| So just how good can a live recording really sound ? Well my friends "Anorak Live In The UK" would have to be probably the best sounding live album I have ever heard. Apparently this concert was mic'd using a very new and unusual method which sounds incredible and rich. This is Marillion captured at their best doing many of their great songs live including material from "Marillion.com, Afraid Of Sunlight, Brave, This Strange Engine, Radiation and of course the album in tour at the time Anoraknophobia. What else can I say really except that this is just amazing music and the live sounds add nice variations to the studio tracks and in many ways this is the essential Marillion. Absolutely essential album for your collection.
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| As a lover of progressive rock, it is always fulfilling when you get your hands on an old album from a band you had never heard of before and love the music....this is most certainly the case with 70's US based band ARABESQUE. This CD is really a collection of their early songs written between 1973 and 1978. Musically Arabesque draw musical influences from Camel, Genesis and Yes, but I must confess do carry their very own unique sound. Instrumentally these guys also dipped into the progressive rock bag of tricks with the addition of a number of unique toys...glockenspiel, bongos, e-bow, temple blocks and a host of cool analog keyboards (farfisa organ, mini-korg, Rhodes) Their songs are nice and long (all around 10 Mins) and are given lots of room to explore never sounding rushed or pushed.
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| Finally the story of this short lived chronicle in IQ's past has been answered ! I was always wishing I had heard The Lens' (the pre-cursor to IQ) music and now with "A Word In Your Eye" the world can hear how it all started. This CD is pure instrumental magic with some great leading instrumental space'ish keyboards (Martin Orford) , clean precision drumming (Paul Cook) and solid guitar and bass throughout (Michael Holmes). In many ways (and no big surprise) it sounds like the instrumental passages of IQ with what I may suggest includes a trace of a modern Tangerine Dream influence. In certain songs you can actually hear where IQ lifted portions out of this material in making their early albums The Wake and Tales From The Lush Attic. Although it would have been kind of fun to have heard the original late 70's/80's version of these songs I must admit my appreciation for the quality of the recording and modern output. A truly amazing album with some simply enduring instrumental songs.
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| Zero 7's "Simple Things" was one of those albums that really caught my ear. Definitely let me say not a prototypical progressive artist, but it is what these folks are doing with the music that I find fitting. Zero 7 combine light space electronica with orchestral strings and great guitar and bass with a mix of both instrumental and vocal tracks. Vocals are split between a fella named Mozez , Sophie Baker and Sia Furler. Best way to describe them would be a mix of ¾ of a cup of Stereolab and a ¼ cup of Tangerine Dream. The end result if really a clever machination of jazz, fusion and ambient electronica genres. I know this album won't work as well for all as it did for myself, but this remember is my website and I am not looking for consensus on content. Zero 7...this is a very progressive album....
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| Avante-Garde Space lounge music with sufficiently enough going on to freak you out every listen ! Stereolab blend spacey instrumental nebula explored by 70's "CAN" with a showering of post modern lounge music expressionism. 1997's "Dots and Loops" had my ears for quite some time I must admit and Cobra has equaled the shock factor I originally had and then some. Cobra..is a solid album full of great and thought provoking instrumentation and lovely little songs giving a pseudo 60's pop sound with a mix of modern electronica. Stereolab here explore some wonderful vibes, grooves and sounds....harpsichord, clavinet, strings, xylophone, brass with some wonderful progressive percussive elements. Overall a very progressive album full of color and shapes. | |||
| When I heard the news that Kaipa were going to release a album in the 2000's I must admit I was a bit shocked. Kapia's early albums are amongst the best from Scandanavia with the recent addition being now included in this impressive discography. Kaipa derived a very jazz oriented symphonic rock and I must say that "Notes From The Past" really carries more of a Flowerkings feel than Kapia in a lot of ways and this is not a bad thing ! From the original line-up only Hans Lundin (keyboards) and Roine Stolt (guitars) remain with the addition of Morgan Agren (Drums) and Patrik Lundstrom with the magical voice (boy can this guy sing!). Musically this is emotionally enriched album with some wicked performing with standout drumming, wild keyboards (lots of mellotron) and wicked driving lead guitar. | |||
| Waves was Jade Warrior's 2nd release and was characterized by 2 side long tracks. Truly this album is a meditative voyage on which your mind will love. On Waves, Field and Duhig added the keyboard talents of Steve Winwood who adds some great piano. Jade Warrior was the creative force of Jon Field and Tony Duhig who managed to write several truly original and compelling album somewhere in the space, new age, jazz, progressive zone. This is the kind of music that everyone can hear different dimensions within and is conqueror of none. The signature of Jade Warrior's music is the careful juxtaposition of ethereal ambient sounds with magical keyboards, guitar and assorted wind instruments. The biggest challenge with this album is in trying to classify it with part 1 being well entrenched in the ambient school, yet part 2 fitting much closer into the fusion genre.
