If only all bands could sound this accomplished playing their third-ever live gig. On May 1, 2005, Cryptic Vision walked on stage at 11 a.m. — 11 a.m.! — at the prestigious Rites of Spring Festival in Pennsylvania and, from the sounds of this aural document, proceeded to proudly get their prog on. I wasn't there, but I sure wish I could have been.
With huge, vintage-sounding arrangements echoing the great prog-fathers, this American band enthusiastically relied on the bulk of its 2004 album, Moments of Clarity, and then wrapped up the set with "The Progledy" — a reverent 14-minute medley of songs by Spock's Beard ("The Water"), Yes ("Yours Is No Disgrace"), Kansas ("Song For America"), Dream Theater ("Erotomania"), Genesis ("Turn It On") and Emerson, Lake & Palmer ("Karn Evil 9").
The band's live lineup features players who didn't perform on Moments of Clarity, and keyboardist John Zahner (who actually did contribute to one of the tracks on that album and also records with Jon Oliva's Pain) does an exceptional job here, as his arpeggios dominate most songs. Todd Plant, whose voice comes off a little rougher around the edges than it does in the studio, proves his command of the stage and breathes new life into the material. As former lead vocalist of the melodic hard rock/AOR outfits Millenium and Eyewitness, he knows how to make Cryptic Vision's music even more accessible and can conform his voice to a particular song – sounding alternately like Jon Anderson, Phil Collins and Steve Walsh. And when the entire band joins in on the choruses and a cappella passages … look out!
A bonus track features the studio version of "In A World," a new song that is also presented on the disc's live portion and bodes well for Cryptic Vision's eagerly awaited second album.
Track Listing:
1) Introspective/Contemplation/Grand Design
2) In A World
3) Ascension
4) Keyboard Solo
5) Shock Value
6) The Progledy (featuring The Water, Yours Is No Disgrace, Song For America, Erotomania, Turn It On and Karn Evil 9)
7) In A World (Studio Demo Bonus Track)
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