Prog-bands out of PA

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Do you know at least one band that you consider
progressive but it isn't in progarchives?
Maybe we can help PA and our
friends introducing new bands, and if possible, showing the reasons why such
band should be here.
Naturally, I know more about south american bands. So I
start with (and its probable genres):

Brazil:
14 Bis - Prog-Related or Art Rock (I have heard they will be
here soon)
AMG Review: 14 Bis is one of the most important contemporary vocal
groups in Brazil. The group's members are from Minas Gerais and some of them are
also members of the Clube da Esquina. Their sound is reminiscent of prog rock
and '60s rock and also has caipira (hillbilly) influences from their home state.
The group was formed by Flávio Venturini (keyboards/guitar), his brother Cláudio
Venturini (guitar), Vermelho (keyboards), Sérgio Magrão (bass), and Hely
(drums). Flávio and Magrão were former members of the O Terço, while Vermelho
and Hely came from Bendegó. Their biggest hits are "Todo Azul do Mar" (Flávio
Venturini), "Canção da América" (Milton Nascimento/Fernando Brant), "Caçador de
Mim" (Luiz Carlos Sá/Flávio Venturini), "Planeta Sonho" (Flávio
Venturini/Vermelho/Márcio Borges), and "Espanhola" (Flávio Venturini/Gutemberg
Guarabyra).
Prog-Discography:
14 Bis (1979) - More prog song: Cinema de faroeste 

14 Bis II (1980) - More prog songs: 14 Bis I&II / Planeta Sonho / Pedras
rolantes / Nas ondas do rádio
Espelho das Águas (1981) - More prog song:
Espelho das Águas
Idade da luz (1984) - More prog songs: Idade da luz / As
quatro estações de Vega
Sete (1987) - More prog song: Tema III
Anyway, all
songs are directed by keyboards (they had two keyboardists), and their music,
even pop songs, is wonderfully charged with strong feelling.
Flavio Venturini
played some prog songs in his solo career too, like "Fantasia Barroca" and
"Qualquer coisa a ver com o paraíso" (Peter Gabriel already sung this last
song)
Official website: http://www.14bis.com.br/
Complete
discography: http://www.cliquemusic.com.br/en/Artists/Artists.asp?Status=ARTISTA&Nu_Artista=1

A
Bolha (The bubble) (Symphonic Prog)
Their first album from 1973 (um passo a
frente) is very prog, especially songs: um passo a frente / a esfera. Their
second album is just traditional rock.
AMG Review: 
This group formed in
1965 as the Bubbles and made their first single in 1966 — two versions of hits
by the Rolling Stones and the Shakers (a Uruguayan group).
Upon returning to
Brazil (they saw the Isle of Wight Festival in England), they decided to
re-formulate themselves in a more Brazilian fashion and became A Bolha. To their
chagrin, they were already well-established as the Bubbles and as a dance group.
On their first gig after returning from London, the ballroom was crowded with
5,000 people, in the beginning; by the end, there remained 500. Moreover, the
bill at the door said: "The Bubbles back from Isle of Wight!" 
[...] The
first LP, Um Passo à Frente, was recorded in 1973, and their second, É Proibido
Fumar, in 1977. The only constant member in the band's career was guitarist
Renato Fronzi Ladeira, son of Renata Fronzi, a well-known Brazilian actress. A
Bolha members played with illustrious Brazilian artists like Gal Costa and
Erasmo Carlos. They also fragmented into many other groups, such as A Cor do
Som, Herva Doce, and others.
Progressive Rock Brazil link: http://www.rockprogressivo.com.br/english/canais/bio/abolha.htm

Cheiro
de Vida (Smell of live) - Jazz-Fusion (all instrumental)
A band from southern
Brazil. They recorded just two albums in eighties, but they played since 1978.
The second is live, but all songs are news.
Albums: Same (1984) / Live
(1988)
Official website: http://www.progressiverockbr.com/cheirodevida.htm

Raiz
de Pedra (Root of stone) 
Another Jazz-Fusion instrumental band from southern
Brazil.
Albums: Trajetória (1985), Live (1987), Pictures (1989) and Diário de
Bordo (1996).
This last album was recorded with Egberto Gismonti.
Links:
In english: http://www.enjarecords.com/cd.php?nr=TIP-888+822

