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erik neuteboom 
Prog Reviewer 
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
 Posted: July 23 2008 at 12:23 |
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Szia Magyar barats.
Hogy vagy? Hallottal meg szep zenet?
Udvozeletem Hollandiabol!
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Norbert
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: October 20 2005 Location: Hungary Status: Offline Points: 2506 |
Posted: July 24 2008 at 14:00 |
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Oh this was Zsuzsa? Sorry, I was a bit late on this...
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 24 2008 at 16:31 |
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Norbert, "better now than never" and indeed, it was my 'secret Hungarian girlfriend',
we are going to watch an Omega DVD, she is very interested
A couple of interesting reviews these weeks:
 Neo Progressive (Studio Album, 2008) 4.09/5 (2 ratings) D PROJECT, THE — The Sagarmatha Dilemma
Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator Symphonic Prog Expert
FIRST REVIEW OF THIS ALBUM
The man behind this musical project is Canadian guitarist/keyboardplayer/singer Stéphane Desbiens, a very prolific and creative person: on his 11th he started to play guitar and when he was 20 he had already a lot of experience, he joined the bands Rose Nocturne and later progrock band Sense, in 1996 he released his first solo album entitles Desbienes Acoustic, he was technician, studio musician, guitar teacher and even played in an Irish folk band, what a stunning curriculum vitae! This year (2008) The D Project has released the CD entitled The Sagarmatha Dilemma, Stéphane founded a band with musicians, from drums to Chapman stick and violin and even known guest musicians like singer Stu Nicholson (Galahad) and keyboardplayer Derek Sherinan (of Dream Theater fame, plays on one track. During the first part of this album I quickly got the idea that Stéphane had put his love for Pink Floyd very obviously into his music because of the Floydian inspired guitarwork in the alternating and compelling compositions Closer To My Soul / Closer To Heaven (The Wall atmosphere and a strong accellaration with organ and fiery guitar, then joined by a swirling violin) and The Red Mountain (beautiful part with classical guitar runs). But soon I discovered that The D Project is more than a kind of modern sounding Pink Floyd, the other five songs deliver lots of variety, subtle musical ideas and strong breaks: a mid-tempo with violin-Mellotron and powerful guitar in the titletrack, a bombastic eruption with choir- Mellotron and a break with a propulsive guitar in the captivating and varied Even If I Was Wrong, a jazzrock climate with lots of dynamics and a spectacular interlude with Al DiMeola/John McLaughlin-like, dazzling guitar runs in the fluent Radio Sherpa and a musical adventure in the short but exciting final piece I’m Coming Down (I Shall Go Back), from a part with a dreamy violin and subtle guitarwork tot a bass solo on the Chapman stick and a compelling and bombastic end with raw and fat guitar riffs, I love it! This is the kind of album that grows and grows because of the variety, from neo-prog (Thin Air) to the aforementioned jazzrock, symphonic rock and progressive melodic rock, especially the progheads who love powerful guitarplay will be pleased with this strong album!
