Great Cantebury Style Prog
Progg Dude 99 | 12/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Often compared to early Soft Machine, Egg were probably compositionally a more consistant band. The trio of bass drums and keyboards were a seriously technically adept band, especially Dave Stewart, whose skilled extravagance is simply dazzling and unsurpassed.
On this effort, their is a cohesive and organic flow to the wide range of changes and the improvisations tend to be even more provocative in the range of contrast and color. Their music categorized in the Canterbury - prog toward experimental/avant garde but very harmonically and melodically pleasing with a great deal of subtle humor, much better than similar contemporaries such as Gong or Matching Mole.
Their lack of commercial success is regrettable in that they were as talented as any band at the time and the potenetial was unlimited had they stayed together. this, however, represents the greater challenges and artistic rewards which distinguishes the progressive rock medium.
The Virgin Jap remaster is THE definitive cd vrsion to have, the Brit import sounds rather compressed and flat."
Classic!
Philip Schultz | 11/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great remastering of one of my all time favorite recordings. This 24 bit remaster is full of punch while retaining the warm and intimate sound of the original recording. Hopefully, this release will be around for awhile for others to enjoy.
Although I've read/heard some Egg fans say that they prefer The Polite Force (plus, the band themselves), this one always did it for me."
Emerson or Rick have nothin' on ya, Dave
Speedy | Fl, MO USA | 11/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dave Stewart's work of the seventies was always surrounded by obscurity. I remember i had to get my copy of this incredible album right there in London and even then it was hard to find (and expensive). The same could be said of his other bands , The hatfields, National Health and Arzachel. Other keyboard players such as Emerson or Rick Wakeman always had more exposure and were more 'recognized'. But now, 35 years later it is Stewart's work that really stands out as a more fresh take on the whole' progressive' thing. His work is still being sought after and re-released as new fans meet with this man's great music. This is an album by his Egg band with UNIQUE composition style even for Egg. Here he unites with Hillage, future Hatfield "Northetes" choir and some Henry Cow members supplying winds (!). This was recorded when he was already in another band (Hatfield & the North) and it sounds like nothing else but also like everything he was involved with after Egg. Get it before it goes out of print again!"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1
