Rain - Cerulean Blue ($10.99)
Rain - Cerulean Blue ($10.99)
This CD is primarily the work of a singer, musician, and poet going by the
name Rain. Cerulean Blue consists of seven tracks, each introduced by a
section for narrator, string quartet, and sound effects. The narrator, Rob
Brown, has appeared in the major BBC adaptation of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales;
he has the classic English narrator voice. Other contributors include
saxophonist Iain Ballamy, winner of the BBC Award for Innovation in Jazz. The
narration and lyrics tell the story of a young man’s once-in-a-lifetime journey
across America, the characters he meets and experiences he has. The CD also
includes a 5-minute film Ashes, starring Rob Brown, along with text files
of the lyrics, Ashes script, and a 40-page discussion of the CD with the
author. Be sure to read the impressive
list
of testimonials. Rain must live down the road from Genesis’ studio The
Farm, as he has testimonials from several Genesis members and associates, and
longtime Genesis assistant Dale Newman is credited on the album. Steve Hackett used
Cerulean Blue as the pre-show music on his 2005 tour. The
music is very emotional, lush, and atmospheric, connected to Genesis at least
spiritually (one song references Watcher of the Skies, with the opening
two chords first stated by the string quartet and later on Mellotron). But there
is also a strong Pink Floyd feel at times, and overall it is quite original and
very English. This bargain-priced CD comes in a gatefold mini-LP sleeve and
counts as only one-half CD for shipping. 54-minutes.
Niacin -
Organik ($14.99)
Prog rock fans, this is the Niacin album to get. The trio of John Novello
(keyboards, mostly Hammond B3), Dennis Chambers (drums) and Billy Sheehan
(bass), musicians’ musicians all and primarily a fusion band, have gone more
towards their early 1970’s progressive rock roots on this 2005 CD. If you think of
ELP playing instrumental fusion, you’ll have a good idea of the Niacin style.
Yes, it’s a non-stop chops fest, but the songs have groove, are well-crafted,
and will leave you energized. After you catch your breath. This U.S. version
contains one bonus track, 63-minutes total.
Thirteen
of Everything - Welcome, Humans ($15.99)
This Austin, Texas quartet was formed in the late 1990’s and released a
promising demo in 2002. Welcome, Humans (2005) is their first CD,
and they are the brightest star to appear on the U.S. progressive scene since
IZZ, who are not a bad comparison. But Thirteen of Everything are more of a
classic 1970’s-style progressive band than IZZ. They blend a Genesis
influence with the more complex and angular Gentle Giant and Yes styles, but a
couple shades darker than any of them. This 73-minute album includes a 26-minute
suite and three other tracks around the 10-minute mark. Instrumental passages
are prominent here, with many syncopated rhythms and shifts in dynamics, but also moments of
pure lyricism and beautiful melodies.
Henning
Pauly - Babysteps ($9.99)
SALE!Henning Pauly is known for his bands Chain and Frameshift.
Babysteps is an ambitious 76-minute prog-metal concept
album featuring vocalists James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Jody Ashworth
(Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Matt Cash (Chain/Frameshift/solo) and Michael Sadler
(Saga). Ian Crichton and Jim Gilmour of Saga also appear on a few solos. While
the early part of the album has a lot of metal guitar, that does subside
somewhat. If Pauly ever outgrows metal, he will probably produce many great
75-minute progressive rock works. Until that time, think of this as a
double-album with one album’s worth of symphonic prog and one album of
orchestral prog-metal that will appeal to those who can watch Trans-Siberian
Orchestra without thinking of Spinal Tap.
Frameshift -
An Absence of Empathy ($9.99)
SALE!
Unweaving the Rainbow (2003) is a project written and produced by Henning Pauly of Chain for James LaBrie, vocalist of Dream Theater and features 79 minutes of modern progressive rock plus some prog-metal. Composer Henning Pauly has worked in a variety of styles, and shortly before he began work on the first Frameshift album, he wrote a film score. Pauly decided to use a similar approach for Frameshift, not wanting to limit the music to what is possible with a rock band lineup, but rather to use the tools a film composer has at his disposal. This didn’t mean forgetting the elements that make progressive rock what it is, only that he would take a slightly different approach to arranging it. Knowing that James LaBrie would be singing the whole album, he wanted to offer this outstanding vocalist an opportunity to sing in ways he had not before. LaBrie is a huge Queen fan and Henning frequently uses large vocal arrangements in his songs. The vocals are given a lot of space -- they were considered the most important element on the album -- with several a capella parts and even some counterpoint a la Gentle Giant and Spock’s Beard, which both Pauly and LaBrie are big fans of. The album features modern studio recording techniques, fused with lush orchestration and diverse instruments such as Warr Guitar and Chapman Stick. Recommended but certainly not limited to Dream Theater and Chain fans.
An Absence of Empathy (2005, 74-minutes) is the 2nd Frameshift CD, this time
with singer Sebastian Bach. This one is much more of a prog-metal album, and
Bach is a metal singer (they tend to howl a bit when agitated). Prog fans should start with Unweaving the Rainbow
and metal fans with An Absence of Empathy.
Chain -
chain.exe CD+DVD ($16.99)
SALE!Chain appears to be a German quintet, though their singer is probably American. Their band leader is Henning Pauly, also responsible for the Frameshift albums and who now resides in the U.S. Chain is a band that does play progressive metal at times, but there is so much pure prog rock on their albums that it would be unfair to saddle them with the prog-metal tag. Their second album chain.exe (2004) is another massive 78-minute affair, heavier than their debut. There is some sophisticated and complex prog rock here; the vocal arrangements in particular are well done. Michael Sadler (Saga singer) and Mike Keneally guest. With the CD we are including the chain.exe DVD (NTSC, all-regions) packaged in a standard Amaray DVD case. The DVD includes at least two hours of behind the scenes footage of the making of chain.exe, a video of one track, and interviews, about four hours total. All the guest musicians are present on the DVD. Since the CD and DVD are packaged separately, the combination counts as 2 CDs for shipping.
Chain’s debut Reconstruct (2003) is notable not only for being 79-minutes long but
for featuring lines from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy throughout, and in fact the
album is dedicated to Adams. On chain.exe, the final track is again a
tribute to Adams, and Chain includes snippets of the theme music from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
radio series, but as it is uncredited, it isn’t clear whether the band realizes
this music is The Eagles’ Journey of the Sorcerer ! Both albums are
powerful prog-rock/prog-metal blends that also strike us as being very clever.
Recommended especially to fans of Ayreon.