 Italian Symphonic Prog (Studio Album, 2008) 3.52/5 (7 ratings) AINUR — Children of Hurin
Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator New Progrock Bands Specialist
This is a CD/DVD box set that contains a wonderful 32 page booklet in which you can read how about this Tolkien inspired dark concept story (taken from the book Silmarillion). The music is performed by musicians who use a wide range of instruments, from harp, violin, French horn, clarinet and flute to keyboards and many male and female singers like a bass bariton. The amount of classical instruments is a strong indication what we can expect from Ainur during the 13 songs on Children Of Hurin. CD: The first composition Morgoth’s Prophecy is an impressive start, we can enjoy lots of dynamics between the classical instruments and the electric guitar and sensational Minimoog synthesizer flights, layered with classically trained vocals. The other 11 songs also deliver a blend of classic and progrock music with the emphasis a bit more on classical. But just when it tends too sound a bit too classical, the music turns into fluent, often sumptuous progrock like sparkling piano, porpulsive guitar and lush organ in Mim And The Outlaws, sweeping guitar riffs and fat Minimoog runs in The Sack Of Nargothrond and beautiful interplay between electric guitar and the Minimoog with a progmetal sounding rhythm-section in Glaurung’s Death, Ainur succeeds to keep my attention during the entire album! The sound on Children Of Hurin is in the vein of their debut CD entitled From Ancient Times (2007), I tend to prefer their second effort and I am very curious to the development of this promising new Italian progrock band. DVD: The main footage is the Original Ainur Live Video featuring two songs from the Children Of Hurin CD, we can witness that Ainur is very capable to perform their story on stage, also in the track War Of Wrath (on the From Ancient Times album) that contains heavy guitarwork, pleasant keyboardwork by two members along violins and a bariton, great tension between two musical styles. Finally two live songs from earlier concerts in this section. The other extra’s are Interview, Recording Sessions, Ainur History Documentary, Ainu Live Documentary and Extra Video. A big hand for the unknown new Italian progrock band Ainur, they deserve a bit more attention on this site! My rating: a very solid 3,5 stars, next album 4 stars?  Symphonic Prog (Studio Album, 2006) 3.00/5 (1 ratings) YESTERDAYS — Holdfénykert
Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator Symphonic Prog Expert — First review of this album —
 Prog Related (Studio Album, 2008) 4.08/5 (3 ratings) BRIGHTEYE BRISON — Believers & Deceivers Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator Symphonic Prog Expert
FIRST REVIEW OF THIS ALBUM Strange, this band was added by Krigsman but although he named Brighteye Brison a great prog band he didn't write a review. Also strange: despite Krigsman his words about Brighteye Brison their musical direction, this band has been put into the Prog-Related category. After listening to this new album I can only say: THIS NEW BRIGHTEYE BRISON ALBUM IS PURE SEVENTIES ORIENTED PROGROCK!! - Swedish formation Brighteye Brison was founded in 2000, after the release of the demo 4:am (2001) Brighteye Brison made the CD’s Brighteye Brison (2003), Stories (2006) and this brandnew album (2008). It contains 4 compositions (between 5 and 35 minutes!) with a total running time of almost 70 minutes. Along the five band members you can also listen to two guest musicians on trumpet and ‘spoken voice’. During my first listening session Brighteye Brison impressed me: what a wonderful, in general quite melodic Seventies progrock inspired music (evoking early Spock’s Beard) with obvious references to mainly Yes but also Gentle Giant and Genesis. Their sound is alternating and dynamic with lots of strong musical ideas and a varied instrumentation, from acoustic guitar and saxophone to a wide range of vintage keyboards and even the Theremin. 1. Pointless Living (5:13) : In a swinging rhythm with powerful bass runs the band showcases her appreciation for early Yes. We can enjoy sensitive guitar, varied pianoplay, some Mellotron waves and a flashy synthesizer solo, what a great start!
2. After The Storm (7:36) : After an intro with acoustic rhythm guitar and Hammond organ, a fiery guitar solo follows, accompanied by a Hammond organ sound that evokes Seventies Focus. Then exciting solos on synthesizer and guitar and captivating interplay between Hammond and synthesizer, I love this Seventies progrock oriented atmosphere.
3. The Harvest (20:27) : This long composition starts with a sumptuous church organ sound, then we can enjoy lots of changing moods, accellarations and breaks, the music shifts from mellow with acoustic rhythm guitar and vocal harmonies to heavy with powerful saxophone and bombastic eruptions, layered with the unsurpassed sound of the Mellotron, Hammond and Moog and supported by a strong rhythm-section. The final part contains a strongly build-up guitar solo, a splendid farewell.
4. The Grand Event (34:44) : This ‘magnum opus’ is a tribute to the Classic Prog, from Yes to Gentle Giant and I can tell you that Brighteye Brison didn’t fail to keep my attention during the more than 30 minutes, from dreamy parts with vocal harmonies and soaring flute – and violin-Mellotron or a ‘churchy’ Hammond organ to compelling with howling guitar and bombastic with vintage keyboards like a fat Moog solo and heavy Hammond waves (again Focus comes to my mind). You can hear that this Swedish formation plays together for many years, to me Brighteye Brison sounds tight and the interplay is fluent, especially the rhythm-section is a very strong foundation (like Alan White- Chris Squire in the Seventies Yes years).
