My lesser known and unknown new prog bands thread

Hi Erik, great to see you back here posting again and informing us on all these interesting sounding lesser known bands. Already there's a few up there that have got me interested and wanting to check them out.

as you know, I mention you often in my reviews (Prog Heaven, howling guitars) and I am fascinated with the vast number of great Dutch bands out there now. Plus I am a fan of Dutch football (another collapse!) but Its not the same without you around. I know I speak for many, so..... I remember when prog was DEAD in the water, soft white underbelly roasting in the broiling sun and it still survived. Life is just a struggle anyway, if it weren't for prog and its fans , life would be a dreary affair.

Looking for a rare gem that is buried under mountains of earth, totally unknown (like in the old days when you would buy an album just by gut instinct!) with little or no press, perhaps even a one shot affair? Well, this may just do the trick, an anonymous French group recording in Italy, courtesy of Mellow Records and finding a few takers like me, intrigued by the mysteries that may lie inside! Firstly, the opener “L’Océan” has as main inspiration the Pink Floyd psychedelic period (say Ummagumma, for argument’s sake) , a rollicking atmospheric journey with carpets of Hammond organ, suave lead guitar flights from Rodolphe Cloitre, profuse and sultry saxophone played by Julien Prévot , Yvan LeGuennec on burping bass rumblings and Sébastien Bourrée supplying the steady beat and assorted percussions. A surprising beginning, you say? Well on “Outrage”, the sax kicks in a melody that has Dark Side of the Moon all over it, dual guitars chiming like manic cloisters (Willy Mercier is the other fretman, who also sings the lead vocals here), the bass booming ceremoniously, the whole characteristic of the Gallic vision of Floyd, very theatrical, “très” blues, the voice more Pulsar than Ange, and sealed with a slithery guitar solo that sears and soars with utter audacity. Hey, this is good stuff! Mais oui! On the entirely instrumental “Kaleidoscope”, Bourrée keeps an archetypal Mason thump, with the magical saxophone providing that sexy breath we all love (How can anyone not like sax?), grooving along seductively with some revealing rhythm chugging from the two axmen and just a cool relaxed and laid-back attitude. “Delicieux!” “The New Millenium” is brief, very oddball, brashly loud, almost edging towards Lenny Kravitz, with slurred, angry voices, perhaps more tongue in cheek (they are French, after all, where there’s always some tongue!), a hysteric sax solo very in sync, a fiery lead that swerves zanily, clearly proving that these guys don’t take themselves as “artistes”, with the beret and the striped shirt, hein? A little humor is more than welcome especially in view of the fact that the 19 minute title track finishes off this little crazy diamond, the masterful five part suite “Au Crépuscule du Temps” (At the Dawn of Time), that evokes very strong aromas of Wish You were Here, without overt plagiarism, providing more reverence and reference than anything else. Starting with the Birth and ending with the Apocalypse, all the usual ingredients are there again in abundance, meandering lovingly with whopping decorum, the shining guitar work in particular is more than remarkable, with conceivably the same intent but wholly dissimilar tone, skipping over the Hammond waves like a flat stone gone berserk, providing another podium for an extended wrenching sax workout that just deserves a Cigar. When the mood shifts to mellower zones, the flute duels with the fuzzed-out guitar, each laying claim to some unspoken for sections of space, jostling for supremacy. When the apotheosis is reached, the frets sizzle with reckless abandon.   Each musician throws in his five euros worth, with even a brief drum & percussion solo, making this piece such a charming wholesome achievement, one of those recordings YOU just deserve to have in your collection. There aren’t many of those, and choosing Floyd as your spiritual muse is a ballsy decision, so Bravo, les Boys! Certainly meritorious of my five revered Madcaps.          

- This is a Mexican formation that was founded in 2004 by the youth friends

Daniel G. Köppen and Gabriel Eguiluz. They started to make a demo CD and then presented their music on a festival in the capital and during several cultural activities. In 2007 Cronico released thier debut CD entitled Delirium Room as an own production.

- From the very first listening session I was delighted about Cronico their exciting blend of symphonic –  and neo-prog: lots of fluent songs featuring a lush, varied and modern keyboard sound, pleasant female vocals (some in Spanish, most in English) and wonderful work on acoustic – and electric guitars. The 10 compositions deliver many tasteful and captivating moments, from a compelling atmosphere with howling guitar (Long Way), a psychedelic sounding organ solo (Delirium) and an intense guitar solo with volume-pedal  (Without Reasons) to exciting interplay between organ and guitar (Mood Swing), flashy synthesizer flights (Floating, Delirium, Don’t Be Afraid and When I Try) and a sensational blend of lush organ, fat synthesizers and propulsive drums in the final track Intrepid Nightmare, goose bumps! The band also treats us on some mellow moments (with twanging guitar and warm vocals or acoustic rhythm-guitar and sensitive piano) and lots of tension and dynamic by changing the moods from dreamy to compelling and mid-tempo to bombastic like in the highlights Delirium, Without Reasons and especially When I try (breathtaking final part with strong interplay between moving guitar and lush organ).

Again Latin-America has succeeded to deliver a great new progrock band, after Tarkus from Brazil, William Gray from Argentina and R-U Kaiser from Chile, now we can enjoy Cronico from Mexico, I am sure we will hear more from this promising new band!