| Several years ago I picked up Sigur’s debut album ágætis byrjun which I thought was awesome but with the release of ( ) I think I have been sent into the heavens ! This stunning 71 mins gem from this Icelandic quartet is IMHO a masterpiece. Based musically on contemporary minimalism Sigur Ros have created one of the most personal and emotional albums I have heard since Godspeed’s “Raise Your Skinny Fists..” For those not familiar with Sigur Ros they are jón þor (jónsi) birgisson (vocals, guitars), kjartan (kjarri) sveinsson (keyboards), orri páll dýrason (drums) and georg (goggi) holm (bass). What is also interesting is that this album really has two halves, each half containing four tracks. The first half is light and optimistic while the second half is bleaker and more melancholic, "plays more with your emotions".. Without a question ( ) is a rawer and darker album and considerably less accessible than ágætis byrjun; drum beats are usually slow (tracks 1 and 3 are drum-free) and the songs take their time to progress into the trademark sigur rós emotional climaxes, making for a more challenging but more rewarding listen. Although not the primary driver, there are some excellent vocals on this album as well with Birgisson singing is his own language (like Magma does). This album hits the intense highs and lows and its mood ranging from brittle to brutal, ( ) is very much a headphone experience album. Simple an awesome album which I would recommend. | |||
| Maneige along with Harmonium and Flairck were part of Canada’s 70’s Quebecois prog-folk-classical artists who managed to release a few albums with “Les Porches” standing out as another magical album for consideration. “Les Porches” is a 4 piece suite featuring lush symphonia and a wide arsenal of instrumentation including glockenspiel, contra bass, flutes, saxes, vibes, xylophone, marimba. Unlike some of their other albums this one has vocals (sung in French) which are used sparingly and still work well on the album. Overall sound is quite unique with a lush folk-symphonic charm. A great album for sure… | |||
| Here is what happens when you take Zappa alum Terry Bozzio, former Japan bassist Mick Karn, and avante-god guitarist David Torn…..you end up with one of the most ear popping albums I have heard ! Polytown is a wild sonic ride through something that has pieces of jazz, pan-ethnic fusion, and instrumental prowess that few can touch. All the compositions are sharp , exceptionally well produced, with ample space to hear Karns fluid Middle Eastern style fretless work, as well as Bozzio doing some phenomenal orchestration for percussion and Torn’s angular and never ending guitar creativity. This is one of those crunchy album you love to discover….trapped somewhere in the King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment, school of progressive rock. Much of Polytown is comprised of the judicious use of atmospheric mixes with melodic and percussive influences that gives an unmistakable but subtle nods to Eastern musical themes and ideas. Tempos are moderately slow and instrumentally rich. Each are given lots of room to shine with some amazing percussive , guitar and bass interludes. An incredible album all the way thru. Highly recommended | |||
| Pete Bassman (aka Pete Bain) has certainly proved adept at creating original otherworldly music with very modern sonic and nodal shapes. With both his post-Spacemen 3 projects, the Darkside and now Alphastone, Bassman has continued to explore the nebulous waters of dreamy guitar-heavy ambient rock. Avoiding Spiritualized's transcendent, gospel-inflected pop in favor of danceable, mechanized rhythms and electronic washes, Alphastone achieves a maximum of atmosphere with a minimum of pretension. Certainly the focus here is on mood over message, but if that's your thing, Alphastone definitely delivers. Alphastone presents a nice song of spacey textures laced with good gutiar and drum work with songs you will remember. Being a fan of Alphstone I found this album to be the most accessible yet with some pretty trippy and flowing parts. | |||