- After more than 40 years of progrock, Brighteye Brison is a dynamic and exciting example that this often nailed music style is alive, highly recommended!
Edited by erik neuteboom - July 27 2008 at 04:51 |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 27 2008 at 14:10 |
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Due to the huge amount of 'serving errors' I was not able to
post my review in this thread but in the end, here it is:
 Italian Symphonic Prog (Studio Album, 2008) Avg: 4.00/5 from 1 ratings PENNELLI DI VERMEER, I — La primavera dei sordi Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator New Progrock Bands Specialist — First review of this album —
In the second half of the Seventies I bought my first Classic Italian Progrock albums: Banco their eponymous fifth album (aka V) and the Italian version of The World Became The World by PFM, this was the start for my Italian progrock fascination. I was blown away by the mindblowing blend of great vocals, virtuosic work on guitar and keyboards and adventurous, dynamic and varied compositorial skills. In the late Eighties and early Nineties I was very pleased with the Japanese and Italian record labels that released cascades of Classic Italian progrock gems on CD, from albums by Museo Rosenbach and Corte Dei Miracoli to Panna Freda and Semiramis. It turned out that the USA progrock labels Laser’s Edge and Syn-Phonic were my gateway to Prog Heaven. In that era I started to write for Dutch progrock paper SI Magazine and soon I discovered that the Italian progrock scene was still alive and proggin’ when we received lots of promo CD's from bands like Il Castello Di Atlante, Abiogenesi, Nuova Era and Calliope, again I was In Prog Heaven! Early 2004 I started to write for Prog Archives, one of the first things I did was writing about all those old and new Italian progrock bands and adding Classic Italian Progrock like Rustichelli & Bordini and Cherry Five. Unfortunately the following years it was a bit poor and I started to focus on the very prolific progrock scene in Latin- America (from Nexus to William Gray). But since last year I have hope with new Italian progrock bands like Moongarden, Hostsonaten, Ainur, Il Baccio Della Medusa and .... I Pennelli Di Vermeer, what a stunning debut CD! I Pennelli Di Vermeer (the name is derived from our famous painter Johannes Vermeer) is rooted in 2002, in 2007 they released the mine-CD Tramedannata and one year later the debut CD entitled La Primavera Dei sordi. During my first listening session I was blown away, what a varied and unique prog this is with an important role for the vocals, from an opera-like female voice to theatrical vocal harmonies or even a small children choir. The variety in the 10 compositions is great: a tango-like rhythm in the first track Tre cadaveri nel cassetto, “Madness meets The Shadows” in the cheerful Manifesto 70 x 100, wonderful interplay between violin and Grand piano in Cinque minuti...una notte, a Hawkwind-like atmosphere with a hypnotizing beat and synthesizer beeps and bleeps in S.K.L.ero, vintage keyboards (Farfisa – and Hammond organ and flute-Mellotron) and a wide range of singers in Luce and a synthesizer sound in the vein of The Stranglers (late Eighties-era) and a spectacular synthesizer solo in Incuboinuncubo. My highlights are the two most ‘traditional progrock efforts’: an intro with warm vocals and twanging acoustic guitar, then a slow rhythm featuring wonderful work on violin with soaring organ and excellent male and female vocals in Nel giardino di belzebu’ and sumptuous church organ and howling guitar in the alternating Carogna. If you are up to an adventurous progrock journey (this music will not be everybody’s cup of tea), check out this genuine progrock effort by a very unique new Italian band, what a thrill that 30 years after the Classic Italian Prog-era, a new Italian band succeeds to present such an unique, daring and adventurous prog, a big hand for I Penneli Di Vemeer! Thanks to my Dutch PA friend Angelo for his recommendation. |
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Nightfly
Special Collaborator 
Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 01 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3659 |
Posted: July 27 2008 at 14:48 |
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Sounds like a pretty eclectic mix Erik and just the sort of band that I'd like to check out.
 I must try to hear them.
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 27 2008 at 15:43 |
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Haha Paul, pretty eclectic is almost an understatement, what a varied and unique music I Pennelli Di Vermeer makes, I have posted my review in the Italian Prog Appreciation thread but until now I am still waiting for reactions ... so I am glad with your post, you made my day!
