I Recommend...

avestin wrote: I will next bring a list of some bands and albums unknown to me, with none or few reviews and we will together (all participants here, I mean) try to rise awareness to them.

As I said I will bring now a list I compiled by going over the 500 top albums list (so all albums have at least one review for it). These are bands I either don't know at all or have only heard of but not heard them. This is obviously a personal list since the bands and albums here reflect my lack of knowledge and mine alone. Therefore, don't be offended by any mention that you think is not appropriate.

Next time I will do a list based on Alphabetical order (which is the most common way I look for new bands on PA).

I will first bring the entire list, and then we can focus on each individual band (these are links, so you can go to each album page):

1. TWO SIBERIANS
   Out of Nowhere
2. MINDFLOWERS
   Improgressive
3. CRACK
   Si Todo Hiciera Crack
4. KNIGHT AREA
   The Sun Also Rises
5. NIGHT SUN
   Mournin
6. SUPERSISTER
   Present From Nancy
7. ITOIZ
   Ezekiel
8. TANTRA
   Delirium
9. CARMEN
   Fandangos In Space
10. TIME
    Time
11. KORNI GRUPA / KORNELYANS
    Korni Grupa
12. STERN - COMBO MEISSEN
13. <> PHOENIX
    Cei Ce Ne-Au Dat Nume
14. ENCHANT
    A Blueprint Of The World
15. LORD OF MUSHROOMS
    Seven Deadly Songs
16. FERMATA
    Huascaran
17. SLOCHE
    J'un Oeil
18. POLLEN
    Pollen
19. INDEXI <>
    Modra Rijeka
20. ESTRADASPHERE
    Buck Fever
21. CONCEPTION
    In Your Multitude
22. S.B.B.
    Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem
23. SPRING
    Spring
24. REFUGEE
    Refugee
25. NEGATIVE ZONE
    Negative Zone

____________________________________________________________ _________________

Ok, now lets start with number 1 - TWO SIBERIANS

There is only one review for this sole album and it is a good review I think: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=34262

Sadly, they have no biogrpahy yet. Let me briefly quote what the review by Muzikman (Keith Hannaleck) says about them:

Artyom Yakushenko (electric violin) and Yuri Matveyez (electric guitar) are literally the TWO SIBERIANS. The duo exchanges parts with Michael Brecker (sax), George Whitty (synth), Matt Garrison (bass) and Mino Cinelu (percussion). They released their album Out of Nowhere in 2005. They perform a combination of jazz-rock-fusion and ethnic compositions. I can say without hesitation that this music is unique and completely refreshing.

http://www.headsup.com/

____________________________________________________________ ________________

Number 2 - MINDFLOWERS

I have only heard of them, and it was mostly good things.

Released two albums (according to their bio here) Improgressive in 2002 and Nuances in 2005 which has not been rated yet.

Their bio written by Lise (HIBOU), CANADA :

MINDFLOWERS biography

MINDFLOWERS (not to be confused with Italian symphonic prog band MINDFLOWER) are a group of six young talented Hungarians who fuse prog rock with jazz and world music. The band was formed in 2000 by bassist Balázs Szendõfi and guitarist Zoltán Szentpál, both students from the Dr. Lauschmann Gyula Jazz School in Székesfehérvár. They enjoyed composing together and soon expanded their circle with the addition of keyboardist Zsolt Nagy and drummer Gergely Gáspár, both students at a music school in K...MINDFLOWERS (not to be confused with Italian symphonic prog band MINDFLOWER) are a group of six young talented Hungarians who fuse prog rock with jazz and world music. The band was formed in 2000 by bassist Balázs Szendõfi and guitarist Zoltán Szentpál, both students from the Dr. Lauschmann Gyula Jazz School in Székesfehérvár. They enjoyed composing together and soon expanded their circle with the addition of keyboardist Zsolt Nagy and drummer Gergely Gáspár, both students at a music school in Kõbánya (Nagi was later replaced by Bubenyák Zoltán). While pursuing various side projects with other bands, The MINDFLOWERS released an album in 2002, a mostly instrumental CD titled “Improgressive”.

The booklet states their many collective influences – ranging from Sean Malone, Trey Gunn, LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT and TRIBAL TECH to John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Franc Gambale and Dave Weckl. The overall feel of the album is that of a clever mixture of melody and power. As the album title implies, there’s a slight improv edge to the music but the pieces flow quite smoothly, the musicianship is tight without anyone “showing off”, and the tracks are of very contrasting colours: now you’ll hear an energetic and complex progger, now a lyrical duet of bass and keyboard, now a floating Chapman Stick adventure with folksy accents, now a classical guitar piece; add to this an almost 23-minute closer epic. The MINDFLOWERS’ brand of fusion manages to touch both the mind and the heart.

Particularly recommended to GORDIAN KNOT buffs but fans of LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT and TUNNELS should also appreciate.

