| Yeti was the second album by Amon Düül II and is IMHO quite a musical achievement. Originally this was a double vinyl album set and now has been released and re-mastered on 1 CD. Yeti contains some of Amon Duul's most impressive work from my perspective, delivering their thick, full-fledged, multi-layered sound with dense instrumentation and a certain epic vastness…in many ways not unlike the craftmanship of early Can. This is Krautrock in the full mass of its power: huge, towering, dark and completely devoid of any happy optimism, but still bound full of energy. Instrumentally this album is pure magic with some great psychy sitar'ish acoustic guitar plucking and hand percussion interplay. Yeti is abundant also in the fusion of electric guitar, bass and drum interplay. The 2nd album is totally devoted to improvisation and in itself stands up as some of the most intriguing music you will ever hear. The first few Amon Düül II albums are essential bits of the psych/prog era and Yeti likley would be my personal fav.......Try it ...you will like it Mikey! | |||
| This album features a rather unusual combination of musicians: Tony Levin (King Crimson) on bass, Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck) on drums, and Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Michael Jackson) handling the instrument of rock---all guitars. Really went into this one not having a pre-set expectation and have been pleasantly surprised my friends. While I would easily acknowledge that Levin and Bozzio are virtuoso musicians, it's a lot harder for me to see Stevens in their avant-garde company. But without a question this guy has been a well preserved secret to the music world….His guitar performances really do stand out on this album as he has adapted a completely different sound …and a natural sounding one. The music on this release could be best classified as progressive avant-garde rock.. According to the liner notes this album was recorded in four days in what sounds like was an intense studio session. What did emerge is a thoughful album full of wonderful instrumentation and excellent song workmanship. Levin's performance is nothing below his standard with a nice mix of bass and stick fretting. Bozzio's percussive strokes are masterful and offer a nice range of moods, while Stevens guitars are allowed to cover lots of ground. The chemistry between these musicians is clearly apparent. All songs are instrumentals and there is not a single song that's less than seven minutes long. This is a must-get for any progressive or rock music fan. | |||
| Laswell's Hear no evil is truly a landmark album which helped establish him as today's master producer of avant-ethnic/world funk. On "Hear No Evil", Bill Laswell combined a tight ensemble of Eastern and Western musician and produced 6 wonderfully provocative bluesy Eastern fusion pieces. The lineup of "Hear No Evil" reads like a roster of the Laswell posse past and future: Nicky Skopelitis and Aiyb Dieng (Laswell's own guitarist and percussionist), Shankar (Violin)and Zakir Hussain (on violin and tabla) and Daniel Ponce, of whom Laswell played with in the Herbie Hancock's "Future Shock" ensemble. Overall "Hear No Evil" is a space trance journey with some fantastic world music images and instrumentation throughout. I love the Eastern influences mixed with the pop grounds......also loads of tabla (for the tabla lover in you!)..What else could you ask for ? | |||
| For those who love the Cantebury style of Prog will simply love this album to death. This marks Caravan's second album and a masterpiece in progressive rock history. This album contains that drooling organ we have all come to love along with the excellent musicianship and songwriting of Caravan. Of course this album contains the classic 14 min epic track "For Richard" which explores some pretty trippy yet progressive ground. | |||
| E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One) represents Bull's third album and IMHO his best recording of all time. Of course his previous two albums also have reached mythical status amongst the inducted. Like all of Bull's music each song is very unique and draws on a wide range of styles making his music very hard to pigeon hole. His style is varied but what is amazing is his emphasis on detail and craftmanship. On "E Pluribus Unum", Sandy delivers 2 honest epic tracks; Side A is a tune called "No Deposit-No Return Blues" which really mixes blues and psychedelic to perfection....Loads of great guitar and sitar sounding landscapes...all wrapped in some wicked smoke filled blues bar. Side B is his most famous tune "Electric Blend", which may be his most memorable track for fans with his 21 Minute dedication to the deeper world music possibilities. Considering the year this was released and what all of his contemporaries were performing he was 30+ years ahead of his time. Sandy is credited with playing the Telecaster, Oud, Bass, Tamboura, and Percussion. This album would rank as one of my alltime favourite instrumental albums from any era and is truely a masterpiece. | |||
| Double CD/Vinyl release from 9 member ensemble performing 4 very long and spacey tracks ..what else could you ask for? "Lift your skinny fists…" easily draws the listener into that relaxed mental spacial void where all one can consider is relaxation. All 4 songs are super long and highly exploratory in nature. Godspeed's music swoops across some pretty vast moods and tempo changes. Title and opening track "Lift Your Skinny fists" opens with a simply breathtaking slow cello/violin and guitar driven symphony which builds and builds culminating into one huge reservoir sounding explosion reminding me of a mix of King Crimson and Spiritualized. Basically the opening track sets the stage for the rest of the album with all other songs fitting in similar format. Godspeed are a 9 piece instrumental ensemble who play unique symphonic space chamber music. Their delivery is warm and passive with sincere emotion and high musicianship. I personally can't get enough of their full rich sound when all players get into the fray …a sonic bonanza for your brain.