In
portuguese: http://www.musicadomundo.com.br/rs-raizdepedra.html

To
listen mp3 excerpts: http://www.brasilmusik.com/r/raiz-de-pedra/raiz-de-pedra.htm
...
Secos
& Molhados (Groceries) - Prog-Folk
Not progressive at all, but a mix of
rock, blues, brazilian folkloric and popular music.
AMG Review: Formed in
1971 by Ney Matogrosso (vocalist), Gerson Conrad (vocalist/composer/violão) and
João Ricardo (singer/composer/violão/harmonica), Secos & Molhados is
inscribed in a privileged category of few bands and musicians who led Brazil
from bossa nova through Tropicália then to Brazilian rock, a style which only
blossomed in the '80s. Much of the group's importance, apart from the huge
success of its first album, which sold 700,000 copies in 1973, was the heavy use
of stage makeup and dramatic elements. These served as reference for a
generation of underground bands which wouldn't accept MPB as their expression,
finally drawing a definite outlook in Brazilian music in the '80s through
collective contribution.
Discography
Secos & Molhados (1973)
Secos
& Molhados (1974)
Recorded live in Maracanãzinho (1980)
Others albums
were released after Ney Matogrosso left the band. To see the entire discography
and cliquemusic review:  http://www.cliquemusic.com.br/en/Artists/Artists.asp?Status=ARTISTA&Nu_Artista=534
Website:
http://www.uol.com.br/secosemolhados
(in portuguese)
Rate your music review: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/secos_and_molhados/secos_and_molhados/

Módulo
1000 (psychedelic-prog)
Very experimental and psychedelic and sometimes hard.

Unique album:  Não Fale Com Paredes (Don't speak with walls) (1971)

Reviews: http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/modulo.1000.html
About
Luiz Simas (ex-Módulo 1000, ex-Vímana): http://musicabrasileira.org/luizsimas/simasnyc.html
In
portuguese: http://www.soundchaser.com.br/reviews/M/modulo1000%20-%20nfcap.htm
* Vímana is another prog band from seventies, but they recorded just one
compact. The first album was never recorded, but you can find these songs in
internet.
See my topic about them and Patrick Moraz failed project: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10440&KW=moraz&PID=1344429#1344429

Veludo
(symphonic Prog)
This progressive band was known by Veludo Elétrico (electric
velvet) - a prog-influencied band. 
The Veludo live album (1975) is very very
symphonic prog, but "A re-volta" (from early seventies, released just in 2002)
is a blues-psychedelic rock.
Website: http://www.razaosocial.com.br/veludo/veludo/entre.htm
See
more information (in portuguese): http://www.soundchaser.com.br/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&user=&key=&Class=V&Type=---&Banda=&Album=&Ano=---&Pais=---&Integrantes=&Resenhista=&Link=&Profile=&Site=&keyword=&mh=25&sb=2&so=ascend&view_records=View+Records

Damião
Experiença 
I admit I don't like him. Anyway, Damião is loved for who likes
Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.
He played a crazy music with
nonsense lyrics, and created a new idiom (Lamma language) and sung it with too
few instruments (basically your acoustic guitar).
His first album is from
1974: Damião Experiença no Planeta Lamma (Damião Experiença in the Lamma
Planet)
You can read more and download Damião songs in his website: http://www.damiaoexperienca.net

Argentina: 
Aquelarre 
I have Candiles album, and I liked it, but I
heard that Siesta (1975) is more symphonic album.
Albums:
1972 - AQUELARRE

1973 - CANDILES 
1974 - BRUMAS 
1975 - SIESTA 
Review in english:
http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/waterloo/728/magicland/a.html
In
spanish: http://www.dospotencias.com.ar/rebelde/aquelarre.htm

Uruguay:
Génesis (1972) - maybe Art Rock. They played various styles,
since jazz until psychedelic.
Musea records review: Remove all the ambiguity
immediately ! When five musicians from Uruguay find themselves in the beginning
of the Seventies and form a group with the name...GENESIS, it appears rather
evident that each ignored the existence of the similar name that became famous
at the same time in Great Britain!!! Before knowing about it, these
instrumentalists had all gathered in order to celebreate early psychedelic
Progressive music, such as the music played in California towrd the end of the
previous decade. Recorded in 1972 and completed by eight compositions extreacted
from commercial singles, the album is highly indebted to QUICKSILVER MESSENGER
SERVICE, as well as blues-rock filled with the FLEETWOOD MAC of Peter GREEN

http://musea.musearecords.com/ext_re_new_catselect.php?np=5864
Read
more: http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/waterloo/728/magicland/urug.html#genesis

Psiglo 
Gonzalo Farrugia's first band (Crucis drummer)

Albums:
Ideacion (1973) - I have this one, and I liked it too. I think it
is the more prog and better album.
Psiglo II (1977)
Link to read about
this band: http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/waterloo/728/magicland/urug.html#psiglo
Manticornio
review: http://www.manticornio.com/rock-progresivo/P/PSIGLO/psiglo.html
** Thanks to Trotsky, Atkingani and Manticore, who introduced me these
bands: Psiglo, Congreso and Wara

Chile:
Congreso (I have heard they will be here soon)
Folk Prog /
Prog related
It looks like "The Jaivas"
New Gilbratar Review: http://www.gepr.net/co.html#CONGRESOEL
Official
Website: http://www.congreso.scd.cl

Bolivia:
Wara (I have heard they will be here soon)
Album:
El Inca
(1973)
Great album. I think it is the only prog band from Bolivia, but it is
very very good.
Links: 
http://www.progresiva70s.com/rock_boliviano.htm#Wara
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/wara/
I'm
sorry, I didn't find websites in english.

