Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=132978 Printed Date: November 22 2024 at 15:54 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Great albums of 2024Posted By: Lewian
Subject: Great albums of 2024
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 07:49
Hi there,
I can't find a recommendations of 2024 thread yet - do I miss something?
I open this maybe more to see your favourites rather than posting my own, as I haven't listened to that many albums of 2024 yet, and although I liked some, I don't have a clear favourite yet.
The best album on PA I have heard yet is Cassiber's Collaborations. It's very experimental; hands off if you are not into that kind of stuff, but collaborators include Frith and Krause of Art Bears (with Chris Cutler being regular Cassiber member anyway), Tim Cora, Stormy Six, and Otomo Yoshihide. But then it may not really count as all the material is from the first half of the 1980s if I understand things correctly.
However I have one proper recommendation (not listed on PA though), which is Banshee by Norwegian saxophonist Signe Emmeluth.
It may be wrong to mention this here as Signe is an experimental jazzer who most likely doesn't qualify for inclusion in PA, yet the Banshee album has obvious nods to Magma, RIO bands, and classical/avantgarde influences you find on some chamber prog albums.
So this is a somewhat awkward opening of this thread, but we should have one, shouldn't we? Please recommend more listenable stuff if you find mine too avantgarde.
Replies: Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 07:56
Here's my favorite releases so far (only S/A tiers):
Posted By: edefakiel
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 09:12
It has been a slow year for me until this point. I don't think that there has been anything truly remarkable yet. Some of the things I have been enjoying the most:
Harbour Century by Eunuchs.
Ihsahn by Ihsahn.
Monkey Jockey Man and The Safari Tick Sugar by Perfect.
Bellum II by Aquilus.
empathogen by Willow.
The Sacred Vowel by Extra Life.
Something in the Room She Moves by Julia Holter.
Twice Aroound the Sun by Ugly.
Within by Alon Mor.
XII in XII #07 - Toad Hirer by Toehider.
Not much else.
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 09:26
I think that "Natura Morta" by the former Muffins member, multiinstrumentalist Dave Newhouse, is a great album, and that really deserves to be mentioned here. The music on this CD, released on Wayside Music in April 2024, can be described as a fusion of jazz, avant-garde, experimental, and progressive rock elements. Dave Newhouse is indeed known for his eclectic style that blends various genres and influences to create a unique sonic experience. The album showcases Newhouse’s mastery of composition and arrangement, featuring intricate melodies, complex harmonies, and odd time signatures.
Accompanied by a bunch of excellent musicians, Newhouse created music that is characterised by its atmospheric soundscapes, intricate instrumental passages, and dynamic shifts in mood and tempo. His use of a wide range of instruments, including saxophone, keyboards, guitar, and percussion, adds depth and texture to the music. David Newhouse delivered a rich tapestry of musical ideas that is often close to the 'Canterbury' idiom. However, "Natura Morta" is a captivating musical journey that pushes boundaries and challenges traditional notions of genre, and with its progressive rock influences and experimental jazz sensibilities, this album is sure to appeal to listeners who appreciate progressive music that defies categorization.
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 10:13
Not on PA, but I guess Julia Holter's new album Something in the Room She Moves is very will be of interest to some prog fans:
On PA, and I was surprised that a track was played on a national public radio channel last week, Perilymph's new album Progressions Imaginaires. Didn't know them before, but was not surprised to discover that they exist on PA. Maybe not groundbreaking, but it's a very pleasant and enjoyable mix of nea, kraut, psych and other things:
-------------
The razamataz is a pain in the bum
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 10:54
I have not checked to see what is on PA, although I know the Radiohead-related Wall of Eyes is in PA, and I would guess that Harbour Centre will be if not in now. I don't categorise my collection into Prog, Prog-related, Prog-adjacent, Proggy, quasi-Prog, semi-Prog etc. and Non-Prog and don't find value in trying to make that determination except for site work, and even then it can be so subjective. Prog is so nebulous and amorphous. These are some I liked from this year, with Tapir!, Wall of Eyes and Eunuchs being particular favourites. While I adore Julia Holter and love various albums bv her, her latest still needs more time with me to properly click.
Tapir! - The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain
Eunuchs - Harbour Century
The Smile - Wall of Eyes
Julia Holter - Something in the Room She Moves Chelsea Wolfe - She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She St. Vincent - All Born Screaming glass beach - Plastic Death Prizes Roses Rosa - To Fire Clay
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 11:20
suitkees wrote:
Not on PA, but I guess Julia Holter's new album Something in the Room She Moves is very will be of interest to some prog fans:
...
On PA, and I was surprised that a track was played on a national public radio channel last week, Perilymph's new album Progressions Imaginaires.
...
Hi,
Had been getting disappointed when listening to "new things" for this year, only to find more pedestrian mishmash stuff all over ... and it was getting me disappointed. Many of those listings are getting more and more ... frustrating ... and the great stuff is more difficult to find when you have to go through the stuff that is just like all the others and is considered good by the sound ... not the music!
Both of these albums are far out. Julia Holter's perspective is really special and very well done.
Perilymph's album is a treat and worth a listen ...
Might get me re-inspired again ... not sure why we think that guy's solo song is great when it isn't ... and a rehash of stuff done before ... whereas these are way more original and worth the listen ...
Lewian wrote:
...
However I have one proper recommendation (not listed on PA though), which is Banshee by Norwegian saxophonist Signe Emmeluth.
I love this kind of stuff, which defies the parameters of what "music" really is, and in many examples, this is really far out "classical music", even though I would say that a lot of this is improvised, and a concert would not exactly have known materials, but just new experiences for the moment in time.
This is rare, to hear and see musicians that do this, and in a place like PA, this might be too polarising and apart from the definitions and styles ... no growl, no screaming pedestrian guitars, no high school drumming ... you know ... stuff usually listed with numbers.
Thanks for posting this ... love it!!!!
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 11:52
in no particular order:
The Amazing - Piggies (slowcore) Arab Strap - I'm totally fine with it 👍 don't give a fk anymore 👍 (electronic/slowcore) Mildlife - Chorus (chill fusion) Sivert Høyem - On an Island (singer-songwriter) Solar Blooms - Akhali Dzalis Dabadeba (proggy hard rock) Tarot - Glimpse Of The Dawn (proggy hard rock) Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard And Soft (art pop) Willow - Empathogen (art pop) Lo Moon - I Wish You Way More Than Luck (art pop) Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown (chamber pop) Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (heavy metal) Ellesmere - Stranger Skies (neo-prog) Counting Hours - The Wishing Tomb (gothic metal) My Dying Bride - A Mortal Binding (gothic metal)
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 12:13
I've been meaning to listen to that. Of course I love her in Portishead, and her album with Rustin Man, Out of Season, is much loved by me. I find that an awful lot of what I listen to these days falls into the chamber pop and art pop categorisations. I should try the new Billie Eilish too, amongst others.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 12:40
Logan wrote:
I find that an awful lot of what I listen to these days falls into the chamber pop and art pop categorisations
same! Actually there's one more album then, that I need to recommend here, and it's some sublime art-pop:
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 12:45
Prog-jester wrote:
Logan wrote:
I find that an awful lot of what I listen to these days falls into the chamber pop and art pop categorisations
same! Actually there's one more album then, that I need to recommend here, and it's some sublime art-pop:
Thanks you. Wow, I absolutely love that!
