Third
of Never - Moodring ($9.99)
Third
of Never - Moodring ($9.99)
This is a short CD at 31:37, hence the low price. The first three tracks
(12-minutes) of the CD are why this is here. John “Rabbit” Bundrick, keyboardist
of The Who, guests on this CD, and though it isn’t spelled out which tracks he
plays on, one can guess he plays on the first three. He certainly plays
Mellotron on the first track Mystic Slide. This song is a Mellotron wet
dream and will startle
those old enough to remember the days of bands such as Spring and Fantasy. It
sounds like something from 1970, from the period when psychedelic pop was
becoming progressive rock. Slathered with powerful Mellotron strings, it is a style you
probably thought you’d heard the last of. The next two tracks Bag of Boxes
and DJ are almost as good. The rest of the CD is power pop, a
modern, high-energy take on The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Who. If only the
whole CD had stayed in the British proto-prog style, we’d be talking retro
masterpiece. If you have an affinity for the power pop style too, then this is a
no-brainer.
Sergey Dudin -
Mirage ($14.99)
Despite the fact these CDs are released on the Moscow-based MALS progressive
rock label, most of the musicians have Russian names and Dudin’s website is
partially in Cyrillic, Dudin lives in Philadelphia! So it may be that the musicians are
from the Russian diaspora in the U.S., or perhaps the albums were recorded in
Russia. The title of Guitar Ballads is misleading,
since most people seeing “ballads” are probably bracing for the worst sort of
commercial dreck. Guitar Ballads really just contains Dudin’s more
lyrical compositions, all instrumental except for one vocal number in English.
Many of the tracks are close to Camel, with the expressive lead guitar and
symphonic keyboard backdrop. A couple tracks get a little too close to jazz-lite,
and the drums are programmed, but overall this should appeal to fans of melodic
guitar-based prog instrumentals. The music dates from 2002 but this CD edition
is from 2006 and contains a bonus video track.
Eternal Call dates from 1999, reissued by MALS in 2006 with a bonus video track. This album is a different animal. Dudin employs a human drummer along with several other musicians. This is for all intents and purposes the Russian Pink Floyd (circa Dark Side of the Moon / Wishing You Were Here), with lyrics in Russian. Dudin does his best David Gilmour impersonation, but all of the essential Pink Floyd elements are there. 62-minutes of guaranteed bliss for the Floyd fan.
Mirage dates from 1995; this is the 2007
re-edition. A bassist and drummer are listed, but at least some of the bass and
drums are programmed. Whether or not the title is an intentional reference to
Camel, there is some Camel influence, but the music is much closer to the
progressive rock albums of Jeremy (American Jeremy
Morris, who released two albums on the Kinesis label, one on MALS, and a slew of
them on his own label). Dudin and Jeremy have similar lead electric guitar tones
and styles -- Dudin is a bit more demonstrative, but just as lyrical -- and they
both usually play over a bed of symphonic keyboards and straight-forward
rhythms. The album is instrumental except for the majestic last track, which
features a guest vocalist (English lyrics). Maybe not the last word in melodic
guitar-centric prog instrumentals, but definitely one that hits the spot.
63-minutes.
Dyonisos
- An Incidental Collection ($14.99)
Hidden behind the Dyonisos moniker is American musician Dan Cowan, who
handles all instruments and sings. The 74-minute self-titled CD was released in
2005, though it isn’t certain when the music was recorded. An Incidental Collection
(61-minutes) was recorded between 2003-2006 and released in 2007. The music is
firmly in the spacey Pink Floyd
style circa Dark Side of the Moon. Cowan’s Gilmour-esque lead guitar is the
highlight, the keys are expertly layered and provide all the necessary textures,
the songs are well-written and the production is very good. The vocals sound a
bit like Camel’s vocals up through Moonmadness. The drums are programmed,
but as the songs mostly stick to standard Pink
Floyd tempo, the drums aren't as important as they might be. Fans of
early-to-mid 1970’s Pink Floyd owe it to themselves to check out Dyonisos.
Stencil
Forest - The Abyss ($12.99)
Stencil Forest is an American progressive band originally from Indiana and
now in Colorado. They have an tremendous singer in Doug Andersen, whose voice is
similar to Barry Palmer (Triumvirat). Opening Act was originally released
on LP in 1983, then remixed and remastered in 2004 for this CD. It is
instantly-likeable symphonic progressive with some pomp rock and AOR, suggesting
Starcastle, Kansas, and early Ambrosia. Two bonus tracks (only one is listed).
23-years after Opening Act and we have The Abyss (2006,
72-minutes) from the reformed band. While its impact may not be as immediate as
Opening Act, The Abyss is the one with greater staying power, as
the band demonstrate greater maturity. The ballads and softer passages are
sometimes reminiscent of Kayak. The 24-minute title suite is the highlight,
almost a lesson in class and understatement. This is the way bands such as
Sebastian Hardie and Supertramp used to make music, tasteful to a fault, and it
has otherwise been lost. The production is completely professional, as is the CD
booklet. Read the Sea of Tranquility review of
The Abyss.
Amaran’s
Plight - Voice in the Light ($12.99)
We’ll spare you the use of the term “supergroup” and just say that Amaran’s
Plight is a new band comprising Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery), DC Cooper
(Silent Force, Royal Hunt), Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard), and Kurt Barabas
(Under The Sun). Michael Sadler (Saga) sings on two tracks. From that list of
parent bands, one can get a good idea of the style on Voice in the Light
(2007), which is bombastic symphonic prog and prog-metal, in the style often
associated with the Magna Carta label, Magellan included. Ayreon is another
reference point. An excellent album, but clearly one with more appeal to the
Dream Theater set than the classic 70’s progressive set. 79-minutes.
A
Chinese Firedrill - Circles ($12.99)
Circles (2006) is a project of veteran bassist Joey Vera, who has
been involved with Fates Warning and a bunch of other metal bands, OSI, and
Chroma Key. Vera sings and plays guitar, bass, and keys, while Greg Studgio
handles the drums, and between them they achieve a full band sound. This is
quite a nice modern progressive rock record in the (recent) Porcupine Tree, OSI,
and Chroma Key camp. This is the 2007 ProgRock Records edition. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a
3:19 audio sampler of the album.
