HELICOPRIA

I know from experience that Boston, despite having numerous colleges and music schools, is a harsh city for any progressive act. Even the might Dream Theater often gets no press in the major papers when they come to town. And the supposedly arts minded Boston Phoenix, is so hung up on it's own hipster reputation that it won't mention an art form as outre as prog rock.

So it surprises me when a new prog band enters the scene in the area. Helicopria seems to be trying to hide their progginess behind a veil of alternative rock. The guitar has a bit of that punk sound that the hipster press seems enamored with. And singer Sırma Munyar, while having a lovely voice, has a bit of that mournful sound that attracts the same hipsters (without the annoying nasal tone that permeates too much of the alt rock scene).

But underneath, the music is very prog. The guitars are heavy, and play in swirling time signatures, and he rhythm section is complex and interesting as well. While the band cites Tme Mars Volta (and some other bands I haven't heard of) as a majorinfluence, I often hear shades of recent King Crimson in this album.