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Archisorcerus
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 12:48
Lewian wrote:
Hi there,
I freaked out at first. Mosh pit is a scary thing, don't ya think?
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 13:11
Theo May is a violinist who was born in the late 1990s near rivers and cornfields in North Wiltshire. He received formal training at the Purcell School in 2015, where he studied composition. May further pursued his education at the Royal College of Music under the guidance of renowned composers such as Mark Anthony Turnage and Errollyn Wallen. May's musical development has been influenced by various genres, including progressive jazz, free improvisation, folk, contemporary classical music, and more. He is known for his work with the Odd Unit quintet, a group of music college graduates who create compositions that blend elements of jazz, folk, and classical music. The Odd Unit's music is characterised by its high-octane tunes, dark soundscapes, melancholic lyrical pieces, avant-garde experimental soundscapes, and fierce intensity.
In January 2024, Theo May's Odd Unit released a CD, "Alive in the Forest of Odd." The album, which I think is great, is likely to create an immersive atmosphere for listeners. Through intricate arrangements and layered textures,Theo May’s Odd Unit aims to transport the audience into a different sonic realm, evoking emotions and sparking imagination. The album features innovative soundscapes that challenge conventional notions of melody and harmony. Expect dynamic rhythms on this album as Theo May's Odd Unit explores complex rhythmic patterns, unconventional time signatures, intricate drumming, polyrhythmic textures, and unexpected tempo changes that add depth and intensity to the listening experience.
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 15:08
2023 was my favorite prog-year of the 2000s. I hope 2024s crop is vintage...as well.
My top 2024 albums...Not in order of preference, but I purchased CD or Vinyl copies of everything I listed.
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - "The Last Human Being" Present - "This Is Not The End"
Ellesmere - "Stranger Skies"
Caligula's Horse- "Charcoal Grace"
The Aristocrats- "Duck"
Big Big Train- " The Likes of Us"
Celeste- "Echi Di Un Futuro Passato"
Chronicles of Father Robin- "Book III"
And
Aquilus- Bellum II (Black Metal with occasional buried-in-the-mix death growls, plus classical music interludes...very atmospherical. Aquilus should be included on Prog Archives)
I don't like death growls, but I can dig it when Opeth, Unexpect, and Aquilus do it.
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 15:18
Archisorcerus wrote:
Lewian wrote:
Hi there,
I freaked out at first. Mosh pit is a scary thing, don't ya think?
This looks pretty funny but alas I don't get it. Sorry.
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 15:21
Given that there's some interaction going on now (thanks for all this!), I say that among the albums listed I like "So Sorry So Slow" by Adult Jazz a lot (somewhere buried on Mike's list), also the Julia Holter album, and at least the best bits of the Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, which are really great, but I haven't yet become friends with the whole album. May still happen though.
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 15:24
moshkito wrote:
Lewian wrote:
...
However I have one proper recommendation (not listed on PA though), which is Banshee by Norwegian saxophonist Signe Emmeluth.
I love this kind of stuff, which defies the parameters of what "music" really is, and in many examples, this is really far out "classical music", even though I would say that a lot of this is improvised, and a concert would not exactly have known materials, but just new experiences for the moment in time.
In fact I got to know her seeing her live with that Banshee band. They mixed impro and composed material, and I recognised more of the gig on the album than I'd have expected. Happy that you like it.
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 15:30
There are two albums I can mention right now:
Alejandro Matos - Carnaval de las Victimas (review under construction)
Big Big Train - The Likes of Us
-------------
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 15:50
"Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace" is the 11th studio album by the Australian progressive metal band Teramaze. It was released in April 2024, through Wells Music. This album consists of eight tracks that are interconnected and contribute to telling a cohesive story throughout. The themes of shipwreck survival, betrayal, love, wonder, and star attraction are woven into the narrative of the album, creating a unified concept that runs through its entirety.
"Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace" showcases the band's technical prowess with intricate guitar work, complex rhythms, and dynamic song structures. The album features a mix of heavy riffs, melodic passages, and powerful vocals that complement the overall sound.
The production quality of the album is top-notch, with clear instrumentation. "Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace" received positive reviews from critics and fans alike for its musical complexity, lyrical depth, and emotional impact. In my opinion, this is a great progressive metal album.
I love this kind of stuff, which defies the parameters of what "music" really is, and in many examples, this is really far out "classical music", even though I would say that a lot of this is improvised, and a concert would not exactly have known materials, but just new experiences for the moment in time.
In fact I got to know her seeing her live with that Banshee band. They mixed impro and composed material, and I recognised more of the gig on the album than I'd have expected. Happy that you like it.
Hi,
You already know that anything that borders on the experimental, and with no conventional much of anything, is right up my listening scale. The thing that bothers me the most, is how much of the numbered stuff is metronomic material that has very small amounts of subtleties and the kind of lively and improvised materials that a lot of these folks can bring us.
My take on many of these things is almost always ... hearing something that you can not "categorize" or "define", which always creates new experiences and images for me, and this is the main reason why so much rock music that is being added to PA and to some of the numbers simply is not attractive to me ... I like to say I want new sounds, not the same old sounds ... but getting past those "numbers" is really a large waste of time for me since I do not listen to music for recognizable moments and formats.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: May 20 2024 at 20:20
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 00:23
moshkito wrote:
Had been getting disappointed when listening to "new things" for this year, only to find more pedestrian mishmash stuff all over ... and it was getting me disappointed. Many of those listings are getting more and more ... frustrating ... and the great stuff is more difficult to find when you have to go through the stuff that is just like all the others and is considered good by the sound ... not the music!
I can see why you (or others) might have a problem with the lists I post - it's so many releases, and they are all very different in style. From my list, you could for example check out Schubmodul and Adult Jazz:
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 00:31
moshkito wrote:
You already know that anything that borders on the experimental, and with no conventional much of anything, is right up my listening scale. The thing that bothers me the most, is how much of the numbered stuff is metronomic material that has very small amounts of subtleties and the kind of lively and improvised materials that a lot of these folks can bring us.
This rejection of conventions is very common among many prog music fans ... personally I think that it is often exaggerated. If you reject convention too much you end up with too little substance in the music. There are very few bands that manage(d) to blend wild experimentation with memorable tunes, for me Zappa and Mr. Bungle were prime examples of that.
My tastes have changed a lot over the decades (been there done that, as they say), and currently I enjoy a wide bandwidth of music. I love innovation and experimentation, but I also love musical ability and virtuosity and above all, good music (songwriting).
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 06:56
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
,,,
If you reject convention too much you end up with too little substance in the music. There are very few bands that manage(d) to blend wild experimentation with memorable tunes, for me Zappa and Mr. Bungle were prime examples of that.
My tastes have changed a lot over the decades (been there done that, as they say), and currently I enjoy a wide bandwidth of music. I love innovation and experimentation, but I also love musical ability and virtuosity and above all, good music (songwriting).
HI,
After 50 years plus of listening, I have always rejected convention and it was also quite visible in the plays/works I directed on stage 40 years ago ... the best thing I did only had a large set of squares making a sort of steps with a king's throne on top ... and the rest of the set was done with lights ... just don't give me "Waiting for Godot" because I will turn it into a psychedelic nightmare for you ... just for you!
