I Recommend...
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=19026
Printed Date: November 23 2024 at 10:23
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: I Recommend...
Posted By: avestin
Subject: I Recommend...
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 05:12
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I'd like to share some of the music I listen to and think deserves attention and appreciation of others, especially from PA members since I think it will appeal to them. I have just proposed two bands for addition to PA and I'd like to avert your attention to them if you do not know them yet and if you do then you're welcome to share your opinion. The first is Virgin Black from Australia. Avantgarde metal group, very experimental, but you might need some time getting accustomed to the singer's voice (I love it though). To date they have 1 EP Trance (1999) and 2 albums Sombre Romantic (2001) and Elegant...And Dying (2003). This is their website: http://listen.to/virginblack - http://listen.to/virginblack The second is a prog metal band from Austria named Dreams Of Sanity, who disbanded in July 2002. They released 3 albums: Komodia - 1997. simplistic sounding but the songs are very good, long and quite experimental. Two female vocalists give this album a very special feeling to it. album based on the Divine Comedy. Masquerade - 1999. Based on the Phantom Of The Opera. The Game - 2000. Another concept album.
A third band I'd like to suggest is not prog, but they are prog related IMHO. It is Neurosis - http://www.neurosis.com/ - http://www.neurosis.com/ They are from Oakland, California. They have a hardcore basis but they develpoed to much more than that. They started as Hardcore which can be heard on their first album - Pain Of Mind. WHat comes after this is much more complex, filled with rage and anger, power and more. Let me cite Brian Ross, founder of BNRMetal.com "they blend tortured vocals, tribal/rhythmic drumming, slow, dense riffing, and sampling effects to create bleak landscapes of sonic noise". They have released 9 albums and one EP. I recommend all of their albums starting from their third - Souls At Zero. For the lovers experimental, angry and tortured music. I would recommend this to people that like Tool, not because there is a similarity, but because people who love Tool can overcome the initial shock and/or repulsion people have when they listen to this (or to Tool). That is it for now. I'll think of others for next time. I welcome your responses ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Replies:
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 05:27
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You're welcome to add your "I Recommend"s here. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 06:33
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I recommend (even though they are already present here on PA), the greek progressive metal group Wastefall. Their two albums "Falling stars and rising scars", and "Soultrain 21" are both very good indeed. They blend aggressive vocals and soft vocals in a very interesting way. "Soultrain 21" is a concept album from an bus-accident in Italy where 21 young people lost their lives. Very emotional lyrics.
------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: martinprog77
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 06:34
I LOVE VIRGIN BLACK.AT FIRTS I REMENBER HATE SOMBRE ROMANTIC BUT AFTER A FEW TIMES LISTEN TO IT EVERYTHING STAR TO MAKE SENSE TO ME .NOW IS IN MY TOP 10 ALBUNS.IS REALLY UNIQUE AND BEAUTY MUSIC.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 06:40
Heard about them but not them, I'll try it, thanks. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
moonlitbay wrote:Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 06:59
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Komodia sounds exciting. Any idea where I can get some sound samples? ------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:07
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^^^ I'll look over... If I don't find it. I'll use yousendit.com to send you some songs from it. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:08
------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:09
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^^^ what do you mean? ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:16
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If I'm not totally blind, there are just album names. ------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:21
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I don't follow, do you mean members name? ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:33
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The first band is Virgin Black The third one is Neurosis The second is.... ------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:36
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I'll fix it right away And the band's name is - Dreams Of Sanity ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:38
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^^^ Sorry.....
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:43
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All right... I was starting to doubt myself. Started to have dreams of (in)sanity. ------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 07:49
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^^^
Although DOS disbanded their still exists even if out of date: http://www.the-gothicworld.de/dos/ - http://www.the-gothicworld.de/dos/ Don't seem to find any music smaples of them, so if you want, I can use yousendit.com to send a song of theirs. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 10:20
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Here's another recomm: Discus - Tot Licht http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=5878 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=5878 An Indonesian band in the RIO genre. Tot Licht is their second release from 2003. Crazy music that some compare to Mr. Bungle, however it is not a direct sound alike. Everyone in this band seems to be a lead vocalist and one of them is to my taste a bit annoying but the others inclusding the female vocals, are good. The songs are quite varied and change in mood, some very mellow, slow and relaxing, others wild heavy even slightly metalic in nature. I think it is a rewarding album. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 14:09
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One more: Azigza - Azigza http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=2483 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=2483 Not easily classifiable. Mixes several types of music genres - prog, rock, Arabic, etc and uses eastern instruments among others and violin, viola cello, harp, mandolin etc. The singer Cyoakha Grace has a beautiful voice. For some reason, it reminded me a bit of Led Zeppelin when they made some eastern sounding songs. Good album and worth a listen.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 15 2006 at 18:11
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How does yousendit.com work?
------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 16 2006 at 02:11
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I upload a file there and I give you the link to it and there you can download the file.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 16 2006 at 02:14
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I'm uploading a file now and when its done i'll give you the link. It is good for one week from the moment of uploading. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 16 2006 at 03:45
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If anyone wants it I can upload more songs to sample from the above mentioned artists. I'll get home from work tonight and post another recomm and upload another DOS song I think is very good as well as that already uploaded. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 16 2006 at 11:37
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The following is taken from http://www.theendrecords.com/label_new/ - http://www.theendrecords.com/label_new/ : The song entitled “Shortest Day,” from THE GATHERING’s forthcoming album Home, been made available for download at http://media.theendrecords.com/TheGathering_Home_Shortestday.mp3 - this location http://media.theendrecords.com/TheGathering_Home_Shortestday.mp3 - http://media.theendrecords.com/TheGathering_Home_Shortestday .mp3 Home, the Dutch rock act's 9th studio release, is due on April 18, 2006 via THE END RECORDS in North America. THE GATHERING – Home 10. Box
11. The Quiet One 12. Home 13. Forgotten Reprise Ever since their inception 15 years ago THE GATHERING have continued to evolve, never settling on one set style and rarely ever duplicating themselves. They have embraced change along the way and used it as a tool to feed their ongoing creative process. Like their previous groundbreaking releases — their classic "Mandylion" (1995), the electronic dabblings of "How to Measure a Planet?" (1998) or the trip-hop/atmospheric warmth of "Souvenirs" (2003) — their latest album "Home" finds the band heading back to a bit more of rock vibe, yet still maintaining the delicate nuances and passages that fans worldwide have grown to love. But the momentum here is not entirely based on emotional highs, as the band still manages to capture the dark spirit that most human beings have had to deal with from time to time. Variation has always been the key, case in point the diverse offering of such numbers as "In Between", "Shortest Day", "A Noise Severe" and the powerfully moving title track. THE GATHERING will make their debut at this year's South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas on March 16, 2006 at Lava Lounge. Also participating are fellow lablemates GREEN CARNATION, UNEXPECT and GIANT SQUID. The band will also venture out for a small U.S. tour as part of their Homelands world tour to promote their upcoming album. All dates with GIANT SQUID and UNEXPECT except where noted: Mar. 16 - The Lava Lounge - Austin, TX (SXSW / THE END RECORDS Showcase) Mar. 17 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA Mar. 19 - Jaxx - Springfield, VA Mar. 20 - The Middle East - Boston, MA Mar. 21 - The Knitting Factory - New York, NY Mar. 23 - The Big Bop - Toronto, Ontario, Canada Mar. 24 - Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, Quebec, Canada ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 16 2006 at 11:40
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I wanted to recommend Sleepytime Gorilla Museum and then I found this news piece about them so here it is instead (again from The End Records): THE END RECORDS is proud to announce the signing of San Francisco act SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM.