: : : Lise (HIBOU), CANADA : : :Greger (Greger Rönnqvist)  wrote the only review for Improgressive. He states: "Four guys playing instrumental jazz-fusion influenced progressive rock with reminiscences to Frank GAMBALE, KING CRIMSON, LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, Pat METHENY and SHADOWLINES." You have to admit it sounds good. ____________________________________________________________ _________________3rd band: CRACK from Spain. For their only album there are several reviews and one by Eirk as well. Erik writes there that: "This Spanish band came from Gijon, the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Their only album “Si Todo Hiciera Crack” (1980) is one of the jewels of the Spanish progressive rock. It contains seven tracks, all with a beautiful harmony between keyboards, guitar and flute. There are hints of early GENESIS (sensitive piano chords and moving Mellotron waves) and JETHRO TULL (flute) but the typical Spanish climate and the elaborate compositions makes this album to an enthralling and emotional experience. "

There is also this review by Sean Trane: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=56616

____________________________________________________________ _________________

4th band: KNIGHT AREA

Dutch group.

Here is their bio:

KNIGHT AREA biography

Following an anxious and dark period, Gerben Klazinga could see the sun again and considered: well, the sun also rises and “I know what I like”…, so let’s go back to work! The concepts from 1982 (“The Gate of Eternity”, “Saevis”... etc.) were taken from the shelf and Gerben composed a cluster of new songs, which was recorded as basic structure in the studio.

The story is about a boy who is in search for his identity (to some extent an autobiographical saga). He will locate a lot of sh*t o...Following an anxious and dark period, Gerben Klazinga could see the sun again and considered: well, the sun also rises and “I know what I like”…, so let’s go back to work! The concepts from 1982 (“The Gate of Eternity”, “Saevis”... etc.) were taken from the shelf and Gerben composed a cluster of new songs, which was recorded as basic structure in the studio.

The story is about a boy who is in search for his identity (to some extent an autobiographical saga). He will locate a lot of sh*t on his way; nevertheless he succeeds in discovering a vigorous way to cope with his emotions. The time until 2003, he operated with a variety of musicians to sort out his musical ideas. Mark Smit (MIRACLE) carried out the leading vocals, Peter van Heijningen and Jeroen Hogenboom (ex-SANGAMO) played the (lead) guitars and Ron van der Bas (what’s in a name) from Toyz and the Rickenbacker-wizard Gijs Koopman (ex-CLIFFHANGER) performed the bass parts. Mark van Nieuwenhuizen (ex-SANGAMO) carried out some drum parts. Musical mates like Vincent Frijdal for the acoustic guitar parts and Arjan Groenendijk for the power chord parts helped out in constructing the basic arrangements. Stephanie Lagrande as well donated her talents to the album. Brother Joop is also present with his flute, lyrics and some co-production labour.

This album is dedicated to dad Klazinga (Us Heit), ‘the Knight who was fighting the lost Alzheimer-battle’ (1927-2003). The album was recorded, produced and mastered at Knight Area-Studios in Holland by Gerben and Joop Klazinga between April 2001 and March 2003. The project has been released in the beginning of 2004 by the renowned USA label The Laser's Edge. Currently the brothers are already creating some new ideas…

: : : Joop Klazinga, NETHERLANDS : : :

One album from 2004 entitled The Sun Also Rises.

There are several reviews for this.

erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) review: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=28140

Menswear (John Von Bayer) review: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=51930

LaddE :http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=28136

Jonathan Pine [jonathanpine1 review: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=28135

____________________________________________________________ _________________I think these four will do for now. I will gradually bring the others as well.
 A good day to all PA members

And another hidden treasure here! Spanisg band GOTIC with their album "Escenes". Wonderfull Symphonic Prog from 70's. Highly recommended! 

And again - thanks to avestin!

Avestin, I noticed some not really bad albums in your list ... .....

                 ..........= progrock understatement of the year  !

memowakeman wrote: well avestin, i already know that, but i havent tell you yet... you`re a man with excellent musical tastes...

Thanks Guillermo

By the albums I see you're listening to , I think we have share similarities in our tastes.

Hello PA members,

Today I'd like to repost some rec's I posted previously in this thread, since I have noticed not many people have gone through the early pages and I have also noticed that some of the bands I mentioned there are still relatively unknown, and it is a shame, since I strongly believe these bands are good at what they do, talented and skilled musicians that deserve our recognition and appreciation.

So here it is:

____________________________________________________________ __________________

Now, turning to a French band called Nil (as in Nile). Thay are listed here under symphonic prog, and they sometimes remind me of White Wiloow. They have a female vocalist who sings in french. I have their 2 latest albums:

Quarante Jours Sur Le Sinaï - 2003 (Forty days on the Sinai)

Nil Novo Sub Sole - 2005

Both excellent but different in nature bit not in sound.

Sinai is a long interconnected piece of music (concept album) with an elaborate booklet describing a story (in French and English) of a tale in ancient Egypt. The music moves between dark, slow and beatiful moves to more dynamic tunes and its never boring (to me).