For me music is not "tunes" ... PERIOD ... and you already know that. There is more music that will not fit what is defined as a "tune", and that is the area that I prefer to live in. The "tune" thing is way too commercial for me, and this was one of the most important sides/parts of the early days progressive music heroes we have ... they wanted to get away from the commercial styles, and the new FM radio in America really helped.
But, sadly, we can't get away from the commercial sound we are totally surrounded with day and night ... and it makes it harder to find/listen to new things, specially when the quick touch is not "familiar" to your ears, and you end up with someone posting here about Magma ... which is one of the saddest things about listening to any kind of music ... the more spheres you break, the better you can appreciate and learn about new things.
In the past year, PA has gotten better at folks listening and posting a lot of new stuff, and showcasing it with various articles as is seen in this thread ... I have fought for that for many years ... again, it's never about the "tune" ... it's about the music! And you have to define music beyond a tune and the commercial sound regardless of when.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 07:03
moyan wrote:
Theo May ...
...
Hi,
Theo May is nice, and might give us this generations Jean Luc Ponty. I kinda like this mix better than Jean Luc's that has a tendency to think that it is more classical than it is jazzy or otherwise. At least with Theo May you don't get that, although I did, for some reason, think of some of the Irish/Welsh folks that played folk music for their work. But I'm not sure that is a good comparison at all ... but it has that "folk" feel that Jean Luc does not have.
omphaloskepsis wrote:
2023 was my favorite prog-year of the 2000s. I hope 2024s crop is vintage...as well.
...
Aquilus- Bellum II (Black Metal with occasional buried-in-the-mix death growls, plus classical music interludes...very atmospherical. Aquilus should be included on Prog Archives)Wink
...
That was actually really enjoyable, and for once it didn't exactly feel like the growls and the rest of the music was there just for show and tell kind of thing. This whole thing looks like it was really well defined and put together, and like you suggested it is indeed very classical in moments, but the combination of it all, makes for a more "modern" classical style than otherwise ... kinda violent and explosive, I suppose.
Good listen ... I, generally, can't stand the growls as they are just another gimmick and quite often gratuitous, and sometimes, very badly used as the "lyrics" ... but it is what it is ... sometimes used well, and other times just used for the heck of it.
Moyan wrote:
"Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace" is the 11th studio album by the Australian progressive metal band Teramaze.
...
Couldn't help thinking that this was a much better, and more interesting Dream Theater than wwhat we have heard from them for some time. Maybe with a touch more melodic than DT's preference for thrash in the past several years. And it allowed the keyboards to do its thing ... someday DT ... someday DT ... actually enjoyed this piece a lot. Might go after some more stuff by these folks. I don't think a band goes this far and this tight, without being really well defined and done, and not just about one player.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 07:08
^^ Music is all about tunes. Melodies. Music is played with notes. In prog (and classical music) you can also think of them as motifs:
If you think that there are no "tunes" in proper prog, you are sadly mistaken. They exist in all styles of music, from Classical through Jazz all the way to Rock, Pop or even Death Metal.
Now, of course if you take a really simple tune (motif) and then "implement" it using simple (4) chord progressions arranged in predictable verses, bridge and choruses, using typical instruments and straight-forward (slightly) auto-tuned vocals ... then it's hardly prog anymore. But even the most hard-core avant-garde/experimental prog tracks we all revere are based on more or less simple tunes/motifs.
Disagree? Well, by all means enjoy the crap out of "tuneless" recordings
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 07:25
moshkito wrote:
But, sadly, we can't get away from the commercial sound we are totally surrounded with day and night ... and it makes it harder to find/listen to new things, specially when the quick touch is not "familiar" to your ears, and you end up with someone posting here about Magma ... which is one of the saddest things about listening to any kind of music ... the more spheres you break, the better you can appreciate and learn about new things.
So far only the OP has mentioned Magma. What's your problem with that? Have you listened to Banshee?
Posted By: RockHound
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 11:40
Thus far the albums that have really caught my attention are all very different:
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum-Of the Last Human Being
Big Big Train-The Likes of Us
Chick Corea and Béla Fleck-Remembrance
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 16:53
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
...
So far only the OP has mentioned Magma. What's your problem with that? Have you listened to Banshee?
...
Hi,
In another posting, yes.
For me, anything in classical music, is not about tunes. But I do not think that you have had the experience of classical music like I did in my formative teens, before I even heard or got into rock music, and then electronic.
To me, you might consider Mozart smaller concertos a bunch of tunes, but I hardly would consider his operas a tune in any form, although he always had a bit or two that might be thought of as a tune. I don't see tunes in Beethoven. I don't see tunes in Stravinsky.
There's a lot more music that is not a tune, but I'm not convinced, or sure that knowing "tunes" is what music is about ... a college education alone in music, will break that up quickly! And for a long time, until the commercial side made "tunes" more important financially, tunes, were considered the lowest level of class in music, and not looked at seriously. We can't help looking at it as serious music NOW because its sales destroy those of all else in music in all categories. But I'm not sure that is a good reason to "define" music at all. The rise of "jazz" in America is also a perfect example ... not a tune, until you got to the easy listening jazz folks in the later 60's ... that were very much about a pop song more than anything else.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 21 2024 at 18:36
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 00:34
moshkito wrote:
For me, anything in classical music, is not about tunes. But I do not think that you have had the experience of classical music like I did in my formative teens, before I even heard or got into rock music, and then electronic.
That's quite an arrogant assumption. But it's your typical mode of operation, so moving on.
moshkito wrote:
To me, you might consider Mozart smaller concertos a bunch of tunes, but I hardly would consider his operas a tune in any form, although he always had a bit or two that might be thought of as a tune. I don't see tunes in Beethoven. I don't see tunes in Stravinsky.
There's no motifs in Beethoven's compositions, is that what you're saying?
moshkito wrote:
There's a lot more music that is not a tune, but I'm not convinced, or sure that knowing "tunes" is what music is about ... a college education alone in music, will break that up quickly! And for a long time, until the commercial side made "tunes" more important financially, tunes, were considered the lowest level of class in music, and not looked at seriously. We can't help looking at it as serious music NOW because its sales destroy those of all else in music in all categories. But I'm not sure that is a good reason to "define" music at all. The rise of "jazz" in America is also a perfect example ... not a tune, until you got to the easy listening jazz folks in the later 60's ... that were very much about a pop song more than anything else.
Tunes, Motifs, Melodies ... call it what you will. They are the nucleus of musical compositions. The fallacy which you are employing here is to assume that I'm saying that music is ONLY "tunes". I never did, and of course there is much more to music, which is why we are all here. And yes, even most Jazz is built upon motifs. Well, there's extreme outliers in all the genres - in Jazz there's Free Jazz, there's the entire genre of Noise, and in some extremely Avant-Garde/Post styles "tunes" are largely absent. But those are fringe occurrences, the 0.1% even within the realm of progressive music which is already only like 1% of all the music.
Take this "music" that I listened to yesterday out of curiosity: https://vectas.bandcamp.com/album/washing-machine-music" rel="nofollow - https://vectas.bandcamp.com/album/washing-machine-music
Gave it a low rating because it lacks musical structure and I did not enjoy listening to it. It also says on the page that it was "made for fun", so I'm probably not insulting anyone by putting it in the E tier.
