Presto Ballet Lost Art of Time Travel 2008 320

3.59 | 91 ratings | 20 reviews | 18% 5 stars

Excellent addition to whatsoever
prog rock music collection

Write a review

Buy PRESTO BALLET Music
from Progarchives.com partners

Studio Album, released in 2008

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. The Listen Machine (ten:fifty)
two. Thieves (9:04)
3. You're Alive (4:24)
four. One Tragedy at a Fourth dimension (14:00)
5. I'm Not Blind (half-dozen:xvi)
vi. Easy Tomorrow (half dozen:30)
vii. Haze (9:28)

Total Time: 60:32

Line-up / Musicians

- Scott Albright / lead & backing vocals
- Kurdt Vanderhoof / guitar, Mellotron, synth, bass pedals, composer & producer
- Ryan McPherson / Mellotron, Hammond, piano, synth
- State of israel Rehaume / bass
- Pecker Raymond / drums

With:
- Brian Cokeley / backing vocals
- Caitlin Moats / flute
- Shelby Moats / voice

Releases data

Artwork: Kurdt Vanderhoof

CD ProgRock Records ‎- PRR560 (2008, US)

Thanks to Cesar Inca for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
Edit this entry

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review past rushfan4
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Wow!!! Just Wow!!! This is a terrific album!!! All fans of 1970'due south progressive stone must hear this anthology. That is your sound byte. Go ahead and print it. I should really terminate my review right there because that is all that yous really need to know. Let me just say that I enjoyed my first couple listens to this album so much I was inspired to exercise something I haven't done in quite some time and that is write a review. This album is so good and I want everyone to know it and thus that is why I am writing this. I am really not qualified to draw this anthology in any other way, but being a prog rock fan and a member of this website I suppose that I will continue anyway.

Presto Ballet guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof is too the guitarist for heavy metal band Metal Church, a thrash metal band that I used to really similar with their start few albums but I have since lost complete runway of. I have a re-create of Presto Ballet's debut album Peace Among the Ruins, which I picked up because it was released on the InsideOut record label, of which I am a huge fan of their stable of artists. I recollect listening to that album and thinking that it was good, but information technology really didn't stand out as all that memorable to me. Recently in the forums, Big Boss from ProgRock records announced that they were trying something new with a tape of the month club. I figured that this was a practiced deal since the price per CD was good, and I also really similar the stable of artists on Prog Stone Records too. Anyway, the first CD that they sent out was Presto Ballet'southward The Lost Fine art of Fourth dimension Travel. My expectation before playing this was that hopefully it would be good but that I'll probably play it in one case or twice and prepare it aside to exist picked up and played from fourth dimension to time when the mood strikes, or it just happens to come up up in the rotation scheme. Boy was I in for a surprise. Did I tell you that this album is terrific and that you just take to hear it? Information technology was so expert that I pulled out Peace Among the Ruins for the first time in awhile to give it another mind. It was better than I remembered, merely it still didn't have the wow gene of this CD.

I suppose that this might fall under what some forum members derisively call retro prog because of how much it harkens to the glory days of progressive rock, just when something sounds this good it actually shouldn't affair. There is a large helping of hammond organ and mellotron and synths and piano and bass pedals. Not to mention the fact that the band leader, Vanderhoof, is a guitarist by trade and thus there is some splendid guitar playing as well. There has been some significant turnover in the ring from the starting time album. As already mentioned, Kurdt Vanderhoof returns as well equally singer Scott Albright. It could merely be, simply on the get-go anthology Scott Albright sang like a metal vocalist and although his voice was proficient it wasn't necessarily distinguishable from other metal singers. I don't know if this makes sense or not, but on this album, he sings more like a rock singer. His voice seems cleaner to me and is more enjoyable to heed to. In addition to these two, the band also have a new bass player, drummer, and all purpose keyboard player (meaning he plays synths, keyboards, mellotron and hammond organ). All three of them are splendid additions to the bands sound.

Thank you to Prog Rock Records for sending me this CD. I really exercise believe that this is a modern day progressive stone masterpiece and that it is an essential listen for all fans of the glory days of progressive rock.