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| Hands were a US band from the late 70's (Texas) who managed to record a real charmer with their debut release. For this progressive rock fan, this album is simply indispensable and a real cornerstone in the US Prog genre. As with so many of the US prog acts their music is complex and ever changing revealing elements of Gentle Giant, Genesis, Echolyn, Jethro Tull and even early Kansas. Instrumentally these lads really shine with tons of exquisite keyboard , bass, drum and guitar work. Other instruments include viola, violin, cello, vitar, quarto, woodwinds and mandolin. Musically Hands encompass all these instruments to create a vast wall of sounds and tones with a wild mix of symphonic and rock forms. The overall results is a nicely varied album with some wonderfully memorable songs which one can not grow tired of listening to.
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| IEM is Steven Wilson's (Porcupine Tree) solo project who continues his exploration into the arcane spaceyness of our deepest dreams. Arcadia Son is the second CD released under the title of I.E.M which takes the space of the debut album and takes us even deeper into the nebula. Arcadia Son is an eccentric mix of strange samples, speech, krautrock, jazz, space rock and psychedelia genres with some pretty trippy grooves. For those expecting something in the Porcupine Tree or No-Man or Bass Communion theatre please note IEM is a very different beast. IEM is Steve Wilson's chance to really explore unique material and release something 100% his own. This is one of those ultimate headphone experience albums with some pretty lush sounds and atmospheres. On track 4, Cicadian Haze ,Wilson combines tribal bongos with flute and Rainforest sounds to create a highly ethereal song which also happens to be one of my personal favorites on the album. (Not unlike Edgar Froese did on Epsilon In Malaysian Pale. Title track Arcadia Son reminds me very much of a psych'd out instrumental Porcupine Tree number. Epic track titled "Shadow of a twisted hand across my house" clocks in at just over 20 Mins and would make a wonderful Horror movie soundtrack. If Blair Witch had this tune as its soundtrack, the world would still be sitting in the theatres ! 100% Self Indulgent music and 100% awesome !
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| One of my best friends Simon gave me a newspaper article of Godspeed and it was only thru this that I knew of this release.....of course it was not long after I was into my local specialty store to pick up a copy (I know this may sound a bit wonky, but I refuse to buy their material at a chain store...as per their instructions). "Yanqui U.X.O." as is dubed the title is yet another explosive symphonic trip with inspiring themes and tonal climaxes. The chemistry of the band remains unchanged with Aidan, Bruce, David, Efrim, Mauro, Norsola, Roger , Sophy and Thierry. This means of course several guitars, basses, percussion, drums, cello, keyboards and violin. Although little in known about this band (and that is way they prefer things!) their music is more than exposed in this household. Songs are highly emotive with warm interludes and lovely themes building slowly and methodically until the climatic high energy release. Thematically this album is not unlike "Lift Your Skinny Fists" and in many ways sits as a companion musically. This album is a continuation of their forboding atmospheric stringed and electric vibes with daunting percussive surrounding. This would have made The Exorcist soundtrack feel like a drop in the old bucket! Everytime I hear their latest I tend to think it is their most complete and "Yanqui U.X.O." definitely has my full ears attention. Pure magic and an essential recording my friends....
