Rascal Reporters "Redux, Vol. 2: Rascals Revenge and the Great Reset"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Avant Prog
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 5, 2021
Tracklist

1. The Unfettered Way (4:07) 

2. Cashew Medley (16:34) 

3. Fallen Mind (4:03) 

4. Moments (9:13) 

5. Egg Soup (10:19) 

6. Hubert Greenery Peck (new mix) [bonus track] (14:07) 

7. Deep Dish Beaver Pies For Breakfast [bonus track] (9:46) 

Total Time 68:09 

Line-up

Steve Kretzmer: Keyboards, acoustic piano, organ, vocals

Steve Gore: Keyboards, synths, vocals, organ, guitar, percussion & programming (2), drums (7)

James Strain: Bass, drums, keyboards, organ, synths, guitars, arrangement, production, mixing

   With

Dario D’Alessandro (Homunculus Res): Additional synths (5), cover artwork

Rick Barenholtz: Bass (7)

Description/Reviews:

With Redux, Vol. 2, the band took on the goal of presenting completed versions of many of Steve Kretzmer's 1970s college recordings - long-form and intricate piano compositions like 'Moments', 'Egg Soup' & 'Hubert Greenery Peck', reminiscent of the likes of Henry Cow, Egg and National Health, but altogether something else entirely. Complementing these tracks are two shorter Kretzmer pieces: the aggressive 'The Unfettered Way' & almost Prefab Sprout-like 'Fallen Mind'. Between these lies the colourful 16-minute 'Cashew Medley', which is constructed from a collection of short Steve Gore ideas and songs, arranged and sewn together with additional instrumentation by James Strain. 

Media/Samples
Bandcamp

Links:
Web page
Facebook
Progarchives
Proggnosis

Rascal Reporters "Redux, Vol. 1"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Format: digital
Release date: April 8, 2019
Tracklist: 
1. Improv Cost Me My Job (0:51)
2. Hubert Greenery Peck (13:56)
3. One Of Our Dogs Is Missing (4:27)
4. My Three Sounds (3:36)
5. Egos Explode (4:27)
6. Her Kind (5:32)

Total Time 32:49

Line-up: 
Steve Kretzmer: Keyboards, piano, vocals (6)
Steve Gore: Keyboards & drums & percussion (5)
James Strain: Drums, bass, guitar, keyboards

Description/Reviews: 

While Rascal Reporters are known for making and releasing complex music, there nonetheless remained many pieces in the archives - mainly pieces written by Steve Kretzmer in the mid to late 70s - that were considered too complex to overdub with the resources available and the restrictions of recording equipment at the time. And so, while they felt these songs were some of their finest compositions, they were never completed.
With the 'Redux' series, these songs are finally coming to light, being fully produced, remixed and overdubbed with additional drums, bass, guitar and keyboards by new Reporters member James Strain, almost like a baptism by fire. This includes all 14 minutes of "Hubert Greenery Peck", the ever undulating "One Of Our Dogs Is Missing", a psyched out Steve Gore synth jazz rock piece from the 80s "Egos Explode" and even a pop song with vocals by Kretzmer, "Her Kind". 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

Links:
Progarchives
Proggnosis