| After FISH and Marillion parted ways, FISH released "Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors" which was a triumph in so many ways. Musically this would mark the new direction for FISH, deviating away from the jester montages and taking a fresh new and yet still very progressive avenue. I remember buying this CD and playing the crap out of it for months on end. Vigil really covers a lot of ground from the Marillion'esque "Vigil" to the sensitive and soul stirring track "Cliche". Instrumentally this is a great album and the musicanship as you would expect is very high. For me this album became a very special part of my life and it was an album I experienced thru years of my life. To this day I reserve a special spot in my collection for Vigil and recommend this album to all fans of Marillion and FISH. | |||
| Los Delerios del Mariscal was the second “must have” album released by Crucis. This carefully crafted symphonic prog rock album carries some of the most memorable passages from the 70’s South American catalogue. Their sound is very elaborate and rich with great symphonic lustre and charm. This album features the duelling barrages of Kerpel's organ with Marrone's guitar solos. Every moment is impeccably tight and carries a continuous surge of creative energy. Los Delerios del Mariscal is without a doubt one of my personal favourite albums from South America and highly recommended by this progressive rock music lover. | |||
| The first time I heard the music of Sloche, I knew I had to pick it up and boy-oh-boy am I glad I did. Sloche play a lighter fusion-based progressive style rock with deep instrumental prowess and a unique and complex disposition. This album also covers a lot of ground from jazz, piano solos to symphonia to fusion. Sloche were a very talented Quebecois band who played a very exploratory yet tight form of progressive rock. Songs are very fluid and develop as the album progresses along. Vocals are sung in French and work very well with the music. Overall an exceptional album full of great musical moments and lustre. | |||
| Recorded live at the Patriots Theatre in Trenton USA on June 30th 2002 this is Steve Hackett and his band caught in one very memorable concert. Steve performs many of his classic numbers mixing in aspects from King Crimson and Genesis along the way. This 2 CD set has been very well recorded and offers a great live concert from start to finish. This limited edition 2 cd set is part of Hackett's personal archived recordings collection. | |||
| “1-Speed Bike” is the prodigy of Montréal’s Aidan Girt, better known as the drummer and leader for Godspeed you black emperor! Not sure this album will work as well for everyone as it does for me but this quirky album really drive some creative little grooves and unique musical presence. I hear dimension of Godspeed, Fly Pan Am and even DJ Shadow!. Overall this album shines thru it’s dark packaging, atmospheres with shimmering melodies and originality. Essentially this album is grounded in grooves of psychedelic–like numbness mixed with electronic mayhem. The music is clear and poignant with the characteristic strong melody thing going. Songs sort of blend into one another and are given lots of freedom to explore new territory. There are some very weird voice-overs and silliness which tends to get juxtaposed over the moody electro rhythmic melodies. Very original and I am a fan ! Rock on rebel warriors ! | |||
| Pollen were another fantastic 70's Quebecois (French Canadian) progressive rock abnd who managed to release one fantastic symphonic gem. Without a question this is one of my all time favourite albums from Canada's 70's scene. Like most of the Quebecois bands, the recipe is a mizture of rich melodies, symphonic overtones and veins of deep originality. Pollen mixed deep tonal analog keyboards with great guitar and a solid combo of bass and drum interplay. Vocals are sung in French and offer some great expressionism and character. Hard to peg this one down exactly but one might draw allusions to a mix of classic Genesis, Nektar and Eloy. For those who love lush yet fluid and ever changing rhythmic progressive rock will deeply love this album....it's a 10 out of 10 kids! | |||
| This was the Meissen’s first album and was actually a live recording capturing IMHO them at their height of their career. This is classic German space prog with some grand interludes and otherworldly atmospheres. I love this album with their featured 2 analog keyboardists (Lothar Kramar and Thomas Kurzhals) who play a great array of 70’s vintage keys. These guys play with a high degree of intuition and almost sound at times as if they are talking to each other. The other instrumentalists are equally solid (guitar, bass and percussion/drums) and an exceptional lead singer who sings in native German with great conviction. I would definitely put these guys in the “Grobschnitt” / “Ego On The Rocks” camp of progressive rock. A top notch album that I would highly recommend to all lovers of German Space progressive rock. | |||
