, geeky people like me. Inspired by the clamour of a revived fanbase, the band reunited after thirty years and began recording anew. 'Wait of the Glory' is their second release since this sublime reunion.
On to the music - The album is long. Very long, and thankfully this is to my taste. Over seventy minutes in length (if you happen to buy the special edition, and really why wouldn't you?), the music ranges from hard-driving basic rock rhythms to the depths of introspective prog, sliding effortlessly through some extended jam sessions a la The Grateful Dead and even dabbling in jazz and psychadelia. The opening track (Nevermore) is a nine-minute opus, featuring some soft, evocative vocals from Lynn and a brash middle-eastern guitar riff that pops up randomly from time to time (this is a great delight). Track three (When the Rains Come) recalls the halcyon days of Porcupine Tree, though the chorus itself is reminiscent of post-Waters Floyd (especially 'The Division Bell'). 'Melicus Gladiator' is another marvel, and sees Kerry returning to his age-old stomping grounds of armored warriors wielding swords. 'Old Number 63' is a beautiful track, featuring largely spoken vocals (I was forcibly reminded of Rush's brief spoken tenure on 'Roll the Bones') and a chorus that WILL become lodged permanently at the base of your skull. 'Osvaldo's Grocerie's' is perhaps the most utterly delightful and surprising track on the album - an instrumental with almost as many time signatures as Kansas's 'The Spider'and an orgasmic mid-song transition reminiscent of a Decemberist's sea chanty (I'm thinking 'The Mariner's Revenge Song,' or even 'Legionnaire'). The album (well, the special edition anyway) ends with 'One Fine Day' which makes simply stunning use of a brash horn section. Again Floyd references srping to my mind, particularly the bombast of 'Summer '63' from Atom Heart Mother, but Proto Kaw surpasses even Richard Wright's fevered orchestrations. Bravo.
The only true weakness is Livgren's lyrics. Well formulated, certainly, but they lack the panache of his early Kansas compositions ('The Pinnacle' remains the most well-crafted lyrical ode of prog rock). Ever since his conversion to Christianity in the late seventies, his writing has plummeted from inspired to mediocre as he focuses more and more on Christ-related themes (Which is not to imply that 'Wait of Glory' is a Christian rock record. There are vague, occasional references to immortality and peace, but nothing is ever stated in a remotely direct or irritating fashion. Livgren is STILL too good for that).
To put it simply, the best musical purchase I've made in a long, long time. Please, Proto Kaw, keep pumping them out. I have my calendar marked for next year!
Proto Kaw had their inception in 1970, when guitarist and budding composer Kerry Livgren joined his musical might with the distinct voice of Lynn Meredith. Together they founded a band named Kansas...that went nowhere. The band broke up dispirited, and Kerry later re-founded Kansas in '73. This refurbished incarnation, originally adopting the moniker 'White Clover,' went on to record some of the most amazing progressive rock ever conceived by man. Oh, and 'Dust in the Wind,' if that rings any bells.
BUT...in 2002 some original demos layed down by Kansas' seminal line-up emerged, and attracted widespread attention by strange, geeky people like me. Inspired by the clamour of a revived fanbase, the band reunited after thirty years and began recording anew. 'Wait of the Glory' is their second release since this sublime reunion.
On to the music - The album is long. Very long, and thankfully this is to my taste. Over seventy minutes in length (if you happen to buy the special edition, and really why wouldn't you?), the music ranges from hard-driving basic rock rhythms to the depths of introspective prog, sliding effortlessly through some extended jam sessions a la The Grateful Dead and even dabbling in jazz and psychadelia. The opening track (Nevermore) is a nine-minute opus, featuring some soft, evocative vocals from Lynn and a brash middle-eastern guitar riff that pops up randomly from time to time (this is a great delight). Track three (When the Rains Come) recalls the halcyon days of Porcupine Tree, though the chorus itself is reminiscent of post-Waters Floyd (especially 'The Division Bell'). 'Melicus Gladiator' is another marvel, and sees Kerry returning to his age-old stomping grounds of armored warriors wielding swords. 'Old Number 63' is a beautiful track, featuring largely spoken vocals (I was forcibly reminded of Rush's brief spoken tenure on 'Roll the Bones') and a chorus that WILL become lodged permanently at the base of your skull. 'Osvaldo's Grocerie's' is perhaps the most utterly delightful and surprising track on the album - an instrumental with almost as many time signatures as Kansas's 'The Spider'and an orgasmic mid-song transition reminiscent of a Decemberist's sea chanty (I'm thinking 'The Mariner's Revenge Song,' or even 'Legionnaire'). The album (well, the special edition anyway) ends with 'One Fine Day' which makes simply stunning use of a brash horn section. Again Floyd references srping to my mind, particularly the bombast of 'Summer '63' from Atom Heart Mother, but Proto Kaw surpasses even Richard Wright's fevered orchestrations. Bravo.
The only true weakness is Livgren's lyrics. Well formulated, certainly, but they lack the panache of his early Kansas compositions ('The Pinnacle' remains the most well-crafted lyrical ode of prog rock). Ever since his conversion to Christianity in the late seventies, his writing has plummeted from inspired to mediocre as he focuses more and more on Christ-related themes (Which is not to imply that 'Wait of Glory' is a Christian rock record. There are vague, occasional references to immortality and peace, but nothing is ever stated in a remotely direct or irritating fashion. Livgren is STILL too good for that).
To put it simply, the best musical purchase I've made in a long, long time. Please, Proto Kaw, keep pumping them out. I have my calendar marked for next year!