Areknamés - Love Hate Round Trip ($16.99)
Areknamés are a retro-sounding Italian prog band on the Black Widow label.
Their sound comes closest to Van der Graaf Generator, and as with most of the
music on the label, their self-titled 2002 debut is dark, murky, dreamy, gothic, and comes no
further forward than the early 1970’s. The vocals are in English, but it matters little since they are so buried in the
mix. Their 2nd, Love Hate Round Trip (2005, 78-minutes), is clearly
superior. The production is improved, the music is more symphonic, powerful, and
very close to Van der Graaf. One song is a Gnidrolog cover. Along with the 2nd
Il Bacio della Medusa, this is one of the most
symphonic albums on the Black Widow label, and anyone requiring a
retro prog fix need look no further. Read reviews at ProgArchives of Areknamés
first CD
and Love Hate Round Trip.
Persephone’s
Dream - Pyre of Dreams ($12.99)
Pyre of Dreams (2007) is the fourth CD of female-fronted progressive
rock for western Pennsylvania’s Persephone’s Dream. In addition to vocalists
Colleen Gray and Heidi Engel, DC Cooper (Silent Force, Royal Hunt) sings lead on
two songs and backing vocals on several others, the first use of male vocals for
the band. The female vocals range from beautiful to sultry to powerful, while
the music is contemporary-sounding progressive with gothic overtones, with some
proggy organ tying it to the past. This is prog with crossover appeal to rock
and metal, but it is very arty, with a luxuriant sound and themes inspired by
fantasy, sci-fi, and mythology, mainly Once and Future King stuff. (In
addition to Cornwall and Brittany, Pittsburgh now lays claim to the King Arthur
legend.) 71-minutes.
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Geoffrey Downes / The New Dance Orchestra - The Bridge ($17.99)
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Torman
Maxt - The Problem of Pain: Part 1 ($10.99)
The Problem of Pain: Part 1 (2007) is the 3rd CD by this U.S. band, consisting of five
suites. Torman Maxt were initially influenced by Rush circa 2112,
but like Rush themselves, they refined their music into a more sophisticated
progressive rock. Though Rush remains the dominant influence, Torman Maxt
diverged from Rush, adding some Yes influence and making good use of acoustic
guitar. The vocals are in the mid-to-high range, with a passing resemblance to
Geddy Lee. The vibe is positive, and the musicianship is sensitive rather than technical. Though
the arrangements are complex, there is plenty of melody.
The
Reasoning - Awakening ($16.99)
The Reasoning is a UK prog band formed by ex-Magenta and ex-Erasmus bassist Matthew
Cohen and featuring former Karnataka singer Rachel Jones. In addition to Jones,
the band has two excellent male vocalists. The band is so overstocked with vocal
talent that Jones sings harmony vocals as often as lead. Their 2007 debut Awakening was mixed by Dave Meegan
(U2, Marillion), while Steve Rothery (Marillion) guests. Don’t expect Magenta, as
The Reasoning is somewhat more of a (conventional) rock band, but there are
plenty of keyboards and loads of progressive appeal. A great debut with strong songs.
Apple
Pie - Crossroad ($14.99)
Crossroad (2007) is the debut by a quartet that reviewers almost always
describe as the Russian Spock’s Beard (Neal Morse era). Thing is, you’d never
guess they were Russian because their sound is as American as (wait for it)...
apple pie. Dream Theater is also frequently mentioned, referring to D.T.’s more
symphonic moments rather than their metallic side. The production is polished
and professional, so this will thrill fans of the Beard and similar contemporary
progressive rock bands. 79-minutes. More Russian and East
European progressive CDs.
Magic
Pie - Circus of Life ($17.99)
Norway’s Magic Pie have quickly become one of the most talked-about progressive rock bands, especially after performances at both Rosfest 2006 and 2007. Motions of Desire (2004, 75-minutes) is Magic Pie’s debut; this is the 2005 remastered edition on Progress Records. This one just keeps on selling. Circus of Life (2007) is their equally good 64-minute second album. In true progressive fashion, its 46-minute title suite is divided into five parts, of which one part is further subdivided into four parts.
In addition to influences of early 1970’s progressive rock bands, Magic Pie blend in influences of early 70’s melodic and hard rock bands, in the same
manner as Finnish band Five Fifteen, though Magic Pie are much proggier. With
Hammond organ as Magic Pie’s weapon of choice, Deep Purple and Atomic Rooster
could be two of those influences. And with four vocalists, Magic Pie have those
great harmony vocals, something that has largely been lost in modern rock. A lot
of what Magic Pie do will appeal to fans of The Flower Kings, Spock’s Beard,
and Transatlantic. Ultimately, Magic Pie’s greatest success may be that they
capture the spirit of earlier bands without copying the style of any of them,
and their albums have a positive vibe that will restore the spirits of those
whose hearts are in the 70’s. Read reviews of
Circus of Life
and
Motions of Desire.
More Scandinavian progressive CDs.
Twelfth Night -
Voices in the Night (2CD, $21.99)Hopefully most prog fans are familiar with this British band who, along with
Marillion, IQ, Pallas, Pendragon, and Haze, spearheaded the progressive revival
of the 1980’s. The double-CD Voices in the Night (2007) contains
unreleased recordings featuring all the vocalists associated with Twelfth Night.
CD 1 is a collection of studio rarities including three tracks with Electra from
the Twelfth Night Early Material album. A rare track with short-tenure
singer Ian Lloyd Jones is followed by three with Geoff Mann and four with Andy
Sears. The track with Axe is the only recording with him on vocals. The last
vocalist, Martyn Watson, contributes four tracks. CD2 is a live disc. The first
two tracks have been repeatedly requested by fans as they are the lost encores
from Geoff’s final Marquee show, which were captured on Live and Let Live
but space did not permit inclusion there, so this is their first release on CD.
Tracks with Andy Sears and Martyn Watson follow before a version of Love Song
with both Geoff and Andy singing. The package includes sleeve notes by band
members Brian Devoil and Electra, plus a collection of rare photos.
More info and more Twelfth Night CDs here.
