2021, Part 4: Other Albums worth checking out for yourselves

CORRADO RUSTICI  

Though this is a one-man project, seasoned veteran Corrado has all the equipment and knowledge to make very polished and sophisticated music from his technology-driven equipment.

Musicians / Lineup:
Corrado Rustici: Electric and Acoustic Guitars, ©Sophia-guitar, Keyboards, Inuk, Beats programming, Synthaxe-Voice in “Khetwadi Lane”.
Alex Argento: Additional Keyboards, Synth solo in “Halo Drive”

1. "Halo Drive" (4:43) (/10)

2. "Night of the Jackal" (5:41) very interesting for the "vocals" that sound as if some female Middle Eastern singer like Ofra Haza were being siphoned through a guitar (as Peter Frampton made so famous in the mid-1970s). When it comes time to shred, I must say, Corrado still impresses: speed, melody, employing all the tricks of the master soloist. (8.75/10)

3. "The Man from Yorkshire (Dedicated to A.H.)" (3:59) reminds me of a cross between the musics of ALLAN HOLDSWORTH, MARK ISHAM, and BABYFACE. (8.75/10)

4. "Black Swan" (3:56) far more techno-reliant, this could be a JEFF BECK song. (8.5/10)

5. "Anna" (4:44) piano and synth guitar tracks weave to create this ruminative beauty. It makes me feel as if Allan Holdsworth were alive and well--and that he had finally discovered Pat Metheny's gift of expressing "voice" and melody in his music. The shredding might be a little excessive for this music.(8.75/10)

6. "Interfulgent" (4:31) sounds like a house techno-"cover" of some R&B hit--guitar doing all the work of the vocals. It's good, polished, but feels a little like Adult Contemporary or soundtrack music. (8.5/10)

7. "Khetwadi Lane" (4:01) (/10)

8. "ZuZu Blues" (4:28) (/10)

9. "The Waters of Enceladus" (4:52) (/10)

10. "G. on a Sunny Day" (5:01) (/10) 

on the Fishscales = / stars;

NEAL MORSE BAND Innocence & Danger

One of the most driven, prolific artists in the world of progressive rock music is back with another album of professional grade songs performed and recorded, as always, at very high levels of proficiency and competency.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Neal Morse / vocals, keyboards, guitars
- Eric Gillette / guitars, vocals
- Bill Hubauer / keyboards, vocals
- Randy George / bass
- Mike Portnoy / drums, vocals

CD 1 - Innocence (48:47)
1. Do It All Again (8:53) (/20)

2. Bird on a Wire (7:23) (/15)
3. Your Place in the Sun (4:12) (/10)
4. Another Story to Tell (4:50) (/10)
5. The Way It Had to Be (7:14) (/15)
6. Emergence (3:12) (/10)
7. Not Afraid, Pt. 1 (4:54) (/10)
8. Bridge over Troubled Water (8:08) (/15)

CD 2 - Danger (50:53)
1. Not Afraid, Pt. 2 (19:30) (/40)
2. Beyond the Years (31:23) (/60)

Total Time 99:40

While I appreciate the artistry and drive Neal exudes, I just that I connect with virtually nothing he does musically, melodically, or ideologically. The compositions and performances are top notch--mentally quite admirable; the heart just doesn't connect with mine.

on the Fishscales = / stars; 

AZURE Of Brine and Angel's Beaks

A band that is new to me has come up with one of the better Prog Metal albums I've heard from 2021.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Chris Sampson / vocals, guitar
- Galen Stapley / guitar
- Bella Lee / bass
- Sam Calder / drums
- Adam Hayes / additional percussion 

1. "A Night of Superlunary Gazing (1:08) (/5)
2. "Self-Crucifixion (3:56) (/10)
3. "Ameotoko I - The Curse (9:03) (/20)
4. "The Jester Who Cheated Death (3:03) (/10)
5. "Lustre: Siphon of Umbra (6:15) (/10)
6. "Outrun God" (3:04) (/10)
7. "Mercy (6:33) (/10)
8. "Of Brine and Angel's Beaks" (4:55) shoreline waves, acoustic guitars, and impassioned vocals  (/10)
9. "A Sailor Will Learn (7:44) (/15)
10. "Cup of Poison (7:32) (/15)
11. "The Jellyfish (2:50) (/10)
12. "Ameotoko II - Cloudburst (7:22) (/15)

Total Time 63:25

on the Fishscales = / stars; 

MOTORSYCHO Kingdom of Oblivion

Prog's most prolific power trio is back with their 24th studio album release since 1990. My concern is: Can they come up with something fresh--something innovative that will surprise me--or am I about to hear more Motorpsycho being Motorpsycho?

