THE DREAM OF THE MAGIC JONGLEUR

With so many once-great prog bands releasing an increasing number of disappointing albums, it is a rare treat to find new bands with that "classic prog" sound making fresh and exciting music. One such band, The Psychedelic Ensemble, has been making quite a name for itself lately. This anonymous one-man-band has released a new album every year since 2009, and though all three albums within the band's current oeuvre display a remarkable level of talent and craftsmanship, there has been a considerable increase in the quality of the songs and inventiveness of arrangements with each new album.

2011's "The Dream of the Magic Jongleur" is not only my personal favorite from the band, but also the best prog album I have heard in a number of years. According to interviews found on The Psychedelic Ensemble's website, the man writing and performing this music is an accomplished composer of contemporary classical music; as a likely result of this, there is an exceptionally high level of compositional craftsmanship found throughout his music. Even a cursory listen to "The Benefaction of the Noble Wizard" should convince any listener that this composer has an incredible grasp on eighteenth-century counterpoint, and it is breathtaking to hear the fugal treatment given to a modern-prog-style theme that occurs throughout the album. And for those of you who care more about the performances than the writing, this album also contains The Psychedelic Ensemble's most demanding and dexterous instrumental and vocal work to date (with "The Riddle" and "The Secrets of Your Mind" deserving a special mention). The fact that the listener is hearing absolutely top-tier playing on each instrument is made all the more baffling when one realizes that all of these parts are written and performed by the same person.

If you have not yet heard The Psychedelic Ensemble's music, giving this album a listen should be at the top of your to-do list. At the time of this review, you can check the album out on progstreaming.com if you want to give it a listen before buying the album, but the wonderful presentation of the CD (featuring some fantastic artwork by Sam Del Russi) and the incredible music make this a must-buy for any prog fan.