My lesser known and unknown new prog bands thread

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Yes, this one of the really expensive threads in this Forum. 
I favour Iona more than Mostly Autumn, but MA is nice, too.
Open Sky is fabulous. Thomas and John will surely agree. 

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Norbert Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 20 2005 Location: Hungary Status: Offline Points: 2506	Posted: July 18 2008 at 09:57
	Yes, this one of the really expensive threads in this Forum. I favour Iona more than Mostly Autumn, but MA is nice, too. Open Sky is fabulous. Thomas and John will surely agree.

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 18 2008 at 11:52
	Norbert, in my new job a have met a young lady who was born in Hungary, when she was 12 years old, the family moved to The Netherlands, her name is Szusanna, is that a typically Hungarian name? I gave her my Yesterdays album for a listening session, she was very pleased with the warm atmosphere and native vocals, next is the Omega DVD Szuperconcert (indeed, the one you send to me from Hungary ), she knows the Omega music very well, it seems that every Hungarian have grown up with the great Omega sound Today I have listened to The D Project (good music from Canada, more than a modern Pink Floyd, I have to correct my earlier opinion) and the new Mostly Autumn, lots of compelling and dynamic progfolk and wonderful vocals, one of their best albums, you were right Dirk Edited by erik neuteboom - July 18 2008 at 11:52

Mellotron Storm Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 27 2006 Location: The Beach Status: Offline Points: 12966	Posted: July 18 2008 at 22:41
	I'm with you Norbert when it comes to Iona. I like Mostly Autumn as well,but i haven't heard their latest.Do they still have that Pink Floyd flavour? Iona is spacey too but in a much different way,plus there's that celtic vibe going on. You've got me excited about The D Project's latest Eric.
	"The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN

tszirmay Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 17 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 6673	Posted: July 18 2008 at 23:09
	Hivtal Norbert? Cool , all this magyar stuff here today! Yes Iona is a massive delight, full of powerful velvet , Open Sky is just endless bliss everytime I listen to it new emotions appear through the mist . Same for the Bainbridge solo "Veil of Gossamer" , splendid stuff ! Norbert, do you know of D-Sound ? I reviewed both albums , superb spacey stuff from Hungary (bought it at Periferic Records in Budapest) Edited by tszirmay - July 18 2008 at 23:10
	I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.

Dirk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 11 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 1043	Posted: July 19 2008 at 07:39
	^Erik, glad you liked the MA album , it's easily their best since Passengers i feel. I hope to see them in the fall. I like Iona too but they're a bit too subdued at times for my taste. Edited by Dirk - July 19 2008 at 07:46

Norbert Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 20 2005 Location: Hungary Status: Offline Points: 2506	Posted: July 19 2008 at 08:29
	Well Erik, her name is probably Zsuzsanna, which is indeed a quite frequent female name in Hungary. Sue is shorter and easier to pronounce for non-Hungarian people. Thomas, I'm not really familiar with D-Sound(the Hungarian scene is so huge...), but I like Floyd and enjoy some Ozric so it may be enjoyable for me. Periferic is really the coolest prog place in Budapest. Gergely Böszörményi has over 330 Pink Floyd recordings at home(mainly bootlegs of course)as he told at this year's Református Zenei Fesztivál.

avestin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 18 2005 Status: Offline Points: 12625	Posted: July 19 2008 at 11:05
	The following links were posted in Progressive Ears and I thought some of you would be interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DI_DOZPCzk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CnFcFrF0XQ Those are videos of an old Hungarian band named V'73 and according to one of the members of PE: "It seems to be a band preceeding more famous Hungarian band called V'Moto Rock that was mainly popular from late 70s to mid 80s. Istvan Lerch played in both of these bands and also that letter V at the band name gives away the comon background. " Enjoy
	Hanging Sounds PA Index of prog music vendors

crimson87 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: January 03 2008 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 1818	Posted: July 19 2008 at 14:59
	Hey Erik can I ask you a question , where do you get your argentinean prog cds , especially the ones from the new bands?

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 19 2008 at 18:02
	Dirk: see the homepage, I just returned from my late shift and decided to publish my Mostly Autumn review of the new album on the homepage, a solid 4 stars Avestin: thanks for your interesting post! Norbert: you are right, Zsuzsanna is her name Crimson87: I write reviews for my friend Hans Galjé who ownes the Dutch progrock mailorder service Progwalhalla, he has good contacts with several progrock labels in Argentina and Chile so I can borrow the interestings albums in order to write reviews, that's my story. William Gray is one of my most acclaimed examples