The band – who have already released two studio albums (2001’s Grand Opening and Closing and 2004’s Of Natural History), one live album (2003’s Live) and a DVD in 2005 - are currently working on new material and plan to release a new album on the label in the near future. BIO THE END? The Sleepytime Gorilla Museum opened its doors to the public in 1916, only to show them a well-managed fire. Its doors were closed shortly thereafter and remained so for the rest of the century. Almost. The last year of the 20th century found the improbable trio of words once again adorning a placard posted outside a derelict urban building, with the addendum- "No Humans Allowed." Indeed, the awkward re-inaugural movements were witnessed by a lone banana slug (Ariolimax dolichophallus) -- a suitable beginning for a group that would soon shelter Oakland California's hindmost interpreters of Anti-Humanist literature. Their incessant travels since 2001 have brought new life to the Movement. Like their namesake and its instigators (Futurist Lala Rolo and Black-Mathematician John Kane) the new museum embraces the essential weakness of the Movement. But also like their predecessors they reject the elitism of the avant-garde in favor of a reckless populism: They are entertainers. Though not without humor, their often wide-ranging musical and theatrical choices are rarely ironic. This sincerity extends to a passionate craftsmanship, as evidenced by: 1. The LIVE SHOW, a costumed festival of hyperventilating self-derangement, which has yet to include much of a puppet show, but has included human performers of varying stiffness (see Ink Boat). 2. The ALBUMS - Grand Opening and Closing (2001 Seeland/Chaosophy), a collection of boisterous laments for the failure of the millennial apocalypse; Live (2003 Sickroom), a collage of mishaps and singularities from various stages; and Of Natural History (2004 Mimicry), a setting, in part, of a debate between two contradictory pillars of 20th C. Anti-Humanism: The Futurists versus the Unabomber. 3. The INSTRUMENTS, many of which are homemade creations of bassist/producer/mechanic Dan Rathbun: The Slide-piano Log, the Percussion Guitar, the Electric Pancreas, the Vatican, & the Pedal-action Wiggler; or rare: Autoharp, Glockenspiel, Toy Piano, & Viking Rowboat. 4. The ROAD approached as (A) a place of potential learning: the bloody history of our doomed nation, its warm and varied current inhabitants- our hosts and their regional splendors, and (B) a scar which conducts us in our lumbering Green Bus into the temples of Nature: Forests, swamps, deserts, mountains, and coasts, with national parks and rest stops alike as places of reverence and study, sources of sound and vision, many of which appear on Of Natural History. 5. The FOOD, prepared on the bus kitchen in large pots, in quantities befitting a seven+ person crew, mixing local ingredients with reliable spices, beans, and the "other black meat"- coffee. The Museum are unified in these various crafts by the simplicity of their opposition to rock music. In the words of John Kane, "Nothing should be left undone which might contribute to its demise." To this end they employ a most tried and proven destructive force: rock. ROCK AGAINST ROCK. In this they were preceded by Oakland bands Idiot Flesh and Charming Hostess, which brought together Museum members Dan Rathbun, Carla Kihlstedt (violin+), and Nils Frykdahl (guitar+). SGM's initial writings and first shows were with drummer David Shamrock. Drummer Frank Grau, who co-released the first album and managed the band until recently, instigated touring in 2001. Industrial percussion-tornado Moe! Staiano brought his visceral spontaneity from the inception until late 2004. New life has arrived with drummer/orator Matthias Bossi, who took the throne on New Year's 2004, and blossomed like a menacing jungle flower. Finally, with the Of Natural History tour of fall 2004, Michael Mellender, player of percussion and ALL THINGS, rounded out the Museum with his singular brand of hyper-kinetic instrumental dysfunction. The group writing process is at a new level of collaboration and the next album's songs are well underway. More U.S. touring is imminent. A European tour hovers. The stalwart Museum crew-- Neil Yamagata (sound/photography/field recording) and Allen Willner (lights/delicious stews) -- are ready for the road. 2005 saw the release of The Face, A DVD collaboration with Shinichi Momo Koga, The Last Human Being. A single 45 on Moe!'s label (Dephine Knormal) featuring SGM, Cheer-Accident, The Ex and Voodoo Muzak was also released. In January of 2006, amidst a clutter of cheesecake and frozen champagne, SGM singed the eyebrows of Andreas Katsambas. Who threatened them with a record deal? And assured the Museum that his label has been and would continue to be called The End Records? The very same Andreas Katsambas. With his pen and on his paper, on January 3rd, the Museum, as a formal entity, signed with this eminently appropriate label whose commitment to the forthcoming apocalypse is without question. Ambugaton. The list of SGM-related projects reads like a who's who of SGM-related projects: Carla: Tin Hat Trio, Two-Foot Yard, Book of Knots, InkBoat dance theater company Nils: Faun Fables, InkBoat Matthias: Book of Knots, Skeleton Key, Vic Thrill Michael: Immersion Composition Society, Japonize Elephants Dan: InkBoat, Producing SGM and countless others Moe!: Moe!kestra (massive conducted ensembles), Vacuum Tree Head Frank: Species Being David: Thin Pillow, Thinking Plague  Official website: http://www.sleepytimegorillamuseum.com/ - http://www.sleepytimegorillamuseum.com/Myspace.com - http://www.sleepytimegorillamuseum.com/ Myspace.com: http://www.myspace.com/sleepytimegorillamuseum - http://www.myspace.com/sleepytimegorillamuseum ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 16 2006 at 11:46
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Now I'd like to recomm a band which has captivated my attention last year - Agalloch. They are a metal band that is progressive, folkish in nature with dark and gloomy atmosphere, beatuful electric and acoustic guitar riffs. You are warned that the vocalist's voice is a barrier to non-metal people (which I am not, so I has no problem with it). They have 2 albums and one EP. Their latest, The Mantle, is perhapse the saddest and most tender and calm. Link to their page here on PA - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=1933 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=1933 I have added this piece of news from The End records regarding their next release: Agalloch guitarist/vocalist John Haughm gives an update on their forthcoming album
 “The recording process for “Ashes Against The Grain” was completed this past weekend. The album is currently being mixed and will hopefully be ready for mastering in a couple weeks. A studio gallery will be posted online shortly.”
Check out AGALLOCH @ Myspace.com: www.myspace.com/agalloch ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: moonlitbay
Date Posted: February 16 2006 at 12:27
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Thanks! I'll give them a listen and tell you what I think! ------------- A reunion.......it will never happen in my lifetime!! |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 17 2006 at 03:54
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Now, turning to a French band called Nil (as in Nile). Thay are listed here under symphonic prog, and they sometimes remind me of White Wiloow. They have a female vocalist who sings in french. I have their 2 latest albums: Quarante Jours Sur Le Sinaď - 2003 (Forty days on the Sinai) Both excellent but different in nature bit not in sound. Sinai is a long interconnected piece of music (concept album) with an elaborate booklet describing a story (in French and English) of a tale in ancient Egypt. The music moves between dark, slow and beatiful moves to more dynamic tunes and its never boring (to me). Novo is made up of 6 pieces of music. It is this one that has music that remind me a bit of White Willow. The singer here does a superb job IMHO. http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=446 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=446 http://nilweb.free.fr/Nil.html - http://nilweb.free.fr/Nil.html - you can hear their music on their site. They have two more earlier albums, which I have not heard so far. this is them:
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 17 2006 at 04:34
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I just put on an album which I have not heard for a long time and it made me want to post it here even though I'm sure people here know it. I'm talking about MEZQUITA - Recuerdos de mi Tierra Beatiful symph prog with Flamenco guitar and synth which brings in some Spanish folk spirit to the music. So you have an eclectic album with influences from various prog scenes (Engalnd, Italy and Spain). http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=457 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=457
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 17 2006 at 16:03
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Now for albums that don't invent anything new but they are still worth listening to. http://www.moonsafari.se/ - http://www.moonsafari.se/
The second album I wish to introduce although many of you may already know it is The Allegory of Light by Syzygy (named after one of the collaborators of PA http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=714 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=714 You'll hear many familiar old prog favorites traces here (I'll let you figure them out yourselves). There are mostly instrumentals here and some songs (If I am not mistaken - 3). What I like in this album is that there are within the same song light and dark atmospheres and the changes between them are done in a good way that does not make feel it is forced. There is excellent guitar work and keyboard playing in here, you'll hear the musicians here know their instruments' abilities and try to make most of them. There are bombastic tracks like the opener (M.O.T.H - Master Of The House) and the last one The journey of Myrrdin (17:29 mins). And there is also slower quieter tracks like Forbidden. I know some people say this album is not original at all and don't like it for that reason. I differ on that matter. First of all I don't mind too much rehashing the same thing, although it can get a bit too much (i.e. - Citizen Cain). Second, I don't really hear where exactly the cloning has been done, though I hear influences and certain borrowed bits. Either way, I enjoy listening to this album and I recommend it to people who love ELP, KC, Yes (eclectic isn't it?) and Prog at large. http://www.syzygymusic.com/ - http://www.syzygymusic.com/
Enjoy ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 18 2006 at 23:37
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On my way to work this morning I put in the cd player yhe first thing that popped out of the cd case. It was Agnus - Pinturas y Expresiones . A very good Argentinian symph-prog album and as far as I know their only one. There is a heavy use of synth and flute here. There are beautifil female vocals (and male as well). Some people say they remind them of Italian bands. It is perhapse not the most original, but it is a very good adition to any proggers collection.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 00:34