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| Romantic Warrior is one of my all-time favourite classic fusion jazz-rock album containing some simply mind busting instrumental interplay. Romantic Warrior brought 4 of the world's most talented and creative musicians together (Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Al Di Meola). Right from the onset you know that this album is going to be pushing all cylinders. Songs are nice and long and certainly cover a nice wide range of moods and textures…especially in their wide use of instrumentation. Corea employs a wide range of keyboards , synths, organ, piano while Clarke accents with his own classic bass textures (Piccolo bass, acoustic bass, fretless bass). Lenny White's complex yet comprehensible percussive strokes are interwoven with Di Meola's outstanding guitar fingerings (electric and acoustic guitars). The entire ensemble sound tight and highly progressive exuding a high degree of control while releasing tons of energy. Essential album and certainly needs to heard in the same light as early Mahavishnu and Weather Report masterpieces. | |||
| Alturas De Macchu Picchu (The Height Of Macchu Picchu) is a brilliant blend of Andrean folk and progressive rock music styles. Essentially Los Jaivas have taken traditional Peruvian / Chilean folk music and blended it with a heavier Progressive rock style (moogs, guitars, drums...). The end result is something you have never heard before but will definitely learn to love quickly. Lead singer Gato Alquinta has an amazing voice and can really belt it out without ever sound overly overbearing. His vocals are sung of course in Spanish and are done so with high degree of romanticism not unlike many of the Italian prog greats. The band houses 2 keyboardists but are surprisengly not the most dominant aspect of their music and instead ensures the music remains symphonic. A couple of songs are pure Chilean folk but blend beautifully against the more symphonic pieces throughout. Without a question progressive fans will fall off their chair when they hear "La Poderosa Muerte" an 11 mins piece of progressive rock magic. A great album for sure.....
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| On Goodbye Future, Tomorrow's Gift has been reduced to a trio (drums, keys and bass)and also opted for a more improvised progressive sound with harder edged keyboard and bass interplay. Of course the engineering and production were handled by Konrad Plank. Goodbye Future is indeed a very varied album and contains a certain strange Zappa-esque wierdness throughout. This album contains some simply mind numbing space explorations carrying a certain improvised Canterbury-influenced jazz-rock feel throughout. I would certainly consider this to be classic Krautrock for sure as it carries that underground German prog sound that we have all love. An excellent album full of grand percussion, keyboard and bass interplay. | |||
| When I was in high school I remember being buying a copy of Jade Warrior's "Kites" which I always loved and found very eclectic and unusual. Years later I discovered their other work which although is somewhat similar in format is also quite amazing instrumental stuff. Jade Warrior never deviated too far from the serene combo of Tony Duhig on guitars and Percussion with Jon Field on percussion and flutes. "Way of the Sun" is a more upbeat sound than of their previous 3 releases mixing East-Asian with soft fusion and progressive genres. The foundation of their genius rests in the soft flute passages mixed with acoustic guitars and lush percussive waves. At times one can draw allusions to the music of Deuter, Gandalf and even Mike Oldfield. A great album for those Sunday mornings. | |||
| This may be the wildest electronic nightmare you will ever hear. This is Joel Vandroogenbroeck's (Brainticket) solo album based on his creation of an alien world. This album is covered in sound effects and electronic gadgetry all put to the heavy electronic landscapes. In many ways this album runs like a soundtrack actually. If you are looking for a CD to play this Halloween to scare all the kiddies at your front door then this is the album for sure. A clever album with some pretty dark and dense electronic matter to make your way through. | |||
| Ibio’s Cuevas De Altamira is a wonderful symphonic prog album full of Spanish – folk twists. Cuevas De Altamira blends fine keyboard work (moog, synths, and lots if mellotron) with excellent guitar, bass and complex progressive drumming. Songs are rich and full with spanish guitar interludes and traces of folk. Although this four piece band only managed to release this one album, it will absolutely please your ears. Not sure I really get the big allusion as many suggest to the work of “The Stawbs” to be honest. I guess the similarity rests in both their liberal use of mellotron and mix of both folk and progressive music elements throughout. Overall a great international prog album with some truly magical moments. Highly recommended | |||
