LEAFBLADE The Goddess with Child
PSYCHOYOGI Dangerous Devices
Expressing stylistic approaches in the same category as CARDIACS, KNIFEWORLD, and AMBITIOUS LOVERS.
- Chris Ramsing / Guitar, Vocals
- Justin Casey / Drums, Percussion
- Izzy Stylish / Bass
- Toby Nowell / Trumpet, Alto & Soprano Sax (1,2,4,5,6,9,10)
- John Macnaughton / Alto & Tenor Sax (3,7,9,11)
1. Dangerous Devices (4:45)
2. One Way Track (3:11)
3. Master Plan (4:08)
4. New Frontier (2:57)
5. Sooner Than Now (4:12)
6. Common As Muck (2:27)
7. Shadows (4:22)
8. Moron (1:46)
9. Tender Loving Way (2:20)
10. Lament (0:53)
11. Words Unspoken (4:14)
12. Plastic Palace (0:22)
Total Time 35:37
B-/3.5 stars.
FRAGILE Golden Moment
Original stuff from long-time YES tribute band. What makes this group and album particularly exciting is the presence of prog veterans Claire Hammill and and, more, the presence of young guitar phenom Oliver Day (from JOHN HOLDEN).
Line-up / Musicians:
Claire Hamill - Vocals
Oliver Day - Guitars
Max Hunt - Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Percussion
Russ Wilson - Drums/Percussion
With
Clive Bayley (Mabel Greer's Toyshop) - Vocals (4, 6)
1. "When Are Wars Won?/Surely All I Need" (12:17) (21.75/25)
2. Blessed By The Sun/Hey You And I And (6:40)
3. Five Senses (4:34)
4. Heaven's Core (6:29)
5. Open Space (2:31)
6. Time To Dream/Now We Are Sunlight (6:29)
7. "Old Worlds And Kingdoms/Too Late In The Day" (11:24) (17.25/20)
Total Time 50:24
The 13th album release (12 studio albums) since 1983 from these excellent Lousiville-based Avant/RIO musicians.
Line-up / Musicians:
- Katsumi Yoneda | guitars
- Pat Strawser | keyboards
- Mike Sary | bass, loops, samplers
- Jeff Gard | drums (1/3-1/5), all drums (2)
- Mark L.Perry | drums, percussion (1/1, 1/2, 1/6)
with:
- Ludo Fabre | violin (1/1, 1/3)
- Katsumi Yoneda | guitars
- Pat Strawser | keyboards
- Mike Sary | bass, loops, samplers
- Jeff Gard | drums (1/3-1/5), all drums (2)
- Mark L.Perry | drums, percussion (1/1, 1/2, 1/6)
with:
- Ludo Fabre | violin (1/1, 1/3)
CD1: SORT OF LIVE IN THE STUDIO: 45:02
1. "Unexpected Secrets of the House of Mystery at the Witching Hour" (8:33) what if ATOMIC APE and 1984 JEAN-LUC PONTY merged? (17.75/20)
2. "This Decadent Poetry Is Awful" (5:01) (/10)
3. "Stubby Index Finger" (7:55) (/15)
4. "The Museum of Worthless Inventions" (7:44) (/15)
5. "That Jigsaw Puzzle is Tearing Our Family Apart" (6:25) (/10)
6. "A Cornucopia of Riches" (9:23) (17.5/20)
CD2: LIVE IN THE STUDIO: 62:59
1. "Ghost Zone/Noble Obelisk" (8:31)
2. "This Decadent Poetry Is Awful" (5:01)
3. "The Odessa Steps Sequence" (9:44)
4. "Look at the Bears! Look at the Bears! Look at the Bears!" (9:20)
5. "Conversational Paradigms" (7:44)
6. "That Thing on the Wall" (8:52)
7. "Black Pit" (3:56)
8. "A Cornucopia of Riches" (9:51) a redo of the same song from CD1. (/20)
Total Time: 108:01
One of their most accessible and best produced albums. Great lineup of musicians Mike Sary has attracted to his studios.
