Titles are arranged alphabetically with the latest additions highlighted
in yellow.
Aardvark - Tuntematon Sotilas ($15.99)
This 2006 release is the 2nd album by a Finnish symphonic prog quintet
singing in Finnish. Aardvark can also be heard on the
Kalevala various artists 3CD, though their lineup has since changed. This
is wonderful 1970’s-style progressive rock similar to Finnish prog bands of that
decade such as Kaamos, Nova, and Nimbus. If those bands are unfamiliar, the
first three albums of Swedish band Kaipa (forerunners of The Flower Kings) are a
good reference. Work on the album began in 2003, and though all the members are
Finns, they’re scattered around the globe. They relied on the Internet, with the
drums recorded in Singapore, the keyboards in New Zealand, and the guitar, bass,
and vocals in three separate studios in Finland. You’d never know though, as it
sounds cohesive. Another musician guests on accordion on two tracks.
InsideOut has reissued the CDs of A.C.T., Sweden’s best kept secret. A.C.T. may no longer really be
much of a secret in Europe. They play symphonic progressive with the addition of strong pop
songwriting along the lines of Queen, Kayak, Saga, and ELO.
They marry English-style progressive and pop extremely well, with a lush, dense
sound and plenty of complexity to go with a knack for catchy melodies. These
2006/2007 editions of Silence (2006, 64-minutes), Last Epic (2003,
67-minutes), Imaginary Friends (2001, 63-minutes), and Today’s Report (1999,
62-minutes) all have bonus audio and/or video tracks and expanded booklets.
Ageness - Rituals ($14.99)
Ageness is a symphonic neo-progressive band from Finland with English vocals, sounding very English.
Their primary influence is undoubtedly Genesis, though they add elements of
Marillion, IQ, and Rush. If you count the 1983 album by Scarab, the predecessor to
Ageness, then the band made four albums, of which Rituals (1995) is the 3rd.
Jimmy Ågren - Close Enough for Jazz ($11.99)
Guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Ågren’s 2003 solo album
is here because he is a member of The Mats/Morgan Band, and the album features Morgan on drums. Despite the title, it is an album of blues-rock,
though done in a somewhat novel fashion.
Ampera -
A Vulcanized Mingle ($14.99)
No, we can’t make sense of the title either. Maybe it’s something a software
translator came up with. Ampera is a Norwegian progressive rock band and this is
their 2007 debut. They are both instrumentally and alphabetically close to
Anekdoten, a mix of King Crimson (Starless) and a more modern guitar
style, overlaid with Mellotron strings and some Minimoog. They have a female
vocalist (singing in English) with a cold, somewhat dispassionate style that is
more often associated with alternative than progressive. It’s this juxtaposition
that makes Ampera unique.
Anekdoten - Nucleus ($15.99)
Anekdoten emerged in the early 1990’s, displaying a great deal of King Crimson influence (circa Red)
and relying heavily on Mellotron strings, their
trademark style featuring dynamics shifts between somber and violent passages,
between fragile beauty and harsh dissonance. Along with fellow Swedes Anglagard,
they were one of the most respected progressive rock bands of the 1990’s. This
is the 2004 remastered edition of their 2nd album Nucleus (1995), which features a 6:41
bonus track and an expanded booklet.
Beardfish -
Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two ($14.99)
Beardfish - Sleeping in Traffic: Part One ($14.99)
Beardfish - The Sane Day (2CD, $24.99)
Beardfish - Från en plats du ej kan se ($17.99)
We didn’t think anyone made records like this anymore. Beardfish
are an outstanding Swedish progressive band blending many 1970’s prog styles. There are elements of Swedish
70’s bands (Trettioåriga Kriget, Bo Hansson, Made in Sweden, Kaipa), the great
Dutch bands Supersister and Focus, Gentle Giant, the Canterbury Bands, Frank
Zappa, King Crimson, and much more. And yet there are contemporary elements too.
There’s so much good stuff here, it’s hard to know where to begin when
attempting to describe it all. Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two (2008,
74-minutes) is their fourth. Sleeping in Traffic: Part One (2007, 66-minutes) is their third.
The double-CD The Sane Day (2005) is their second. This is the 2007
edition on Progress Records. Read
reviews here. Från en plats du ej kan se (From a place
you cannot see) is their 2003 debut. This is the 2007 remastered edition on
Progress Records, which includes two bonus tracks and an expanded booklet.
Black
Bonzo - Sound of the Apocalypse ($13.99)
Black Bonzo is a Swedish retro-prog band whose sound is locked into 1972 or
thereabouts. Their 2004 debut had a lot of hard rock influence, e.g., Uriah Heep,
Deep Purple, Queen. But Sound of the Apocalypse (2007, digipack) is
almost purely a progressive rock album. Rather than the King Crimson style (and
sometimes forced dynamic shifts) of Anglagard or Anekdoten, Black Bonzo are more
melodic, influenced by Jethro Tull (Thick as a Brick-era) and Yes, among
others. In fact, the result is close to The Flower Kings when TFK are going for
the sound of that era. The keyboards are dominated by Hammond, with Mellotron
and piano in support, and just a little synth. Good stuff!
Tomas Bodin -
I Am ($14.99)
Tomas Bodin - Sonic Boulevard ($13.99)
Flower Kings’ keyboardist Tomas Bodin has made one great album after another.
I Am (2005) is his 5th CD (if you count the album he made under the name
Swedish Family), but his first to really feature vocals. I Am is an ambitious
63-minute progressive rock opera in three acts. Along with bandmates Jonas
Reingold on bass and Flower Kings drummer Marcus Liliequist, Bodin enlisted
the help of guitarist Jocke JJ Marsh of the Glenn Hughes Band and vocalists
Anders Jansson, Pernilla Bodin, and Helene Schönning. There is a lot of
tremendous proggy instrumental work here. There is hard rock riffing and
aggressive vocals alongside Bodin’s more familiar Flower Kings and Kaipa styles, and a noticeable influence of Pink
Floyd’s The Wall. If there is any justice, this should be the
album that gives Bodin sales figures on the level of The Flower Kings albums.
Sonic Boulevard (2003, digipack) is his 3rd CD, with the other Flower Kings
and several other musicians helping out. This is a very satisfying,
mostly-instrumental symphonic progressive album. Relative to The Flower Kings, Bodin has the freedom here to do some more peaceful and classically-inspired
pieces, and there is much more of a Swedish flavor that comes through, reminding
one more of 1970’s Kaipa than The Flower Kings. At the same time, Bodin is able
to use drum loops and other modern accoutrements here and there, so the music is
both more retro and more modern than his parent band.
Brighteye Brison - Believers & Deceivers
($17.99)
Brighteye Brison is a melodic Swedish symphonic progressive band that you can file alongside The Flower Kings, Carptree, Twin Age,
Ageness, Spektrum, and Magic Pie. Their third album Believers & Deceivers (2008, 68-minutes) is
not only Brighteye Brison’s best yet, this album alone could be used to
show why the Swedish progressive scene is the strongest in the world now. Their
sound is pure classic symphonic prog with a solid melodic foundation. The
commonality with The Flower Kings, Moon Safari, Maze of Time, etc. is
immediately obvious, and yet all these Swedish bands have a distinct sound. On Believers & Deceivers,
Yes is the major influence, and whether early Kayak is an influence or not, some
of the music certainly has that style. The Genesis and Gentle Giant passages are
easy to spot. Brighteye Brison have two keyboardists, and both stick to vintage
keyboards. Three band members sing, and the Yes-like ensemble vocals are a big
part of their sound. That is one thing the current crop of Swedish and Norwegian
prog bands embrace while the rest of the world seems to have forgotten how. An
essential CD.