Review by Tarcisio Moura
PROG REVIEWER

I utterly agree with Scott�s review of this anthology. I too was not quite impressed by Presto Ballet�s first album (good, ok, but cipher special) and I wouldn�t give their second anthology a hazard if I hadn�t read his praisings. And I was astonished by what I heard. The mix of heavy guitars (lxx�s way), Rick Wakeman-like keyboards and some amazing harmonies and acoustic guitars that remind me of many groups of that era (like a cross between Seals And Crofts and Yes) might sound odd, but it really works. Somehow mr Vanderhoof & co caught the spirit of the 70�s prog rock and still managed to evangelize something unique. They are not copycats. Crossover prog indeed!

I was really surprised that Vanderhoof, who was the leader of 80�s thrasers Metal Church, could practise something so interesting and progressive (and abroad from heavy metal, that is). The band is tight, the singer is a gifted man with a versatile voice that works all the time, the arrangements are tasteful and the songwriting is superb. There are no fillers at all: all songs are very proficient! The championship track is a classic. Production is also top notch. In all, everything works.

One of the nicest surprises I had this year. Everyone who loves classic prog rock should give this anthology a try. Alarm: quite addictive! 4,5 stars.

Review by CCVP
PROG REVIEWER

Actually impressive release, but there are some parts that just bring the album down

This is the latest Presto Ballet album and it is a a very skilful release indeed. Here the band is much more mature than in its previous album Peace Among the Ruins and that becomes and so clear that i call up it is unnecessary to go on comparison them further. However, this album accept some important setbacks that go on me from giving it a better grade (i one time wanted to give it the v stars, merely now i am certain it is not that skilful, unfortunately).

The 1st problem is that the album is badly divided: the best songs (The Mind Motorcar, Thieves and One Tragedy at a Time) are all put together at the starting time of the album, or at least at its 1st role, and the rest of the anthology is non as good and it needed at least i more good song towards the end. The 2d problem is that the chief musical theme of the song Thieves is extremely like to a portuguese traditional folk dance called O Vira and almost every time i mind that song (Thieves) i laugh, besides it being a practiced song. The 3rd setback is that the tertiary song (You're Alive) completely breaks the flow of the anthology, taking away much of the energy that the band built up during the 1st and the 2nd songs.

Despite those issues, the anthology is still very practiced. The opening rails is just perfect and is, in my opinion, the best track of the album and the following rail can continue the feeling, the energy, very well. The 4th track is also very skilful and can get back some of the energy lost in You're Alive, only after I Tragedy at a Time the album becomes just practiced. The Lost Art of Time Travel is too kind of heavier than its predecessor, having some considerable headbanging in it (at least in the firsts songs). Unfortunately the band was not able to continue the aforementioned quality through all the album and that is only sad. However, as i said before, this album is notably improve than their previous album and if they keep getting better every album they will shortly brand a masterpiece.

About the songs, musicianship and other features, there are somethings i would like to state:

Almost songs here are good, simply the highlights here go to just three songs that really stood out: The Mind Machine, Thieves and One Tragedy at a Time, but specially to The Mind Machine.

One expert feature of this band that actually impressed be is the singer. Usually i don't like most vocals the 1st time i listen a band, but this ring was an exception to information technology. the vocals fit right into the ring's music and are quite squeamish sung. Another thing that deserves to exist mentioned is the very skillful bass piece of work and the also very skilful synthesizers and organ work.

Grade and Final Thoughts

Then, likewise this album existence fantastic, some of the decisions made past the band but pulled information technology down, made it worse. So, considering of that, i call back this album deserves 4 stars. Better luck next time Presto Ballet.

Review by Chicapah
PROG REVIEWER

Alloy the take-no-prisoners mental attitude of British bands Deep Purple and Uriah Heep with the total-on vocal arroyo taken by American groups Styx and Kansas and you'll pretty much have a dewdrop on what "The Lost Art of Time Travel" sounds like. Other than the Imperial gang (one of my all-time favorites), I can't honestly say that I've been anything more than a coincidental, from-a-altitude gentleman of those classic bands only Presto Ballet has wisely drawn from what I consider to be their more than attractive traits and created an anthology that is nostalgic in a refreshing sort of way. For those proggers who are fractional to the 70s and ever quick to proclaim that "they just don't brand 'em like that anymore," this volition put y'all in a happy place.

