| Fans of complex German space progressive rock fans will groove with this release. Here It Is combines the keyboard workout of ELP with the atmosphere of Grobschnitt and Genesis. Trilogy combine 2 keyboard players with a tight guitar/bass/drum ensemble which sound magical when they are all combined. Songs are nice and spacey with some real flavorful grooves and beats. I should also mention that Here It Is is totally instrumental and very symphonic. Lovers of analog keyboards will drool in your sleep over this release..... | |||
| In '92 Asgard released what I would consider to be the most captivating musical poems of all time...Esoteric Poem has been one of the most treasured gems in my music collection for a while and for good reason. Esoteric Poem moves just like a poem in nature and unveils its beauty line after line, offering a wide variety of mood and atmospheres. Esoteric Poem runs through as 1 complete 35 min song with many varied instrumental and lyrical passages. Asgard were at their height of their creative carrer here and the album is given lots of space to explore...from fireside sounds to church hymns. Along the way we are treated to some real solid progressive rock full of classical guitar, keyboards and the operatic vocal accents of Kikko Grosso. Asgard are one of my alltime favorite prog bands and this short little tune is a real keeper and should appeal to all good music lovers out there.... | |||
| Well not all of the 80's was crap and several bands managed to catch my ear, one of which was Echo & Bunnymen. Ocean Rain is an album which I seem to pull out from time to time and always love listening to. I recognize that not many would consider "Echo" a Prog outfit, but regardless, Ocean Rain deserves recognition. Songs are well written and actually carry more of a 70's sound than that of the 80's....drawing heavily on influences such as The Doors and even a trace of Procol Harum. It was Echo's approach to this album which really makes it standout for me. Ocean Rain was the best output from Echo & The Bunnymen in my opinion containing some excellent orchestral moments (Cello and strings) which really compliment the album. | |||
| Lucifers Friend released several excellent rock albums over their short musical history with "Banquet" being in my opinion their stand out album (big thanks to my friend Tomas for introducing me to this band!!!). Highly unusual and highly progressive, Lucifer's Friend blends elements of classic rock with progressive interludes and in combination with loads of trumpet, sax, flute , french horn, bassoon, violin and viola provides the listener a very unique atmosphere to groove to. Throughout, "Banquet" takes us on a long excursion into the dark hall of a castle where we are asked to join in for dinner (just kidding!!!). Vocals are exceptionally well done (John Lawton fans will drool) with exceptional musicianship throughout the album. Stand out once again however is guitarist Peter Hesselin who adds some wild and wicked finger picking along the way. Banquet is true progressive rock and should appeal to all music fans who live for the kind of band which blends full orchestration classic rock with a dark tones and melodies. A real winner album all the way through | |||
| For those who love lush symphonic neo-prog sounds will love Iluvatar's music. Children is loaded with heavy keyboards aka Marillion/Pendragon with superb drumming and guitar/bass interplay. It is nice also to find a great male progressive rock lead singer who has a great range and that is what you get with Glenn Mc Laughlin. Children marks Iluvatar's second studio release is a very mature piece of work. Songs are well written and performed with a delicate emotion. I should also plug the packaging with one of the best album covers of the 90's..... | |||
| Considered by many to be the second last good Grobschnitt album before the departure of EROC. In fact consciously Grobschnitt elected after Merry Go Round to stop recording their signature fairytale - like music and move more in the spirit of the '80's. Considering this was one of the later 'schnitt albums it contains many of their most beloved melodies. Merry-Go-Round contains everything that you would expect with great drumming - bass - guitar interplay with fairytale-like keyboards and atmospheres. Songs are exceptionally well written and performed and if you are a completist then you can snag Repetroire's re-mastered version with bonus tracks. The careful observer will notice that Conny Plank did not do the sound engineering on this album marking the start of a direction change for Grobschnitt. Merry Go Round is a fabulous album all the way through and ranks up there with their best output in my mind.
