Published on Aug 24, 2001
Time for one of those reviews where we discuss matters of deep
metaphysics. (I can hear the DV Faithful groaning now. First the
Swedish music, now metaphysics.)
Today’s question: does a CD have to be original to be good?
(We’ll discuss what ‘good’ means in a later column – a MUCH later
column.) Is a CD required to blaze new ground, or can it merrily
frolic its way across well-plowed musical real estate, providing it
does it well? Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer, which is a
shame. I’d really like a definitive one before I tackle the latest
CD from progressive rock trio Cairo,
Time Of Legends.
The quandary, bluntly, is this:
Time Of Legends is a good disc insofar as it’s well
performed. The synergy of Jeff Brockman, Mark Robertson, and Bret
Douglas shines all the way through; the production is flawless, the
sound is rich and textured like good progressive rock should be,
and the musicianship is excellent. Specific kudos should go to
Robertson’s touch with keyboards; while he’s a bit too fond for the
Hammond organ patch on his synthesizer for my tastes, he’s one of
the best technical players I’ve heard in a long time.
Where
Time Of Legends fails is, bluntly, its originality or lack
thereof. I felt at times like I was listening to a prog-rock
greatest hits CD. I found myself saying, “Hey, keyboards like Rush”
or “that melody line sounded like Kansas” or “that drum and bass
line sounds like Dream Theater”. I’m not saying that Cairo lacks
personality as individuals, but the band itself seems, at least on
Time Of Legends, to lack any sense of a unique identity or
sound.
For a fan of the progressive rock genre in toto, this might
work. But for someone like me, who’s a little finicky about his
prog, it felt flat and lifeless at times. There are a few songs
where Cairo steps past this sameness. I really enjoyed “The
Prophecy” and “You Are The One” both of which, interestingly
enough, were not ‘traditional’ progressive rock sounds. But tracks
like “Coming Home” and “Underground” sounded like the prog
equivalent of Chinese Dinner #1; keyboard line from column A,
mysterious lyrics from column B, finish and serve.
Progressive rock is more than instrumentals and an ability to
play fast keyboard arpeggios it also requires a sense of
self-identity. Cairo has a lot of talent. They need the uniqueness
to go with it.