Novo is made up of 6 pieces of music. It is this one that has music that remind me a bit of White Willow. The singer here does a superb job IMHO.

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=446

http://nilweb.free.fr/Nil.html - you can hear their music on their site.

They have two more earlier albums, which I have not heard so far.

____________________________________________________________

I just put on an album which I have not heard for a long time and it made me want to post it here even though I'm sure people here know it. I'm talking about MEZQUITA - Recuerdos de mi Tierra

Beatiful symph prog with Flamenco guitar and synth which brings in some Spanish folk spirit to the music. So you have an eclectic album with influences from various prog scenes (Engalnd, Italy and Spain).

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=457

____________________________________________________________ __

Now for albums that don't invent anything new but they are still worth listening to.

The first album worth listening to is A Doorway To Summer by Moon Safari. It is symphonic prog, not very original in their concepts, so don't expect to hear something you haven't heard before, but they create beatiful music and perform it well. The first track Doorway may at first sound disaapointing but let it develop (11:36) and you'll hear it fills up with more instruments and morepassion. The second track opens beatifully and has a rich sound to it and switcehs to a nice acoustic guitar with keyboards tune with very nice singing and backing vocals. There is an opus of nearly 25 mins and I think it is a great achievement. Anyway, if you like Wobbler and Magic Pie I think this is for you.

http://www.moonsafari.se/

____________________________________________________________ _________________

The second album I wish to introduce although many of you may already know it is The Allegory of Light   by Syzygy (named after one of the collaborators of PA  ).

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=714

You'll hear many familiar old prog favorites traces here (I'll let you figure them out yourselves). There are mostly instrumentals here and some songs (If I am not mistaken - 3). What I like in this album is that there are within the same song light and dark atmospheres and the changes between them are done in a good way that does not make feel it is forced. There is excellent guitar work and keyboard playing in here, you'll hear the musicians here know their instruments' abilities and try to make most of them. There are bombastic tracks like the opener (M.O.T.H - Master Of The House) and the last one The journey of Myrrdin (17:29 mins). And there is also slower quieter tracks like Forbidden. I know some people say this album is not original at all and don't like it for that reason. I differ on that matter. First of all I don't mind too much rehashing the same thing, although it can get a bit too much (i.e. - Citizen Cain). Second, I don't really hear where exactly the cloning has been done, though I hear influences and certain borrowed bits. Either way, I enjoy listening to this album and I recommend it to people who love ELP, KC, Yes (eclectic isn't it?) and Prog at large.

http://www.syzygymusic.com/

____________________________________________________________ ____

On my way to work this morning I put in the cd player yhe first thing that popped out of the cd case. It was Agnus - Pinturas y Expresiones . A very good Argentinian symph-prog album and as far as I know their only one. There is a heavy use of synth and flute here. There are beautifil female vocals (and male as well). Some people say they remind them of Italian bands. It is perhapse not the most original, but it is a very good adition to any proggers collection.

____________________________________________________________ _____

Now, to something different than the previous musical recomms above. I know I have pushed them before in other threads, but I seem not to get any response (except from Jimbo) so I'll do it again.

The band is Hidria Spacefolk from Finland (what a great country, so much good music, not only in the prog genre). Instrumental space and electronic prog combined. Yes they are reminiscent of Ozric Tentacles, but you know what, I love them more.... More focused songs than the Ozrics. They have 1 ep HSPF-1 and two albums (third one on the way): Symbiosis and Balansia. The songs begin with a certain musical concept and then they evlove it and add more layers and ideas to it. On Balansia they perfect this pattern of musical composition.

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=1208

You can download their first EP entirely on their website:

http://www.hidriaspacefolk.st/

Go get it!

_________________________________________________

I am currently listening to an album I bought about a month ago. It is the album Cinque by Deus Ex Machina. Italian band which play wild music with jazz influences (they were recently moved from symph prog to jazz rock/fusion here in PA). Their music justifies their being in Cuneiform Records. There are violins, viola and cello here which are somewhat dissonant (and I love it). They change tempos often and mingle some fast and slow songs to keep things interesting. I can hear a bit of Mahavishnu Orchestra in here and for some reason it also brought to mind Comus.... The lyrics are in Latin, and the booklet contains translation to Italian and English. BTW, the booklet is well designed and there are beautiful drawings in it. I think this is an excellent album and the reviews on their PA webpage are more than flattering.

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=1688

____________________________________________________________ _____

have noticed some mis-genre-izations in the site lately. One of them is the following band I want to recommend. It is the French NeBeLNeST and the album is NoVa eXPReSS 

It is listed under symphonic prog, which is misleading. This is more of a RIO band and this album was released through Cuneiform, which can tell you a bit about their general style. This is an instrumental album, dynamic with many time sig changes. They sometomes give the impression the music you hear is improvisation and at other instances you realize what talent they have to play this kind of music and that everything is well planed. Each piece is evolving and does not linger too much in place. They are definitely talented musicians. This album needs to be listened to (like most prog records) with complete concentration to fully enjoy their musical talents and the complexity of the music. This album is not for everyone, and people who search for melody and a variety of instruments won't find it here. I think people who love Univers Zero, Shylock and Present will love this. This is intended for people who want to journey far away while listening to the music, but you must be aptient in order to get into this.