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I don't want this thread to become my personal thread, This is not what I had in mind. I stated in the beginning that I mean for everyone who wants to recommend something to add their post here. If there is an album you know of and love and you feel is neglected or unknown then talk about it here - a simle reference to its web page on PA would do. If there is an album you are really impressed with, le it be known or unknown, speak up about it and bring it forth. Have a good day. everyone ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 02:08
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Now, to something different than the previous musical recomms above. I know I have oushed them before in other threads, but I seem not to get any response (except from Jimbo) so I'll do it again. The band is Hidria Spacefolk from Finland (what a great country, so much good music, not only in the prog genre). Instrumental space and electronic prog combined. Yes they are reminiscent of Ozric Tentacles, but you know what, I love them more... http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=1208 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=1208 You can download their first EP entirely on their website: http://www.hidriaspacefolk.st/ - http://www.hidriaspacefolk.st/ Go get it! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: February 19 2006 at 08:25
Uzva - Niittoaika One of the best bands from Finland these days, Uzva's instrumental folk-jazz-prog sounds very refreshing. Their style is somewhat reminiscent of bands like Tasavallan Presidentti, Mike Oldfield, Soft Machine and many others, but their sound is still pretty much their own. A wide base of instruments (violin, flute, clarinet, piano, acoustic guitar, marimba, vibraphone, cello etc), very beautiful and warm sounding music, recommended! You can listen to a track from both of their albums: http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=1309 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=1309 ------------- 
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 15:00
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Thanks Jimbo for the recomm, I'll listen to them (its amazing how much good music comes from Finland, and not just prog). I have just heard three albums and I thought I'd share them. the first two are from the same band: Triana - Triana (El Patio), Hijos Del Agobio As erik calls it - Prog Andaluz. Flamenco oriented Spanish prog. These are their first two releases. A cornerstone in this genre, even pioneers. The third album is from the Finnish group Alamaailman Vasarat. BTW, Jimbo what does their name mean? ANyway the album is Käärmelautakunta but their first one Vasaraasia is also recommended. Belonging in the RIO/avantgarde group, this band makes quite odd music, which I find excellent and easy to get into. Instrumental band, they have these sudden changes in tempos and sometimes play slowly or really fast. They play on various instruments. Here is their lineup so you can see those instruments. The saxes are a really good addition to the sound: Line-up Enjoy.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Moatilliatta
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 15:10
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Neurosis is pretty cool...I like The Eye of Every Storm and Through Silver in Blood. I was never heavily into them; I enjoy related bands like Isis and Cult of Luna more. I just bought Triana's El Patio, but I haven't listened to it yet. ------------- www.last.fm/user/ThisCenotaph  
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Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 20:54
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Suggest you give a listen to a band called Variant. Nice original stuff. They have a CD called Beyond Jargon. You can hear the first couple of minutes of each song at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/variant - www.cdbaby.com/cd/variant
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 20 2006 at 23:48
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to Moatilliatta - I also love the Isis and Cult of luna. Regarding Neurosis, may I suggest the album - Souls At Zero, their third releaese. their first album which really shows their current tendencies and abilities. to lesovation, thanks for the tip, I'll listen to them. To all, if anyone wants to listen to a sample song or two from each of the albums mentioned above (or other) PM me and I'll send it throguh yousendit.com ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: February 21 2006 at 04:22
Hammers Of The Underworld  -------------
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 21 2006 at 05:07
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Cool name, although I would never have guessed it, I was in the wrong direction. I thought of something more delicate than that Although it fits their music... ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 21 2006 at 10:53
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http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=1688 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=1688 Enjoy ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
. The lyrics are in Latin, and the booklet contains translation to Italian and English. BTW, the booklet is well designed and there are beautiful drawings in it. I think this is an excellent album and the reviews on their PA webpage are more than flattering.Posted By: Rorro
Date Posted: February 21 2006 at 13:06
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I Listened to a song from cinque and it really impressed me, and it became my next goal to buy that album. The only song i've listened seems to be more like fusion, but it's clear that it has symphonic influences. It was really dinamic and unpredictible, i loved it
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 21 2006 at 13:21
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It is indeed a remarkable album. Which song was that? If you want I can send you another song from the album.
In the next recomm I'll make tomorrow I'll mention more artists in the same and near ballpark. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 12:54
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I have noticed some mis-genre-izations in the site lately. One of them is the following band I want to recommend. It is the French NeBeLNeST and the album is NoVa eXPReSS It is listed under symphonic prog, which is misleading. This is more of a RIO band and this album was released through Cuneiform, which can tell you a bit about their general style. This is an instrumental album, dynamic with many time sig changes. They sometomes give the impression the music you hear is improvisation and at other instances you realize what talent they have to play this kind of music and that everything is well planed. Each piece is evolving and does not linger too much in place. They are definitely talented musicians. This album needs to be listened to (like most prog records) with complete concentration to fully enjoy their musical talents and the complexity of the music. This album is not for everyone, and people who search for melody and a variety of instruments won't find it here. I think people who love Univers Zero, Shylock and Present will love this. This is intended for people who want to journey far away while listening to the music, but you must be aptient in order to get into this. There are smaples on their website: http://www.nebelnest.com/flash_index.htm - http://www.nebelnest.com/flash_index.htm Their PA page: http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=259 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=259 Enjoy ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 20:39
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Suggest you check out a new band called Variant. They have a CD out called Beyond Jargon. You can hear samples at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/variant - www.cdbaby.com/cd/variant
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 23 2006 at 13:46
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I'll be brief this time. The album this is from the Italian band METAMORFOSI, Inferno. By the title of the album you can guess what it is based on. What a great album, each time I hear it I'm excited all over again. The music delivers a sense of dramatic events and the whole sound of the album (old due to production) just anhances the feelings brought up by the music. It is perhapse not as complex as pther bands, but it is very good symph prog. I love Davide's vocals, he does a great work. The keyboards here are very much responsible for the mood of the album. A must have IMHO. What is great and frustrating at the same about Italy's prog is its abundance, there are so many bands and many unknowns. I suggest you go over the list of bands by country and just see for yourselves (that is how I discovered many bands (that, and also Andre Cortese and ANDREW's recommendations). ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 04:57
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Now for something modern. I'd like to recommend the band SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE. They have released one EP - Temporary Psychotic State, and one LP - Suspended Animation Dreams. It is a bit difficult to describe this. The musicians incorporate music from several genres, like symph prog, folk, metal etc. It is eclectic, but it is done in a very good and professional way, that makes you feel like it is very natural to combine all these different elements. There are clean vocals and some death growls (which I love, so no problem there). You have violins in there and saxes and the whole gemischt, well look for yourselves: Line-up Anyway, do you spot the name Tomer Pink there? Well this Israeli guy along with another Israeli metal man, Yishai Scwartz who is a member of several Israeli metal acts, have together written the lyrics for the EP songs. These are really incrdible songs (sure, some will say the influences are noticeable and even more tham that, OK, so what, you compose like that then, and then we'll talk). I usually don;t buy EP's but this one was really worth it. The lyrics are good and the music as I said, very good. The vocalists is Paul Kuhr, the great November's Doom vocalist. Even a friend from Orphaned land is here - the vocalist Kobi Farchi. It is really a great collection of musicians gathered here and you'll hear it. The music shifts from relaxed Piano or acoustic guitar driven with soft vocals to angry riffs and vocals/growls. and I find the shifts natural and it adds to the songs impact. The third song (No place...) has an eastern feel to it added by Kobi's and Yishai's vocals and the mandolin. Plus you have a nice female voice. Seriously, go and get it, I think people into prog metal (of any kind) will surely like it. People who love fusion as well. For the rest, try it, why not open up a bit? The artwork in both releases is beatiful and adds to the albums, I love the drawings in the LP (Travis Smith). Damn it I did a mess in this recomm, it has no order at all, but I won't rearrange it now, I reckon you'll manage. Their website: http://www.submasq.com/ - http://www.submasq.com/
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 17:30