Alex Carpani - Waterline ($12.99)
Classically trained at the University of Bologna in composition and piano,
composer/arranger Carpani continues the great Italian keyboard-centric prog rock
tradition. His fluid and inventive keyboards are accompanied by an American rhythm section.
Waterline (2007, digipack) is mostly instrumental but does feature Aldo Tagliapietra (Le Orme) on vocals
and is between the Italian and British 1970’s progressive rock styles. Dan Shapiro
(Clearlight) and Ken Jaquess (K2, Atlantis) play bass, while Neil Bettencourt (Clearlight)
plays drums. A number of guitarists contribute, among them Tony Spada (Holding Pattern).
The cover art is by Paul Whitehead. Read the
Sea of Tranquility review.
Rich
Casey - House of Cards ($11.99)
House of Cards, the 2007 2nd album by Boston’s (the city, not the band) Rich Casey, is a keyboard-centric progressive rock album and is more band-oriented than his first CD. Casey still handles keys and electric guitar but has brought in a drummer on seven of the tracks, a female singer on five tracks, a male singer on one, and a guest guitarist. 1970’s Genesis/Tony Banks remains the dominant influence, while a few tracks have more of a Goblin or Il Balletto di Bronzo feel. 59-minutes.
No Way Out, Casey’s 2006 debut album,
divides its time between progressive rock and symphonic/melodic/rhythmic synth
music. Apart from a drummer who plays on three tracks, a female singer on one
track and a soprano sax player on another, this is Casey’s show. While it’s a
keyboard-dominated album, Casey also plays electric guitar on nearly half the
tracks. His primary influence is Tony Banks, and even the synth music tracks
often sound like Tony Banks doing solo synth music. 69-minutes. Clicking the mp3
icons above will stream 128Kbps mp3 excerpts from the corresponding CD.
Shadow
Circus - Welcome to the Freakroom ($12.99)
This is the debut by a New York City band who go for a classic 1970’s
progressive rock sound (Yes, Rush, Kansas, Pink Floyd, Led Zep) with a somewhat
more contemporary guitar style and energy. Vocalist David Bobick has a degree in
musical theater and brings some of that feel to these songs. The first five
tracks are more vocal-heavy, but the album culminates with the 12-minute
Journey of Everyman suite, which is the progressive tour de force and is
loaded with instrumental fireworks. There is something similar in Shadow
Circus’s approach to that of Puppet Show, the way both bands have absorbed
mostly British 70’s progressive influences but add a contemporary energy and
American flavor. Other modern reference points might be Transatlantic and The
Tangent. This album was first released on CD by the band in February 2007, but
this 2nd edition on ProgRock Records has been remixed and is a significant sonic
upgrade.
Vertical
Alignment - Signposts ($12.99)
Signposts (2007) is the first full-length (and then some) CD for U.S.
symphonic prog band Vertical Alignment, who are one of a loose coalition of prog
bands mostly from the southeastern U.S., united by their Christian-oriented
lyrics and themes. This is very accomplished progressive rock with Yes as the
dominant influence, Genesis as another, as well as the more American flavor of
Kansas and Glass Hammer. Among the guests on the CD are Randy George and Wil
Henderson of Ajalon; Steve Babb, Fred Schendel and David Wallimann of Glass
Hammer; Carl Groves of Salem Hill; and Kevin Jarvis of Farpoint. With Vertical
Alignment’s strong vocals and melodies and the CD’s playing time of nearly
80-minutes with no weak tracks, this is highly recommended to fans of classic
symphonic prog. Get on board with this band now, as they’ve already mapped out
plans for their next three CDs!
Dave
Kulju - Abstract Expression ($9.99)Dave Kulju is the guitarist of the band
Electrum, who have released two CDs of instrumental progressive rock. Abstract Expression (2007, digipack) is
also an instrumental progressive rock album, and if it was advertised as the
third Electrum album, none would be the wiser. While Kulju plays electric &
acoustic guitars, bass, drums, guitar synth, keyboards and programming, a number
of talented guest musicians contribute drums, organ, theremin, and violin.
Guitar has most of the lead work, but there are a lot of keyboards adding
symphonic and spacey textures. In this way, the music
is similar to Rush during their prime, though Rush is only one of several
influences. This album is more imaginative than most guitarist’s CDs, more
richly textured and symphonic. In fact, forget it’s a guitarist’s CD and just
think of it as a very enjoyable instrumental progressive rock album at an
attractive price. Here is an 5:20 mp3
sampler of the whole album.
Steve Unruh - The
Great Divide ($11.99)
Steve Unruh - Invisible Symphony ($10.99)
These are progressive folk-rock albums from multi-instrumentalist/singer Steve Unruh. We don’t use the term progressive here lightly. The rock passages are high energy, and Unruh favors epic length tracks. Believe? (1997), his first, consists of two continuous suites, while most of the other albums are full of very long tracks. Unruh’s music is highly orchestrated and full of changes, and he’ll readily admit to being a major Yes and Dream Theater fan. While Unruh’s main instruments are acoustic guitar and drums, he also adds bass, violin, mandolin, flute, and percussion. His lyrics are insightful, intelligent, and entertaining. The dynamic range on these albums approaches that of classical music, a refreshing change from today’s overcompressed pop and rock music. There are few artists working in this style; we’d mention Guy Manning, Kevin Gilbert, and perhaps Neal Morse as reference points.
Prog fans should especially be drawn to Two Little Awakenings (TLA), sonically the densest of his albums, some of the pieces recorded on 48 tracks. Two Little Awakenings was originally released in 2001 as a handmade double CD-R. In 2005, Unruh edited TLA down to a single CD, remixed and remastered it using technology and experience he lacked in 2001, and had it properly manufactured. So consider this the “TLA official edition”. The tracks that Unruh has left off were the assorted short songs and the lengthy improvisations, yielding a much more cohesive album containing some of Unruh’s best work.
Invisible Symphony (2002) is a slight departure from the others in that it is instrumental and less aggressive. Here Unruh emphasizes his “secondary” instruments more, especially the violin. It’s his warmest album, blending American folk melodies (themselves descended from Scottish and Irish folk music) with his progressive approach.