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| Without a question "6 Wives" would be one of my all time Desert Island picks. For those who love superb analog keyboard work may I highly recommend this album. Filled with loads of Classical Progressive rock moments, "6 Wives" is an essential album to have in your collection. Guest musicians include Alan White, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, Chris Squire and Dave Cousins. Throughout the album we are reated to a host of keyboard sounds including Steinway Grand Piano, Hammond Organ, Electric Piano, Harpsichord, Mini-Moog, and loads of Mellotron. "6 Wives" is a completely instrumental album of the highest calibre and is perfectly suited for the 'ol headphone evenings........ | |||
| I will admit upfront that I am a big fan of these lads and love all of their music including "In A Moment" which is essentially an "Odds and Sods" collection of early Galahad tunes. Songs are sharp, well written and performed with that mistakable Galahad touch. For those who are not all that familiar with Galahad's music you will find strong symphonic atmospheres with precision playing never getting too loud or out of touch with the listener. Stu Nicholson has one of today's best vocals (my opinion) and sings with a childish flavor (not unlike Gabriel's approach with Genesis). Although a collection of songs over their early days, "In A Moment" has always been a treasure jem in my collection waiting to be re-discovered each time.......Essential all the way around | |||
| Well being a big IQ and having access to another CD of their early and unrelased songs sounds like a great idea to me (once again thanks Richard!). The Lost Attic explores many of the missing pieces from IQ's past including tracks which did not make it onto Subterranea, Tales From The Lush Attic and The Wake. But listen my friends don't chalk this up as fragments or scraps from their past which were second rate.....to quote a "Richard'ism ", this is a "Top Drawer" piece of work. Several songs have been re-recorded including a real lost gem "Hollow Afternoon" which I have had for a long time with major vinyl imperfections throughout. Historical snipets include 3 tracks recorded back in the early 80's for the BBC live, "Barbell Is In (Lizard Mix)" and "Apathetic And Here I" (A delicate piece in memory of the late Geoff Mann with a great IQ touch....a personal fav!!!!) to name a few. Even a few Paul Menel lost gems for those who followed IQ through the thick and thin. The Lost Attic is essential if you are into IQ and like me can not ever get enough of 'em. | |||
| So your looking for some sumptious heavy groove driven instrumental prog with a flare....well welcome to the world of "My Cube". Proving once again that music has no boundaries, Turkish band Nekropsi's debut album is a real stunner! Mi Kubbesi is mostly instrumental (with occasional chanting) full of complex twists and turns. Nekropsi offers a unique blend of heavy bass riffs with the highest of calibre drumming/percussion richly swarmed with multiple guitar passages. This is really a "guitar-lovers" dream with 2 skilled players used throughout in a variety of mannerisms. Nekropsi is deeply rooted in the King Crimson school of prog with some heavy accents. Songs dip in and out of many different moods, tempos and forms which is one of the strengths of this listen. This cd is nice and long and songs are given lots of room to move and take your mind deep inside life's cube. I should mention that this is put to an interesting philosophical concept storyline centering around the notion that life is nothing more than a cube to which we all exist within. Mi Kubbesi is also a little psychedelic for the lava lamp lovers out there..... | |||
| For those like me who are "Mega" Hackett fans may I strongly recommend DarkTown, Steve's new release. Not unlike all of Hackett's other release you will find smartly crafted songs put to some of the tastiest guitar playing around. Darktown marks yet another major milestone in Steve's musical explorations, this time bring joined by guest Ian McDonald who adds some lovely sax playing and comrade Julian Colbeck (Keyboards). Darktown is surrounded by many animated-like accents including ominous narration and background sound effects. As the title would suggest the album is dark in nature with atmospheric landscapes and loads of minor chords. Darktown also features a few numbers with the ol' mellotron including the standout instrumental number "Twice Around The Sun". Most of the vocal parts are handled by Steve with a guest appearance by Scotland's Jim Diamond. | |||