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Let me offer you something different than the previous band. I'll make it short without too much descriptions like the previous messy one... SINKADUS - they are from Sweden. They play symph prog, not too dissimilar from old symph proggers, but they add their touches and personal tones. The album to which I refer is Aurum Nostrum. This is the lineup of this release: Line-up Their sound is made up of several elements. You have the flute relaxed element (Camel), the guitar dynamic element (KC, Anglagard) and the synth extravagant element (ELP). And they intertwine it all very well. for those intimidated by foreign lyrics, they are sung in Swedish. Overall, a very good album and performed very well. I can't see why any symph prog progger would not love this album, unless she/he really can't bare something modern that is influenced/copies old stuff. Their website: http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-18973/sinkadus/ - http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-18973/sinkadus/ Enjoy and a good weekend to all the PA community. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 18:08
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While we're on the subject...here's another realtively unknown prog group in the symph prog vein. They are KVAZAR from Norway and the album is A Giant's Lullaby , theur second release from 2005. It is quite a good album, I am still getting to know it gradually. As in the previous band, here too you'll hear resemblances to others (come to think of it, you rarely do not hear them). A melancholic music, fitting for ponderous, sad moods, at night when you're all alone.... But I digress... The keyboards here give the music a special touch, which I can't quite explain, so you'll have to listen to it. It has a spacey quality to it if that even makes sense. Teh keys mixed with the vocals flute and sax really give this an unearthly sound. The music is beatiful and full of emotions, with nice vocals, flutes and acoustuc guitars. It is a nice and good listen, although I sometimes feel they do not fully fulfill their potential. Maybe in the next releases we'll hear an improvement or a slight shift in direction. I know I've said but it doesn't hurt to say it again: Enjoy and a good weekend to all the PA community. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 25 2006 at 05:41
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Not a recommendation, just a short post. On Saturday mornings I somtimes love to make myself a small playlist of somehow related bands, music etc. So this Saturday (again) choe to make it an Italian morning (did it already some time ago). The playlist includes:
That's it. Overdose... ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 10:28
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Before I leave work back home, I thought I'd sneak in here and give a short recommendation. First is the album which you probably know already very well - In Extremis by THINKING PLAGUE. A true avantgarde music release, quite eclectic and crzy mix of styles and very good musicianship. The music can be quite odd to the uninitiated as there are atonlaities here and similarly contradicting parallel bits of music, which I think, is what gives it such a great sound and advantage over other bands that don't dare go in there and do wild things that "normal" bands would not do. It is as if there were several musicians playing together but each to his own. And it actually goes together very well. I'm not a professional musician (though I have learned to play keyboards and have had theoretical music lessons), so I'm not in a spot to judge this professionally and to explain in detail what are the (modern) influences on them and in what time sigs do they play etc. The singer Deborah Perry also contributes her share by singing in a disonant manner, as though she ignores the music, but actually she keeps a tight relation with it. Really a remarkable album. That been said, I don't think someone who has never heard them should start here, but then again I'm not sure where to start, and if not here where? http://cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/thinking.html - http://cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/thinking.html The other two albums I want to recommend are from the same band and aren't really prog, more proggy. They are The Tain and Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony by HORSLIPS. They are a an Irish band and this is, how surprising, celtic music. I have these two albums and I find them very good and relaxing, and I recommend them to folk and celtic music loving people. Others may find it boring or just plain nice but not more. http://www.horslipsrecords.com/ - http://www.horslipsrecords.com/
That's it for today, Have a good day / night
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 12:01
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This one is not a recommendation but a sort of a poll. I an going to buy some albums next week and I can only afford 4 out of six albums I planned to buy (gotta pay the rent, unfortunately). So, out of these next 6 albums, which 4 would you choose? bare in mind I know and love all of them, so its not a matter of buying something unknown for me. So for me its like a contest, but I don;t promise I'll honour the results
you can disregard the prices. Remember choose 4 of these fine 6 albums. Let me start by saying I tend to choose 1, 2, 3 for sure and I hesitate between 4 and 6. The albums that loose will be bought next time... BTW - I recommend each and everyone of these releases. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 13:01
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So no opinions? I was under the impression that everyone here had strong beliefs and was well opinionated, plus these albums are commonly referred to and are hardly unknown. I'll add the links to each album's PA page this time. 4 out of 6:
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 14:46
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OK, I get the picture, nobody gives a damn. I guess I'll have to buy all 6 and risk being thrown out of my apartment because my bank will not respect my cheque for the landlord. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 07:31
Sorry, can't help you with that one, haven't heard any of those albums... But keep the recommendations coming, it's been interesting to read this thread.. -------------
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 08:50
 dont you two have jobs or at least a life
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 09:00
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Thanks Jimbo, I'll keep as long as I still have even one Proggre who reads this. I'm looking for Uzva as you recommended. Oh and to ginnyman I have a job (even one and a half of them, one full and one part time) and they're very not well paid, so I let out my frustrations through this site whenever I can Anyway, next recomm, tonight after work. Oh, sh*t here comes my head of lab, bye... ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 13:29
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I want to focus tonight (today) on a daughter band / solo project / side project. The band is KARMAKANIC and their two albums Entering the Spectra & Wheel of Life . This is pretty much a side project of the Flower kings, having there Jonas Reingold the bass player, Zoltan Csorsz the drummer and contributions by Roine stolt and Hasse Bruniusson. The first release Spectra is more similar in style and spirit to the flower kings. They put some more heaviness to the music, however, and the music is less symph-prog in nature than that of TFK. There are some songs variating away from TFK like The Spirit Remains the Same and Cyberdust From Mars. It a good album , although not essential, as we say in PA. Maybe it'll change, but for now this album is not enough determined on its identity. It is like they were trying several styles of songs to see what would be better and then decide which direction the band would go. Either that, or they were just having fun. That is not to say the songs aren't good, but the album as a whole is not as good as the songs that make it (no synergistic effect I prefer their second release Wheel of Life, First of all here too there is this sense of trying out different types of songs to come up with the best style, but to a lesser extent than the debut. Jonas Reingold and Zoltan Csorsz propel the rhythm here. Here you have some groovy and jazzy songs like Alex In Paradise & At The Speed Of Light and Wheel Of Life. The opening song Masterplan Pt. 1 is very good, epic track, maybe similar to TFK but differs in heaviness and vocals (Göran Edman). Do U Tango is a good slightly experimental track, weird and great, it is the track I rememberred after first hearing this album. Anyway, I'm tired so I won't elaborate on, but I think that anyone who wants to listen to them should focus, or at least start with Wheel of Life. A more rewarding album. Goodnight (gooday) to the PA community, wherever you may be. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Gary the Ghoul
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 14:41
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I reccomend the following artists: Black Sabbath,Bob Dylan,Simon & Garfunkel,The Doors,The Clash,Conflict,Blitz,The Velvet underground,the beatles,the beach boys,the rolling stones,the ramones,the sex psitols,anathema,bob marley,dimmu borgir,led zeppelin,dire straits,miles davis,muddy waters,the smiths,van morrison,lou reed,the grateful dead,the who,the kinks,jimi hendrix,sytem of a down,temple of the dog,deep purple,uriah heep,cozy powell,kiss,the mad hatters,the ghouls,the revels,the shadows,elvis costello,the tornadoes,the troggs,jeff beck,queen,metallica,free,gary moore,george thorogood,fleetwood mac,the monkees,helloween,the white stripes,steve harley & the cockney rebel and others,i just can't remember them all |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 28 2006 at 13:33
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Tonight/today I'd like to recommend an Italian band which has released its first s/t album in 1995. The band is FINISTERRE. The two albums to which I will refer are In Limine & In Ogni Luogo. As always this is gonna be messy and unorganized so my apologies in advance. This is basically a symph-prog band with some fusion and jazz tendencies and also some experimental character to it (as can be witnessed throughout their songs, as they like to incorporate strange soundscpaes in them or just plain experimental songs like Preludio and Ideenkleid Leibnitz Frei in In Limine and Snáporaz in In Ogni Luogo). I used the word songs but it is mostly instrumentals and some songs sung in English (i.e. XXV - In Limine) and some in Italian (i.e. Hispanica, Orrizionte Degli Eventi - In Limine). The music is filled with jazz influences and also some quirky musical moments, all backed up by the symphonic backbone. There is a dominant flute which performs beatiful tunes and an acoustic guitar to add to the folkish mood and guitars that back the whole music altogether. They also have rock melodies driven by guitars like Tempi Moderni in In Ogni Luogo. There is a beatuful songs in In Limine, XXV in which the singer almost whispers in English along side the ,ellow quiet music, a simple and beatiful tune. This is after the beautiful flute lead first songs that has the usual symph base with a jazz/fusion bit inserted inside it in which the band members are free to jam a bit. The third track is suitable to enter an experimental rock album, very hazy and unstructured. I'll stop describing the album cause I think you get the picture. My impression is that In Limine is more jazz oriented and more of a mellow mood album (i.e. In Limine, Ideenkleid Leibnitz Frei) and In Ogni Luogo has a more rocky nature and an album to get you more involved and energetic (i.e. Tempi Moderni, Ninive, Coro Elettrico, Agli Amici Sinestetici and Peter's House). I think In Limine is the place to start with Finisterre. The following is a link to a short bio of the band from Mellow records for anyone interested: http://www.mellowrecords.com/finis-en.html - http://www.mellowrecords.com/finis-en.html A good day / night to all PA community Assaf ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 01 2006 at 23:41