Q-BIZM Corduroy Shorts
Wonderful psychedelic funk-jazz rock music from Italia. As if enmeshed with
Francesco Corrias - drums
ETN Hunyady - guitars
Filippo Gaetani - bass, guitars, vocals
Francesco Longhi - keyboards
Alessandro Riccucci - saxophones
Stefano Lunardi - violin
Thomas Murley - vocals, sound effects
With
Antonio Denti - spooky guitar (2)
Tommaso Gaetani - acoustic guitar (1)
Valentin Gerlier - acoustic guitar (7)
1. "Black Truck" (3:41) As if a little of the MOTORPSYCHO virus infected King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard while performing the soundtrack for the film, The Commotions. (8.75/10)
2. "3131" (3:58) A little SIMPLY RED fused with THE STYLE COUNCIL for a funky instrumental. Brian Ellis would love this! (8.75/10)
3. "Just A Man" (3:48) The Who? Paul Weller? Tame Impala? Catchy melodies. (8.25/10)
4. "Funkraum" (3:22) P Funk Allstars/Average White Band instrumental. Nice work on the Hammond. (8.5/10)
5. "The Ghost Of Castlesea" (2:19) a very interesting change of pace: acoustic guitar picking! (4.5/5)
6. "Warning" (3:18) this could easily be either THE BEATLES or PAUL McCARTNEY. (8.25/10)
7. "Kyodo Shuffle" (3:27) sounds like something from Nikitas Kissonas' The Fall of Bliss. (8.25/10)
8. "Punkache" (3:50) STEELY DAN "Black Cow" chords and instruments. Very pretty. (8.75/10)
9. "Blues" (3:16) AC/DC!!? or TREE TOPS? Wow! Another song that really surprises me. (8.5/10)
10. "Roggen Roll" (4:12) earlier STEELY DAN with a bit more smooth jazz/adult contemporary feel to it. Jazz instrumental. (9/10)
Total Time 35:11
I must admit that Francesco Corrias' drumming stands out as the wonderful glue it is for this very solid album of psychedelic funk--one that is laced with quite a few surprises.
3. "Just A Man" (3:48) The Who? Paul Weller? Tame Impala? Catchy melodies. (8.25/10)
4. "Funkraum" (3:22) P Funk Allstars/Average White Band instrumental. Nice work on the Hammond. (8.5/10)
5. "The Ghost Of Castlesea" (2:19) a very interesting change of pace: acoustic guitar picking! (4.5/5)
6. "Warning" (3:18) this could easily be either THE BEATLES or PAUL McCARTNEY. (8.25/10)
7. "Kyodo Shuffle" (3:27) sounds like something from Nikitas Kissonas' The Fall of Bliss. (8.25/10)
8. "Punkache" (3:50) STEELY DAN "Black Cow" chords and instruments. Very pretty. (8.75/10)
9. "Blues" (3:16) AC/DC!!? or TREE TOPS? Wow! Another song that really surprises me. (8.5/10)
10. "Roggen Roll" (4:12) earlier STEELY DAN with a bit more smooth jazz/adult contemporary feel to it. Jazz instrumental. (9/10)
Total Time 35:11
I must admit that Francesco Corrias' drumming stands out as the wonderful glue it is for this very solid album of psychedelic funk--one that is laced with quite a few surprises.
B/four stars.
TERRAPIN Zero Repercussions
Greek retro Prog Folk in the folk rock traditions of the 1970s (Strawbs, Eden, Roy Harper)
Line-up / Musicians:
Vassilis Bas Athanassiadis - vocals, electric guitar, 12 string acoustic guitar, cümbüş, Korg Monotron
George Tzivas - drums, percussion
Kostas Sidirokastritis - backing vocals, bass, keyboards, electric guitar
1. In The Fields Of Unknown Graves (5:26)
2. Hymn (5:39)
3. (Prolonged Accusation) Mind Probe (3:26)
4. The Woods (5:54)
5. Infinite Trajectories (5:20)
6. Early Morning (7:10)
7. Epithalamion (4:06)
8. Graciously (4:58)
Total Time 41:59
MECIEJ MELLER Zenith
Maciej Meller (Riverside, Quidam) – guitars, mandolin
Krzysztof Borek – vocals
Robert Szydło – bass guitars
Łukasz Damrych – keyboards
Łukasz Sobolak – drums
With
Szymon Paduszyński – backing vocals (3)
1. Aside (8:44)
2. Knife (4:39)
3. Plan B (4:11)
4. Halfway (5:10)
5. "Frozen" (5:40) (8.75/10)
6. Fox (6:40)
7. Trip (8:02)
8. Magic (1:52)
Total Time 44:58
SECONDS BEFORE LANDING Cosmonaut
Simple but pleasing and quirky Neo Prog inspired by a space theme. The music is gorgeous and very nicely engineered. It is mostly very relaxing and lyrically interesting, but perhaps a little overly simple and spacious.
2. Knife (4:39)
3. Plan B (4:11)
4. Halfway (5:10)
5. "Frozen" (5:40) (8.75/10)
6. Fox (6:40)
7. Trip (8:02)
8. Magic (1:52)
Total Time 44:58
SECONDS BEFORE LANDING Cosmonaut
Simple but pleasing and quirky Neo Prog inspired by a space theme. The music is gorgeous and very nicely engineered. It is mostly very relaxing and lyrically interesting, but perhaps a little overly simple and spacious.
