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Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

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Available online from Issue 2

Aelian - The Watcher

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This is one of Musea's new releases, a label which for many years I considered infallible, but in the last few years they have occasionally proven me wrong with releases like Fancy Fluid's...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Agitation Free - Malesch

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Agitation Free was a most unique German band in the early seventies, in that their sound was heavily influenced by Turkish and Arabic themes, although never more so than on this, their first, from...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Ain Soph - A Story of Mysterious Forest

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Breathtaking instrumental progressive from Japan. From the really short, Mahavishnu-type fusion rifferama of "Crossfire" which opens the album, you know you're in for an enjoyable...

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(Posted by Mike Ohman 1994-02-01)

Alpes - Patrice Moullet - Rock sous la Dalle

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Haven't heard much from Patrice Moullet since he and singer Catherine Ribeiro fronted Alpes, the premier French underground band, in the late 60s and early 70s. Yet apparently he's been...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Amon Düül II - Surrounded by the Bars

Cover art Actually, this is not a true reissue, in that these remixed versions of the band's better songs from their classic early seventies period have never appeared together on a compilation before....  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Ancient Future - Asian Fusion

Cover art Around 1980, Ancient Future released two excellent albums of acoustic world-music, the second of which (Natural Rhythms) remains a landmark of the genre, with its surreal eccentricity and...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Anekdoten - Vemod

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Anekdoten is a new four piece from Sweden. This album was recorded early this year, and from what I've heard, they have been highly revered by, among others, their countrymen...

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(Posted by Rob Walker 1994-02-01)

Anthony R. Flynn - Angel's Breath

Cover art What first struck me as sort of a Spanish flavored acoustic guitar based fusion album in the mold of some of Al DiMeola's adventures or Strunz & Farah began to change midway through the album....  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Apoteosi - Apoteosi

Cover art The Mellow label, run by Mauro Moroni, has probably released more discs in the last year and a half than Musea, Kinetic, Cuneiform and Syn-phonic put together. Dedicated to re-issuing long-lost...  » Read more
(Posted by Mike Borella 1994-02-01)

Aquelarre - Brumas

Cover art South American reissues usually happen without too much fanfare, and such is the case with this, one of several albums by the 70s Argentinian band Aquelarre - yet this is one that definitely should...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Ars Nova - Fear and Anxiety

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Here is one of those albums that I hate at one listen, and love at the next. Ars Nova is a Japanese instrumental trio of mega-keyboards, bass, and drums, playing pretty much in the tired old...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Arti e Mestieri - Tilt & Giro di Valzer per Domani

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Much ink has been spilled about the drumming of Furio Chirico and for good reason: the guy is phenomenal. He is all over the place using all available musical space yet is never bombastic or...

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(Posted by Mike Taylor 1994-02-01)

Asgard - Imago Mundi

Cover art This, Asgard's fourth album, covers plenty of new territory, recaptures some of the lost ground from their original sound, and offers a quite a bit more accessibility - while maintaining a generally...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Atavism of Twilight - Atavism of Twilight

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[reviewing advance cassette - ed.]

Known best for opening at Djam Karet's most recent show, this is yet another band from the Los Angeles area making progressive music. An instrumental...

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(Posted by Mike Borella 1994-02-01)

Bubu - Anabelas

Cover art This is an excellent album, featuring mature composition, great group playing, and a very nice sense of dynamics and texture. There is an intensity to this music which is controlled beautifully over...  » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1994-02-01)

Carmen - Fandangos in Space & Dancing on a Cold Wind

Cover art Do you like Jethro Tull? Curved Air? Flamenco dancing? Did you ever wish for a combination of the three? Your wish has come true, and its name is Carmen! And if you don't think they could pull off...  » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1994-02-01)

Chainsaw Jazz - DisConcerto

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Using guitars, bass, synthesizer, violin, reeds and drums, this five-piece creates an extremely potent jazz rock with roots in the NY downtown free-jazz sound, the Canterbury scene, and perhaps the...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Coco Roussel - Reaching Beyond

Cover art Roussel may be best known as the drummer for Happy the Man in their final phase, and the work he did with Kit Watkins on some of his first solo projects. This is his first album since Kit & Coco's...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Covenant - Nature's Divine Reflection

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It seems that the one-man band is making a comeback in the American mid-west. Whether this is a positive happening or not, I will leave to the individual listener. Covenant consists solely of one...