Eric
Mantel - The Unstruck Melody ($15.99)
If guitar virtuoso Eric Mantel is not well known outside Chicago, it’s hard
to imagine he can remain that way much longer. On The Unstruck Melody
(2006), Mantel’s band includes keyboards, bass, drums, and various backing
vocalists. A number of the songs on this CD have vocals from Eric, who sounds
rather like Phil Collins and likewise has a flair for songwriting. And
versatility? It’s as if Mantel is showing he can cover the style of any other
guitar god, whether it be the Satriani/Johnson/Vai camp, Steve Morse, Pat
Metheny, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, and more. By varying the style, this
disc’s generous 79-minutes fly right by, not something you’d expect from a guitarist’s
album. The real reason for that is not simply the variety but the writing
ability and melodic sense of Mantel. He’s been at this since the late 1970’s,
and all that experience shines through. And his tone is like butter. (Eric
Mantel’s website is done in Flash. To find the mp3’s, click the icon above, wait
for the site to load, click Music, click MP3s.) Read the
ProgressiveWorld.net review here.
John Young
Band - Live at the Classic Rock Society 2003 ($15.99)
John Young is a classically-trained keyboardist/singer/songwriter who has worked with Fish, John Wetton, Asia, Qango, Greenslade and many others, composes music for sound libraries, and has his own solo career. Young has usually co-written as well as played with those other artists. Significance is a 54-minute collection of proggy songs. John Young’s aesthetic here is close to Tony Banks’, striking a balance between pop appeal and power & complexity, though Young’s music is proggier than any Banks albums after A Curious Feeling. Some of the songs show a Peter Gabriel influence in the atmospheric and rhythmic elements, a couple tracks have a Fish feel, while others reflect Young’s long association with John Wetton. John Young has a great voice, writes quality lyrics, and gives even his mainstream material the right touches to endear it to fans of melodic prog rock.
The live CD was recorded in 2003 with
John Young on keys and lead vocals, Robin Boult (Fish, Howard Jones) on guitars, the ubiquitous
John Jowitt on bass, and Dave Stewart (Camel, Fish) on drums and vocals. Five of
the nine songs are from Significance, while the remaining tracks include
the 14+ minute Unknown Soldier and the great Crimson-ish instrumental
Kings. The audio quality is excellent, and the live versions are superior to
the studio versions. 57-minutes.
Fritz
Doddy - The Feeling of Far ($13.99)
This 2004 recording is a brilliant progressive pop album by Fritz Doddy. That’s
the guy’s name, though it would make a pretty good band name even if it was made
up. The main influence here is The Beatles, but this isn't a recreation of what
the Beatles were. Rather, this sounds like the album The Beatles would make if
they had incarnated later and were currently at their creative peak. There is
also some influence of the sophisticated side of Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys,
Todd Rundgren, and possibly some Supertramp. It’s also comparable to The Cardiacs minus the punk,
and there is a smattering of Olias of Sunhillow type layering of sound.
So it’s not surprising that Jon Anderson said “This CD is very provocative,
magical, mystical, musically inventive and soulful. It’s very visual and
delightful. This is a musical for everyone.” This album would be unbelievable if
Doddy was a novice, but he has played in bands for a long time, and his day job
is creating music for corporate clients, garnering him several Clio awards. And
he spent seven years on it. Doddy obviously knows his way around the tools of
modern music production, but he doesn’t let them dictate the type of music he
creates. Lesser musicians do, ending up with cut-and-paste, repetitive
loop-based music. Between multi-instrumentalist Doddy and his guests, a large
number of instruments were used, including violin, mandolin, cello, electric
sitar, bouzouki, Chinese flutes, and quite a bit of Mellotron. The vocal
arrangements are particularly clever, but in the end it is the songwriting that
makes this the gem that it is.
K2 -
Book of the Dead ($12.99)
K2 is the new band from the co-leader of Atlantis, bassist Ken Jaquess. K2 features Allan Holdsworth on guitar, Ryo Okumoto (Spock’s Beard) on keys, the late Shaun Guerin on vocals, Yvette Devereaux on violin, Doug Sanborn on drums and John Miner supplying additional guitar. Book of the Dead is a significant improvement on the Atlantis albums. It is very 1970’s Genesis-styled, with Guerin’s Gabriel-like voice reinforcing that comparison. It’s interesting to hear Holdsworth’s trademark guitar leads in a symphonic rock rather than a jazz-rock context. For the Genesis fan, this album is a godsend. Note the audio clips for this album are in Ogg Vorbis format. If you don’t have a player for this format, the free Winamp will work.
Pray for Rain is the 2nd CD from Los Angeles-based symphonic progressive quintet
Atlantis, which features a guest guitar solo from Allan Holdsworth.
Pray for Rain (2003) sounds fuller and richer than Atlantis’ 1997
debut. For the most part, Atlantis sound like an American counterpart to Jadis,
perhaps not as lyrical or melodic as Gary Chandler and company, but slightly
more aggressive and complex. Another reasonable comparison is Enchant. The mp3 icon above links directly to an mp3 of the
track Magnificent Desolation (4:22), though the best tracks are probably
the two epics: Pray For Rain (13:09) and Forest Cathedral (10:38). 56-minutes.
Ring
of Myth - Weeds ($14.99)
SALE!Weeds (2005) is an album we’ve been looking forward to since, well,
1996, when Ring of Myth released their first CD Unbound on the Kinesis
label. See the Kinesis-label section for much
more detail on that CD. As one reviewer of Unbound described them: “When
considered simplistically, Ring of Myth are sort of the perfect marriage of Yes
and Rush, merging the classical symphonic sound of Yes into the trio format of
Rush.” This still holds true for Weeds, though Ring of Myth have pushed
their sound into a slightly more experimental and cacophonous direction. While
one can still recognize the early Yes element in their style (Peter Banks’ band
Flash is probably an even better comparison), Ring of Myth can hardly be called
a Yes clone now. There probably isn’t another band around that sounds like them.
They still use keyboards only in spots and in a supporting role; they are
primarily a guitar/bass/drums trio with Danny Flores’ vocals still sounding like
Jon Anderson, though improved since Unbound. They get an amazingly full
sound, and much of the credit for that must go to guitarist George Picado. The
drummer on Weeds is Scott Rader, who is also involved with the band
Product. Obviously a lot depends on taste, but for many listeners oriented
toward 1970’s progressive, this may be one of the top releases of 2005.
Man
on Fire - Habitat ($11.99)
Man on Fire improved significantly over their debut album with The Undefined Design (2003), their sophomore effort. Featuring guest David Ragsdale (ex-Kansas) on violin on three tracks, The Undefined Design is a fresh and innovative take on modern progressive rock. With a wide range of influences, the Man on Fire sound crosses several musical genres, combining melodic vocals, fluent fretless bass, layered keyboards, polyrhythmic grooves, heavy guitar soundscapes, and a dose of something resembling funk into a cohesive whole, fully utilizing the latest studio production techniques. The songs are accessible, the complexity often coming from the many layers of sound. There are moments of aggressive guitar, but always in small bursts. Eric Sands’ fretless bass work is exceptional, while Ragsdale’s violin provides much needed grounding, as the Man on Fire sound is otherwise rather synthetic and hard-edged. This complex approach to what are essentially melodic rock/pop songs makes Man on Fire’s brand of modern prog unique.
