Issue 6

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Available online from Issue 6

[Untitled] - Bad Hat Situational

Quirky. Unconventional. Capricious. Bizarre. Outre. These words come close yet fail to capture the essence of [Untitled]. This band concocts a strange brew of Djam Karet, Robert Fripp, Frank Zappa,... » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 1995-03-01)

Änglagård - Epilog

Since Änglagård's superb 1992 debut Hybris, more than a few folks have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up effort from this magnificent Swedish ensemble. Everyone wondered — would they be... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

Änglagård - Epilog

First off, I think change is good, so long as the change is in a positive direction. The world of music is a chaotic, complex entity, and to stay in the same place for too long is more than just a... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-03-01)

Änglagård - Epilog

The long-awaited sequel to the classic Hybris has brought with it a lot of hype, curiosity, and questions. Epilog clearly squelches any rumors of a sophomore slump, and has answered... » Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

Ars Nova - Transi

This latest offering from this Japanese power keyboard trio is a bold step forward from their 1992 debut Fear and Anxiety. For starters this one is a full length disc; more to the point,...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Ars Nova - Transi

Transi is the second release from this Japanese trio, fronted by talented keyboardist Keiko Kumagai. Writing all the music and commanding an arsenal of analog and digital keys, she leads...

» Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

Ars Nova - Transi

This, the second album from the Japanese keyboard-led trio Ars Nova, comes as perhaps the biggest surprise of the year. It would be all too easy to rest that statement on the fact that this is a...

» Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

Ars Nova - Transi

If this trio of all female musicians were a pop group, I doubt if anyone would think twice, but in the testosterone driven underground of Prog, the idea is practically a novelty (at least for...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Baku - Sequences of My Bequest

Sequences of My Bequest is a concept album that seems to be about a father and son and life's choices of right/wrong, good/evil, etc. While this may be a worthwhile concept, the neo-prog... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Live & Papagayo Club 1972

Unlike the recently released PFM shows (Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Cafeine - La Citadelle

I'd first heard of these guys a few months ago via their contribution to the A Propos d'Ange compilation, their song being one of the highlights of that disc. La Citadelle...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Cafeine - La Citadelle

Cafeine is a new band from France offering a nuanced music based mainly on keyboards and guitar. Melodic, La Citadelle offers seven compositions, three of them being in the ten to fifteen...

» Read more
(Posted by Alain Lachapelle 1995-03-01)

Catharsis - Le Bolero du Veau des Dames & Et S'Aimer

Catharsis were one of the most esoteric of the French 70s rock groups, combining influences of rock, folk, classical, psych and medieval into an unusual and distinctly individual mold. Led by... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Chance - Dunes

Chance is a new French instrumental outfit led by keyboardist Laurent Simonnet. With bass, drums, and a revolving cast of guitarists, he leads the band through nearly an hour of lush, melodic, and... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

Citizen Cain - Somewhere But Yesterday

Further proving that the Genesis school of progressive remains in an exalted tier among the commandeers at SI (Synthetically Indignant — the original label for this album), here's the next hook,... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Clepsydra - More Grains of Sand

Ever miss the sound of Marillion in their glory days? This Swiss five-piece regularly evokes the memory of Misplaced Childhood on this, their second album, and build upon that general sound... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Collage - Moonshine

Well, this album gets off on the wrong foot, but definitely ends up on the right one. The album opens with some heavy keyboards and drums and then the vocals come in... and you can't understand a damn... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Grimes 1995-03-01)

David Borden - Places, Times & People

It's so easy to hang labels on things, but in the end the true value of a piece of music is a fairly subjective thing — except maybe for those consumed with dissecting every detail ad nauseum. I'm a... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

David Cross - Testing to Destruction

Cross was, of course, the longtime violinist with King Crimson Mk2; I mention this first because Testing for Destruction bears more in common with that edition of KC than probably either of... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

David Cross - Testing to Destruction

Violinist David Cross is known to many for his work in the 70s with King Crimson. Less conspicuous have been a few more recent solo albums. His latest, Testing to Destruction, finds Cross... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

David Cross - Testing to Destruction

This album is the answer to the question, "Whatever happened to that guy who used to play violin in King Crimson?" Don't get your hopes up, though, Larks' Tongues it ain't. I really hated... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Dead Can Dance - First Five Reissued

Since 1984, Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard have created seven albums that stand the test of time: Dead Can Dance (1984), Spleen and Ideal (1985), Within the Realm of a Dying...

