Prog Song Pit

1. No fan of Fish-era Marillion; this song didn’t change my mind any. 

2. Have loved Gazpacho’s Night for years—and it remains my favorite album of theirs—but for some reason I’d never really given “Chequered Lights” any attention before. Always cued up “Upside Down” “Dream of Stone” or “Massive Illusion”—so, Thanks! Have to give the full album a listen again soon.

3. Amon Düul II song, “Surrounded by the Stars” was great. Don’t know Wolf City. Yet. I have Phallus Dei and Tanz der Lemminge. I like the “German Jefferson Airplane” comparison!

4. “C.S.S.Logbook” by The Evpatoria Report starts out really cool with the marching band-like drum sounds. Then the hypnotic organ and guitar sounds. Reminds me of The Appleseed Cast and Caspian (two of my favorite Post Rock/Math Rock bands). BTW:  What exactly is the difference between “Post Rock” and “Math Rock” and why are they lumped together? Like the speedy arpeggi in the third minute. The building guitar strumming is a bit clumsy but the drums flash nicely. I really like the PINK FLOYD/RADIOHEAD-like near-silence in the middle. That guitarist in the right channel is really awesome! Second listen was so awesome! Thanks for that one. A band worth checking out!

 5. ATOLL’s “Le photographe exorciste” sounds awesome! I’d been aware of them for a while but had never followed through to try to hear any of their music before, so, again, THANKS! Great first minute with the dramatic synth chords, narrative French vocal and interesting incidentals. Genesis, Eloy and Gong all rolled into one! Love the way that the drums kind of sneak into the song—and the way the craziness escalates with both guitars and voices! Awesome driving bass line at the three minute mark! But then it goes back. Interesting shift at the end of the fifth minute. Camel-esque. Cool “Red”-shift at 6:15 and ensuing dissonant fuzz guitar solo. What an outro! Violin! Second time through I could definitely pick out more violin. Got to check out this album!

6. From Traced in Air we have CYNIC’s “The Space for This.” I liked the album greatly when it came out but have to admit I haven’t given it much attention since. I like the fact that Cynic takes the sub-genre more into melody, space and subtlety than many of their contemporaries—and never seem to get so grating on my ears as, say, much of Devin Townsend. 

7. CAROL OF HARVEST’s “Try a Little Bit” opens with some bluesy electric guitar arpeggios setting up the female vocals. She reminds me of some folk rock diva. Awesome electric guitar solo in the third minute. Like the vocalist’s scatting throughout the second half of the song—her solo rivaling any of the other instruments. Kind of more of a classic rock song up to this point. Any relation to Snifff’n’the Tears?

8. Barely a week passes without my playing “Egyptian Kings.” I just love the energy and spirit of Vandroogenbroeck’s “Cottonwoodhill” projects.

If you keep ‘em coming I’ll try to stay up! Thanks for the intro to Atoll and The Evpatoria Report! Two bands that I will definitely be checking out (already got ‘em cued up on Spotify!)