On their debut On the Other Side
(2005), Swedish band Brother Ape are a quartet (guitars/vocals, keys, bass,
drums). The band describe themselves as a unique blend of progressive rock and
fusion and mention Weather Report and Brand X. The truth? Brother Ape are a
mainstream progressive rock band with excellent vocals in English. They are
somewhere between Saga/Rush and Genesis/Yes, but don’t take that too literally
as Brother Ape don’t sound much like any of those bands, except for the title
track that ends this album. This 8-minute track is the highlight, a wonderful
slice of Yes and Genesis-inspired euphoria. Interestingly, this track was
recorded ten years earlier than the others and excavated from the vault for this
CD. Are there any others like this in there? As for the fusion, in a few spots
they integrate chord changes and sounds that derive from 1970’s fusion bands.
It’s a great idea that they execute well, but it’s really a minor aspect of
their sound, and at no point are they actually playing jazz-rock. But who cares.
Brother Ape are another great Swedish prog band that don’t sound like any of
the other Swedish prog bands. Read
reviews here.
Brother Ape are a trio on their 2nd album Shangri-la
(2006, 58-minutes), and yet it is a significantly stronger album. There actually is a small
amount of music here that could qualify as jazz-rock (and there is now fretless
bass), but as on their debut, there is a jazz-rock flavor to some of the other
instrumental work that is very refreshing and that sets Brother Ape apart from
most other contemporary prog bands. Peter Dahlstrom, who sang 70% of the songs
on the first album, has deserted and guitarist Stefan Damicolas has taken over
lead vocals on all tracks. He’s a very good singer whose voice actually creates
a proggier feel, as the frequently soft vocals (lead and harmony) give the music
a solid 1970’s flavor. And most of the influences heard here are 70’s prog
bands, including the pastoral side of Genesis, yet the music is not consciously
retro as with a band such as Anglagard. This album is likely to give those who
grew up with the original progressive rock bands a warm feeling that doesn’t
happen with many contemporary bands. Here is an mp3 of the complete track
New Shangri-la. Read
reviews here.
Brother Ape’s third CD III (2008) is just a
brilliant album, cementing Sweden’s position at ground zero of the current
progressive rock world. Brother Ape’s style has gelled. It is fresh,
contemporary, full of energy, and distinct from other prog bands. They have
excellent lead vocals as well as the harmony vocals that many of the current
Swedish bands excel at. Their sound is symphonic but not retro, energetic but
not heavy by today’s standards, full of that summer breeze quality one can also
hear in Moon Safari. Can we say “brilliant” again?
The
Carpet Knights - Lost and So Strange Is My Mind ($15.99)
This 2005 release on Record Heaven’s Transubstans label is consistent with
the label’s focus on bands with a retro and often psychedelic progressive sound
and a 1970’s production aesthetic. This Swedish band could be likened to
Anekdoten minus the cello and Mellotron. Except on the 11-minute final track,
they use no keyboards but they do use flute on occasion. After Anekdoten, one
might mention a similarity to early Jethro Tull in spots. Because the two
guitarists wisely avoid over-distorted metal tones and typical lead guitar
wankery (had to make up a word just now), the music flows beautifully and
seduces the listener with its generally melancholic mood.
Carptree -
Insekt ($14.99)
Carptree - Man Made Machine ($14.99)
Carptree - Superhero ($17.99)
out-of-stock
Carptree - same ($16.99)
This Swedish band’s 2003 2nd CD Superhero (61-minutes) is a symphonic progressive
masterpiece. The core of the band is Carl Westholm on keyboards and singer
Niclas Flinck, while seven other musicians in the “No Future Orchestra” handle
guitars, bass, drums, and backing vocals. Carptree’s lineage may be Genesis and
Peter Gabriel (though one song, the excellent Host vs. Graft, has a chorus straight
out of the Pendragon songbook), but unlike the 1990’s Swedish bands, Carptree
are not retro and in fact get high marks for inventiveness and all-around
cleverness. The old Genesis melodrama is here, and every song is just a little
bit quirky, which only increases Carptree’s appeal. Westholm
generally plays in the classically-inspired styles of Tony Banks or Ton
Scherpenzeel (Kayak), and his arrangements and orchestrations are superb. Niclas
Flinck’s vocals sometimes suggest Max Werner (Kayak). We thought this level of
songwriting, melodic sensibility, and emotional impact had all but disappeared
from progressive rock. Carptree’s 2001 self-titled first CD (57-minutes) leans a
bit more toward progressive-pop than Superhero, but the potential that is fully realized
on Superhero is very evident. So start with any of their other CDs and you’ll probably come back for their 1st CD as well.
Man Made Machine (2005) continues Carptree’s trend of making each CD
darker, heavier, and more powerful than the last. Flinck’s singing style now
sounds more like Fish. This is a stunning symphonic
progressive album, more serious sounding than their previous albums, full of the
old Genesis grandeur but not really retro sounding, at least not when compared
to Swedish bands such as Anglagard or Anekdoten. But if you married the power of
those two bands with the vocals and melodic sense of Galleon, Cross, or Twin Age
(keeping this within Sweden for the moment), you’d have something like Man
Made Machine, the best of both worlds.
And now with their fourth CD Insekt (2007),
Carptree have put it all together and cement their position in the first echelon
of active symphonic progressive bands. In addition to the elements and
influences on previous albums, there are some female backing vocals, and the
final song is very Roger Waters / Pink Floyd influenced. It’s a testament to the
Swedish progressive scene that, even though there are quite a few bands today,
and progressive rock is a mature style, the bands all have distinct styles.
Read reviews here.
Cross - III: Changing Poison into Medicine ($11.99)
Cross - Second Movement ($11.99)
Cross - Uncovered Heart ($11.99)
Cross is a Swedish neo-progressive/neo-symphonic band
with excellent English vocals and an accessible style. Playgrounds (2004)
is the place to start. This album further develops the style heard on Secrets
(2000, currently out-of-print) but relates even more closely to the 2003
Spektrum CD, and all the Spektrum members guest on Playgrounds. The
mid-to-late 1970’s Genesis influence is present, particularly in the keyboards,
and Cross’ style is now close to Galleon as well as Jadis and other melodic
symphonic prog bands. Here is a 4.6 MB mp3 from Playgrounds. Read
reviews here.
This is the 2008 remastered edition of Secrets,
which was originally released in 2000. The music is quite similar to Jadis, maybe a bit
heavier and more progressive, and a sure bet for neo-prog fans. Here is an mp3
of the track
Bleeding in Silence. Read
reviews here.