| This is the second album from this South American progressive pioneer who has managed pump out some of the most gorgeous progressive rock your ears will ever hear. Although it was recorded in the 80’s it carries a heavy 70’s influence throughout. “Cisne” has a little bit of darn near everything…piano, full orchestration, strings, percussion, with the center stage posed on the acoustic guitar of Araujo and the somber cello work of Antonio Viola. “Quando…” is an instrumentally fluid album with some great progressive bursts and highly original song writing and inspired playing. | |||
| "Live at Fillmore East" captures the musical turning point for Miles Davis as he enters the 70's with his original mix of fusion, psychedelia, progressive, funk , soul and rock with jazz genres….all borrowing liberally from each other. Previously unreleased this 2 CD set re-creates those magical 4 nights Davis spent with us to really introduce the world to his new progressive version of "fusion" . This recording also marks the introduction of Davis' new lineup of Chick Corea (keyboards), Dave Holland (bass) , Wayne Shorter (sax) and Jack DeJohnette (drums). This album was recorded only a few months before Bitches Brew would be released and one can clearly hear the similarities. Although ver the four evenings the set did not alter all that much, the improvisation did…what you end up here 4 consecutive concerts which if you listen to all together kind of fit into a very long and strangely exhilarating evening with your stereo. | |||
| This is considered to be Godspeed's second release , a 30 minute EP full of the most luscious and dark musical landscapes you will hear. Essentially "Slow Riot" is 2 pieces both connected with the first piece representing my personal favourite song they have ever performed. Once again the band's core musical approach is to slowly build methodically and instrumentally a melodic tension which culminates into a vast explosion of energy and beauty. The cello and violin provide a beautiful contrast vs the powerful guitars and percussion. Godspeed's signature sound is the juxtaposition of deep tonal strings, tribal tom toms, cymbal crashes and multiple trilling guitars. The second tune is centered around the nasty narration of a disgruntled gun toting poet /redneck. Although at first I found this a bit distracting, upon second listen I got it!…..it actually adds to the hallucinatory effect with the keys plinking in the background with the e-bow and cello barely holding on. Without a question this is mind numbing dark foreboding instrumental music which must be in everybody's music collection. Haunting and cinematic, this is an impressive piece of music history. | |||
| Another excellent chapter in the 70's South American tradition. Cancion Del Sur was Los Jaivas' 5th release combining progressive rock with aztec mysticism. At this stage in their life cycle, they were a 6 piece outfit mixing a vast array of instrumentation and developing a very progressive approach..of course following this release they would release their masterpiece "Alturas De Macchu Picchu". In many way this album really stands up equally to "Alturas" with grand symphonic keyboard swoops, caressing vocals, classical guitar work , lots of great percussion and that South American flare. If you are looking for a real honest and original sound (They are not trying to sound like anyone but themselves) then I strongly suggest you pick up this album……..They have not masked their musical traditions and the mix of genres is quite amazing… "A jim-dandy pre-cursor" | |||
| Without a question Scheherazade would be one of my personal favourites of all time from Renaissance. On this release Renaissance wrote 4 incredible songs with their landmark side long 24 min epic "Scheherazade", "Ocean Gypsy" , "Trip To The Fair" and one of my fav of all time "The Vultures Fly High". Musically they were at the height of their mastery with flowing musical themes, Haslam's angelic voice and instrumental creativity. Overall Scheherazade is a beautiful album filled with lots of classical piano and vocals and of course instrumental imagination. An essential listen | |||
