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The Truth View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Obscure/Lesser Known Gems
    Posted: July 08 2010 at 18:01
Actress by Lobster Newberg.  Very Gentle Giant sounding stuff but with more of a rock edge and variety of material.
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 08 2010 at 17:37
Hi,
 
I have a lot of things that ... might or might not ... be considered this or that in my collection.
 
Capability Brown - 1st and Voice
Byzantium - 1st and Season's Changing
 
... are but two examples ... that ... and here is why I don't like to label things in "prog" ... in essence one is "prog-folk" and the other is "prog-pop"  in their first album with some really beautifully orchestrated material on Byzantium's first album, and in the second album is is ... "prog-folk", very much like the long cut in Capability Brown's Voice album.
 
I have to check the references here, btw ... but there was/is a name in the Byzantium group that shows up later and before. ___  Robinson (I'm not home right now) ... and he was either in Quatermass or Spontaneous Combustion -- whose Triad album fits as prog, while the other ones a bit less so. Or is the same guy that ended up in either Godspell or one of those really big musicals.
 
In essense there is a lot of far out stuff out there. For example, Kevin Ayers' album The Confessions of Dr. Dream fits as "progressive", though most of his others fit as folk-weird and fun! I always think of Edgar Broughton Band as progressive, and this is one listen that I am not sure most can get into a whole lot, as it is way too eccentric and literary in its own style, and presentation. It's not about the blues or the guitar! And it can be very political and strong, with one song that should always be played right next to "Epitath" ... for DJ's that have balls!
 
Btw ... did anyone check out that Trace album? ... is it not the same drummer that has been in Marillion for quite some time?
 
When we get down to it, a lot of these "progressive" things have a massive family history that extends, and London is one of the most incestuous of them all because everyone is in everyone else's album except Mick Jagger and Keith Richards!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 03 2010 at 23:27

Canadian proggers Dillinger. Thier self-titled debut from 1974. "Live and Return" is a 17 minute epic.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2010 at 16:32
A very little known one here which I quite enjoy:

Xing Sa - Création de lunivers CD (album) cover

CRÉATION DE L'UNIVERS

Xing Sa

 

Zeuhl


My review is maybe not so well phrased, but I think it gets the point across. Smile

Review by SaltyJon
COLLABORATOR Zeuhl RIO/Avant Team
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5 stars Xing Sa is an excellent new Zeuhl/fusion band from France, a side project of three members of Setna. The trio plays mostly instrumental music, with the occasional guest vocals by Yannick Duchene Sauvage. This album is, especially for Zeuhl, really smooth. At times I'm reminded of Guapo's album "Five Suns" but much lighter, with warmer production (a job well done by none other than Udi Koomran). All of the members of the band proper are really excellent musicians. The band is keyboard prominent, but A) that isn't a problem as the keyboardist is really superb and B) the drums and bass get plenty of room to shine as well. As mentioned in the band's bio, the keyboardist really channels Benoit Widemann's Moog abilities on occasion. He's got such a great sound, no matter what keys he's playing. The bassist has an excellent fuzzy sound (shouldn't come as a huge surprise as the genre's famous for its fuzzy bass fun). The drumming is jazzy and all over the place. The lack of guitar on the album isn't a bad thing, either. These three do a superb job by themselves (with a little help from their friends, of course). All of the track suites are really well played, I'm partial to the "Feu" tracks and the "Metal" tracks, though the album as a whole is really solid and even.

I would quickly recommend this album to anyone who's interested in either Zeuhl or fusion. As for the Zeuhl end, it's one of the most accessible entry points into the genre I've heard so far, which is a plus. The vocals on the album aren't as "goofy" as with some of the better known bands (really, the vocals are sparse and sort of otherworldly). This is a masterful album, and I think it deserves nothing less than a masterpiece rating of five stars. I can't find any flaws in the album, and I'm really hoping these three plan to release more albums with this band (as opposed to with Setna, whose album I haven't yet checked out).




Edited by SaltyJon - July 01 2010 at 16:35
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2010 at 15:36
trion.......pilgrim
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2010 at 13:08
 Passaggi by FILORITMIA album cover Studio Album, 2009
4.50 | 2 ratings

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Passaggi
Filoritmia Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Nightfly
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4 stars After a gap of nine years, Italian's Filoritmia have got round to releasing their second album Passaggi. Unfortunately I haven't heard their first album so can't make comparisons to musical development etc. However what I can say is I'm very impressed with this Milanese five piece; enough to consider tracking down a copy of their debut. Strong vocals sung in Italian are complimented by very competent musicianship from all players involved and mature songwriting.