» Read more
(Posted by Alan Gunnison 1995-03-01)

Dead Can Dance - Toward the Within

Toward the Within is a live disk that documents DCD's 1993 tour, ostensibly in support of their latest studio release, Into the Labyrinth. However, Brendan Perry and Lisa...

» Read more
(Posted by Alan Gunnison 1995-03-01)

Débile Menthol - Emile à la Campagne

This two-disc set collects both of Swiss band Debile Menthol's early-80s studio LPs (1981's Emile au Jardin Patrologique and Battre Campagne from '84) into a single...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Delta Cyphei Project - Virtual World

Did you ever listen to a CD and after hearing the first song, the second song starts and you think that someone has switched CDs on you? That's precisely what happens with Delta Cyphei Project's (DCP)... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Grimes 1995-03-01)

Dream Theater - Awake

Judging by the various opinions that I had heard concerning this album, Awake was either the best album released so far this decade, or a worthless piece of tripe. I opted for believing...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-03-01)

Dream Theater - Awake

The second album by this part-prog, part-metal outfit with vocalist Jamie LaBrie follows in the footsteps of its predecessor Images and Words without changing much. LaBrie tries to sound...

» Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

Dream Theater - Awake

Over the past few years, Dream Theater has become one of the most talked about bands in several music circles. It's is a band about which most people have a strong opinion. If you like heavy...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike Grimes 1995-03-01)

Dreamworld - On Flight to the Light

From the Black Forest city of Freiburg in southern Germany hail the multi-talented Fichter brothers, Klaus and Rolf. In 1972 they released on the Brain label an album called A Meditation... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Eero Mieho - Athanora

Originally recorded in 1992, Athanora is a mystical album from Finnish keyboardist/harpist Eero Mieho who has pulled no less than 16 other musicians together to fill in the rest of the parts,... » Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

Enterphase - Phase One

It's been a long three years since Fred Becker's first solo CD release Inner, Stellar. I've been looking for and expecting a new release from him for quite some time. Now we can rejoice. ... » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 1995-03-01)

Frank Zappa / Ensemble Modern - The Yellow Shark

One of Zappa's complaints through the years was the difficulty of getting an orchestra to play his pieces the way he wanted them to. Enter the Ensemble Modern, a Frankfurt-based, self-sustained group... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-03-01)

Garden Wall - Path of Dreams

After a rough, albeit promising debut, Principium, last year, I was surprised to find that this — Garden Wall's second album, delivers on most of those promises. For sure there are still... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Halloween - Part One & Laz

Just in time for their recent performance at Progfest, Musea has finally reissued the Halloween back catalog. Their second Laz, originally released on vinyl in 1990, probably should have...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Iceberg - Sentiments

[This review was written for the 1994 reissue on Si Wan. The album has since been reissued again. -ed.]

The Korean collector Si Wan has taken it upon himself to fill the void of...

» Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

Ie Rai Shan - Ie Rai Shan

Remember Pageant, Providence, Mr. Sirius, and the better days of Japanese symphonic rock? Well, don't say they don't make music like that anymore — because Ie Rai Shan is proof true that they do.... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

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... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

It - Order through Chaos

It isn't really a new American group, as they've been around since the mid 80s, yet this is their first album. The band is basically a duo of Todd Freeman and Scott Munson, and they've brought... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Jasun Martz - The Pillory

Mellotron fans take note. Unique and uncompromising music, this masterpiece of neo-classical avant-garde rock stands alone. Martz began composing "The Pillory" around 1976, assembling his...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