Line-up / Musicians:
- John Crispino / Vocals, Drums and Percussion, Synths, Bass Synth, Loops and Effects
- J.D. Garrison / Bass
- Guy Bar Tor / Bass
- Eric Maldonado / Lead Guitars
- Steve Schuffert / Lead Guitars
- Rick Witkowski / Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars
- Jamie Peck / Steinway Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet Solo
- Vanessa Campagna / Vocals
- John Crispino / Vocals, Drums and Percussion, Synths, Bass Synth, Loops and Effects
- J.D. Garrison / Bass
- Guy Bar Tor / Bass
- Eric Maldonado / Lead Guitars
- Steve Schuffert / Lead Guitars
- Rick Witkowski / Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars
- Jamie Peck / Steinway Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet Solo
- Vanessa Campagna / Vocals
1. Weightless (0:40)
2. Life (3:02)
3. My Best Friend (5:25)
4. March In to Klushino (5:07)
5. Training (1:59)
6. Waterfall (3:37)
7. "Close to Heaven" (5:48) nice BLUE NILE like sound palette. (9/10)
8. Yuri Speaks (1:20)
9. 36 Dogs (5:30)
10. It's Time Now (5:30)
11. One Minute to Launch (2:51)
12. Answer Me (5:22)
13. Cosmonaut (8:31)
14. Oh How I Miss You (3:00)
15. The End (3:22)
Total Time 61:04
3. My Best Friend (5:25)
4. March In to Klushino (5:07)
5. Training (1:59)
6. Waterfall (3:37)
7. "Close to Heaven" (5:48) nice BLUE NILE like sound palette. (9/10)
8. Yuri Speaks (1:20)
9. 36 Dogs (5:30)
10. It's Time Now (5:30)
11. One Minute to Launch (2:51)
12. Answer Me (5:22)
13. Cosmonaut (8:31)
14. Oh How I Miss You (3:00)
15. The End (3:22)
Total Time 61:04
Competent and listenable if not terribly sophisticated.
B-/3.5 stars; an album worthy of your own judgment.
CARY GRACE Lady of Turquoise
Some interesting spacey-psychedelic sound arrangements of some very simple, very traditionally constructed blues songs. The reviews of my previous two esteemed reviewers fail to mention the commanding vocal allure and lyrical delivery that Cary possesses that is strikingly similar to that of Siouxsie Sioux. There may even be some uncredited small debt owed in the sound palette to the Banshees (and Cure). Also agreed that Cary's lyrics and vocal delivery are the most remarkable part of this music.
- Cary Grace / vocals, synthesizers, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, organ, sampling, sequencing, electronics, sound effects
- John Garden / electric guitar, Prophet-5, drums
- Steffe Sharpstrings / electric guitar
- Victoria Reyes / organ, piano, backing vocals
- Graham Clark / electric guitar, electric violin
- Steve Everitt / string arrangement, electric guitar, lap steel
- Ian East / saxophone
- Andy Bole / bouzouki, laouto
- Andy Budge / bass
- David Payne / drums
CD 1 (45:33)
1. "Khepera at the Dawn" (4:08) the lead guitarist in this bluesy instrumental neither stays with the rhythmists nor with the established melody. S/he might be able to get away with it were s/he really Jimi Hendrix, but . . . Nice sound palette; next take, please. (8/10)
2. "Letterbox" (4:35) acoustic guitar turns four-chord Jeff Beck/Jimmy Page. Interesting sound palette.(8.5/10)
3. "Without a Trace" (5:50) interesting lyrics and delivery; interesting take on John Lennon's "Imagine." Dream on. (8.25/10)
4. "Into Dust" (5:21) what if Hendrix were to have played on Procul Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" as Siouxsie Sioux crooned. In the fourth minute it tries to turn religious with church choral chant of lyric, "body and soul." (8.75/10)
5. "Afterglow" (6:11) whisper-spoken poetic lyrics over basic, sparse and spacious blues rock. Hypnotic--until the 3:10 mark when Cary and the band leap back into the here and now with convincing force. Too bad the instrumentalists wander off book (off universe) in the final two minutes--otherwise a kind of cool song in a Anne Clark kind of way. (8.75/10)
6. "Film Noir" (7:18) more Anne Clark-type of musical-poet experience. (12.5/15)
7. "Costume Jewellery" (extended version) (12:10) strummed guitars (electric & acoustic) and violin appear before drums and bass join in. After the first verse it turns into a kind of imitation of Jimi Hendrix's "Third Stone from the Sun" (or else The Pink Fairies' "I Wish I Was a Girl"). (20/25)
CD 2 (46:37)
8. "Moonflowers (Fade to Black)" (6:55) (12/15)
9. "Sacrifice" (10:24) nice lead guitar work in the second half over this middle school blues rock practice jam. (16/20)