There are smaples on their website:

http://www.nebelnest.com/flash_index.htm

Their PA page:

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=259

____________________________________________________________ _____

I'll be brief this time. The album this is from the Italian band METAMORFOSI, Inferno.

By the title of the album you can guess what it is based on. What a great album, each time I hear it I'm excited all over again. The music delivers a sense of dramatic events and the whole sound of the album (old due to production) just anhances the feelings brought up by the music. It is perhapse not as complex as pther bands, but it is very good symph prog. I love Davide's vocals, he does a great work. The keyboards here are very much responsible for the mood of the album. A must have IMHO.

What is great and frustrating at the same about Italy's prog is its abundance, there are so many bands and many unknowns. I suggest you go over the list of bands by country and just see for yourselves (that is how I discovered many bands (that, and also Andre Cortese and ANDREW's recommendations).

____________________________________________________________ _________

I'd like to recommend the band SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE. They have released one EP - Temporary Psychotic State, and one LP - Suspended Animation Dreams.

It is a bit difficult to describe this. The musicians incorporate music from several genres, like symph prog, folk, metal etc. It is eclectic, but it is done in a very good and professional way, that makes you feel like it is very natural to combine all these different elements. There are clean vocals and some death growls (which I love, so no problem there). You have violins in there and saxes and the whole gemischt, well look for yourselves:

Line-up
- Paul Kuhr / vocals
- Tomer Pink / guitars, dulcimer, harmonica
- Jake Delpolitte / guitars, bass

With Guests:
- Steve Lyman / drums
- Ben Warren / piano, Hammond organ, Rhoads
- Willis Clow / guitars / mandolin, horn arrangements
- Bronwen Beecher / string arrangements
- Mitch Curinga / electronics & sound manipulation
- Wayne Burdick / percussions
- Kobi Farhi & Yishai Schwatrz / Ali Baba on Acid Hafla on "No Place Like Home"
- Mike Sartain / guest vocals on "The Rock n Roll Preacher"
- Wendy Jernijan / guest vocals on "Awake"
- Dave Chisolm / trumpet
- Andrew Kuhnhausen / saxophone, flute, clarinet
- Joe Chisholm / trombone

Anyway, do you spot the name Tomer Pink there? Well this Israeli guy along with another Israeli metal man, Yishai Scwartz who is a member of several Israeli metal acts, have together written the lyrics for the EP songs. These are really incrdible songs (sure, some will say the influences are noticeable and even more tham that, OK, so what, you compose like that then, and then we'll talk). I usually don;t buy EP's but this one was really worth it. The lyrics are good and the music as I said, very good. The vocalists is Paul Kuhr, the great November's Doom vocalist. Even a friend from Orphaned land is here - the vocalist Kobi Farchi. It is really a great collection of musicians gathered here and you'll hear it. The music shifts from relaxed Piano or acoustic guitar driven with soft vocals to angry riffs and vocals/growls. and I find the shifts natural and it adds to the songs impact. The third song (No place...) has an eastern feel to it added by Kobi's and Yishai's vocals and the mandolin. Plus you have a nice female voice. Seriously, go and get it, I think people into prog metal (of any kind) will surely like it. People who love fusion as well. For the rest, try it, why not open up a bit?

The artwork in both releases is beatiful and adds to the albums, I love the drawings in the LP (Travis Smith). 

Damn it I did a mess in this recomm, it has no order at all, but I won't rearrange it now, I reckon you'll manage.

Their website:

http://www.submasq.com/

____________________________________________________________ ________

Let me offer you something different than the previous band. I'll make it short without too much descriptions like the previous messy one...

SINKADUS - they are from Sweden. They play symph prog, not too dissimilar from old symph proggers, but they add their touches and personal tones. The album to which I refer is Aurum Nostrum.

This is the lineup of this release:

Line-up
- Rickard Bistrom / bass, vocals, guitar
- Fredrik Karlsson / keyboards
- Mats Svensson / drums
- Lena Petterson / cello
- Robert Sjoback / guitars
- Linda Johansson / flute, vocals

Their sound is made up of several elements. You have the flute relaxed element (Camel), the guitar dynamic element (KC, Anglagard) and the synth extravagant element (ELP). And they intertwine it all very well. for those intimidated by foreign lyrics, they are sung in Swedish. Overall, a very good album and performed very well. I can't see why any symph prog progger would not love this album, unless she/he really can't bare something modern that is influenced/copies old stuff.

Their website:

http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-18973/sinkadus/

____________________________________________________________ _________

here's another realtively unknown prog group in the symph prog vein.

They are KVAZAR from Norway and the album is A Giant's Lullaby , theur second release from 2005.