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 04:07
Psychedelic rock with hints of fancy English progressive pop from the late 1960s sets out the sound of Magic Fig, the band that was founded in 2023 and is based in San Francisco. The group's search for abstract stories and recognisable spirits in their songs is evidence of their vast spectrum of musical inspirations, which includes both Debussy and the early Soft Machine. Magic Fig's undoubtedly great self-titled debut album actually has the vibe of the early Canterbury scene, as the band uses Canterburian whimsicallness, complex guitar riffs, spacey keyboards, and engrossing storylines drawn from fables and fairy tales to enhance their sound, and the band's singer Inna Showalter perfectly nails that unique Canterbury fantasy on this highly recommended LP.
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 06:41
Another great debut album is "The Ram" by the UK band Armoury Way. It is a quintet at the moment, although Tony Imbierski, a gifted keyboardist, guitarist, and composer from New Forest, Hampshire, started Armoury Way as a solo project in 2020. He was raised in the 1970s, listening to bands like Genesis, Camel, Yes, and King Crimson. At the age of sixteen, he started a band with his closest friends, but the idea to record a full-length album didn't occur to him until 2018. He formed a band with some talented musicians in return for this gesture. It took six years to create this debut CD, which is strongly recommended for fans of symphonic prog. The album's sound is characterised by its intricate instrumental arrangements, complex song structures, and thought-provoking lyrics, brought together with quintessential English vocals by the singer Ashley Stone.
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 07:50
moyan wrote:
...
Magic Fig
...
Hi,
Enjoyed listening to that, though I somehow think this is more like a song in the mid 60's on the radio with its idea of "psychedelic" ... which, sadly enough, if you take the video out with the costumes, you probably would not think of this as psychedelic, though it is very nice indeed.
moyan wrote:
...
Armoury Way
...
(comments on this long piece are ... not quite clear in my head .. here goes...)
Nice piece, although I am not sure I think of this as progressive, and the subject matter is probably difficult to look at, or imagine, other than a piece that took on the human desire to always go above and beyond what we can/could/would do ... It does have some nice parts, though, and is worth the listen, as this kind of work has the touch that makes music so endearing to our hearts. It has nothing to do with what style it is in, but the story and trip itself is a very nice thing to follow and enjoy.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 07:53
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
moshkito wrote:
For me, anything in classical music, is not about tunes. But I do not think that you have had the experience of classical music like I did in my formative teens, before I even heard or got into rock music, and then electronic.
That's quite an arrogant assumption. But it's your typical mode of operation, so moving on.
Hi,
It is NOT an arrogant assumption as your comment is. I made a possible comparison, that you have rejected and you could have said ... not quite ... but instead take a false offense.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 08:39
@moshkito & Mike: Maybe continue your discussion per PM if you must (or make your own thread). I think this thread is most useful if it sticks to the topic "Great albums of 2024". Albums can of course be discussed, but I think that personal discussion beyond this should be elsewhere.
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 08:40
^^ There is a difference between asking whether something is the case and presuming it in your argument. For example, there is a difference between asking "what is your background in classical music" and "surely you don't know much about classical music". The former is neutral, the latter is presumptuous.
But sure, focusing on this is a nice way to get around the more interesting points I raised.
^ (Lewian) yes, of course you are correct. Returning to the subject at hand, these are two nice releases of 2024 that I've discovered today:
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 08:57
Released in March 2024, "What We Really Like in Stories" by the UK band The Bardic Depths showcases a rich tapestry of sound. The album features neo-prog stuff that is very warmly delivered. The music on this album has dynamic arrangements, featuring lush layers of acoustic and electric guitars, melodic basslines, intricate drum patterns, soaring vocals, and ethereal keyboards. The Bardic Depths' use of wind instruments such as the clarinet and alto saxophone adds a distinctive texture to their sound, evoking a sense of nostalgia. A wonderful melodic intricacy that corresponds with the intelligent lines makes the band's third CD great and certainly their most comprehensive release to date.
Posted By: Valdez1
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 08:57
moshkito wrote:
moyan wrote:
...
Magic Fig
...
Hi,
Enjoyed listening to that, though I somehow think this is more like a song in the mid 60's on the radio with its idea of "psychedelic" ... which, sadly enough, if you take the video out with the costumes, you probably would not think of this as psychedelic, though it is very nice indeed.
moyan wrote:
...
Armoury Way
...
(comments on this long piece are ... not quite clear in my head .. here goes...)
Nice piece, although I am not sure I think of this as progressive, and the subject matter is probably difficult to look at, or imagine, other than a piece that took on the human desire to always go above and beyond what we can/could/would do ... It does have some nice parts, though, and is worth the listen, as this kind of work has the touch that makes music so endearing to our hearts. It has nothing to do with what style it is in, but the story and trip itself is a very nice thing to follow and enjoy.
Hardly psychedelic, definitely Prog. (Armoury Way ) Took me a good minute to get into it but it won me over. Great vocals. Very old school sound.
------------- https://bakullama1.bandcamp.com/
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 11:40
1. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/67511#tag=%20%7bap:67511%7d" rel="nofollow - Big Big Train - The Likes of Us [ https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-likes-of-us" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/3zjmvbCAxUJ4iXKDLvp9hK" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Uplifting Emotional Prog Art Rock 2. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/67426#tag=%20%7bap:67426%7d" rel="nofollow - Pineapple Thief - It Leads To This [ https://kscopemusic.bandcamp.com/album/it-leads-to-this" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/2Dv8t4eIELlC1oiuaQ5jVn" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Emotional Prog Alt Rock/Metal 3. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/67508#tag=%20%7bap:67508%7d" rel="nofollow - The Aristocrats - Duck [ https://the-aristocrats-band.bandcamp.com/album/duck" rel="nofollow - BC ] Instr Prog Rock/Jazz 4. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/67127#tag=%20%7bap:67127%7d" rel="nofollow - The Chronicles Of Father Robin - The Songs & Tales Of Airoea: Book 3 [ https://fatherrobin.bandcamp.com/album/the-songs-tales-of-airoea-book-iii" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/5bOquAte02gkvWaNZwm8R6" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Mellow Symph Nordic Prog Alt Rock/Folk 5. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/69470#tag=%20%7bap:69470%7d" rel="nofollow - The Prog Collective - Dark Encounters [ https://theprogcollective.bandcamp.com/album/dark-encounters" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/5cObVn5e7P9LQ2SJz9WHEA" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Instr Neo Prog Rock 6. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/66542#tag=%20%7bap:66542%7d" rel="nofollow - Neal Morse - The Restoration – Joseph: Part Two [ https://open.spotify.com/album/4hv5aaLDEhsunhJjSGvO6R" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Preachy Symph Prog Rock 7. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/66722#tag=%20%7bap:66722%7d" rel="nofollow - Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace [ https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/charcoal-grace-24-bit-hd" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/2XZiBGEBzo5PqSMjgGV6IS" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Bittersweet Melodic Prog Metal/Rock 8. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/68744#tag=%20%7bap:68744%7d" rel="nofollow - The Smile - Wall of Eyes [ https://thesmile.bandcamp.com/album/wall-of-eyes" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/6PdPOv5ybKZ9ZuGMk5iGZd" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Mellow Lush Neo Prog Post Rock/Pop 9. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/69308#tag=%20%7bap:69308%7d" rel="nofollow - SiX BY SiX - Beyond Shadowland [ https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-shadowland-24-bit-hd-audio" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/4WFBHXfXZFzMgGKFvgkOmk" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Heavy Prog Rock 10. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/68262#tag=%20%7bap:68262%7d" rel="nofollow - Whom Gods Destroy - Insanium [ https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/insanium-24-bit-hd" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/4BZUFFuZsZ5F4prX6GWOxv" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Tech Prog Metal/Rock 11. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/66788#tag=%20%7bap:66788%7d" rel="nofollow - Steve Hackett - The Circus And The Nightwhale [ https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-circus-and-the-nightwhale-24-bit-hd" rel="nofollow - BC ] [ https://open.spotify.com/album/40oW7mVcb7BlaICfrQGMTW" rel="nofollow - SPO ] Hard Eclectic Prog Art Rock 12. https://awesomeprog.com/releases/69993#tag=%20%7bap:69993%7d" rel="nofollow - Elephants Of Scotland - Brains! [ https://elephantsofscotland.bandcamp.com/album/brains" rel="nofollow - BC ] Neo Prog Art Rock
-------------
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 12:49
https://awesomeprog.com/releases/69416" rel="nofollow - - BC https://open.spotify.com/album/4pUridAI3i2kccd3ZHIpqi" rel="nofollow - - RYM
Prizes Roses Rosa (Panda Rosa)
https://awesomeprog.com/releases/69416" rel="nofollow - - To Fire Clay
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 22 2024 at 13:14
"Castrum Zumellarum" is the comeback album of the Italian band Faveravola. It's a concept album that can be described as mediaeval-prog-rock opera.