10. "Memory" (4:09) she's no Nina Hagen--despite using the chords and mood of "Der Spinner." The lead guitar in the L channel sounds like Brian May. (8/10)
11. "Castle of Dreams" (11:19) the first uptempo song on the second disc relies on a disco beat and Supertramp bouncing keyboard. The L channel guitarist wishes s/he were Robin Trower. Again, Souixsie and the Banshees and the late 1970s come to mind--even and especially the stripped down mid-section. Nice choral vocals. (16/20)
12. "The Land of Two Fields" (2:08) birds and a guitar being tuned over a KRAFTWERK sequence/loop. Turns kind of CAMEL-esque. Why isn't there more of this on the album? (4.5/5)
13. "Lady of Turquoise" (11:42) back to the post-punk, early Goth 70s. You half expect ROBERT SMITH or ROBERT JAMES to start singing. With 11 minutes of that drum and bass line, the musicians have no choice but to solo--otherwise they'd go crazy (or to sleep). Go John Hughes! (15/20)
Total Time 92:10
It feels to me as if everything on this album, song titles, lyrical phrases, instrumental sounds, rhythms and chord progressions, guitar soli, and even the vocal stylings are copies of something or someone else from rock's past--usually quite iconic things. The music is too simplistic to really be classifed as "prog" as it is more akin to the classic blues rock that was evolving parallel to the serious progressive rock pioneers--musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Randy California, Eric Clapton, Robin Trower, Frank Marino, and At times it's good, at times interesting, but mostly I find it redundant. But, then, I'm not a lyrics guy, so perhaps I'm missing something earth-shattering in the message. Otherwise, I'd heard music just as good as this from a band in my middle school. (Okay, maybe the lead guitar and lead singing are a little better here.)
81.25 on the Fishscales = C/three stars; a good collection of very standard blues-rock songs over which a talented lady sings and plays her guitar.
Mood- and place-evoking instrumental soundscapes from the ever-creative mind of Ivan Rozmainsky (ROZ VITALIS).
Line-up / Musicians:
- Serghei Liubcenco / guitar, doira, rubab, recording
- Leonid Perevalov / bass clarinets, clarinets, recording
- Ivan Rozmainsky / conception, keyboards, percussion, recording
- Natalia Fyodorova / gusli
- Yurii Groiser / drums, programming
- Stanislava Malakhovskaya / harp
- Oleg Prilutsky / trumpet
1. "The Whole Creation Travaileth in Pain Together (7:16)
2. "Street Out of Sleep (3:22)
3. "How Poems Lose Relevance (4:15)
4. "Caress of Compassion (Part 1) (3:22)
5. "Beware of Evil Workers (3:47)
6. "Heart to Heart Talk (4:04)
7. "Sinkhole (3:29)
8. "Caress of Compassion (Part 2) (2:13)
9. "1907 (5:14)
10. "When It Is Too Late to Love (3:06)
11. "My Soul as a Thirsty Land (5:13)
12. "Caress of Compassion (Part 3) (3:04)
Total Time 48:25
Line-up / Musicians:
- Christian Peters / vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Thomas Vedder / drums, percussion
- Hans Eiselt / bass, backing vocals
1. "Second Birth" (10:58) (17/20)
2. Massive Passive (6:00)
3. Southern Sunset (6:46)
4. Lovage Leaves (4:17)
5. End of Forever (7:55)
6. Orchid Annie (8:24)
7. Jumbo Mumbo Jumbo (6:47) *
Total Time 51:07
* bonus track
2. "Street Out of Sleep (3:22)
3. "How Poems Lose Relevance (4:15)
4. "Caress of Compassion (Part 1) (3:22)
5. "Beware of Evil Workers (3:47)
6. "Heart to Heart Talk (4:04)
7. "Sinkhole (3:29)
8. "Caress of Compassion (Part 2) (2:13)
9. "1907 (5:14)
10. "When It Is Too Late to Love (3:06)
11. "My Soul as a Thirsty Land (5:13)
12. "Caress of Compassion (Part 3) (3:04)
Total Time 48:25
Interesting and evocative of the isolation that survival from the Coronavirus of 2020 has demanded across the globe. To me, the music feels like a cross between the 2020 releases of ANNA VON HAUSSWOLF, LUNATIC SOUL, and old, creepy KARDA ESTRA. Boy! COVID-19 has certainly changed us! I'm always interested in Ivan's music; his albums always contain interesting creative music (and often a masterpiece or two), but there's something impressionistic (which is not necessarily bad) and incomplete or unfinished about many of his compositions--which leaves me wanting more, hoping for . . . completion. This album is perhaps his most demonstrative of this trait.