Habitat (2005) is a 69-minute
concept album that again features David Ragsdale on
violin and a new contributor, Adrian Belew on guitar. Not just a guest
spot, Belew is the primary guitarist on this album and plays on most of the
tracks. Man on Fire continue to make great strides with each album. Ragsdale is
utilized even more on this one, and the tracks he plays on are again the
standouts. To their credit, Man on Fire avoid any obvious influences, and there
are some great hooks on this album.
Emily
Bezar - Angels’ Abacus ($12.99)
Emily Bezar’s music is breathtaking, magical, and defies categorization. Emily is a northern Californian who spent time living in Europe. It’s impossible not to think of Kate Bush when hearing Emily sing. She is a classically-trained pianist, and her virtuoso piano playing is at the center of her music along with her incredible voice, which has similarities to Kate’s but is more operatic. While Emily’s music flirts with pop, it is much more progressive and less pop-oriented than Kate’s. But each of her albums is distinct, making it difficult to generalize about them. Her 1993 debut Grandmother’s Tea Leaves (out-of-print) was her most intimate and, at times, experimental, but the style established here is at the core of all her following albums. Emily formed a band (adding guitar/bass/drums) to record Moon in Grenadine (1996) and Four Walls Bending (1999). Her bandmates are also stellar players. Four Walls Bending is her most (progressive) rock-oriented, while Moon in Grenadine has the most jazzy touches, ranging from energetic progressive jazz-rock to intimate, spellbinding piano & voice songs. Angels’ Abacus (2004) is a long one at 73-minutes. Here she uses a varying lineup of musicians rather than the fixed band of the previous two albums, and there are more electronic textures. While it isn’t as rock-oriented as the previous album, Angels’ Abacus is her most sophisticated and ambitious album and the place we recommend you start. As Emily describes it, “This is music as architecture, as crystalline objects in time, with no agenda but its own sensual and complex beauty.” Is it progressive rock? To our way of thinking it is, but every genre from fusion to cabaret to rock will undoubtedly want to claim Emily as their own. The production and recording quality are exceptional, and these three CDs are HDCD-encoded. Forget about pretenders like Tori Amos – that is pop, this is art. Emily’s fantastic new CD Exchange is due in soon!
Sonus
Umbra - Digging for Zeros ($11.99)Sonus Umbra is a band from the Baltimore scene but with roots in Mexico City. Their debut CD Snapshots from Limbo was very well received, eventually getting re-released by Musea. Spiritual Vertigo (2004) is their 2nd. Sonus Umbra produces a melancholy and brooding progressive rock with slight psychedelic or space-rock overtones, leaning towards dark and mysterious without sacrificing melody. Guitars have the edge over keyboards, but the liberal use of acoustic guitar keeps things sounding warm. Andres Aullet’s vocals have a slightly surreal quality to them, and he is aided briefly by guest vocalist Lisa Francis of Kurgan’s Bane. Tough to describe their style; at different times you hear traces of Pink Floyd, Rush, and a host of other 70’s progressives. 61-minutes, digipack. Click to download mp3s of the songs Bone Machines, Amnesia Junkies, Fascinoma.
Digging for Zeros (2005) sees changes in the
vocal department, the lead vocals now shared by Lisa Francis and Jeff Laramee.
Sonus Umbra continue to be at their most compelling when they add acoustic
guitar to the mix, which they do frequently. There are occasions when the acoustic guitar is absent, the
keys drop out and the music becomes mere hard rock. But in addition to the
acoustic guitar, there is plenty of piano and synth to keep things progressive. The
dominant tone is again somber and dark but not to the point of ugliness, and
there are many lighter, uplifting moments, particularly when Francis sings.
Her vocals add a welcome dimension to Sonus Umbra’s music. Bandleader Luis
Nasser has crafted another intense lyrical and musical experience. 61-minutes.
Until the band adds mp3's of this album to their website, you can listen to
samples at CDBaby.
North
Star - Extremes ($15.99)
North Star are an American band that existed during the darkest days of U.S. progressive rock, releasing the albums Triskelion and Feel the Cold in the mid-1980’s. They managed to get back together long enough to release Power in 1991 but were dormant again until Tempest (2000). The band’s two major influences are Genesis and ELP, with Kevin Leonard’s keyboards the highlight.
This is the Musea edition of Extremes (2005),
an album that is much truer to North
Star’s early work than Tempest, and that’s because most of the basic material on Extremes
was developed in the late 1970’s, with the lyrics reworked in the early 90’s,
and finally recorded this millennium. While Tempest had the feel of fleshed-out solo
compositions, the band is back intact for Extremes, with singer Joe
Newnam actually present. The band really goes for it on several of these songs,
and Kevin Leonard’s signature organ sounds and solos are everywhere. Easily
their best since Triskelion and
Feel the Cold and arguably their best period. 62-minutes.
Product
- The Fire ($8.99)
SALE!
Product is primarily the work of songwriter/producer Arman Christoff Boyles, with help from musician/producer Scott Rader and guests. Their self-released first album On Water (2000) tells a surreal story from the viewpoint of a drowning young sailor, set against the backdrop of the American Revolution. The level of originality is high; the closest comparisons are Porcupine Tree, No-Man, and Hogarth-era Marillion, specifically their moodier tracks. Vocally, Boyles is close to both Steve Hogarth and to Peter Gabriel. Songs usually start off in acoustic singer-songwriter mode, with dry, close-miked vocals, then blossom into lush, majestic progressive rock. A wealth of subtle production effects warrants repeated listens. There’s a Ring of Myth connection, as Danny Flores contributes bass, classical guitar, and mandolin, and Scott Rader is currently the Ring of Myth drummer. One customer described this as “brilliant... the album Porcupine Tree hasn’t made yet”.
Product’s third CD The Fire (2005, 63-minutes) is based on the life of Nero and restores
some of the fire that was missing from their second CD Aire (currently
out-of-print). This album sounds like a
meeting of Hogarth-era Marillion and Pink Floyd, generally quite dark and moody
as always. Product by now have a clearly-recognizable sound, and The Fire
is their most fully-realized work.
Mirthrandir -
For You the Old Women ($14.99)
Mirthrandir was another American 70’s symphonic prog band that released only one LP.
For You the Old Women was released independently in 1976 and is one of
the classic U.S. progressive albums. All the U.S. prog bands of that era were
influenced by the British prog giants, but Mirthrandir absorbed those influences
to create a more original style than most. Lots of reviews at
Prog
Archives.
Lift -
The Moment of Hearing ($14.99)
Lift was one of the great but obscure American 1970’s progressive rock bands,
with a style similar to Pentwater, Mirthrandir, Hands, and others of that era.
The Lift story takes a while to tell, so best to read the reviews from
DPRP
or
Sea of Tranquility.
Babylon - same ($14.99)For Genesis fans, this is as essential as they come. This is the
CD reissue of the sole studio album, released on LP in 1978, from a U.S. progressive band that is
the best clone ever of 70’s Genesis. If originality didn’t count, this
could be the best symphonic progressive album by a U.S. band. (Since originality
does count, Happy the Man wins, crafty hands down.) The sound quality has been
dramatically improved over the LP. There are audio samples at
CD Baby.