| After hearing a couple of exerpts from “The Conference Of Birds” I finally snagged a copy of Saddar’s Path Of The Rose. Proudly in the same vein as their debut album the Bazaar have released another gem for Delerium Records. This Eastern centric instrumental album focuses musically on the sitar, hand percussion (tables, dholak) with guitar and keyboard accents throughout all wound up into a pretty psychy album. This Eastern psychedelic quartet create a vast array of moods with slower and mid paced tempos…never getting repetitive or out of control. Lovers of the sitar will definitely need to pick this album up…a very chilled out album with some excellent instrumental work and clever song writing. | |||
| After Crying’s 6 is a great album and a very strong follow-up to DE PROFUNDIS. Most of the music is written by Balazs Winkler and Peter Pejtsik and as you would expect is largely orchestral in nature with solo accents. Every one of their albums seems to be so carefully crafted as with “6” being no exception. This concept like album is made up of 5 parts with 2 being quite epic in nature and all drawing on the strength of each other. The music on this album is definitely ever moving and will keep your interest time and time again. The album is very well recorded with some incredible orchestral moments juxtaposed over deep cello, flute, guitar, bass, drums, synths and trumpets to name a few. One track grabs a snippet direct from King Crimson ‘s THRAK album making a musical reference to “Dinosaur”. The first epic piece, "Panem et Circenses," is a 29-minute, 6-track suite. It draws for inspiration on King Crimson's "Cirkus" (LIZARD) , THRAK and ELP's "Karn Evil 9" (BRAIN SALAD SURGERY) …IMHO this is arguably their most powerful track they have recorded. The second epic "Farewell to 20th Century." Is a 27 minute suite with some incredible musical variations and progressive leanings. The album concludes with the almost 11 minute "Tribute to Keith Emerson." Lyrics on this album are sung mostly in English and done so with great effort and not sounding overly “Out of native tongue’ish”. This is closest to classic Camel but it is still After Crying. Fans of symphonic progressive will love their mix of classical music and full-blown rock arrangements. | |||
| Epidaurus were a mid seventies German progressive outfit formed around 1976, and uniquely featured two keyboard players, Gunther Henne and Gerd Linke, with vocalist Christiane Wand, bassist Heinz Kunert and drummers Manfred Struck and Volker Oehmig. Earthly Paradise is definitely well rooted in the 70's progressive style of Yes, Pink Floyd and fellow German rockers, Eloy. Without a question this is an essential album to own with 5 truly magical tunes. This symphonically keyboard driven album is also supported by the angelic voice of Christiane Wand. Epidaurus were an example of a rather obscure but extremely talented symphonic rock act from Germany. Their style revolved around the incredible virtuosity of keyboardists Gerd Linke and Gunther Henne, both of whom will draw inevitable comparisons with the likes of Wakeman, Moraz or Emerson. This album carries that vintage Germanic penchant for transporting the listener into the outer reaches of the cosmos. Although no where near Schulze and Co., “Earthly Paradise” maintains steady and propulsive undulations of bass and sympathetic, massed keyboards making a wide use of structure and space. Without a question this album is a 70’s analog vintage keyboardist wet dream with tons of mellotron, mini-moog, Hammond and piano. A beautiful album and a real gem of 70’s Progressive Rock. | |||
| Only after several listens do the ghosts of “Deserter’s Songs” past start to appear: the hallucinatory Syd Barrett- like lyrics, Suzanne Thorpe's ever present flute, and the occasional weird noise that initially doesn't sound all that weird, like a musical saw or a harp or a theremin. It's a lush release of strange and interesting sounds blended together sometimes rather symphonically into 12 songs that will seep into your head and have you subconsciously singing right along. Instrumentally this album covers a nice wide range hitting multiple genres along the way. There's cuts of opera, jazz, synth’d out enjoyment, fairytale soundtracks, all established as works created by Mercury Rev themselves. The vocals are simple, saddening, dreamy and quite pleasant. Overall a very cool album with some excellent dream state music for your mind to mull over. A very creative album . | |||