| So most of you are asking is this as good as their debut album released back in 1977? Well let me say that it must be measured on different terms and conditions. This may shock many of you out there but I really like this album. Homo Homini Lupus could perhaps be best described as somewhere between classic LDF and modern prog acts with a modern flare. If you are like me then their first album is a treasured classic and I would end the discussion there and open a new chapter for LDF. I have read far too many reviews suggesting this new album is inferior that I could puke. In contrast LDF's new album is full of life and loads of symphonic influences and at times I hear the old classic band and album seaping through in drips and drabs. I should mention that most of the original members are back with the exception of lead singer Leonardo Sasso. Vocals are still very well done and hang together with great ease. Homo Homini Lupus explores a wide range of themes and ideas from the African bongos to the Mellotron. HHL has a very modern prog sound which is full and dynamic and does something for me....I guess that is why opinions are great I hear something in this recording I think many are missing.......should be a great debate.....but I groove this recording and think it is just grand these lads are back at it | |||
| Delicate captivating Italian prog with some real sumptious melodies and classic touches. Without a question Pierrot Lunaire would be the perfect CD to order this summer as you relax listening to some great prog sucking back the odd beverage. Pierrot Lunaire combine all the classical elements with superb Italian progressive rock flare. Pierrot Lunaire are highly techincal yet soft and melodic with a theatrical feel throughout. Instrumentation is abundant and highly skilled with loads of great grand piano, synth, guitar and bass throughout. Vocals are in Italian as you would expect which are rich and full of harmonies. Living true to their title Pierrot Lunaire is full of great classical - symphonic prog waiting to be discovered....highly recommended | |||
| Superbly crafted complex instrumental prog with a excellent musicianship. Mind Gallery are a 4 piece Canadian prog outfit who love to develop wicked extended jams and play highly refined and ever moving music. Mind Gallery are a very original band and play a style of prog which is not easy to make comparisons to.(somewhere in the RUSH/SAGA school). "The Lemmings Were Pushed" carries a fairly bright and upbeat flavor with a real crisp feeling to it. This is definitely not background elevator music and as the album suggests, for best results - frame of mind and headphones required. A great find.... | |||
| Full of beauty and grandeur, Halloween's 1994 concept album is a modern day classic epic recording which I plan to take to the 'ol desert island. Fans of ANGE will go crazy for Merlin which carries strong "Ange'isms". What does it totally for me on this album is not only the superb musicianship and song writing, but extreme use of instrumentation which is full and rich sounding. While the classic instruments like guitar, bass , drums and mellotron take up much space, we are given lots of other accents including loads of violins (incl E-Bow), contrebass, flute trombone, trumpet and tuba. This gives the album a strong symphonic and theatrical feel throughout. Lead vocals (sung in French) are contrasted with the delicate female vocals of Geraldine Le Cocq and the male vocals of Jean Philippe Brun and Gilles Coppin. Merlin is full of major mood and tempo swings and moves from tranquil passages to heavy guitar pounding moments. I can not say enough about this album except for that it is truely essential. | |||
| I will probably be removed from the Bookmarks of many by risking the inclusion of Spacemen 3 to my website, but he we go. I heard these guys a while ago and thought their music sounded like a modern psychedelic feud and was impressed. Full of Space and Minimalism "The Perfect Prescription" blend musical elements that may either be loved or hated so beware. Rooted heavily in the "Alternative" genre (if such a beast exists ?) and adding accents of "Grunge", "Psychedelia" Spacemen 3 deliver some pretty raw yet spacey jams. Standout track for me is their 17:00 min Epic track "Rollercoaster" which explores some cerebral matter never touched before. The Perfect Prescription is a very dark and moody piece of work which is part of its beauty and appeal to me. Spacemen 3 comprise of Sonic Boom (guitar, tremolo, organ and vocals), Jason (guitar, organ, farfisa and vocals) , "Bassman" on bass vibrations and Rosco on the 'ol Drums. This album also credits sax, violin and trumpet musicians. Fans of Spiritualized will likely groove to Spacemen 3 as it does hit some strong musical parallels. | |||
| Now here is some pretty fine Neo prog which takes the time to create some nice symphonic breaths. What makes Galadriel work so well for me is clearly their song writing ability which offers wide open spaces within which to work. As you would expect, Mindscapers is loaded with symphonic atmospheres, forceful guitar solo's and solid drum/bass interplay. Vocals (Jesus Filardi) are pretty much a "love him or hate him" category delivering a mixture of spoken and sung parts. Mindscapers is very well recorded and sounds superb through your speakers with its wide dynamic range. This album also contains a fair amount of background effects and has been very carefully recorded and mixed. Mindscapers is a very enjoyable album and for the Neoprog lovers out there is a swell find. | |||