| This obscure Canadian progressive outfit released one little gem in 1978 with its side long epic “Out For A Walk”. This 7 piece ensemble remarkably mixes modern alternative prog elements aka Mercury Rev with classic late 70’s lustre. This album really does not sound at all dated and really carriers a very modern sound and could easily pass for an album of the new millennium. This concept album is really 4 shorter tracks which sets up the side 2 epic long track “Our For A Walk”. Vocals are sung in English and are mostly spoken giving the listener a darker atmospheric feeling in nature. Instrumentally Milkweed blend guitar, bass and drums with oboe, sax and piano into a dark ensemble-like musical structures. The end result is a very avant-garde album which IMHO is completely awesome. | |||
| “An Invisible World Revealed” was Krokodil’s 3rd album and definitely blends more exotic instrumentation and effects than their preceding LPs. This album is a mix of psychedelic and progressive genres with some Eastern influences tossed in for good measure. One of the most unique elements here is the fine mix of harmonica and Mellotron if you could imagine. There are 2 epic like tracks on the album “Odyssey In om” and “Looking At Time” (15 Mins) which are given lots of space to progress out. This album contains all of Krokodil’s trademarks with mad song writing, completely out of this world arrangements and superb musicianship. The album carries a very original sounding quality and is one of those albums that once you get your chops into you will be deeply hooked. the re-mastered version there is an additional 30 mins of extra tracks with 2 superb jam tracks and 3 shorter but very fitting tracks. This bonus material is simply killer and makes this version of the album absolutely essential. IMHO "An Invisible World Revealed" was Krokodil's masterpiece and should be in every 70's progressive rock collection. | |||
| Sloche were a 70’s prog fusion band from Quebec Canada who left behind 2 incredible albums of the highest calibre. Frozen somewhere in the fusion/prog vein Stadacone features standout musicianship and sophisticated song writing. Instrumentally this album is unforgettable with great 70’s analog keyboards (Hammond B3, Mini-moog, clavinet and piano), great soaring guitar, bass and drum interplay. Stadacone is essentially an instrumental album with a bit of talking and chanting throughout. Musically these guys were awesome and really fall in the range of classic Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant and The Mahavishu Orchestra. The album also features 2 great epic tracks with Stadacone and Isacaaron each over 10 mins giving the songs lots of room to explore. Both Sloche albums are to kill for and are very much essential in your collection. | |||
| During the 70'as and early 80's, Larry Fast released a number of interesting solo electronic releases with "Games" reaching a high for me. Trapped somewhere in the Tangerine Dream, Schulze world of electronica, Fast takes our minds deep into the dark void of the Delta Nebula. Games is essentially 4 tracks (Delta 1 - 4) with Delta 3 consuming all of side 2. Synergy (Larry Fast) was a pioneer of electronic music with the concept for Games being made up of a series of vinettes which were composed during various sound checks while on tour with Peter Gabriel. Delta four is one of my alltime favorite electronic tracks. | |||
| Backdoor Possibilities was Birth Control’s 6th album and followed the masterpiece “Plastic People” which has been oft overlooked. Backdoor Possibilities is an excellent concept based on a story about a corporate businessman who is trapped by his own success and who ultimately reflects on his life before meeting death in a subway. Overall, the music manages to maintain Birth Control's typical hard rock sound, but is augmented with jazz and classical elements. The album is divided into three suites, 'One First Of April', 'Beedeepees', and 'La Ciguena De Zaragoza' with the latter being the strongest and closest to “Plastic People” . Musically this album does it all with creative song writing, superb arrangements and some excellent playing. Line up was pretty much the same with Bernd Noske re-joining on lead vocals again. As you would expect the albums strength lies with in this inherent complexity and instrumental prowess. This album was very well recorded and sounds very warm with the Richenbacher bass runs and Farfisa and Arp Synths. The Remastered version offers a pretty solid re-interpretation of this album and contains 2 bonus 1976 era Birth Control recordings which are very good. Album was produced by 2 noted 70’s prog producers – Conny Planck and David Hitchcock. This is a great album to get lost in... | |||
| UK were always one of those bands that came so close but in the end just didn't finish off. "Danger Money" was an excellent album from UK featuring the bass and vocals of John Wetton, the drumming of Terry Bozzio and the Keys and E-bow of Eddie Jobson. Without a question the final track "Carrying No Cross" is one of my favourite prog rock tracks from this era and worth the admission on its own. I always wished the full album was in this vein ! Like all UK output "Danger Money" blends elements of light prog-pop with harder jam -like attitude and interludes. I have always been a fan of Wetton so it is easy for me to love this album. Of course this album also features the track "Rendezvous 6:02" which is one of the more popular UK tracks. Overall a very good album of progressive like charm and offeres some very good musicanship and creative collaboration. | |||