Portugal:
Beatnicks
They became a progressive band after 1976, their
music is the same line of Genesis, Yes and Tantra.
But in the eighties, their music went to pop
songs.
Discography:
Christine Goes To Town (EP, Tecla, 1971)
Somos o
Mar/Jardim Terra (Single, Alvorada/RT, 1978)
Blue Jeans/Magia (Single, RT,
1981)
Aspectos Humanos (LP, RT, 1982)
Link (only in portuguese): http://www.geocities.com/vilardemouros1971/beatnicks.htm

Banda
do Casaco 
Indubitably, prog-Folk Rock. Not a great band in my opinion, but
they were very famous in Portugal.
Short songs with funny but smart lyrics.

Albums:
Dos Benefícios Dum Vendido No Reino Dos Bonifácios
(1974)
Coisas do Arco da Velha (1976)
Hoje Há Conquilhas, Amanhã Não
Sabemos (1977)
Contos da Barbearia (1978)
No Jardim da Celeste
(1980)
Também Eu (1982)
Com Ti Chitas (1984)
links: 
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/banda_do_casaco
http://www.geocities.com/vilardemouros1971/bandadocasaco.htm
http://www.macua.org/biografias/bandadocasaco.html

Quarteto
1111
José Cid ex-band. I know their first and second album. 
This latter
is very progressive with only two songs (and the second begins where the first
song is finishing). I really enjoyed this album.
Complete
Discography:
1967 - A Lenda de El Rei D. Sebastião
1970 - Quarteto 1111 

1975 - Onde, Quando, Como, Porquê Cantamos Pessoas Vivas
Gilbratar
Enciclopedia: http://www.gepr.net/q.html#QUARTETO1111
Prognosis:
http://www.silverdb.com/MUSIC_DBArtist.asp?txtArtistID=2151
In
portuguese: http://www.geocities.com/vilardemouros1971/quarteto.htm
José
Cid website: http://www.josecid.com/ingles/front.htm

Júlio
Pereira 
Two prog-albums (that I know):
Bota fora (with Carlos Cavalheiro
- 1975)
Fernandinho vai ao vinho (1976)
I really liked it. It's symphonic progressive for shure.
Link to albums (just in portuguese): http://www.juliopereira.pt/BIOGRAFIA/Discos/Discos-Descicao.htm

Petrus
Castrus
Mestre (1973), one of the best portuguese album ever!
Lyrics by
renomed portugueses poets, like Bocage, Alexandre O'Neill, Ary dos
Santos,
Fernando Pessoa and Sophia de Mello Breyner Anderson. 
Because
this, the album was forbidden by three months by portuguese censure
comission.
Gilbratar Enciclopedia: http://www.gepr.net/pa.html#PETRUSCASTRUS
In
portuguese: http://www.geocities.com/vilardemouros1971/petruscastrus.htm

UK

Fusion Orchestra - Skeleton In Armour (1973)
Great fusion and symphonic band. I just know this album from '73.
Dinosaur Days review: "Formed in the early
seventies, Fusion Orchestra were an unfortunately short-lived progressive
jazz/rock outfit of immense potential. Joining the exceptionally talented Jill
Saward on vocals, keyboards, flute, guitar and synthesizer, were guitarists Stan
Land and Colin Dawson, bassist Dave Cowell and drummer Dave Bell. This is one of
the finest bands to have ever come out of the UK, and their sole album release
is an absolute masterpiece of sophisticated compositions with stunning female
vocals and superb musicianship. When the band split, the members would fade into
obscurity, with only Saward surfacing a number of years later as a backing
singer in UK pop/jazz outfit Shakatak. She went on to become a fully fledged
member of the band, playing keyboards and flute, and, of course, singing, much
the same as she did when she was a member of Fusion Orchestra."
(dinosaurdays.co.za)
Gilbratar Enciclopedia: http://www.gepr.net/fm.html#FUSIONORCHESTRA

Greece:

Socrates Drank The Conium
Good psychedelic-progressive band.