Visionary Fools is from 1998. Gaze
was originally released in 1996 and remastered in 1999. Paradox is a 1994 CD-EP (18:13) in a digipack, containing
a single track of excellent instrumental symphonic rock, using samplers and
electric guitar. Changing Poison Into Medicine (1993)
is their 77-minute long third CD. Uncovered Heart (1988) and Second Movement
(1990) are the first two Cross CDs.
Five Fifteen - Death of a Clown ($13.99)
Five Fifteen - Six Dimensions of the Electric Camembert ($13.99)
This Finnish band blends progressive with a 1970’s style accessible hard rock (not
metal) in a unique way. You’d never know they weren’t British. While
borrowing their hard rock aspects from the likes of Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, The
Who, Led Zeppelin, or Jethro Tull, their vocal melodies are closer to The
Beatles. You can’t help but be hooked by their majestic choruses, often over
Mellotron chords; this is where the prog rock aspect of their music comes to the
fore. The songwriting is excellent and their humor and enthusiasm is such that
it’s really hard not to like these guys. Death of a Clown is from 2001.
This is the remastered 2nd edition of
...Camembert (2000), which alters the track order and adds four bonus tracks
(three studio, one live).
The
Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil Ltd. Ed. (2CD, $20.99)
The Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil
($14.99)
The Sum of No Evil (75-minutes) is the 2007 The Flower Kings studio CD.
Roine Stolt and company continue to champion all that is good and holy in
progressive rock against the rising tide of metal, darkness, pessimism and
melancholy. Seriously though, The Flower Kings seem to be hosting the original
spirit of Yes now. How can Stolt be this prolific and this good? The Limited
Edition comes in a digipack with a 2nd disc containing three more songs
(17-minutes total) that didn’t fit on the first disc, plus two studio videos (21-minutes total).
The songs on the second disc are very good.
The
Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel (2CD, $16.99)
The Flower Kings - Adam & Eve ($14.99)
The Flower Kings - Meet the Flower Kings (2CD, $14.99)
The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future ltd. ed. (2CD, $17.99)
The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker ($7.99)
SALE!
The Flower Kings - Flower Power (2CD, $16.99)
The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are (2CD, $16.99)
The Flower Kings - Retropolis ($14.99)
The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures ($14.99)
Roine Stolt - Wall Street Voodoo (2CD, $16.99)
Roine Stolt - Hydrophonia ($14.99)
Check our DVDs page for The Flower Kings’ DVDs.
If you’ve been paying any attention to progressive rock for the past decade
or more, you know that The Flower Kings have established themselves as one of the
most accomplished, prolific, and popular symphonic progressive bands currently working. Their style
has remained fairly consistent over the years, so newcomers can safely start
with just about any album. Back in the World of Adventures
(71-minutes) is from 1995, Retropolis (69-minutes) is from 1996, Stardust We Are (2CD) is from 1997,
Flower Power (2CD, 142-minutes) is from 1999, The Rainmaker (70-minutes) is from 2001, and Unfold the Future (2CD) is from 2002.
The limited edition of Unfold the Future has one bonus track and comes in digibook packaging.
The Flower Kings’ ninth studio album Paradox Hotel (2006) is a 136-minute double-CD, officially making Roine Stolt
and company the most prolific progressive rock force on earth, not to mention
one of the best. It is brilliant as usual. The current edition comes in a jewel box with outer sleeve.
The Flower Kings’ 2003 live double-CD Meet the Flower Kings
is subtitled On Stage Playing Their Epics, and they aren’t kidding as
there are only 7 tracks across the two discs. The shortest is 11:18! Adam & Eve (2004, 78-minutes)
is another great one, and you just have to marvel at how Roine Stolt and company
can produce so much music of this caliber and still be involved in several side
projects that are just as good!
Roine Stolt is of course the leader and guitarist of The Flower Kings and an
important part of Kaipa, The Tangent, and Transatlantic. According to the press
release, the double-CD Wall Street Voodoo (2005) was written in the
spirit of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s rock and blues, drawing on influences
such as Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Procol Harum, and The Allman Brothers Band, Steely Dan, The
Beatles, and Frank Zappa. Well, it may have started out that way, but somewhere
along the line it became a progressive rock album with Stolt’s recognizable
style. Perhaps the main difference between this and Stolt’s other work is his
guitar tone and style. The tone is “closer to clean tube amp than modern
overdriven rectified” and his style is bluesier. Stolt is ably assisted by
several other musicians on keys (including Mellotron), bass, drums and percussion. Neal Morse guests.
115-minutes.
Hydrophonia (1998, 68-minutes) is an
instrumental album released between Stardust We Are and Flower Power.
Here Roine Stolt is assisted by Jaime Salazar on drums and Ulf Wallander on
soprano sax. Stolt adds some keys in addition to handling both guitar and bass.
It’s on the same high level as The Flower Kings albums, with Stolt more
interested in showcasing his compositional abilities than simply his guitar
playing. And the guy never runs out of melodies.
The Foundation - Departure ($15.99)
Reissue of an excellent and rare 1984 Swedish melodic symphonic progressive
album plus two bonus tracks. For those who know the Swedish band Tribute, this
is similar. For those who don’t, The Foundation lean most heavily in the
Genesis direction, but distinguish themselves through the use of Chapman Stick
and occasional cello. The bonus tracks total over 21 minutes and are as good as the rest of the album.
Fruitcake -
Man Overboard (2CD, $19.99)
Fruitcake - Power Structure ($10.99)
SALE!
Fruitcake - One More Slice ($14.99)
One More Slice (1997) and Power Structure (1998) are the
fourth and fifth
albums respectively from this Norwegian progressive band singing in
excellent English, and no major changes to their style. They write long tracks favoring an early
1970’s sound close to Genesis, dominated by organ and featuring guitar, analog synths, bass pedals,
piano, flute and more. A general straightforwardness to the arrangements puts them in the
neo-progressive category for most. One More Slice is now deleted, last copies.
This is the 2CD edition of Fruitcake’s latest,
Man Overboard (2004). Their 7th CD, this one is their best to date, not
that they’ve changed their sound all that much. They have added a flute player
to what is now a seven-piece band, and there is more emphasis on instrumental
content. There’s still a certain “clunkiness” to their style which is their
trademark. The 2nd disc contains an excellent collection of 11 rare and
unreleased tracks spanning 1988-2002 from Fruitcake, The Guardian’s Office
(nearly the same band), bandleader Pal Sovik solo, and three other related bands
or side projects.
The Guardian’s Office - same
($9.99)
SALE!
The Guardian’s Office is Fruitcake drummer/composer Päl Søvik’s
new project, but this time he leaves the lead vocals to Tony Johannessen. After
the opening hard rocker, this sounds like Fruitcake with a better singer. Like
Fruitcake, the instrumentation is decidedly of 1970’s-vintage, dominated by a
‘dirty’ organ sound, bass pedals, and a dated electric guitar tone. Lots of
references to early Genesis, but the arrangements are more straightforward (and
it goes without saying that the songwriting is not on the same level), so call
it neo-prog with 70’s instrumentation. Interesting to note that Päl Søvik was a
member of Folque, who were Norway’s Fairport Convention. If you listen closely
to The Guardian’s Office, you may detect some Norwegian folk melodies sneaking in.