"The Mind Machine" starts off with a bold, dynamic intro and from the very commencement notes sung by Scott Albright you tin can tell that this guy has some seriously strong vocal chops and excellent tone. He's a Dennis De Young blazon minus the as well-dramatic desolation and the operatic overkill factor. And that's a plus. I've read where the group's guitarist and mastermind Kurdt Vanderhoot wanted to capture the essence of the 70s with this ensemble and that not-and then-cloak-and-dagger homage is in total evidence here. After traveling down the obligatory and slightly average verse/chorus/poetry/chorus path with this number they break things down to a lone piano role briefly then enter into a quieter, more theatrical (re: fog machine) department earlier bursting into a double-time move that, while unquestionably boisterous and energetic, I find distracting. What I was waiting for was some kind of thrilling solo from the guitar or keyboards to come blasting into the track and kick my tail to the far side of the room merely it never comes. Either this combo lacks a true virtuoso or they cull not to feature him, simply that fly in the ointment is one of the album's biggest drawbacks. Lyrically it's a Large Brother lament with pedestrian lines like "nosotros only ask that you trust us/we take intendance of everything/only shut down your listen/thoughts are wastes of time." Meh.

Only don't give upwardly just still. The cream of the proceedings appears adjacent in the form of the intriguing "Thieves" when information technology opens with mysterious, droning keyboards from Ryan McPherson and a simple just memorable guitar riff that provides the song with a cardinal theme. I love the fat guitar tones Kurdt uses (especially the metallic dust he lays down underneath the chorus) and the densely stacked harmonies rock. Mainly information technology's merely a better-composed melody than the first i and that's the key to everything. The hard-hitting bridge with Scott's voice soaring like a skyrocket and the intricate changes the band glides seamlessly through are the highlights of the vocal. The words are rather vitriolic as they lash out bitterly at the dogs of war. "It's non who you lot are/it's who yous let alive/and the claret on your easily" he cries. They prefer a more optimistic outlook on "You're Alive," a tune that was most likely inspired by the likes of Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" or Yep' "Your Move." At first information technology doesn't seem like at that place's much substance to embrace only be patient, information technology actually grows on you with a few listens. The adroit vocal organisation and the tactful synthesized strings allow the track to slowly build and build on pinnacle of hopeful lyrics like "this is the fourth dimension to be a dreamer without sleeping/this is a time for yous to breathe." and the repeating mantra of "now yous know that you're live..." The exciting climax comes when Vanderhoot dives in with a huge wall of guitars toward the end.

The 14-minute ballsy "I Tragedy at a Time" is a mixed bag just it succeeds more often than not. Information technology features another fourth dimension-honored, dynamic set up where a myriad of prog influences from Rush to Yes are showcased with respect (advisedly avoiding breathy plagiarism) before settling down into a somewhat mediocre verse/chorus blueprint with unremarkable anti-war words like "remember what they said/all these wars will be over/nonetheless people are ending up dead." (Not exactly Dylan if you lot know what I mean.) But the melody's saving grace shows up when they segue into an intricate instrumental move and then ascend to a secondary stage where cavernous keyboards and poignant singing from Albright burnish the soundscape. All prog efforts worth their common salt include at least one "WOW" moment and that happens on this CD when Kurdt unleashes another avalanche of gigantic, resonating guitar chords to flow under the melody that yous don't want to miss. "I'chiliad Not Bullheaded" follows and it has some fine 12-string acoustic guitars ringing merrily during the onset only then it turns into a vanilla- flavored, straight-ahead rocker with less-than-stellar words along the lines of "besides tight the rope I slide out on is my superstitious mind/looking up residue restored is me or the divine." Uh-huh. Once more the rails begs in vain for a killer guitar or synth ride to give it life simply it's nowhere to be heard.