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 19 2008 at 18:20
	From the homepage: Neo Progressive (Studio Album, 2008) 4.09/5 (2 ratings) D PROJECT, THE — The Sagarmatha Dilemma Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator Symphonic Prog Expert FIRST REVIEW OF THIS ALBUM The man behind this musical project is Canadian guitarist/keyboardplayer/singer Stéphane Desbiens, a very prolific and creative person: on his 11th he started to play guitar and when he was 20 he had already a lot of experience, he joined the bands Rose Nocturne and later progrock band Sense, in 1996 he released his first solo album entitles Desbienes Acoustic, he was technician, studio musician, guitar teacher and even played in an Irish folk band, what a stunning curriculum vitae! This year (2008) The D Project has released the CD entitled The Sagarmatha Dilemma, Stéphane founded a band with musicians, from drums to Chapman stick and violin and even known guest musicians like singer Stu Nicholson (Galahad) and keyboardplayer Derek Sherinan (of Dream Theater fame, plays on one track. During the first part of this album I quickly got the idea that Stéphane had put his love for Pink Floyd very obviously into his music because of the Floydian inspired guitarwork in the alternating and compelling compositions Closer To My Soul / Closer To Heaven (The Wall atmosphere and a strong accellaration with organ and fiery guitar, then joined by a swirling violin) and The Red Mountain (beautiful part with classical guitar runs). But soon I discovered that The D Project is more than a kind of modern sounding Pink Floyd, the other five songs deliver lots of variety, subtle musical ideas and strong breaks: a mid-tempo with violin-Mellotron and powerful guitar in the titletrack, a bombastic eruption with choir- Mellotron and a break with a propulsive guitar in the captivating and varied Even If I Was Wrong, a jazzrock climate with lots of dynamics and a spectacular interlude with Al DiMeola/John McLaughlin-like, dazzling guitar runs in the fluent Radio Sherpa and a musical adventure in the short but exciting final piece I’m Coming Down (I Shall Go Back), from a part with a dreamy violin and subtle guitarwork tot a bass solo on the Chapman stick and a compelling and bombastic end with raw and fat guitar riffs, I love it! This is the kind of album that grows and grows because of the variety, from neo-prog (Thin Air) to the aforementioned jazzrock, symphonic rock and progressive melodic rock, especially the progheads who love powerful guitarplay will be pleased with this strong album! www.progwalhalla.com

Dirk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 11 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 1043	Posted: July 21 2008 at 10:06
	Good MA review though not everyone will agree about wonderful male vocals . Then again Brian Josh's vocals have improved over time. Indeed the music isn't as it Floydian as it was, MA is clearly looking for new ways without staying too far from their roots and going overboard as on the Storms album. I have listened to RU Kaiser alot lately, despite it's 30 minutes length this is a spectacular album. No reason why this band shouldn't be included here i think?

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 21 2008 at 12:02
	Dirk, R-U Kaiser is on this site, I had advised the teams and Cesar Inca has done the rest. Last month I had contact with their manager, they are working on new material

Dirk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 11 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 1043	Posted: July 21 2008 at 12:14
	Ok, i didn't remember the sign between R and U, that's why i couldn't find it i guess. I'd be interested to hear their new material .

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 21 2008 at 13:34
	Thanks Dirk for your post, you gave me a good reason to publish my review in order to "awake the sleepers": R-U KAISER - Ocelos () - This five-piece band comes from the Northern part of Chile and is rooted in 2002, it took a while before they got the opportunity to release this debut CD on the new Chilean progrock label Watcher Records. This CD is a concept album about the experiences of the phases into the band, it contains four movements. Dioscuros (The Genesis) : a very alternating piece with spectacular work on keyboards (from a soaring choir-Mellotron sound to a flashy synthesizer solo and powrful organ runs), ‘angelic’ Spanish female vocals and fiery guitar runs, it sounds very dynamic and exciting! Letargia (The Flight) : after the sound of the sea and birds, the atmosphere is first mellow with thin vocals and tender piano and then more hypnotizing with a slow rhtyhm delivering twanging guitar and a choir-Mellotron sound, a majestic piece of music that contrasts perfectly with the previous song. Semjases (The Encounter) : this is also a very alternating track, from dreamy with wonderful female vocals to mid-tempo featuring propulsive guitar/drums and flashy synthesizer flights and a compelling final part with the focus on sensitive and fiery guitar work, very moving! Ocelos (The Future) : this is their ‘magnum opus’ (at about 11 minutes) with lots of flowing shifting moods, sensational work on keyboards and guitar and a splendid bombastic final part with awesome interplay between sparkling piano, propulsive and fiery guitarplay, beautiful, often thin female vocals, an adventurous rhtyhm-section and spectacular synthesizer runs, symphonic prog at its best! To me this sounds as a very strong debut CD. You can hear that this band plays together for many years. If you are up to the often thin and high-pitched, ‘angelic’ Spanish female vocals, this will be an excellent symphonic prog experience! This evening I hope to have time to listen to the new DVD's by Ainur and Oliver Wakeman, reviews will follow soon in this thread. Edited by erik neuteboom - July 21 2008 at 13:35

Norbert Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 20 2005 Location: Hungary Status: Offline Points: 2506	Posted: July 22 2008 at 11:46
	The "length" of the album really reminds me of the classic prog albums CTTE is not much longer either, Octopus, Per Un Amico are even shorter, but their quality is outstanding.