The Venetian band, made up of musicians with distant experiences in the 1970s, stylistically a progressive blend between Angelo Branduardi and Le Orme, after multiple vicissitudes, completed this work inspired by the Zumelle castle saga, which still exists in the Belluno area of Italy, and of the heartbreak love between the knight Murcimiro and local beauty Atleta. These musicians' talent and skills are responsible for the fact that the instrumentation is rich and diverse, featuring intricate guitar solos, lush keyboard textures, pastoral flute soloing, dynamic drum patterns, melodic bass lines, and beautiful singing in Italian. The production quality is top-notch, with attention to detail in capturing the nuances of each instrument and creating a cohesive sonic landscape.
"Castrum Zumellarum" is a must-listen for fans of Italian symphonic rock. Its intricate compositions, virtuosic performances, and unique mediaveal-like approach make this album one of the best prog releases of this year so far.
★★★★★"What a well balanced yet surprisingly inventive release. Supreme vocals, awesome production, enticing songwriting ... and many references to (and a really well-working fusion of) many iconic prog bands. Strong contender for album of the year!" ( https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - Mike , 3h ago)
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: May 23 2024 at 13:24
^ Wow, a masterpiece? Really? I listened to the track you posted and then - because a bit surprised by your enthusiasm about this - to the first three tracks on their bandcamp site (couldn't stand much more of it...), but this is exactly the type of unimaginative and clichématic (heavy) prog that made me turn my back to prog in the 90s.
Funny how appreciations can differ so much. Yes, they know how to play, but their songwriting is really without any originality, it is very formulaic prog. You find the singing supreme, but I think it is a singer of which we have 13 in a dozen (when he sings it's OK, but when it veers to screaming it's going from bad to hideous). Really surprised that you find this a masterpiece... But well, I like things that you won't like, so it's just my opinion which differs from yours on this one.
-------------
The razamataz is a pain in the bum
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 23 2024 at 13:31
^ It’s a first listen impression, and our criteria may vary.
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: May 23 2024 at 13:42
^ At least you succeeded in raising my curiosity. And I guess we have the same criteria: our guts. No? But our guts are going different ways...
-------------
The razamataz is a pain in the bum
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 23 2024 at 15:19
^ Having listened to it a second time, my view has not changed. For a time-effective way to sample the release, I'd recommend listening to the second long track:
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 24 2024 at 02:19
"If I don't make it, I love u" is an album by the UK trio Still House Plants that offers a unique and experimental blend of musical styles. Their unconventional approach to this album is based on a blend of avant-garde with elements of experimental rock and improvisational music. The band's sound is characterised by dissonant guitar riffs, unconventional song structures, and haunting vocals. The songs on the album often feature sparse instrumentation, creating a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The lyrics are poetic and introspective, exploring themes of love, loss, and existential angst.
Still House Plants' music is known for its raw energy and emotional depth. Their music is challenging and thought-provoking, inviting listeners to engage with complex emotions and ideas.
Although it's rather hard to be really innovative nowadays, "If I don't make it, I love u" is a bold and innovative album that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music. It showcases Still House Plants' unique artistic vision and their willingness to uncompromisingly experiment with different sounds and textures while still being organic and pleasantly listenable.
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 26 2024 at 01:11
Australian instrumental experimental rock group Montresor released their most recent album, "Autopoiesis," on May 24, 2024. This ensemble, which started out as a quartet, is now augmented by two clarinettists, a bassoonist, a pianist, and two keyboardists who play additional keys. "Autopoiesis" is the first album by Montresor in nine years and highlights the band's experimental style and instrumental prowess. Considerably influenced by the Rock in Opposition movement, the band's extended lineup on this outstanding album results in complex time signature alterations, otherworldly atmospheres, dense structures, ethereal melodies, and a wide spectrum of musical textures. "Autopoiesis" is a significant work in the realm of contemporary avant-prog and, in my opinion, the best Montresor's album to date.
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 26 2024 at 06:11
^ the bad thing about generative AI is that the generated content often isn’t correct.
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 31 2024 at 05:53
"Proximity & Chance" is the fifth full-length studio album by English multi-instrumentalist and composer John Holden. It once again adequately displayed his enormous talent. The album combines elements of progressive rock with inspiration from classical music. Throughout the tunes on this album, John Holden's sophisticated compositions and perceptive lyrics are on full display. "Proximity & Chance" features eight noteworthy tracks, such as the epics "The Man Who Would Be King," "Burnt Cork and Limelight," and "Chance (Under One Sun)." This captivating album is a must-have for fans of symphonic prog-rock.
Released on May 29, 2024, Holden's new album, with its emotional depth, dreamy atmosphere, technical mastery, and outstanding performances by Holden and additional musicians—who include male and female vocalists—already earned positive reviews from critics and favourable feedback from fans.
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 31 2024 at 06:09
^ Moyan, are you using AI programs to produce such content?
I'd much rather reviews in your own words that express your specific feelings of the albums than such produced or lifted content. And I think that personal touch helps with discussion here.
EDIT: Like how much of those kinds of posts come straight out of your brain (say based on your impressions of listening to the music)? I so wish that I could be confident that the PA forum is a refuge from AI generated content. I don't think it adds value to a discussion forum and I hate it for personal reasons.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Moyan
Date Posted: May 31 2024 at 07:17
Logan wrote:
^ Moyan, are you using AI programs to produce such content?
No, I don't. BTW, can you prove your de facto accusation that my comments are AI-generated?
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 31 2024 at 07:23
^ I did not accuse you of it, I asked whether it was the case. Mike brought up the idea of AI generated content a few posts up in response to you. I have wondered myself if it might be, and so I asked you if it was. What do you expect me to prove? Could you prove your location as listed, for instance?