on the Fishscales = / stars;
COLLAPSE UNDER THE EMPIRE Everything We Will Leave Beyond Us
Line-up / Musicians:
Chris Burda - drums, Keyboards
Martin Grimm - guitar, drums1. "Ark Of Horizon" (5:13)
2. "Red Rain" (4:09) (8.25/10)
3. "Seven" (3:26)
4. "Resistance" (7:27) a very good cinematic PR song. (13/15)
5. "Destruction" (6:31) good Post Rock; nothing very powerful or innovative, though. (8/10)
6. "Everything We Will Leave Beyond Us" (4:52) great song for which the band put together an AMAZING video under the title of "Beyond Us." My vote for The Best Prog Video for 2020. (9.25/10)
7. "A New Beginning" (4:53)
8. "Another Earth" (4:37) good Post Rock with power and atmosphere. (8.5/10)
2. "Red Rain" (4:09) (8.25/10)
3. "Seven" (3:26)
4. "Resistance" (7:27) a very good cinematic PR song. (13/15)
5. "Destruction" (6:31) good Post Rock; nothing very powerful or innovative, though. (8/10)
6. "Everything We Will Leave Beyond Us" (4:52) great song for which the band put together an AMAZING video under the title of "Beyond Us." My vote for The Best Prog Video for 2020. (9.25/10)
7. "A New Beginning" (4:53)
8. "Another Earth" (4:37) good Post Rock with power and atmosphere. (8.5/10)
on the Fishscales = / stars;
SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT End of Forever
Apparently this album is the band's swan song: the end, forever. It's been a good ten years!
- Christian Peters / vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Thomas Vedder / drums, percussion
- Hans Eiselt / bass, backing vocals
1. "Second Birth" (10:58) (17/20)
2. Massive Passive (6:00)
3. Southern Sunset (6:46)
4. Lovage Leaves (4:17)
5. End of Forever (7:55)
6. Orchid Annie (8:24)
7. Jumbo Mumbo Jumbo (6:47) *
Total Time 51:07
* bonus track
on the Fishscales = C+/2.5 stars; a fair but disappointing submission to Prog World--one that shows me the failure of a band to progress and improve since its arrival ten years ago. Good riddance and good luck, former members of the now-disbanded Samsara Blues Experiment.
KLAUS MORLOCK The Memory Chamber
Back to Panegra and the 1974 disappearances of Lilly . Klaus has a little obsession.
1. The Still Point" (3:56)
2. Limerigg '76" (2:40)
3. You Again" (2:02)
4. Ladybird's Journey" (3:47)
5. Ladybird's Ascension" (4:33)
6. Everything's Fine" (1:06)
7. Together at Last" (2:16)
8. "The Memory Chamber" (12:01) ethereal organic analog music with Nature sounds throughout.Pleasant but nothing new or exciting here. (19/25)
on the Fishscales = / stars;
ISOBAR Isobar
Anytime Mattias Olsson shows up you should pay attention, so I did. The result is solid by nothing new or exciting--and, being all instrumental, needing something "more."
- Malcolm Smith / guitars
- Marc Spooner / keyboards
- Jim Anderson / bass
- Mattias Olsson / drums
With:
- Evan Weiss / trumpet (2,6,8,10,13)
- Lonnie Cory / trumpet (4,5,7)
- Ben Bohorquez / saxophone (2,6,8,10,13)
- Tony Abena / saxophone (4,5,7)
1. Weekend of Mammals (4:17)
2. Control Mouse (4:28)
3. Major Matt Mason (4:57)
4. Off the A6 (5:32)
5. Dinky Planet (6:32)
6. Mais Daze (3:26)
7. New Math (3:45)
8. 79¢ (5:07)
9. Dinner Ain't Ready (5:07)
10. Elves Are Go! (4:10)
11. AP Alchemy (9:22)
12. Uncanny, The (3:37)
13. Isobars (5:26)
Total Time 65:46
on the Fishscales = / stars;
OTTONE PESANTE DoomooD
"Brass Metal"! From Italy!
