Musea's extensive catalogue is a treasure trove — all one needs do is sift and separate the gold from the brass (that can be expensive, though). Musea's also put out quite a few budget-priced samplers, the newest of which collects twelve prog bands' covers of prog and proto-prog classics from the late 1960s through the mid-'70s.
The robust keyboard-centric approach Gerard is known for makes the Japanese trio the perfect candidate for ELP's "Toccata." The agitated veneer of the original is more than adequately replicated — frenzied licks galore. This cover appeared on the Ars Nova/Gerard co-tribute Keyboards Triangle, a superb release where keyboard-led symphonic prog is concerned. Pangaea's "Time" turns up the bass and the "rock" in that Floyd staple — very enjoyable for a song that has suffered from FM exposure for decades. Blue Shift does a serviceable "Immigrant Song" but the drum sound is weak (obviously programmed) and the end result recalls Denis Leary's funny, truncated version of the same from his MTV Unplugged special. The outro is organ, too — that part's actually cool. Ars Nova is Gerard's femme counterpart, and a more original and artistically viable act, as unfair as it may sound. Trace's first two albums are Dutch keyboard-prog classics, with the eight-minute "Birds Medley" originating from the second album Birds (as mentioned, this cover appeared on Keyboards Triangle along with other material). Recorded in the short period when Ars Nova boasted a keyboard tandem, this treatment of "Birds Medley" does quite a bit of justice to the original with great organ playing, solid synth timbres and agile drumming.
"Travelling Lady" is a bluesy, organ-ic Manfred Mann tune — circa '69 — and the London Underground capture its splendidly retro-phonic feel with gritty, Leslie'd Hammond. Also from 1969 comes Peter Hammill's "Darkness – 11/11," a rousing rendition with busy drumming of which is performed by Twenty-Four Hours. Poland's Quidam's performance of Deep Purple's "Child In Time" is taken from the former's Live In Mexico 1999 release recorded at Baja Prog, and it's doubtful Ian Gillan received anywhere near as many whistles and hoots as Emila Derkowska. Lots of flute, plenty of guitar, forceful singing. Well-done but not too memorable, perhaps. France's Halloween takes on Van der Graaf Generator's "House With No Door." Consisting of only piano and Geraldine Le Cocq's Natalie Merchant-esque vocal, this is ripe with emotion.
Belgium's Now adds, from their now fifteen years-past Deep album, another Led Zeppelin staple, and hence, another weathered veteran of the FM radio battlefield: "Kashmir." Nearly fifteen minutes in length, and unremarkable, the skip function will likely be employed. Time for a (short) psych'ed-out Gong song from 1971 — "Dynamite" by Dificil Equilibrio — and it lives up to its title. Visible Wind's "Strange Days" is a cover of The Doors' song; the singer's very Morrison-like tone and the nasally, vintage organ sound take no prisoners. Finally, the "exclusive bonus track" is a mangled version of King Crimson's "Exiles," courtesy of Thierry Crusem & L'autre Systeme (who?) that's going to sound a heckuva lot better in a bar after a few steins/pints/liters.
In conclusion, a discernible eight of twelve cuts here are deserving of any prog fan's time. What works against Progressive Rock Covers is the fact that nearly everything here is previously-released. Haunt the bargain bins!
Tracklist:
1. GERARD — Toccata (7:39)
2. PANGAEA — Time (4:59)
3. BLUE SHIFT — Immigrant Song (2:53)
4. ARS NOVA — Birds Medley (7:52)
5. LONDON UNDERGROUND — Travelling Lady (5:33)
6. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS — Darkness – 11/11 (7:08)
7. QUIDAM — Child In Time (9:46)
8. HALLOWEEN — House With No Door (4:07)
9. NOW — Kashmir (14:39)
10. DIFICIL EQUILIBRIO — Dynamite (2:56)
11. VISIBLE WIND — Strange Days (3:06)
12. THIERRY CRUSEM & L'AUTRE SYSTEME — Exiles (4:51) [BONUS TRACK]
Total time – 75:11
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