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(Posted by Mike Borella 1994-02-01)

Crack - Si Todo Hiciera Crack

Cover art While in countries like England, Italy and the United States, the outlook for progressive rock by the late seventies was practically at its bleakest; Spain's scene was at its most prolific stage. ...  » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1994-02-01)

Cul de Sac - Ecim

Cover art This four-piece from Massachusetts offers a free-wheeling neo-psychedelic sound that finds itself at home somewhere between current bands bands like Porcupine Tree, and the experimental music of...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Deus Ex Machina - Deus Ex Machina

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Stylistically, Deus Ex Machina is very unique and not without their share of quirkiness and idiosyncracies. Some moments remind me of a heavier Gentle Giant, others make me think of both...

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(Posted by Dan Casey 1994-02-01)

Discipline - Push & Profit

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Discipline are a young five-piece band from Detroit, Michigan, whose instrumentation includes the usual bass / drums / keys / guitars with the fifth and front man doing vocals/violin/keys/guitar....

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(Posted by Dan Casey 1994-02-01)

Dzyan - Time Machine & Electric Silence

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Sometime during the cosmic period of German rock, when bands like Ash Ra Tempel, Amon Düül and Tangerine Dream flourished, there was Dzyan — who were busy forging their own cosmic...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Episode - Starlight Tales

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I've been listening to Episode for quite a while and patiently awaiting this disc. They live in the Bay Area, so I see them around at shows, and have been asking them for the last year and a...

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(Posted by Mike Borella 1994-02-01)

Ergo Sum - Mexico

Cover art Ergo Sum was an early French progressive band, a six-piece featuring flute and violin, as well as the standard guitars, bass, drums and keyboards, plus a vocalist (Lionel Ledissez) who sounds...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Golgotha - Symphony in Extremis

Cover art Once a full band, by the first release - Unmaker of Worlds (1990), Golgotha had already scaled down to being the singlehanded project of one Karl Foster. That release, with its four lengthy...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Haze - In the End: 1978 - 1988

Cover art In the End: 1978-1988 is a compilation of various tracks that chronicle the 10 year existence of one the more undeservedly obscure UK progressive bands. In their early days, the band...  » Read more
(Posted by Bob Netherton 1994-02-01)

Hinn Íslenzki Þursaflokkur - Þursabit

Cover art This band hails from Iceland, and to get a hint at their sound you might think of a Scandinavian Gryphon mixed with a large dose of Gentle Giant. This was their second album, released in 1979. Hinn...  » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1994-02-01)

III Milenio - Aliança dos Tempos

Cover art Here's an example of where vocals can be quite innovative and then subsequently make you wince. The album is obviously a concept album and in the vein of Ange, the vocals are theatrical often being...  » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1994-02-01)

IQ - Ever

Cover art After two almost-completely duff studio albums and a long hiatus, it's good to see that the leading purveyors of the neo-Genesis sound are again living up to their good reputation. What does that...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Jade Warrior - Distant Echoes

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For the uninitiated, Jade Warrior's recorded history began around 1970 as a three-piece, integrating east Asian themes, introspective jazz-rock ideas, some elements of folk, and a lot more into...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Jean-Philippe Goude - De Anima

Cover art Jean-Philippe Goude may be best remembered for his tenure with Richard Pinhas and Heldon, as a one time member of Weidorje, or for his excellent electronic oriented solo album Drones from the...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Kehell - Arrow of Time

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I first heard of Kehell on the Made in Japan label's "Jazz-Rock Sampler" from 1989, which was graced by the track "Triton" – among the album's best. Four Japanese...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Klaus Schulze - Silver Edition

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Silver Edition is a limited edition of 2000 boxed sets of 10 CDs sold on a subscription basis with the unsold sets finding their way to the mail order houses like Eurock and Ultima Thule at a much...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 1994-02-01)

Matter - Matter

Cover art If you like quirky psychedelic guitar-rock drenched with Mellotron, read on... Matter is pretty much the two man project of Joe Albarran (Chapman Stick, bass, Mellotron and guitar) and Mike Madden...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Mezquita - Recuerdos de mi Tierra

Cover art Spain's late 70s "progressive rock" scene was flowing in the abundance of new and creative talent and this short lived band was practically at the zenith of this genre's adherents. A heavily folk...  » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1994-02-01)

Network - Corroded Path

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This five-piece fusion outfit hails from the British Isles, led by guitarist Tim Crowther and drummer Steve Clarke. The band is rounded out by Ted Emmett (trumpet), Pete Jacobsen (keys) and...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Noetra - Neuf Songes

