Exposé Online » Issue 28

Date : December 2003
Pages : 92
Summary : Edgar Froese, Bob Drake, Lars Hollmer, David & Linda Laflamme, NEARFest 2003, Progman Cometh Festival, Seattle 2003, Progday IX, North Carolina 2003
Items found : 54

A Beautiful Day in Mill Valley —
The David and Linda LaFlamme Interview

While his musical resumé is lengthy and varied, ranging from symphony orchestras and pop bands to jazz ensembles and improvisational work, David LaFlamme is best known as the violin and lead voice of the legendary San Francisco band It’s a Beautiful Day, whose debut album in 1969 produced the FM radio hits “White Bird” and “Hot Summer Day,” a powerful musical statement that has stood the test of time.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Visions and Dreams —
The Edgar Froese Interview

To use an overused yet highly appropriate cliché, Edgar Froese is truly a man who needs no introduction. As founding member of the immensely successful band Tangerine Dream, he practically invented and defined a new genre of music, which still defies easy categorization. Whether you call it electronic music, electronic rock, space music, kraut rock, or (shudder) new age or whatever, Froese and one-time TD member Klaus Schulze were the true forerunners who would spawn a generation of loyal followers, fans who buy their music as well as musicians who strive to imitate their classic sound, particularly from their arguably most innovative period in the 70s and 80s. Now going over 35 years strong and with his son Jerome at the co-helm, Edgar was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule and answer a few questions for Exposé.  » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2003-12-01)

Agalloch - The Mantle

Black metal often joins the wallop of heavy, dense rock and roll with occult overtones that stretch back to 70s Black Sabbath. Because of this very tenet the genre is often maligned and...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Anekdoten - Gravity

The most distinctive things about Anekdoten have always been overdriven bass, Mellotron, cello, and the vocals. This CD answers the question of what happens when you remove two of those elements,...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Ars Nova Biogenesis Project - Biogenesis

Biogenesis is the kind of overblown sci-fi epic that has both a built-in audience and legions of detractors. The fact that it comes from Japan’s Ars Nova, not exactly known for...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Audra - Going to the Theatre

Audra is the stylishly gothic venture of brothers Bret and Bart Helm who originally hailed from Chicago. Going to the Theatre is the trio’s second CD after three West Coast tours and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - The Iridium Controversy

This new offering from my favorite prehistoric animal noise group certainly lives up to the high standards of their previous releases, and over the long term may turn out to be one of my favorites....

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Brandywine Bridge - An English Meadow

English trio Brandywine Bridge released its LP, An English Meadow, in 1978. The album, just reissued by Kissing Spell, contained twelve original songs penned in the style of traditional...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jim Chokey 2003-12-01)

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - Happiness Heartaches

The latter incarnation of Oblivion Express (led by Hammond B3 player extraordinaire Brian Auger) was characterized by soulful blues-rock, percussion, and danceable grooves. Ex-Return to Forever...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Cast - Al-Bandaluz

By this time, many readers will know what to expect from Mexico's Cast: complex, keyboard-heavy neo-progressive with lots of odd meters. They've stuck to that for what seems like twenty or...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Cherno - Missing Illusion, Trigonometric Reactor & Slight Trick All Around

At its core, Cherno is the duo of Shin Sugawara (sax, wind synth) and Junichi Kishimoto (guitar, guitar synths, drum programming), sometimes joined by other players, track and disc depending...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Clear Light - Clear Light

Other West Coast bands like the Doors, Love, and Jefferson Airplane may have grabbed center stage in the history of the psychedelic era, but there were many others, and some of them rivaled the...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Cobra High - Sunset in the Eye of the Hurricane

I have learned to be wary when the mainstream press describes an artist as “progressive” – you never know what they really mean, since the vast majority of progressive music is...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

David Sancious and Tone - Transformation (The Speed of Love)

David Sancious came at the genre of jazz-rock fusion from a rather different direction than most of the key figures. Rather than coming into it as an established jazz player or from the progressive...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Divided Sky - Spectral

Divided Sky is a Philadelphia based four piece progressive act that relies on heavy riffs that don’t quite fit into technical metal categorization. Phased guitar effects on...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid - Dubtometry