Galleon is a Swedish neo-progressive/neo-symphonic band whose music is derived
from Genesis no doubt, and falls in the Pallas and Pendragon camps,
keyboard-dominated, with strong, clear English vocals. From
Land to Ocean (2003) is a 2CD set with the 2nd CD taken up entirely by the
52-minute piece The Ocean. It goes without saying that this is their most
ambitious album to date, and although Galleon haven’t changed their style all
that much from album to album, this one improves on all their previous albums. To
extend the Pallas reference, From Land to Ocean is Galleon’s The
Sentinel. (The cover concept is rather similar too.) Beyond Dreams is
from 2000. This is the 2005 remastered edition of Mind Over Matter
(1998). The All-European Hero is from 1996. King of Aragon (1995) is
their 3rd CD; this edition was remastered in 1999. Heritage and Visions (1994) is their 2nd
CD and Lynx (1992) is their first.
Galleon have had a fairly consistent style since their
first album, and while Engines of Creation (2007) is not a radical
departure, it is probably the biggest evolution in their sound between any two
albums. It has been four years since From
Land to Ocean, and in that time, they seem to have discovered a new energy.
While Galleon’s core sound on Engines of Creation is still similar to
Pallas, there is a new Rush-like energy, greater complexity, even a touch of
fusion in a couple spots. It’s the least neo-sounding of Galleon’s CDs and shows
that after 15 years, this band still may not have reached their peak. Here is an
mp3 of the complete 7:04 title track.
Gazpacho -
Night ($18.99)
Gazpacho - Firebird ($18.99)
Gazpacho - When Earth Lets Go ($18.99)
Gazpacho -
Bravo ($18.99)
Norwegian band Gazpacho have allied themselves closely with Marillion. One
can assume they took their name from the Marillion song and not from a love of
cold soup, and the title of their first full-length album is only a vowel shift
away from a well-known Marillion album. They’re on Marillion’s label and have supported Marillion on tour. Certainly their style shares a lot with Marillion
from Brave on. Their music is in the serious-sounding, deliberately-paced modern progressive style that emphasizes
atmosphere, texture and melody over demonstrative playing. Other bands
frequently mentioned as reference points are Porcupine Tree and Radiohead.
Gazpacho used programmed drums on Bravo (2003),
which doesn’t really detract much from the music. The music is spellbinding and
dreamlike, with Mellotron strings used here and there and guests on violin and
flute adding to the rich textures. Gazpacho added a full-time drummer beginning
with their second album When Earth Lets Go (2004). Firebird followed in 2005,
with Steve Rothery guesting on one track. Gazpacho made incremental improvements
with each album, but Night (2007) is the consensus choice as their best
album to date. The guest violinist of the previous three albums has been
promoted to full member, while another guest musician adds several acoustic
instruments, further broadening Gazpacho’s sound. Read lots of reviews at
Prog Archives, at
Ground and Sky and
DPRP.
The
Giant Hogweed Orchestra - same ($16.99)
The GHO is a Finnish quintet with two guitarists, flute, bass & piano, and
drums, plus guests on Moog, trumpet, and didgeridoo. On their 2004 debut, they
play instrumental progressive psychedelic rock with two discernible styles, but
some overlap between them. One style is Ozric Tentacles-type jams, while the
other style is more laid back, closer to Snow Goose-era Camel with flute
in the lead, but blended with the characteristic Scandinavian melancholic
atmosphere.
Grand Stand - Tricks of Time ($16.99)
Grand Stand make a huge leap forward on Tricks of Time (2002), their 2nd CD. Grand Stand’s sound has moved much
closer to The Flower Kings, though there are still passages directly
inspired by Genesis. This album would sit comfortably alongside The Flower
Kings’ CDs. Aside from one 4-minute track, the next shortest track is 9:34! Though still heavily instrumental, this album has English-language vocals, and
with the energy level and production markedly improved from their debut, this CD
should boost Grand Stand’s popularity significantly.
Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3 from the album.
Groovector -
Darklubing at Tavastia ($16.99)
Groovector - Enigmatic Elements ($16.99)
Groovector - Ultramarine ($16.99)
Ultramarine (2000) is the brilliant debut by this Finnish prog band.
This one is instrumental, full of long tracks, their sound dominated by
keyboards (piano, Rhodes, Hammond organ, synths) and flute, plus acoustic &
electric guitars, bass and drums. There are influences of Camel (The Snow
Goose), Kaipa, Focus, and early King Crimson, but the bulk of what they do
is their own take on classic progressive rock. It all has a magical feel,
suggestive of the Finnish forests. 64-minutes.
Enigmatic Elements (2003) is their 2nd CD.
Groovector began as an instrumental band but added vocals on this album, though half
the tracks are still instrumental. It is generally keyboard-dominated, with
elements of fusion and space-rock, all executed with great finesse.
Darklubing at Tavastia (2005) is a 74-minute live album recorded in 2001 and 2002. At
the time of these recordings, the band was a quintet with a dedicated flute
player who left the band prior to the recording of Enigmatic Elements.
This is an outstanding album, mostly-instrumental with vocals in English. The
music comes closest to early Camel, with touches of Pink Floyd and early King
Crimson. The way they employ flute is often closer to the way PFM did in their
early days, so you’d be forgiven for thinking at times that Groovector is an
Italian progressive band. Good sound quality too.
Hagen - Corridors of Time ($14.99)
On this 2001 album, this Swedish band plays an excellent fusion of old folk melodies and
heavy rock, their sound centered around the electric violin of Anders Rosen,
seemingly played through a fuzz box to achieve a guitar-like sound. They are
also notable for having Kaipa keyboardist Hans Lundin as a member. The old guys are joined by several younger musicians for
a rock band that spans a couple generations of progressive rock. Think of a
modern, heavier version of Kebnekaise.
Bo Hansson -
Music Inspired by Watership Down ($11.99)
1977 fourth solo album for keyboardist Bo Hansson, who was one of the
pioneers of progressive rock in Sweden. This was his final album before
resurfacing in 1985 with an atypical album. Hansson collaborated with guitarist
Kenny Håkansson (Kebnekaise) on Music Inspired by Watership Down
(released as El-Ahrairah in Sweden), which also features a number of
other excellent musicians on bass, drums, and flute. It is flowing, dreamy,
instrumental symphonic rock that generally has a different feel than Hansson’s
previous albums, in part because he uses synthesizers instead of organ. It still
has that evocative Nordic atmosphere though. This remastered edition includes an
11-minute bonus track recorded live in the studio in 2004 by Hansson and
Håkansson. The 12-page booklet includes an extensive biography by Mark Powell.
Indisciplined Lucy - About the Black Eyed Girl ($15.99)
A Swedish seven-piece neo-progressive band, unique in that their sound is dominated by violin
and cello, in addition to the usual guitars, keys, bass and drums. The lighter
tracks on About the Black Eyed Girl (1999) sound like an extrapolation of Eleanor Rigby
into progressive realms, but they also get heavier and more powerful than that.
The music is vocal-heavy, with English lyrics.
In the Labyrinth -
Dryad ($11.99)
SALE!
