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...
» Read moreThe 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,...
» Read moreBiogenesis 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 moreAudra 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 moreThis 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 moreEnglish 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 moreThe 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 moreBy 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 moreAt 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 moreOther 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 moreI 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 moreDivided 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 moreHot 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 moreIt’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 moreAs 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 moreLo 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 moreIn 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 moreOne 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 moreIt 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 moreGuitarist 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 moreThe 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 moreThis 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 moreAvant 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 moreThe 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 moreEx-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 moreOh 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 moreI 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 moreMary 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 moreFor 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 moreFor 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 moreSome 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 moreDespite 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 moreOlyam 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 morePink 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 moreWhen 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 moreThe 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 moreBack in #21 I reviewed a CD by a Mexican band called Similares y Conexos. This is the second...
» Read moreThe 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 moreI 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 moreThe 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 moreTransitional 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 moreThe 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 moreI 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 moreMost 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 moreThis 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 moreThis 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
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. »
Read more
2021-02-10
Chick Corea RIP –
The sad news has reached us that Chick Corea has Returned to Forever, so to speak. The innovative keyboardist and composer died on February 9 at the age of 79. With a career that spanned from the 60s until shortly before his death, Corea touched many listeners with the incredible variety of music he produced in his lifetime. »
Read more
2021-01-18
Asia Minor Third Album on the Way –
On January 29, AMS records will be releasing the long-awaited third album by classic Turkish-French band Asia Minor. Released last year in Japan, this will be the widespread debut of Points of Libration. The album features original members Setrak Bakirel (vocals, guitar) and Eril Tekeli (flute, guitar). »
Read more
2020-12-09
Harold Budd RIP –
Harold Budd, one of pre-eminent American composers of avant-garde and minimalism, has died of complications from the coronavirus. Budd came to prominence in the 70s, championed by Brian Eno on his Obscure Records label, with music that blended academic minimalism with electric jazz and electronic music. Much of Budd's best known work was done in collaboration with other artists, including Eno, Daniel Lanois, Robin Guthrie, Andy Partridge, John Foxx, Jah Wobble, and many others. »
Read more
2020-11-20
25 Views of Worthing Finally Gets Released –
A while ago, we wrote about the discovery of a "long lost" Canterbury-style gem by a band called 25 Views of Worthing. And now we're pleased to find out that Wind Waker Records has released their music on an LP. »
Read more
Magma - Rock Duo »Magma« – As the story goes, this German duo was unaware of a French band with the same name, and they certainly bear no stylistic resemblance to their more widely known and prolific namesake. Drummer Siegfried... (2004) » Read more
Il Trono dei Ricordi - Il Trono dei Ricordi – Quite impressive, this. Il Trono is a new Italian five-piece of keys, guitars, bass/sax, electronics, and dedicated vocalist, with a full time guest drummer. They have captured many of the best... (1995) » Read more
Fonya - Earth Shaper – Fonya continues to be the solo vehicle for multi-instrumentalist Chris Fournier. His latest release is one that builds well on previous efforts, and is simultaneously familiar and accessible, not in... (1996) » Read more
Mystery - Destiny? 10th Anniversary Edition – This is a reissue of Mystery’s second disc, Destiny? Originally issued in 1988, it features original singer Gary Savoie along with main song-writer and guitarist Michel St-Père. When it... (2011) » Read more
Germán Bringas - El Salto – Bringas 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 sense, as... (1997) » Read more