Yezda
Urfa - Sacred Baboon ($14.99)Boris is the legendary first album by this remarkable Chicago-area
U.S. band, recorded in 1975 with a 1976 bonus track. Originally only 300 LPs
were pressed, making this one of the most sought-after U.S. prog albums. Yezda
Urfa are very Gentle Giant-influenced, with Yes as a secondary influence. Their two albums are full
of dazzling musicianship, the band navigating complex arrangements with seeming
ease. Their sound on Boris is a bit more
acoustic than on their 2nd album Sacred Baboon (1976), but both albums stand
alongside the best U.S. prog albums.
Realm -
The Path ($14.99)This 1992 album by an American band is very Yes influenced (during Yes’ prime
period), with a singer who sounds very close to Jon Anderson.
Kalaban -
Don’t Panic ($14.99)This is the 1989 first album by an American symphonic prog band from Utah.
Along with the U.S. bands Now and (later) Under the Big Tree, Kalaban were
helping to define a U.S. west coast progressive style of that time, borrowing
from the British 70’s melodic prog bands but with an added accessibility,
playfulness, and generally American character.
Don’t Panic contains two vocal tracks and four instrumentals.
Now -
Everything Is Different Now ($14.99)Everything Is Different Now (1986) is the second CD by the U.S. Now, not to be confused with the Belgian band Now. “The music is well within the domain of mid-1970s progressive rock, and is quite comparable to other reissues of U.S. bands such as Easter Island, with long, keyboard/guitar/drums interludes and non-standard time signatures. The vocalist has a style that is reminiscent of Derek Shulman of Gentle Giant, though the music is more structured a la Genesis. Despite the virtuosic style of the music, the lyrics are light and humorous enough to show that the band did not take themselves too seriously.” [Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock]
“This band sounds somewhat like a cross between the
Grateful Dead, Yes, and King Crimson. Three of the members write and all three
have vastly different styles, so the result contains an extreme diversity of
material. Everything is Different Now seems to be the most popular [of
their albums], and it's also the most progressive in the traditional sense. The
band is rhythmically tighter than many other ‘undiscovered’ progressive groups,
and all the members are competent musicians.” [Gibraltar Encyclopedia of
Progressive Rock]
Quill -
Sursum Corda ($14.99)Quill was an American prog trio modeled on ELP (Tarkus, Pictures at
an Exhibition), though they also had some of Rick Wakeman’s melodic
approach. They shared ELP’s penchant for pompous and epic tracks, with Hammond
and Moog featured prominently. There are some vocals but the album is primarily
instrumental.
Sursum Corda was released only as a vinyl test pressing in 1977. It is
their only album, though there was an unreleased 1978 second album. The first CD
edition of this came in an LP-size sleeve; this is the jewel box edition.
Covenant -
Nature’s Divine Reflection ($14.99)This 1992 CD is intense 70’s-style keyboard-driven instrumental progressive
rock, the work of Texan Dave Gryder, who plays drums as well as keys. Bill Pohl
(The Underground Railroad) guests on guitar and bass. ELP is a big influence,
though there is no Greg Lake here to balance the Emerson/Palmer. The playing is
flashy, the music dense and rhythmically complex and filled with (mostly)
vintage keyboards. A bit one-dimensional perhaps as most one-man projects are,
but generally it works.
Atavism
of Twilight - same ($14.99)Atavism of Twilight is a Los Angeles instrumental symphonic prog/fusion band that released only this 1992 album. “One of the best bands to emerge in 1992. The music owes equal debt to the symphonic and fusion realms. In fact, AoT reminds me of a cross between two excellent bands, Änglagård (symphonic) and Djam Karet (fusion)... Audion described Atavism of Twilight’s music as an amalgam of Italian progressive, King Crimson, and Mahavishnu Orchestra with flute ala Camel and Solaris, which is pretty accurate. Certainly, the flute playing is very melodic, standing out nicely against washes of Mellotron. The melodic lines often sound pastoral, belying the rhythm section that is always ready to burn and constantly hinting at the barnstormer that could burst forth at any moment. When the rhythm section does finally kick into overdrive, just watch out. The guitar scorches, the flute becomes frantic, the Mellotron sings forth and the whole band explodes in dynamic fury.” [Mike Taylor, Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock]
“An instrumental five piece consisting of flute,
guitar, keys, bass and drums, this is the best new band I've heard since Änglagård. An amalgam of fusion and symphonic styles, they draw from bands such
as Camel, Jethro Tull, Focus, Kenso, Mirthrandir, and many, many others...
They combine sophisticated writing skill with knock-out, fiery
playing. The compositions are upbeat without sounding campy. Atavism consists of
ever-changing motifs and leads, avoiding the repetition trap that all too many
instrumental bands fall into. Each musician is considerably skilled and all
contribute equally to lead and rhythm parts... Unlike many bands that play complex music, Atavism of
Twilight never become too esoteric or academic. They remain listenable and have
a universal appeal. I think most prog-heads will like this album, and I
recommend it very highly - this is brilliant material.” [Mike Borella, Gibraltar
Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock]
Art
Rock Circus - Heaven’s Café Live ($9.99)
Mantra
Sunrise - same ($9.99)
These are all related projects centered around the talents of guitarist and composer John Miner. If you’ll dig out your copy of Progression Magazine issue 46, you’ll find a feature article on Heaven’s Café and an interview with Miner. Heaven’s Café is a musical theater production that has been staged in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and Art Rock Circus is the progressive rock band providing the music for it. Probably because of the theatrical production, Heaven’s Café Live has been the label’s best seller, though here Art Rock Circus is a trio with no keyboards. It definitely has that rock opera style, and Miner’s guitar playing frequently recalls Roye Albrighton of Nektar, though Art Rock Circus is not as symphonic nor as clever as Nektar on Nektar’s better albums.
A Passage to Clear has some keys and female vocals throughout and
a generally languid feel. The double-CD Tell a Vision is the most fully-realized of the Art Rock
Circus CDs, with even more keys and several guest musicians. Mantra Sunrise was
Miner’s band prior to Art Rock Circus, though it’s unclear when this CD was
recorded – no dates appear on any of the CDs.
Mantra Sunrise is also a predominantly languid album, fairly psychedelic, with
male vocals that suggest Jim Morrison/The Doors. The 20-minute suite Land of
Sprinagar may remind one of the first Nektar album. At times the production on these CDs is not
exactly state-of-the-art, though that makes these CDs sound even more like the product of an early
1970’s band. Most though not all of the music falls within the boundaries of
progressive rock, and as mentioned, there is a degree of psychedelia as well. There is so much
music here that it is difficult to summarize it, but there are extensive audio samples
provided.
Chaos Code - Propaganda
($12.99)
Chaos Code’s 3rd CD Propaganda
(2005)
sees some minor lineup changes, losing their keyboardist but adding a sax player
and guests on trumpet and harmony vocals. While bandleader Cliff Phelps adds
some keys and flute, he is primarily the guitarist, and so this album is light
on keyboards. This is the most King Crimson influenced of their albums, with
elements of Pink Floyd and Van der Graaf Generator also present.
