My lesser known and unknown new prog bands thread

SALVA — A Handful of Earth

Heavy. Melodic. Pounding electric guitars. Acoustic beauty. Bombastic synth runs. Sweeping organ waves. Powerful vocals. Emotional singing. This is a band that has it all. This is what modern progressive rock is all about. Salva is a cross between symphonic prog ROCK, neo-prog, prog metal and art rock with an originality that is undeniable. I hear some techno influences every once in awhile in the synths and drums (similar to Ankh) but the guitars are almost always powerful, close to progressive metal and when they are not they are acoustic and beautiful with high emotion and feel. The melodies are everywhere. The songs are perfectly crafted. Each song is different than the other and a great pleasure to listen too. SO much to hear in each song. Constant yet always changing. My friends, this is seriously one of the best progressive rock albums of the new century. This music will NOT be heard enough. So many of you will never hear this album and that will be a shame. I am so happy to have this CD and hope that all prog fans can hear this one someday. Buy if you can find it. This is special.

Very special.

5 stars. For real. Amazing music.

OMNI – Solo Fue Un Sueno (***1/5)

The sound of Omni on Solo Fue Un Sueno has obvious echoes from Seventies Camel and also reminds me frequently of Dutch Camel-inspired bands Lady Lake and especially Odyssice (it could have been their new album!): very melodic, flowing and often sensitive guitar work (compelling in Noche En Malandar, fiery in Telescopio de Papel en biting wah-wah in Espíritu Libre), omnipresent interplay between guitar and keyboards, some pitchbend driven Minimoog sounding soli (like in Telescopio de Papel and the dreamy final song Salto al Abismo) and finally the use of saxophone (sultry in El Tren De Rota). Like Seventies Camel the sound by Omni is like a ‘warm bath’ as on the Camel albums Mirage and Moonmadness, my favorite Camel-era. Along the strong guitarwork, the keyboard player colours the compositions very tasteful with varied vintage keyboards like the Fender Rhodes electric piano, the violin-Mellotron (wonderful intro on Noche En Malandar), Minimoog synthesizer, Solina string-ensemble and the Hammond organ (swirling solo in the alternating highlight Espíritu Libre).

This is not very original symphonic prog but it sounds wonderful with very good work on guitar and keyboards and tasteful arranged compositions.

LITTLE TRAGEDIES – Chinese Songs Part II (***)

 

- Russian progrock sensation Little Tragedies (I am absolutely delighted about their album Return and New Faust ) was founded in the late Eighties but it took a while before they released their debut album in 1999. However, the recent years Little Tragedies is more prolific by releasing every year at least one CD. In 2007 they even produced two albums entitled Chinese Songs Part 1 and Part II.

- On Chinese Songs Part II we can enjoy the typical Little Tragedies sound: from dreamy and mellow with almost whispering native vocals, soaring keyboards, harpsichord and warm piano runs to heavy with a fat synthesizer sound and a very propulsive rhythm-section, reminding me of Japanese ‘over-the-top-proggers’ Gerard (led by the keyboard wizard Toshio Egawa). In comparison with previous albums, Little Tragedies sound a bit more laidback and, like on The Sixth Sense, the band uses at some moments a saxophone player. My highlight is the long composition My Century’s Events are Worthless… featuring the Little Tragedies trademark: a more and more bombastic sound with flashy synthesizer flights, a thunderous rhythm-section and fiery guitar runs. I also like the wonderful sound of the ethnic Koto, blended with harp and keyboards in the final piece The Boat by the Lake is Only for Three. This is a decent effort but to me it sounds that Little Tragedies is a bit running out of ideas.

 

MOTIS – L’Homme-Loup (***)

 

- This is the unique French progrock band Motis their seventh album. The 11 compositions sound like a blend of folk/medieval music and early Ange with strong, typically theatrical French vocals (like Ange, Mona Lisa and Versailles). Motis uses a wide range of instruments, both acoustic (guitar, violin, flute) as vintage keyboards. This results in very interesting combinations like violin-Mellotronwaves and acoustic rhythm-guitar in P'tit Louis, trumpet and Hammond organ in Les Normands and runs on the acoustic guitar, accompanied by violin-Mellotron and the sound of the psychedelic organ like early Ange as in the captivating titletrack.

This is not really mainstream music but if you have an adventurous mind and you like folk, this is prog to discover!

 

                                       I hope you like it