It is quite a good album, I am still getting to know it gradually. As in the previous band, here too you'll hear resemblances to others (come to think of it, you rarely do not hear them). A melancholic music, fitting for ponderous, sad moods, at night when you're all alone.... But I digress...

The keyboards here give the music a special touch, which I can't quite explain, so you'll have to listen to it. It has a spacey quality to it if that even makes sense. Teh keys mixed with the vocals flute and sax really give this an unearthly sound. The music is beatiful and full of emotions, with nice vocals, flutes and acoustuc guitars. It is a nice and good listen, although I sometimes feel they do not fully fulfill their potential. Maybe in the next releases we'll hear an improvement or a slight shift in direction.

____________________________________________________________ __________

Tonight/today I'd like to recommend an Italian band which has released its first s/t album in 1995. The band is FINISTERRE. The two albums to which I will refer are In Limine & In Ogni Luogo.

As always this is gonna be messy and unorganized so my apologies in advance.

This is basically a symph-prog band with some fusion and jazz tendencies and also some experimental character to it (as can be witnessed throughout their songs, as they like to incorporate strange soundscpaes in them or just plain experimental songs like Preludio and Ideenkleid Leibnitz Frei in In Limine and Snáporaz in In Ogni Luogo). I used the word songs but it is mostly instrumentals and some songs sung in English (i.e. XXV  - In Limine) and some in Italian (i.e. Hispanica, Orrizionte Degli Eventi - In Limine).

The music is filled with jazz influences and also some quirky musical moments, all backed up by the symphonic backbone. There is a dominant flute which performs beatiful tunes and an acoustic guitar to add to the folkish mood and guitars that back the whole music altogether. They also have rock melodies driven by guitars like Tempi Moderni in In Ogni Luogo. There is a beatuful songs in In Limine, XXV in which the singer almost whispers in English along side the ,ellow quiet music, a simple and beatiful tune. This is after the beautiful flute lead first songs that has the usual symph base with a jazz/fusion bit inserted inside it in which the band members are free to jam a bit. The third track is suitable to enter an experimental rock album, very hazy and unstructured. I'll stop describing the album cause I think you get the picture.

My impression is that In Limine is more jazz oriented and more of a mellow mood album (i.e. In Limine, Ideenkleid Leibnitz Frei) and In Ogni Luogo has a more rocky nature and an album to get you more involved and energetic (i.e. Tempi Moderni, Ninive, Coro Elettrico, Agli Amici Sinestetici and Peter's House).

I think In Limine is the place to start with Finisterre.

The following is a link to a short bio of the band from Mellow records for anyone interested:

http://www.mellowrecords.com/finis-en.html

____________________________________________________________ _________

So the band Is AMAGRAMA and they have as of yet only 1 LP release called Ciclotima (actually it is Ciclotimia, there's a mistake in the name here).

It is an Argentinian band that play a sympgonic style of prog, mostly instrumental but with some songs sung in Spanish (I find that the vocalist is quite average but alright, although I guess some people might not like it, a slightly high voice, a bit nasal in nature). The music is very much a combination of lectric guitar and keyboards intertwined and apart, each getting their appropriate exposure time and brough forth in the right time, playing beautiful music, which can be quite complex, many time changes done in a good way. There are some dynamic songs in which the instruments are constantly looking for development of the sounds created (hope it is understandable), the msuci just goes on forward, keeps the basic tune and adding to it or changing it a bit, but it is not improvisation. Two songs I think are very good here are two instrumentals are Ciclotimia and Fabulas de un titere  and they are also the longest on the album (apparently Marcelo thinks the same as stated in his review). As other reviewers noted there is influences of Crucis in their music, and even a Crucis song cover - Recluso Artista. I think that it is a very good first album by a young band (and I mean the members are young) and I believe we can expect great things from them in the future.

____________________________________________________________ ___________

A short post. I heard yesterday an album I ordered a while ago by ENSEMBLE NIMBUS from Sweden. The album I have is Garmonbozia. It is a band in the veins of RIO and some fusion sound in it.

This is a quartet featuing:

- Håkan Almkvist / guitar, bass, keyboard, tapes, loops, FX, voice
- Lars Björk / clarinet, bass-clarinet, altered clarinet, loops
- Hasse Bruniusson / acoustic & electric drums, percussion, voice (ex SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA and now Flower kings)
- Kirk Chilton / viola, violin

Guests: (on Garmonbozia)
- Tomas Bodin / keyboard (3, 4)
- Stefan Carlsson / keyboard (2, 7)

It is an instrumental album, somewhat similar to Etron Fou and Samla. The opening track Three Stories From The Blue Cage and Ducks In Paradise are very good and show the bands capabilities. However, I would have arranged the tracks in a different order in order to make this album more impressive or maybe to make a greater impact at the end of the record.

The band has released two other studio albums, Key Figures & Scapegoat and a live cd Ensemble Nimbus Live .

http://www.tap-records.com/

____________________________________________________________ _________

The band I mentioned a while ago I wanted to recommend is TAAL. They have two releases out, Mister Green from 2000 and Skymind from 2003.