"Easy Tomorrow" has the makings of a promising stone boogie with its fiery kickoff but, unfortunately, information technology soon becomes yet some other predictable hard pop melody containing some vague references to personal violence and such. At least it features a decent guitar break (at long last) from Vanderhoot but for some reason it's buried in the mix and, therefore, it lacks any real dial. If there'south a puny runt in the litter, though, it's "Haze." I adore what I think they were trying to do with this cutting but it's just a petty also schmaltzy and contrived for my tastes. Don't get me wrong, I'chiliad as much of a sucker for lush, romantic torch ballads as anyone else simply this doesn't exactly tug at my heartstrings. It gets better in the middle when the group gets into more than of a symphonic prog groove and I would've welcomed more than of Ryan'southward expert piano playing merely they slide back into the flowery dearest song and fade out warbling something virtually a "country of mind of haste." Double meh.

This isn't a corking CD but information technology'southward a skillful 1 and the potential for this band to develop into something special is abundant. I like where they seem to be headed. The rhythm section of Bill Raymond on drums and State of israel Rehaume on bass could be tighter and they need to strop a sharper edge to their barnstorming attack simply I've heard much, much worse in my time. And I hate to beat a expressionless equus caballus but Presto Ballet needs some spitfire solos to spice things up from fourth dimension to time, fifty-fifty if it means bringing in some guest musicians to do the honors. The group's got a lot going for them, though. The product is elevation-notch, the presentation is cohesive and well-arranged and Kurdt's astonishing, eye-communicable artwork is spectacular. Their next album could be the killer that catapults them into the upper echelon of prog if they concentrate on improving their writing skills. Meanwhile, this one ain't too shabby. 3.ii stars.

Review past Nightfly
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Presto Ballets sound is likely to come up as a chip of a surprise to anyone who knows guitarist Kurdt Vaderhoof from his other ring Metallic Church. Here in that location's an absence of the thrash metal of that band, instead Presto Ballet have a sound firmly based on seventies American progressive rock begetting a resemblance to the likes of Styx and Kansas with a scrap of Deep Purple thrown in for good measure out.

The Lost Fine art of Time Travel is their second album and very skilful it is likewise. seven songs brand up the album, 4 of them 9 minutes or longer giving ample opportunity for instrumental workouts. Presto Ballet produce a powerful still melodic sound, the seventies authenticity helped by the production and much use being made of keyboards similar Hammond organ and Melotron. The ring are all neat players and in Scott Albright they have found an excellent rock singer capable of handling the potent melodies with ease.

The anthology is consistently stiff making it difficult to pick favourite tracks just special mention should be fabricated of 1 Tragedy at a Fourth dimension, a fourteen minute masterpiece with swirling melotrons and Hammond organ, powerful guitar riffs and a dynamic rhythm department. It'due south virtually 3 minutes before the vocals come up giving you an thought of the infinite left for instrumental coaction. Although as already stated, they produce a powerful sound, there's still room for some light and shade with plenty of changes.

This is pretty much the formula for the anthology which is fine with me only Yous're Live adds an acoustic guitar driven interlude very much reminding me of Styx both musically and vocally and fantabulous it is likewise. Brume, which closes the album likewise offers some diversification being one of the other more restrained and laid back moments until an instrumental section picks things up a flake reminding me of Genesis with some Hackett style atomic number 82 guitar.

This album has turned out to be ane of the unexpected gems of 2008 and recommended to anyone who likes their prog with priorities on strong melodies and powerful driving riffs.

Review past Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER

This is a lot of fun. Very melodic with lots of bombast reminding me of SPOCK'S BEARD at times. An upgrade in my opinion over their debut. The comprehend fine art is cool, and they thank Martin Orford formerly of IQ, and a few of the guys from SAVATAGE amidst others.