From the powerful opening track, Colla e Gesso it would appear we're in for a heavy rock, seventies style album with its powerful guitar riffing, pleasing Hammond organ and solid rhythm section. It doesn't take long however to realise that Filoritmia have more up their sleeves as they move through varying themes while maintaining the overall power of the song. Senza Sale confirms this being a more diverse piece and while it contains a heavier mid section is overall a more reflective track over its eight and half minutes. The instrumental Non E Festa seems to be a nod to fellow countrymen PFM taking its cue from their song E Festa.

L'uomo Che Torna is the most diverse track yet as it shifts from delicate light and shade into powerful riffing and an acoustic guitar driven finale overlaid with tastefully melodic soloing, the band proving they have the musical chops to deal with subtle textures as well as the heavier rocking moments. Godo continues the trend of shifting and inventive rhythms and starts as one of the heavier tracks until a piano led section shifts things down a couple of gears before moving into a lengthy guitar solo.

Il Sogno Del Fotografo has them in a more playful mood with a lighter feel and complex rhythmic patterns that never sit still. Halfway the mood changes into a piano led section with a darker feel. Questo returns to heavy rock territory and while it's decent enough is not one of the best tracks.

They save the longest for last with the ten minute Manifesto. Starting with the heaviest riff on the album it moves into an enthralling guitar dominated instrumental section and after a short return to vocals it's into more dynamic instrumental work.

With Passaggi, Filoritmia have come up trumps with a pleasing album of heavy prog, and while they are placed in the RPI genre here on PA, their music transcends such barriers and is likely to have a broader appeal to prog fans who don't usually listen to Italian prog.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2010 at 09:26




[/QUOTE]



As much as the creator of the album hates being labeled under progressive rock terms (of which is the reason why I haven't suggested his music into the archives), Exit Mindbomb's Happy Accident album is a collection of songs which travel through journeys within mere minutes, which is why I consider it "progressive" in the term of which progressive was originally supposed to mean.  I love this album with my heart, and I would highly recommend that anyone who's interested download it.  It's for free on the creator's myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/brandonthomaslackey


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2010 at 09:13
Originally posted by nevbox nevbox wrote:

Flower Travellin' Band - Satori (not exactly prog, more like heavy sabbath style but whatever its ballin. one of my favorite albums)


Osibisa - Osibisa (African jive prog)

Datetenryu - 1971 (Amazing, extremely raw, Heavy organ prog w/ kind of a punk feel - surprising for '71 jap prog. this, to my knowledge, is the only release they have. it was recorded live at a venue for sure. it doesn't sound like they used proper equipment to record it, almost like a bootleg)


Czar - Czar (If you like In The Court Of The Crimson King you should like this. Heavy prog. they do dabble in cheese though unfortunately. but who didn't in that time?...... oh yeah Pink Floyd....)

The Norman Haines Band - Den Of Iniquity (pretty damn cool. heavy prog with organ (1971)



The first two, aren't so obscure, and are fantastic albums indeed. Datetenryu and Norman Haines are interesting, I'll check them out. As for Czar, it is indeed very King Crimsonish, but still, it's very original, and one of the best obscure albums out there!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2010 at 19:40
Traité de mécanique populaire
ZNR RIO/Avant-Prog

Review by Tsevir Leirbag
Collaborator Zeuhl RIO/Avant Team

— First review of this album —
4 stars Very few people know about this band whose music is a blend of classical, chamber music with jazz and (sometimes) rock

ZNR was founded in the mid seventies by Hector Zazou, who was soon rejoined by Joseph Racaille. They could be qualified as the core of the band, as they played the most important role in the compositional process of ZNR's albums, even if they were helped by André Jaume on saxophones, David Rueff on violin and Patrick Portella on clarinets. Louize Alcazar, herself, took care of all the arrangements. ZNR's music, often wrongly labelled as avant-garde even if it should appeal to admirers of the genre, is one of the most accessible band defined as such. Traité de mécanique populaire was released in 1980 on Scopa Invisible label. Pretty much in the same vein as its predecessor, but lead more by classical instruments played by Hector Zazou and Joseph Racaille, this album consists of a collection of short pieces, all of which are directly related to each other.

Zazou and Racaille were both clearly influenced by modern composers, notably Ravel, Debussy and Satie. The impressive compositional level of ZNR's music, often based on counterpoints, polyphony, modality and dissonance contributed to make it as renowned to the lovers of chamber rock as it is. ZNR always achieves to rouse the listener with the touching melancholy of its music. Traité de mécanique populaire is recommended to anyone who likes progressive music with a classical sensibility and a tad bit of jazz thrown in it.