By the way, people have been saying that you should be banned because you are Svetonio, something you deny, I was not fully convinced despite the major similarities until this response as I have seen this same attitude, phrasing, and defensiveness from Svetonio (or Svet clones). You have been flooding and I do believe that you have not been forthcoming. I am suspending you, and some have told me that I should have done it long ago, but I genuinely do believe in trying to give people the benefit of the doubt. More fool me. Svet or Svet clone, I don't care. Please control yourself and stay away for good this time. It was obvious from the moment you started posting that you were a past member, and I was at least convinced that you had been banned multiple times before (even the avatar gave it away). I do believe in giving people more chances, but some will never change or be willing to change.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 31 2024 at 23:23
Posted By: Valdez
Date Posted: June 04 2024 at 17:14
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: June 05 2024 at 07:16
...
Deleted ... sent as PM per request
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: June 05 2024 at 16:59
Due to my prolonged deep dive into Jazz-Rock Fusion and newly-exaggerated love of funk, my musical listening interests have taken a bit of a left turn.
Magick Brother & Mystic Sister Tarot, Pt 1
Brainstory Sounds Good
Yussef Dayes Black Classical Music (end of 2023 release)
★★★★★"What a well balanced yet surprisingly inventive release. Supreme vocals, awesome production, enticing songwriting ... and many references to (and a really well-working fusion of) many iconic prog bands. Strong contender for album of the year!" ( https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - Mike , 3h ago)
You're the second progman- whose opinion I respect- to wax poetic over Fym. I've been pleasantly surprised. Not what I expected. Proggy like the proggiest Jellyfish. Soulful, funky, and like something I've never quite heard. So, I bought it. Besides, I dig the D&D narrative corner of prog.
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 16:55
miamiscot wrote:
It's been a decent year so far. I will be doing my "BEST OF 2024: SO FAR" episode on The Prog Corner YouTube channel at the end of June...
So far 2024 has had no 10/10 albums...
Very recent releases by Barock Project and Sykofant may possibly change your mind Scot. (and then there's the prospect of a new IZZ album coming soon)
Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 00:20
Yo, have y’all caught wind of Sykofant, that gnarly Norwegian prog rock crew? They just straight-up released their debut album, dudes, and let me tell ya, it’s hella lit! Their sound is all about this sick blend of mad skills and deep storytelling vibes. This album they dropped on their own, oh man, it’s got everyone buzzing - from the local scene to folks all across the globe. It’s like next level stuff, with tracks that really make you ponder deep, you feel me?
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 00:22
ProgSynonym wrote:
Yo, have y’all caught wind of Sykofant, that gnarly Norwegian prog rock crew? They just straight-up released their debut album, dudes, and let me tell ya, it’s hella lit! Their sound is all about this sick blend of mad skills and deep storytelling vibes. This album they dropped on their own, oh man, it’s got everyone buzzing - from the local scene to folks all across the globe. It’s like next level stuff, with tracks that really make you ponder deep, you feel me?
wait... what?!
Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 00:49
Cristi wrote:
ProgSynonym wrote:
Yo, have y’all caught wind of Sykofant, that gnarly Norwegian prog rock crew? They just straight-up released their debut album, dudes, and let me tell ya, it’s hella lit! Their sound is all about this sick blend of mad skills and deep storytelling vibes. This album they dropped on their own, oh man, it’s got everyone buzzing - from the local scene to folks all across the globe. It’s like next level stuff, with tracks that really make you ponder deep, you feel me?
wait... what?!
I done seen that Sykofant band gettin’ suggested for Progarchives, and lemme tell ya, there ain’t no way a prog band like them should be gettin’ rejected! I mean, have y’all even heard their tunes? They’re like a mix of that classic prog sound with a modern twist that just blows your mind, man! It’s like they channelin’ the spirit of them prog legends while bringin’ somethin’ fresh to the table. So yeah, there ain’t no doubt in my mind that they deserve a spot on Progarchives. Let’s make it happen!
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 00:59
ProgSynonym wrote:
Cristi wrote:
ProgSynonym wrote:
Yo, have y’all caught wind of Sykofant, that gnarly Norwegian prog rock crew? They just straight-up released their debut album, dudes, and let me tell ya, it’s hella lit! Their sound is all about this sick blend of mad skills and deep storytelling vibes. This album they dropped on their own, oh man, it’s got everyone buzzing - from the local scene to folks all across the globe. It’s like next level stuff, with tracks that really make you ponder deep, you feel me?
wait... what?!
I done seen that Sykofant band gettin’ suggested for Progarchives, and lemme tell ya, there ain’t no way a prog band like them should be gettin’ rejected! I mean, have y’all even heard their tunes? They’re like a mix of that classic prog sound with a modern twist that just blows your mind, man! It’s like they channelin’ the spirit of them prog legends while bringin’ somethin’ fresh to the table. So yeah, there ain’t no doubt in my mind that they deserve a spot on Progarchives. Let’s make it happen!
You got a strange way of talking, which makes me think you are either a little troll or you are quirky or something... I mean who talks like that!
Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 01:06
Yo, I just peeped that Sykofant got added to the database. Bravo bravissimo! So let me tell you about this new album ‘Eternal Snapshots’ by the Sweden neo-prog band HFMC. This record is straight fire, man! HFMC really brought their A-game with this comeback album. The vibes are so chill yet intense at the same time, it’s like a rollercoaster of emotions. Check out this sick official vid with a jam from ‘Eternal Snapshots’ album:
Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 01:09
Cristi wrote:
ProgSynonym wrote:
Cristi wrote:
ProgSynonym wrote:
Yo, have y’all caught wind of Sykofant, that gnarly Norwegian prog rock crew? They just straight-up released their debut album, dudes, and let me tell ya, it’s hella lit! Their sound is all about this sick blend of mad skills and deep storytelling vibes. This album they dropped on their own, oh man, it’s got everyone buzzing - from the local scene to folks all across the globe. It’s like next level stuff, with tracks that really make you ponder deep, you feel me?
wait... what?!
I done seen that Sykofant band gettin’ suggested for Progarchives, and lemme tell ya, there ain’t no way a prog band like them should be gettin’ rejected! I mean, have y’all even heard their tunes? They’re like a mix of that classic prog sound with a modern twist that just blows your mind, man! It’s like they channelin’ the spirit of them prog legends while bringin’ somethin’ fresh to the table. So yeah, there ain’t no doubt in my mind that they deserve a spot on Progarchives. Let’s make it happen!
You got a strange way of talking, which makes me think you are either a little troll or you are quirky or something... I mean who talks like that!
Hey there, dude! Thanks for the message. I get that my way of talking might seem a bit different to you, but hey, we all have our own unique styles, right? No need to jump to conclusions, man. Just trying to keep things interesting and fun around here. So, no worries, I’m just being me!
Posted By: Octopus II
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 02:15
My favourite album of 2024 (so far) is Stranger Skies by Ellesmere.
Best artwork as well!
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 10:12
Richard Henshall - Mu Vol. 1 IZZ - Collapse The Wave
Both are excellent. But The Aristocrats "Duck" is my fave of 2024, so far.