| Excellent 70’s Spanish symphonic progressive rock album with a powerful progressive musical prowess. “Intencion” is very reminiscent at times of Pink Floyd (Meddle era) with great guitar soloing and a ton of great keyboard work (Hammond and moog). The songs on this album are very much inspired and this is an essential album to have in your collection. Although not a dominating factor and in fact vocals are used only in the first track, with them being sung in native tongue and being very well done. The album also features a female choir in sections which also works to perfection of the album. The keyboard work on this album is quite crunchy actually and really brings out different atmospheres throughout the album. The album features 1 epic track, the 16-minute "El Principio Del Fin" which offers a little bit of almost everything from Hendrix guitar soloing to more symphonic . Pan Y Musica have kindly re-released this Spanish masterpiece in re-mastered form and one is able to hear a more enriched sound than previously possible on CD format. | |||
| Wow…………what a great album……… DMST’s “Winter Hymn” has not left my side since I first plopped it into my CD player. Capturing all the DMST essences, this album takes the band even a step closer to godspeed-like status. This album veers even closer to labelmates Godspeed You! Black Emperor's with their demonstrated patented quiet/loud/even and build to a climax territory. The band line-up remains static with Charles Spearin (bass, trumpet), Justin Small (guitar) James Payment (drums), Ohad Benchetrit (guitar, horns, keyboards) and drummer Dave Mitchell but now includes the addition of strings and horns. Winter Hymn is nine awesome instrumental tracks which are delivered with a bit more sonic soul and passion than previous albums….well lets say with more umph ! The album is centered around 3 distinct movements and is characterized with DMST’s patented mesmerized dream state throughout. Movement 1 takes on a slightly louder impact, phase 2 strives for more a jazz flavour and phase 3 more of a combo of 1 and 2. Overall this album is very different than their masterpiece “Goodbye Enemy Airship The Landlord Is Dead” . Do Make Say Think are IMHO one of the best bands out there right now , and if you haven't yet discovered their work, you will need to. | |||
| Long before UFO became the UFO many of you will know (mainstream metal band) they had released a couple of stunning early albums with “Flying” hitting IMHO the peak of their brilliance. Flying – subtitled “One Hour Of Space Music” is exactly that with heavy blistering guitar phasing soloing dominating all 64 mins of this album. What some may find interesting is that all that wild guitar on this album is not played by Michael Schenker and is actually played by UFO’s early guitarist Mick Bolton . The rest of the band is Phil Mogg – Vocals, Pete Way – Bass and Andy Parker – Drums. While the guitar playing rages on the foundation of drums and bass maintain some pretty trippy grooves and provide a wild space for Mogg’s excellent vocals. For those who love long electric guitar space jams will drool over this album and clearly this album is a head trip of the highest order that every space rock freak MUST own!!! Fans of Ash Ra Tempel, Blue Cheer, Taste early Scorpions, Free, Traffic will all love this album……….a household fav ! | |||
| Bryter Layter is the soundtrack to my life…..Nick Drake only left behind three complete albums, with "Bryter Layter" being the middle and arguably most beautiful one….at least I guess the most symphonic of the lot. Hard for me to pick my fav of the 3 studio albums but without a question these songs really grab your heart. Overall this album is gorgeous folk-symphonia led by the nostalgic lyrics, vocals and harp-like acoustic guitar strokes of Nick Drake. Credit must also go to the other musicians who worked on 'Bryter Layter' including folk mainstays Dave Pegg – bass, Dave Mattacks – drums, Richard Thompson - lead guitar and John Cale - viola, harpsichord, celeste, piano, organ.. Other musicians contributing are Ray Warleigh - alto saxaphone, flute, Mike Kowalski – drums, Lyn Dobson – flute, Chris McGregor - piano Pat Arnold & Doris Troy - backing vocals. Articulate and sophisticated, tranquil yet alive, “Bryter Layter” is a masterpiece and an album you live as much as you listen to. His track “FLY” and “One Of These Things First” as 2 of my favourite Drake tracks of all time. | |||