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| Well with one month to go to close 2002, I will say that although it has been a full year of great prog releases (Beard's "Snow", PT's "In Absentia", Godspeed's "Yanqui U.X.O.", ) my pick for the album of the year is Camel's "A Nod & A Wink". A couple of years back I was travelling with some friends thru the US chasing Sweden's "The Flower Kings" who were on tour and remember picking up Camel's "Rajaz" in Boston. I remember sitting in the back of my friends car completely zoning out to the sweet sounds of this album and being totaly blown away. Camel's 2002 release "A Nod & A Wink" is also in parallel with Rajaz and is nothing short of amazing ! Andy Latimer is at IMHO his all time best writing and performing some of Camel's best tracks ever! His vocals and guitars are breathtaking as are the songs which are truely magical. This band sounds incredibly full of lustre and I think this may be the best Camel lineup yet. Andy is helped out by a number of other Camel'ites including Canada's own Guy Leblanc (Nathan Mahl) on keyboards, Colin Bass (bass) and Denis Celment (drums). Andy Latimer obviously put his heart and soul into this album fittengly dedicating this deeply emotional album in loving memory to Pete Bardens....you will be missed Peter ! I would strongly recommend this album to all lovers of symphonic prog rock....."A Nod & A Wink" is anything short of spectatcular...essential music.
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| The origins of Gratto date back to 1996 when he was working with ‘Leger de Main’ (Chris and Brett Rodler). According to the story of this recording it was a lost tape and abandoned recording which has remained hidden on some dusty shelf for 6 years and has finally make the way to my CD player. “Anakin Tumnus” contains 3 long pieces each possessing a towering sound and wide range of sound dynamics, each showing the intricate song writing and instrumental prowess of these talented musicians. Gratto’s vocals are sung in a quieter stealth like mode but resound with wonderful contrast to the sharper instrument sounds. In some ways his lyrics and voice carry a slight symmetry to those of Marillion’s FISH. Without a question this band played with an intensity and musical likeness that reminds me very much of Anekdoten, Echolyn and even King Crimson. An excellent swing my friends and I would definitely recommend this recording to all lovers of progressive rock.
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| Many years back I picked up Novalis' classic third album "Sommerabend" which has remained one of my all time favorite German prog delights. Acting very much as the pre-cursor to this masterpiece, their "second" album simply and yet strangely titled "Novalis" is another excellent album full of classic musicianship carrying a full accomplished sound throughout. Novalis' music is based on long concepts tracks performed in grand lush style with heavy use of organs and mellotrons, strings and bass. Most of their music is instrumental with some occasional non-intrusive German vocals. On their second album, Novalis added Carlo Karges (Ex-Tomorrow's Gift) doubling on guitars and keyboards. Out of interst, years later Karges would perform with Nena and be resposible for that aweful 1980's hit "99 Luftballoons"! The overall sound on this album is not unlike Mirage-era "Camel" or "Eloy's" Ocean in many ways with floating keyboards and a heavy symphonic presence. On this album Novalis even perform a rock impression of Bruckner's 5th Symphony. An excellent album for of wonderful progressive moments.
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| Back in 1998 I became aware of this little band from Boston area that were producing some pretty big sounds. Their debut album was truly original and musically inspiring and this has continued with their latest “A Seer In The Midst”. This CD is really a collection of new, old and borrowed with 2 fresh new tracks, a live version of their epic “Maiden Voyage Triliogy” and a couple of old tracks re-mastered. Without a question these are 3 very talented lads who play a wide range of instruments and deliver very original musical compositions. Their sound as always is quite crunchy with some great instrumentation and sound dynamics. For me the icing on the top of this one is their 4 older tracks on the CD which really do groove. This CD is also very well recorded with rich deep tones and dynamic sound for your speakers to produce. Overall a great album and if you loved their first this is an essential buy !
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| Recorded live during their 1997 U.K. tour "Remember Shakti" is an absolute stunning 2 CD set capturing some of the most ethereal and outer worldly world music you will ever hear. I have always loved the mix of Indian and Western music styles and this album captures it in its purist form. Remembering Shlkti showcases the talents of Mahav's John McLaughlin (guitars), Zakir Hussain (tabla), T.H. Vikku Vinayakram (Ghatam) and Hariprasad Chausaria (bansuri). This delicate album carries a truely mesmerizing recording clarity and instrument warmth that is very often missing from live recordings. The master strokes of Hussain's tabla hits all ranges of your speakers with McLaughlin's guitar mastery filling in the spaces. I guess for those who love epic tracks let me tell you that each CD houses a "doozie" with Mukti (65 Mins) and Chandrakauns (56 Mins).