In the Labyrinth is a fairly unique band who mix Indian and Middle-Eastern motifs with symphonic rock, medieval sounds,
and elements of Swedish folklore. Dryad (2002) is their 3rd. The instrumentation is diverse, to say the least: Mellotron, sitar, flutes, mandolin, violin, accordion, woodwinds, zither, assorted ethnic
percussion, not to mention vocals, electric & acoustic guitars and bass. The music itself is still
largely western and conventionally melodic, it’s just the instrumentation that’s unique.
While the music is heavily instrumental, the warm male vocals in English and beautiful female vocals are a strong point. About the only reference that comes to mind is a more
proggy Dead Can Dance. Mystical, melancholy, magical stuff that will have you transfixed.
One of the most important and adventurous Swedish progressive bands, Isildurs
Bane released their first album at the beginning of the 1980’s and haven't
stopped since, though their music has continued to evolve.
Mind Vol. 3: Isildurs Bane & Metamorfosi Trio (2003, 74-minutes) is
a meeting between Isildurs Bane and Metamorfosi Trio, an Italian acoustic
chamber ensemble who rely heavily on improvisation. The result is more of an
experimental jazz album, more avant-garde and improvised that the other Isildurs Bane albums.
Jupiter Society - First Contact Last Warning ($12.99)
Carptree keyboardist Carl Westholm goes the Ayreon route with this 2008 epic sci-fi concept
album, using different vocalists and musicians on different tracks. Some of the
musicians have a metal background, though one guest is Declan Burke (Darwin’s
Radio, Frost). The music sounds like a heavier, more metallic Carptree. Just
like Ayreon or Project Creation, it gets overblown -- that is the metal
aesthetic -- but Jupiter Society tends to stay more grounded in symphonic rock,
curbing some but not all of the metal excesses of the other projects mentioned.
The 2007 Kaipa album sees one change in the lineup, with Per Nilsson taking
Roine Stolt’s place on guitar. Kaipa’s mastermind and keyboard player Hans
Lundin and Per are old friends and worked together recording the Hagen album Corridors of Time
several years ago. Stolt is not missed, as this CD is every bit as good as the
other Kaipa CDs from this decade, and still ends up inhabiting the same
territory as The Flower Kings. Brilliant 70’s-style progressive rock with fusion
and folk touches. 64-minutes.
Kaipa -
Mindrevolutions ($14.99)
Kaipa - Keyholder ($13.99)
Kaipa - Notes from the Past ($13.99)
Kaipa - same ($15.99)
Kaipa was the top Swedish 1970’s symphonic prog band, featuring
keyboardist Hans Lundin and guitarist Roine
Stolt, later of The Flower Kings. The self-titled first album (1975) is arguably
their best. Fans of The Flower Kings really must hear this
album as it is the origin of The Flower Kings’ sound, yet Kaipa’s music is
more purely Swedish, their symphonic rock colored by the centuries-old Swedish
choral and folk music traditions. Plus Kaipa sing in Swedish on this album.
Prog fans with a 1970’s orientation (and who have not limited themselves to the
Anglo bands) may consider the Kaipa albums superior.
Keyboardist Hans Lundin reformed
Kaipa for 2002’s Notes from the Past (79-minutes), and as reunion albums go, this
could hardly be any better, as it is faithful to the original Kaipa. Keyholder
(2003, 78-minutes) is the 2nd and Mindrevolutions (2005, 79-minutes) the
3rd album for the reformed Kaipa. In addition to Lundin and Stolt, the lineup is Morgan Ågren (Mats/Morgan)
on drums, Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, The Tangent) on bass, and Patrik Lundström (Ritual)
and Aleena Gibson on vocals. The results are very good, a mix of the Kaipa and
Flower Kings styles, with lots of Hammond and Mellotron. The main difference between Kaipa and The Flower Kings is
that Hans Lundin does all the writing in the current Kaipa. Mindrevolutions
may be the best of the three albums from Kaipa
Mk II. Aleena’s vocals are a new element of course -- she has a childish voice
similar to Tracy Hitchings -- but otherwise this is very
faithful to the original Kaipa, and more 70’s-oriented than The Flower Kings.
Kerrs Pink - Tidings ($15.99)
Kerrs Pink - A Journey on the Inside ($15.99)
Kerrs Pink is one of the most famous Norwegian progressive rock bands. Their music is in the
early Camel vein, blending in elements of Scandinavian folklore ala
Kebnekaise or early Ragnarök. They released their first and second albums in
1980 and 1981. The band was inactive for a time before resurfacing with A Journey on the Inside
in 1993.
Tidings (2002) is their fifth. The band added a
new lead singer and female backing vocalist (both singing in English), plus a second keyboardist.
This may well be their best work. The production and playing are now completely
professional, yet the music retains its freshness and sincerity. Stylistically,
we are in Camel and Kaipa territory, also Genesis, Yes, and Pink Floyd, melodic
and flowing symphonic rock with long tracks and ambitious arrangements,
beautiful melodies, lots of keyboards, and lyrical guitar solos. Kerrs
Pink are at their best when they integrate Scandinavian folk melodies -- the
8:30 Tidings from Some Distant Shore is sublime in this regard. Highly recommended.
Khatsaturjan -
Aramed Forces of Simantipak ($15.99)
This is the first official album for a Finnish quartet that excels at
everything except for maybe choosing band and album names. This 2006 release is
a wonderfully elaborate and inventive symphonic prog epic sung in English. The
band is certainly influenced by classical music. There are lots of keyboards,
some cello, and with all four members singing sophisticated choral parts, Khatsaturjan
sound like the house band for a monastery of the Progressive order of monks.
It’s definitely continental European; no English or American band could produce
this album. It’s one of the great rock symphonies ever.
68-minutes.
Kundalini -
Asylum for Astral Travellers ($15.99)
This 1997 CD is by an offshoot of Holy River Family Band (itself an offshoot
of the band Spacious Mind), in more of a fusion direction. Mellow Records’
description: “Jazz-rock, progressive rock, psychedelic and ethnic music go into
the uplifting and mind-blowing works of Kundalini from Sweden. A
guitar/bass/drums trio that goes beyond this format and introduces traditional
instruments from India and Tibet into their music. Reminiscent of Allan
Holdsworth without the keyboards.” 71-minutes.
“Kundalini is able to transcend the usual sonic realms
of the progressive rock trio, creating an exotic soundscape with the
augmentation of unusual instruments... Kundalini is a supergroup in the truest
sense, a creative marriage of immense talent, innovative instrumental
songwriting, and a willingness to explore uncharted musical terrain through
breathtaking and inspiring improvisations. One wonders how future releases can
live up to, much less exceed, this most promising beginning.” [Joe Pettit, Jr.,
All Music Guide]
Liquid Scarlet - Killer Couple Strikes Again (EP, $5.99)
Liquid Scarlet - same ($8.99)
SALE!
Another Mellotron-laden Swedish prog sensation. On their self-titled 2004
debut, Liquid Scarlet sound like a cross between
Anglagard and Landberk, with influences of 1970’s King Crimson and pastoral
Genesis, but also some modern influences such as Radiohead. (The band members were
all in their twenties at the time of this recording.) A liquid sound indeed!