Out of the Ashes (2004) is simultaneously Unruh’s most rock-oriented and most personal disc to date, very fiery, with a more aggressive tone than the others. We’re again reminded of Guy Manning, though Out of the Ashes is more guitar-oriented. Here Unruh focuses on acoustic, electric, classical, and electric classical guitars, electric bass and drum kit, with flute and violin in secondary roles, and just a bit of synth and electronic percussion. And vocals of course. With the guitar orientation, some of this crosses over into modern rock territory, except that they don’t allow 40-minute suites there, and Out of the Ashes is just too challenging and progressive.
Unruh’s describes Song to the Sky (2005) stylistically as a cross between The Beginning of a New Day (1998) and Invisible Symphony. Aside from electric bass, the textures here are all acoustic. The album is less angry and more reflective than Out of the Ashes, and Unruh’s production skills are at their peak. 62-minutes. Read ProgressiveWorld.net reviews of Song to the Sky, Out of the Ashes, Invisible Symphony, Two Little Awakenings, and The Beginning of a New Day.
The Great Divide (2007, 59-minutes) is now our
favorite of Unruh’s albums, solidly progressive and yet, acoustic! This album
may change your perception of what acoustic music can be. There are bass and
drums, the music is complex and powerful, even heavy at times. Call it heavy
wood. Unruh plays everything with consummate skill: steel and nylon-string
acoustic guitar, violin, drum kit, 4 and 5-string bass, flutes, mandolin and
percussion, but this in no way sounds like a solo project. At times, this album
suggests an American equivalent of Jethro Tull (maybe it was the flute that made
this apparent), substituting Americana for Tull’s Englishness and whimsy. The
centerpiece of the album is the 36-minute title suite. As Unruh says in the
liner notes: “I love odd time signatures, uncommon scales and harmonies, and
ambitious subject material. I tried to make The Great Divide an album
that people like me would love.” There’s an entire free,
downloadable sampler CD here which includes one track from The Great Divide.
JEBO -
Sinking Without You ($17.99)
Sinking Without You (2006, digipack) is the debut CD by British quintet
JEBO, who are on the melodic rock or classic rock side of progressive. Their
music is built around the passionate and thoughtful songwriting of guitarist Rob
Allen and the lead vocals of James Hollingsworth, both of which are first-rate.
Keyboardist Nicholas O’Neill concentrates on organ and piano which, along with a
fair amount of acoustic and clean guitar tones, gives JEBO an organic sound.
Excellent production on this album courtesy of John Burns (Genesis) and Ben
Findlay (Peter Gabriel). By “classic rock”, we don’t mean to suggest that JEBO
sound like a 1970’s band. Their sound is contemporary, but the lineage of all
the great British rock bands can be heard on this CD.
Tinyfish -
same ($15.99)
First there was just Fish. Now we have Strangefish, Beardfish, and Tinyfish.
London-based Tinyfish bill themselves as “the world’s smallest prog rock
band”. Their singer, Simon Godfrey, is the brother of Jem Godfrey of Frost.
Tinyfish’s 2006 debut is on the melodic rock side of neo-prog, with influences
of Pink Floyd, Marillion, and others. The focus is on
the songs, atmosphere, strong vocals and vocal harmonies, all hallmarks of the
current crop of British prog bands. A string quintet on one song is a nice
touch, as is the spoken word on several tracks.
Daryl Stuermer -
Go ($14.99)
Daryl Stuermer -
Waiting in the Wings ($14.99)Daryl Stuermer is known for being Genesis’ live guitarist following the departure of Steve Hackett, also as a member of Phil Collins’ band since 1982, and a member of Jean-Luc Ponty’s band from 1975-78. Rewired is a compilation of Daryl’s personal favorites from his own back catalog, newly edited and completely remastered. These are great guitar-centric rock/fusion instrumentals, all on the melodic progressive side of things. Other musicians are used on keyboards, bass and drums. The keyboards in particular often show an 80’s/90’s Genesis/Tony Banks influence.
Go is Stuermer’s 2007 release and one of his best, full of feel-good fusion, heavy on the rock, melody and energy. Bass duties are split between Leland Sklar and Eric Harvey, John Colarco handles the drums and Kostia plays keys. One can hear influences of Stuermer’s time with Jean-Luc Ponty, with Phil Collins, and the smooth jazz underpinnings of Stuermer’s past work.
The other titles are from Stuermer’s back catalog: Retrofit (2004), Waiting in the Wings (2001), Another Side of Genesis (2000), and Live and Learn (1998). Sweetbottom was Stuermer’s 1970’s fusion band and a legend in his hometown of Milwaukee. The Sweetbottom Live CD was recorded at their December 2002 reunion gigs with the 1970’s lineup plus keyboardist Kostia. This is top-notch melodic/symphonic fusion.
Another Side of Genesis
contains instrumental versions of Genesis songs from the 1978-1992 era when
Stuermer was with the band. Needless to say, these arrangements are quite
different from the originals and cast new light on the compositions, which is
the point of recording someone else’s songs, but it is clear that Stuermer loves
and respects the songs. Stuermer jokes that this is his only album that ever
made money. His solo albums demonstrate that he deserves much better.
Puppet
Show - The Tale of Woe ($12.99)
It took a while after their 1998 debut Traumatized on the Kinesis
label, but Puppet Show are back in 2007 with their 60-minute 2nd CD The Tale of Woe.
All the band members return, except the new Puppet Show drummer is Chris
Mack (Iluvatar, Pedal Giant Animals). The recording quality has improved, and
the album was mixed by Terry Brown of Rush fame. Otherwise the music will be
familiar to fans of Traumatized. Puppet Show don’t play neo-prog and,
except for a few spots, don’t play prog-metal. They just take the classic
symphonic prog style and do it with the modern aesthetic: more aggressive,
heavier, higher-energy. Mike Grimes’ keyboards are always at the center of
things, favoring vintage sounds, and the instrumental passages are of
considerable complexity. Worth the wait.
Read the
DPRP review. (It’s probably worth pointing out that the band’s name is most
likely a Spinal Tap reference. Watch the movie, you’ll see it on a marquee.)
