I’m happy to hear any current release that prominently features prog rock flavored keys. The Hammond organ as a lead instrument has a warm place in my musical heart. Initially, I couldn’t tell whether this was an actual Hammond, the lumbering monsters that we used to have to lug around to get that percussive and swelling tone. It wasn’t, in all of his videos, he’s playing an electronic sampling keyboard that conjures up the sound with 150 less pounds. Hollingsworth’s influences seem to draw from the triumvirate of prog masters, certainly Emerson, duly cited in his YouTube description, but also the chirping licks of Tony Banks and even Moog-like elements reminiscent of Wakeman. The press release mentions Jon Lord and Edgar Winter, two of my seminal influences. Don’t hear them as much on this track, but in pursuing his catalogue, Hollingsworth’s Clavinet stylings do bring me back to Edgar. Although Tufnel’s Retreat is energetic and fun to listen to, it is hard to create a tune in this genre that can take up limbic residence and stick with us. Tried to listen a few times, but not humming it yet. . .
PS. In the interim, there is the loss of Neil Peart – I think this captures it best:
