A four-piece from New York City, 3RDegree specializes in well-crafted, hook-infected, song-oriented rock with strong melodic drive and progressive overtones. In fact they've been around for...
» Read moreNow here's a novel idea: With each CD you sell, include an extra copy of the disc for the buyer to pass along, thus spreading the word about the band. That's precisely what this four-piece...
» Read moreA Bôlha (The Bubble) were one of Brazil's first progressive bands, back in a time when progressive meant something more fundamental than the keyboard drenched symphonics and complicated...
» Read moreOp Zop Too Wah is an overview of a little bit of everything Belew's been up to from his work in King Crimson to The Bears as well as his own introspective and energy laden singer /...
» Read moreIn their gold-panning expeditions for largely undiscovered old South American bands, Progressive Rock Worldwide recently unearthed this little nugget. Agnus hail from Argentina, consisting of a...
» Read moreNo big surprises here, just another keyboards / bass / drums (plus occasional guitar) trio working in a well-worn style. What Alas brings to the style that is new is a jazzy bent. I'm reminded...
» Read moreWhat a special album this is, a forgotten rarity that truly is something of a lost classic. Aleph, a sextet based in Sydney, were one of the few Australian bands (along with Sebastian Hardie,...
» Read moreThe title of the first track, "Crimsoniana," ought to give you an idea as to this new band's sound, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Algaravia's line-up consists of two...
» Read moreAltura is a five-piece gigging band from Charlotte, North Carolina. Their first album is a definite progressive metal project with intricate time changes that support a core emphasis of aggressive,...
» Read moreAmber Route was an electronic / rock duo from southern California featuring Walter Holland on guitars and synthesizers, and Richard Watson on woodwinds, piano, and synthesizers; both share vocal...
» Read moreBooker does it all himself on this new release of well-rounded progressive rock. Apart from a guest guitarist on the last track, Booker is the only musician credited; he ably handles guitar,...
» Read moreAnyone who attended ProgFest '94 in LA will find this last farewell hauntingly familiar. Buried Alive contains Änglagård's last live performance in its entirety, from...
» Read moreWhile eight musicians are credited here, the music features guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards, and some vocals / harmonies / choirs, and one might suspect this to be a basic four or five piece...
» Read moreThe second publicly available song (the other being the rework of "Turn of the Century" from the Magna Carta tribute) from this duo is a benefit single for children orphaned from the...
» Read moreReleased in 1978 and 1980 respectively (though recorded earlier), when acoustic music was anything but in vogue, the first two Private Parts & Pieces collections set the tone for much...
» Read morePlenty of words have already been written on this outstanding Italian jazz-rock band in the pages of Exposé‚ so anyone wanting the historical background or a detailed synopsis...
» Read moreThis recording comprises two live shows from the premier "international PoPular group" of the 70s and 80s, Area, bringing us back in time to 1976 when such bands were loud (yet audible),...
» Read moreI never thought I'd see the day when Mick Pointer became a more prolific musician than his former Marillion mates. After dropping off the face of the earth for over a decade, Mick and Co. have...
» Read moreIt was about the time of ProgFest '94 when Arsnova's second album Transi made a big splash. Not just because this keyboard-heavy power trio was comprised of Japanese females, but...
» Read moreThe Goddess of Darkness is the third and latest release from this Japanese instrumental trio and is a solid follow-up to their last album, Transi. Although influenced by the likes...
» Read moreIn mostly minor modes, Ars Nova, Japan's all-female progressive band, delivers riff after riff of enjoyable, classic prog keyboard trio fare targeted at the not-so-faint-of-heart amateurs....
» Read moreI never thought "progressive rock" was a music of image, but Ars Nova have done a lot to change my mind about that. Anyway, what is it with the Japanese symphonic rock groups? Have you...
» Read moreWhen I first broke the seal on this disc and saw the booklet photos with people playing accordions, mandolins, and balalaikas, my curiosity was piqued, hoping for some kind of folk-rock ensemble or...
» Read moreIt's been too long since I've heard anything by Art Zoyd. They have continued down their unique path begun on L'Enfer, taking them in recent years to the macabre soundtracks of...
» Read moreFormed by ex-Trip drummer Furio Chirico, Arti e Mestieri was one of Italy's best jazz-rock / fusion bands (certainly equal to Perigeo and Area), and they launched their career with two classic...
» Read moreLindsay has been a fixture of the New York "No Wave" scene and beyond since the early 80s. His most notable projects have been as vocalist and guitarist for The Lounge Lizards...
» Read moreProbably the best question to ask at this point is: What relevance does Asia have within the context of a progressive rock journal? By now the question is largely rhetorical because the answer is...
» Read moreAton's is led by vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist Pietro Ratto, who is also the sole songwriter for the band. For the most part, the compositions are more interesting rhythmically than...
» Read moreThis new trio from the San Francisco Bay Area is a picturesque collage of styles ranging from mid-60s psychedelic music (e.g. early Pink Floyd), 50s surf style guitar playing (new words) but with a...
» Read moreKeyboardist / singer Attila Medveczky and guitarist / backing vocalist Dave Stevenson form the core of this band, with drummer / percussionist Rusty Aceves fortifying the group's rock dimension...
» Read moreOver the course of their two albums, Ave Rock displayed a heavier approach to progressive rock than their other Argentine counterparts. Organ and guitar dominate the instrumentation on the...
» Read moreEverybody should be on to this by now, one of the most impressive comebacks in psychedelic acid rock ever. Guru Guru's most cathartic and inventive guitarist released Psychedelic...
» Read moreHey, anyone in the mood for a cheery toe-tapping experience courtesy of the pleasantries of MIDI sequencers, drum machines, and other groovy techno devices? False alarm! You won't find it here....
» Read moreAs guitarist for the German psych / prog band Guru Guru, Ax Genrich combined crunchy power chords, woozy wah-wah effects, and groaning slide work. Fortunately for all of us, Genrich has not...
» Read moreThis is not music in the traditional sense. But don't let this refrain you from sampling a collection of sonic atmospheres exclusively made with acoustic instruments and most noticeably, South...
» Read moreIf you've ever had an interest in experimental and in some cases unique musical instruments, then this beautifully illustrated (with many full color photos) volume by Bart Hopkin, with a...
» Read moreBellaphon are a four-piece from Japan, consisting of the standard guitar / bass / keys / drums lineup. Their arrangements are heavy on the keyboards, with Camel-like guitar breaks providing the...
» Read moreCan an album be too diverse? Monkey Village opens with two minutes of beautiful ambient angelic voices, then kicks into the six minute title track, a funky pop tune in a very commercial...
» Read morePerhaps Progressive Rock Worldwide's first really strong release was this, the debut by keyboard-progsters Blezqi Zatsaz. Though consisting of the classic guitar / bass / keyboards / drums...
» Read moreBon Lozaga's latest moves further into the heavy guitar driven jazz realms, a place only hinted at on his previous, Full Circle. There's plenty of variety herein, from punchy rock...
» Read moreLots of guitar on this one, naturally. This is mainly a guitar album and to this effect, Bon Lozaga delves in gracefully, supported by fellows Hansford Rowe on bass, Vic Stevens on drums plus the...
» Read moreBon Lozaga is a talented guitarist related to the Gong axis tenuously through the Pierre Moerlen side. This is his new album, joined by guests like David Torn and other Moerlen's Gong...
» Read moreBondage Fruit has produced another disc of full-throttle over-the-top world-influenced zeuhl-rock with their own unique Japanese avant-garde twist. For anyone won over by last year's powerful...
» Read moreOut of the floating ambient textures that open the first track, a grisly mechanical metal monster arises, destroying everything within ear's reach; there is, of course no escape, until it...
» Read moreCan a band really improve exponentially? Cast proves that it may just be possible. I found it hard to believe that they could do much better than their last album, Endless Signs, but their...
» Read moreCast has released some of the more interesting neo-progressive music in the past few years. In many ways, Beyond Reality is similar to last year's Endless Sings. The strong...
» Read moreIf anything, Cast are at least one of the best when it comes to promoting and marketing their music. A hundred "progressive" bands could learn a lot from the way they do things as...
» Read moreCutler (drums, percussion, electronics) and Parkins (harp, melodica, electrification) are both seasoned veterans of the Recommended axis. This project contains two lengthy live improvisations that...
» Read moreOne thing this Italian band has going for it is the keyboardist's impressive array of analog instruments, which gets quite a lot of use over this, their debut album. In fact, it's the...
» Read moreA purely improvisational ensemble, Cloud Chamber features four musicians who have all made their mark on the new music scene as individuals: Barry Cleveland, on guitar and e-bow, has several...
» Read moreSomething I hear often regarding Curved Air is complaints about the band's lack of focus and the unevenness of many of their studio recordings. This may be due to the fact that the only...
» Read moreFrom Omaha, Nebraska, Darling is Hal Darling on drums, piano, keyboards, and sequencing, and sibling Bryce Darling on ancillary percussion and keyboards. No vocals, sorry! No guitars either, but...
» Read moreThe dreamlike textures and flowing moods offered on Between Green and Blue give this a slightly different feel than many of the SPM releases before it. There is a lot of territory explored...
» Read moreIf you had to summarize, you could call this book a critical appreciation of the albums and concerts of Van der Graaf Generator and Peter Hammill as seen through the eyes of a fan who calls himself...
» Read moreI guess at some point anyone even remotely connected with Genesis will come out of the woodwork to market their offerings. Case in point. David Thomas and Ronnie Gunn were two musicians who...
» Read moreIn 1973 longtime John Cage associate David Tudor recorded the two pieces on this album, which could best be described as ambient sonic experimentation. Low register audio outbursts of varying tone...
» Read moreDe Ros is a three-piece (guitar / bass / drums) South American group led by guitarist Marcos V. de Ros. Their all instrumental album is a blazing shredfest! If Ad Dei Gloriam was released...
» Read moreA group I've only had the chance to hear on one previous occasion (their Spleen and Ideal album), Dead Can Dance didn't take me by storm then. But I have always awaited a chance to...
» Read moreThis Southern California five-piece of veteran session players is led by guitarist Alex Deambrini. It was no surprise to learn, in their bio, that vocalist Jonn Ross has done studio work with Jon...
» Read moreDesequilíbrios is Fábio Ribeiro's other band. Unlike Blezqi Zatsaz, they sound less like...
» Read moreEvery Deus Ex Machina listener has a preferred song that is a wish to hear performed live. Diacronie Metronomiche sheds any doubts about the band using studio overdubs to make their full...
» Read moreMuch activity has been transpiring in Belgium as of late. First there was Univers Zero, Julverne and Present. There followed a whole slew of groups in the chamber/neo-classical/jazz-rock vein...
» Read moreThis neo-prog quartet clearly stand apart from the pack, forging bravely ahead as they do without a vocalist. Instrumentally, they have much in common with Marillion, IQ, even Pendragon, as well as...
» Read moreDogma are certainly given ample help on their sophomore release: strings, a choir, a flute player and four vocalists appear this time round. Don't let the vocalists scare you. Well, not too...
» Read moreKeyboardist Pat Sanders seems to be the main mover in Drifting Sun, a relatively new four-piece from the UK. This is their first release, a solid collection of nine rock tunes, mostly memorable and...
» Read moreQuite a grab bag of psychedelia, this. We covered Earcandy's first two releases (Space Is Just a Place and Time Is Just a State of Mind), both released on LP only,
It's hard to be a three-piece guitar, bass, and drums progressive rock band and not sound like Rush it seems. EAS has enough in common with them that comparisons are hard to avoid. The...
» Read moreSo one of the best American bands in ages has come and gone, rising unheard of from Philly and through the ranks of the Sony / Epic corporate record label, which sadly proved to be their last true...
» Read moreEclat is a French five-piece whose style lies somewhere between the symphonic stylings pioneered by bands like Ange and Mona Lisa and the folk-directed tendencies of bands like Minimum Vital. There...
» Read moreEgoband are a contemporary progressive outfit from Italy. Although their sound is generally generic hard prog, at times they throw in some surprises such as e-bowed guitar solos, Floydian drones,...
» Read moreTwo alumni from Iconoclasta (the drummer and guitarist) team up with ex-Chac Mool / Via Lactea keyboardist Carlos Perea and a bassist to record this CD of short instrumental prog rock tunes. If it...
» Read moreThese two albums are products of Seventh's developing interest in contemporary French jazz. The lineups on the recordings are similar; they share the same bassist, drummer, and two sax players,...
» Read moreA very rare Italian solo, Enzo Capuano's music cuts the line between Italian canzone (Battisti, early Storm Six and many more) and a symphonic soundtrack type of music. The vocal music is...
» Read moreThis Argentine band are best-known for their classic Crisálida, an album of complex guitar / synth prog in the Italian style a la Semiramis. The self-titled album was made several...
» Read moreYet another crazy band. Establishing their premises strongly in the RIO realm, Etron Fou Leloublan's crafters weave intricate lines putting forth saxes in the forefront while silly lyrics...
» Read moreThis Seattle area four-piece plays in a song oriented style, somewhere along the alternative-gothic-noise axis, the vocals typically heavily treated and guitars shimmering in an almost-psychedelic...
» Read moreStill spacey, ethereal and sublime, Finisterre are one of the most interesting of the new Italian groups, skirting the Marillion school that so many are fond of and embracing that refined subtlety...
» Read moreAfter a respectable first album, Finisterre returns with a solid follow-up. The band doesn't really have any weak links. All of the musicians are on about the same musical level, and their...
» Read moreFinisterre surprised us last year with their debut album. In Limine is an excellent follow-up. Compared to their first, we find here in most pieces more of an acoustic atmosphere. Time is...
» Read moreThe Italian scene has undergone a complete renaissance in the last five to six years. With bands like Deus Ex Machina, Aria Palea, Finisterre, Spirosfera, Sithonia, and Abiogenesi leading the way,...
» Read moreThis writer was completely unfamiliar with Fourth Estate prior to their performance on day one of Progscape II, but apparently they've been around a while — certainly long enough to...
» Read moreAt long last, Zappa's late 70s quadruple-album masterpiece has received a well-deserved official release. When Warner Bros. rejected Zappa's attempt to fulfill his remaining contract...
» Read moreI was initially a bit surprised when I saw that this band was from Cuba, not a country known for its prog rock. I was immediately won over, though, once I heard what they could put down. What Free...
» Read moreThe second album from this Louisville, KY band, After a Lengthy Silence, was originally recorded in 1987, and has now finally been re-released on CD. French TV play a somewhat eclectic...
» Read moreFrom the opening track, a maelstrom of Hendrix-like feedback mixed with chunky blasts of power rock, it's obvious that White's latest release will be a guitarist's guitar album. Joining...
» Read moreDownes of course was a one-time member of Yes; in the absence of Wakeman and Moraz he took over the keyboard duties on their Drama album while former Buggles associate Trevor Horn did his...
» Read moreThe second solo album by this veteran of Yes and Asia comes pretty much in two distinct halves: a pop song half and a more inspired set of short vignettes that hint at the simpler strains of Mike...
» Read moreBringas is a Mexican multi-instrumentalist operating along the experimental / jazz / new world music axis. El Salto is the latest of several albums, and is a solo project in the truest...
» Read moreWorking around the familiar theme of the Roman Catholic Mass, Italian composer Giusto Pio has created a splendid and meticulously crafted work featuring a large choir, flutes and other woodwinds,...
» Read moreMy immediate snap-judgment upon first listening to this was "Yes-clone." This was mainly based upon hearing vocalist Renato Jardim, who is unapologetically influenced by Jon Anderson....
» Read moreLégendes is Hecenia’s first album, recorded in 1989, released in 1990, and now reissued on CD. If you’ve only heard Hecenia’s second release, La Couleur du...
» Read moreHoly River Family Band is apparently an offshoot of the Swedish psych band The Spacious Mind, a three-piece lineup playing guitars, zaz, oud, surna, violin, bass, organ, synths, hurdy-gurdy,...
» Read moreIlous & Decuyper occupy an interesting niche in French rock, one that doesn't relate much to what is even vaguely referred to as progressive or symphonic rock. Yet this album is certainly...
» Read moreThis writer's first exposure to this Baltimore area five-piece was a couple years ago via a pirate tape of their performance at Progscape #1 ('94), the second was their live performance at...
» Read moreWhat, no "Material Girl?" I remember hearing of this supposed IQ live CD+Video compilation about two and a half years ago when IQ played in San Jose. Three years after the actual...
» Read moreVerner is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and engineer who is no newcomer to the scene: his first release was Clear Colors, released in 1988, and he has been involved in numerous...
» Read moreAn interesting and somewhat haunting musical expedition, Lee performs the six instrumental compositions here on programmed synths and sequencers using a variety of instrument voices. It took a...
» Read moreThe sole album from this Italian outfit dates back to 1972. The band is a four-piece consisting of guitar, keys, bass, and drums. While there are certain clearly Italian melodies and harmonic...
» Read moreNew names from Spain are something to look forward to, and Javier Paxariño is one of them. What began as a work in the vein of Jorge Reyes turned out as something that would be at home on a...
» Read moreThis is Chevalier's tribute to the extraordinairy bassist Jaco Pastorius. As expected we find here a music that gives ample room to horns. The trumpet is introducing and playing melodies,...
» Read moreMusea's very first release has finally received the digital treatment. Boffo was the bassist / guitarist of the early eighties Zeuhl band Troll, who despite their good reputation left no...
» Read moreLucky is a Canadian writer and music historian with a background in radio, and an observer of the progressive scene at large. In this ambitious revised and expanded third edition, he attempts to...
» Read moreMysterious Motions is synthesist / composer Flomer's debut for Spotted Peccary. As 'Primal Cinema' and the title might suggest, the music here has a strong cinematic character,...
» Read moreTolonen is a Finnish guitarist who spent the early 70s toiling with the progressive band Tasavallan Presidenti. After leaving that band, he put out a series of obscure but very worthwhile solo...
» Read moreThe British publication Krautrocksampler is here in its second edition. Running to 143 pages, it sports a few photos, and comes trimmed with sundry color reproductions of record covers...
» Read moreThis was reviewed before, in issue #7. I'll admit to being not terribly impressed with this album upon first listen. But after several plays, the music got to me, and now I can't get enough...
» Read moreIn 1992 Kevin Leonard, North Star's keyboardist, released a self-produced solo cassette of eight jazz influenced progressive instrumental compositions. Now he has released this same music on...
» Read moreWhat more can be said about King Crimson that hasn't already been said? Not much that I can think of. They have continued to define and redefine the parameters of Progressive Rock (at least in...
» Read moreHave the Excedrin bottle handy for this one. Actually it's not that bad, and in fact starts to reveal itself after a few listens as being pretty innovative and unique. But the shouted punky...
» Read moreMost of this album has me wondering why I'm reviewing it in a progressive rock publication at all. "Mexican jazz-funk" is the closest description that I can come to for the bulk of...
» Read moreSTPO stands for "La Société des Timides à la Parade des Oiseaux". Okay... I think that means "the shy people's society at the parade of the birds." This...
» Read moreBefore Änglagård and Anekdoten were household prog names, Landberk was paving the way for the new breed of Swedish progressive rock bands. It's strange in a way because Landberk...
» Read moreLandberk makes me sleepy. Now before this is taken as criticism, remember that sleep is a good thing at the right time, which is as good an analogy as I can get to their music. This is essentially...
» Read moreLandberk's third album is basically what you'd expect from this Swedish outfit: every bit as melancholy and organic as their first two releases. Mellotrons weave in and out of clean guitar...
» Read moreMove over Annie Haslam. Legend is a British Pagan prog-rock band, fronted by the amazing voice of Debbie Chapman. In fact this writer heard their first record Light in Extension about five...
» Read moreWhen they give out the awards for the weirdest band names, Lemur Voice will surely be at the front of the line, right up there with Public Foot the Roman. Names aside, if anyone longs for the kind...
» Read moreThis instrumental four-piece of dual guitars, bass, and drums features two ex-Borbetomagus members and occupies an area of the sonic spectrum shared with bands like Material and Praxis, a grinding...
» Read moreItalian rock from '79 to the mid 80s was very different from the classic 70s period ('72 to '78.) Gone for the most part were the symphonic song structures, heavy romanticism and rich...
» Read moreThe ability to surprise is one thing that makes music interesting. Livit apparently knows this, and uses it to their advantage of their 1996 album Unspoken. No style used on this album...
» Read moreThis project featuring Canadians Jean Derome (keys, flute, saxes, electronics), and René Lussier (guitars, percussion) along with drummer Chris Cutler, veteran of Henry Cow and countless...
» Read moreWith the exception of a few guest guitar spots and several samples from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom sound effect library, all of the music on Witchwood is played by...
» Read morePrior to the release of this, the earliest Magma shows that could be found on the tape collector circuit were mostly from the 1973-74 period (although a partial show from Metz in 3/72 exists). So...
» Read moreNot completely certain if this is essentially a solo project with some additional musicians helping, or if Magnesis is indeed a band. There are two albums that pre-date this one, neither of which...
» Read moreThis album has some great song titles: "Dedicated Dopamines Dance," "Requiem for the Human Beast," "Sinister Morning." Excellent! Also of intrigue is that one track,...
» Read moreFor their fourth album, Mastermind has carefully balanced all of their best tendencies within eight tracks of varying length, offering an album that captures the spirit of late-60s/early-70s rock...
» Read moreMastermind's fourth offering lies somewhere between melodic rock, hard rock, and progressive rock. Guitarist / songwriter Bill Berends plays and writes in a style reminiscent of people like...
» Read moreMastermind's calling card is the extraordinary talent of frontman Bill Berends, who composes the material and provides much of the sound, with his midi guitar and traditional guitar leads....
» Read moreFactor of Four is the second release from this all-instrumental quartet. Their music is a mix of somewhat rhythmically intricate symphonic elements with an occasional contemporary fusion...
» Read moreBack in the late 60s, I used to imagine music like this, but nobody was making it then; Ummagumma was the first album that really came close. Meltin Euphoria's sound could best be...
» Read moreMickey Simmonds' debut as a solo artist presents a well-traveled craftsman in do-it-yourself mode. I'm not certain if this is due in part to his inability to supply material for a group...
» Read moreThis is the second release for Texas based percussionist / keyboardist Mike Myers. The eleven tracks on Myriad cover a wide range of styles from jazz-rock to progressive to pop to more...
» Read moremoe. (the lower-case "m" and the period are not typos) has been gigging around the east coast for the past five years, cultivating a loyal following with their dynamic live performances...
» Read moreGenesis and Van der Graaf Generator were very popular in Italy in the mid-70s. While nowadays you can't sell out a 1,000 seater at Progfest in the USA, bands such as these were hot sellers in...
» Read moreWhat will Crovella come up with next? An album of small symphonic rock tracks all approximately two minutes or less with a plethora of titles that often seem longer than the music themselves....
» Read moreStraddling the line between mainstream rock and a more progressive angle, this excellent six-piece from Lorraine, Quebec covers an area that is covered often but rarely done so well. This is not...
» Read moreFinally! Most of the missing links between the last Hatfield and the North (1975) and the first National Health (1977) albums make their way into the light of day. Several copies of these sessions...
» Read moreNormally, Exposé reserves roundtable reviews for new releases by current artists, but an exception has been made in this case — a CD of "lost" recordings by the...
» Read moreAfter 20 or so years in the vault, many unreleased National Health treasures finally see the light of day. National Health ranks up there among the most important progressive rock bands of all...
» Read moreNecro- [<Gr. nekros, a dead body] a combining form meaning death, corpse.
Get it? Well, before one writes these guys off as another worthless death...
» Read moreSome may remember Network from their album Corroded Paths released about three years ago. Members of the band (a five-piece from the UK) all seem to be involved in numerous projects,...
» Read moreNew Sun is a heavily Crimson-influenced band with two lead effects-based guitars and a solid rhythm section. DL Erickson holds down the rhythm patterns and also takes a few solos in the vein of the...
» Read moreI suppose the music on these two remix CDs by No-Man could be categorized as loosely flirting with the techno / trance / ambient realm of things, but since the exceptions far outweigh the rule, it...
» Read moreWhat do you get when you combine five highly original and multi-talented musicians with a veritable endless supply of musical instruments? Man, I'd hate to be a roadie for these guys, you'd...
» Read moreThis is a well-known symphonic-prog album from late-70s Argentina. I am personally of the opinion that its reputation is rather over-inflated: no album with a song as annoyingly commercial as the...
» Read moreListening to this new Quebecois quintet's début album is like stepping into a time-warp and going back to 1972 Germany. Though it is certainly a new release, it is convincingly 70s...
» Read moreI thought this niche of the symphonic rock genre was long dead, but I'm very glad it isn't. Pangée of Quebec, Canada is strongly in the 70s French symphonic vein with heavy nods in...
» Read moreThere's been a buzz about this album since early this spring, indeed it was highly touted by all who had heard it, which made this writer both curious and a little suspicious — knowing...
» Read morePatrick Gauthier's third solo offering reveals, past the "soul" opening piece, a rich blend of keyboards and vocals, hovering mostly in between mysterious and clear atmospheres, with...
» Read moreOn their latest release, Signify, Porcupine Tree continues to consolidate and refine the approach used on their previous release, The Sky Moves Sideways. While Sky was...
» Read moreThe saga of PFM is one of the most interesting and revealing of all of the "progressive" symphonic rock greats. With PFM you see the birth of the Italian classical rock scene, you see a...
» Read moreFor their second album, this Italian group has expanded on its dramatic, heavy-metal-meets-neoprog sound. A quartet of guitars, keys, vocals, and drums, their music flirts with a quasi-operatic...
» Read moreGiuseppe Verdi, 1813-1901. Not exactly a household name among proggers, but his operas rank among some of the best of the 19th century: La Traviata, Aida, Don Carlo,...
» Read moreWhat a treat this was — to hear a live recording by the enigmatic Present. Led by Roger Trigaux, this band has unfortunately dwelt in the shadow of his alma mater, Univers Zero. With only...
» Read moreOn again, off again, and on again, this mini-tour eventually did occur (with 5uu's David Kerman subbing for the rumored Daniel Denis) and is captured on this fine release. Along with...
» Read morePresent is back in black. When we last heard from this Belgian band — 1995's studio reformation disc COD Performance, the lineup consisted only of Roger Trigaux and his son...
» Read moreQuarkspace was one of six bands who performed at Eclectic Electric Event in Louisville this year, a four-piece from Ohio, with guests. Their sound is based around a loosely structured and rhythmic...
» Read moreI love almost any album that starts with heavy organ... almost. To be a bit more objective, this self-titled album by the symphonic Polish band Quidam is like a lot of other bands: less derivative...
» Read moreAh Krakatau's first album, another interesting choice by Steve Feigenbaum for reissue. Krakatau has resided in ECM's stable since their third album, and all are worth checking out. Raoul...
» Read moreWhat do you get when you combine two one-man bands? Why, Rascal Reporters of course. Steve Gore and Steve Kretzmer are the men responsible for the music of this highly idiosyncratic American group....
» Read moreRay is Ray Roehner on vocals, acoustic guitars, flute, and pennywhistle, John Berg on acoustic and electric guitars, and three other musicians on keys, bass, and percussion, with guests providing...
» Read moreRedjy Emond is a keyboard player from Quebec. He is a newcomer on the prog rock scene and while the pieces found on this CD constitute his very first offering, he nevertheless culminates many years...
» Read moreThis is one of those albums that contains a one man rock band mostly controlled by synthesizers. I'm not too fond of the robotic tendencies of this way of going at it, yet Redjy is a more...
» Read moreSphere is a complete one-man show by a keyboardist whose primary style is drawn from a very watered down Emerson (e.g. Keith on the last ELP: injured and should have waited) or Yanni on...
» Read moreA lost relic from the early zeuhl period, Rhesus O was a band formed by keyboardist Jean-Pol Asseline and drummer Thierry Blanchard in 1971, along with five other musicians — among them Magma...
» Read moreZappa is a composer and guitarist who released a string of about nine mostly instrumental albums between 1977 and 1990. Celestion was the first, and is also the first to get the digital...
» Read moreWith four releases under his belt, Richard Bone has touched on a variety of different musical avenues, of which The Eternal Now is his nod to the New Age / ambient realm. While I'm...
» Read moreIf his name is a mite familiar, perhaps it should be. Biddulph is a multi-instrumentalist who had been a roadie and sound engineer for several Canterbury bands (Hatfield among them) before joining...
» Read moreI knew Rick Wakeman had a great sense of humor, but I didn't know he was this funny! Told with a true gift for storytelling, Say Yes! should have all but the most hardened...
» Read moreIt's amazing how Musea continually releases an endless string of masterpieces; not just old classics, but new releases such as this one as well. This album's style fits squarely in the...
» Read moreMy initial reaction to the new Rush album: "It's bogus." After making this statement, people claimed that it wasn't informative enough, so I sat back and rethought just what I...
» Read moreAfter a couple times through in loop mode this collection of noisettes and electonic musical thoughts got to be pretty addicting. One sort of gets used to the low-budget sound quality and the...
» Read moreThis hitherto unknown five-piece from Japan features violinist Junko Minobe, ex- of Cinderella Search, and is fronted by vocalist Yoko Tuchiya. The remainder of the band features piano, bass and...
» Read moreFinally, this reissue has arrived. Rumors of Musea releasing this French symphonic masterpiece can be traced back to as early as 1992. When Shylock's first, Giarlogues, was reissued a...
» Read moreAfter an initial listen did little to impress, it got tossed on the loser pile to collect dust for some three months or so. By chance, a second listen revealed that there was a lot more to it than...
» Read moreSmashpalace is a four-piece of guitars, bass, and drums, with a dedicated singer, hailing from Racine, Wisconsin. Their style is accessible, featuring savvy compositions, a punchy guitar driven...
» Read moreThe material on Spaced was originally recorded in 1969 (circa Third) for a special choreographed multi-media one-week event of the same name at the London Roundhouse. Although the...
» Read moreSoh Band is a Japanese quintet who play the familiar variety of eclectic fusion native to their country. With a sound at times not unlike fellow countrymen Il Berlione, they mix a bit of...
» Read moreFor anyone that was completely blown away by this band's performance at Progfest in November '95 (everyone in the house, from what this writer could ascertain), this two disc set is nothing...
» Read moreAt long last, The Gong label has stepped forward and re-released Solaris' The Martian Chronicles and 1990. While both these titles have been previously available on CD, both...
» Read moreWhen the band reformed to record "O Guarani" for use as a bonus track for the Snegs reissue, who would have thought a live tour of Brazil would have been the result? Those...
» Read moreThis three-man band is apparently well-remembered in their native Brazil. One look at the line-up will have the average listener thinking "ELP-clone" before the CD even starts playing,...
» Read moreFans of Mellotron and heavy Hammond take note. Somnambulist is a four-piece from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who are solidly powered by these two instruments, as well as synths, guitars, and a heavy...
» Read moreThis EP is a bit of enigmatic release, coming with no band or lineup information at all. The disc contains three songs, totaling 23 minutes. The music on the first two tracks features a driving,...
» Read moreI am bummed that my dislike of Nik Turner caused me to miss these guys. The master of Space Violin, ex-Hawkwind player Simon House brought his band, Spiral Realms, to the Great American Music Hall....
» Read moreFunk bass lines, analog synth lines, weird effects, and campy horror movies, no one knows how to mix them like Goblin. The soundtrack of Solamente Nero finally released (like I knew it all...
» Read moreStern Meissen (originally Stern-Combo Meissen) are universally acclaimed as East Germany's greatest progressive rock band. Not wishing to wait for Amiga to reissue their albums, the band took...
» Read moreWith its male / female harmony vocals, short, somewhat catchy tunes, and a folky flavor at times, Heavy Construction is reminiscent perhaps of a Richard and Linda Thompson album. That is...
» Read moreImagine heavy-duty three-piece power funk with an Italian version of David Clayton Thomas (Blood Sweat & Tears) at the microphone, all placed in a progressive-hard-rock context. Add some police...
» Read moreThis German band makes prog-metal with a difference. For one thing, you can actually hear the keyboards! Not only that, but the keyboards also get some decent solo space, rare in music like this....
» Read moreOne of the few bands from Brasilia, Brazil's capital, Tellah recorded one legendary album in 1980, then disappeared. A three-piece band of guitar, bass, and drums, two members of whom also play...
» Read moreCertainly an argument for "truth in advertising," Terreno Baldio released their first, self-titled album in 1976. In spite of the use of the same artwork as the LP, this is not the same...
» Read moreWe're in heavy techno country here — intensely rhythmic, and like the Ozrics, EGT use real drums to augment the electronic based dance-beats, as well as additional percussive elements...
» Read moreThe latest release from Roine Stolt and Co., Retropolis, is a natural follow-up to last year's Back in the World of Adventures. The variety dominating that album is present...
» Read moreFor starters, Retropolis is a commercial progressive album. It's definitively got wide-audience appeal. We find here a balanced mix of vocal (with a tone reminiscent of John...
» Read moreThe early 80s were a musical dance phenomena as well as a signpost for radical changes in the echelons of music taste and fashion. The times dictated 'in with 4/4 rhythms, out with the extended...
» Read moreThe Moor's first album, Every Pixie Sells a Story (reviewed in #9), set the stage...
» Read moreThis newly re-released version of <185> is an excellent document of the final recordings by this talented Washington, DC quartet. First, a little history: Fred Frith produced the...
» Read moreThe Surgery is a trio of guitars, bass and drums, with guitarist Toshi Horisawa providing the predominantly English lead vocals, as well as some synths and programming. The album opens with a...
» Read moreThis disc is essentially a two person project between Doane Perry (Jethro Tull's long time drummer) and Vince DiCola (LA virtuoso keyboardist and arranger). It evolved into a three piece with...
» Read moreThese are times of plenty for Yes fans. The band is coming out with a plethora of new releases and solo projects, as well as gearing up for some major touring in 1997. On top of this, two new...
» Read moreWhen I first saw this disc, I was a bit amused. On the cover of this independent release is a cheesy-looking picture of a ghost woman descending over lavender seating on to a stage inside a...
» Read moreIf the balance of the album were as smokin' hot as the seven-minute instrumental "Animae" that opens it, this might be one of the best releases on the PRW label; sadly, that's not...
» Read moreOften unjustly dismissed as "Rick van der Linden's post-Ekseption band" or "Ian Mosley's pre-Marillion band," Trace certainly deserve to be remembered for what they...
» Read moreTrance Mission is not your standard exotic world beat group. What I mean is that they don't just incorporate a compelling mix of exotic instruments: they exploit them. A short personnel...
» Read moreIf I'd had the chance to hear it last year, this would have been among my top 10 of '95. The six men that make up Trem do Futuro have a wonderous gift for melody and arrangement that any...
» Read moreLong before the British domination of all things progressive, progress was being made in the post-San Francisco underground scene in many US cities, among them Boston. The fact that producer Alan...
» Read moreAccording to the liner notes, this British six-piece ‘progressive’ band originally pressed only a few hundred copies of this, their only album. Aside from the two lame hard-rock numbers...
» Read moreHere is a group that, like The Rascal Reporters, consists of two musicians who between them play about a billion instruments. Musically however we are talking about an entirely different ball game....
» Read morePerhaps that is true, but I can't say I found it anywhere here; neither of the old variety nor the new. Four names appear on this compilation, none of which I know: Urban Ambience, Emile...
» Read moreAdd this to the alarmingly long list of tribute albums that have cropped up so fashionably over the last year or so. If you've paid any attention to the tide of tributes, you'll find a...
» Read moreThe Residents were, and still are, a band that is truly one of a kind. They were experimenting with sound fragments and executing twisted parodies of countless musical styles as far back as 1973,...
» Read moreYup. A full album of rock keyboard gods performing straight ahead (almost) classical pieces on piano, totally solo, sink or swim. Indeed this is proof positive that the likes of Emerson, Wakeman,...
» Read moreWho woulda thought... I mean, for a semi-major label to release this five disc celebration of Progressive Rock's early history and heyday is something that I would have given about the same...
» Read moreThis was the last Progressive Rock Worldwide release to appear in LP format, and as of yet has not been reissued on CD. Unlike the
For their long-anticipated second album, the band took what may appear to some as a step backward, not forward, with the addition of Hammond B3 organ to the keyboard arsenal (and it gets a...
» Read moreVietgrove is the British duo of Norman Fay (synths, programming, and 12 string guitar) and Mark Bailey (electric guitar), with guest guitarist LJ Callaghan on a couple tracks. Their sound is a...
» Read moreVolare are a five piece from Athens, Georgia, featuring multi-keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, bass+sax, cello+ocarina, and drums. Prior to their performance at Louisville's Eclectic...
» Read moreIt's unclear from the booklet notes what actually constitutes the band proper, but it seems to be centered around two brothers François and Philippe Claerhout, on keyboard programming...
» Read moreThis five-piece from Massachusetts might be familiar to some who saw them open for Gong on their recent swing through New England. At the center of their sound are the soulful vocals of Lizzette...
» Read moreYes fans arrived from the furthest corners of the U.S. and on the night of March 5 this formation of Yes hit the stage for the first time in 17 years. Over three nights the band performed a set of...
» Read moreAfter a 38-second ambient intro that slowly morphs into feedback, North Carolina guitarist Yontz Sucre launches into the first of several smokin' guitar instrumentals that grace this, his debut...
» Read moreI would assume that this eponymously titled release is the debut effort from this Hungarian quartet. The music on these seven tracks ranges in style from symphonic to Celtic-folk, featuring female...
» Read moreYun is essentially Korean multi-instrumentalist Jo Yun on guitars, keyboards, and percussion, with a male and female vocalist, and bassist Hyoung-Suk Kang. While other 'progressive'...
» Read more
2021-04-01
New Aristocrats Live Album on the Way –
No foolin'! These supreme musicians toured Europe early in 2020, just before touring ceased to be a thing musicians could do, and there were some hot performances captured. On May 7, some of these will be releases as Freeze! Live in Europe 2020. »
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2021-03-25
Return of Jerry Lucky's Progressive Rock Files –
After much consideration and surprisingly, positive feedback, Jerry Lucky is announcing the launch of the progressive Rock Files podcast, featuring the latest progressive rock music from around the world. »
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2021-03-14
Jewlia Eisenberg RIP –
The sad news has come out that Jewlia Eisenberg has died. As a founding member of Charming Hostess, Eisenberg changed the face of music, bringing together Balkan klezmer, American folk, and experimental rock in a distinctive blend that garnered much praise. »
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2021-03-11
RIP Roger Trigaux –
The sad news has come to our attention that Roger Trigaux, the guiding force of Present and former member of Univers Zero, passed away on the evening of March 10, 2021 after a long ilness. »
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2021-02-14
SoundQuest Fest 2021 –
SoundQuest Fest, first experienced as a live festival in Tucson Arizona in 2010 was created by ambient music pioneer Steve Roach. This 2021 event will unite a worldwide gathering of artists and audience members together for a 3-day online event unique in the realm of ambient music. From March 26-28th a continuous flow of streamed performances, audio-video wonder worlds and deep immersion zones will burn bright on Roach’s YouTube channel. »
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Agitation Free - Fragments – [Musique Intemporelle edition from 1995] Agitation Free are one of Germany's finest space rock groups, an outfit that launched the careers of many respected musicians like Michael Hoenig, Lutz... (1996) » Read more
Lüüp - Distress Signal Code – I did not know what to expect from this release. The cover is a photo of a Chaplinesque clown balancing on a stack of chairs. But the music is anything but comical. What we have is a collection of... (2011) » Read more
Barry Cleveland - Volcano – For this outing, San Francisco Bay Area guitarist Barry Cleveland has enlisted a troop of comrades in his effort to bridge the gulf between western musical idioms and those beyond these shores. Though... (2005) » Read more
10cc - King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents 10cc in Concert – The King Biscuit archives are vast commodity of lost recordings of live bands in action, as they were: warts and all. One of the many missing chronicles in live music history is the early period of... (1997) » Read more
Project Lo - Black Canvas – Project Lo is essentially Bon Lozaga’s unit for more introspective work. While the material on Black Canvas is composed, it seems to be a lot more open to the creative impulses of all the... (1998) » Read more