II (2005) is a logical continuation from their debut, with plenty of typical
Scandinavian melancholic atmosphere a la Anekdoten or Valinor’s Tree. They have
expanded their sound with accordion and string arrangements, while a couple 10-minute tracks
show early King Crimson influence. It is again a very appealing set of dreamy
songs that are one moment soft and intimate and the next moment majestic, and
although there are influences of vintage prog, this isn’t retro but rather
something fresh and contemporary. Their songwriting and melodic sense sets them
apart from the other Swedish bands mentioned above. Read
reviews here.
Killer
Couple Strikes Again (2005) is a 25-minute, five-track CD-EP containing one song from the
II album plus four previously-unreleased and highly enjoyable tracks, one of which is a tribute to Fläsket Brinner. The EP counts as only one-half CD for
shipping calculations.
Magic
Pie - Circus of Life ($13.99)
Magic Pie - Motions of Desire ($13.99)
New lower price as these CDs have now been
released in the U.S. Note you may receive the Progress Records (Swedish) edition
of Motions of Desire until our stock has been exhausted.
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 their debut. 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 is 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.
Masque - Ten Ways ($14.99)
This Swedish neo-prog band with excellent English vocals debuted in 1992 with Flesh That Understands,
which has some of the
early Saga style. With some personnel changes, Ten Ways (1994) is quite
different from its predecessor and difficult to categorize, a mélange of
art-pop, world music, and that typical Swedish melancholy.
Damn if it isn’t another great symphonic prog band from Sweden. Tales
from the Maze is the 2006 debut by Stockholm-based Maze of Time, and it’s
full of strong melodies and that know-it-when-you-hear-it Scandinavian quality.
There are influences of Genesis, Camel, Yes, Pink Floyd, Kaipa, perhaps some
neo-prog, and a bit of heavy rock. Like The Flower Kings, actually. Overall the style is more soothing than
jarring, a lot of that having to do with the softer vocal style and the rich,
luxuriant textures. 62-minutes.
Mikromidas -
Faunus ($14.99)
Here is a Norwegian band singing in Norwegian and exploring
retro-prog similar to the Swedish band Landberk and, to a lesser extent, Anekdoten
and Anglagard. Mikromidas use a lot of Mellotron and Hammond organ. Their
arrangements lack the extreme dynamics of Anekdoten and Anglagard though.
Faunus (2005) is their 2nd and is a more accomplished work than their debut. The
compositions and playing here show greater maturity, and thus the emotional
impact is greater.
Moon Fog Prophet - Taunting Tin Bells Through the Mammal Void ($14.99)
This is the 5th album by a nearly unclassifiable Finnish prog quartet (keys,
guitar, bass, drums), though you get a sense of what they’re about just from the
band and album name. Most of what they do has a surreal flavor, sometimes
psychedelic, heavily instrumental but with some English-language vocals that are
more often than not a tad operatic. Taunting Tin Bells (2002) is based on
a musical play of the same name that the band performed a number of times with
help from 15 assistants and actors. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a
single mp3 from the album.
Moon
Safari - Blomljud (2CD, $24.99)
Moon Safari - A Doorway to Summer ($16.99)
This Swedish quintet debuted with one of the freshest, most likeable
symphonic prog albums you’ll hear. The “summer” in A Doorway to Summer
(2005) is apt as Moon Safari display none of the long-dark-winter Scandinavian
melancholy and gloom. Instead they have a warm, Yes-like positivism, though
their sound comes closer to England, Druid, or Sebastian Hardie. They have harmony vocals that
sometimes reach Beach Boys level, and some Beatles flavoring (closer to Klaatu
actually). They use all analog keyboards including Mellotron and lots of
acoustic guitar. The openness of their sound and their outstanding melodic sense
give the album a 1970’s feel and set Moon Safari apart from most of the other
current prog bands. Tomas Bodin (keyboardist of The Flower Kings) guests and
co-produced, and Moon Safari will almost certainly appeal to fans of The Flower
Kings, though their style is distinct. Just five long tracks, one of which is
24-minutes long. Here is an mp3 from the track Dance Across the Ocean.
Despite the Swedish title, the double-CD Blomljud
(2008) is again sung entirely in English. The title apparently translates to
“sound of flowers”, and so the CD title again gives a clue to the music. Or
maybe it’s an oblique reference to The Flower Kings. The style is a continuation
of the first CD, but those wonderful harmony vocals are even more striking here,
reminiscent of Queen, Yes, The Beach Boys, and Fireballet (2nd album). It’s
almost a lost art these days. The first disc has the lighter, vocal-heavy
material, while the second disc tends to have the more energetic material, as if
the first disc was warming the listener up for the second. It is all symphonic
prog close to Yes with some Genesis influence, the latter felt particularly in
the pastoral passages. Its sunny optimism is again in stark contrast to the
prevailing mood of darkness, cynicism and metal in today’s music. Once you’ve
heard Moon Safari’s CDs, you’ll want to check out the band Maze of Time above.
The
New Grove Project - Brill ($16.99)
The New Grove Project is a Swedish progressive rock band centered on Ingemar
Hjertqvist. They recorded demos in 1983-84 and their first real CD
Fool’s Journey in 1996, which included Roine
Stolt, Pär Lindh, and Jode Leigh (ex-England, as in Garden Shed). Brill
(2005) is their best work to date, again featuring Pär Lindh and Jode
Leigh (who contributed one song), also Hasse Bruniusson (Samla
Mammas Manna, The Flower Kings) and several others. The music is melodic
symphonic progressive with a wealth of ideas and a good variety of
instrumentation, vaguely in The Flower Kings vein. The only thing that keeps
this from being on the same level as The Flower Kings are the vocals, which are
passable but nothing to write home about. But there is a lot of instrumental
content, and with all these great musicians involved, this is a gem that should
not be overlooked. 62-minutes, finishing with the 24-minute title track.
Opus Est
- Opus II ($15.99)
Opus Est - Opus I ($11.99)
SALE!
Opus I is the CD reissue of a little-known record from 1983, one that we
anxiously awaited. Opus Est could be considered the Swedish IQ.
Given that Opus Est were contemporaneous with IQ, one has to wonder whether they had heard IQ.
More likely both bands were inspired by Genesis and ended up in the same general
area. In any event, Opus I can stand comfortably alongside or just a
notch below Tales from the Lush Attic, though Opus I is not as dark as IQ can be.
Singer Håkan Nilsson delivers the English lyrics in a voice with a quality
similar to a young Peter Hammill. Three excellent bonus tracks (nearly 20-minutes) have been added.
Opus II is their second album, not released
until the end of 2006. It’s comprised of a four-part suite composed between
1979-80, recorded partly in 1979 and partly in 2004. There are four more songs
composed and recorded between 1983-84, bringing the CD length up to 74-minutes.
This album sounds very much like the logical successor to Opus I, and the
singer’s voice and certain signature keyboard sounds give
Opus Est a clear identity. This album is more refined and sophisticated though,
suggesting Genesis and IQ but standing on its own. Hopefully this is the
beginning of the second career of Opus Est.
