|
RECORDING INFORMATION |
Witsend released it's debut CD (Cosmos and Chaos) in May 1993. Since that time, the guys have been busy studying, writing, recording and most important raising families (9 kids between the three of them). But at long last, their second CD is complete. The Allegory of Light is a blend of old and new ideas all recently recorded and compiled for this epic release. At the same time the Allegory of Light was released, the band changed its name to Syzygy. Unfortunately, the group discovered it had never technically secured the rights to the name Witsend and someone nabbed it over the last few years. Rather than fight it, the group has adopted the name Syzygy (yes, they do own the rights to it), yet still remain at their musical Witsend.
The band re-released the Witsend cd in 2003 along with some remastering.
|
|
|
| COMMENTS & REVIEWS |
|
ProgNaut
|
Published on: 10 Jul 2004
|
|
MJBrady
|
Published on: 1 Nov 2003
Through the course of this review, there will be references to another band called Syzygy. Reason being is that Witsend and Syzygy are one in the same. Or the same bands by different names. This is explained in detail in the artist info listed here at Proggnosis for both titles, or at their website where you can find great detail on this exciting band(s).
At the urging of the band, they suggested that I listen to the new music (Syzygy) 1st. And the Witsend second, which came out circa 1993 originally, this hinting led me to believe that Witsend's music would pale in comparison to the hughly impressive Syzygy - The Allegory of Light cd. My interest in the bands music was magnified by the great impression that the Syzygy cd made on me. This is a seriously outstanding band, and the cd should be high on the list of even the most demanding progrock fans everywhere!
So, understanding that Witsend was originally released in the early 90's, my gut feeling was that this would be a subpar offering at best, this inclination was only because it seemed as though the band were excusing it as such, by suggesting the order to which I should review the two titles. Much to my surprise, Witsend is also a highly recommendable cd, nothing to feel ashamed of from what I can tell. If anything, the idea that the band didn't get more positive press from the prog community for this cd is a surprise to me. Granted the music doesn't quite reach the overall impression that Syzygy's cd does, it most certainly deserves some positive backing as a significant piece of progrock and very relevant to the bands current music.
There is a full spectrum of musical touches diplayed on this cd, each showing the forte of the musicians capabilities as performers as well as composers. There are quiet acoustical guitar/piano pieces that hint towards Tull's Madrigalian pieces, yet the more band centered songs show as much a blending of some of the great prog bands of the golden era. UK, ELP, Tull, Happy the Man, Kansas, Bruford, Genesis, Yes All seem to have had an effect on the inspiration of the bands concept and style choices. What they have done, is taken the most enjoyable moments of all of these bands, and somehow melted those nuances into one. The result are what you will hear on this cd, and magnified to the nth degree on the Syzygy cd.
Very few bands have shown that they are able to recreate the magic and majesty of prog's vintage era, some have proved that they are here to stay, while Witsend had to overhaul their name to continue with their personal musical dreams, the dry period between Witsend and Syzygy was because of family and time constraints, now in 2003, they have re-released this, as well as a debut of the new band name and new material, both are highly recommended by this reviewer, and I anticipate that there will be a deserved buzz going around about the quality of music that this band is creating, the future is wide open for them!
|
| TRACKS |
CREDITS
(click to view performer credits) |
PROGGNOSIS SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
(click to view Release Page) |
- Voyager
- Circadian Rhythm
- Tautology
- Etude No.1
- Strange Loop II
- Tone Row
- Etude No.2
- Cosmos
- Poetry in B Minor
- Mount Ethereal
- Closure
- Chaos
|
|
|
|
ProGGnosis - Progressive Rock & Fusion
PO Box 27226
Golden Valley, MN 55427-0226
Copyright © 2000 - 2010 where appropriate - All rights reserved.
Comments & Feedback - email:
ProGGnosis Webmaster
|
|
