Pangaea - 1997 - The Rite of Passage

(76:02; HMG Records [2024 Editon] )

Track list:
1. Time Syndrome 3:59
2. The Ship (That Must Come In) 6:04
Trilogy:
3. I. Father (He Shall Add) 4:11
4. II. Hollow Dweller (From The Valley) 3:45
5. III. A Gift 5:29
6. The Winds (Behind the Door) 4:08
7. September Park 4:29
8. Navigator 4:53
9. Lonely Is a Place 3:58
10. Beggar's Hand 5:32
11. The Ship [Nashville Mix] 8:09
12. September Park [Rain Mix] 5:27
13. Navigator [Broken Arrow Mix] 7:39
14. Lonely Is a Place [April Mix] 3:42
15. Father [Sessions Mix] 4:42

Line-up:
Darrell Masingale - vocals, guitars
Ron Poulsen - bass, vocals
Corey Schenck - keyboards, guitars, vocals
Andi Schenck - drums, percussion


Prolusion.
US band Pangaea started out using the band name Artica back in the late 1980's, and throughout the 1990's they released a string of EPs and albums under this initial name. In the second half of the 1990s the band opted to go under a new name, Pangaea, and from what I can understand "The Rite of Passage" was the first album to be released under this new moniker. Originally dating back to 1997, this album was remastered and then reissued in 2024 through the label HMG Records.

Analysis.
In the annals of progressive rock, Pangaea is another one of those bands that will be described as exploring a more easily accessible variety of the form. But in this case the band has a go at such landscapes in a manner that is arguably a bit more US-centric, with a bit more of a rock bite added to the proceedings rather than opting for a more atmospheric laden take on the form and tradition.

I guess neo-progressive rock is still the best manner in which to define the landscapes explored on this album, with compelling floating keyboard textures usually having a dominant role somewhere along the line in most of the songs, and that Robert Berry was the chosen producer may also explain why this album at times does come across as sounding not too far removed from the ELP offshoot 3 that Berry was involved with. We do get some similar keyboard sounds and effects for starters inside of this context, but also songs with passages that would have been a very good fit for the 3 project.

But while 3 had stronger nods in the direction of ELP and bows towards AOR as more of a secondary feature, Pangaea switch those roles around quite a bit. Here the AOR and hard rock vibes and sounds have more of a primary role, the few ELP tendencies are a bit more subtle and hidden, with 80s style accessible neo progressive rock being present to a much greater extent than the shades and echoes of the symphonic progressive rock tradition.

It is a charming album in many ways this one, and a production that despite being made in the late 1990's does comes with quite a bit of that mid to late 1980s charms in the music department just as much as it does in the mix and production department. This isn't a flawless or a faultless album either, some songs are a bit rough around the edges and comes across as a little bit dated, but the saving grace throughout as far as I'm concerned at least is tons of charm and enthusiasm.

This reissue of the album comes with a handful of alternate mixes for some of the songs. For me at least these bonus tracks strikes me as material of interest to existing fans first and foremost, as in my view at least they do not really manage to add anything to the proper album versions of the songs. In addition to the recordings themselves that, in my opinion at least, also appear to be of a lesser quality.

Conclusion.
Easygoing and accessible progressive rock is the name of the game on this 1997 album by Pangaea, with neo-progressive rock arguably being the core foundation as far as style is concerned but with a very liberal influx of elements from the QAOR tradition and hard rock being the main secondary elements. With a little bit of a flirt with the symphonic progressive rock tradition making the occasional appearances. An album to inspect if a more enthusiastic and charming take on the neo-proggressive rock and AOR mix is music you tend to fancy.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, May 2024

Links:
https://pangaea.band/