Pick a genre, any genre and you’ll find an ocean of bands who popped on the scene only to sink just as quickly. The question of “why” a band makes it or not oftentimes has nothing to do with the quality of music; life and its myriad circumstances inevitably wend their way through any group in unfathomable ways. All of which is to say I’m glad for the work of Disques plusqueréel or PQR, who have steadily been unearthing and releasing fantastic psychedelic and progressive rock that would otherwise be forgotten or lost. We previously covered Mirthrandir here, and now comes Lift, a progressive rock outfit out of New Orleans whose sole album, Caverns Of Your Brain, espouses everything that was great about the US prog scene in the 70s. It’s a great addition to any prog nerd’s collection, even if I do have a few qualms to pick with the label and the way they package their albums.

This first official vinyl release (there was a bootleg in ’77) is strong, boasting great artist-approved artwork that brings to mind ELP’s Brain Salad Surgery just as much as the Vincent Price classic The Abominable Dr. Phibes. The vinyl sounds great (if a little on the trebly side – adjust your bass controls accordingly) and comes with a download card with four bonus tracks. And that’s where I have a small gripe: while it’s great to have this on vinyl, I’d really appreciate either the full album digitally or have at least a CD available as well. I get wanting to protect your music from piracy, and admittedly I could burn this from my turntable to my computer, but that’s huge hassle. I LOVE listening to my records – but I’d also really like to listen in the car, while walking or exercising…you know, just have my purchase be readily available. So shame, PQR – this was the same case with the Mirthrandir and the debut from Gandalf that I’ll get around to reviewing here eventually (maybe later this week).

With that out of the way, how is the music? The bass driving opening track “Simplicity” should tell you immediately this is aggressive, propulsive music with the emphasis firmly on the rock side of the house. Keyboards are very heavy, and while there are nods to Yes and Genesis this feels much more US-based, so I’m hearing shades of Kansas and even Styx, although for my money this rocks in a very different way. Founder Chip Gremillion brings every organ and keyboard under the sun to bear on the track, and its symphonic approach to arranging as well as the complexity of the track shows a muscular approach to prog lacking in even some of the giants of the genre at the time. Reading the liner notes it’s incredible to find out this was originally recorded in 1974 for demo purposes, and the tracks were essentially all done in one to two takes. There’s no evidence of that on the tunes, though – each song sounds fully realized and vested in that prog magic. The nine-minute “Caverns” rounds out Side A with some graceful percussive moments from drummer Chip Grevemberg. Which immediately makes me wonder if this is the first band to feature two guys named “Chip” – but I’m easily distracted. It’s a slower tune, but the guitar solo by Richard Huron positively rips.

Side B kicks off with some major drum fireworks by Grevemberg before Gremillion’s keys blast us off into high gear on “Buttercup Boogie” which is every bit the boogie its name implies. It’s also a great moment to mention vocalist and flute player Courtenay Hilton-Green, who brings a chameleon voice capable of nuance and throaty roar, and her flute playing, while never really up front like Ian Anderson, provides plenty of color to the songs. Cody Kelleher lays down solid bass and also nice bass pedal work, though again I wish it was a little thicker and deeper in the mix to really give Caverns Of Your Brain a crushing foundation. As it is the songs float and roll lightly instead of pummeling you with the intricate licks and melodies. Vocals here are almost secondary; this is much more of a musical showcase for each player to let loose and display their ample chops.

Finally, Lift bid adieu with the epic closer “Trippin’ Over The Rainbow” and it’s the kind of monster closing track you want from a band like this. Think Kansas’s “Magnum Opus” stretched out further with every kind of hammond, mellotron, and keyboard in the world churning out one stellar musical idea after another, and the rest of the band following suit with incredible moments.

Each of the four tracks exemplify the breadth and scope Lift were capable, and had history been just a little bit different, maybe we would be speaking of them the same way we do other US-based band around that time. Maybe Caverns Of Your Brain was the firmament for more rock-oriented songs that would have popped on radio and catapulted the band further.

Who knows? At least we have this.