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I did not recommend anything yesterday, even though I have many albums I want to bring to the attention of forum members here, because some threads and member's behaviour here in the past few days simply pissed me off. Anyway, lets put aside for the moment my disgust and not punish good music becuase of idiots. So the band Is AMAGRAMA and they have as of yet only 1 LP release called Ciclotima (actually it is Ciclotimia, there's a mistake in the name here). It is an Argentinian band that play a sympgonic style of prog, mostly instrumental but with some songs sung in Spanish (I find that the vocalist is quite average but alright, although I guess some people might not like it, a slightly high voice, a bit nasal in nature). The music is very much a combination of lectric guitar and keyboards intertwined and apart, each getting their appropriate exposure time and brough forth in the right time, playing beautiful music, which can be quite complex, many time changes done in a good way. There are some dynamic songs in which the instruments are constantly looking for development of the sounds created (hope it is understandable), the msuci just goes on forward, keeps the basic tune and adding to it or changing it a bit, but it is not improvisation. Two songs I think are very good here are two instrumentals are Ciclotimia and Fabulas de un titere and they are also the longest on the album (apparently http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=11 - Marcelo thinks the same as stated in his review). As other reviewers noted there is influences of Crucis in their music, and even a Crucis song cover - Recluso Artista. I think that it is a very good first album by a young band (and I mean the members are young) and I believe we can expect great things from them in the future.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 04 2006 at 14:11
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For some reason it slipped my mind to mention two (of the many) favorite bands of mine. I'll start with the band I discovered earlier and the second one I'll keep for next time. The band is WHITE WILLOW. To date they have released 4 albums and they have enetered to the studio to record their fifth on 3/3/06. They are from Norway, and they play this melange of folk, symphonic and lately more hard edged prog rock. Their first album Ignis Fatuus released in 1995 is actually a collection of songs recorded between the end of 1992 and September 1994, recorded by several musicians involved in the band. White Willow is undoubdebtly lead by Jacob C. Holm Lupo who writes most music and lyrics and plays acoustic, electric and bass guitars and keyboards and does some vocals. He is responsible for the many lineup changes in this band. On Ignis this band reveals itself mostly as a folk rock band which creates mellow, slow music with much acoustic guitars, synths and some flutes and violins. Sara Trondal is the main vocalist backed by Eldrid Johansen. Her voice is beatiful while his is more suitable as a background not the main as is the case in "THe Withering Of The Boughts." The songs are all based around a main theme woth diversions from it or additional motifs added to it or there is shifts in the diredction of the music as can be expected from a prog song. But there is no jamming, no pointless playing around, they come and develop their ideas and pass on what they want to portray in this song. Memorable tracks from this release are "Snowfall", "The Withering Of The Boughts", "Now In These Fairy Lands", "Cryptomenysis" and "John Dee's Lament". Cryptomenysis is the best track and most proggy here. An instrumental which starts very low with an organ sound opening and then the rest join them with the guitar leading the way for the rest of the song. This is a very relaxed and melodic album, very good to sit and relax with in winter nights. So you guessed these two are memorable tracks, But so is the two last tracks "Gnostalgia" and "The Reach". Gnostalgia is very relaxed and shows Sylvia performing a beatiful part on her behalf. THe reach starts with the nursery rhyme (ring around the rosies) and develops to a quite heavy prog song. In this album you can hear the start of the sound found in their following release - A heavier sound of guitars and more focused songs based around an idea that either develops and is added more layers to it. All in al,l it may not be the most original of bands they are not too complex music wise, but they do deliver beatiful music with much emotion and they play it very well. BTW Jimbo, I know you don't like this band too much. I'm not saying they are geniuses but they do make very good music. As I said above, they are currently recording their fifth album. Sylvia is no longer with them if memory serves me right. Anyway, I think it is a band worth checking out, and if folk music does not atract you, then I suggest to listen at least to Sacrament and maybe even to Storm Season. Goodnight / Good day to all PA community. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 05 2006 at 01:51
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Just a quick note. I just noticed that PAN.THY.MONIUM are on PA (recent addition). If you don't like death metal, then skip this. I'll post my second promised recomm' later (as I said in the previous post and it won't be a metal recomm so you can relax This is another Dan Swano project (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE and other bands as well). Death metal essentially but with an avantgarde and jazz twists to it. very weird sound, death metal that doesn't stay on a steady line for long, always going in new directions and the occasional saxophone make it even better. The vocals are very gruesome, deep growls, excellent for these ears, but obviously not for the faint of heart. I only have Khaooohs & Kon-Fus-ion . For the completely out of mainstream and sane music listeners. OK, back to work now... ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: March 05 2006 at 10:39
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Suggest you check out Variant - Beyond Jargon...new prog band...nice stuff... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/variant - www.cdbaby.com/cd/variant
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 05 2006 at 11:03
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lesovation, we got the point, you already posted this twice here. Anyway, while I'm here let me refer you to some good recommendations made by collaborators here who mainly focus on the uncommon, not main stream and unknown prog groups from all genres and countries. Listen to their ecommendations/reviews. some of them specialize or focus on one or two genres in particular. It is thanks to their reviews that I started to discover many bands and albums. Many of their reviews made me look those bands up and listen to them, and I usually am not disappointed: http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_COLLABORATORS.asp - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_COLLABORATORS.a sp http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=44 - danbo http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=27 - Useful_Idiot http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=41 - Certif1ed http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=38 - ivan_2068 http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20 - Sean Trane http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=33 - Hibou http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=43 - Cesar Inca http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=78 - WiguJimbo http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=97 - MikeEnRegalia http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=100 - TheProgtologist http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=91 - BaldJean http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=110 - BaldFriede http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=6 - erik neuteboom http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=73 - Syzygy http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=66 - Fishy http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=75 - Trotsky http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=101 - Starette http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=95 - salmacis http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=108 - Andrea Cortese I apologize if I forgot anyone (probably did). I know it may seen like a lot of work, but finding good music is worth the effort. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 06 2006 at 00:23
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To continue the reference to others, here is a list of threads that recommend bands and albums from different prog scenes (Spain, France, Scandinavia etc.): http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19836&FID=42 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19836& amp; amp; amp; amp;FID=42 - French http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17840&PN=1 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17840& amp; amp; amp; amp;PN=1 - Spanish http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7256&PN=3 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7256&a mp;a mp;a mp;a mp;PN=3 - Belgium (RIO/Avantgarde) http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19821&PN=1 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19821& amp; amp; amp; amp;PN=1 - Scandinavia http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18860&PN=2 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18860& amp; amp; amp; amp;PN=2 - Prog Videos on the net http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19749&FID=3 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19749& amp; amp; amp;FID=3 - German Folk Prog http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20015&PN=1 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20015& amp; amp;PN=1 - Russian prog http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20019&PN=2 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20019& amp; amp;PN=2 - Hungarian prog http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19927&PN=1 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19927& amp; amp;PN=1 - Japanese prog http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19985&KW=US - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19985& amp; amp;KW=US + US prog http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20104&KW=italian - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20104& amp; amp;KW=italian http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18490&KW=italian - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18490& amp; amp;KW=italian http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17371&KW=italian - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17371& amp; amp;KW=italian http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17066&KW=italian - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17066& amp; amp;KW=italian Thanks for these thread starters, for letting us know of lesser and unknown bands!