Starcastle
- Song of Times ($12.99)
Starcastle was a very Yes-influenced American band of the mid-to-late 1970’s and one of the best American progressive bands, now active again. They released three good albums during the 70’s before bowing to record company pressure and finishing with the commercial Real to Reel (which even the band feels should never have been released). Fountains of Light (1976), their 2nd, is their best album. Citadel (1977) is their 3rd. Their first CD seems to be out-of-print.
Song of Times is the 2007 comeback CD from Starcastle and
includes all the original members: the late Gary Strater (bass, vocals), Matt
Stewart (guitars, vocals), Steve Tassler (drums, vocals, keyboards), Herb
Schildt (keyboards), Steve Hagler (guitar, vocals), and Terry Luttrell (vocals),
alongside new lead vocalist Al Lewis (Alaska) and guitarist Bruce Botts.
Keyboardist John O’Hara, the other half of Alaska (see below), plays on three
tracks. While Song of Times is not the equal of the first two Starcastle
albums, it does recapture much of their classic sound, including the vocal
harmonies. Overall it’s a little more direct than those first albums, but about
as good as one could expect in a 2007 comeback album. Beautiful artwork
throughout by Ed Unitsky. Gary, thanks for the parting gift.
Canvas -
Digital Pigeon ($11.99)American progressive rock band Canvas debuted in 2002 with the 2CD Avenues , which is now out-of-print. The band has a quintessential American 1970’s style, sometimes close to the U.S. Now or Under the Big Tree, though there are also occasional similarities to early Camel. You might even call some of this an American Canterbury style, in that it is slightly jazz inflected, has a generally relaxed vibe, and eschews bombast and drama. There is also a folk element in the vocal tracks, especially where acoustic guitar is prominent, probably owing something to both America and Kansas. Perhaps if Steely Dan or Phish decided to play progressive rock, the result would sound something like this.
Digital Pigeon (2007) is a stronger sophomore
effort, with more overt progressive stylings, though the essential style is the
same, a blend of symphonic prog and a 1970’s pop/rock aesthetic. The band is
strengthened by the presence of Greg Lounsberry (Laserdogs)
on several tracks, contributing both vocals and guitar, and the addition of
brass on a few tracks. The album is 77 minutes long, and of the 14 tracks, one
is a cover of Saga’s Catwalk and one is Jaco Pastorius’ Teen Town.
Planet
X - Quantum ($14.99)
Derek Sherinian - Black Utopia ($13.99)Whether with his band Planet X or under his own name, ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian makes some of the best heavy instrumental keyboard rock and fusion you’ll hear, with virtuosos on each instrument. Mythology (2004, digipack) features the usual all-star cast, including Allan Holdsworth, Jerry Goodman, Simon Phillips, Steve Lukather (Toto), Tony Franklin, Steve Stevens, Zakk Wylde, and others. This record features a mixture of all Sherinian’s styles: prog-metal, melodic proggy rock and jazz-inflected material, and high-energy fusion. It features one song with vocals, a first for a Sherinian album. Black Utopia (2003, digipack) features Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Al DiMeola, Jerry Goodman, Tony Franklin, Simon Phillips, and Billy Sheehan.
Sherinian again recruited a number of name musicians for his 5th album Blood of the Snake (2006, digipack). They include John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony Franklin, Simon Phillips, Jerry Goodman, Billy Idol, and others. This is fusion-prog-metal because it says so on the sticker on the cover. The emphasis is usually on demonstrative playing, but Sherinian does slow things down on several tracks for some sensitive and melodic music. There are two vocal songs, which won’t be the highlight for prog fans, but the instrumentals more than make up for them.
The fourth Planet X studio album Quantum (2007,
digipack) features founding members Sherinian and Virgil Donati plus a number of
guest musicians including Allan Holdsworth on two tracks. This again is
fusion-prog-metal. There is enough heavy guitar to satisfy the headbangers, but
the music has much more in common with Allan Holdsworth and the first UK lineup
than Dream Theater, particularly in the harmonic sophistication. Yes, you can
add metal guitar to anything and it blends like oil and water. If Sherinian
would like to make an album that can stand with those of UK and Holdsworth,
he’ll have to omit the metal. Probably not going to happen though.
Speechless -
Time Out of Mind ($12.99)
Speechless is an Atlanta-based instrumental quartet (guitar, keys, bass,
drums) playing a typically American style of progressive rock that is a melting
pot of many different influences. Their debut Time Out of Mind (2006) eschews drama in favor of a groove-oriented, flowing style, always
melodic and emphasizing ensemble playing rather than soloing. They have the
sound palette of a jam band, but everything is highly-structured. There are
flashes of Yes, ELP, Dixie Dregs, Rush, and a healthy dose of fusion. Think of Djam Karet at their most melodic and when they aren’t making it up as they go
along.
Osiris - Visions from the Past ($15.99)
Osiris - same ($15.99)Osiris is a progressive rock band from the tiny Arab emirate of Bahrain, though some of the musicians attended university in the U.S. Their music is closest to Camel, and they sing in English, though the music is heavily instrumental. They published two LPs in the 1980’s: Osiris (1982) and Myths & Legends (1984), later issued on CD by Musea, with one bonus track on Myths & Legends. Their 3rd studio album Reflections was recorded between 1987-1989. It’s a sure thing for Camel fans, predominantly instrumental with some good English vocals. One bonus track.
It was a long wait for Visions from the Past (2007). This is a concept album about an old man
who rejects the modern Bahrain and mourns the loss of the innocent and simple
ways of the past. This is Osiris’s most original album and probably their best,
as Camel is now just one of several influences, and no one influence stands out.
Most of the music has the refinement and tastefulness of 1970’s progressive
rock, and one song sports some strong early Marillion influence. What vocals
there are are still in English, but here Osiris use some traditional Gulf Arabic
poetry (English translations in the booklet) and occasional Arabic rhythms and
traditional instruments to put their own stamp on things. The recording quality
may be a notch below western pro standards; nevertheless this is brilliant
melodic progressive rock vaguely in the Camel and Genesis vein.