Dirk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 11 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 1043	Posted: July 22 2008 at 12:10
	The female vocals on R-U Kaiser are great. Hard to imagine anyone having a problem with them. Another very good band discussed here lately is Cronico. Also a band with a good female vocalist but the way she pronounces english is a bit hard on the ears at times.

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 22 2008 at 13:45
	Norbert: good comparison, it reminds me of many great Italian progrock albums from the Seventies clocking between 30 and 33 minutes, it's all about quality, not quantity ! Dirk: I wish on the next Cronico album the female singer will only sing in her native language Angelo: thanks, you know why

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 22 2008 at 17:35
	Italian Symphonic Prog (Studio Album, 2008) 3.52/5 (7 ratings) AINUR — Children of Hurin Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator New Progrock Bands Specialist This is a CD/DVD box set that contains a wonderful 32 page booklet in which you can read how about this Tolkien inspired dark concept story (taken from the book Silmarillion). The music is performed by musicians who use a wide range of instruments, from harp, violin, French horn, clarinet and flute to keyboards and many male and female singers like a bass bariton. The amount of classical instruments is a strong indication what we can expect from Ainur during the 13 songs on Children Of Hurin. CD: The first composition Morgoth’s Prophecy is an impressive start, we can enjoy lots of dynamics between the classical instruments and the electric guitar and sensational Minimoog synthesizer flights, layered with classically trained vocals. The other 11 songs also deliver a blend of classic and progrock music with the emphasis a bit more on classical. But just when it tends too sound a bit too classical, the music turns into fluent, often sumptuous progrock like sparkling piano, porpulsive guitar and lush organ in Mim And The Outlaws, sweeping guitar riffs and fat Minimoog runs in The Sack Of Nargothrond and beautiful interplay between electric guitar and the Minimoog with a progmetal sounding rhythm-section in Glaurung’s Death, Ainur succeeds to keep my attention during the entire album! The sound on Children Of Hurin is in the vein of their debut CD entitled From Ancient Times (2007), I tend to prefer their second effort and I am very curious to the development of this promising new Italian progrock band. DVD: The main footage is the Original Ainur Live Video featuring two songs from the Children Of Hurin CD, we can witness that Ainur is very capable to perform their story on stage, also in the track War Of Wrath (on the From Ancient Times album) that contains heavy guitarwork, pleasant keyboardwork by two members along violins and a bariton, great tension between two musical styles. Finally two live songs from earlier concerts in this section. The other extra’s are Interview, Recording Sessions, Ainur History Documentary, Ainu Live Documentary and Extra Video. A big hand for the unknown new Italian progrock band Ainur, they deserve a bit more attention on this site! My rating: a very solid 3,5 stars, next album 4 stars? www.progwalhalla.com

Dirk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 11 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 1043	Posted: July 23 2008 at 11:29
	Talking about female vocalists, Nemezis's singer (a polish neo prog band) is excellent and she's allowed to sing in english as she pronounces perfectly. Very good band also, recommended for fan's of this genre.

erik neuteboom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659	Posted: July 23 2008 at 11:32
	Indeed Dirk, Nemezis is another new and promising unknown Polish progrock band: NEMEZIS – Nemezis (***1/2) - Nemezis is a new Polish five piece band that delivers wonderful neo-prog on her eponymous debut-CD: from mellow with twanging guitars, soaring synthesizers and warm female vocals to compelling and bombastic with varied keyboards and beautiful, often Steve Rothery-like guitarwork (many times he carried me away to Marillion’s Fish era). My highlights are the moving guitar solo in Unknown Tomorrow, the exciting interplay between a church-organ sound, guitar and drums in With No Return, a spectacular synthesizer solo in Somewhere In Time and the long final piece The End (more than 12 minutes) that succeeds to generate a lot of excitement: a dreamy intro with warm vocals, piano and soarin gkeyboards, a wonderful part with intense orchestral keyboards, beautiful piano with longing vocals, sensitive guitarplay in a slow rhythm, a mid-tempo with propulsive drums, a long and harder-edged guitar solo (like Steve Rothery at his pinnacle) and a quite mellow conclusion with piano and again that excellent female voice. - So it goes on and on with those strong new Polish progrock bands (from Riverside to Osada Vida) and now we have Nemezis, highly recommended, especially to the neo-prog fans!