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 06 2006 at 01:06
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A short post. I heard yesterday an album I ordered a while ago by ENSEMBLE NIMBUS from Sweden. The album I have is Garmonbozia. It is a band in the veins of RIO and some fusion sound in it. This is a quartet featuing: - Hĺkan Almkvist / guitar, bass, keyboard, tapes, loops, FX, voice It is an instrumental album, somewhat similar to Etron Fou and Samla. The opening track Three Stories From The Blue Cage and Ducks In Paradise are very good and show the bands capabilities. However, I would have arranged the tracks in a different order in order to make this album more impressive or maybe to make a greater impact at the end of the record. The band has released two other studio albums, Key Figures & Scapegoat and a live cd Ensemble Nimbus Live . http://www.tap-records.com/ - http://www.tap-records.com/
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Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: March 07 2006 at 16:53
It's not that they were that bad, I actually found them relatively enjoyable, but I always had this "deja vu" feeling when I listened to Storm Season (probably due to over-exposure of such music), and I thought it didn't really bring anything new to the genre. I should probably re-listen to it some day, it's been over a year since I last heard it. -------------
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 08 2006 at 00:03
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Hi Tony, Nice to see/read you again. You have a point. I think that Sacrament is their best and it is there that they try the most to explore new domains (Anamnesis, The Reach). Storm maybe sounds better and is produced in a tighter way but it is less ground breaking. However, it is still a very good album by itself and even in the WW standards (Chemical Sunset, Nightside...). To a different matter. I've been listening to Hinterland for the last few days extensively, they have close ties to White Willow (Jacob is one of the producers and they share the same keyboardist). I was at first blinded by them but now I can find some weak points to it and I have some criticism which I will post here later. Good day / night to the PA community ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Young
Date Posted: March 08 2006 at 07:30
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Hi, nice thread. I would suggest a good and interesting metal Avantgarde band - In The Woods. You probably know it. But I have no time now so I'll do it later, or you could do it Avestin |
Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: March 08 2006 at 21:41
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Opps...sorry. My bad, Avestin. I'll try to pay more attention! You do have a good thread going, by the way. I shall now attempt to redeem myself in some small part...(emphasis on the "small".) Some bands you are probably already aware on the more metal side of things... Canvus Solaris - They have three CDs out, most recently - Penumbra Diffuse (kind of Jazz Metal, a heaviier from of Gordian Knot, if you will.) Solefald - Extremely Avante-garde metal, occasional sax, layered vocals, they have four CDs out, each one very different from the others. Ephel Duath - Three out, Painter's Pallette is the one most familiar to me. They are out there a ways, kind of Acid Jazz meets Black Metal. Odd, unpredicable time changes. Very unique stuff. Farmakon - Opeth soaked in jazz (?) kind of thing. Those into metal are probably already aware of those bands, but you never know. My tastes are pretty varied. On the more straight up prog rock side of things, a few more you proabably know... Cairo - At lease 3 or 4 CDs, kind of ELP-ish in a way. Three man band, heavy keys. Under The Sun - Thier self titled CD is the only on I'm aware of. Good stuff, kind of different. Or to travel way out there... Maudlin of the Well - Who has recently changed their name to Kayo Dot - They have at least 3 or 4 CDs out there. All are very Avante-Garde, experimental works. Excellent musicianship, but highly unpredictable and all over the place. Hope one or two of those might be useful to someone out there.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 08 2006 at 23:17
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Hi, Lesovation Good recommendations there. I forgot about Farmakon, very good stuff. No time to post a recomm right now (man whyis there always work to do at your workplace? Good day / night to all PA community ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Young
Date Posted: March 09 2006 at 04:40
Of the metal ones you mentioned I know Ephel, Farmakonand Solefald, all of which I find to be great bands. I am not familiar with Canvus Solaris, but knowing Gordian Knot, this can't be bad. When did Cairo and Under the sun operate or are they still active? Maudlin and Kayo dot are splendid!
Hey, Avestin, Wake Up! What about other suggestions? You didn't abandon the sinking ship, did you?
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Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: March 09 2006 at 20:39
I've been listening to Canvus Solaris quite a bit lately. Very tight and complex. If you like Sean Malone's stuff with Cynic and Gordian Knot, you should definately check them out. (Actually, I'm literally listening to Cynic as I type this. If, on the slight chance you have not yet heard Cynic, you really should make a point of it. Excellent, hard to believe its 14 years old!) Cairo has three out, '95, '98, and 2001. Suggest you seek out Conflict & Dreams from '98, if interested. Great stuff. Oh, by the way they have more players than I thought, 4 and a singer, not 3. My mistake. I think they are still around. Under The Sun has one out from 2000. Really nice original prog. They also have a new one out, 2005, (live, I think,) but I haven't heard, or seen it, yet. It's called Schematism, On Stage with Under The Sun, (I think). Since they have a new one out, they must still be out there, too, huh? Two other suggestions come to mind as well. The first is Arcturus, from Norway, a super group of black metal stars, they have 5 CDs out. You are probably aware of them. The first 3 CDs are highly progressive symphonic black metal and the last two are more like progressive space metal. All are very good. For something really different check into Orphaned Land. The only album of theirs that I'm familiar with is Mabool. They are a progressive death metal oriented band with complex Middle Eastern infuences, instruments and vocals. Very unique material. They are from Israel, so the sound is the real deal. That's it for now. Outta time.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 14:43
Sorry, not much time this week for new recomm's even though I have many things to recommend. I still have the debt of a few posts ago, stating I will recomm another one of the two bands I really enjoy listening lately and I will take the challenge of In The Woods raised by Mr. Young. BTW, been immersing myself lately with really good metal with prog tendencies which not many will find to be their taste but still I think some will like them if not already know them. These bands are Neurosis, which I have already mentioned at the first post in this thread. Isis and Pelican are the other bands. Isis is already here on PA and I am not sure Pelican is or whether it will be added in the near future. Another thing - If you feel like relaxing and listening to something soothing I suggest an album already mentioned here - Moon safari - A Doorway To Summer. A good weekend to all the PA community!
Oh, one more thing. If you haven't done so already, you should really have a look in the excellent threads recommending prog by countries (US, Russian, Japan and Hungary as well as Belgian, French and Spain). ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 14:44
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Received many things to listen this week so I reckon I'll have many more things to recommend... ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 06:38
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In the tradition of Saturday specials, I decided to dedicate this day to Van Der Graaf Generator: The playlist includes:
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 06:40
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The band I mentioned a while ago I wanted to recommend is TAAL. They have two releases out, Mister Green from 2000 and Skymind from 2003. This is a French band. Their music is taking elements from several genres creating an excellent combination of prog with symph, some metal, jazz, classic and some weird folky-violin lead parts. The result is excellent RIO style albums. The songs are built such that they shift and change moods or speed to keep things interesting, and they make the listening much more enjoyable. The first album is more rock and jazz based than the second. It has some excellent lengthy tracks like the opener Barbituricus, the second Coornibus and the two last Aspartamus and Super Flat Moon. The music itself is beautiful and what needs to be accustomed to is the quirkiness and the strange parts of music intervals and the sometimes strange vocal parts. The singing itself is in English and the French accent is a but evident and disturbing here since it interferes with flow of the songs. Not all tracks are songs though. In whole this album is less focused than the following release as it has tracks that apparently have nothing to do with each other (Barbituricus and Ragtime and Mr. Green). I don’t particularly like the title song and its follow-up, they sound as if the band was just fooling around and doing a joke. But tracks 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 make this album a worthwhile album to have. The second album – Skymind. Well, that is another thing. In the opening you hear someone changing stations in a radio and in some stations you hear some songs from the previous record. As if to make us realize that the band have progressed from that stage and they now are ready to move forward. Which they are. Skymind is more focused, more experimental IMO and even more brutal. The opener Skymind and some other tracks have a near metal bits to them. The violin still plays an important part and the guitars are loose to play their wild riffs. The vocals are not so different but now they are more in tune with the overall sound and there are the male and female vocals. The female part has a deep sensual and mysterious sound but the accent is still very much noticeable. There is even a line in Blind Child which sounds as though she sings this in French and not English (Sets it in motion to dust…, sounds like C’est une …). The second and third tracks have terrific music, quirky folk and circus like that makes you want to dance. All in all, an excellent release. They are working on a third album to be released this year.