Today I have listened to the new Italian band Nosound, obviously rooted in the Pink Floyd-oriented Porcupine Tree sound but I like their scouting of the borders between ambient and space rock, wonderful, often hypnotizing music. Edited by erik neuteboom - July 27 2008 at 15:44 |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 28 2008 at 05:15 |
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Here's my Nosound review:
 Psychedelic/Space Rock (Studio Album, 2008) 3.90/5 (14 ratings) NOSOUND — Lightdark Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom) Special Collaborator New Progrock Bands Specialist
This is a progressive formation from Italy that is rooted in 2002, it started as an one man project by Giancarlo Erra, later the line-up grew and nowadays it’s a five piece band. In 2005 Nosound released their debut CD Sol29 and this year (2008) their second effort entitled Lightdark. Listening to this new album often Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd come to my mind, not surprisingly because Giancarlo Erra was the prime mover of Porcupine Tree tribute band Red Shift! The atmospheres in the seven compositions are very mellow, I would like to describe it as a blend of ambient, electronic and space rock featuring soaring keyboard layers, dreamy vocals, slow rhythms and some moving Gilmourian guitar solos, especially in the tracks Places Remained (melancholical vocals and howling guitar solo), the long From Silence To Noise (another compelling Gilmourian guitar solo), Kites (great build-up, wonderful interplay between soft violin-Mellotron waves and cello and splendid grand finale with spectacular synthesizer work, propulsive drums and wailing cello) and the final track Lightdark (beautiful strings sound and spacey guitar solo with saoring keyboards). At least half of this album (close to one hour running time) is in the vein of Porcupine Tree (Pink Floyd oriented-era) but Nosound also delivers more original material like the dark sounding Someone Starts To Fade Away, my absolute highlight and in my opinion the most original composition on this album: it starts dreamy with keyboard, piano and guitar along almost whispering vocals, then the sound becomes more lush and compelling, a very hypnotizing musical experience that is topped by a howling guitar solo, simply wonderful! I am very curious to their next effort, if they continue to make music like Someone Starts To Fade Away, I am sure Nosound will turn from an obviously Porcupine Tree inspired band into a band with an own identity (just like Anekdoten). This is a very promising new progressive band that has delivered a beautiful atmospheric album, especially to be carried away during the late and dark hours! A few weeks ago I read about the Spanish psychedelic rock band Albatros on a Spanish progrock site, this week I have contacted their keyboardplayer Marc (also in order to improve my Spanish
), I hope to receive their debut CD Pentadelia (2008) the forthcoming weeks.Also interesting is the forthcoming new Colossus Project entitled Tuonen Tytar II featuring band members of progrock bands Tilion, Ars Nova, Moongarden, The Watch and Glass Hammer, check out:
Edited by erik neuteboom - July 28 2008 at 05:28 |
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Norbert
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 20 2005 Location: Hungary Status: Offline Points: 2506 |
Posted: July 28 2008 at 14:03 |
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I Penelli Di Vermeer sounds very interesting, Italian prog is well alive.
 These sweet serving errors... So it occurs not only here. |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 28 2008 at 14:14 |
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Well Norbert, the last 3 days I was thrown away from Prog Archives, I got constantly the infamous white pages with the message "serving error" and I had huge difficulties to maintain my threads and publish my reviews
 , at some moments I decided to escape from PA in order to keep my mental stability  !Indeed, I Pennelli Di Vermeer sounds great but it's not very accessible music, keep that in mind.