Posted By: Valdez
Date Posted: June 09 2024 at 11:42
★★★★★"What a well balanced yet surprisingly inventive release. Supreme vocals, awesome production, enticing songwriting ... and many references to (and a really well-working fusion of) many iconic prog bands. Strong contender for album of the year!" ( https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - Mike , 3h ago)
You're the second progman- whose opinion I respect- to wax poetic over Fym. I've been pleasantly surprised. Not what I expected. Proggy like the proggiest Jellyfish. Soulful, funky, and like something I've never quite heard. So, I bought it. Besides, I dig the D&D narrative corner of prog.
On subsequent listens my rating has dropped a bit, but I still think it's an awesome release. Previously I had given them a pass for sounding too much like Pain of Salvation on several occasions, now that is annoying me a little bit more - and I think that sometimes they are "over-achieving", cramming too many gimmicks and extras into the songs.
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: July 03 2024 at 14:33
------------- The Prog Corner
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: July 04 2024 at 08:18
Hi,
I'm gonna go down Richard's list one at a time ... but in general, I have to say that I have not exactly heard anything that blew my ears off.
It's there somewhere I'm sure, but again, I just hope I don't get to hear the same old, same oooohhh .... MoR stuff.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 03:06
^ I would say it's the most interesting (maybe I mean diverse) list I've put together for any particular year. Yeah of course there is the MOR stuff ( I guess you mean Big Big Train by that, but I love them, sorry) but then I've got Orange Blossom and Slift in there, they are not 'middling, at all. I suspect you might also find Andy Jackson interesting, he's a bit off the main street as well. I like a bit of variety.
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 03:32
What does "MoR" stand for, and which releases from Richard's list would be good examples of it? I didn't get the memo
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 03:33
^ 'Middle Of The Road'. basically 'Meh'.
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 03:49
From what I've heard from Moshkito, my impression is that he's mostly looking for innovation. I understand that, and I also love when bands innovate. But I'm also looking for substance, and musicianship:
1. Substance (songwriting)
2. Musicianship
3. Innovation
There are other criteria, but this is how I prioritise the above three. When it comes to innovation, I have heard so much innovative music during the last four decades, plus I've played a lot myself (on the guitar and keyboards), and listened to so many discussions about music theory and watched documentaries on how my favorite bands write and record their music, that I'm now much less easily impressed by flashy "innovation" at the expense of musicianship and/or substance.
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 06:43
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
From what I've heard from Moshkito, my impression is that he's mostly looking for innovation. I understand that, and I also love when bands innovate. But I'm also looking for substance, and musicianship:
1. Substance (songwriting)
2. Musicianship
3. Innovation
...
Hi,
Not quite right ... for me, it has less to do with many thoughts:
Substance (without words, you don't know what the substance is!) -- All of us learn this by listening to classical music. The substance, then, becomes the visual that we create for the piece, and it is not exactly the same a few days apart. The note that hit you yesterday did not sound the same today! Substance is an illusion, and a desire for us to think that we know more than the originator.
Musicianship -- We have this idea that only folks that can play the circle of idiots know "music" and no one else can stand up. Musicianship, for me, is not about how much you know or feature a lot of the details that instructors gave you in high school or college. Musicianship is about how you interpreted your inner vision with something that we think is intuitive, and not mentally defined and designed. Improvisation in its purest form, does not need "musicianship" ... it only needs a desire to be there and enjoy the experience. Again, just because someone knows music, has nothing to do with it all ... and sincerely, the folks that know the most in music, often are the least creative of them all ... sure they put out a lot of stuff ... the same thing more or less.
Innovation -- I do not, necessarily go for "innovation" and as an example, the group of folks that (in England) became Henry Cow and many others, were not exactly something I spent my money on ... Faust was more fun, and less enthralled by their "talent". Innovation, might be the "next step" in the history of music and how it changes each century, and in the 20th century it could have been Stravinsky, Herrmann, and the experimental electronics very early. Innovation was, for example, the sounds in the film "Forbidden Planet" ... and how they helped define what became known as "space" in the realms of music. Stuff that we did not know how they "fit" into our imagination, since we always find that we have to fix/fit an image to a note, for example ... which created the illusion that major is happy and minor is sad.
We, in general, do not like, or care for "innovation" and this is very clear in PA when the comments about a lot of music is just a sentence or a paragraph ... which for me, is similar to ... you did not hear the whole thing. And many times, a lot of the comments are so generic as to make them look like some form of AI, which we knew that sooner or later was gonna come up since we don't believe in ourselves and our ability and we always feel that there is something better out there that some universe god created ... it's this kind of BS that really takes the creativity out of the arts ... in the end, we are afraid of what we don't know and always fight to make sure we "know" ... thus, in many ways, "innovation" is not easy, and not very likely to stand up in a lot of places.
One more thing ... trying to define me in one word is a mistake. I'm multi-cultural and multi-national and do not exactly conform to any of the cultures or nationalities. Why? Because there are many more out there that are just as cultural in the arts, but we think that we own the idea and the concept. I'm really tired of that thought, btw ... very boring!
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 08:35
^ Conciseness is a skill, as well as being able to stay on-topic.
I think the BEST way to find out what someone likes is to see a list of favorites. Instead of trying (and failing) to describe it, show it! And that is exactly what you are usually refusing to do. Of course you are under no obligation whatsoever to post a list of your favorite releases from 2024, or maybe even a list of releases you do not like. But until you do, the best we can do is speculate.
BTW: It is deeply offensive for you to suggest that the less someone says/writes about a release, the less they have listened to it. There can be many other - and I would say much more likely - reasons for that.
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 08:41
"I love how they combine harsh black metal with mysterious synth layers in a really memorable way." ( https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - Mike , ★★★★★, 1m ago)
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 10:06
"Do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few" (Pythagoras).
"Easier said than done" (Logan).
I only have two more albums, Uboa's and Herhum's. The order does not mean very much, especially as there is some major contrast in the music, and feel awkward ranking when they have their own unique qualities and virtues.
https://awesomeprog.com/releases/68536" rel="nofollow - - BC https://open.spotify.com/album/4LKhRqqNlRlWwt4d9GG3QW" rel="nofollow - - RYM
Glass Beach
https://awesomeprog.com/releases/68536" rel="nofollow - - Plastic Death
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 11:29
^ just listened to the Eunochs. Should be on PA. Eclectic probably. A bit too derivative of black midi and Black Country, New Road but enjoyable
-------------
https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 11:54
siLLy puPPy wrote:
^ just listened to the Eunochs. Should be on PA. Eclectic probably. A bit too derivative of black midi and Black Country, New Road but enjoyable
Agreed on all counts.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: Antoni
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 11:58
Out today
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 12:46
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
^ Conciseness is a skill, as well as being able to stay on-topic.
...
I think the BEST way to find out what someone likes is to see a list of favorites.
...
Hi,
Sorry ... I'm not a show off trying to prove my this or that with numbers or your insistence on continually saying that I am wrong.
Not interested in fame or showing up my tastes, though I do post in other threads, but not those you do!!!!
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 05 2024 at 16:21
^ how is showing one’s favorite releases “showing off”?
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 06 2024 at 04:29
^ He hates lists and has made that clear ad nauseum. I'm admittedly a bit lazy and could post a few comments but I quite like the enjoyment of posting a list. It should be 'live and let live'. I'm heartily sick of Pedro's condescending attitude but no one seems to want to do anything about it so I have to put up with it. I should point out that I have no agenda whatsover here. I only come on to kill a few hours and hopefully get a few recommendations and find out what's what. I don't believe there is any objective truth to be found. Listen to what you want, enjoy what you want and move on if it doesn't suit or fit then bill. There is a helluva lot of music about and I know I'm barely scatching the surface.
