Record Reviews

PENTWATER ~ OUT OF THE ABYSS SYN-PHONIC 07 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 - 1976 Released: 1990 This is the "posthumous" (released after the group disbanded) album by American Prog group PentwaterFind albums by this artist, which comprised of founding members multi-instrumentalist Mike KonopkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Tom OrsiFind albums by this artist and guitarist Phil GoldmanFind albums by this artist (who was later replaced by Ron FoxFind albums by this artist), keyboardist Ken KappelFind albums by this artist and bassist Ron LeSaarFind albums by this artist. The album includes eight studio tracks recorded between 1973 and 1976 and one live track from 1976. The music is all original and was composed mostly by Konopka and Kappel. This material was recorded before their only eponymous album was recorded and released in 1977, shortly before they disbanded in 1978. They re-united in 2002 and recorded a new album "Ab-DulFind albums with this title". It is quite clear in retrospect that Pentwater was one of the most interesting American Prog outfits active in the 1970s, with only a handful of competitors like HandsFind albums by this artist and a few others. The album clearly shows that they were original, dedicated and above all honest, clearly admitting influences (Gentle GiantFind albums by this artist, etc.), which are detectable but never overshadow their own unique sound and musical direction. Everything that great Prog requires in present here: superb expanded and multi-thematic compositions, frequent tempo changes, long instrumental improvised passages, in short Prog heaven. Sadly Pentwater shared the fate of many other Prog acts, simply by being too good to be "popular" enough in order to achieve commercial success. But their recorded legacy is a fine example of what great Prog was all about then, which is still very much valid today. Hopefully they will be re-discovered by the new generation of Prog lovers, who should definitely try and find this gem rather than getting the umpteenth release by dinosaurs who forgot to leave the stage. Buy or die!

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