Pentwater-Pentwater (1977)

Pentwater were the American equivalent of the British band Gentle Giant, thanks to their intricate style of complex sonic textures, fusing melodic lines with the intricate structures of progressive rock. Hailing from Chicago, their lineup consisted of Tom Orsi (percussion and vocals), Mike Konopka (guitar, flute, violin, vocals, and percussion), Ken Kappel (keyboards), and Ron LeSaar (bass). Their only release, aside from various reissues of unreleased material over the years, is this self-titled album, which is brimming with brilliant keyboard and guitar lines, fantastic vocal harmonies, and a grandiose and atmospheric repertoire. Tracks like the haunting "Frustration Mass", the bluesy "Living Room Displays", the frenetic "Orphan Girl", and the instrumental "War", make this album one of the most compelling works of American progressive rock from the 1970s.