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 06 2024 at 06:11
My main motivation for posting a list is seeing everybody else’s lists and thus learning about exciting new releases. And I don’t really care how long the lists are … if you only liked one album, then just mention that album. This is not about lists or ranking releases, it’s about sharing knowledge.
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 06 2024 at 13:34
For me it's about sharing what I have discovered, know, and what interests me, and I am interested to see what others like and I like to compare lists and interests. It might help if I would at least describe each album a bit, even if it's just sharing the tags/genre labels. I do like sharing specific tracks off albums to hone in on my and others interests as a way to expose people to acts, albums, styles etc. What I have always wished is that we would try to respond and comment on each others lists more rather than just listing our own as I like that interactivity. I like, say, the Interactive Polls because we listen, show interest in and comment on what all who participate decide to share. It feels more communal and like the listening room experience I have always wanted at PA. I like seeing the lists, but this is still a discussion forum so hopefully we are discussing each others choices and trying to get to know a bit, at least, about the music, and maybe sharing our own impressions of other people's likes. This of course happens, but I do sometime wish it was more the norm. That can be time-consuming, and we all have our preferred ways of communicating, sharing and socialising online, I guess. A big part of it for me it trying to make connections, both with people and music. But being an introvert who mostly favours being alone, I'm also not the most sociable of people.
What bothers me is when others complain about or make broad claims about how they think others think, what approaches they think others make, and how wrong it is.... It is disrespectful, uncharitable, and often lacking justification or evidence for the claims, and arrogant to think that one's attitude, approach and thinking is better than others. I would rather hear people talk from their own perspective about what they think rather than talking about what they think others think and are doing wrong from their perspective. "I like" are two of my favourite words.
------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 06 2024 at 16:08
Agreed! Maybe I should not have speculated about Moshkito’s approach like I did. I was (and am) just curious about which releases he actually likes, and maybe I should just accept his decision not to share the information.
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: July 06 2024 at 18:16
Members of the world, present
Live and let live, I guess. People don't like to feel lectured to, as in what to think, how to think, what [the think] you think they think etc. I do think as a courtesy to the OP it is generally good to try to be faithful to the spirit of the topic, and to try to work within the OP's framework generally. So in this case it's about looking for album recommendations from 2024, so that's what I would be expecting. I often do appreciate digressions in my own topics, especially if people already tried to approach the topic as I presented it. Being able to work within others rules demonstrates flexibility and adaptability and being able to move beyond and think out of the box can show creativity. No name or names, but I wish some would just try to approach-and-go with the topic as posed rather than going off on their own agenda (which often show the limitations of said user or users especially if those points are raised again and again....).
Some are uncomfortable sharing lists and feel they know too little (or have not kept track...). I expect that some are shy to show theirs (the members) because they feel insecure about the length (I think Freud had something to say about the length of our lists). I think it is not just about the length, but also the girth of the list matters (a wide variety of albums). My list is fairly short and lacks girth. Of course the quality matters, but that is so subjective, and then there is how you use it. I think I use my lists reasonably well, at least for my purposes....
Just one more album added to my list and a slight re-arranging. I'm just quite busy discovering music from many years.
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: July 07 2024 at 07:10
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
Agreed! Maybe I should not have speculated about Moshkito’s approach like I did. I was (and am) just curious about which releases he actually likes, and maybe I should just accept his decision not to share the information.
Hi,
I can't answer your question. So far, the things I have heard are nice, but that's about it for me. I might find something more interesting the more I listen, but so far, nothing has made me feel ... wow ... that's far out.
I listen to a lot of music, including new stuff that is not even mentioned here, but shows up on Space Pirate Radio. Guy has connections to a lot of record groups, and he gets a lot of their material first hand, and he plays them. A lot of the stuff is more electronic, than it is "rock", and at my age, I think the electronic is more appealing than not. I guess you could say that I get bored with the conventional line up and format of a lot of stuff being shown. For ME, at that point it's just a different note or chord.
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: July 07 2024 at 07:27
So far, I am finding and preferring albums that I missed hearing from 2023 over albums from 2024. 2023 was quite remarkable in the number of albums I really enjoyed. I don't think any of my 2024 favorites would make my 2023 top 10.
Posted By: Mirakaze
Date Posted: July 19 2024 at 04:36
At this point I don't yet feel comfortable ranking my favourites of this year so far, so here's an alphabetical list of 2024 albums from PA artists that have earned my recommendation:
• Dead Space Chamber Music & Hackedepicciotto – http://dscm.bandcamp.com/album/live-improvisation-crypt-of-st-john-on-the-wall" rel="nofollow - Live Improvisation, Crypt Of St. John On The Wall
• Martín Escalante & Ryoko Ono – http://onoryoko.bandcamp.com/album/mart-n-escalante-and-ono-ryoko-duo2-newduo-series-034" rel="nofollow - Martín Escalante & Ryoko Ono DUO2
• GEN & Ryoko Ono – http://onoryoko.bandcamp.com/album/gen-and-ono-ryoko-duo-newduo-series-035" rel="nofollow - GEN & Ryoko Ono DUO
• Grdina Lillinger – http://gordongrdina.bandcamp.com/album/duo-work" rel="nofollow - Duo Work
• Mary Halvorson – http://maryhalvorson.bandcamp.com/album/cloudward" rel="nofollow - Cloudward
• Rob Harrison – http://robharrisonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/explode-my-head" rel="nofollow - Explode My Head
• Hypnodrone Ensemble – http://wvsorcerer.bandcamp.com/album/the-problem-is-in-the-sender-do-not-tamper-with-the-receiver" rel="nofollow - The Problem Is In The Sender / Do Not Tamper With The Receiver
• Lost World Band – http://lostworldband.bandcamp.com/album/a-moment-of-peace" rel="nofollow - A Moment of Peace
• Música D’Repuesto – http://musicadrepuesto.bandcamp.com/album/mu-sica-para-ciudades-de-15-minutos-vol-1" rel="nofollow - Música Para Ciudades De 15 Minutos, Vol. 1
• Dave Newhouse – http://davenewhouse.bandcamp.com/album/natura-morta" rel="nofollow - Natura Morta
• Tom Penaguin – http://amarxe.bandcamp.com/album/tom-penaguin" rel="nofollow - Tom Penaguin
• Perfect – http://perfectohio.bandcamp.com/album/monkey-jockey-man-and-the-safari-tick-sugar" rel="nofollow - Monkey Jockey Man and the Safari Tick Sugar • El Pricto, Don Malfon & Vasco Trilla – http://discordianrecords.bandcamp.com/album/behenii-part-i" rel="nofollow - Behenii (Part 1)
• The Smile – http://thesmile.bandcamp.com/album/wall-of-eyes" rel="nofollow - Wall Of Eyes • Pat Smythe Quartet – http://britprogjazz.bandcamp.com/album/new-dawn-live-1973" rel="nofollow - New Dawn: Live 1973
• Tantric Bile – http://tantricbile.bandcamp.com/album/cursed-conception" rel="nofollow - Cursed Conception
• François Thollot – http://scherzoo.bandcamp.com/album/point-of-view-2" rel="nofollow - Point Of View