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Progland was founded by John Gabbard in 2005. It's purpose has been to provide you, the music community with the latest music and dvd reviews. It will continue to be your link to the most popular music reviews in the progressive world.

 

(Yak)-"Journey Of The Yak"

Label -Independent Release
Reviewed by:

Jerry Lucky

www.jerrylucky.com

Genre:
Neo-Prog
Country:
United Kingdom
Length:
48:24
Release Date:
November 14th 2008
Band Members: Martin Morgan / keyboards Dave Speight / drums
  Gary Bennett / bass  
     
     
Track Listing: 1.)-Gates of Moria (3:12)  
  2.)-Entangled in Dreams (10:04)  
  3.)-Jadis of Charn (11:28)  
  4.)-March of the Huorns (12:04)  
  5.)-Dearly Departed (3:06)  
  6.)-Journey of the Yak (8:30)  
     
     

Review:

Once again I am amazed at how much progressive rock there is out there. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been listening to the band Yak that hail out of the UK, Essex to be exact. I guess you could call it their fourth CD, if you include a couple discs that consisted of live jam sessions. Yak’s new disc is entitled Journey of the Yak and consists of six wonderful instrumental tracks created by a trio of musicians, Martin Morgan (keyboards), Dave Speight (drums) and Gary Bennett (bass). For the record the band originally came together as a quartet in 1982 but folded a couple years later, only to come back onto the music scene in 2004. It’s also probably worth noting that Speight currently plays with the Enid-offshoot entitled Whimwise.

As mentioned Journey of the Yak features six instrumental compositions and other than two short three-minuters the others are all just under or a little over ten-minutes. I’m reminded a little of band’s like The Enid but more perhaps by the Enid offshoot Craft who released one album back in the eighties. The music is highly structured and elaborately arranged but isn’t quite as orchestral sounding as The Enid, but still very symphonic in nature. These tracks are all pretty up-tempo and at times really place an emphasis on the rock part. Each of these tracks will move through any number of dramatic sections all hinged together by moving themes and classically styled musical motifs. And while never overly busy or complicated the structure of these songs is quite varied and ever changing. Another word there’s lots going on in each track. We’re treated to many recurring themes, excellent Mellotron samples, changing dynamics, all manor of keyboards, brilliant melodic riffs and more than enough symphonic flair to keep you coming back for more.

Not knowing what to expect it’s always a special treat to be won over by such excellent music. Journey of the Yak is music that will easily appeal to a wide swath of progressive rock fans. If you’re into the trio approach of bands like ELP or Craft or the more symphonic Japanese bands like Outer Limits or certainly bands like the Enid or Whimwise, well then Yak is right for you. I’m really liking this record and highly recommend it. Great job!

www.jerrylucky.com

 

 

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