Anton
Roolaart - Dreamer ($13.99)
Released on the same label as Chris Squire’s band The Syn, Dreamer
(2007) is the first album by Dutch-born American Anton Roolaart, who happens to
also run ProgRockRadio.com. He wrote, engineered and produced this album,
handling guitar, keys, vocals and programming. While this is Anton’s baby, he
wisely brought in other musicians including a bass player and keyboardist Rave
Tesar of Annie Haslam’s band. Drum duties are split between two drummers, one of
whom is Rich Berends of Mastermind. It is a meticulously crafted symphonic rock
album in which one can spot various influences, certainly Yes and Pink Floyd.
Many of the songs were written years earlier, and Anton’s main sources of
inspiration are the 1970’s masters of the genre, but his Internet radio station
exposed him to newer progressive artists who have had an influence on his style.
The album lacks the spark or energy of a band playing together, but if thought
of in the same terms as, say, Jon Anderson’s Olias of Sunhillow and
similar multi-layered works, Dreamer is an impressive achievment.
Read reviews
here.
Unitopia -
More Than a Dream ($14.99)
This is Unicorn Records’ 2007 re-edition of the 2005 debut CD by Australian
progressive rock band Unitopia. Their music actually falls between progressive
rock and a 1980’s flavor of progressive pop. On the progressive side, Peter
Gabriel seems to be the strongest influence, and Saga is a fair reference, but
there are more symphonic influences that that, including some orchestral
arrangements. On the pop side, these guys write memorable choruses on a par with
the best pop songwriters, and they have a singer who can carry it off. The
singer sounds like Steve Winwood, except when he sounds like Gabriel. So many
modern prog bands don’t have a singer that you’d want to put forward in the mix,
it’s refreshing to hear a band with a talented one. 62-minutes.
Read
reviews here.
Fromuz -
Audio Diplomacy DVD+CD ($14.99)
Fromuz is a world-class instrumental fusion and progressive rock band from Uzbekistan, very high-energy
and fairly heavy. Using the ISO code for their country (UZ), their name literally means “From Uzbekistan”.
Their drummer/percussionist is Vladimir
Badirov, who released the Greeting from Nostradamus CD on Unicorn
Records in 2004. Audio Diplomacy (2007) features an NTSC, all-region DVD
of a 2005 live performance, a multi-camera professional production. There is an
accompanying 75-minute audio CD containing the same songs on the DVD, the two
discs housed together in a jewel box. There is so little crowd noise, and the
recording quality is so high, that this could pass for a studio CD. The DVD
includes two bonus tracks. Click the mp3 icon above for much more info on this
band, as well as long, hi-res audio samples. Note the proggier tracks are the
later ones on the CD, but currently there are only samples of the first several
tracks.
The
Third Ending - same ($12.99)
This is the 2006 debut by a young, modern-sounding prog rock quartet from
Tasmania (Australia). They have some similarities to Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater, but
their style probably comes closest to Spock’s Beard, more the
song-oriented side rather than the technical or flashy side of the Beard. There
are some great pop hooks embedded in these tracks, and the occasional metal and
grunge guitar is more than offset by richly-textured symphonic passages and
open, acoustic guitar-driven songs. Note the image here is of the original
Australian pressing, whose booklet and inlay were printed on transparent stock
(and were almost impossible to read). The newer U.S. pressing has more
conventional printed materials. 54-minutes.
Read the
DPRP review.
Darwin’s
Radio - Eyes of the World ($16.99)
This 2006 CD is the first full-length CD from an excellent new English neo-prog band
formed by ex-Grey Lady Down members Mark Westworth (keys, backing vocals) and Sean Spear
(bass), Declan Burke (vocals, guitars) from the Rush tribute band The Spirit of Rush, and Dave Pankhurst
(drums, backing vocals) from space-rockers Unlimbo. Darwin’s Radio is by no
means a continuation of Grey Lady Down though. Burke is an excellent singer and
you can often hear the Rush influence in his guitar playing, but it’s integrated
into a more symphonic whole than your usual Rush-influenced band. One reviewer
likens Darwin’s Radio to Enchant. Maybe, if Tony Banks had joined Enchant.
Another reviewer mentions Kino and It Bites, undoubtedly for the strong
melodies, but Darwin’s Radio are more progressive than It Bites at least. In
short, Darwin’s Radio is what we’ve come to expect from British progressive
bands, songwriting abilities and a melodic sense that are too often lacking in
prog bands from elsewhere who only grasp the technical side. But hey, the
British invented this stuff.
Strangefish
- Fortune Telling ($16.99)
Fortune Telling (2006, 65-minutes) is the 2nd album for this British neo-prog band. This is a very accomplished album, particularly for a band whose members all have day jobs, and is warm-sounding and well-produced. Weak vocals, the bane of many modern prog bands, has rarely been a problem for British bands, and the superb lead vocals of Steve Taylor (who has a touch of Sting in his voice) immediately put Strangefish in the professional class. Taylor has apparently been named Best Male Vocalist for three consecutive years by the UK’s Classic Rock Society. Strangefish don’t copy anyone too closely, but their music is familiar in a good way. They add enough originality to make the music their own, such as the occasional jazz guitar, or the violin, viola, and mandolin from the bassist. For those who have tired of prog bands attempting a technical showcase without having developed much in the way of composition and songwriting, Strangefish will be a breath of fresh air. Along with Mostly Autumn, they are among the best British prog bands to emerge in many years.
Full Scale (2003, 67-minutes) is Strangefish’s debut. It’s also a very good album. Fortune Telling is a
bit more refined, so start there, but Full Scale is pretty close.
It was good enough to get Strangefish voted Best New Band of 2003 by the Classic
Rock Society, though most of the band members had been playing together for 14
years prior! Which has to have something to do with the maturity on
display here. You can find numerous reviews on the web -- the references used
most frequently are Genesis, It Bites, Marillion, Spock’s Beard, and IQ.
Frost -
Milliontown ($13.99)
Frost is a new UK progressive rock band featuring Jem Godfrey, John Mitchell
(Kino, Arena), John Jowitt (IQ,...), Andy Edwards (IQ), and John Boyes. It does
seem that the same core group of musicians is shuffled around to form as many
bands as possible, with the one requirement that Jowitt be the bassist.