"The Mind Motorcar" opens powerfully earlier it settles with some nice bass lines. Vocals a minute in.This just makes me feel good. It kicks back in SPOCK'Southward Bristles style earlier calming downwardly again with piano 3 minutes in. Honey the sound a minute afterward. Contrasts continue and check out the chunky bass. Lots of organ belatedly. "Thieves" opens with spacey synths before guitar and eventually a full sound arrives before ane 1/2 minutes. Squeamish. Vocals before two minutes as it settles. Contrasts go on. Mellotron after 6 minutes with a powerful sound to follow. Spacey waves end information technology. "You're Live" opens with strummed guitar as vocals and harmonies come up in. Synths after 2 minutes. A tricky rails with that line sung over and over "Now you lot know that you're alive". "I Tragedy At A Time" is the 14 infinitesimal epic and my favourite track on here. A powerful soundscape as organ plays over top. Information technology turns darker with mellotron a minute in. It's brief as pianoforte comes in. Vocals afterward 2 ane/2 minutes. The synths a minute after are SAGA-like. Some huge bass lines follow. Instrumentally i'grand reminded of RUSH at times here. Information technology settles before 7 minutes and then gets spacey. Information technology kicks dorsum in before x minutes as themes are repeated.

"I'1000 Not Blind" is brighter with acoustic guitar and vocals. The electric guitar comes ripping in afterward a minute as drums, bass and organ join the fray. A overnice heavy sound is the result. "Like shooting fish in a barrel Tomorrow" is flatulent with organ and drums standing out. Vocals after i one/2 minutes. This is merely a rip snorter. Guitar lights information technology upwards 4 ane/2 minutes in. "Haze" is mellow with reserved vocals early. Mellotron and chunky bass after 3 minutes. Great audio after 6 minutes. Piano before 7 minutes as reserved vocals render. More mellotron before viii minutes.

This is really a drove of good songs that are played at a very high level. Again SPOCK'S BEARD is a skilful reference point. First-class vocals as well. The negative is that information technology's a fiddling too commercial sounding with those STYX styled vocals.

Review past Rivertree
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR PSIKE Team & Band Submissions

Great sounding album with much symphonic/neo prog textures as well every bit AOR leanings from a band around guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof who is too known for playing with a heavy metal band. Lush keyboards are a trademark of this album - and the singing. Lead vocalizer Scott Albright makes a very good job, reminding me of Bob Catley sometimes. This is excellently proved on One Tragedy At A Fourth dimension which is the album highlight for me. They offering the complete bandwith of elements - a retro prog song structure with tempo changes and breaks en masse, great backing guitar riffs, keyboards which are spheric spacey here and Yes alike there - Hammond, Mellotron, synths, pianoforte - nothing else matters ...

PRESTO BALLET offers a compact audio where no musician is pushed into the foreground. Minimal instrumental solo action. I can't remember noticing a remarkable guitar solo for example. The more mainstream AOR oriented I'm Non Bullheaded and Easy Tomorrow can't hold the loftier standard of the diversified opener The Mind Motorcar which contains some typical neo prog and symphonic standards. Thieves impresses because presented very powerful flatulent. Varied drum playing - by and large in staccato, virtually to a military style. The vocal fades out with some ambient keyboard patterns - well done guys! You're Alive is the mandatory ballad with audio-visual guitar and Haze appeals to me because containing a (way as well brusk) function where the ring invokes a prissy, more relaxed, menstruation for a modify.

Enjoyable rock songs on the whole where the quality of the compositions decreases a picayune fleck over the course of time. Fans of Kansas, Styx, IZZ or Spock'southward Beard volition like 'The Lost Art Of Time Travel' I'm certain - 3.5 stars are well deserved.

Review past Gatot
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Are you and so longing for the kind of music that blends heavy music and symphonic? Brand information technology simpler - the kind of classic rock bands like Uriah Heep, Deep Majestic, Styx, Kansas? You got information technology right here! Yeah . simply said the music of Presto Ballet is similar a culmination between two groups: Styx meets Kansas with a kind of Carmine-isque mellotron work. The leader Kurdt Vanderhoof was known from his work with thrash/speed metal outfit Metal Church or his Vanderhoof side project.