on the Fishscales = /4.5 stars;
Line-up / Musicians:
- Thor Erik Helgesen / Hammond L100, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet D6, Moog Satellite, tubular bells, theremin
- Håvard Rasmussen / bass, effects
- Dag Olav Husås / drums, timpani, percussion, effects
1. The Seven Movements of the Third Majesty (22:06) :
- a. Universal
- b. Spectrum
- c. Reaction
- d. Bilateral
- e. Zenith
- f. Strife of the Icons
- g. Altitude over Azimuth
2. Illuminati (5:33)
3. Distant Sphere (11:11)
4. "The Möbius Ring" (9:01) great organ and bass play beneath the Ozzie Osborn-like vocal performance. (18/20)
Total Time 47:51
- a. Universal
- b. Spectrum
- c. Reaction
- d. Bilateral
- e. Zenith
- f. Strife of the Icons
- g. Altitude over Azimuth
2. Illuminati (5:33)
3. Distant Sphere (11:11)
4. "The Möbius Ring" (9:01) great organ and bass play beneath the Ozzie Osborn-like vocal performance. (18/20)
Total Time 47:51
on the Fishscales = /four stars;
PENCARROW Growth in the Absence of Light
Line-up / Musicians:
- Justin Chorley / drums
- Tonnie ten Hove / guitars, vocals
- Anthony Rose / keyboards
- Todd Thompson / bass
1. "In Medias Res" (5:26) long and deliberate atmospheric rise leading to an instrumental that reminds me of Pure Reason Revolution's The Dark Third. (9.5/10)
2. "Portrait of My Intimate Frailty" (5:42) the music bleeds in from the previous song but quickly finds some heavily distorted guitar chords--almost metal. At the three minute mark it takes a turn to become totally dominated by the arpeggiated chords of a dreamy Fender Rhodes and scratchy electric guitar. At 4:30 Mellotron, bass, and drums join in. (The drums are not in synch with the rest.) Pretty decent song. . . for a fairly simple instrumental. (8.75/10)
3. A Meeting of the Shadows (7:20)
4. Time Dilation (6:13)
5. Stasis / Flux (7:58)
6. Silent Beauty: Bittersweet Memories of Embrace (7:01)
7. New Light (4:33)
8. Memory Terminal (2:05)
9. Twins Paradox: Confessions of a Capitalist Lover (5:10)
10. Deep Abandon (3:55)
11. The Approaching Shade (5:14)
Total Time 60:37
A band to watch.
on the Fishscales = 3.5 stars;
Line-up / Musicians:
- Tomi Leppänen / all instrumentation
- Jussi Lehtisalo / all instrumentation
Featuring:
- Aaron Turner / vocals
1. Path Eternal (6:34)
2. Arms of the Butcher (5:09)
3. Without Song All Will Perish (8:14)
4. "Tomorrow's Sun" (6:13) (8/10)
5. Blue Light Hum (13:59)
Total Time 40:09
Line-up / Musicians:
Koert Wegman – Guitar, Keys, Vocals
Jason Healey – Guitar
Stefan Bourke – Drums
1. "Aka" (1:31) (/5)
2. "Whare Ra" (5:13) simple Post Rock metal palette (not unlike SLEEPMAKESWAVES) that only blossoms at the BLACK SABBATH-inspired two-minute mark but then fails to go anywhere. Nice sounding. It could be so much more. At 4:13 is the first time we hear the death growls--mixed within the walls of sounds (which is kind of novel, kind of cool). (8.5/10)
3. "Of Valleys And Mountains" (4:29) simple grunge metal with death growls for vocals. (8.25/10)
4. Tūrehu (5:10)
5. Light In Water (2:48)
6. Weta (5:05)
7. Kēhua (5:23)
8. Utu (4:51)
9. Oro (1:41)
10. Ngaro (5:41)
11. "Salt Of The Earth" (8:21) outstanding (19/20)
12. Inoi (10:29)
Total Time 60:42
Line-up / Musicians:
- Nick Prol / vocals, lyrics, guitar
- Ben Spees / bass, synth, backing vocals
- Connor Reilly / drums
With:
- Dave Newhouse / horns
- Mohadev / stunt guitar
- Oliver Campbell / stunt bass, screams
- Jerry King / stunt trombone
- Jack Tickner / additional stunt guitar
- Kavus Torabi / narration
- Thymme Jones / narration
- Bob Drake / narration
1. New Life (3:18)
2. Foreword by the Author (4:55)
3. "Apropods" (3:04) (8.5/10)
4. "Birth Gourd" (1:43) (4/5)
5. "Cludges" (4:29) (8/10)
6. Duggers (2:44)
7. Emitones (2:57)
8. Filnosses (1:31)
9. Golooms (3:02)
10. Hildges (2:41)
11. Intristics (3:50)
12. "Jelonomi" (3:22) dirty, heavily distorted instruments--even the drums! (8.5/10)
13. Kigangs (1:06)
14. Loshnongs (4:56)
Total Time 43:38
Psych
Line-up / Musicians:
- Michael / guitar
- Darcy / production, guitar, synth
- Luke / vocals, bass
With:
- Chris Cameron / drums & percussion
- Jade Alice / backing vocals
- Dan Richardson / flute, didgeridoo
1. "Anamnesis" (12:24) the multiple layers of vocals are the highlight for me. (22/25)
2. Entrancement (5:33)
3. Organic Hard Drive (9:38)
4. Offer (4:14)
5. On the Way (9:37)
6. Digital Ritual (4:57)
7. Face the Sun (11:48)
8. Zenith (9:55)
Total Time 68:06
Line-up / Musicians:
- Hakon Oftung / guitars, flute
- Morten Birkeland Nielsen / synths, acoustic guitar, drum programming
Equipment:
-Synthesizers and drum machines / Novation Bass Station 2, DSI Mopho, DSI Prophet 08, Waldorf Streichfett, Waldorf Blofeld, Korg Minilogue, Korg Volca Sample, Korg Arp Odyssey, Korg Microkorg XL, Gakken SX150, Roland SC88VL.