| Originally stencilled the “Tripsichord Music Box” later to simplify their name to just Tripsichord, heralded out of San Franciso Bay area as one of the most enigmatic acid rock bands. This album has been carefully re-mastered on CD by the fine folks at AKARMA records (ITALY) complete with mini vinyl album /CD packaging. Without a question this album is one of the best San Fran acid / psychedelic guitar sounding albums I have heard. Tripsichord really remind me in many ways of Quicksilver Messenger Service with free flowing guitar jams and that community musicianship feeling. I love the killer dual guitar interplay on this album as well and the songs are very well written and performed. This CD also has five excellent bonus tracks; two from the San Francisco Fifth Pipe Dream compilation and two from their single on the San Francisco Sound label. Overall if you are into the late 60’s West Coast scene then this album is essential. | |||
| Blistering heavy prog-psychedelic classic with fuzzed-up searing guitars, weird effects and trippy songs. The Jarvis Street Revue was formed in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada in the late 60's around the talents of, Tom Cruickshank, Wayne Faulconer, Tom Horricks and George Stevenson . In 1970 the band released their only album, Mr. Oil Man which has been remastered bu the fine folks at Pacemaker Entertainment. This concept album is focused on the pro-environment/anti-corporate-businessman and is an environmental statement on the use and abuse of the oil reserves, the depletion of Earth’s natural resources and hazards of smoking. Sound familiar? These issues are a concern in the 21st century and this album was 30 years ahead of its time for the bands green concerns and anti-business reflection in the song lyrics of the album. Superior digipack replica of the band's ultra-rare and prohibitively expensive only LP, first released by Columbia Records (Canada-only) in 1970. Remastered from the original tapes & supplemented by eight bonus tracks -- two singles tracks plus all six tracks recorded for their incomplete unreleased 2nd album. | |||
| Kayak is IMHO simply a masterpiece with wonderfully inspired song writing, singing and instrumentation. “Merlin" is a concept album with Kayak devoting the first five tracks being a musical interpretation of the Arthurian legend. All of the songs were composed by keyboarder Ton Scherpenzeel, co-founder and principal genius behind the group. The artistically poetic lyrics all over this album was composed by both Ton and Irene Linders. The early medieval atmosphere is captured quite well with the use of additional stringed and brass instruments - such as flute and banjo. On the whole the balance tips over decisively in favor of ballad oriented material, giving Edward Reekers and Ton Scherpenzeel every chance to show off their preeminence on vocals and piano. Without a question Niniane (Lady Of The Lake) is one of my favourite prog rock tunes of all time…..a beautiful album right thru……. | |||
| Very much in the spirit of its predecessor “Intencion”, “Reviure” is a magical album with original charm and character that will appeal to all fans of 70’s progressive rock. Atila offers long instrumental jams and heavy symphonic dynamics throughout (somewhere in the Camel, ELP mode). They take great care in their playing with some pretty crafty instrumentation with heavy focus on keyboards as the dominant focus. Bass, guitar and drum interplay is superb as well with some monumental aspects throughout this album. There is some vocals as well and they are very well done with great emotion and range. Hate to say this but this is another essential album you will need to have in your collection. | |||
| Before Geoff Mann came to ignite his magical charm into this band, Twelfth Night released a wonderful live album from the Target Club in 1981 with focus on instrumental prowess. This 4 song album has already been well spoken of and was perfectly characterized in the a review which suggested this album “is a timeless kaleidoscope of sound". Basically at this time in their existence Twelfth Night ‘s sound most revolved around the spacey echoplex guitar work of Andy Revell and the keyboard laden drawls of Rich Battersby. Although all songs are excellent on this album I am partial to Fur Helene and the 20-minute epic "Sequences", which many consider the best bit they ever did. Considering the era of this recording the sound is quite good with little audience noise (except for in between songs). The recording was lifted from a vinylalbum as a source as if you listen carefully you can make out the odd pop and tick, but in no way should interfere with your love for this album. | |||