The higher up was actually my opening statement when I reviewed Presto Ballet'due south debut anthology "Peace Among The Ruins" (2005). Three years subsequently, every bit a follow-up of their excellent debut Presto Ballet released still another good album titled "The Lost Art of Time travel" (2008) which confirmed their stand-basis firmly every bit basically no major alter in music way. I can at present say that Presto Ballet is basically a blend of the following formula: 50% Styx + 30% Kansas + fifteen% Yep / Rex Crimson + 5% others. Quite confusing isn't it? How can you imagine Styx meets Kansas meets Yes / King Crimson. Information technology's quite odd isn't it? That's the beauty of prog music! Information technology has always gone beyond boundaries that people accept e'er expected. That's why, we should honey prog music every bit it has e'er been and will always be giving surprises in the kind of music that previously had never been idea of. Indeed, prog music is basically in-sync with life: unpredictable, unthinkable, uncertain and full with surprises. So, basically whatever homo is "prog" past nature. It'southward weird if they force themselves to heed to "structured" music similar pop or directly-forward rock.

"The Listen Auto" (10:l) kicks off with Kansas-like opening followed with sudden break which so flows with deep basslines to accompany Styx-like vocal work. This relatively long track offers compact music with tight composition blending key elements of keyboard sounds in inventive way, guitar equally well as piano that fills breaks beautifully. There is classical music touch during short piano fills. The following track "Thieves" (nine:04) flows in the vein of Styx with some flavour of Yep. But of course Styx component contributes the highest especially through the vocal harmonies.

"You're Live" (4:24) starts with acoustic guitar rhythm followed nicely by song line until double acoustic guitars work together to form a solid rhythm section. The remainder of the song is basically an unplugged vocal with keyboard bear on and percussion (timpani). "I Tragedy at a Time" (14:00) opens with a short acapela that reminds me to Jon Anderson'due south vox followed with complex arrangements featuring Rick Wakeman-like keyboard work followed by mellotron. The tone of the music varies from complex and relatively fast tempo into unproblematic ones with slower pace. The keyboard work plays significant role in creating textures of the music.

"I'm Not Blind" (half-dozen:xvi) intro that comprises guitar fills reminds me to Styx'south "Lady" combined with Styx's "Boat on The River". Of grade they are not alike and information technology'due south just an intro. The body of the song is totally different. "Like shooting fish in a barrel Tomorrow" (6:30) blends seventies guitar riffs with modern music arrangements in a straight forward stone style. The pianoforte solo performed before song enters is nice. "Haze" (9:28) starts mellow with electric guitar fills that accompany vocal followed nicely with music that flows smoothly in ballad style.

Overall this is a very good album and it continues with the spirit of the debut album. Having released these second album, Presto Ballet convey a bulletin to the world that they nevertheless exist and reconfirm their music style, that is very similar with the debut album.

Peace on earth and mercy mild. Keep on proggin' ...

Review by Windhawk
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Pretty great sophomore effort from US band Presto Ballet here, and a slap-up find for those who like progressive rock as it was back in the golden days of the genre.

Their chosen style resides somewhere in betwixt a rectangle formed by acts such as Yes, Genesis, Kansas and Uriah Heep; stiff and melodic compositions with more than a few symphonic tendencies - simply with a heaviness and dust to the guitarwork as the just element that reveals the metallic groundwork of the bands instigator.

Nothing new or groundbreaking on this release; the overall sound a heavier, darker and somewhat grittier version of a band like The Blossom Kings; only the songs are well made, planned and executed. The moods and atmospheres strong, the melodies compelling and the compositions evolve just enough to stay interesting while maintaining split identities.

Well worth checking out.

Review past Atavachron
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Quite good 2nd entry from S.F. progmetal pioneer Kurdt Vanderhoof's venerative project celebrating the more than marketable sounds of the classic prog era with plenty of nods to Journey, Genesis, Styx, Kansas, Blitz, ELP and Yes. Well-recorded and full of skilful ideas & enthusiasm, in league with Andy Tillison's agreeing Tangent simply with a notable Americanism from Scott Albright'due south perfectly Stygian vocals and cheesy acoustic guitar chords. Besides some solid songwriting is on paw, making The Lost Art of Time Travel considerably improve than the average prog tribute. Eleven-minute 'The Mind Machine' preaches a piffling merely satisfies with skillful doses of prog excess, Ryan McPherson's insistent organs, synths & faux classical piano and painfully tight rhythm team of Raymond/Rehaume. 'Thieves' snarls open with bass pedals and becomes a rather nice Steve Perry-style ballad, a theme connected on 'You lot're Alive', and 'I Tragedy at a Fourth dimension' is a mammoth fourteen minutes of Vanderhoof's heavy guitar layers, many clever changes from the band and Albright'south fine vocal making it a special highlight. It wanders out into infinite for awhile through the middle - and why non - the band gradually returning for a reprise. 'I'thousand Not Bullheaded' is a lackluster hair-metal task only soulful 'Easy Tomorrow' is better with squeamish riffing throughout, and 'Haze' is a quiet goodbye. Hands dislocated for Neoprog or merely plain quondam arena rock, Presto Ballet are a bit more that and gave united states ane of the better nostalgia pieces in the retro wave. Expert solid stuff.