Les mains, les pieds balancés
Sur tant de mers, tant de planchers,
Un marin mort,
Il dormira

- Paul Éluard
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2010 at 15:06
just picked up Web's  I Spider and lovin it




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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2010 at 14:51
Aching Beauty's 'Ultima Ora' is fantastic prog metal... And it's free for streaming on PA!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2010 at 11:49
The Voyage - A Trip to Elsewhere by Isildurs Bane
 
Listed as symphonic, but sounds more RIO to me.  Kind of a Univers Zero sound. Anyways, it's got a high rating but I don't see much love for it all around the site, those few reviewers who have heard it = Clap
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 06:25
^ Thanks Jean, I'll give it a listen.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 03:36
someone uploaded Mother Gong's "Fairy Tales" to YouTube; get your chance to listen to it:

Wassilissa: (in 3 parts, but they are linked and pop up automatically once you start ).



The Three Tongues and The Pied Piper: (both in 2 parts, but linked again:






I think after hearing this you will agree that this is one of the lost gems





Edited by BaldJean - June 24 2010 at 04:35


A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 12:52
 To Wake the King by SECRET GREEN album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.52 | 3 ratings

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To Wake the King
Secret Green Prog Folk

Review by Nightfly
Prog Reviewer

4 stars What an unexpected pleasure it was to hear that Francis Lickerish had a new project on the go and was to release a new album as Secret Green. Lickerish will be well known to fans of The Enid having been one of the founding members back in the seventies and into the eighties. He's gathered together an excellent band featuring the ethereal vocal talents of Hilary Palmer who had briefly played with Lickerish back in the eighties in Rutterkin. Helping out Lickerish in the guitar department is Jon Beedle and on drums is matt Hodge. William Gilmour plays keyboards and Lickerish also plays some keyboards, lute and bass.

Not surprisingly Lickerish has brought his Enid influences into the music which is a refreshing blend of classical, symphonic prog and medieval folk. The music is brilliantly executed, the band creating an album of immense beauty. The sound is incredibly dynamic from powerful symphonic bombast to as quiet as you can imagine. This is no better demonstrated than on opener Prelude with its orchestral and extremely long fade in coming from total silence to a climatic crescendo topped by Lickerish's distinctive guitar sound. It's straight into the powerful opening of Ecchoing Green, a track of enormous breadth and containing all the grandeur of The Enids music with the added bonus of Hilary Palmers beautiful voice.

It's an album full of highlights over its 74 minutes though the first 3 tracks set a high standard that is never beaten but sometimes equalled. Palmers St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow chorister experience is put to good use, multi-tracking her voice to great effect on the excellent On Merlin's Ground, another track of extreme dynamics. Tom O'Bedlam by contrast is a relatively simpler piece with more of a folk influence than the more classically inspired tracks preceding it, though not abandoning the set tone altogether.

Without going into every track individually and repeating myself, you probably get the idea by now of the breadth and scope of this excellent album where the folk elements sit comfortably alongside the largely orchestrated music. If you have ever enjoyed the work of The Enid then To Wake The King is an album you'll almost certainly want to own. It's an album of immense originality with few if any parallels in music today apart from the inevitable Enid comparisons of course. An album destined to be one of the highlights of 2009.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 08 2010 at 23:07
Flower Travellin' Band - Satori (not exactly prog, more like heavy sabbath style but whatever its ballin. one of my favorite albums)


Osibisa - Osibisa (African jive prog)


Magical Power Mako - Magical Power Mako (Flying is my favorite song of all time. you think they have no merit whatsoever til you reach that song and then you get blown away. Super Record is good too but doesn't compare)


Datetenryu - 1971 (Amazing, extremely raw, Heavy organ prog w/ kind of a punk feel - surprising for '71 jap prog. this, to my knowledge, is the only release they have. it was recorded live at a venue for sure. it doesn't sound like they used proper equipment to record it, almost like a bootleg)


Czar - Czar (If you like In The Court Of The Crimson King you should like this. Heavy prog. they do dabble in cheese though unfortunately. but who didn't in that time?...... oh yeah Pink Floyd....)


Kanguru - Dreaming (kinda good, i think others might like it more than me though. Australians making music inspired by india)


The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? (yes, i just mentioned this band. suck it. from 2004 and virtually unknown, especially to proggers.)


The Norman Haines Band - Den Of Iniquity (pretty damn cool. heavy prog with organ (1971)

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2010 at 14:16
Originally posted by krishl krishl wrote:

I have enjoyed pretty much everything I've heard by Alpes + Catherine Ribeiro.  Paix is especially good.
 
I see they were fairly prolific too, yet they are a name I've never come across before. Sounds like it may be interesting stuff and worth checking out.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2010 at 07:03
I have enjoyed pretty much everything I've heard by Alpes + Catherine Ribeiro.  Paix is especially good.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2010 at 12:59
oaksenham.........the conquest of the pacific
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2010 at 05:15
Great review Jim, I think you've really caught the esscence of the band there. Amazing stuff though I'm not sure about the vocals. Certainly an excellent vocalist but a bit off the wall at times. Might take a bit of getting used to.
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