Line-up / Musicians:
- Bent Sæther / lead vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, drums
- Hans Magnus Ryan / lead guitar, vocals, keyboards, mandolin, violin, bass
- Tomas Järmyr / drums, vocals

1. "The Waning (Pts. 1 & 2) (7:29) (/15)
2. "Kingdom of Oblivion" (6:56) (12.75/15)
3. "Lady May (3:21) (/10)
4. "The United Debased (9:03) (/20)
5. "The Watcher (5:04) (/10)
6. "Dreamkiller (5:15) (/10)
7. "Atet (2:17) (/5)
8. "At Empire's End (8:36) (/20)
9. "The Hunt (5:46) (/10)
10. "After the Fair (1:58) (/5)
11. "The Transmutation of Cosmoctopus Lurker (10:55) (/20)
12. "Cormorant (3:38) (/10)

Total Time 70:18

on the Fishscales = / stars; 

BIG HOGG Pageant of Beasts

Glasgow's retro-prog rockers with questionable Canterbury strains turn more toward the likes of BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS and CHICAGO for this year's inspiration. 

Line-up / Musicians:
- Justin Lumsden / electric guitar, vocals
- Sophie Sexon / flute, vocals
- Ross McCrae / trombone, electric piano
- Richard Merchant / trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn
- Nick Gaughan / drums, percussion, synthesizers, backing vocals; guitars, bass & keyboards (7)
- Martin Beer / electric bass, double bass, autoharp
With:
- Lavinia Blackwall / vocals
- Mike Hastings / acoustic guitar, space guitar (7)
- Phil Cardswell / trumpet solo (6)
- Rory Clark / 2nd flugelhorn (6)
- Georgia Seddon / chant
- Ian Sexon / spoken words

1. Golden Beasts (0:30) horns like Chicago or Frogg Café! Nice album intro (though might've been better as an interlude). (4/5)

2. "Here Come the Moles" (4:55) funk with horns! Tower of Power, the JBs, or Billie Preston. But then female vocalist Sophie Sexon (or is it Lavinia Blackwell?) joins in in the third minute displaying her pretty but very pitchy voice. (8.5/10)

3. "Man Overboard" (3:46) light, fun, and melodic like the fun side of Canterbury--with horns. Sounds most like Dutch band SUPERSISTER. A top three song. (9/10)

4. "Smoking Again" (3:51) raspy male vocalist reminds me more of a blues-rock singer like Dr. John or  What is this? (7.75/10)

5. "Willow's Song" (3:33) never thought I'd hear this song from anyone other than DOVES. Though an okay arrangement, the song put on display the flaws in female vocalist Sophie Sexon's pitch-imperfect voice. (7.75/10)

 

6. "Red Rum" (3:03) horns with bluesy guitar and rhythm section. Once again, I'm reminded of FROGG CAFÉ--without the vocals. (8.5/10)

 
7. "All Alone Stone" (5:24) gorgeous flugelhorn, trumpet and Fender Rhodes-led intro leads into sensitive KHAN/MAGIC BUS-like song. Very nice piano chord progressions and fuzz bass/space guitar. A top three song for me. (8.75/10) 

8. "Magistellus" (4:17) jazz-rock (with background horns) and double female lead vocalists makes for a pleasant song. The compositions are showing signs of greater sophistication. (8.5/10)

9. "Wyverns" (4:31) sounds like a wild stage jam with several riffs and themes starting and shifting seemingly unbeknownst to the other players. Somehow, it all kind of works. (8.25/10)

 
10. "Bouffant Tail" (1:12) should have been titled something like "male soloists jizz on a chalkboard." (2/5)

11. "Cat Fool" (3:20) the song Burt Bacharach and Daevid Allen never recorded together (or apart). Now we know why. (8/10)

12. "Too Much Belly Not Enough Paw" (0:45) very nice cinematic outro. My final top three song. (4.5/5)

Total Time 39:07

81.43 on the Fishscales = C/three stars; some nice music to try out for yourselves. 