This is a French band. Their music is taking elements from several genres creating an excellent combination of prog with symph, some metal, jazz, classic and some weird folky-violin lead parts. The result is excellent RIO style albums. The songs are built such that they shift and change moods or speed to keep things interesting, and they make the listening much more enjoyable.

The first album is more rock and jazz based than the second. It has some excellent lengthy tracks like the opener Barbituricus, the second Coornibus and the two last Aspartamus and Super Flat Moon. The music itself is beautiful and what needs to be accustomed to is the quirkiness and the strange parts of music intervals and the sometimes strange vocal parts. The singing itself is in English and the French accent is a but evident and disturbing here since it interferes with flow of the songs. Not all tracks are songs though.

In whole this album is less focused than the following release as it has tracks that apparently have nothing to do with each other (Barbituricus and Ragtime and Mr. Green). I don’t particularly like the title song and its follow-up, they sound as if the band was just fooling around and doing a joke. But tracks 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 make this album a worthwhile album to have.

The second album – Skymind. Well, that is another thing. In the opening you hear someone changing stations in a radio and in some stations you hear some songs from the previous record. As if to make us realize that the band have progressed from that stage and they now are ready to move forward. Which they are. Skymind is more focused, more experimental IMO and even more brutal. The opener Skymind and some other tracks have a near metal bits to them. The violin still plays an important part and the guitars are loose to play their wild riffs. The vocals are not so different but now they are more in tune with the overall sound and there are the male and female vocals. The female part has a deep sensual and mysterious sound but the accent is still very much noticeable. There is even a line in Blind Child which sounds as though she sings this in French and not English (Sets it in motion to dust…, sounds like C’est une …).

The second and third tracks have terrific music, quirky folk and circus like that makes you want to dance.

All in all, an excellent release.

They are working on a third album to be released this year.

 http://www.taal.free.fr/

____________________________________________________________ ________________

I usually don't do this and also don't encourage others to do so, but I was quite impressed at the first, second and third listens that I decided to bring to attention this band.

They are OVERHEAD and the album I am refering to is their second release from 2005 Metaepitome. It is a release combning some sympg influences in it while adding their own touch and mark to it. There are occasional song that remond more of the neo-prog bands, but in a good way. This is evidently this bands direction and inclination - A modern sound of symphonic prog that still keeps the original sounds but adds in their own ideas and thoughts of how it should sound and also adding a modern rock feel into the music. I suggest you read this review http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=38750 by Gatot Widayanto, and this one http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=62536 by Erik Neuteboom which give a very good idea on this release.  

Their first release Zumanthum is from 2002 and it is also highly rated here in PA.

You can hear samples through their website:

http://zebra.tky.hut.fi/overhead/

____________________________________________________________ _______________

Now for something quite different from the above mentioned bands.

The band is AHVAK from Israel who have released so far their self titled album Ahvak in 2004.

Chaotic, emotional, crazy, melancholic - this is some of the array of feelings this band manages to convey in this album. As the reviews here say, tracks 3 and 7 are kind of fillers and unessential, but the others more than make up for it. Vivisection is like music to accompany you to a madman's brain. RIO/Avant-Garde at its best. The music tends to be brutal and eccentric. They know very well what they are doing and play very good, creating hunting "melodies". It is a very good debut album, IMO. As another reviewer stated, the production is very clean and he finds it emotionless. There is merit to this claim, but maybe this is what they were after.

A word of warning - It might be difficult to gt into this initially. It is not meant to be a friendly album. Rather a complex and full of emotions journey that the band members take you through.

Track listing
1. Vivisektia (8:30)
2. Bherta (8:25)
3. Regaim (2:41)
4. Ahvak (16:21)
5. Melet (2:53)
6. Hamef Ahakim (13:32)
7. Pirzool (0:58)

Total Time: 53:20

Line-up
- Yehuda Kollon / guitars
- Ishay Sommer bass
- Udi Susser / keyboards, woodwinds, vocals, baglama, darbooka
- Roy Yarkoni / keyboards, piano
- Dave Kerman / drums, percussion
- Udi Koomran / computer

Recognize any name? hint - he plays drums and percussions and was in PRESENT, THINKING PLAGUE, 5UU'S and U TOTEM.

____________________________________________________________ ____________

Anyway, after the 80's threads started up by DallasBryan I started going over 80's releases and there is actually very good stuff from that era, that is really excellent prog and not Neo-prog as is usually thought of when thinking about this era.

There is the excellent must have album Anabelas by BUBU (don't remember if I recommended it. If not, Get it. I can compare it to Ys by IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO, another essential album).

But what I really wanted to mention here is the album Marsbéli Krónikák (Martian Chronicles)  by Hungarians SOLARIS from 1984, based on the book The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, if I am not mistaken.