Review by b_olariu
PROG REVIEWER

Presto's Ballet second try from 2008 named The lost fine art of time travel is another worthy album. Keeping the same formula in manner of composing Presto Ballet finaly establish their sound and giving to the listner almost a perfect album. Again a perfect combination between greates of the 'seventy's like Styx, Kansas but aswell some Flower Kings or even Spocks Bristles elemts are here, this 2d release worth to exist investigated. This album is meliorate then first in my opinion who was aswell very strong, the pieces is more elaborated, living space to more instrumental passages, the bombastic arrangements are here again, the mellotron again sounds brilliant and interlude very natural with the rest of the instruments. The progressive rock now is more than fluent has a great production, crystal sound and above all some fantastic vocal lines. Even Presto Ballet's music resenblance with the past, their aproach of progressive stone is modern. They are an energic band with great ideas, just to exist bank check the opening trackThe Mind Car , 10 min of pure beauty, groovy to be choosen for opening an album, this style the listner might be very intrested to observe more, and for sure volition not exist deseppointed. Another great tune is the longest pieces from hither One tragedy at a time, virtually 15 min of one of the best pieces Presto Ballet ever washed, super musicianship, great idea and nifty sound. The music is complex enough to catch the intrest of progressive rock listners, toying with prog metal in places, merely I might say without that metallic sound, merely the atmosphere. Scot Albright again shines on every pieces, the keyboards arrangements are great showing that is still much more to be done in progressive rock music these days, Presto Ballet is ne of the bands that for sure needs attending when nosotros are talking about modernistic progressive music. four stars, ameliorate then the predecesor, Kurdt Vanderhoof did it gain, being the chief composer of the ring, he desearve almost the all credits, just also the rest of the musicians are like a auto who works similar oiled. Recommended one of the pleasent surprises of late 00'due south.

Review past progrules
PROG REVIEWER

Can't shake of the feeling where this American band has information technology's roots. Information technology'south from their fellow countrymen Kansas and Styx in my opinion with as well big resemblance with their lesser known compatriots Cryptic Vision. The long and fairly complex compositions have obviously almost resemblance with Kansas just funny plenty the sound is more like Styx to me with Ambiguous Vision as good 2nd. And then there'due south probably an obvious typical American prog style at least where the heavier symphonic prog is concerned.

Considering that's what this is to me, a blend of symphonic prog and heavy prog but at that place's indeed also an inexplicable hint to popular music I detect every time I hear this anthology and that'southward where my comparison to Styx comes from and is probably the reason this band is categorized in the crossover genre. The main reason for this feeling is caused past the vocals I believe. But there's too a strange mix of this near commercial Styx way with the sheer symphonic style of Kansas. The instrumental parts are pretty complex and extensive and bemuse me somewhat.

All things considered this anthology is quite difficult to rate for me. The best score would exist 3,v stars but that's nevertheless not possible alas so I will take to make the difficult choice over again. And even though this is a good/very good anthology I feel 4 stars would be just about too much for my taste so I will give three. Fans of Kansas and the other mentioned bands should really bank check this ane out.

Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

For their second anthology Presto Ballet found a new domicile on Shawn Gordon's ProgRock Records.''The lost art of time travel'' presents a vastly different line-up compared to the debut of the band, Ryan McPherson was responsible for the keyboard and pianoforte parts, Bill Raymond was the new drummer and Israel Rehaume the new bassist.Brian Cokeley appears just on backing vocals and Caitlin Moats guests on flute.The album came out in 2008.