- Guitars and flute / Ibanez G200ECE-NT classical guitar, Furch S22 acoustic guitar, Fender Stratocaster, Yamaha flute.
- Effects and controllers / Waldorf 2-pole, Electro-Harmonix Mel-9, Zoom G3, Digitech Polara, Boss DD-20, Boxx RV-5, Arturia Keystep, StepSequencer ST-S01, Shure SM57 microphone.
1. "Omicron Pt. 1" (22:24) such great, clean sounds used but ultimately the music does not stand up to that of the masters it tries to emulate. (38/45)
2. "Omicron Pt. 2" (20:46) (/40)
PHAROAH OVERLOAD 6
Doom Disco-Krautrock?
- Tomi Leppänen / all instrumentation
- Jussi Lehtisalo / all instrumentation
Featuring:
- Aaron Turner / vocals
1. Path Eternal (6:34)
2. Arms of the Butcher (5:09)
3. Without Song All Will Perish (8:14)
4. "Tomorrow's Sun" (6:13) (8/10)
5. Blue Light Hum (13:59)
Total Time 40:09
I'm not sure this works. I know it doesn't work for me.
on the Fishscales = /three stars;
PULL DOWN THE SUN Of Valleys and Mountains
Prog Metal not far off from the music of KARNIVOOL, only less sophisticated, less polished, less mature.
Koert Wegman – Guitar, Keys, Vocals
Jason Healey – Guitar
Stefan Bourke – Drums
1. "Aka" (1:31) (/5)
2. "Whare Ra" (5:13) simple Post Rock metal palette (not unlike SLEEPMAKESWAVES) that only blossoms at the BLACK SABBATH-inspired two-minute mark but then fails to go anywhere. Nice sounding. It could be so much more. At 4:13 is the first time we hear the death growls--mixed within the walls of sounds (which is kind of novel, kind of cool). (8.5/10)
3. "Of Valleys And Mountains" (4:29) simple grunge metal with death growls for vocals. (8.25/10)
4. Tūrehu (5:10)
5. Light In Water (2:48)
6. Weta (5:05)
7. Kēhua (5:23)
8. Utu (4:51)
9. Oro (1:41)
10. Ngaro (5:41)
11. "Salt Of The Earth" (8:21) outstanding (19/20)
12. Inoi (10:29)
Total Time 60:42
on the Fishscales = /three stars;
MARY HALVORSON'S CODE GIRL Artlessly Falling
Lounge jazz sounding a lot like the music of eccentric Annette Peacock or John Lurie.
Line-up / Musicians:
Amirtha Kidambi - voice
Maria Grand - tenor saxophone, voice
Adam O'Farrill - trumpet
Mary Halvorson - guitar
Michael Formanek - bass
Tomas Fujiwara - drums, beer cans on track 2
Robert Wyatt - voice on tracks 1, 3, 5
1. "The Lemon Trees" (07:14) Robert Wyatt's voice is sounding so old! (12/15)
2. "Last-Minute Smears" (08:57) pure lounge jazz with only the breathy Annette Peacock-like voice of Amirtha Kidambi singing. (8.5/10)
3. "Walls And Roses" (03:32) heavy Hendrix-like blues-rock within which RW and Amirtha Kidambi take turns vocalizing between guitar shredding that sounds somewhere between Hendrix and Larry Coryell. Very interesting. (8.5/10)
Line-up / Musicians:
Amirtha Kidambi - voice
Maria Grand - tenor saxophone, voice
Adam O'Farrill - trumpet
Mary Halvorson - guitar
Michael Formanek - bass
Tomas Fujiwara - drums, beer cans on track 2
Robert Wyatt - voice on tracks 1, 3, 5
1. "The Lemon Trees" (07:14) Robert Wyatt's voice is sounding so old! (12/15)
2. "Last-Minute Smears" (08:57) pure lounge jazz with only the breathy Annette Peacock-like voice of Amirtha Kidambi singing. (8.5/10)
3. "Walls And Roses" (03:32) heavy Hendrix-like blues-rock within which RW and Amirtha Kidambi take turns vocalizing between guitar shredding that sounds somewhere between Hendrix and Larry Coryell. Very interesting. (8.5/10)
4. "Muzzling Unwashed" (10:50) microtonal electric guitar play over free form jazz drums and double bass.Trumpet joins later as music shifts more to old-style jazz forms beneath, in support. (17/20)
5. Bigger Flames (05:15)
6. Mexican War Streets (Pittsburgh) (10:39)
7. A Nearing (10:29)
8. Artlessly Falling (07:16)
5. Bigger Flames (05:15)
6. Mexican War Streets (Pittsburgh) (10:39)
7. A Nearing (10:29)
8. Artlessly Falling (07:16)
Great musicianship on a selections of widely-variant jazz-based prog songs.
