Author: Aleš Podbrežnik, Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Proto-Kaw
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2006
Length: 70:41
Rating: 4.5/5
Proto-Kaw, the prog-revivalist outfit of Kansas founding guitarist Kerry Livgren, formed from members of the original incarnation of those aforementioned legendary American prog rock icons, delivered one of the nicer surprises on the early-21st-century progressive rock scene with their ‘reunion’ album »Before Became After« (2005). The old cats built on their wealth of experience and combined it with Livgren’s ideal, modern production and the outstanding songwriting skills that once made Kansas a worldwide phenomenon. You could say »Before Became After« was a hugely successful bridge between old-school and modern progressive rock, and Proto-Kaw also enjoyed solid backing from the German label InsideOut at the time. No wonder the ‘proglovers’ had pretty high expectations ahead of the second Proto-Kaw studio outing, »The Wait Of Glory«, released in 2006.
Guitar virtuoso Kerry and his crew more than lived up to those expectations, because »The Wait Of Glory« is fully on par with »Before Became After« in quality, and in places even tops it. Every composition on the album is so strong that there’s no need to single out individual pieces. »Nevermore« is an epic album opener packed with melancholic guitar passages, bravura drum fills, lush symphonic arrangements and an immensely emotional vocal performance courtesy of Lynn Meredith. »Relics of the Tempest« features mischievous flute passages from John Bolton that bring Jethro Tull to mind more than Kansas, while punchy guitar phrases dominate this time, a reminder that Livgren now and then also enjoyed a somewhat harder-rocking approach, which is why plenty of heavy rock fans appreciate Kansas too. »When the Rains Come«, on the other hand, strongly recalls the golden days of Kansas, except that the violin is replaced by flute, which gives most of the songs on »The Wait Of Glory« a noticeable folk-rock stamp. The rest of the album is just as impressive across the board and matches the achievements of the excellent predecessor, with just the right blend of epic sweep, subtlety, punch and pomp, while being varied and dynamic enough that you’re never bored, so »The Wait Of Glory« is a real pleasure to listen to from start to finish.
With »The Wait Of Glory«, Proto-Kaw proved that its predecessor, »Before Became After«, wasn’t just a one-off burst of extra inspiration from the ‘old cats’, as Livgren once again showed that his exceptional songwriting and instrumental chops haven’t dried up over the years. Sadly, Proto-Kaw broke up again in 2008 (the first time was back in 1973), though it didn’t last long, even if it might have been better had that farewell become final. After Livgren’s heart attack they got back together in 2011, but their fourth album, »Forth« (2011), released on Kerry’s independent label, was merely a pale shadow of its two predecessors. Since then, Proto-Kaw have been mostly inactive because of Livgren’s poor health.
Review author no. 2: Peter Podbrežnik, date 14.01.2017 (rating: 4.5/5)
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Before Became After, released in 2004, is a great record, but you won’t believe this! “The Wait Of Glory” is a great record too. And then some! It’s an even better album.
“Before Became After” doesn’t hide what Kansas were all about, but its successor is much more than “just another Kansas album”. “The Wait Of Glory” is an even more varied, dynamic record and it’s impressive from start to finish! It’s marked by pure symphonic prog rock (the songs Nevermore, Vigil and the closing Picture This all really carry an aurally transcendental air) with a mighty orchestral sound! Elsewhere that sound alternates with psychedelic rock moments, the guys dip into jazz waters, love to fire off some fusion jazz rock, and in Osvaldo’s Groceries they even have a bit of Zappa-style zaniness and tragicomedy through a brilliantly played jam that only confirms the chemistry between the old cats is outstanding. The spacey intro of When The Rains Come suddenly shifts into a magnificent “King Crimson Red – era” sound, which then, right after, dissolves like a soap bubble through “Floyd-ish” vocal choir harmonies, and the track proves the crazily perfect compatibility of the many genres Proto-Kaw are able to conjure up. As Kansas hinted, Proto-Kaw too hint at plenty of elements that bands à la Spock’s Beard would work into their own sound many years later (the exploratory Physic and Old Number 63, both with thrilling bursts of brass and Hammond).
Proto-Kaw are endlessly pleasing to the ear. At the same time they’re fascinatingly tempting, because the motifs of the tracks develop in completely unpredictable ways. What gives the record its special wings are the excellent, juicy orchestral arrangements, the woodwind stabs and the lively flutes. The cherry on top is the warm, expressive, heartfelt velvety vocal. In On The Eve Of The Great Decline the guys touch on fragile and highly refined Afro-oriental esotericism, and over its running time the song keeps growing in the richness of its melodic sonic expanses: it starts out as a modest acoustic piece backed by percussion and develops into a big melody, saturated down to its last corner with the variety of added instruments. Moog, guitar and synthesizer solos weave fluidly together, Proto-Kaw have an outstanding feeling for fantastic melodizing and don’t lose themselves in it at a single point of their focus.
It’s incredible how this album never stops, and never stops, amazing and surprising you. There isn’t a single moment that bores you. The dynamics and the twists of the high-flying moods keep rolling like it’s all a joke. “The Wait Of Glory” is a bone you’ll really be able to gnaw on for a very, very long time, and it’ll be tough to gnaw it all the way down! It’s just fantastic to realize that the world of “progressive rock” can still surprise us this shockingly and spoil us with creations as artful as Proto–Kaw’s new album! Music of grown men for grown-up listeners! The year 2006 has gotten off to a very promising start!
Review author no. 1: Aleš Podbrežnik, date 08.03.2006 (rating: 4.5/5)
Lineup
Lynn Meredith – vocals
Kerry Livgren – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Jake Livgren – guitar, saxophone, percussion, backing vocals
John Bolton – flute, saxophone
Dan Wright – organ, keyboards, backing vocals
Craig Kew – bass guitar, backing vocals
Mike Patrum – drums
Production
Kerry Livgren
Track list
1. Nevermore (9:17)
2. Relics of the Tempest (5:07)
3. When the Rains Come (8:56)
4. On the Eve of the Great Decline (4:51)
5. Physic (5:45)
6. At Morning’s Gate (3:11)
7. Melicus Gladiator (4:52)
8. The Vigil (7:20)
9. Old Number 63 (6:51)
10. Osvaldo’s Groceries (3:17)
11. Picture This (6:42)
12. One Fine Day (4:32)
Album length: 70:41