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| “The Pretties” will likely be best remembered for their 60’s classic S.F. Sorrow release which has been coined the first rock opera. “Savage Eye” was the second release for The Pretty Things on Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label. Although often over shadowed by the previous release “Silk Torpedo” I must tell you love this album to death. “Savage Eye” contains what was at the time some pretty groundbreaking new rock based sound which incorporated a more contemporary American hardrock influence. “My Song” is one of my personal favourite songs of all time delivering a hymn ballad with allusions to both the Beatles and Barclay James Harvest. On this album guitarist Jack Green joins the band (as he did on Silk Torpedo’s) adding a new twist to their sound. "Savage Eye" is a nice varied album with some stunning outright rockout aspects and in sharp contrast some very soft melodic songs. | |||
| So here is where it all began, a progressive gothic soundtrack based on Patrick McGoodham’s British TV Series “The Prisoner”. Complete with the tortured lyrics and vocals of Mr. Doctor, Devil Doll deliver a wonderful yet very dark epic album full of violins, guitars, drums guitar bass and keyboards. As I listen and re-listen to these Devil Doll albums, I am very conscious of the evil overtones of this music but always find so much color still within these recordings. I would not suggest you listen to these recordings with all you windows in your house wide open as the psychiatrists will be knocking at your door! I would call Mr. Doctor a modern day classical composer who uses music as his surrealistic canvass on which we paints his obsession with theatrical horror sceneries with dabs of vaudeville thrown into the mix. Really hard to peg down this music really but I would categorize as gothic prog. A very evil listen yet very wonderful album…may take others a few listens before they are hooked and always remember to listen with windows closed. | |||
| Avant-Garge quasi electronica masters Stereolab released a real gem in this strange album full of musical quirkiness. For those unsure of Stereolab's music will hear a number of allusions in their music (Neu, Kraftwerk, Miles Davis and Can) Those familiar with the German 70's band Neu's second release#2 and the track "Für Immer," will hear the archetype of half the songs on Stereolab's Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Although the musical structure of Stereolab does not vary much, their progressive leanings come out in their variations to their basic formula of a short number of guitar chords, two French-accented female voices, inventive bass lines, jazz styled drumming and analog keyboard lines and drones. Emperor Tomato Ketchup is one of the more stylistically varied Stereolab albums with each song carrying its own identity: the retro-futurist funk of "Metronomic Underground," the conversational twin-guitar root of "Tomorrow Is Already Here," the Beach Boys/Serge Gainsbourg hybrid of "Cybele's Reverie."
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| True Myth were formed in London, Ontario (where I went to University) as an offshoot of a class project by the members while they were students at Fanshawe College. This is truly a wonderful recording with some excellent song writing and instrumentation highlighted with some superb keyboard work via Tom Treumuth who was the brainchild and keyboardist of this band. (years later Treumuth would turn up to produce Honeymoon Suite and many other Canadian acts during the 80's. The other musicians include Tony Cook (guitar), Steve McKenna (bass), Brian Bollinger (drums), and Bruce Cumming (vocals). In many ways their sound is very similar to DRUID with a very inspirational and excellent vocalist. This album was as best I can find the first digital album recorded in Canada and the second in the world (the first being Stevie Wonders' 'Secret Life Of Plants'). A real trasure in the land of Canadian progressive rock. | |||
| Ben Mink was the violinist/mandolinist on several of FM's (Canada) early albums (Surveillance, City Of Fear) with Foreign Exchange representing his solo album. Joining Mink on this album is also Cameron Hawkins and Martin Deller (also of FM fame) who end up collaborating on an album containing a rock- fusion violin driven smorgasbord of different musical styles. With no surprises many times one is reminded of the music of FM without ever Mink travelling too far down these lines. Foreign Exchange is a pure instrumental album mixing rock, classical, and traditional Celtic music all in one album ! My favourite track on the album is "Visa-Vis" which highlights some nice deep moog bass pedals and great sophisticated violin driven rock. An excellent album with some nice twists and excellent violin and mandolin performances. | |||
