Who: underground progressive (and “tributist”) rock trio from USA, probably the only band I like on Magna Carta label.

Thoughts: Cairo has always been cool to this reviewer. The reason is not because I like the music of ELP, Yes, Asia, and other progressive/art rock bands that Cairo have embraced. I don’t own most of their albums and can hardly think of a particular song with any fondness. What I do like about the older bands and Cairo is the fluid expression of their instrumental playing. And for Cairo themselves, the way it all fits together as a song and even as an album. The older bands have done so sporadically with a few songs here and odd songs there. Cairo, with their short albums and easygoing melodies, is fluidity throughout.

So for the new album entitled “Time of Legends”, what is new? A couple of things are new. The songs are more compact with only one very long song at the end. By compact I mean songs without too much quiet time and much more activity. The songs are still longer than 5 minutes. There is a quiet song, a seemingly pastoral instrumental that is opposed by a high strung and contemporary electronic instrumental near the end of the album. The guitars are no longer predominately the sci-fi, super processed cat meows. They have a more realistic rock guitar sound especially with the beefy solos.

Recommendation: for DT fans of Falling Into Infinity’s B-sides who aren’t compensating and are in it for “the song”.

Instant rating: I’ll listen to it for a few weeks now or whenever I feel lethargic.

by Alzn, score 2.5 out of 5