MAQUINERIAS Media Banda

Line-up / Musicians:
- Florencia Novoa / vocals
- Cristián Crisoto / alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, alto flute, vocals
- Christian Hirth / drums & percussion, electronica
- Rodrigo Aguirre / tenor saxophone, traversa flute
- Tomás Ravassa / piano, keyboards, synthesizer
- Aurelio Silva / electric guitar
- Rafael Chaparro / tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, choir
- Felipe Martínez / electric bass
With:
- Consuelo Schuster / vocals
- Pablo Ilabaca / vocals
- Felipe Ilabaca / bass
- Daniel Muñoz / vocals, percussion
- Sebastián Jordán / trumpet
- Marcelo Maldonado / trombone

1. "Perro Chico Malo (5:42) (/10)
2. "Godzilla (5:23) (/10)
3. "Canción Formal en 7/8 (5:23) (/10)
4. "Buhardillas (1:43) (/5)
5. "Maquinarias (5:01) (/10)
6. "Fulano (6:24) (/10)
7. "Suite Recoleta (8:03) (/15)
8. "Señor Gorro Capucho (2:40) (/5)
9. "El Dar del Cuerpo (8:21) (/20)
10. "Adolfo, Benito, Augusto y Toribio (4:45) (/10)

Total Time 53:25

DREAM THEATER A View from on Top of the World

Line-up / Musicians:
- John Myung / bass
- John Petrucci / guitars, additional vocals
- James LaBrie / vocals
- Jordan Rudess / keyboards
- Mike Mangini / drums

1. "The Alien (9:32) (/20)
2. "Answering the Call (7:35) (/15)
3. "Invisible Monster (6:31) (/10)
4. "Sleeping Giant (10:05) (/20)
5. "Transcending Time (6:25) (/10)
6. "Awaken the Master (9:47) (/20)
7. "A View from the Top of the World (20:24) (/40):
- i. The Crowning Glory
- ii. Rapture of the Deep
- iii. The Driving Force

Total Time 70:19

MONARCH TRAIL Wither Down

Canadian Ken Baird making his third attempt to broadcast to the world his reverence for all-things Tony Banks. 

Line-up / Musicians:
- Ken Baird / piano, keyboards, vocals, composer
- Kelly Kereliuk / guitar
- Steve Cochrane / acoustic guitar
- Dino Verginella / bass
- Chris Lamont / drums

1. "Wither Down" (10:53) like something from Tony Banks' first solo album (though perhaps a bit better). The vocals are near-unlistenable--reminding me of Chris Squire's pitchy, strained, solo attempts. (15.5/20)

2. "Echo" (5:59) a little more complexity here. (8/10)

3. "Canyon Song" (6:32) not seeing any above average quality or creativity here. (7.75/10)

4. "Waves of Sound" (11:00) pretty but seems to exist solely for the purpose of placing the listener into a Mellotron coma (which can be a very pleasant place to be). Love the treated vocal, French lyrics, and free-walking bass. (16.75/20)

5. "Megalopolitana" (15:18) Kudos for Ken's sidemen for doing their best to breathe some life into this one. Some of the instrumental activity is rather interesting. The vocals (and lyrics) weigh it down (again). (24.25/30)

6. "All Kinds of Futures" (6:47) To give Ken some credit: He is one of the more gifted Tony Banks imitators--as well as one of the more spot-on Genesis re-creators.  (12.25/15)

Total Time 56:29

A collection of very pretty music that sounds exactly like most of the TONY BNAKS/GENESIS-worshipping Neo Prog coming out in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Competent, rich in full keyboard sound, and pleasantly melodic but, ultimately, too derivative/imitative--and poor sound quality.

80.48 on the Fishscales = C/three stars; a nice collection of pretty exhibitions of Tony Banks worship that could be relegated to the "collectors only" pile if it weren't for the accuracy of it's Genesis recreation. 

FRAGILE Beyond

I love the work of Claire Hamill, Oliver Day, and Max Hunt, and I enjoy a lot of music that emanated from the band YES--I might even be interested in seeing a tribute band if one came close to me--but bands motivated by near-perfect replication of a single band's sound and songs, though impressive, usually bore me. (How many Yeses, Genesises, King Crimsons and Focuses do we really need?) I listened with great interest to this band's debut release from last year, Golden Fragments, but, in the end, dismissed it as four talented artists who had too much time on their hands during COVID lockdowns. But now, with a 2021 release to follow up, I am thinking that these guys are serious! They really want to create new Yes-like music.