Cover art This is fabulous, very intricate and occasionally dark, somewhat Canterburyish kind of stuff. The pieces are mellow and rolling as well as intense and energetic, the writing is excellent,...  » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1994-02-01)

Ozric Tentacles - Vitamin Enhanced

Cover art This six-CD set contains the early works of the band from the years 1984-89, heretofore only available on six cassettes that together cost more than this boxed set. For those not yet familiar with the...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Patrick Gauthier - Sur les Flots Verticaux

Cover art It's been a while since we've heard from Patrick Gauthier (ex-Heldon, Weidorje, Magma) in a solo capacity, maybe ten years or more since he cut his now-legendary Bébé Godzilla....  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Progres 2 - Tretí Kniha Džunglí - Third Jungle Book

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This was originally a double album released in 1981, and on CD it clocks in at a few seconds shy of 80 minutes! From Czechoslovakia, Progres 2 is at times symphonic, at times more electronic, at...

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(Posted by Rob Walker 1994-02-01)

Quaterna Réquiem - Velha Gravura

Cover art What am I listening to, an unreleased Iconoclasta classic? A previously unknown Italian masterpiece? Darryl Way guesting with Quantum? None of the above. It is Velha Gravura from Quanterna...  » Read more
(Posted by Bob Netherton 1994-02-01)

Roots of Consciousness - Roots of Consciousness

Cover art These guys inhabit that area of progressive rock that tends to make me cringe. Influences? Rush, Marillion, maybe even Be Bop Deluxe. This type ofmusic is more in an "art rock" vein - very vocal...  » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1994-02-01)

Schicke Führs Fröhling (SFF) - The Collected Works of Schicke Führs Fröhling

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During their brief yet productive career from 1976 to 1978, the trio of Ede Schicke (drums), Gerd Führs (keys), and Heinz Fröhling (guitar, Mellotron) produced three outstanding albums on...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Sfinx - Zalmoxe

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This one caught me completely off guard. I'd never even heard of this excellent Romanian band before the CD reissue — which made it for all the nicer surprise. One has to be somewhat...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Solstice - New Life

Cover art Throughout their career, Solstice has consistently eschewed the commercial interests shared by most other bands of the 80's UK scene, favoring instead to concentrate on live performances and a very...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Tabula Rasa - Ekkedien Tanssi

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Ekkedien Tanssi was the second album by this Finnish five-piece who created a type of mellow, melodic prog not unlike the music of Camel. Indeed, this album is comparable in both style and...

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(Posted by Rob Walker 1994-02-01)

Tangle Edge - Eulogy

Cover art If one doesn't count all the bootlegs of this that have been floating around for the last few years, then it's really not a reissue - as it's never been legitimately available before. This is Tangle...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Tarántula - Tarántula

Cover art Tarántula was part of the first wave of Spanish progressive bands from the 70s. This first album from 1976, heretofore a difficult find, has just been reissued on CD in Korea. A five-piece of...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Tsunami - Anthem of the Great Wave

Cover art Tsunami are a Dutch five piece of guitar, keys, bass and drums and a very obnoxious lead vocalist who doubles on guitar. This guy is your typical quasi-emotional overbearing neo-clone nasal-whining...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Univeria Zekt - The Unnamables

Cover art This is, for all intents and purposes, a Magma album recorded under a different name. The original intent by producer Laurent Thibault was to create an album that would be sort of like an introduction...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Vander / Top / Blasquiz / Garber - "Sons" Document 1973 - Le Manor

Cover art With the relase of AKT I - Les Voix de Magma, Christian Vander launched his new label to release live and unreleased studio material to all the eager Magma fans around the world, following...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Various Artists - Puissance 13+2

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This exceptional live set was taken from a series of live performances at Le Parc du Chateau d'Herouville. Again, it must be remembered that this album is a cross-section of French rock at the...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

Various Artists - Seven Days of a Life

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This compilation has obviously been real late in the making, as all of the tracks were recorded between 1989 and 1991. While the concept of this album is explained in greater detail in the CD...

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(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1994-02-01)

Zabu - My Coffin's Ready

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Lucien Zabuski, aka Zabu, was the original vocalist for Magma, prior to the enlistment of Klaus Blasquiz. This is his first post-Magma solo album, which showcases his unique gravelly voice in a...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 1994-02-01)

 

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