José Cid - 10,000 Anos Depois entre Vénus e Marte

The number of Portuguese progressive rock albums is a mighty small one, and despite the occasional rarity, this album and those by the great Tantra are practically the only to have surfaced from this... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Julverne - Le Retour du Captain Nemo

Julverne sprang from the same Belgian underground avant-garde music scene that produced Cos, Univers Zero, Aqsak Maboul, and Art Zoyd. As such, members of all the aforementioned bands, at one time or... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Kebnekajse - Electric Mountain

This recent reissue comes from Sweden circa 1977 and represents a collection of traditional folk melodies interpreted by the rather large ensemble Kebnekajse. As many as nine musicians collaborate on... » Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

King Crimson - Vrooom

What a pleasant surprise... After just a minute of the opening title track, it's clearly apparent that this is no rehash of the 80s incarnation of Crimson. This double-trio formation (two guitars, two... » Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

King Crimson - Vrooom

It seems like we've been hearing about the reformation of King Crimson for years. Well the long awaited new release is finally here. The Vrooom EP consists of six tracks lasting slightly over... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

King Crimson - Vrooom

This is Fripp's next go around with a name too familiar for an explanation, and to be honest I was expecting little from this group. Usually 70s dinosaur reunions are enough to make one run screaming... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Landberk - Jag Är Tiden

Landberk had also released an LP only version of Lonely Land called Riktigt Akta, which was basically a Swedish version minus the T2 cover. This three-song EP is the same idea (from... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Lightshine - Feeling

Lightshine were a mid-70s German band that were fairly well known in their time, gigging heavily and opening for groups such as Hoelderlin, Jane, Colosseum II, and The Scorpions. They self-released... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

Lightwave - Tycho Brahé

The duo of Christoph Harbonnier and Christian Wittman, otherwise known as Lightwave, have been active since the mid-80s. Composing electronic and synthesized music along the lines of early Tangerine... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-03-01)

Lunar Chateau - Lunar Chateau

Why does an American band go to France to get their CD released? So fans at home can buy it as an expensive import? Some things I'll never understand. Lunar Chateau is three brothers —...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Lunar Chateau - Lunar Chateau

Lunar Chateau is a new band from the United States formed by the Sekulovich brothers, Novak (keyboards and vocals), Paul (bass guitar and lead vocals), and Milo (drums). Based on this information...

» Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 1995-03-01)

M.I.A. - Transparencias, Mágicos Juegos del Tiempo & Cornonstipicum

Belle Antique has gone all out on their most recent set of reissues — the backlog of the brilliant Argentine ensemble M.I.A. M.I.A. was multi-instrumentalist (mainly keys) Lito Vitale's...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Marco - Marconceptos

Mexican guitarist/keyboardist Marco Gomez surprisingly does all the instrumentation on this collection of self-penned instrumentals. I say this because when listening to the songs, the guitars and... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Grimes 1995-03-01)

Masque - Ten Ways

This is the second offering by the Swedish five-piece Masque. This is a major improvement over their debut from '91, which seemed too derivative of Saga and other 80s neo-proggers. Here they...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Mestari - Mestari

Recorded in 1993, this four-piece jazz quartet featuring Yochk'o Seffer on various saxes was a logical precursor to the new Zao album, and while the latter more closely approaches progressive, Mestari... » Read more
(Posted by Dan Casey 1995-03-01)

Midas - Beyond the Clear Air

Midas were one of the unheralded "Made in Japan" groups and only recorded one album in 1988, which this is a reissue of. It's unfortunate that Midas went by so unnoticed; Beyond the Clear... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Mujician - Poem about the Hero

Despite a feel more reminiscent of the free-jazz of the mid-60s than of the 90s, Mujician's second all-instrumental release is a refreshing addition to the archives of improvised music....

» Read more
(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-03-01)

Música Urbana - Música Urbana

Música Urbana was an eclectic Spanish fusion band who recorded this gem in 1976. With its sudden rhythmic and melodic changes, and rapid alternation between composed ensemble sections and...

» Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

November - The First of November

Thirty seconds into the first cut you'll swear you're listening to some lost Peter Gabriel album from around 1980. This track, "Africa, Where Are You," has all of the phrasing and style down pat,... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Pär Lindh Project - Gothic Impressions

Pär Lindh is known for organizing a Swedish progressive rock fan club, as well as helping out on keyboards during Änglagård live shows. This, his first album, features Lindh on an arsenal of... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Borella 1995-03-01)

Pär Lindh Project - Gothic Impressions

For the few outside of Sweden who recognize his name, he is the one who sat in on the house pipe organ during Änglagård's performance of "Jordrok" at last year's Progfest. But Pär Lindh has... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

Patrick Gauthier - Bébé Godzilla

I've wished for a CD reissue of this — Patrick Gauthier's all instrumental post-Weidorje album — for many long years. Finally on December 24th I found it in a record store by...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Pekka Pohjola - Five Reissues

For anyone not yet familiar with the name of Pekka Pohjola, he is a Finnish composer, bandleader, and bassist among bassists primarily, but also fluent on piano, synthesizer, and trumpet as well....

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Premiata Forneria Marconi - Impressioni Vent'Anni Dopo & Bobo Club 2000

Being that PFM's Per un Amico ranks among my favorite albums of all time, I had been anticipating hearing a live show around that era — circa 1972 — for quite some time. Both of these CDs... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Present - C.O.D. Performance

This is the latest release from guitarist Roger Trigaux's post-Univers Zero project. Trigaux and son Reginald are the only musicians listed, both are credited with playing guitar, vocals, and... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Quantum II - Quantum II

Anyone remember the Brazilian band Quantum? They had an outstanding self-titled album released around '82, an instrumental blend of euro-progressive symphonics laced with tight jazz fusion elements... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Ramses - La Leyla / Eternity Rise

This CD release collects the first two of three albums by this German band led by brothers Winfried (keyboards) and Norbert (guitar) Langhorst. The band's music is in the spacy symphonic mould,...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Richter Band - Richter Band

Listening to the first track of this Czech ensemble's debut album, I had the feeling that it was leading up to something — a sudden leap in intensity, an eruption into a wild and busy jam section,... » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

Robert Rich - Geometry

As the title implies, this reissue — originally recorded in 1987-88 and previously only available as a French import CD — crosses the bridges between mathematics and music, applying these... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Robert Rich - Trances / Drones

This may be my favorite rerelease of the year, especially in the electronic/ambient vein. Trances and Drones were Stanford-based composer Rich's second and third cassette releases in... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Roine Stolt - The Flower King

It's been a while since we've heard from former Kaipa guitarist Roine Stolt. This album received a lot of hype recently, and claiming to be a symphonic rock album from a member of Kaipa, I...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Rufus Zuphall - Weiß der Teufel

Originally produced in an infinitesimal pressing on the tiny Good Will label, this is one of those releases that gains legendary status not so much because of what's on the album, but because of its... » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Sailor Free - The Fifth Door

Progsters or posers? Does it really matter? Sailor Free is an Italian four-piece whose sound incorporates elements of psychedelic hard rock, grunge, progressive, and ethnic influences into a sound... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Sally French - The Other Side

Fans of Annie Haslam listen up. If you're into powerful female voices backed with rich symphonics, then Sally French delivers the goods. The comparison with Renaissance has a solid base, but... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Scaramouche - Scaramouche

Here is another one of those total obscurities that Musea has a knack for unearthing, others in recent memory being Flyte, Ivory, and Tibet — one-shots that came and went before most ever knew they... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Secta Sònica - Fred Pedralbes / Astroferia

[This review refers to a 1994 reissue on PDI. -ed.]

Imagine a completely instrumental Allman Brothers, or perhaps more accurately the fusion of the Allman spin-off band Sea Level,...

» Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Sigmund Snopek III - Virginia Woolf

Well, leave it to Peter Wustmann of WMMS to unearth something so totally obscure and unclassifiable that time had nearly forgotten about it. Sigmund Snopek III and the Bloomsbury People existed in the... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Steve Roach - Artifacts

The ever prolific Steve Roach has released his newest Fortuna release Artifacts, another 70 minutes of his patented electronic music. Although Exposé only barely touches the electronic... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

The Keith Tippett Group - Dedicated to You, but You Weren't Listening

By the time Keith Tippett released Dedicated to You, but You Weren't Listening, his second album, in 1971, he had already garnered a rather formidable reputation as a creative and...

» Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-03-01)

The New St. George - High Tea

The New St. George is a five-piece folk rock outfit from the Washington, DC area who sport a strong British/Celtic personality and two excellent vocalists. Their music may remind of the likes of... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Tibet - Tibet

Musea seem to have an affinity for the late-70s/early-80s German symphonic genre — the type of music that started with Eloy and Grobschnitt and ended with a million one or two shots — you know... » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-03-01)

Tibet - Tibet

Tibet is another one of Musea’s reissues of obscure 70s bands. Unfortunately for Musea, the master tapes were lost over the past 15 years. They had to remaster the CD from a vinyl copy using...

» Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 1995-03-01)

Tim Song Jones - The Plural of Hear

Could this be the musical interpretation of fractals, recursion, and random number generation ? This is highly original music, created using mostly DX-7 and Wavestation, E-Bow guitar, digital drums,... » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-03-01)

Trettioåriga Kriget - War Memories

I really don't know how fair it is for me to review this. After all, being an album comprised of previously unreleased tracks, it's obviously intended for established fans of the band. I...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Twenty Sixty Six and Then - Reflections!

Twenty Sixty Six and Then's Reflections on the Future remains one of the most legendary German prog LPs. As the master tapes were lost long ago, a reissue didn't seem likely,...

» Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-03-01)

Various Artists - Mannerisms - A Celebration of the Music of Geoff Mann

Priest and painter, Geoff Mann was also once the lyricist and vocalist for the English progressive band Twelfth Night. He died of cancer in February of 1993. To memorialize his life, musicians who... » Read more
(Posted by Anatole Gordon 1995-03-01)

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.

Release: Steve Roach - Live at Soundquest Fest 2021
Updated 2021-09-26 01:25:31
Release: Triptides - So Many Days
Updated 2021-09-24 12:51:43
Release: PAKT - Live in Kennett Square, PA
Updated 2021-09-24 00:39:55
Release: Monsieur Pompier's Travelling Freakshow - Teatime Terrors
Updated 2021-09-23 20:29:03
Artist: Monsieur Pompier's Travelling Freakshow
Updated 2021-09-23 20:27:53
Release: Caravan - It's None of Your Business
Updated 2021-09-23 18:58:37
Release: Hidden People - Tambour Cloche
Updated 2021-09-23 15:20:50
Release: Hidden People - Comment S'Étaient-ils Rencontrés?
Updated 2021-09-23 15:18:51
Artist: Hidden People
Updated 2021-09-23 15:14:18
Release: Burnt Belief - Mutual Isolation
Updated 2021-09-23 13:21:03
Release: Shakespeare & the Blues - e.g., Rhapsodic
Updated 2021-09-23 00:10:51
Artist: Shakespeare and the Blues
Updated 2021-09-23 00:07:20
Release: Резина (Rezina) - Секрет (Sekret)
Updated 2021-09-22 18:50:01
Release: Резина (Rezina) - 1619
Updated 2021-09-22 18:48:53
Artist: Резина (Rezina)
Updated 2021-09-22 18:46:30
Release: L. Shankar - Christmas from India
Updated 2021-09-22 18:41:13
Release: Gong - Live at the Gong Family Unconventional Gathering
Updated 2021-09-21 20:08:01
Release: Mujician - 10 10 10
Updated 2021-09-21 19:06:57
Release: Mark Murdock - Visitors from Another Planet
Updated 2021-09-21 18:57:37
Release: Mark Murdock - The Phoenix Has Risen
Updated 2021-09-21 18:55:56

Exposé Online

Available online from Issue 6

What's new