Hot on the heels of the acclaimed Optometry sessions (charting high in the Billboard top 100) comes an all-star set of seventeen remixes of samples and tracks from that disc. The...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Drama - Inspiración

It’s only been in the last couple years that I’ve started hearing any of the progressive music originating in South America, and while I’m reluctant to make broad generalizations,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Eloy Fritsch - Mythology

As far as one-man keyboard-oriented projects go, this is not the worst I’ve heard, but neither is it the best. The closest comparison would be with 70s Vangelis albums, maybe Heaven and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Fiaba - Lo Sgabello del Rospo

Lo Sgabello del Rospo is a rock opera in eight parts. The vocals are mostly provided by a lead male vocalist backed by a chorus. His voice has that operatic rich tenor quality of many...

 » Read more
(Posted by Sean McFee 2003-12-01)

High Wheel - Back from the Void

The first thing I thought of when I put this CD on was "Echolyn with a German accent." That sums High Wheel up pretty well (at least superficially), but it doesn't tell the whole story. I don't know...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Horace X - Sackbutt

In the mega-genre that is World Music there is a subgenre often called World Beat. Rather than being specifically from any part of the world, either in fact or in sound, World Beat combines...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Ian Carr's Nucleus - Out of the Long Dark & Old Heartland

One of the last incarnations of Nucleus from the late 70s featured Carr along with long-time cohort Brian Smith on reeds. Geoff Castle, Billy Kristian, and Roger Sellers rounded out this version of...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

In Cahoots - All That

It seems hard to believe that it’s been over 20 years since Phil Miller formed In Cahoots after the late great National Health disbanded. All That is only the sixth full In Cahoots...

 » Read more
(Posted by David Ashcraft 2003-12-01)

In Cahoots - All That

Guitarist and composer Phil Miller has taken full advantage of a rejuvenated outlook as a result of his band’s acclaimed first West Coast appearance. With the addition of new drummer Mark...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

In Cahoots - All That

The brilliant and fluid jazz, rock, and improvisational sensibilities of this outstanding lineup (now featuring new drummer Mark Fletcher, who played with them at Progman Cometh 2002, replacing Pip...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Incandescent Sky - Glorious Stereo

This is the second release by this New England based four-piece, which is a descendent of the group Knitting by Twilight. With standard guitar / keyboards / bass / drums instrumentation augmented...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Jacopo Andreini - VS 900 Vol. 1

Avant garde music is tricky to pull off, no matter whether it’s in the genre of jazz, rock, or whatever. There can be a fine balance between unfettered artistic expression and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Jet - Jet

The travels of guitarist David O'List (from the Nice to Roxy Music) eventually found somewhat of a home in Jet, a splinter group from the remains of John's Children. O'List fit in well...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Kevin Ayers - Joy of a Toy, Whatevershebringswesing, Shooting at the Moon & Banamour

Ex-Soft Machine bassist Kevin Ayers left that group after their full-on live U.S. assault with the Jim Hendrix Experience in 1969. After that time, Ayers spent the following years putting together...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Korai Öröm - Reflected Remixes

Oh boy, it’s the remix album. I have had exposure to Korai Öröm, so I am not totally unfamiliar with their sound. Typically it’s extended free-form jams; build a theme, expand...

 » Read more
(Posted by Dane Carlson 2003-12-01)

Kraan - Through

Here’s another prog band from the 70s reformed. I’m not familiar with the band’s back catalog, so I can’t make comparisons with where they’ve been. I hope I don’t offend anyone by saying...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Mahavishnu Orchestra - Mahavishnu

I don’t think anyone would argue against the idea that the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s peak was long past by the time John McLaughlin put this version of the band together. McLaughlin...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Mary Fahl - The Other Side of Time

Mary Fahl was the lead singer of October Project, who enjoyed a sizable following among progheads and ectophiles in the mid-90s. The Other Side of Time is her first full-length solo work....

 » Read more
(Posted by Jim Chokey 2003-12-01)

Maynard Ferguson - Carnival

For those of you uninitiated, Maynard Ferguson was part of the jazz-rock scene originating from the stable of jazz players who broke out under the auspices of Stan Kenton's big band....