But Godfrey, who made a name for himself as a writer and producer in the pop
music field, is the sole writer in Frost, and as he says: “I’ve always been into
progressive rock music and so I decided to do exactly that, writing an album to
my kind of taste”. It’s a blend of classic prog and very modern, heavier prog. The
classic stuff happens mainly during the instrumental passages, of which there
are plenty. These instrumental passages sound like what Genesis would produce
today in an ideal universe (in which the five of them were together, had their youthful
energy and then some, and forgot everything that happened after Duke).
The keyboards especially remind one of Tony Banks. The album opens with a killer
7:30 instrumental and concludes with the 26:35 title track, which is the
highlight. In between there's a 10-minute song, and the remaining shorter songs
showcase the modern side of the band.
Manfred
Mann’s Earth Band - Solar Fire ($14.99)
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - The Roaring Silence ($14.99)Manfred Mann’s Earth Band frequently get overlooked in discussions of progressive rock, perhaps because they’ve had a long career that has covered more styles than just prog rock, and their commercial success came from doing covers. Mann himself should at least be mentioned alongside the other pioneering prog rock keyboardists. These CDs are the latest remastered editions with bonus tracks.
Solar Fire and The Good Earth, both originally released in 1974, are the two proggiest MMEB albums. They will surprise those only familiar with the MMEB radio hits. Solar Fire has two bonus tracks, the hit single Joybringer, which was based on Holst’s Planets suite and did not appear on the European vinyl release, plus an alternate 45 edit of Father of Day, Father of Night. The Good Earth has three bonus tracks which are single versions of album tracks.
Nightingales & Bombers (1975) kicks off with the hit Spirits in the Night, the first of several Bruce Springsteen covers for MMEB. At its best, the album is true progressive rock, and at its worst, it’s still pretty good, a blend of progressive and blues-based rock. The two bonus tracks include the single edit of Spirits in the Night and the cover of Bob Dylan’s Quit Your Low Down Ways, which was only on the U.S. vinyl release.
The Roaring Silence (1976) gave MMEB a whole new level of fame, opening with the 7-minute Blinded by the Light, another Springsteen cover and one of only a handful of progressive rock songs to become classic rock radio staples. The rest of the album is on the same level. The two bonus tracks include Spirits in the Night sung by Chris Thompson (he first appears on this album) and the single edit of Blinded by the Light.
The MMEB sound generally changed with the times, so Watch (1978) is still fairly proggy but more song-oriented. The songs here are really strong, as this album is the best-selling of Mann’s career. It contains the UK hit Davy’s on the Road Again and a reworking of the big hit The Mighty Quinn. The four bonus tracks are single versions of three of the album tracks, plus one non-LP. One of these bonus tracks is the single version of The Mighty Quinn, which is a different recording than the album version.
Chance (1980) again sees MMEB updating with the times to a more high-tech
pop sound, with lots of keyboards. Lies (Through the 80’s) was a hit, as
was the cover of Springsteen’s For You. Both are terrific if forgotten
songs that are great to hear again. Trevor Rabin was the associate producer and
contributed some guitar. The four bonus tracks include a rare B-side and three
single versions. The booklets are generally excellent, with extensive liner notes.
Check our DVDs page for Manfred Mann’s Angel Station In Moscow
DVD.
Xang -
The Last of the Lasts ($17.99)Xang is an instrumental guitar/keys/bass/drums French quartet playing high-energy progressive symphonic rock. Some but not all of their 1999 debut Destiny of a Dream could be called neo-prog, to the extent any all-instrumental band can be called neo; primarily this has to do with the guitar style. This is the kind of prog rock with appeal to metal and hard rock fans even though the music is neither metal nor hard rock. In any event, it’s highly recommended to fans of instrumental progressive.
The Last of the Lasts (2006) is again an
instrumental sympho-prog work, but a much more mature one. There is still some
of the heavy style, and while it has a modern feel, this album is more diverse,
with stronger classical and jazz influences and more sophisticated textures and
atmospheres. It’s a concept album about World War I with an excellent booklet in
English, and so the music is frequently melancholy to reflect the tragic nature
of the war and the enormous human cost. Xang is from Cambrai, which was one of the
battlefields. Here are mp3 samples of the songs
Sacrifice,
On Leave,
Verdun, and
Roommates.
The
Source - All Along This Land ($12.99)
This is the 2006 debut CD by a young Los Angeles prog band whose surprising
sound is in many ways very early-70’s retro, with elements that include early
Yes, The Beatles, a little Pink Floyd and dreamy psychedelia. But beyond that,
they don’t sound like anyone else today. Much of their sound derives from the
low-distortion jazz and country tones favored by guitarist Harrison Leonard,
similar to Peter Banks and Steve Howe. Vocalist, principal songwriter, and
keyboardist Aaron Goldich favors grand piano, with some Hammond and analog synth
sounds. There’s a good balance of vocal and instrumental passages, and like any
good prog album, there’s a five-part suite. Charming, to say the least.
Read the
DPRP review.
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Ryan
Parmenter - The Noble Knave ($12.99)
Ryan Parmenter is the leader of the band Eyestrings. One can hear songwriting
chops and a melodic sense underlying Eyestrings’ dark, brooding progressive rock
that is absent in many prog bands, and on The Noble Knave (2007),
Parmenter makes that songwriting ability abundantly clear. The Noble Knave
is a wonderful progressive pop album, a collection of songs written by Parmenter
over the past ten years. There is a strong Beatles influence, songs reminiscent
of City Boy, some Beach Boys-level vocal harmonies, and much more. It is lively,
fun, and very English. How a guy from Michigan can make such English-sounding
music is a mystery. It's all very clever and carried off with an obvious
progressive sensibility, and the album is not as self-consciously retro nor as
derivative as some other modern attempts at bringing the spirit of The Beatles
forward. This is a must for fans of Fritz Doddy’s The Feeling of Far
album, which is quite similar.
Eyestrings
- Consumption ($12.99)
Burdened Hands is the 2004 debut by a Michigan-based four-man band led by vocalist/keyboardist/composer Ryan Parmenter. If that last name looks familiar, Ryan is the nephew of Matthew Parmenter, and Eyestrings’ bassist and drummer have both been members of Discipline. This is a reasonably astounding debut, as the band has taken influences from the Beatles to the prog rock giants (Genesis, King Crimson, Yes) through to Tears for Fears and Radiohead and made it all their own. There is a great deal of variety here, yet the band pulls off the difficult trick of making it all sound cohesive. And it is all prog. Probably the closest reference is Echolyn with a little Discipline blended in (and more explicit Genesis references), especially in the way the band can be simultaneously retro and modern, and in the level of chops on display. 66-minutes.