Today I had a vivid chat with Albatros keyboardplayer Marc (as I mentioned to improve my one year school Spanish), we will exchange CD's: I send him some early Genesis CD's and he send me two Albatros albums, I hope to receive and review their debut CD very soon, I just did a quick translation on a Spanish progrock site, their music is described as "a blend of psychedelia, rock, metal and Prog Andaluz with extended compositions and large instrumental parts", to me this sounds very promising
 Info:
Band: Albatros
Album: Pentadelia
Year: 2008
Line-up:
Edited by erik neuteboom - July 28 2008 at 14:16 |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: July 29 2008 at 16:32 |
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Surfing on The Spanish Progressive Rock Page I have discovered some very good bands like Bijou, Senogul and recently Albatros, I read about that band last week and after having contact with their keyboardplayer Marc I will receive their debut album Pentadelia this week, a review in this thread will foloow very soon
By the way, I found this on the Internet:
En breu tindrem també la crítica d'un veterà crític holandés
(Erik Neuteboom) que treballa per algunes pàgines de progressiu, i va contactar amb nosaltres a través del webmaster de la cítada enciclopèdia. Avui o demà doncs, 2 Pentadelies estaran volant cap a Holanda. It points at our CD exchange  !Edited by erik neuteboom - July 29 2008 at 16:34 |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: August 03 2008 at 15:12 |
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At last, my review about Albatros their stunning debut CD:
ALBATROS – Pentadelia (***1/2)  - I discovered this Spanish five-piece formation on The Spanish Progressive Rock Page in the New Releases section, like I did with other promising new Spanish bands Zaguan, Neverness, Bijou and the excellent Senogul. I was very curious to Albatros their sound when I read about their psychedelic oriented blend of several styles, from Rock Andalus to prog metal. Well, during my first listening session I got impressed from the very first moment. Although I trace elements from early Led Zeppelin, Seventies Hawkwind, Pink Floyd (Pompeii-era) and Eighties Rush, I notice that Albatros (the name points at five guys who wants to make psychedelic inspired music) has developped an own musical identity: their trademarks are great dynamics and building up compelling or hypnotizing atmospheres, topped with surprising musical ideas, an adventurous rhythm-section, powerful guitarwork and inventive keyboardplay. The album contains 8 songs, I am delighted about 6 tracks because these showcase Albatros their exciting eclectic musical approach.
* The instrumental 48: it starts with the sound of the sea and birds, blended with powerful saxophone work and then climates that shift from propulsive with prog metal guitar/drums to a slow rhythm with sensitive electric guitar/mellow organ and a dreamy atmosphere with twanging guitar and soaring keyboards, culminating in a very compelling psychedelic mood featuring great interplay, fiery guitar and hypnotizing synthesizers. * Supernova: a strong and catchy beat in a hypnotizing climate (evoking early Hawkwind) with wah-wah guitar and lots of dynamics, the second part is mellow with Floydian guitar and warm Spanish vocals, culminating in a lush finale delivering a sensitive electric guitar solo and a fluent rhythm-section. * Santuario: first a mellow climate with twanging acoustic guitar, then an accellaration featuring fluent drums, inspired Spanish vocals and tasteful interplay between guitar and keyboards. * The instrumental Ensor: tasteful and varied with sensational interplay between a bombastic choir-Mellotron-like sound and wah-wah drenched guitar with obvious psychedelic undertones. * Waiting For A Sign: first wailing distorted vocals and bluesy Fender Rhodes piano, then more and more dynamic with a slow but exciting psychedelic inspired synthesizer solo, very compelling music. * And finally the instrumental Mehari: dynamic and varied with excellent work on guitar and keyboards, the climate sounds like Heavy Psychedelic Prog. The other two songs also deliver good and captivating moments but Hombre Menguante suffers from mediocre English vocals and the final track Las Tripas de Goliat sounds a bit too fragmentic to me (too many ideas in one song in my opinion) and I am not pleased with the theatrical way of singing. - My conclusion: this is a very promising progrock band that will please the fans of psychedelic rock and Heavy Prog, check out their website in order to discover the exciting sound of Albatros! Edited by erik neuteboom - August 03 2008 at 15:44 |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: August 03 2008 at 15:32 |
 Various Genres (Studio Album, 2003) 3.45/5 (16 ratings) Review by erik neuteboom
Special Collaborator
and
New Progrock Bands Specialist
*** THIS IS THE 2008 DEFINITIVE EDITION REMASTERED ***
- How wonderful to notice that in our current commercial Western society the Finnish progrock magazine Colossus and the French progrock label Musea joined in order to release in 2003 an ambitous 3-CD progrock project featuring many lesser known and unknown new progrock bands from all over the world. Meanwhile the first pressing sold out, other Colossus/Musea projects like The Spaghetti Epic and Odyssey also have very decent sales and soon we can expect a now project entitled Tuonen Tytar II featuring band members from Tillion, Ars Nova, The Watch en Glass Hammer, I am looking forward to it!