This a dynamic album but the music is not complex. There are three dominant instruments sharing the fromt stage - a flute, electric guitar and heavy synth. while the flute give the album its more elegant side the synth give it a bombastic element aided by the guitar. The msuci is most of the time relentless and always on the move keeping the listener in this Martian world till the end of the album.  

Well worth checking out, as well as other fine 80's prog releases.

http://www.solarismusic.com/

____________________________________________________________ _______________

Thanks to the Japanese prog thread I got acquainted with several more Japanese groups.

One of them is INTERPOSE who released in 2005 the album Interpose+.

Labeled here under symphonic prog, this is not covering their entire spectrum (as is the case for white willow), since not only there are clear elements of the symphonic genre, but also a strong jazz rock side to their music.

For their history & biography I leave you to read it in their page here in PA. It is quite long interesting. They create very pleasent atmospheres in their pieces. Some songs have the female vocalist Sayuri Aruga doing a very good work. There is a violin in Dayflower played by Akihisa Tsuboy from KBB and it sounds very good, adding much to the song. Zitensia, is very much a jazz rock song, excellent guitar work by Renji Tanaka  and as Erik says in his review, it evokes a little Mahavishnu Orchestra (not a clone, but reminds a bit). THe last track, Last Sign, is extraordinary with the same jazz rock feel plus a hammond organ giving the music a groovy and slightly majestic feel to it.       The production is good ant not sterile clean, so there is this crisp to it, unlike some other contemporary groups who prefer clean production.

All in all, a very good combination of symphonic and jazz-rock album. I can't wait for their next release.

Their website:

http://www.interpose.jp/

____________________________________________________________ _________

MALDOROR - L'Arbre-Cimetière

As stated in their biography written by Lise, they have been together for ten years under two other names before recording this album. This album is I think quite an accomplishment as it manages to have the sound of "old prog" with recognized sounds from past bands, such as Genesis, Ange, King Crimosn and others and at the some time be original and create a sound of their own! The keyboards are excellent in giving the music a slightly depressive sound but full of passion and they are backed up by good guitar work. The vocals are IMO, excellent and fit the music perfectly. The msuci itself is beautiful and without knowing this is a concept album you can feel it from the music alone - you'll understand when you'll hear it. This is one of my favourite albums of the recent years.

Listen to it!

____________________________________________________________ _________

I've been listening yesterday and this morning to the album Io Sono Murple from 1974, the only release by the band MURPLE.

Teh album is made of 12 songs, but they are divided into two parts of connected songs that make up two long tracks of 17:38 and 16:37 minutes. Deeply based in the symphonic style, with heavy use of keyboadrs that alternate between slow and gloomy parts to dynamic evil sounding parts, with the guitars to back it up.

Apparently it is a concept album about a penguine named Murple (which is seen on the cover) that decides to leave his home and go see the big world and in his tavels he meets an evil man.

The music is beautiful and varied enough to keep us always waiting to hear what will be next. It may not be totally original, and you may have already heard that in pther bands, Italian and others alike, but it is done very well, and the musicianship is quite good and the pieces are composed in a good way. In the end it is a very beautiful music, and that is what matters to me.

I find this album very good and it is starting to be one of my favourites along ALPHATAURUS s/t album and others from the Italian Symphonic Prog scene.

____________________________________________________________ ___________

This time I want to refer you to the album Les Porches released in 1975 by the Quebecois group MANEIGE.

Well, this album is simply outstanding, beautiful music built as a symphony of sort with much instrumentation in it. Take a look at the lineup and their instruments to get the idea:

Line-up
- Alain Bergeron / keyboards, flute, saxophone
- Jérome Langlois / keyboards, guitar, clarinet
- Vincent Langlois / keyboards, percussion
- Denis Lapierre / acoustic & electric guitars
- Yves Léonard / acoustic & electric basses
- Paul Picard / percussion, bongos, xylophone
- Gilles Schetagne / drums, percussion
+ Raoul Duguay / vocals, trombone 

The majority here is instrumental with some sparse lyrics in French on one track, which fit in the overall mood very well. Though they are here labeled inder Jazz/Fusion this is part of the picture since there is much more to it as the structure of the pieces will evidently show you. There are classic music (heavy) influences in the composition (for example the first track) and there is a dominant symphonic side to the music along side some folk bits here and there.

It is a crime that this band and this album in particular are almost unspoken of here in PA and overall. This is a gem! This deserves a 5 star rating - Masterpiece.

____________________________________________________________ ___________

This one is about a band which is featured here on PA but I have yet yo see a thread about them.

The band is avant-garde OPUS AVANTRA from Italy. The album is Lord Cromwell (plays suite for seven vices) from 1975 which has no written reviews here, only 1 unwritten rating.

This is avant-garde blending several genres - Classic, Opera, Jazz, and simply quirly music textures with piano and flute fighting between them to determine who will be the most insane as can be heard on "Ira". Other tracks have a more calssic feel to them even being opera like, as can be heard on the first track Flowers on Pride . The second track begins with a piano playing for several minutes and then it becomes a bit quirky with a synth producing some weird sounds, and the piano switching to a style common to avant-garde pieces of modern music. The third track begins with a nice piano and then joins the percussions and a choir starts singing eith flute accompanying them. Quite a "normal" track for this album. I won't go on with boring you on the rest.