| FM’s surveillance although still a very solid album does begin to steer towards a more streamlined sound and really fuses Pop and Prog genres. Prog fans will still love this album though with some stellar moments on the album, particularly the 2 instrumental tracks "Orion" and "Sofa Back". Their overall sound on Surveillance is reminiscent for me of RUSH at times. The Line up was Cameron Hawkins (Keys and vox), Ben Mink (Electirc violin, mandolin and vocals) and Martin Deller (Drums and percussion). When I was a young man I do remember playing this album to death and have always held the track HORIZONS in my fav category. A great little album for sure | |||
| Pulled this album out of the collection and had to capture a few words about this tasty double album. 100% Yes captured live performing some of their best songs including a simply rivetting version of "The Gates Of Delerium" and Ritual (split in 2 pieces). This album is really a mix of songs across various shows with Wakeman and Moraz swapping throughout. The end result though is a great double album full of wonderful positive energy and incredible musicianship. | |||
| Star One is Arjen Anthony Lucassen aka AYREON and friends caught live on a double CD package blending perhaps the best prog metal and symphonic prog rock I have ever heard. I have been a big fan of Ayreon and really picked this CD up on a recommendation from a pal and I must agree that it is quite solid. On lots of the songs we get to hear the clairvoyant vox of Threshold's Damian Wilson. There are a couple of real heavy tracks but I actually find them quite awesome and have finally found some ears for a bit of prog metal. A good chunk of the album is also from Ayreon's Into the Electric Castle and Universal Migrator work which sounds great live. Highlight for me is "The Dream Sequencer" and "Isis and Osiris" which leave me simply amazed at the power and creativity. Overall an excllent live concert with some high energy and pompous keyboard driven heavy prog rock. | |||
| Opus 5 were a 5 Piece ensemble from Quebec Canada who released IMHO one of Canada’s finest pieces of 70’s prog rock with “Contre-Courant” in 1976. Line up included Olivier Duplessis (Claviers, Vocals) , Luc Gauthier (Guitars, Vocals), Serge Nolet (Flute Vocals), Christian Leon Racine (Bass, Vocals) and Jean-Pierre Racicot (Percussion Vocals). Opus 5 were essentially a mix of lighter fusion / jazz prog with folk leanings at times and somewhat reminiscent of the Canterbury school of prog (i.e. Hatfield & The North, Egg…). Instrumentally these guys blend tempo challenging aspects with acoustic and synthesizer runs offering the listener quite a fine variety of rhythm and tones. “Contre-Courant” is a very expressive album with all 5 members adding vocalization throughout and is delivered with great emotion. Sometimes albums just seem to have everything and fulfills your mind, ears and spirit and that is the case with this album for me. Absolutely 100% essential. | |||
| Operation was Birth Control's 2nd album and continued with their pattented hard-rock acid based style not unlike that of Deep Purple. Musically, Birth Control blend heavy guitar with heavy organ twirls, not unlike early Spooky Tooth in many ways as well. Band lineup included Bernd "Nossi" Noske (drums, vocals) Bernd Koschmidder (bass) Bruno Frenzel (guitar, vocals) and Wolfgang Neuser (keyboards). Songs are genereally pretty heavy with songs like the harder edged anti-Vietnam war song "The Work is done". The second track "Just Beofre The Sun Will Rise" and the last track "Let Us Do It Now" are actually quite symphonic and show why Birth Control were leaning in a more progressive vein than others at the time. A great album for sure and one of those albums with nice deep organ and some thundering rhythm. | |||
| Two years after their highly craft debut album, Quebecois Folk prog act Le Temps released “Ailleurs Avec…” which added some deeper progressive structures to their folk based music. The core of the band is still the trio of Pierre Cloutier (Vocals, Guitars), Alain Grenier (Bass) and Jean Desautels (Drums) who play with great lustre and conviction. Their debut album was very much influenced by Harmonium with “Ailleurs Avec…” being less so. Le Temps play melodic mellow folk-prog with lots of acoustic instruments including flute, piano and acoustic guitars. Vocals are rich and full of harmonies and soft syncopation. “Ailleurs Avec…” is, in contrast to their debut album slightly less folk driven. Songs are very creative and offers some highly expressive musical moments. Again a real find within Canada’s progressive past. | |||
| One of the best French progressive bands of all time IMHO who blended all the right elements. The music of Atoll is complex, very elaborate and yet beautiful and delicate. Arrangements are sophisticated yet melodic and powerful. Their music exudes a certain degree of that of YES and GENESIS yet still remaining characteristically French and original. L’Araignee-Mal is a masterpiece and in relation to their debut “Musiciens Magicians” works slightly more on the fusion elements. Album contains lots of great symphonic keyboard work with the addition of violin on this album which sounds great when mixed with their guitar, bass and drum interplay. Side B of this album is consumed by the 1 epic title album track which is truly wonderful. | |||
| Before finishing off Peter Gabriel's "Games Without Frontiers", Larry Fast released "Sequencer" as his second album under the name of Synergy. Like all Synergy albums we are treated to quite a grand arsenal of vintage keyboards (Moog, Oberheim etc……). Side one is a collection of shorter tracks while side 2 takes hosts a 12 mins centerpiece "Sequence 14S. The album contains 2 well known cover version of "Coming Home" (Annie Haslam did this one too on her first solo album) and Classical Gas. Although this album is all electronic, it remains generally lighter in mood than the same era Tangerine Dream adnn actually reminds me of some of the work of Wendy Carlos. | |||
| I am a huge fan of the 70’s Canadian progressive rock band Morse Code and I must tell you that I had reservations and a certain discomfort putting “D’un Autre Monde” into my CD player. Fearing the worst I was completely shocked…this album is very very good. I had read so many poor review of Morse Code’s 80’s material……Encouraged by the popularity of Quebec’s underground progressive rock scene, Morse Code reformed with original members Christian Simard (vocals, keyboards), Michel Vallée (bass), and Daniel Lemay (guitars) re-formed the group, replacing drummer Raymond Roy with Simard's son and adding a second keyboardist, Marc Laperle. The new Morse Code capture the beauty of their 70’s work with a certain overlay of modern sounds. The songs on this album are very well constructed and I find it remarkable that Simard can still write killer prog/pop tunes. His voice has not deteriorated one iota and on this album they hit some lovely harmonies and melodies. “D'un Autre Monde” reminds me of Frances later sounding Ange with hints of mid period Genesis tossed in. A delicate yet highly gripping album with a mixture of old and new sounds and musical themes. I have a distinct impression this is a concept album as well with opening and closing sounding cyclical. Highly entertaining album and the way all re-united prog bands should sound. | |||
| Is your mind ready for the ultimate trip....then climb aboard the SubArchnoid Space craft. "Also Rising" oozes with mind numbing musical madness and deep space caravans. Hard to exactly peg down but I would characterize as a mix of Canada's SIANspheric, Godspeed and Porcupine Tree all in one. According to the liner notes, this album "Is intended to be listened to from start to finish as one piece of music". I love bands and albums like this...highly creative and completely insane with no concern for radio attraction or mass appeal. This 4 piece band is made up of Stoo Odom (Bass), Chris Van Huffel (Drums, Percussion), Melynda Jackson (Guitar, Magnus Air Organ) and Mason Jones (Guitar). This album in many ways plays like a film soundtrack and would have been perfect for 2001 a Space Odyssey. This album also offers a good range of tempo and emotional states from the droned out sections to the groovy hyptnotic states to the full out rock pieces. This band definitely has my ears and I highly recommend this album to you. | |||
| Djam Karet have been quietly releasing poignant albums for quite some time now and continue to explore some pretty interesting musical terrain along the way. 2001's release "New Dark Age" is no exception with some pretty tasty all instrumental work highlighting clean drum and bass interplay with oft wild guitar soloing and clever keyboard work. Musically these guys cover quite a range from Floyding-like elements to softer ambient cresendos all influneced all under the guise of a "musical type A personality" who are clearly unhappy staying in a particular time signature, tempo or format for too long...just the personality I love. A great album from start ot finish. | |||
| So let me start by clearing the air on this one....no this is not the Thief movie soundtrack (this you will have to buy I guess on vinyl), but instead the re-mastered CD is the music of Tangerine Dream used in the movie or themed on this. Line up includes Edgar Froese (Keyboards, Electronic Equipment, Guitar), Christoph Franke (Synth, Electronic Equipment, Electronic Percussion) and Johannes Schmoelling (Keyboards, Electronic Equipment) and offers some fantastic musical mind canyons and electronic highways to experience. One of my favourite TD tracks is the 3 mins track BURNING BAR with its mesmorizing pulsation and simple little beeps and bops...always wished this one was a lot longer.....The Definitive remastered edition carries a great deep sound to the album with some lovely vintage electronic sounds and space imagery. | |||
| Without a question Andy Latimer is an amazing musician as is evident in 1991's "Dust & Dream" which is loosly based on the concept of Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wraith". As with all Camel album our ears are treated to some well crafted symphonic passages with breath taking guitar solos. This album features a lot less of Latimer's flute (which is maybe the only bummer of this album) but does offer some simply amazing songs and passages. Other contributing musicians include Colin Bass (bass), Ton Scherpenzeel (Keys) and Paul Burgess (Drums). Highly recommended album for those who love softer and highly symphonic prog. | |||
| Destiny was the second album from UK's rock trio Clear Blue Sky which is really a collection of songs from 1972 - 1975 and was released in 1976 on Saturn Records. Clear Blue Sky play a cross of classic 70's rock with progressive learnings not unlike that of Gravy Train, Uriah Heep and Kin Ping Meh. The point of demarkation for Clear Blue Sky is the fine guitar work of John Simms. which we get a real taste of here with some heavy riffs. Some songs take on a strong classic rock persona in an almost Led Zepelin/Foreigner tone while other feel a lot more underground and lets say more progressive by nature. A very good album with a nice vibe all the way thru. | |||
| So you are looking for one of those little treasures from the underground 70's German prog scene and don't know where to spend your hard earned money....look no further my friends "Blitzkreig" is your answer. This was Wallenstein's debut album and ranks for me as one of their brigest and defining moments. Truely a wonderful album which surprisengly takes on a much more symphonic feel than a true krautrock. The line up was Jurgen Dollase - Piano, Electric Piano, Mellotron, Keyboard, Bill Barone - Guitar, Jerry Berkers - Bass, Vocals Harald Groskopf - Drums (who would later play with Klaus Schulze and Ashra. Blitzkrieg is composed of 4 long tracks which are all given lots of space to develop and just brush on the side of space rock with lots of great guitar, keyboards and drumming. I have the Spalax CD transfer and the sound repro is very good and offers great clarity in the instrumentation. Not sure why this recording has been slagged by so many people and all I can say is that this music lover loves it. | |||
| So who has not heard of Tony Levin? I am sure he has played on over 100 albums easily in his career and with Pieces Of The Sun has delved into his second solo project album. With the support of some friends, Levin has released an intoxicating album full of both aggressive and passive music. Levin is joined by Larry Fast on synthesizers, Jerry Marrotta on drums, Jesse Gress on guitar and a guest appearance by the California Guitar Trio. This album offers some wicked grooves and as you would expect some very tasty little bass playing with his large arsenal of bass-like instruments and gadgets. At times I get a King Crimson feel and others more of a Peter Gabriel presence and then others something totally new. | |||
| Without a question England's ENID are an acquired taste. Although predominantly an instrumental band, this was their first recording to feature vocals. This was another concept album written during and about the world of nuclear weapon and the potential effects and the destruction of the world. The ENID are Robert John Godfrey - keyboards, Stephen Stewart - guitar, Chris North - drums, percussion and Francis Lickerish - bass. The ENID are known for their Symphonic song orientated orchestal music and that is exactly what "Something Wicked This Way Comes" delivers. The vocals and instumentation actually take on a 60's layered feel and seems to blend in complete contrast to the music. Without a question while this album plays to the popular side of music lovers it also will please the more "listening" crowd. A very creative album from start to finish. | |||
| The story of CAP is a bit of an interesting one for this band from Novara Italy who were around in the 70’s yet never released anything from this era and were discovered in the 90's by Kaliphonia Records. ‘Robin delle Stelle’ (Robin Of The Stars) is a beautiful album full of progressive arrangements and expressions. Essentially this album is composed of 5 epic tracks which cover quite a range of moods….from calm passages to heavier parts all offering great melodies and instrumentation. This music of CAP is pretty much Guitar and keyboard driven with some great supporting bass and drum interplay. There is also quite a range of instruments/sounds on this alum with piccolo, flute, piano, breath taking beautiful operatic vocals on title track. Vocals are handled mostly by Maurizio Mercandino who sings in native Italian and brings a certain operatic feel to their music. Other musicians include Romolo Bollea and Maurizio Venegoni (keyboards); Massimo Gorlezza and Enrico "Chicco" Mercandino (guitar); Luigi Secco (bass) and Luca Bonardi (drums). Overall album is very solid from start to finish and may fit in more with the wave of more recent Ital-prog bands like Germinale, Finesterre and H20. | |||
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