Official website: http://www.athensguide.com/socrates/
Gilbratar
Enciclopedia Review: The band was originally called Socrates Drank the Cronium
but later shortened the name to just Socrates. Early albums were heavy rock, but
with Phos, they added Vangelis Papathanassiou, of Aphrodite's Child and Vangelis
fame. His keyboards added depth and some degree of progressiveness to their
overall sound. Thus, I would call Phos a heavy progressive work. In addition to
the keyboards, there is acoustic and electric guitars, and a fair amount of
English vocals. Most of the songs have a strong influence from Grecian folk
music. First Vangelis will be laying down layers of synths and bell-like sounds,
which will give way to acoustic guitars playing in a folk-like manner. These
will weave together and the electric guitar come in to drive the sound.
Variations on this basic idea describe the music on Phos. The opening cut, for
example, is driven by the electric guitar and reflects their heavy rock aspect,
while other cuts get very spacious and somewhat akin to Pink Floyd or Omega.
There's also a psychedelic vibe here and there, such as one dreamy cut when they
sing "close your eyes / and leave your mind." Sounds like that, anyway. -- Mike
Taylor - http://www.gepr.net/sh.html#SOCRATES

France

Vent D'Est 
Not a great band, but it is prog for
shure.
Released Album:
Same(1980)
Link to Gilbratar Enciclopedia: http://www.gepr.net/v.html#VENTD'EST

Switzerland 

Pyranha 
According to popsike website, an obscure
prog-rock.
It is also classifyed as Krautrock.
Unique album:
Same
(1972)
Popsike website: http://www.popsike.com/php/detaildata.php?itemnr=4013155398

South Africa:

Abstract Truth (Jazz-Fusion /
Indo-Prog)
Discography:
Totum (1970) 
Silver Trees (1970) 
Cool
Sounds For Heads (1970) 
Silver Trees & Totum (2005) 
AMG Review: The
band profiled in this bio should not be confused with either a progressive rock
combo that was active in South Africa in the late '60s and early '70s or a New
York-based soul-jazz outfit (which was formed by saxophonist Dana Vlceck in the
'90s and recorded a CD titled Get Another Plan for Streetwave in 1996). Founded
by trumpeter/flugelhornist/arranger John Vanore, this Abstract Truth is a
Philadelphia-based big band with a post-bop orientation and a strong Oliver
Nelson influence. In fact, Vanore's outfit gets its name from two of the great
albums that Nelson recorded for Impulse! in the early '60s: Blues and the
Abstract Truth and its sequel More Blues & the Abstract Truth. (Those albums
also inspired Vlceck's band and the South African prog rock combo to use that
name.) Although Nelson's '60s work has had a major impact on Vanore's writing
and arranging, Abstract Truth isn't an exact replica of Nelson's bands -- and
the outfit has other influences as well (including Gil Evans and Thad Jones).
Unlike other big bands that were formed in the '80s and '90s, Vanore's band has
never had a Buddy Rich obsession; Abstract Truth is firmly rooted in '60s
post-bop. And unlike the big bands that record a lot of well-known Tin Pan Alley
standards, Abstract Truth has emphasized Vanore's own compositions. Vanore
founded Abstract Truth in 1989, and their first album, Blue Route, came out in
1990. The band's second album, Curiosity, was recorded for the Acoustical
Concepts label in 1991. Abstract Truth's other members have included Rocco Bene
(trumpet, flugelhorn), Joe Fallon (trumpet, flugelhorn), Brian Grodner (trumpet,
flugelhorn), Kevin Rodgers (trumpet, flugelhorn), Mike Galan (trombone), Jose
Vidal (bass trombone), Michael Mee (alto sax, soprano sax, flute), Mike Falcone
(tenor sax, flute), George Barnett (French horn), Ron Thomas (piano), Joe Nero
(drums), and Craig Thomas (an acoustic bassist who is best-known for his
association with Philly guitar heavyweight Jimmy Bruno).
Link: http://www.rock.co.za/files/at_index.html

Germany 

Hanuman & Lied des Teufels (Krautrock or "Deutschrock") -
Definition of Deutschrock: http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/DEUTSCHROCK.html
Albums:
Lied
Des Teufels - 1972
Hollich Heisse Rockmusik - 1975
Lied Des Teufels / Hanuman - 
UT Web Encyclopedia Review: Wolf-Rüdiger
Uhlig came from Murphy Blend and was front-man in Hanuman, when he left Hanuman
the group changed name to Lied Des Teufels. Hanuman sound like an angst-ridden
Murphy Blend, whereas Lied Des Teufels are closer to Nosferatu, Locomotive
Kreuzberg, Out Of Focus, etc., with a jazzy polit-rock sound. 
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ultimathule/encyclopedia/utweb-h.html
Link:
http://alexgitlin.com/ldt.html

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