http://www.taal.free.fr/ - http://www.taal.free.fr/ ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 06:54
Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: March 13 2006 at 21:27
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Whoa, Avestin, you are on a roll, man! Some very good stuff there. You can't go wrong with a Saturday devoted to Van Der Graaf, either. While I'm familiar with the first bands you mentioned, TAAL and Overhead are both new to me. I'll have to check 'em out in a bit more detail. By the way, the above links to threads on prog in other countries are pretty interesting, too. So much music, so little time, (and money). Just one recomendation for today, which many are likely to be aware of, even thought you don't hear a lot about them. They are in the ProgArchives, too. This one is straight up Old School '70s prog...the band is Yezda Urfa. They have two out, Boris from '75 and Sacred Baboon from '89 as far as I know. Of the two, I kinda perfer Boris, but both are pretty interesting. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 13 2006 at 23:09
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Hi Lesovation, good to see/read you Taal are really great and should not be missed. I love Yezda as well (have both their albums) and I prefer Boris to Baboon as well. Have little time now to do a serious recommendation and I have a large list to cover. Plus, I prefer to write about an album while listening to it, so it limits the time possibilities. Just a short one, though. Been listening to SINKADUS's two releases alot lately (Aurum Nostrum, Cirkus). While they are very good and competent, I can't escape the feeling its been done by others - the older symphonic bands and the new wave of symphonic bands (even some vintage ones like Wobbler). I will post my similar feelings about Hinterland later, since it has much to do with them as well. But for good and well performed symphonic prog music, I think they are more than worth the listen. http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-18973/sinkadus/ - http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-18973/sinkadus/ Hello and Goodday/night to the PA community! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 15:06
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Lesovation, You mentioned Orphaned Land. Mabool is a great album. I love the rest of their stuff as well, but it is more straight death metal with their usual mid-easten/arab influences. They sing in Hebrew, Arabic, English. Mabool is quite different from their previous efforts and rightfully so, since it has been released 7 years after they disbanded and each member went to his own. One became a Microsoft software engineer with a wife and daughter, another went on a spiritual journey to India and one became a religious orthodox and disconnected all previous liasons with them. Then finally 2 of them (Kobi the singer and Yossi from MS) decided to regroup and came up with the idea of creating a background story to the biblical tale of the flood (Mabool means hard heavy pouring rain which usually causes a flood). Then they thought up of the story of Seven (representing God) which has three sons which represent all three major religions and their srtuggles and strifes etc. Mabool represents a reincarnation of Orphaned Land. Hopefully it will last in the next album to be produced by Steven Wilson. http://www.orphaned-land.com/default.php?language=en - http://www.orphaned-land.com/default.php?language=en ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 21:42
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Whoa! Outstanding stuff. I had no idea about the members, just liked the music. Thanks for the insight, its appreciated. To be prduced by Steven Wilson, huh? That should work, he's done alright with PT and Opeth's stuff, I would have to say. Got an odd one for the PA community today. This is a little known but deserving piece of work. It is progressive and original in the true sense of the words. Very avante-garde and experimental. This will not be for everyone one, however. It is dark and complex, at times almost tribal, at times a vortex of sound, often electronic, at other times sultry. Most of this stuff is out there a ways. It is very layered with some really odd time signatures. It features an exceptional Warr guitar player. (If you are not familiar with this instrument, watch for a thread coming soon, to a forum near you!) He plays a 14 string model. Since you only touch the string to the neck on these instruments, both hands are free to play totally different things. (There is no picking.) This basically allows him to be playing an 8 string guitar and a 6 string base at the same time. He does it very well. There are several people out there that play these types of guitars, of course. Trey Gunn plays only Warr guitars and Tony Levin has been using a stick off and on forever. But I digress. Back to what I started mumbling about 2 paragraphs ago. The name of the band is 99 Names of god. Their website is: http://www.99namesofgod.com - www.99namesofgod.com as you would expect. You can see some cheesy videos of them playing on their site. Even thought the sound and visual quality of the videos are bad, you can get an idea of what they are like there. The also have a myspace page which plays some of their music, as well. That is at http://www.myspace.com/99namesofgod - www.myspace.com/99namesofgod as you would also expect. If you are the type who really enjoys some of King Crimson's improv stuff, for example, you really ought to check this band out. It is a Warr guitar player, who also does all of the electronics and loop work, a female vocalist / keys player and a drummer on Roland V drums. They create an amazing amount of sound for a trio. It has an improv feeling to it, but it is all very carefully stuctured. They also sound exactly the same live. The only place that I am aware of to buy their CD is at Amazon.com. Just go there and do a search for 99 names of god. The name of the CD is Interwoven. As far as I know, it is the only one they have out. It is from 2003. Rare piece of work. Again, this is pretty unusual material. Those who dislike it are likey to stongly dislike it. For those who can get into it, it just keeps getting better with each listen for a long time. Sorry, didn't mean to write a novel!
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 23:25
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Now, that's what I'm talking about. Discovering new and if possible mostly unknown bands with an original take on music. Thanks, Les, I will definitely listen to this. You got me curious there. Don't worry about length of posts. Write what you need, no matter the length. Anyway, not a recomm, but thoughts I had on my way to work while listening to Metaepitome by OVERHEAD (btw, I got their first release Zumanthum). I was thinking Overhead's sound is actually modern rock with prog elements and attitude to it with the symphonic genre being its main influence. Than I compared it in my mind to two other contemporary bands - SINKADUS and WOBBLER. (Notice they come from the 3 Scandinavian countries; Overhead is from Finland, Sinkadus from Sweden and Wobbler from Norway). Points for originality here, and for performance as well. THe musical ideas are very good and the music itself is beautiful. Sinkadus is in the symphonic genre playing music that varies between classic symphonic bits a-la Genesis to King Crimson guitar lead parts and even to sometimes (you're gonna laugh about this I'm sure) parts that sound as if a post rock band decided to play their music while incorporating symphonic elements in it (start laughing And then you have Wobbler. What do we have in here - ELP, Genesis, Gentle Giant to mention some. Vintage symphonic prog. The album Hinterland in itself is very good, no dount about it. The question is, do you want to redo and listen again to stuff that has already been done? I for one do, but others here may not (I think I know at least one here So, what d oyou think? Do you prefer bands that keep recreating the old sound? Do you appreciate originality and different takes on previous musical achievements? Do you think Hinteland is any less good because of its vintage approach? Do you think Overhead's approach is better than Sinkadus's or the opposite? I feel posts of "what the hell are you talking about" and "you are an ignorant idiot" are coming after this... ANyway, A good day/night to all PA members. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 17 2006 at 01:13
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Now for something quite different from the above mentioned bands. The band is AHVAK from Israel who have released so far their self titled album Ahvak in 2004. Chaotic, emotional, crazy, melancholic - this is some of the array of feelings this band manages to convey in this album. As the reviews here say, tracks 3 and 7 are kind of fillers and unessential, but the others more than make up for it. Vivisection is like music to accompany you to a madman's brain. RIO/Avant-Garde at its best. The music tends to be brutal and eccentric. They know very well what they are doing and play very good, creating hunting "melodies". It is a very good debut album, IMO. As another reviewer stated, the production is very clean and he http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=32876 finds - finds it emotionless. There is merit to this claim, but maybe this is what they were after. A word of warning - It might be difficult to gt into this initially. It is not meant to be a friendly album. Rather a complex and full of emotions journey that the band members take you through. Track listing Line-up Recognize any name? hint - he plays drums and percussions and was in PRESENT, THINKING PLAGUE, 5UU'S and U TOTEM.
Enjoy ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: yeppp
Date Posted: March 17 2006 at 06:13
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Pan Sonic- Kesto Stars Of The Lid- Tired Sounds Of Stars Of The Lid David Sylvian- Snow Borne Sorrow |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 17 2006 at 06:26
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^^^ Thanks for sharing. Can you elaborate a little please? Who are they, what style of music do they play? what albums did they release, are they currentl;y active , links to their sites, etc.
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 17 2006 at 07:41
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Funny, someone just posted a review of Ahvak. Take a look: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=72109 - http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=72109 ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 18 2006 at 01:30
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The Saturday routine - a day dedicated to a certain subject. Two weeks ago it was Italian symphonic day, last week a VDGG day. And today.... South American day. Not much credit is given in this site to the music from this part of the world. I hate to refer to it as South American because there is much diversity there and to treat it as one sort of music is humiliating, offensive and disrespectful. But I think in order to get attention to that I think I can allow myself to categorize it as one. I apologize to all those offended. I would appreciate it if http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=43 - Cesar Inca , http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=136 - Atkingani , http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=38 - ivan_2068 and also Chamberry and Anael. I know Mexico and Puerto Rico is not South America, but you have proven your knowledge here, and I am sure you have many things to contribute. would join us here and give us their recomm's, since I myself am not well versed in this field of prog. Recommended stuff by country: http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=1 - Argentina : AGNUS (already recommende that one if you remember) BUBU (excellent release they have. A must)
http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=108 - Brazil : BACAMARTE (Depois do Fim is an essential album) TERÇO, O MUTANTES, OS CASA DAS MAQUINAS MINDFLOW RECORDANDO O VALE DAS MAÇĂS A BARCA DO SOL SHAAMAN
http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=160 - Peru : FLOR DE LOTO (very good prog folk) (this needs reinforcements)
http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=42 - Chile : ANGULART (relatively new band. Check out the interview wth them here in the interview section) JAIVAS, LOS (the classic prog folk band. Legendary status)
http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=200 - Venezuela :
http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=198 - Uruguay :
What about Ecuador, Paraguay and Colombia? Anyone knows bands from there? Please, take time to explore these. I promise a very rewarding experience. I won't bother you with my playlist of the day, it consists much of what is mentioned above. Good day / night to PA forum members.
