The Underground Railroad ~ USA ~ Fort Worth, Texas

The Origin of Consciousness (2005)

---Jul 2005

An improvement on the already very good Through and Through, The Underground Railroad continues their quest to discover new sounds in an old genre. The best compliment I can pay the group, and I know they will really appreciate this, is that they really don’t sound like anyone. Sure, one can hear elements of bands such as Genesis, IQ, and Porcupine Tree, but only the parts. I used to have long running debates with keyboardist Kurt Rongey on the evolution of technology and its marriage with progressive rock. Kurt is adamant that the latest technologies should be employed in the keyboard department, so absolutely no retro mellotron here. Bill Pohl is a guitarist’s guitarist, and has more chops than most, yet his style is subtle. At times very complex, at times very melodic, The Underground Railroad has carved their own picture into the graffiti wall. Played this three times straight and each listen revealed considerably more than the last.

---12/15/25

So if you didn't get the implication above, I knew the band well, at least Kurt and Bill. Not so much as The Underground Railroad but earlier incarnations from the late 80s and early 90s, when I interacted in person with them often. We all met when I was participating on a progressive rock radio show for the NPR affiliate in Dallas (which ironically Kurt is now involved with in a much more official capacity). And we maintained a strong relationship for some years, before the usual life changes separated the communication channel.

As for the music, my review above holds court. Obviously I'm biased, though I feel my observations are objective. The music can be dense at times, not unlike Van der Graaf Generator. Which of course leads to more revelations per each listen. Bill Pohl's gliding style recalls Allan Holdsworth. A good friend of mine from high school, that I introduced to Kurt and Bill (and is also thanked in the liner notes), told me once that Bill is an incredibly talented guitarist, like none he witnessed before (they occasionally played together as well). This from a guy who criticized everybody. High praise indeed. Kurt Rongey's piano playing demonstrates his formal classical education. Incidentally he is also a DJ and Program Manager at DFW's sole Classical station WRR. I somehow missed this, but Bill is now in Thinking Plague and lives in Fort Collins, about two hours north. I should get up there for a visit.

I never corroborated this, but I'm also certain the band acquired the name from an old Rockford Files episode. We were all fans of that show, having absorbed the reruns that played constantly in the DFW area throughout the 80s. I think it was on the pilot that Jim Rockford noticed an advert in the paper to see a band called The Underground Railroad. That's awesome if it's true.

Ownership: 2005 Long, Dark Music (CD). Eight panel booklet with lyrics, recording details, artwork, and photos.

7//05 (acquired / review); 12/15/25 (update)

Also own and need to review Through and Through.

12/15/25 (new entry)