Overhead -
Metaepitome ($15.99)
Alongside contributions to the Kalevala project as
well as Mellow Records’ Finnish progressive rock tribute, this Finnish quintet
has released two CDs, of which Metaepitome (2005) is the 2nd and stronger
of the two. Overhead’s brand of
symphonic progressive is original and seductive. They tend toward long tracks
with plenty of instrumental content that often emphasizes 1970’s sounds and
styles. Something about the lead vocals (which are in English) makes the band
sound contemporary, and there is some heavy guitar as is de rigueur today,
though thankfully their music is a long way from metal. For references, one
might mention Pink Floyd, Eloy, Kaipa, and Jethro Tull (on the few occasions
when flute is used). The highlights are the two long suites that open and close
the album, the title track (19:40) and especially Dawn (16:22) with its
majestic harmony vocals and generally spacey character.
Paatos
- Silence of Another Kind ($14.99)
Paatos - Timeloss ($13.99)
This is the InsideOut release of Timeloss, the 2002 first album by this Swedish band formed by the
founders of Landberk and picking up where Landberk left off. This reissue has a
new booklet, extended from 8 to 16 pages, plus a bonus video featuring the album
track Hypnotique as a Quicktime file. Silence of
Another Kind (2006) is their 3rd, on which they have a female singer with a
beautiful voice who also plays cello. While the music is at its core a kind of
modern rock, the sound is dominated by Mellotron strings, violin and viola,
making for a moody symphonic modern prog with soaring vocals. Whatever it is, it
works, and it should appeal to fans of The Gathering in their non-metal phase.
Pain
of Salvation - Scarsick ($13.99)
The 2007 release by the popular Swedish progressive metal band.
The Phase - Reviews ($15.99)
Reviews, the first official CD by Finnish prog band The Phase, was
recorded between 1998-2007. For the most part, The Phase are very (1980’s/90’s)
Rush-influenced. Without naming names, some Rush-influenced bands are quite
tedious to listen to because, though they may be good instrumentalists, they
aren’t nearly the songwriters Rush are, and their songs lack hooks. The Phase
however, like Rush themselves, are a fun listen and have some catchy melodies.
They write decent songs and have Rush’s upbeat energy. 53-minutes.
Pictorial
Wand - A Sleeper’s Awakening (2CD, $19.99)
A Sleeper’s Awakening (2006) is the debut project of Norwegian musician
Mattis Sørum. Sørum enlisted the
help of a large number of musicians for this concept album. The label calls it a
symphonic progressive rock album, which it is, but it could as easily be called
a prog-metal album. It isn’t as metallic as the average prog-metal album, but
the heavy guitar appears often enough, and even when the music isn’t overtly
metallic, it is often weighed down by the typical plodding metal aesthetic and
melodic/harmonic restrictions. On the positive side, there are plenty of more
refined passages featuring orchestral arrangements, Mellotron, organ, flute,
cello, oboe, and violin. There are beautiful female vocals from three different
singers, while the main character in this concept album is male and so most of
the vocals are male.
Pocketful -
Sparkling ($11.99)
SALE!
Pocketful is a new Swedish band, but they are really the continuation of the
band Masque, ten years on. Sparkling (2005) picks up where Masque’s final album Ten
Ways left off and improves on it. Call this art-pop if you will.
Within that framework, there is a lot of innovation, great writing, and
attention paid to texture and feel. Pocketful includes a cover of David Sylvian’s Before the Bullfight, and there is some similarity between the
two artists on the more melancholy tracks, except that Pocketful are not minimalist as David Sylvian
tends to be, and they’re not nearly as depressed. Vocals in English of course,
with some lovely female vocals complementing the male lead vocals. Music like
this gives pop a good name!
Project:
<<Name Stolen>> ($15.99)
This 2005 CD is from a new Finnish progressive band singing in English. It’s a
concept album with a little narration near the beginning of
the album, though ultimately the album is more instrumental than vocal. The
style blends Pink Floyd with the French band Asia Minor, generally dark and
melancholy as is typical for Scandinavian prog bands. It may start a bit slowly,
but the album grows on you and ends up being quite a unique one. 60-minutes.
Radiomöbel -
Gudang Garam ($15.99)
This is a legitimate CD reissue of a rare 1978 privately-pressed LP of
Swedish symphonic progressive rock with psychedelic and spacey aspects, mostly
instrumental, with ethereal female vocals in a few spots. The music often relies
on string synth pads performing slow chord progressions, something that suggests
Pink Floyd, Pulsar, or maybe early Grobschnitt. That characteristic (OK, cheesy)
1970’s string synth sound (courtesy of Elka, Crumar, Logan and others) brings to
mind a number of other, mostly-obscure European 70’s prog bands. Definitely
recommended to fans of 1970’s symphonic prog who’ve explored beyond the first
and second-tier bands, Radiomöbel can be grouped with the likes of Akasha,
Autumn Breeze, and Mr Brown. Note the master tapes were lost and this CD was
mastered from vinyl. The label and every other retailer we’ve seen conveniently
fail to mention this, and apparently every reviewer either has tin ears or
didn’t think it was important enough to mention. And though it is almost trivial
to do today, the label didn’t bother with any audio restoration. That said, the
surface noise is really only noticeable during the quiet at the very beginning
of each side of the LP. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a
single mp3, the complete 2nd track of the album.
Råg
i Ryggen - same ($15.99)
This is the CD reissue of a 1975 album, the sole release by Swedish
progressive hard rock band Råg i Ryggen. There are three live bonus tracks with mediocre sound from 1975-76;
one of the three songs has no corresponding studio recording. In this case,
“progressive hard rock” means that much of the album is in the Uriah Heep
hard-rock-with-keyboards (Hammond, Moog) style, but there is some actual
progressive rock in the typical Swedish 70’s style (Blåkulla, Kaipa,
Kebnekaise). Some songs are sung in English (try not to listen to the lyrics),
others in Swedish. Note the master tapes were lost, so this CD was taken from a mint
condition vinyl LP and digitally restored by the band’s guitarist. Of course the
label makes no mention of this, nor do any retailers or reviewers we’ve come across.
However, given that it was a low-budget 1970’s production to begin with, the
audio quality is good and, due to the restoration, doesn’t detract. The booklet
contains a band history in English, though due to an amateurish layout, it’s a
chore to read. So this album certainly deserves the CD reissue, and some of the
album will appeal to symphonic prog lovers, but as a whole it will appeal more
to those who enjoy the likes of Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, and Wishbone Ash. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a
single mp3, the complete 4th track of the album.
Retroheads -
Introspective ($14.99)
Retroheads - Retrospective ($14.99)
Let’s be clear that this Norwegian five-piece band are retro-prog-heads,
and despite the album name, Retrospective is their debut. Recorded in 2004, Retrospective may
have been the best debut of 2005. The band does have a 1970’s orientation,
focusing their keyboard sounds on Hammond B3, Mellotron, ARP, Minimoog, and
Taurus bass pedals. But they may be selling themselves short with the “retro”
tag. They aren’t as self-consciously retro as some other Scandinavian
bands, and they are so inventive that there are only a few passages where
another specific band comes to mind. Their influences are probably Camel, Pink
Floyd, and Genesis, in that order. At times they remind us of the German band P’Cock (probably not the most helpful reference), for the way they combine
spaciness with sympho-prog. Also there are similarities to RPWL. Though heavily
instrumental, there are male and some female vocals in English. 67-minutes.
