PENDRAGON

(UNITED KINGDOM)

KOWTOW

(1988)
LABEL:

TOFF

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

TAGS:
"Far from the style that will make his fame, Pendragon delivers with "Kowtow" one of his weakest records."
PETER HACKETT (08.06.2009)  
2/5
(0) opinions (1) comment(s)
Kowtow is an album released in the middle of a dark period for progressive rock ... Those years (late 80's, early 90's) when disco, new wave and other kinds were flooding in, making the body move to the detriment of the ears. It is in this context that Pendragon releases this second album, 3 years after The Jewel (and 3 years before the next one !).

This little preamble will perhaps allow some people to better understand (and perhaps forgive) why this so endearing band could release this motley object too close to commercial music. The first 3 titles are to be quickly forgotten. Even if Nick Barrett's voice and guitar are there, they are stuck in a bland popular "soup". The intro of "Time For A Change" and its Depeche Mode style drums illustrates this point and reinforces dismay.

The three ballads that follow, "I Wake The Rope", "2 am" and "Total Recall", raise the level a bit but remain below the slow compositions that Barrett will be able to create for us afterwards. We have to wait for "The Haunting" to hear Pendragon worthy of the name. The start is a little tedious, but the good neo-prog that we're entitled to wait for finally shows up and, considering the global level of the album, this track is excellent. We'll pass quickly enough on a "Solid Heart" too pop to be really interesting and we'll linger on the second half of the eponymous and yet ultimate track. As a finale, the last 5 minutes of "Kowtow" will leave the listener on a good impression, just enough to get in condition for the excellent albums to come.

Kowtow don't get the average even if behind the weakness of a good half of the compositions lies the excellence of a future great band, spearhead of the neo-prog movement, which still enchants the lovers of the genre today.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Saved By You - 03:58
02. The Mask - 04:01
03. Time For A Change - 03:56
04. I Walk The Rope - 04:47
05. 2 Am - 04:14
06. Total Recall - 07:00
07. The Haunting - 10:40
08. Solid Heart - 04:20
09. Kowtow 08:56

LINEUP:
Clive Nolan: Claviers / Choeurs
Fudge Smith: Batterie
Julian Siegal: Saxophone
Nick Barrett: Chant / Guitares
Peter Gee: Basse / Choeurs
   
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS    
Top of the page
   
(1) COMMENT(S)    
 
 
ADRIANSTORK
20/05/2014
  0
Pourquoi est-ce qu'on crie au scandale sur les derniers albums de Gentle Giant et que jamais Pendragon n'a été accusé du pire?
Top of the page
The album may not have been released or the spotify ID has not yet been entered or there is no spotify ID available
READERS
1.7/5 (3 view(s))
STAFF:
2.3/5 (9 view(s))
MY RATING
 
LAST NEWS
PENDRAGON: Love Over Fear
 
OTHER REVIEWS
MEGADETH: Cryptic Writings (1997)
HEAVY METAL - A very heterogeneous album, "Crypting Writings" didn't really find its audience. Unappreciated by some fans and ignored by others, it had all the qualities to become a Megadeth classic.
NARROW PASS: In This World And Beyond (2009)
PROGRESSIVE ROCK - In This World and Beyond by Narrow Pass is to be recommended to all those who like progressive rock when it is melodic and symphonic.
 
 
OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT PENDRAGON
PENDRAGON_North-Star
North Star (2023)
3/5
4.3/5
AUTRE LABEL / PROGRESSIVE ROCK
PENDRAGON_Love-Over-Fear
Love Over Fear (2020)
3/5
4.1/5
AUTRE LABEL / PROGRESSIVE ROCK
PENDRAGON_Men-Who-Climb-Mountains
Men Who Climb Mountains (2014)
4/5
4.1/5
TOFF / PROGRESSIVE ROCK
PENDRAGON_Passion
Passion (2011)
5/5
4.3/5
TOFF / PROGRESSIVE ROCK
PENDRAGON_Pure
Pure (2008)
5/5
4.5/5
TOFF / PROGRESSIVE ROCK
 
F.A.Q. / You found a bug / Terms Of Use
Music Waves - Rock (Progressive, Alternative...), Hard Rock (AOR, Melodic,...) & Metal (heavy, progressive, melodic, ...) Media
Reviews, News, Interviews, Advices, Promotion, Releases, Concerts
© Music Waves | 2003 - 2025