CD Review

SI Magazine
"Compilation Disc Too"

Rating 90%

reviewed by Rimsk S.

The progressive-rock fanzine market is a very competitive business and so when those guys from SI heard our 'Sihobbit Christmas Progtape' and heard how good Mentaur, Freewill and Final Conflict sounded, they new it was time to win back some readers that they had lost to Silhobbit. We here at Silhobbit, strongly believe that the fanzines should work together and not act like a bunch of school girls. We could easily slag this CD off but that would be unfair to the bands and unfair to the kids, instead we'd rather give it a fair hearing and then judge it on its merits.

IQ - "n.t.o.c. resistance"
The cover is a drawing by Peter Nicholls, which apparently gave IQ the bargaining power of being certain to be the first band on the disc. Originally it was going to be Jadis as the first band which infuriated keyboard player Marvin Orford who felt strongly that because of his stature as a keyboard hero it would be unthinkable to front this CD with another band. Because of this shrewd business approach from Marvin Orford, he was able to negotiate that his band were 'top of the bill'. The IQ track is well recorded and very good, although they have digressed from their prog-roots somewhat. I wouldn't want to compare IQ with Marillion, although if I had to be pushed to decide what Marillion song it is most like, then I would have to say 'Hooks in You'. 'Resistance' is rocky, cocky and certainly a song that has a punch to it. If anyone wanted to know what 'n.t.o.c.' stands for then I have been informed that it abbreviated for Nine Tins of Chunkey, a working title taken from a shopping list.

Shadowland - "I Judas"
This song was due to go on the last Silhobbit tape but there wasn't enough room so SI had it instead. This is a song about a bad man. It's about Clive Nolans struggle with a guilt trip he has as a school bully. Clive Nolan has now come to terms with this song as an outlet for all the children he hurt whilst at school and sees this song as a way of giving something back. It is a good song and was very popular live. Perhaps too good for its own book. Karl Grooms screaming guitar solo sends shivers down my spine. Totally different from the bands excellent CD 'Ring of Roses', nevertheless it does remind me of Mentaur - Loud and powerful.

Pallas - "Never Too Late"
This is superb. A very acoustic song which is basically guitar, vocals and keyboards. Very atmospheric and a great was to get in this Scottish band for those who weren't around when Pallas played some fab gigs back in the 80's, when the Marquee still existed as a rock venue. What more can I say?

Jadis - "This Changing Face"
Jadis were and are one of the best bands around. I can't work out why they re-recorded this for the SI CD as it was recorded perfectly well (indeed some would say better) back in the good old 80's. They could've recorded dozens of other songs for their fans, instead of another version of the same song. I can't understand why the song is credited as having been written by 'Ghandler, Christey, Jowlet and Orford' many older fans will realise that the song has two studio versions with an old line up? Fans will still enjoy this and if they can reach a further market then so much the better.

Threshold - "Intervention"
The production on this is superb. Possibly the best track on the compilation. Karl Groom is a fan of metal as well as prog which is why Threshold (and Mentaur) can still keep their obvious 'prog roots' and perhaps play it from a more different angle. The result is bindblowing and I hope that 'Power-prog' can expand to the ears of people who would perhaps find mainstream prog as 'boring'. Turn this one up LOUD!

NO - "Quantum Leap"
When two 'masters of the keyboard' get together there obviously going to be one hell of a raging battle. NO stands for Nolan Orford but it also stands for a keyboard duel that is fast and furious. There are other musicians who play on this including Peter Gee (Pendragon), Karl Groom (Shadowland, Threshold), Dave Wagstaffe (Threshold) as well as Jon Jowlet (IQ,Jadis). It would be hard and unfair to pick the best keyboardsman out of the two as their styles are different, but one thing is for shore, they're both bloody good.