Well, the plastic sound of the drum heads weren't enough to drive me crazy, the Yes similarities are just too close--even with Claire's crystalline female voice on top. If there's one saving grace, the bass play is neither mixed as far forward or as busy as his Yes -counterpart, the late great Chris Squire. A 21-minute multi-part epic followed by two fourteen minute suites. The former is respectful and unobtrusive--and not over the top bombastic--more like a MAGENTA composition--and I have to admit that Ms. Hamill's performance is rather charming. Oliver Day adds enough of his own style and sound selection to not be too obvious as a Steve Howe replicant and multi-instrumentalist Max Hunt does an admirable job with several key tracks, including the bass and background vocals. I'd give it a (39.25/45) rating--(It would have been higher were it not for the too-near "Starship Trooper" finale).

2. "Yours and Mine" (14:26) unfortunately, sees the band trying a bit too hard to get really close to several famous Yes songs--perhaps even to merge several. And then Claire's lackluster Heather Findlay-like vocal practically ruins it. (Sorry to be so direct, Ms. Hamill, but, what a corny lyric! I feel so embarrassed and pandered to! I'll have to go back to the magic of "Icicle Rain" and Voices just to clear my head and cleanse my palette.) (24/30)

3. "The Golden Ring of Time" (14:09) Max is no Rick Wakeman. Then they have the gall to steal Chris' melodic hook from Schindleria Præmaturus! And those galloping plastic drums! There's just a series of instrumental hooks lifted directly from Yes songs and flaunted as if this were truly a song of homage. A fair song if I weren't so distracted by every other minute's presentation of Yes-familiar riffs. Still, this is the most memorable song of the album--and thus my favorite. (26/30)

80.24 on the Fishscales = C/three stars; for curious Yes fans only.  

APOGEE The Blessing and The Curse

Line-up / Musicians:
- Arne Schäfer / lead & backing vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, keyboards, bass, orchestrations
- Eberhard Graef / drums & percussion

1. Out of Control (5:09) classic rock from the early 1970s that turns to tyring to be proggy until the almost laughable shift to super-simplisitic music foundation. Horrible vocals! Like a drunk, poorly recorded Andy Tillison.
2. Congealing Ground (13:39) some crazy VDGG stolen riffs and themes! 
3. Hard to See (12:24)
4. The Blessing and the Curse (16:03)
5. The Inspiring Tune (15:23)

Total Time 62:38

Absolutely awful vocals over some nicely constructed, well-performed, though incredibly derivative, music. I hate the way they have even blatantly stolen famous riffs and sounds from old classic prog bands. Get a better vocalist (or enhanced sound effects/auto tune) and some better lyrics and we might have something here.

LANA LANE Neptune Blue

Line-up / Musicians:
- Lana Lane / lead vocals
with:
- Erik Norlander / keyboards, backing vocals
- Jeff Kollman / guitar
- Mark McCrite / rhythm and acoustic guitars, bass, backing vocals
- Don Schiff / NS Stick
- Greg Ellis / drums, percussion
- John Payne / backing vocals

1. "Under The Big Sky
3. "Really Actually
4. "Come Lift Me Up
5. "Bring It On Home
6. "Don't Disturb The Occupants
7. "Lady Mondegreen (She's So Misunderstood)
8. "Miss California
9. "Someone Like You (Psych Version)
10. "Far From Home
11. "Neptune Blue