On their debut, A Tapestry of Afterthoughts (1999), Chaos Code can be thought of as the American Landberk. This
is 55-minutes of generally melancholy, medium-tempo, early-1970’s
style progressive rock using vintage sounds (including flute), with debts to King
Crimson and Pink Floyd. As with the Scandinavian prog bands, heavy, dissonant
passages contrast with pastoral, symphonic sections. Their 2nd, The
Tragedy of Leaps and Bounds (2002), still sounds like an album straight out of the
early 1970’s, but with a new and improved rhythm section, the melancholy gives
way to bolder, more dynamic progressive rock. King Crimson and Pink Floyd are
still there among a host of 70’s progressive and heavy rock influences.
60-minutes with a number of long tracks.
Shaun
Guerin - Archives ($12.99)
Shaun, a Los Angeles native, passed away
a few years ago. He was an
accomplished drummer (at one point, he was to be Rocket Scientists’ drummer) but also a powerful vocalist and skilled keyboardist and
composer. These talents were visible as lead vocalist and second
drummer for the Genesis tribute band Cinema Show. This ensemble focused on the
Gabriel-era of Genesis and counted Paul Whitehead and Armando Gallo as fans.
After a three-year stint playing to large and appreciative audiences, Guerin
decided the time was right to focus on his own original progressive compositions
and consequently began work on his first solo album By the Dark of Light
(2002). Besides singing and playing drums and keyboards, Guerin also plays guitar and flute. His voice resembles
Peter Gabriel’s in a natural, unforced way. Primary influences include Peter
Gabriel and Genesis, of course, but also King Crimson, Yes, Hatfield and the North,
and other 1970’s progressive stalwarts. While all these artists exert an influence,
this writing is original and progressive without being overly derivative, music
that contributes to the progressive canon rather than copying it. Don’t overlook
this album because it’s under an individual’s name -- this is better than what
many full bands are capable of. On the 2nd Shaun Guerin album The Epic Quality of Life
(2003), Shaun is joined by three other musicians adding guitars, keys, vocals,
and bass. It continues in the same vein as his first but is perhaps even
stronger. In addition to the 52-minutes of music, the CD contains a video of a
2002 live performance. Paul Whitehead contributed the cover art for all Guerin’s albums.
Like Jimi Hendrix, Shaun Guerin is proving more
prolific after his death than before. 2005 saw the release of Archives,
a 78-minute CD containing an assortment of previously unreleased material. But this is no
collection of outtakes and substandard material. This is a powerful progressive
rock album that, if anything, better showcases Guerin’s songwriting ability than
his other albums. The audio quality is uniformly superb. In addition to the
originals, there are masterful renditions of Genesis’s Back in New York City
and The Colony of Slippermen, ELP’s Karn Evil #9, and Roger
Waters’s In the Flesh (featuring Mark McCrite from Rocket Scientists on guitar).
Shadow
Gallery - Room V ($13.99)
Shadow Gallery is known as one of the top progressive-metal bands in the
world, but on their 2005 album Room V, the pendulum is swung pretty far
to the progressive side. We have no problem calling them a progressive rock band
now, or at least a progressive rock band with occasional lapses of taste in the
guitar department. There should be enough metal content for most headbangers,
but otherwise this is a very impressive album that is usually close to Kansas,
with a little Pink Floyd here and there, and sporting Shadow Gallery’s best
production yet. 75-minutes!
Parallel
Mind - Colossus Adea ($14.99)
Parallel Mind is an American (Milwaukee-based) instrumental progressive rock trio whose
compositions are intense and complex, yet still accessible and powerfully
melodic. Well, that’s what the press release says, and we can’t argue with it. This is an
exceptional album of instrumental symphonic prog. Parallel Mind consists of
three outstanding instrumentalists: drum prodigy Joe Babiak (who also plays
trumpet and flugelhorn), keyboard wiz (and recording engineer) Nibandh Nadkarni,
and always in-demand bassist William Kopecky (Kopecky, Pär Lindh Project,
etc). Guest musicians add guitar, mandolin, cello, violin, choir and Indian
classical vocals. Because this trio is built around keys rather than guitar,
we’re spared another pseudo-prog guitarist’s album. But Parallel Mind also avoid the
too-sterile sound of many keyboard-centric projects. Released in 2005 on Unicorn
Digital, home of the band Spaced Out, Parallel Mind sometimes sound like a more
rock, less fusion-oriented Spaced Out. Or how about Planet X with more prog and
no metal? More so than either of those two bands, Parallel Mind also know how
to slow things down and inject some majesty into their music. 62-minutes.
Systems
Theory - Soundtracks for Imaginary Movies ($11.99)
|
The Illustrated Band - The Forever of Now ($10.99)
SALE!This 2004 CD is the debut from The Illustrated Band from Austin, Texas. They
have a very American sound palette similar to Phish and the other jam bands, but
they aren't a jam band. Well, on one track at least they are, but the rest of
the album is highly composed. Their music is littered with progressivisms, with
touches of Rush, Genesis, and Yes (more so the acoustic side of the last two)
here and there. There is a pop/rock element, but the same can be said of
Echolyn, whose style they sometimes brush up against. There are some psychedelic
flavors, and above all, well-defined melodies. It’s all a very
creative mix that draws the listener in and doesn’t let go. 63-minutes. There
are listener reviews and
audio samples at
CDBaby.
Bad
Dog U - same ($12.99)
The oddly-named Bad Dog U is a Chicago-based instrumental band that has made
the best symphonic fusion album you’ve never heard. On their self-titled 2004
debut, they are quite close to
Kenso, maybe not quite on that level (no one really is), but sure to thrill any
fan of that band. Stir in a bit of the Dixie Dregs, Allan Holdsworth, Brand X,
Tribal Tech,… you get the idea. Guitar and keys share
the glory, as it should be, and the musicianship is top-notch.
Agent Cooper -
Beginner’s Mind ($11.99)
The self-titled 1999 debut from Agent Cooper is an excellent example of
marrying progressive rock with modern pop/rock. What makes it work is that Agent
Cooper has a major league vocalist in Doug Busbee, and the production is
outstanding. Excellent musicians playing great songs and melodies, music with
depth. With their follow-up Beginner’s Mind (2005), Agent Cooper have
pushed their sound in the direction of prog-metal, but the hallmarks of their
earlier style are still present. Despite the heavier guitar, they can’t be
confused with a metal band. The fact that their music remains based on quality
songwriting means they lack the over-the-top, comic book aesthetic of most metal
bands.
Planet
P Project - 1931: Go Out Dancing Part One ($12.99)
Planet P Project is Tony Carey, one-time keyboardist for Rainbow, with help
here and there from other musicians. His two Planet P Project albums in the
1980’s resulted in some chart success, with the 2nd, the double-LP Pink World,
often compared to Pink Floyd’s The Wall. 1931 is the first part of
a planned trilogy entitled Go Out Dancing, a conceptual work that will
draw comparisons to Pink Floyd and Roger Waters’ work from The Wall on.