| When I was a young kiddie - boo-boo I bought what I was told to be one of Floyd's stronger albums. From the first moments this album hit my turntable to the CD digital re-mastered version I frequently spin, Atom Hearted Mother is a masterpiece. Floyd blend blues with psychedelic rock with orchestration delivering one of their most artistic pieces of work todate. Atom is a real sonic exploration with loads of great organ, guitar, bass and drum workmanship. Epic track Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast is a real stunner with loads of talking and background breakfast nook sounds. I think the song is actually put to the process of preparing ones breakfast. Personal favs would be "IF" and title track "Atom Heart Mother" which explores the heavy combination of rock and full orchestra. | |||
| Now here is a real classic which has remained one of my all time favourites. Anyone's Daughter blends the atmospheric calmness not unlike moments of Camel with the depth of Grobschnitt. Harold Bareth has one of the softest and nicest voices of all time. Anyone's Daughter play a heavy German symphonic prog which offers some unbelievable tracks of picture perfect musical moments. Anyone's Daughter 's debut album is full of both complexity, moods and grandeur with excellent sound reproduction and amazing song writing. | |||
| Without a question Echolyn were an incredible band who produced 4 superb albums which are far too hidden from the world's ears. When The Sweet Turns Sour is really a collection of lost , unfinished and live tracks giving us one last supper at Bridge Mgmt headquarters. For those not overly familiar with this band, Echolyn blended the vocal and harmonic sophistication of GENTLE GIANT with the crashing and booming brilliance of SPOCK'S BEARD. | |||
| My high school days were full of Pink Floyd and Wish You Were Here played a big role and still remains one of my all time most beloved albums. What a great introduction! And what a great ending! Wish You Were Here is really an epic album which blends all the right elements mixing blues and psychedelia with that classic Pink Floyd space atmosphere. Without a question the opening to Shine On You Crazy Diamond has to be one of the most memorable openings of all time. This album also features Roy Harper on vocals on Have A Cigar which is also one of my all time favorite Pink Floyd numbers. This is essential music and is a definite statement and one of the all time classics | |||
| Next to Ocean, Silent Echoes would rank as my next favorite Eloy album of all time regardless of the unfair criticism received by many as being a deliberate attempt to rip-off Pink Floyd 's Wish You Were Here. In many ways I do hear a strong polarity towards Floyd's Wish You Were Here , but also is full of that classic Eloy original space sound. This is one of those "turn it up loud" type of recordings which your neighbors or co-workers will inquire about. I should probably also mention that this album was originally released on the Harvest recording label. Opening track "Astral Entrance/Mater Of Sensation" is perhaps my fav all time ELOY tracks which has simply amazing bass, guitar and keyboard work. This whole album is solid from start to finish and carries a very strong space feeling capturing ELOY at their height of their creative career. Songs have a heavy bass groove with loads of echo guitar and the most delicious atmospheric keyboard work you ears could tolerate. | |||
| Dunwich delivers a very delicate medieval symphonic-like prog with beautiful female voices throughout. Dunwich is loaded with lots of "ENYA'isms" and touches of Popol Vuh. Moody and foreboding, "Sul Monte…" will take you places your mind has not gone. Emphasis here is on the serene and painted landscapes of the voices and choirs, never getting too loud or electric. In fact this is classic symphonic head music which is very soft a free flowing and should appeal to fans of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. This is great music to sit back , dim the lights and relax to with perhaps and old friend or bottle of beer. | |||
| Excellent modern neoprog classic rock with loads of organ/ mellotron, bass pedals and excellent vocal harmonies. Ex-Tenebris explores a dark yet positive progressive rock with some excellent song writing and musicianship. Ex Tenebris is very a difficult album to peg down but carries with it strong Folk leanings and is very symphonic all the way round. White Willow do not deliver a very synthetic or synthesized sound instead focus on a very true sound with few overdubs. Their music sounds very original and not simply stolen or fabricated from others. Songs are highly thought out and carry a very original musical charm taking in the grandeur of Pink Floyd with the power of King Crimson. The Lasers Edge have a great release here and I am sure most prog heads would love this album. | |||