- But back to the 3-CD Kalevala – A Finnish Progressive Rock Epic (based upon an era in the Finnish history in 50 poems), this year (2008) Colossus and Musea decided to re-release the Kalevala project in a digitally remastered version with one bonustrack (on CD-3). It was a musical marathon to listen to all the 31 bands on the 3 CD’s but I am delighted about the quality of all bands (some even surpassed their own level), I cannot trace a weak composition although some tracks are not really my cup of tea.
- DISC 1 (81:32) : all bands were asked to join the Kalevala 3-CD with a new composition, to use Seventies equipment and to sing in their native language. Apart from some bands that preferred to sing in English and some bands that couldn’t purchase Seventies instruments, the lion’s share succeeded in these musical goals. Especially on CD-1 we can enjoy a genuine vintage sound with cascades of Mellotron waves, Hammond runs and Minimoog flights, this is ‘Vintage Keyboard Heaven’! The level of the 10 bands on CD-1 is high, I was blown away by the sound of Overhead (spectacular synthesizer work, strong interplay and lots of fine musical ideas), Simon Says (varied and exciting with some majestic choir-Mellotron, Sinkadus (24-carat symphonic prog with floods of vintage keyboards), Il Castello Di Atlante (warm Italian vocals and intense work on violin and guitar) and Magenta (from twanging acoustic 12-string guitar to sumptuous Hammond, Mellotron and Moog, topped by the beautiful Annie Haslam-like vocals). A very pleasant surprise was Haikara their sound: alternating and powerful with great tension between the classical and progrock parts. The Italian formation Moongarden is now a known band, in 2003 they already impressed with their unique blend of several styles, I loved the bombastis eruptions. Another strong contribution is by the American-French band Clearlight with a great build-up and sparkling Grand piano.
- DISC 2 (71:00) : This CD is less obviously drenched into the Seventies Classic Prog tradition. I was delighted about the instrumental compositions of the unknown Norwegian formation Orchard (very dynamic with propulsive guitar riffs and flute similar to Jethro Tull along excellent choir-Mellotron waves, warm classical guitar and a flashy synthesizer solo) and the English duo Elegant Simplicity (the intense guitar turns to fiery, then a compelling climate with solos on the Prophet 5 synthesizer and Fender Rhodes electric piano). The Italian progrock legend Museo Rosenbach was willing to cooperate and delivered a strongly build-up compositions featuring passionate Italian vocals, delicate classical guitar and lots of Hammond organ (unfortunately no Mellotron like on Zarathustra). Another good Italian band is Revalation delivering wonderful violin – and choir-Mellotron waves, exciting Minimoog and sensitive electric guitar, great! And more from Italy: Leviathan their neo-prog (varied and dynamic with swirling play on synthesizer and flute along warm Italian vocals) and Malibran (fluent and swinging with powerful guitar solos from the 2 guitarists and pleasant work on the flute traverse).
- DISC 3 (76:19) : Although this CD is the least interesting, the level remains decent, especially the English Qadesh (dynamic and varied, from Fender to mandolin), the Italian Cantina Sociale (wonderful flute-Mellotron, the strong work on saxophone and guitar along inspired vocals), the Finnish Aardvark (from folky to Heavy Prog with Floydian guitar and wonderful keyboards), the totally unknown keyboard-driven Swiss band Thonk (lush Hammond sound and some piano and Mellotron), the Italian Randone & Tempore (varied vintage keyboard souns and a bit theatrical vocals) and Cafeine from France (lost of shifting moods and howling guitar runs). The short bonustrack is by the promising Finnish band Viima, it contains a dreamy atmosphere with mellow saxophone and fine Mellotron waves.
- My conclusion: for at about 23 euros/30 dollars you get a huge pile of interesting, captivating and exciting (mainly) new lesser known and unknown progrock bands from all over the world, the cascades of Hammond, Minimoog and Mellotron will caress the ears of the symphomaniacs and progheads, highly recommended!
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Norbert
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 20 2005 Location: Hungary Status: Offline Points: 2506 |
Posted: August 05 2008 at 13:36 |
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Erik, congratulations for your new "job" !