While some of the recording for this album dates back as early as 1992, it is a
product of the early 2000’s in that it makes use of drum loops and samples. The
subject matter of 1931 is the radical right, from the rise of Nazism to
present conditions in the U.S.
Helmet
of Gnats - same (Hybrid SACD, $14.99)
Helmet of Gnats are a great U.S. instrumental progressive
rock band with this digipack multi-channel Super Audio CD released in 2004. The disc also contains SACD
stereo and CD stereo mixes, the latter so that those of you without an SACD
player can still play the disc (while missing out on the best sound). Helmet of
Gnats is a quartet of guitars, keys, bass and drums. The band can trace its
origins to the early 1980’s when they played mostly Dixie Dregs covers. A lot of
this album has a healthy dose of fusion, but it is fusion of the composed and
highly-structured variety. The Gnats aren’t quite in the same league as Kenso,
Bruford, or Happy the Man, but those are fair reference points. Keyboardist
Matthew Bocchino favors organ, often somewhere between the Keith Emerson and
John Novello (Niacin) styles. The album gets stronger as it goes on, finishing
with the 13-minute Chimps in Space. The album was recorded live
in the studio, so what you hear is the sound of a very tight band playing
together. [As an aside, most of the reviews we’ve seen of this album were
written by people who didn’t even listen to the SACD layer. Multi-channel SACD
and DVD-Audio are significant advances in music reproduction, while the masses seem content to listen to music reproduced by
transducers the size of their ear canal.]
Project
Vector - Reality Show ($10.99)
Immovable Mover (2003) is the debut by an impressive one-man studio project from Michigan, the work of Dave Gastambide. The state of the art in music software and sample libraries is such that we should no longer be surprised at what can be achieved by a single talented musician working in a home studio. The music is vocal-heavy mainstream prog rock, most closely resembling Rush, Saga, or the more commercial side of post-70’s Yes, though Gastambide’s voice is in a lower range than either Geddy Lee or Jon Anderson. Fortunately, Gastambide’s voice is strong enough to carry the songs. The CD comes in a printed sleeve rather than a jewel box and counts as only one-half CD for shipping calculations. 59-minutes.
After a change of name to Project Vector, Gastambide’s 2005 release Reality Show (jewel box) is a huge step forward. Gastambide handles keyboards, programming, bass, and vocals. This blends the depth and complexity of progressive rock with modern sounds and approach. The songs are stronger and flow more naturally, and everything is more cohesive. If Rupert Hine made an album today, it might sound like Reality Show. For one thing, Hine’s and Gastambide’s voices and singing style are similar, but the marriage of complex rhythm tracks with great songwriting is also something at which they both excel. For those who don’t know Rupert Hine, you may have seen his name as a producer (Rush, Saga, Anthony Phillips, The Fixx, etc.). After two albums under his own name in the 1970’s, he was the main force in Quantum Jump (two albums in the mid-70’s), after which he released three albums under his own name in the early 1980’s, the Better Off Dead soundtrack in 1985, three more under the Thinkman name in the late 80’s, and another album under his name in 1994. Perhaps a more progressive-minded Thomas Dolby is another good reference point, and yet there are Project Vector tracks that are unlike either of these artists. In any event, Immovable Mover represents Gastambide’s influences (mostly from the 1980’s), while with Reality Show, Gastambide has found his voice.
Terramara -
Four Blocks to Hennepin ($11.99)
out-of-stock
No, this isn’t progressive rock per se, but Minneapolis-based Terramara
deserves your attention anyway. They sound like the second coming of Steely Dan
blended with Sting, a very intelligent, jazz-tinged, large and lush-sounding
pop-rock that, were this the late 1970’s, would be all over the radio. Whatever
“it” is, these guys have it on Four Blocks to Hennepin
(2005). There actually is one instrumental and another mostly-instrumental song
where they do play progressive rock and fusion, but for most of this 60-minute
disc, you are treated to first-rate songwriting and production, warm vocals,
rich harmonies, and tight musicianship. The songs are the work of keyboardist
and lead vocalist Rob Meany, with the rest of the band (guitar, bass, drums)
contributing to the piano & synth based arrangements. "Jazz-tinged" in this
context really means that the band use an expanded arsenal of chords, adding a
complexity that elevates their music above typical pop and rock. Absolutely
start with Four Blocks to Hennepin. Terramara’s self-titled 2000 debut is
available for those who like the newer album and want more. The style on the debut is more
purely Steely Dan and is somewhat pedestrian compared to Four Blocks to
Hennepin, as the band have clearly made great strides in the intervening years. Terramara’s new CD Dust & Fiction is due in soon.
Monolith - same ($11.99)
SALE!This is a 1998 release from a U.S. keyboard/bass/drums trio that originated
in 1977. They are very ELP-like. The main part of the CD is a suite the
keyboardist wrote back in 1977, which the band re-recorded in 1995. The last two
tracks feature a guest guitarist and are different, closer to the Asia style.
Seldon’s
Inquisitor - Why Not? ($7.99)
This 58-minute CD from a Massachusetts duo sounds like the work of a full
band. The music is pure 1970’s-style progressive rock, with lots of vintage
keys, showing influences of Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP, perhaps Van der Graaf
Generator, Nektar, and others. While the production is a notch below that of a
professional studio, it is comparable to many records from the 70’s. Note the
disc is a CD-R while the inlay and 12-panel booklet are professionally printed. Great price for a
disc that should please most fans of classic prog.
Netherworld - same ($15.99)This is the CD reissue of Netherworld’s 1981 In the Following Half-Light
LP, with the addition of a suite of three instrumental bonus tracks. A
highly-collectible LP and for good reason, this is among the best U.S.
progressive rock albums, inspired primarily by Genesis but with a high degree of
originality. Lead vocalist Denny Gorden sounds similar at times to Geoff Mann, at
other times more Gabrielesque.
Joe Bergamini - Arrival ($12.99)Joe Bergamini became the drummer for Happy the Man in 2003, but he was
internationally recognized before that, performing clinics for Tama, Sabian,
Evans, and others; authoring two books and writing a column for Modern Drummer
magazine, and spending 11 years as the drummer for Rush tribute band Power
Windows. 4Front is his world-class, instrumental prog-rock/fusion band, with Zak
Rizvi on guitars & keyboards and Frank LaPlaca on bass and frequent help from
other musicians. Though Arrival
(1996) is under Bergamini’s name, it is the first 4Front album as the lineup is
the same, and it’s at least as good. This is instrumental progressive rock and fusion in the
no-nonsense American style, symphonic and melodic and very well-recorded.