| I have always been a fan of "Space Electronic Music" and Mikhail Chekalin has my ears on this 2 CD release. His compositions each run over 45 minutes in length and take your mind of a wild excursion around the universe. His songs are strongly orchestral in nature with symphonic and modern classical styles tossed in. Chekalin uses a wild mix of inputs to create his sounds including a good chunk of piano, classical and folk voices, quirky percussion instruments, a lot of echo and effects, and electronic synths. Overall sound is very different from the 70’s Schulze era and with a real classic orchestral feel. CD includes some wild bonus pieces comprise a contemporary fragment of film music using analog synthesizer and water sounds, plus from 1990 the 28-minute "Dream To Accompaniment with Voice and Symphonic Transformation". Overall this is a very unique and yet challenging release with its roots somewhere in the Klaus Schulze school of electronic mastery. | |||
| Martin Orford who is likely better known for his leadership in Neo Prog bands IQ , Jadis and The John Wetton Project as their main keyboardist delivers a prog friendly album full of personal charm and character. Martin Orford obviously plays all keyboards and much of the vocals as well with John Wetton and IQ’s Peter Nicholls leading 1 track as well. As you would expect Orford calls on a vast arsenal of prog talent he has worked with over the years (Gary Chandler - rhythm and electric guitars, Steve Christey – drums, John Jowitt – bass, David Kilminster - acoustic and lead guitars, Paul Cook – drums, Michael Holmes - lead guitars). The end result is a grand song/melody based album full of magical little moments with an overall sound not unlike at times IQ, Jadis and Paul Menel-era IQ with a semi classical twist. | |||
| So where does Mr. Hackett travel on “To Watch The Storms” you ask? ….The answer is a bit of everywhere and the result is a thoroughly entertaining album drawing on a vast collage of musical styles, moods and themes. As usual Hackett surrounds his voice and guitar with a collection of talented musicians including Roger King – Keyboards, Rob Townsend - Brass, Woodwind, Terry Gregory - Basses, Vocals, Gary O’Toole - Drums, Vocals, John Hackett - Flute and Ian McDonald – Sax. Hackett also brings in guest musicians with cello and violin accents. “To Watch The Storms” is typical Steve Hackett and is another awesome addition to his musical discography. This album carries the originality of some of Hackett’s most beloved album with some bizarre little ditties and very unique songs writing. | |||
| Fairyport was the 3rd album released by Finlands Wigwam which also featured the introduction of another cast member with the entrance of the outstandingly talented composer/musician/bassist Pekka Pohjola. The end result was Wigwam’s first real stab at pure progressive rock and INMO is one of my more favoured albums of the 70’s prog era. On Fairyport, Wigwam mix jazz, rock , pop all in one exploratory album with a nice wide range of themes and moods. Generally the songs are pretty organ drenched with lots of rhythmic syncopation. With Fairyport the threesome of Gustavson, Pembroke and Pohjola was completed. Jukka Gustavson (Keyboards) wrote the most progressive pieces, with Jim Pembroke (Vocals, Piano) wrote the lighter and shorter songs and Pekka Pohjola’s (bass) focus on the instrumental aspects. The bottomline is a very well balanced album with lots of progressive tendencies, instrumental prowess and instrumental mastery. There are several magical moments on this album including “Losing Hold” , “Cafffkaff, The Country Psychologist” and Pohjols’s Zappa-esque instrumental tribute "Hot Mice". Band membership was Ronnie Österberg (drums, congas, percussion, backing vocals), Jukka Gustavson, (vocals, piano, organ, electric piano), Jim Pembroke (vocals, harmonica, piano, electric piano), Pekka Pohjola (bass, violins, acoustic guitar, piano, celeste and harpsichord). I guess every diamond has one rough cut and so too does Fairyport with the last track being a 17 minute live epic recording circa 1971 and sounds even with the re-mastered CD version like something off a bootleg. Having said that the studio material is to kill for and I would heavily recommend this album to all lovers of progressive rock. | |||
