New Albums

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   Apart from keeping up with each yes release up to Magnification i had, pre Prog Archives fallen foul of the mass media's attempts to keep people from hearing Progressive rock. Up until finding this site my interest in prog was confined to replacing all my old 70's and early 80's vinyl with CD's.
Of the bands i have been able to sample i have gone on to buy Pendragon, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta, Karnataka,Spocks Beard,Opeth,Sigur Ros, Ayreon and Enchant.I have enjoyed all but not so much the last two which coming from a Yes background is just a matter of taste.
It has been a long time since i was able to buy new prog that has recently been released but this year i bought
Frances the Mute,by TMV and  Deadwing  by PT, and Takk by Sigur Ros.
FTM was quite astonishing, i was thrilled to hear this album as it was quite challenging but rewarding after a few plays.It is not the kind of music to listen to in the background either as those of you who know this work will surely agree. This record demands your attention. Just as Rick wakeman claimed Tales was overlong so FTM is 10 to 15 mins too long also, but with a composition such as this where do you end? 4 stars
Deadwing was much anticipated after i had bought Coma Divine 4stars and In Absentia 4 stars.
At first Deadwing never caught my ear so i kept playing it and then gave it a rest, i then brought it back out some weeks later but still i find this work turgid and gloomy with not much to recommend it apart from a few heavier chops here and there. 2.5 stars.
Then i tracked down Takk by Sigur Ros. After the first play i was astonished, repeated plays never diminished that initial feeling. The atmospheric soundscapes with that slow build to a crescendo has captivated me. Is this prog? I don't know, it's up for debate, but to my ears it is and is at least a 4 and a half star album. Will it stand the test of time and gain 5 stars? I have the feeling that it will. 
3o years on Close to the edge, Relayer , yessongs et al still astound me and that is why these albums are great.
The Mars Volta may be able to stay the distance with FTM , Sigur Ros i feel will become a classic but Deadwing marks a disappointing down turn in PT's career. maybe they were unwise to critiscise Progger's after all.