My Old & New Interesting Progressive Bands Thread

 

                                                        And .. "old loves die hard"  :

 

- Incredible how many legendary Classic Italian Progrock bands have reunited in the last decade, after bands like Il Balletto Di Bronzo, Le Orme, Banco, New Trolls and Osanna, here is Latte E Miele featuring 3 members of the original line up on their debut album Passio Secundum Mattheum (1972).

- This live CD was recorded in Canada in 2008, it sounds good and the band plays very inspired songs from their three Seventies albums. The first part concerns a selection of their first album, we can enjoy a great blend of classical and symphonic rock with awesome vintage keyboard work (Grand piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, synthesizers and some splendid harpsichord runs), wonderful moving guitar solos, warm Italian vocals and lots of variety, from a tender Grand piano solo or classical guitar with flute-Mellotron to mid-tempo with powerful organ and bombastic with a choir sound, propulsive drum beats and beautiful interplay between guitar and piano. Then three songs from the album Papillon (1973): a mid-tempo with Emerson-inspired Hammond work and classical orchestrations in Ouverture, lots of variety with brass instruments, classical guitar, church organ and a jazzy acoustic guitar solo in Primo Quadro and a dreamy climate with warm and sparkling Grand piano, flute-Mellotron, wonderful Italian vocals and compelling classical orechestrations in Rimani Nella Mia. Next is the song Fantasia Pere Chandra (I am not familiar with this track) that contains virtuosic classical guitar, followed by the suite Pavana from the album Aquile E Scoiattoli (1976). It often sounds similar to The Enid featuring a classical keyboard sound, blended with fiery electric guitar, a strong rhythm-section and again great work on keyboards, especially in Pavana Parte Terza (Hammond, church organ and Bolero-like accordion sound on synthesizer), very impressive! The band concludes this live CD with a new song entitled Vision Of Sunlight, it starts a bit polished but then we can enjoy strong work on guitar and keyboards in a more bombastic and compelling atmosphere, is this a prelude for a new album? I hope so!

ASTURIAS – In Search Of The Soul Trees (****)

- This Japanese progrock band was founded in 1987 and made 3 studio albums: Circle In The Forest (1988), Brilliant Streams (1990) and Cryptogram Illusion (1993). Then Asturias disbanded but 25 years after their latest effort, here is a surprising return in de original line-up, including members of the other known Japanese progrock formation Shingetsu.
- This new album contains two epic tracks (at about 23 and 27 minutes), both are divided into five parts. The music is, like on their previous albums, strongly influenced by Mike Oldfield but I also notice elements from folk, classical music, jazz and symphonic rock, very well blended and tastefully arranged: the one moment you hear instruments like a twanging acoustic guitar, Grand piano, cello or flute, the other moment bombastic keyboards and howling electric guitar runs. To me this album sounds as a very pleasant and varied musical journey with many interesting ideas and lots of surprising shifting moods. My highlights are the two most progressive rock oriented compositions: the alternating, often very exciting Woods Storm (lush mellotron waves, fiery guitar, a powerful Chris Squire-like bass, an acoustic guitar solo with swinging piano and a swirling Hammond organ solo) and the long Soul Trees (wonderful violin solo, great bombastic eruptions and a beautiful final part with soaring keyboards and warm classical guitar). I also like the final track Dawn featuring sensitive work on Grand piano and electric guitar, a very warm end of a strong and varied album.
- A big hand for Japanese progrock band Asturias with their convincing return after 25 years!