| Last time these guys graced my stereo I was completely blown away and with "Bridge Across Forever" they have repeated once again. Big difference this time is around is a much reduced emphasis on the Spock Beard'isms and a more varied soundscape. Once again the incredible talents of Neal Morse, Roine Stolt, Peter Trewavas and Mike Portnoy will fill your livingroom with their musicanship and songwriting thoughts. "Bridge Across Forever" is comprised of only 4 songs (3 of which are quite long) with the whole package clocking in around 76 Mins. The last track "Stranger In Your Soul" (26 Mins) would have to be the best thing they have ever done yet with some real incredible and diabolical sonic twists and tempo climaxes. God, I hope these guys keep recording music as with each release they keep getting deeper and deeper. Go get this album kids! | |||
| "Rhythms never heard before insinuate themselves with gradually increasing force until they have infiltrated every cell, every drop of mositure, all things seen and felt". So what is all the clatter about Medeske Martin & Wood anyway? Well perhaps there is a reason why when ever these guys perform it is a sold out affair. Essentially these 3 lads create some of the most thought provoking prog jazz you have ever heard. Band leader John Medeski blends heavy organ swrils over jazz duo of Billy Martin (Drums) and Chris Wood (Bass). I love the pure heavy organ grinds along side the complex and jazzy bits Wood and Martin seem to be able to hold. Songs are quite varied throughout their music and the atmospheres really change between albums. Some songs are much truer to the Jazz genre and other more in the fusion / groove basket. The end result is some of the most interesting music your ears can hear. On this album the trio is joined by a number of other musicians adding Trumpet (aka Miles Davis), Flugelhorn, Trombone, Guitar, and alto and tenor Saxophones. I would strongly recommend starting with "It's a Jungle In Here" and moving forward after. Beautiful Music | |||
| Ship Of Fools' "Close Your Eyes" is an excellent album full of psychedleic space jams. Best way perhaps to describe these guys would be to put the Ozric Tentacles in the same recording studio with Porcupine Tree (Voyage 34 era). Their music is very dreamy with surreal sound bites strategically tossed in for effect amplification. Essentially Ship Of Fools layer heavy space keyboards (2 keyboardists) over clean drumming and bass interplay with with excellent guitar phasing in and out. "Close Your Eyes" offers a very big a wide soundscape with nice warm images throughout. A great album for the space rock lover in you ! | |||
| "Now" were one of the premiere Colorado progressive rock bands around in the 80's, who lived far too short a life for my liking. Everything Is Different Now is a wonderful blend of terrific musicianship and songwriting which carry many musical allusions to bands like YES, King Crimson and perhaps closest to Echolyn. Now create lush, adventurous, progressive rock music with lots of different twists and turns. Their music is complex and full of deep harmonic interludes. To avoid any possible confusion, there were at least 2 different prog bands named NOW (one from the US and one from the UK). Now were a 4 piece band offering some of the most intriguing guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion you have heard. I have owned this album for quite a few years and have kept this gem from my website for far too long. My album version was pressed in 1991 by Syn-Phonic Records, and I understand also now can be found on TyeDye records. An excellent album which I strongly recommend. | |||
| In 2001 I was watching TV one night when I found totally by accident a rare broadcast of Michel Cussion (Ex. UZEB) performing live with his new band on a Canadian TV station. I remember sitting there almost numb throughout the show watching this band play some of the most compelling music I have heard in years. Following this episode, I was lulled into searching out either the video or CD of this magical evening and cohesion of musical talent. My search was answered in "Camino" which is in fact these lads captured in that same little Jazz café in Quebec I saw on TV. While Cusson plays in his patented complex fretting style he has expanded his musical artillery to include a large number of stringed instruments (mandolins, ukuleles and guitars). Camino shows another side of Cusson who has embroidered his music this time with a very careful selection of top musicians (Michel Dubeau - Ethnic Flutes and Sax, Eric Auclair - Double Bass , Stepah Montanaro - Keyboards, Accordion and Mark Kelso - Percussion). The end result is a very "World" sounding album full of deep musical expressionism. Music lovers who don't mind taking a bit of a contour will be rewarded with Camino in their collection. Unbelievable music. | |||