Retroheads’ follow-up Introspective (2006)
sees changes in the band’s lineup, which now consists of three women and four
men. Irishman Mike Mann takes over lead vocals, while Deborah Gurnius has joined
on flute and backing vocals and Gry Anett Stordahl on keyboards. Now with an
outstanding singer plus the female backing vocals, Retroheads have become
stronger and probably even broadened their appeal. This album can’t help but
sound different from its predecessor, but it’s just as good, and no point making
the same album twice. About the only thing “retro” in Retroheads music now is
the use of vintage keys, and when the sustained electric guitar is soaring over
Hammond or Mellotron with these vocals and these melodies, it’s heaven. 64-minutes.
Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band ($15.99)
This 2007 CD is the fourth studio CD for Sweden’s Ritual, who have decided to
be a progressive rock band again. This is their best album, owing a large debt
to Gentle Giant and a little debt to pastoral Genesis. The band have augmented
their sound with bouzouki, hammer dulcimer, recorders, whistles, and nyckelharpa
(the Swedish keyed fiddle), while the keyboardist limits his rig to clavinet,
harmonium, grand piano and Rhodes. Ritual are never actually playing folk music,
but that influence is integrated into what is a very original and adventurous
sound and a brilliant progressive rock album. Note singer Patrik Lundström also
sings for the reformed Kaipa, so if that voice sounds familiar...
Scarlet Thread is a Finnish band featuring female violinist and flutist and male guitarist/mandolinist/bassist
and drummer, with guest musicians on keyboards and bass. Recorded in 2002, Psykedeelisia Joutsenlauluja is an instrumental progressive rock album with its roots in Scandinavian folk and psychedelia.
There are only a few passages where the band is actually playing folk-rock, but
the melodies are derived from scales favored in northern European folk music.
Given the fuzzed tone of the electric guitar, there is a lineage that traces
back to Kebnekaise, the pioneering Swedish folk-rock band
A.C.T. -
Silence ($14.99)
A.C.T. - Today’s Report ($14.99)
Ageness - Rituals ($14.99)
Ampera -
A Vulcanized Mingle ($14.99)
Anekdoten - Nucleus ($15.99)
Beardfish -
Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two ($14.99)
Beardfish - Från en plats du ej kan se ($17.99)
Black
Bonzo - Sound of the Apocalypse ($13.99)
Tomas Bodin -
I Am ($14.99)
Brighteye Brison - Believers & Deceivers
($17.99)
On their debut On the Other Side
(2005), Swedish band Brother Ape are a quartet (guitars/vocals, keys, bass,
drums). The band describe themselves as a unique blend of progressive rock and
fusion and mention Weather Report and Brand X. The truth? Brother Ape are a
mainstream progressive rock band with excellent vocals in English. They are
somewhere between Saga/Rush and Genesis/Yes, but don’t take that too literally
as Brother Ape don’t sound much like any of those bands, except for the title
track that ends this album. This 8-minute track is the highlight, a wonderful
slice of Yes and Genesis-inspired euphoria. Interestingly, this track was
recorded ten years earlier than the others and excavated from the vault for this
CD. Are there any others like this in there? As for the fusion, in a few spots
they integrate chord changes and sounds that derive from 1970’s fusion bands.
It’s a great idea that they execute well, but it’s really a minor aspect of
their sound, and at no point are they actually playing jazz-rock. But who cares.
Brother Ape are another great Swedish prog band that don’t sound like any of
the other Swedish prog bands. Read
The
Carpet Knights - Lost and So Strange Is My Mind ($15.99)
Carptree -
Insekt ($14.99)
Carptree - same ($16.99)
Cross -
Playgrounds ($8.99)
Cross - Gaze ($11.99)
Five Fifteen - Death of a Clown ($13.99)
The
Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil Ltd. Ed. (2CD, $20.99)
The
Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel (2CD, $16.99)
The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future ltd. ed. (2CD, $17.99)
The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are (2CD, $16.99)
Roine Stolt - Wall Street Voodoo (2CD, $16.99)
Roine Stolt is of course the leader and guitarist of The Flower Kings and an
important part of Kaipa, The Tangent, and Transatlantic. According to the press
release, the double-CD Wall Street Voodoo (2005) was written in the
spirit of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s rock and blues, drawing on influences
such as Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Procol Harum, and The Allman Brothers Band, Steely Dan, The
Beatles, and Frank Zappa. Well, it may have started out that way, but somewhere
along the line it became a progressive rock album with Stolt’s recognizable
style. Perhaps the main difference between this and Stolt’s other work is his
guitar tone and style. The tone is “closer to clean tube amp than modern
overdriven rectified” and his style is bluesier. Stolt is ably assisted by
several other musicians on keys (including Mellotron), bass, drums and percussion. Neal Morse guests.
115-minutes.
The Foundation - Departure ($15.99)
Fruitcake -
Man Overboard (2CD, $19.99)
The Guardian’s Office - same
($9.99)
Galleon -
Engines of Creation ($17.99)
Galleon - Mind Over Matter ($17.99)
Galleon - Heritage and Visions ($14.99)
Gazpacho -
Night ($18.99)
Gazpacho -
Bravo ($18.99)
The
Giant Hogweed Orchestra - same ($16.99)
Grand Stand - Tricks of Time ($16.99)
Groovector -
Darklubing at Tavastia ($16.99)
Hagen - Corridors of Time ($14.99)
Bo Hansson -
Music Inspired by Watership Down ($11.99)
Indisciplined Lucy - About the Black Eyed Girl ($15.99)
In the Labyrinth -
Dryad ($11.99)
Isildurs Bane -
Mind Vol. 3: Isildurs Bane & Metamorfosi Trio ($14.99)
Kaipa -
Angling Feelings ($14.99)
Kaipa -
Mindrevolutions ($14.99)
Kaipa - same ($15.99)
Kerrs Pink - Tidings ($15.99)
Khatsaturjan -
Aramed Forces of Simantipak ($15.99)
Kundalini -
Asylum for Astral Travellers ($15.99)
Liquid
Scarlet - II ($15.99)
Magic
Pie - Circus of Life ($13.99)
Masque - Ten Ways ($14.99)
Maze
of Time - Tales from the Maze ($15.99)
Mikromidas -
Faunus ($14.99)
Moon Fog Prophet - Taunting Tin Bells Through the Mammal Void ($14.99)
Moon
Safari - Blomljud (2CD, $24.99)
The
New Grove Project - Brill ($16.99)
Opus Est
- Opus II ($15.99)
Overhead -
Metaepitome ($15.99)
Paatos
- Silence of Another Kind ($14.99)
Pain
of Salvation - Scarsick ($13.99)
The Phase - Reviews ($15.99)
Pictorial
Wand - A Sleeper’s Awakening (2CD, $19.99)
Pocketful -
Sparkling ($11.99)
Project:
<<Name Stolen>> ($15.99)
Radiomöbel -
Gudang Garam ($15.99)
Råg
i Ryggen - same ($15.99)
Retroheads -
Introspective ($14.99)
Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band ($15.99)
Scarlet
Thread - Valheista Kaunein ($11.99)