Presto Ballet proceed on the succesful path of their debut, but the new anthology sounds a chip more mature and memorable with impressive riffs and solos during the powerful electrical bursts and a very good keyboard piece of work by McPherson.RUSH, KANSAS and STYX are still the main influences of the band, which swirls around the basics of 70'southward Heavy and Hard Stone/Prog, but there are too many elaborate themes and complicated orchestrations to be institute on this piece of work, from the quirky piano themes and the grandiose Mellotrons to the vintage organ and the flexible thematic changes.Synthesizers are mostly used to provide an actress spark on a nonetheless very emphatic and dynamic audio, simply symphonic references are not absent either.They kind of remind me of SPOCK'Due south BEARD or TRANSATLANTIC'southward heavier rhythms and pieces.Scott Albright's vocals is definitely suitable to such an energetic approach, a natural-born rockin' vox.Information technology'due south bang-up to see Kurdt Vanderhoof & co. making an attempt on long, progressive tracks (three of them are close or over 10 minutes long) and still go on the gears upwards, at the same time the strong rhythmic parts are showered past excellent keyboard twists and tempo changes with the Retro Prog vibes waiting in every corner.

Solid Heavy Prog, solid arrangements and tunes and a high energy level.These guys tin can stone and still provide the listener with progressive components.Strongly recommended...three.5 stars.

Latest members reviews

Metallic Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof pleasantly surprised the progrock earth with his musical project named Presto Ballet. Their debut CD entitled Peace Amongst The Ruins turned out to be a worldwide acclaimed album since its release in 2005. Meanwhile Presto Ballete have released four studio-a ... (read more)

Report this review (#1951795) | Posted past TenYearsAfter | Tuesday, July 24, 2018 | Review Permanlink

Kurdt Vanderhoof'south (Metal Church) side project is back with the 2nd anthology and 7 new tracks of Progressive Hard Rock. The influences go manner back to the 70s and the archetype names but, in opposition to their peers, Presto Ballet can add a very strong Hard Rock attitude to their music. Forget the typ ... (read more)

Report this review (#1819968) | Posted by ElNapalmo | Mon, November vi, 2017 | Review Permanlink

This, Presto Ballet'southward second album, I feel is a big improvement on their get-go album which sauntered forth at a steady but adequately sedate step. The music on 'The Lost Art of Time Travel' is altogether stronger. It has more confidence to it and has a number of high points with more pronounced me ... (read more)

Report this review (#507271) | Posted by Richens | Mon, Baronial 22, 2011 | Review Permanlink

Why oh why? Their debut album was a highly enjoyable mod pomp-rock album. it had it's weaknesses,but information technology was a kind of tribute to the hard-rock meets prog masters of the lxx's, like Styx, Deep Purple and others. In fact they were trying to be like a mod Styx with more than artistic vision. Thei ... (read more)

Study this review (#282714) | Posted by Brendan | Wednesday, May 19, 2010 | Review Permanlink

Presto Ballet is a very retro sounding ring that makes y'all recall y'all are listening to a classic rock album from the seventies. At that place are many influences hither that all shine including Kansas, Deep Imperial, and some Yes. What comes out of these influences is an album that brings on feelings of no ... (read more)

Written report this review (#225807) | Posted by natewait | Friday, July 10, 2009 | Review Permanlink

Story of this band/side project of Kurdt Vanderhoof reminds bit me of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Like him, Kurdt changed the whole band, except for vocalizer (his voice is pure delight, analogically to Ronnie Dio). Debut album of Presto Ballet, Peace Among the Ruins, was in my opinion i of the best ... (read more)

Report this review (#180495) | Posted by stewe | Thursday, August 21, 2008 | Review Permanlink

I was very fortunate enough to become my easily on an advance copy of this CD and just wanted to share a few lines on how this CD is so hither goes ... Amazing because Presto Ballet have really gained footing on this release and truelly refined their sound by incorporating more seventy'due south sounding prog ... (read more than)

Report this review (#178501) | Posted by Yorkie X | Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | Review Permanlink

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

Equally a registered member (annals here if not), yous can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before standing (use forum credentials).

parkermargance.blogspot.com

Source: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=18901

Share this post