Scott Lindenmuth Group -
The New Beginning ($13.99)
Scott Lindenmuth Group - Another Side Another Time ($13.99)With a reputation in the jazz and guitarist worlds, the Scott Lindenmuth Group should be equally well-known to prog rockers, and we hope to remedy that. These incredible instrumental albums exist somewhere between fusion and progressive rock. As a reference point, they are more melodic, more rock, less improvisational, and higher-energy than, say, Allan Holdsworth. Scott Lindenmuth is a major guitar talent, taking Pat Metheny’s melodic stylings into more aggressive territory. Recommended especially to fans of Ken Watson’s Assembly.
The title of The New Beginning
(2004) probably refers to the passage of 12 years since Penalty Phase.
The trademark SLG fusion style is intact, with a bit more acoustic and classical
guitar in the mix. Far from stealing the spotlight, Lindenmuth gives keyboardist
Andy Roben plenty of room to operate, backed as always by a stellar rhythm
section. If the early part of the album leads you to believe the band is
mellowing as they age, the rest of the album dispels that notion, with some of
their hardest rocking material and even one spacey track. 60-minutes.
Michelle
Young - Marked for Madness ($14.99)
Michelle Young was first heard singing with Glass
Hammer, and followed in 1996 with her first album, the excellent Song of the
Siren. This is the 2003 2nd edition, remastered at Thin Ice Studios
in England, with much improved artwork.
Read reviews here. She’s topped that
with her 2nd, Marked for Madness (2001), produced at Thin Ice Studio and recorded all over the globe with
Clive Nolan (Arena, Pendragon) producing and playing keyboards, Doane Perry
(Jethro Tull) on drums, Stan Whitaker (Happy the Man) on guitars, Peter Gee
(Pendragon) on bass, and Karl Groom (Threshold) and Pete Banks (yes, that Pete
Banks) also contributing guitar. Kate Bush’s
fans should flock to Michelle Young, as this album would sit comfortably
alongside any of Kate’s. We hope Michelle doesn’t mind the comparison, but
it’s about the highest compliment we can pay a female artist. The same
quirkiness and daring is here, and often the voice is very close. Especially
noteworthy are the many orchestral arrangements, extremely convincing but coming from Clive Nolan’s keyboards.
In fact, some of Clive Nolan’s best work is on this album. 62-minutes.
Read reviews here.
Syzygy -
The Allegory of Light ($12.99)
The American band Witsend released their outstanding
debut Cosmos and Chaos in 1993 (see below). Syzygy is the same
band after taking time out to raise families, and 2003’s The Allegory of
Light vaults them right back near the top of the American prog rock heap.
This is complex, clever, heavily-instrumental prog rock played by top-notch
musicians, mixing the old and the new. Influences and reference points include
ELP, UK, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Transatlantic, Planet X,... you get the
picture. 63-minutes.
Witsend -
Cosmos and Chaos ($12.99)
Digitally remastered re-release of the 1993 debut by Witsend/Syzygy. If you
missed this the first time around, you have a second chance at one of the
classiest American prog rock albums. These guys have chops on the same level as
Spock’s Beard, but their mostly-instrumental music lacks the Beatles/pop
influences of the Beard. Probably influenced most by Yes and ELP, maybe early
Ambrosia, with a bit of Steve Hackett thrown in, this is nevertheless quite
contemporary in sound and execution.
Steve Adams - Maiden Voyage ($12.99)
Steve Adams is an American guitarist
who recorded and performed with the late Peter Bardens (Camel) and was a
member of Mirage, the band comprised of ex-Camel and Caravan musicians who
toured and released two live CDs. His first CD Maiden Voyage (1998) is a
mostly solo affair, with help from a couple other musicians, but it sounds very
close to a full band. You can hear the Camel influence right from the start,
also a little Hackett and Hillage, but Adams puts his own stamp on things.
Freehand -
Thinking Out Loud ($9.99)
North Carolina’s Freehand formed in 1985 and were active until 1990. They
reunited briefly in 2004 to play a few concerts. Several members went on to form
the band Smokin’ Granny. Thinking Out Loud was recorded in 1988 but not
released on CD until 1997 on a now defunct label. It was later reissued by the
band and that also sold out. This current version is a professionally-duplicated
CD-R with a downsized booklet and a lower price. Freehand used to play Happy the
Man, UK, and King Crimson covers, and these influences show in their songs. The
album is mostly instrumental and combines a hefty 1980’s King Crimson influence
with some fusion ala Shadowfax or Brand X. 65-minutes.
Annie
Haslam - One Enchanted Evening ($14.99)
SALE!
SALE!
It isn’t Renaissance or progressive rock, but it is Annie Haslam, she of The
Voice. One Enchanted Evening is her latest CD (with one of Annie’s oil
paintings on the cover), recorded live in 2001 with superb fidelity in the intimate setting of a
church in Pennsylvania. Annie’s voice has never been this exposed on record,
backed as she is only by Rave Tesar’s keyboards. These are some of Annie’s
favorite songs by other composers. Among the 15 are several show tunes (Rodgers
& Hammerstein, Gilbert & Sullivan, Leonard Bernstein), four classical pieces (Handel, Fauré, Satie),
one Beatles and one Joni Mitchell song. Live Under
Brazilian Skies is a live album recorded in 1997 featuring seven Renaissance
songs, seven songs from Annie’s solo albums (including her cover of Mike Oldfield’s
Moonlight Shadow), and the Yes song Turn of the Century. Blessing in Disguise is her
1994 studio album featuring 14 new songs.
Maximum Coherence - Portal
($11.99)
Maximum Coherence (who thankfully shortened their name on their 2nd CD) comfortably straddle the worlds of
pop, progressive rock, and psychedelic/space rock. On their 2004 album Portal, this five-piece
band isn’t making it any easier to describe them, as they meld a number of
styles in a unique way, retro at one moment and modern the next. There is a pop
aspect to their music, as the prevailing mood on Portal is light and
upbeat, with the lovely female vocals playing a greater role than on previous
albums, and there is little of the space rock that is heard on their early
material. MaxCo is nothing if not musically savvy,
carrying on like a small rock orchestra and managing to incorporate classical, folk, jazz, and a half dozen other influences as well.
They have a good balance of guitars and keyboards, augmented by many other
instruments, and both male and female vocals. Here is
Aural Innovations review.
Paul Panebianco - Sense of Self ($9.99)Composer/keyboardist/drummer Paul Panebianco’s first CD is an impressive
instrumental work, a one-man show in which he multitracks keyboards and real
drums. This is the type of music you don’t produce without at least some formal
music education, an adventurous progressive rock with strong fusion and 20th
century classical elements. It’s not for everyone, as it does have avant-garde
aspects, a complex chordal vocabulary, quirky melodies, and rhythms that
constantly twist and turn. Perhaps Univers Zero playing fusion?
Electrum
- Standard Deviation ($11.99)
On their debut Frames of Mind, Electrum used instrumental Rush as the
departure point for their instrumental progressive rock. Their 2nd, Standard Deviation, represents a major
leap forward for the band. Having shed most of the Rush influence, this is now
first-rate instrumental progressive, with keyboards and melody playing a much
larger role than on their debut. The band navigates frequent tempo and time
signature changes without drawing attention to them, and the album culminates in
a 14-minute piece representing their most symphonic work to date.