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: March 18 2006 at 02:20
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I'll try to help you with the Peruvian bands: Our country had a very fertile Psyche/Proto Prog scenario, and I believe in those years we were ahead of the rest of the sub-continent, IMO the two best bands were Laghonia and Traffic Sound: Laghonia: The only band is South Americathat had a Hammond B3 back in the late 60's, they evolved from Psychedelic to Progressive Rock in a lapse of months, but this was because their albums were recorded in a year period with material they had gathered for several years. Almost unknown even in Perú until they turned into a POP band but had the decency to change their name to We All Together: I sincerely encourage to buy:
Really Progressive album, outstanding music and sung in English by a USA vocalist (David Levane). Don't get the compilation because it's not good. http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=2144 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=2144 Traffic Sound: The most iconic band of Peruvian Proto Prog scenario, they were so popular that an airline paid them to do a tour in Argentina and Brazil, outstanding music hard to describe. They havelyrics in English also and the pronunciation is pretty good except in a couple of songs where they joke. It's hard to get their orgiginal albums, but it's worth:
If it's too hard to find them, try with one of this compilations recently released, they have the essential material:
I would go with Greatest hits. http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=2156 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=2156 During the symphonic Prog years, there was a band that started making covers of Genesis, Yes, Tull, Led Zepellin but turned into the most successful and developed band, I'm talking about FRÁGIL, very influenced by Genesis mostly but also by Yes and Tull, the problem is that their lyrics are in Spanish. Go with this two albums, both are easy to find: Again, don't let the date of release fool you, the music of Avenida Larco is from 1976 to 1978, but they only found a sponsor (PANTEL: A Tv station) in 1981, so it's not even remotely Neo Prog, it's 100% Sy,mphonic.
Sorpresa del Tiempo is mostly Avenida Larco with a Philarmonic Orchestra. OUTSTANDING!!!!!! http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=113 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=113
I can't talk about Flor de Lotto because they are not my cup of tea, maybe Cesar Inca can talk more about them. Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 18 2006 at 04:59
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^^^ Thank you very much, Ivan. I will definitely look for these recommendations. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: lesovation
Date Posted: March 18 2006 at 12:20
| My only recommendation at the moment is to keep this great thread going! I now have more great bands to check into than I know what to do with. Excellent suggestions, much appreciated. |
Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: March 18 2006 at 18:25
Thanks avestin, Iván etc. for all the recommendations about South American prog...  I must admit, I know next to nothing about this side of prog ... I thought I'd recommend something as well for a change. This artist isn't even in the archives, but that's probably due to the fact that he only made one "true" prog album. Jukka Tolonen - Tolonen!  Jukka Tolonen is probably best known for being the guitarist in http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=854 - Tasavallan Presidentti (one of the most famous Finnish prog bands), but he did release many brilliant solo records as well. Tolonen! was his first solo album, and it is certainly his best effort, recorded back in 1971 when the man was only 19-years old!!! He is joined by absolutely the best rock musicians in Finland, bandmate Pekka Pöyry, and almost all of the guys from Wigwam (Jukka Gustavson, Pekka Pohjola, Ronnie Österberg). The music presented here is an amazing blend of instrumental prog-rock and jazz .... His style is not really comparable to other artists IMO. Of course, on some level it could be compared to his band TP, especially their Lambertland album (without the vocals), but Tolonen's approach to music is rather unique. The first track Elements - Earth, Fire, Water, Air shows all the different aspects that made him so great: Highly energetic guitar playing (but no showing-off), beautiful wind instruments, classically inspired piano playing etc. Brilliant stuff! A must for anyone into jazz-rock, and it's probably one of my top 10 ... (from any genre!) His second solo album Summer Games (1973) was already quite different, still very good, but much more jazz-oriented (and highly acoustic), with influences from Indian classical music. Tolonen also did his share of somewhat mediocre blues-rock releases during his career later on, but that's another story! I'll try to recommend something that is not from Finland next time... -------------
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 19 2006 at 01:14
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^^^ Thanks for that, Toni. I'll look it up. BTW, I tried out Uzva as you recommended, and I really like a lot! Shame I did not try it before. (for those interested, Jimbo recommnede it on page 2 or 3).
I have some candidates as well for the next recomm', one of them is a very good one from Poland and it is not the usual Polish suspects Riverside, Abraxas, Satellite or Collage.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: March 19 2006 at 01:51
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Now that we're talking about Prog in other countries I want to comment that just added OSIBISA, the Ghanian band formed by musicians of this African country and Central America. The people who know their late career may feel strange, but I ask to listen this trilogy (Specially the first two):
OSIBISA the debut album is simply outstanding, they blend Psyche/Proto Prog/Jazz/Raggae/Afro Folk and many other styles to create something absolutely special. I know we must not buy an album because of it's cover, but due to the fact that Roger Dean is always very careful with who does he work with is also a reccomendation for the self titled rlelease and the even better Woyaya. Heads the third album is a bit more oriented towards mainstream, but it's still worth to listen. Iván -------------
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 19 2006 at 01:58
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^^^ Funny I was just reading your review about OSIBISA, it made me want to hear straight away. Now I am really intrigued. I admit, I have never heard of them. I am without knowledge in this field. Are there ant African prog bands, Ivan? ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: March 19 2006 at 02:48
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Really I know very little of African Prog, except for OSIBISA's first three studio albums and the double Live one which are all outstanding. There was another band called The Africa 70 with Ginger Baker who played with Fella Ransome Kutti a Nigerian musician who was very close to Prog before joining Baker, but they were more oriented towards Funk or Afro Beat. There's also the Afro Celt Sound System (appeared in Peter Gabriel's WOMAD) who blend Celtic music with African Rhythms, but it's not exclusively African and not really Prog. Jean Luc Ponty played the album Tchokola with excellent African Musicians, even when the album was one of his weakest, because he never really blended both genres. Peter Gabriel has played with outstanding African musicians as Jean Claude Naimro (Afro Caribbean), Papa Wemba, Reddy Mela Amissi, Styno Mubi and Matadi with African roots Honestly it's hard to find an African Prog band, even when I remember reading something about a band from Pretoria, but I don't know if it's formed by British decendants or really African black musicians. But try the first two OSIBISA albums, I'm sure you will enjoy them. Iván -------------
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Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: March 19 2006 at 12:15
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Maybe you don't know, but Brazil is today the 3rd CD market in the world (losing only for USA and Japan). Fortunately the number of releases is great nowadays and we have also fair facilities to get import releases. I recommend the following site to be visited (it's in English, but there's a version in Portuguese too). Rock Symphony is also a label, specialized in progressive music, with many releases from Brazil and Spanish America bands. Choosing the country you go directly where you want. http://www.rocksymphony.com/english/ - http://www.rocksymphony.com/english/ Good hunt, pals. ------------- Guigo ~~~~~~ |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 20 2006 at 12:18
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Thanks to our Collaborators for sharing their knowledge. I hope to see you here often. I still hope Cesar will contribute a post (I PMed him). Anyway, after the 80's threads started up by DallasBryan I started going over 80's releases and there is actually very good stuff from that era, that is really excellent prog and not Neo-prog as is usually thought of when thinking about this era. There is the excellent must have album Anabelas by BUBU (don't remember if I recommended it. If not, Get it. I can compare it to Ys by IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO, another essential album). But what I really wanted to mention here is the album Marsbéli Krónikák (Martian Chronicles) by Hungarians SOLARIS from 1984, based on the book The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, if I am not mistaken. This a dynamic album but the music is not complex. There are three dominant instruments sharing the fromt stage - a flute, electric guitar and heavy synth. while the flute give the album its more elegant side the synth give it a bombastic element aided by the guitar. The msuci is most of the time relentless and always on the move keeping the listener in this Martian world till the end of the album. Well worth checking out, as well as other fine 80's prog releases. http://www.solarismusic.com/ - http://www.solarismusic.com/ ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 20 2006 at 16:52
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Thanks to the Japanese prog thread I got acquainted with several more Japanese groups. One of them is INTERPOSE who released in 2005 the album Interpose+. Labeled here under symphonic prog, this is not covering their entire spectrum (as is the case for white willow), since not only there are clear elements of the symphonic genre, but also a strong jazz rock side to their music. For their history & biography I leave you to read it in their page here in PA. It is quite long interesting. They create very pleasent atmospheres in their pieces. Some songs have the female vocalist Sayuri Aruga doing a very good work. There is a violin in Dayflower played by Akihisa Tsuboy from KBB and it sounds very good, adding much to the song. Zitensia, is very much a jazz rock song, excellent guitar work by Renji Tanaka and as Erik says in his review, it evokes a little Mahavishnu Orchestra (not a clone, but reminds a bit). THe last track, Last Sign, is extraordinary with the same jazz rock feel plus a hammond organ giving the music a groovy and slightly majestic feel to it. The production is good ant not sterile clean, so there is this crisp to it, unlike some other contemporary groups who prefer clean production. All in all, a very good combination of symphonic and jazz-rock album. I can't wait for their next release. Their website: http://www.interpose.jp/ - http://www.interpose.jp/ Get this! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: March 20 2006 at 18:52
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no offense, but upon close inspection I find Solaris in the same category with other eastern block bands from the same period, ie- Omega and Tako, following the trend of mid 70's Eela Craig from Austria, encompassing many styles and catchy as a whole. But with the time frame being early to mid 80's, I find their sound on the CHEEZY SIDE. Others may not have this opionion but I think by the 80's the really progressive sound was more mature. Just my view on the progression of music. |