on the Fishscales = /3.5 stars;
NICK PROL & THE PROLETARIANS An Erstwhile Alphabestiary: Book One
Line-up / Musicians:
- Nick Prol / vocals, lyrics, guitar
- Ben Spees / bass, synth, backing vocals
- Connor Reilly / drums
With:
- Dave Newhouse / horns
- Mohadev / stunt guitar
- Oliver Campbell / stunt bass, screams
- Jerry King / stunt trombone
- Jack Tickner / additional stunt guitar
- Kavus Torabi / narration
- Thymme Jones / narration
- Bob Drake / narration
1. New Life (3:18)
2. Foreword by the Author (4:55)
3. "Apropods" (3:04) (8.5/10)
4. "Birth Gourd" (1:43) (4/5)
5. "Cludges" (4:29) (8/10)
6. Duggers (2:44)
7. Emitones (2:57)
8. Filnosses (1:31)
9. Golooms (3:02)
10. Hildges (2:41)
11. Intristics (3:50)
12. "Jelonomi" (3:22) dirty, heavily distorted instruments--even the drums! (8.5/10)
13. Kigangs (1:06)
14. Loshnongs (4:56)
Total Time 43:38
I liked their debut much more!
on the Fishscales = C/2.5 stars
LUCID PLANET II
Line-up / Musicians:
- Michael / guitar
- Darcy / production, guitar, synth
- Luke / vocals, bass
With:
- Chris Cameron / drums & percussion
- Jade Alice / backing vocals
- Dan Richardson / flute, didgeridoo
1. "Anamnesis" (12:24) the multiple layers of vocals are the highlight for me. (22/25)
2. Entrancement (5:33)
3. Organic Hard Drive (9:38)
4. Offer (4:14)
5. On the Way (9:37)
6. Digital Ritual (4:57)
7. Face the Sun (11:48)
8. Zenith (9:55)
Total Time 68:06
on the Fishscales = 3.5 stars;
BREIDABLIK Omicron
Very pleasant and impressive Prog Electronic music that patiently establishes itself with some very rich yet-smooth Tangerine Dream-like sounds that are masterfully woven together
- Hakon Oftung / guitars, flute
- Morten Birkeland Nielsen / synths, acoustic guitar, drum programming
Equipment:
-Synthesizers and drum machines / Novation Bass Station 2, DSI Mopho, DSI Prophet 08, Waldorf Streichfett, Waldorf Blofeld, Korg Minilogue, Korg Volca Sample, Korg Arp Odyssey, Korg Microkorg XL, Gakken SX150, Roland SC88VL.
- Guitars and flute / Ibanez G200ECE-NT classical guitar, Furch S22 acoustic guitar, Fender Stratocaster, Yamaha flute.
- Effects and controllers / Waldorf 2-pole, Electro-Harmonix Mel-9, Zoom G3, Digitech Polara, Boss DD-20, Boxx RV-5, Arturia Keystep, StepSequencer ST-S01, Shure SM57 microphone.
1. "Omicron Pt. 1" (22:24) such great, clean sounds used but ultimately the music does not stand up to that of the masters it tries to emulate. (38/45)
2. "Omicron Pt. 2" (20:46) (/40)
on the Fishscales = /four stars;
CHROMB! Le livre des merveilles
- Léo Dumont / drums, percussion, objects
- Camille Durieux / keyboards, synths, vocals
- Lucas Hercberg / bass, synth, vocals
- Antoine Mermet / alto saxophone, delay, synths, vocals
1. "Le livre des merveilles" (4:10) part CARDIACS, part Brutopianisti, part barber shop quartet. I'm certainly entertained by it. (9/10)
2. "Le fleuve Brison" (9:07) (/20)
3. "Les chevaliers qui apparaissent" (12:05) (/25)
4. "La souvenance d'Achille" (7:44) (/15)
Total Time 33:06
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