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Miroslav Vitous - Magical Shepherd

For those who have not heard any of the Miroslav Vitouš solo albums, he will be mainly known for his work as the original bassist with Weather Report, on three and a half of their first four...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Moe! Staiano - The Lateness of Yearly Presentations & Two Forms of Multitudes

Some may be familiar with Moe! (not to be confused with moe.) as the waste percussionist in Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. Readers who find SGM a little too happy-go-lucky and accessible, or those...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Neuronium - Quasar 2C361 + Vuelo Quimico

Despite the 1998 publishing date on this set, these reissues have not been generally available (other than through pricey bidding wars on eBay) until now. This brings both the first and second...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Nurse with Wound - She and Me Fall Together in Free Death

Beta-lactam Ring Records seems to revel in obscurity. Most of their product is released only on LP in limited pressings, they come with minimal credits, the discs themselves have lovely graphics in...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Olyam - Cristal Rêveur

Olyam is a young French musician working in the realm of New-Age/Pop, akin to other one-name practitioners (Kitaro, Vangelis, Yanni, etc.) though his influences also include Mike Oldfield. His 5th...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2003-12-01)

Pink Anvil - Halloween Party

Pink Anvil is a duo of Paul Barker and Max Brody of Ministry. Barker is credited with FM radio and patchbay operation while Brody works a delay and some footswitches. Halloween Party was recorded...

 » Read more
(Posted by Mike Grimes 2003-12-01)

Satoko Fujii / Tatsuya Yoshida - Toh-Kichi

When the freewheeling chaos and confusion suddenly takes form and finds order, one has to wonder whether this live set recorded at the Victoriaville festival between two of Japan’s premier...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Seatrain - Watch

The Blues Project is remembered as an innovative, somewhat erratic band of the mid-60s who combined rock with folk, blues, and jazz. In 1967 they split up, with some members going on to form Blood,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Similares y Conexos - Gallina Negra

Back in #21 I reviewed a CD by a Mexican band called Similares y Conexos. This is the second...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Live

The Sleepytime experience is one not soon forgotten; part of what makes it special is the banter and humor that inhabits their set between the regular songs. If you're looking for that stellar...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Taal - Skymind

I know it may seem like a glamorous life to be a music critic, getting all those free CDs, getting into shows for free, hobnobbing with the stars. But I assure you, it’s not all it’s cracked up to...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

The Building Press - Amplitude of Frequencies over Time

I guess I can’t blame whoever invented the term “math rock”. After all, if you called it what it really is – prog rock, or more accurately, art rock – only people who...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

The Dutch Flat - Ghosts

The Dutch Flat doesn’t sound much like the other bands I’ve heard in the post rock genre, but if you have to put them in a genre, that’s probably where they’d go. Tim...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

The Hook - Will Grab You

Transitional periods can be very interesting in music. The Hook falls in the transition between 60s garage-psych and 70s hard rock. Reliable information has it that this album dates from 1968 in...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium

The Mars Volta, on their full-length debut, joins Radiohead as a relatively high profile “alternative rock” group to flirt with progressive elements, and in fact does Radiohead one better (to the...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

The Thicket - The Thicket

The Thicket is the Edmonton-based duo of Andrei Poukhovski and Ivan Poukhovski-Sheremetyev, a father-son combination. The instrumentation consists only of keyboards and Theremin, with programmed...

 » Read more
(Posted by Sean McFee 2003-12-01)

The Walkabouts - Ended up a Stranger

I first encountered the Walkabouts in 1984 when they put out their debut EP on their own Necessity Records. I was struck with their unique interpretation of American folk rock, and really enjoyed...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Thinking Plague - A History of Madness

Most music critics (and listeners too) tend to get caught up in the genre game when describing music. We think in terms of qualities like loud/soft, electric/acoustic, rocks/doesn’t. But...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Various Artists - The Best of Baltimore's Buried Bands II

This two CD set was produced by OHO main-mover and elder statesman of the Baltimore progressive scene Jay Graboski. Apparently there must have been a “Part I” (maybe an LP?) and this is...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Vermilion - Flattening Mountains and Creating Empires

This album is quite an oddity, coming as it does from a little-known (so far) band on an independent label, for it features a big name producer (Steve Albini) and a big name artist on the cover...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)