Consumption (2005) is an even better sophomore
effort. Though there is still some similarity to Echolyn, it leans more toward
1970’s progressive, particularly Van der Graaf Generator and Genesis, most
apparent in the 20-minute Lifelines suite. Mellotron strings and choir
are used in the few spots where they have the most impact, and the band’s
melodic sense has become quite elegant. More polished and more mature than their
debut, this one is very highly recommended. 64-minutes.
Acuity -
Skyward ($12.99)Skyward is the 2004 debut for this American band or project out of
Michigan, and it is a terrific one, with an aesthetic similar to Discipline and
Eyestrings. Acuity is well aware of those other Michigan bands, seeing as how
Matthew Parmenter guests on violin on one track. After a somewhat out-of-place
first track of heavy and fast guitar rock, this settles into magical
1970’s-style progressive rock with complex, long tracks full of atmosphere.
Mellotron is key to the album’s feel, and other vintage-sounding synths are also
employed. Like Discipline, the style comes closest to Van der Graaf Generator,
but there is also some Genesis, Rush, and Led Zeppelin in there. The lyrics are
in the verbose Peter Hammill vein, and the vocal style fits well with the music.
68-minutes.
Spock’s Beard -
Spock’s Beard ($14.99)
The self-titled CD is Spock’s Beard’s 2006 release, their 9th studio album if we
counted correctly, and it may set a record for latest point in a career to release
an eponymous album. This 77-minute CD features all of the Spock’s Beard
trademarks and is our favorite of their post-Neal Morse CDs. With an album of
this length, listeners will likely find a track or two they don’t much care for,
but the band seems to have found their identity sans Morse, so maybe there is
something symbolic about the title. The CD comes in a
slipcase with die-cut logo.
This is the hardcover digibook special edition of Spock’ Beard 2005 studio album Octane, with an additional disc featuring 8 bonus tracks and a multimedia section. It is their 2nd album after the departure of Neal Morse, with Nick D’Virgilio on vocals. The band sound confident and their brand of progressive rock continues to develop, but you probably don’t need a detailed description here as Spock’s Beard has been the most popular U.S. progressive band for years now, and you’ll find plenty of reviews elsewhere.
The double-CD Gluttons for
Punishment is the first live album for the post-Neal Morse version of the
band, recorded during the European leg of their 2005 Octane tour. The
material dates back to the first Spock’s Beard album but concentrates on songs
from Octane and Feel Euphoria.
Alan
Morse - Four O’Clock and Hysteria ($14.99)
The 2007 first solo release by Spock’s Beard’s lead guitarist. Alan’s brother Neal
plays keyboards and acoustic guitar on the album, all recent Spock’s Beard
members make an appearance, and Jerry Goodman plays electric violin on two
tracks. It’s a very fine album of expertly-played instrumental guitar
fusion (more rock than jazz), varying from fast and furious to melodic and
symphonic. Several tracks call to mind Jeff Beck’s brand of fusion, some verge
on Mahavishnu Orchestra style, while the more melodic tracks overlap with Daryl
Stuermer’s style. Since a lot of the Spock’s Beard fan base is too young to have
experienced the heyday of fusion, this album may be an education for some.
64-minutes.
Slychosis - same ($9.99)
Slychosis is a progressive rock project of three Mississippi musicians with
much experience under their belts. On their 2006 debut, they display many of
their influences, including Genesis, Yes, Rush, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple,
Hawkwind, and 70’s hard rock. On a few of these tracks, they wear those
influences on their sleeves, but most of the tracks are more original. The
recording is home or project studio quality, so while it doesn't have the clarity and sheen of a
pro studio recording, it does reinforce the illusion that
this is an early 1970’s album. 54-minutes, digipack.
Lots of reviews
here.
Tempest -
The Double-Cross ($14.99)
With their later albums released on the Magna Carta label, most prog fans are
familiar with Tempest, a folk-rock band led by Norwegian-American Lief Sorbye.
They have similarities to Fairport Convention but are heavier, draw more on
Celtic material, and benefit from better production that gives them a bigger,
proggier sound. They also come close to the folky side of Jethro Tull, though
Tempest frequently arranges traditional songs, something Ian Anderson
consciously avoided. The Double-Cross (2006) is again produced by
Robert Berry, who also adds keyboards. The Los Angeles bagpipes/didgeridoo/drums
band Wicked Tinkers guests, leading to some rousing bagpipe rock. Tempest just
keep getting better; this is our favorite album of theirs. The CD includes a bonus video In the Studio With
Tempest.
Dimension
X - Implications of a Genetic Defense ($13.99)
Milwaukee’s prog-metal band Dimension X debuted in 2005 with So… This Is Earth.
Their strongpoint is an excellent, classically-influenced
keyboardist, and the guitarist even plays tastefully much of the time. The whole thing is,
depending on your perspective, either marred or enhanced by a drummer who, in
true metal fashion, overplays almost from start to finish, and has a hard time laying
off the double pedal. So best to listen to the extensive mp3’s. In an era where most pop albums are front-loaded, So… This Is Earth
gets stronger (i.e., proggier) as it goes on. Implications of a Genetic Defense
(2007) is their 2nd, with a new drummer and guitarist. It’s a prog-metal sci-fi
story, and the music is dark, heavy, and ugly, all desirable properties for
metal.
Sympozion -
Kundabuffer ($14.99)
This young Israeli quintet has produced a debut album of stunning quality. Mostly instrumental, Kundabuffer (2006) is in Gentle Giant, Canterbury, and Zappa territory, but highly original. It is complex symphonic prog with most of the keyboard work done on piano, but it remains melodic and not particularly ‘difficult’. Rather, it’s fun to listen to. The intricate guitar work varies from relatively clean jazz tones to an incisive electric lead tone that may remind the listener of Fireballet and other 70’s prog bands. While not overtly Gentle Giant-ish, there is a lot of melodic counterpoint, and two of the band