Gino Foti - Sphere of Influence ($9.99)
Gino
Foti - Vedic Mantras ($9.99)
Electrum band leader Gino Foti has since turned his attention to world fusion music. All these CDs are 2006 releases. Foti plays bass and keyboards and adds loops and samples. Guest musicians are used on only a small number of tracks. Here are Foti’s descriptions:
Sphere of Influence (67:11) - Centered around the universal “Union of Opposites” concept, the compositions contain a dynamic balance of rhythm, melody, and harmony by integrating ethnic sonorities into a jazz-rock palette. Merging diffractive musical arrangements with cohesive ensemble playing, dense percussive layers with ethereal instrumental textures, this release is imbued with both vibrancy and sensitivity, all spearheaded by Foti’s bass guitars.
Orbis Terrarum (66:10) - Exploring the relationships between diverse musical traditions and the dichotomy of rhythm and melody of the bass guitar, this aural travelogue blends intricate ethnic rhythms, spacious melodies, and flowing solos with the passion, intensity, romanticism, and introspection usually associated with first-generation jazz-rock and world fusion artists.
Bhavachakra (68:45) - Inspired by the Buddhist “Wheel of Life”, this collection of ambient soundscapes, acoustic and electric textures with Asian and Indian influences and synthesized exotic atmospheres is meant to direct the listener through all the guideposts of transmigratory existence, evoking myriad memories and emotions along the way.
Vedic Mantras (64:57) - Traditional Vedic
chanting is combined with modern instrumentation and elements of jazz, rock, and
European classical music in a variant of East-meets-West fusion. Featuring the
Taittiriya Upanishad, one of the most important writings of ancient Indian
philosophy, the arrangements were carefully constructed to retain the devotional
mood and integrity of the sacred texts while creating a multi-genre sonic
palette.
Joel
Hoekstra - The Moon is Falling ($11.99)
out-of-stock
Two classy, melodic instrumental fusion discs from guitarist Hoekstra, who is not
likely to remain unknown for long. On both CDs, Hoekstra is backed by drummer
extraordinaire Virgil Donati (Planet X, Steve Vai, Tribal Tech) and equally impressive
bassist Ric Fierabracci (Andy Summers, Frank Gambale, Yanni). Three different
sidemen contribute keyboards to Undefined (2000), while keyboardist Chris
Grove becomes a full member of the band on The Moon is Falling (2003).
Hard to pick a favorite between the two discs, but one thing is certain:
Hoekstra is a skilled composer and arranger. If these were just shredfests, we
wouldn’t bother stocking them. For guitar-oriented instrumental fusion and rock,
this is the real deal.
New Eden Orchestra - Anyman ($12.99)
This is a band and CD you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about. The New
Eden Orchestra is a quintet from Pittsburgh, and though this 2004 album is their
debut, the core members of the band have been together for over 25 years, and
they’ve spent eight years (on and off) bringing Anyman to fruition. This
is a 64-minute melodic prog rock concept album, to quote the band, “in the style
of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, The Wall, or Tommy”. You
can’t question their ambition. Overall, the music gravitates more toward Kansas
and Yes, though there is a fairly wide variety of musical styles present (but
all within the boundaries of progressive rock). Glass Hammer may be the best
reference of all, Spock’s Beard to a lesser extent. The vocal sections pull the
album toward the mainstream, while (not surprisingly) the instrumental sections
contain the real proggy stuff. Quality male vocals with a guest female vocalist
on one track.
Ten
Point Ten - 12 25 ($12.99)
This may be a Christmas album, but it is also a real progressive rock album, which
puts it in very select company. Ten Point Ten is a Pennsylvania quintet + guests who
recorded this 61-minute album between 2000 and 2003. The album consists of four arrangements of traditional Christmas songs and
seven originals with Christian-oriented lyrics. Musically this is the real
thing, progressive rock with an American style (e.g., Kansas, Glass Hammer,
Spock’s Beard), full of finesse, clever arrangements, and extended instrumental
passages. As rock Christmas albums go, it’s much better than Trans-Siberian
Orchestra, who you can tell are really metal musicians. Ten Point Ten have provided enough mp3
samples that you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
Jennifer
Cutting’s Ocean Orchestra - Ocean: Songs for the Night Sea Journey
($13.99)
Jennifer Cutting led the English-style folk-rock band The New St. George, which broke up circa 1995. Ocean (2004) is her new project, which heads off in a slightly different direction. Seven years in the making, Ocean features an all-star cast including Maddy Prior and Peter Knight (Steeleye Span), Troy Donockley (Iona), Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention, Tull), Polly Bolton (Dando Shaft, Albion Band), Gabriel Yacoub (Malicorne), and many others. Jennifer is the composer and arranger and plays keyboards and squeezeboxes, while four female lead singers are employed, all with beautiful voices. This is a rather novel blend of traditional Celtic/British Isles music with symphonic rock, new age, and some electronic effects, loops, and samples. A Bulgarian women’s singing group adds a world music flavor to one track, while a string quartet plays on two others. Another track is a rearrangement of one of Steve Morse’s baroque instrumentals (Sleep, from The Dixie Dregs’ Freefall), using piano, violin, and low whistle. Gustav Holst and J.S. Bach get in on the act too. The whole album serves as a metaphor for a mid-life transformation, and the tri-fold digipack with 16-page booklet is one of the most elaborate you will see.
“…The quality is staggering
as the sheer emotion and beauty of the songs stands head and shoulders above
anything else in this vein, with tracks that could have fitted in anything from
Titanic through Lord of the Rings to Robin Of Sherwood -
you get the drift? Yes, this is an album that makes the likes of Clannad sound
like second-raters, so incredibly constructed, played and arranged that
forty-four minutes goes by in the blink of an eye, while all you’re left with at
the end is an overwhelming desire to put the whole thing on again. Transcending
any categorisation, this is symphonic-orchestral-folk-olde worlde music and song
at a wide-eyed quality level that you simply can’t fault. No matter what you’re
into - prog, electronic, folk, Heavenly Vocals, whatever –
if you want something where songs and female voices and rich arrangements and
gorgeously melodic instrumentation stand side by side in shining splendour, you
simply have to get this album!” [Andy Garibaldi, CD Services]
The New St. George - High Tea
($12.99)During their existence, they were the best British-style
electric-folk/ folk-rock band in America. Akin to a more progressive Steeleye Span, with
greater diversity of material and instrumentation, Washington DC’s The New St. George
combined superb male and female vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, melodeon,
accordion, synthesizers, tin whistle, bass, and drums. Most of the material is from the
English tradition, arranged in a thoroughly modern way, with a good mix of vocal tracks
and instrumentals. Keyboardist/composer/arranger Jennifer Cutting was weaned on
progressive rock keyboardists like Emerson and Wakeman, and it shows in her arrangements.
For the progressive rock fan who has yet to sample
British electric-folk, High Tea may be the best place to start.