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: August 12 2008 at 17:48 |
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Progwalhalla Hans is back from his well deserved 3 weeks holiday in Spain, this means work for me
: soon to be reviewed in this thread new CD's by:
Presto Ballet, Tempus Fugit, Jaime Rosas, Dyonisos, Black Noodle Project, Mirage, Nostradamus ( = Solaris!) and the long expected Believe CD/DVD
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Nightfly
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 01 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3659 |
Posted: August 14 2008 at 05:15 |
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I'll look forward to reading about them Erik.
By the way, I had a listen to Albatros and while I wasn't inclined to rush out and buy it I found their strong Psychedelic influenced music very interesting and a band to keep an eye on.
Far more to my taste however is Senogul which is now on my list to buy.
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: August 14 2008 at 05:20 |
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Well Paul, Albatros their music is not very accesible but I was fascinated from the very first moment. I agree about Senogul, they sound a bit more mature and varied. Talking about Spanish Progrock, I just opened a new thread, see the section "Prog Bands, Artists, Genre Appreciation "
Next week I will meet Progwalhalla Hans in Amsterdam, he has a bunch of new progrock releases for me to review, I hope to tell you more very soon.
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Plankowner
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 09 2008 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 4006 |
Posted: August 14 2008 at 06:24 |
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Hi.
Currently checking out Albatross. Guess I'll be able to hear them in about an hour
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: August 14 2008 at 07:24 |
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OK Plankowner, thanks and I am looking forward to your opinion about Albatros!
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: August 15 2008 at 06:24 |
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Here's a very fine review I read today about the stunning new Italian progrock band Il Baccio Della
Medusa on the PA homepage, this guy "knows his classics"
 Heavy Prog (Studio Album, 2008) 4.66/5 (11 ratings) BACIO DELLA MEDUSA, IL — Discesa agl'inferi d'un giovane amante
Review by XPEHOPE3KA
The album is as fresh as Änglagård's Hybris and in many ways they can be compared. Both are written by a symphonic prog band with tight & skillful musicanship and very good compositional skills and sense of melody. Both have a flute added to a classic prog quartet. Both have a nearly-plagiated-track (Jordrök sounds like Schicke, Fuhrs & Frohling - Pictures at times, and 11-th track of reviewed album sounds too familiar to be original and seems to be used by New trolls somewhere in their 70's output). In spite of that both are masterpieces. Musically, however, thay're very different. Here the flute is used pretty often. It's mostly played in a melodic way with longing sounds, but jethrotullish faltering way of playing is also used. The flute is used both as a solo instrument (with all others backing it) and in wonderful interplay sections with acoustic guitar, or electric guitar, or violin, or keyboards, or even sax. Flute addicts will run on ceilings, I can bet! Its use here is very diverse. However, the flute is NOT omnipresent here - and this is what makes this album so exceptional! It doesn't bore you with omnipresent or monotonous use of any instrument - even keyboards (which handle soloing, backing and filling jobs in different ways), it doesn't selfrepeat in any expect, it's not pompous, it's not overly technical... ...it doesn't have monotonous background for solos, as most jazz-rock albums have. Well, soloing here - and, with more generality, - sectioning, is done very professionally. The band doesn't just jump from section to section as some modern bands - they make smooth (though still unpredictable) melodic transitions. This helps a lot with integrity of compositions. As a free bonus to exceptional music we also receive the vocals here. Passionate as usual for Italians, they seem to be of slightly other nature than ones in the classic albums. In Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra or in Metamorfosi - Inferno the vocal harmonies add a lot to the keyboards sound, but here IMO the vocals are of guitar nature. Less theatrical, more rocky - get it as you wish. Well, I wish this album would gain historical value and influencial impact at least as much as Änglagård's Hybris. IMO best 2008 album (yes, I've heard 7 of such, prog giants' ones included).  |
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Nightfly
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 01 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3659 |
Posted: August 16 2008 at 10:31 |
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^ Really looking forward to hearing that one Erik. Had an email from Hans saying he shipped it to me on the 12th so hopefully in a few days I'll get the chance. |
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My lesser known and unknown new prog bands thread
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This album stuns me so much that I decided to devote my first review to it!