NICHELODEON Incidenti - Lo Shianto

Line-up / Musicians:
- Claudio Milano / all vocals sounds (2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,13,15,16), vocals noises & reciter introductions (11,12), screaming (12), backing vocals & vocals effects (8), diamonica & piano (9), percussion (4,16), synth (6,13), field recordings (4,9,15), electronics (13,14,15,17)
- Paolo Siconolfi / editing, mixing, mastering, sound designer (1-17), electronics (2,4,6,8,9,13,15), field recordings (4,11)
- Erica Scherl / violin (2,4,7,8,10,11,12,15,16)
- Evaristo Casonato / oboe (2,4,7,8,15,16), flutes (4,7,8,16), contralto saxophone (7,16), English horn (16)
- Paolo Tofani Krsna Prema / iPad (3,16)
- Vincenzo Zitello / theremin Moog (4)
- Laura Catrani / soprano (1,14)
- Coucou Sèlavy / one thousand voices/theatre (11,12)
- Dalila Kayros / extended vocals (15 from 06.07.089 to 09.01.140), field recordings (14)
- Cinzia La Fauci / ghosts' voices (8 from 00.43.081 to 01.25.495)
- Stefano Luigi Mangia / extended vocals (15 from 06.09.782 to 07.12.642)
- Massimo Silverio / lead vocals (8), cello (8,9), electric guitar (9)
- Paola Tagliaferro / all mothers' voices (8 from 0.11.371 to 0.32.362 & from 03.03.293 to 03.25.955), zither (8,14)
- Paola Tozzi / vocals (17)
- Vittorio Nistri / synth, electronics (15,17), classical guitar (15), pre-edit (15)
- Stefano Giannotti / synths (5,9), electric piano (9), prepared piano (7), drums & percussion (9), harmonium (9)
- Gianni Lenoci / prepared piano (5)
- Camillo Pace / double bass (13,15)
- Francesca Badalini / grand piano (4,16), prepared piano (4)
- Andrea Grumelli / fretless bass, basses (2,4,15)
- Andrea Quattrini / drums & percussion, electronics (4,7)
- Stefano Ferrian / electric guitar (3,15)
- Raoul Moretti / electrified harp (15)
- Andrea Murada / self built percussion, percussion from all over the world (16)
- Fabio Amurri / piano (7)
- Pierpaolo Spirangle Caputo / electrified self-built ghironda (4-16)
- Mimmo Frioli / drums & percussion, pre-edit, recording (3,10,11,12)
- Giovanni D' Elia / bass (3,10,11,12)
- Danilo Camassa / classical & electric guitars (10,11,12)
- Mauro Corvaglia / electric self built guitar (3)
- Domenico Liuzzi / tenor saxophone (3,15), bassoon (15,16)
- Max Pieretti / synth - closing section (7)
- Fulvio Manganini / Stick (7)
- Alessandro Palma / drums (16)
- Ulisse Tonon / accordions (7,14), electrified accordion (14), prepared piano (14)
- Sisto Palombella / accordion (1)
- Claudio Pirro / electric & acoustic guitars (2)
- Marco Lucchi / Mellotron (8)
- Luca Olivieri / glockenspiel (4,15)
- Lorenzo Sempio / guitars, guitar synth, noises & amp, effects (1,8)
- Jody Bortoluzzi / synth, suggestions (8)
- Ivano Nardi / drums & percussion (15)
- Franco Poggiali / synth (17)
- Daniele Onori / electric & acoustic guitars (17)

1. "Not Me - Non Esistono (Senza Valore #1) (3:31)
2. "NichelOdeon - How Hard Tune! La canzone dei soli (Senza Valore #2) (2:38)
3. "This Order - Variations on The Jargon King (Senza Valore #3) (5:22)
4. "NichelOdeon - Il Barbiere degli Occhi (Senza Valore #4) (7:36)
5. "Not Me - Con Dedica (Senza Valore #5) (2:55)
6. "Not Me - Senza Ritorno (Senza Valore #6) (3:22)
7. "NichelOdeon - La Scatola (Senza Valore #7) (6:49)
8. "NichelOdeon - L'ultima Sigaretta - Fantasmi ad Argun (Senza Valore #8) (5:22)
9. "NichelOdeon - Idiota - Autoritratto (Tadzio's Death - Senza Valore #9) (2:42)
10. "This Order & Coucou Sèlavy - Ho Gettato mio Figlio da una Rupe perché non Somigliava a Fabrizio Corona (Senza Valore #10) (12:11)
11. "Not Me - Sabbia Scura (Senza Valore #11) (4:11)
12. "Not Me - Del Mondo gli Occhi - New Moses (Senza Valore #12) (1:03)
13. "InSonar - Nyama - Gettarsi Oltre (Senza Valore #13) (10:10)
14. "NichelOdeon - La Montagna e il Trono (Senza Valore #14) (5:17)
15. "Not Me - Out Let - Viae di (s)PHjga (Senza Valore #15) (3:36)

Total Time 76:45