I want to track down their later albums from 1989 Strata and Lyrics from 1995 which seem to get more good reviews.

I hope this band get more attention than the current almost lack of interest. It may not be an essential or even amazing band but it deserves recognition for their music and their originality.

____________________________________________________________ _______________

Things have gotten a bit slow lately. Maybe the two threads by Erik about new prog will stir things up a bit.

I want to focus your attention on a Mexican band that has been mentioned in those two above mentioned threads.

The band is CABEZAS DE CERA and the album which I will shortly talk about is their first self titled album Cabezas de Cera from 2000.

I must say that as for originality, this band wins most of the points. Not your typical prog. Classified here under art-rock since describing their style is tricky, therefore, art-rock (the category for "we can not classify them in a genre") is the chosen description. 

Essentially an instrumental band (except for some narrative like vocals on Pretexto A Un Texto Fragmentado). The percussions department here is quite a busy and much varied one. I really love the job Francicso Sotelo  does here, he gives the music such a special atmosphere with his instruments. Ramses Luna with all of his wind instruments (flutes, sax and clarinet) leads the music and gives a sort of ethnic tone to it. Mauricio Sotelo  provides the rythm with his guitars and bass. there are several guest musicians completing the sound and the overall result is an original, intriguing and satisfying listen. I would not call this Latino-prog as I heard several times. There are some Latin inuendos in some songs, but that is it. WHat I do hear is some tribal like music, Jazz, rock and some other small additions. A refreshing and very good album.

____________________________________________________________ _____________

The band: EAST OF EDEN

The album: Snafu

In this album it is evident that this band is plainly having fun playing its stuff. THe music bursts out with full Joi de vivre, the guitars, violin and saxes giving rise to the musicians feelings and demonstrating their talents, which are not to be underestimated. The music takes on occasionally a slightly mad rythm with the saxes just playing in a frenzied manner (as in Gum Arabic). Other times the music is like plain rockm with guitar solos (Nymphenburger). There is a blues/rock basis to the songs in this albums, and it is noticeable, but they manage to give an additional value, and turn it into something more, hence make it progressive. Track 7 which is made up of 3 parts has this Arabic tone to it and then it becomes amorphic, sort of abstract jazz track with the guitar and violin releasing their frustrations and go on later to create a beautiful ensemble (a bit vague this description, I know). The sound is "dirty" and very fitting the mood here.

All in all, a very enjoyable album and recommended.

http://www.eastofedentheband.com/

____________________________________________________________ _____________

Today I want to recommend the Spanish band ATILA which released albums, Beginning of the End 1975, Intencion in 1976 and Reviure  in 1977.

There is heavy use of Hammond, Moog and Mellotron and it is mainly instrumental. They do change the moods in their songs but not in a sudden and hasty way, more subtly. They jam a bit in their music alongsideplaying the main themes of their pieces. For instance in the track El Principio del Fin  you get the heavy keyboards, some hard edged rock guitar playing, classic prog tunes andplaying etc. Both Intencion and Reviure are worth having, IMO. Sorry I don't go on about the music, but I seem to be at a los for words right now....

____________________________________________________________ _________________

Another one for today.

The band: DÜN

Their only album: Eros from 1981

This album is without a doubt on of the best prog albums to come out of France, and one of the best in the genre. This album has 4 tracks and 4 bonus tracks of which 3 are alternative versions of the album tracks. What amazing music comprised of mixture of symphonic, avantgarde, Zheul and other styles of music. The musicianship is impeccable. The drums are excellent! The bass playing is awesome as well. Instrumental extravaganza. There is also a flute which either leads the music or just accompanies it, giving the music a naughty side. There is also a piano and other keyboards thrown in there, but there is no chaos in the music, there is a clear path to the tracks, and it flows on so well. There are also percussions sounding exactly like xylophones, which give it a sound of a modern day symphony. The music is dynamic and a bit crazy at times and the tempo changes often, certain disharmonies, complex, aggressive at times, and shifts from fast tempo's to slower ones. A musthave.  

Track listing
1. L'Epice (9:25)
2. Arrakis (9:36)
3. Bitonio (7:09)
4. Eros (10:17)
5. Bitonio (alternate) (10:20)
6. Arrakis (alternate) (5:07)
7. Eros (alternate) (7:11)
8. Acoustic Fremen (unreleased) (6:17)

Total Time: 65:22

Line-up
- Laurent Bertaud / drums
- Jean Geeraerts / electric guitar, acoustic guitar
- Bruno Sabathe / piano, synthesizers
- Alain Termol / percussions
- Thierry Tranchant / bass
- Pascal Vandenbulcke / flutes

With:
- Philippe Portejoi /sax

____________________________________________________________ _____________

Enjoy and a good week to all the PA community.