Top Albums of the Year 2015: The Masterpieces

My Favorite Albums of 2015

(In some semblance of order)

***Author's note:  Below you will find two different rankings for this year's albums. And what a year it has been! Definitely one of the best years collectively that I have ever heard--even to rival (or surpass) 2007, 2011, 2013, 1973 and even 1972! 
  The first list consists merely of a Top 40 with a following list of "Honorable Mentions." These are my favorite albums of the year, that is, the albums to which I have formed the greatest emotional attachments. The Reviews that follow, however, are ordered according to my more 'objective' yet personal judgment as to their quality, that is, the "best" albums of the year. Here I have tried to order the albums reviewed according to the determinations of my personal metric system (the "FishScales"). Thus, the albums I have listed are the "best" albums of the year from a more critical, qualitative, and quantitative viewpoint, that is, without as much emotional attachment as "My Favorite" albums. My thanks, once again, go out to the wonderful community at ProgArchives.com as well as to the tremendous resource that is updated daily called New Prog Releases (http://newprogreleases.blogspot.com/p/2018.html). 

I have listened to over 175 studio albums released in 2015 and posted reviews of about 60 of them. According to my calculations, 2015 presents Prog World with four (4) full masterpieces, 15 "minor" masterpieces, and 15 "near-masterpieces"!  

The Rankings
 (My "Favorites")

1. CICADA Light Shining Through the Sea
2. ALIO DIE & LORENZO MONTANÀ Holographic Codex
3. BATTLESTATIONS The Extent of Damage
4. STEVEN WILSON Hand. Cannot. Erase.
5. MYSTERY Delusion Rain
6. ANEKDOTEN Until the Ghosts Have All Gone 
7. ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF The Miraculous 
8. SYLVAN Home

9. LA COSCIENZA DI ZENO La notte anche de giorno

10. VOLA Inmazes

11. THE AMAZING Picture You

12. DUNGEN Allas Sak
13. KLONE Here Comes the Sun
14. ZA! Loloismo
15. ABIGAIL'S GHOST Black Plastic Sun
16. PROGRESSION BY FAILURE Sonic Travelogue
17. NEEDLEPOINT Aimless Mary

18. JAGA JAZZIST Starfire

19. THE PSYCHEDELIC ENSEMBLE The Sunstone
20. MONOBODY Monobody

21. HOOFFOOT Hooffoot

22. OZRIC TENTACLES Technicians of the Sacred

23. MAGMA Slag Tanz
24. THIEVES' KITCHEN The Clockwork Universe 

25. THE TEA CLUB Grappling

26. METHEXIS Suiciety
27. NEMO Coma
28. CICCADA The Finest of Miracles
29. JAM IT! Following the Unknown

30. 3RDEGREE Ones & Zeroes, Part 1

31. LEPROUS The Congregation

32. SVETAMUZIKA Present Simple
33. HOMUNCULUS RES Come si diventa ciò che si era
34. CORVUS STONE Unscrewed 
35. MANNA/MIRAGE Blue Dogs
36. TOE Hear You 
37. ABSTRAKT Limbosis 
38. ADVENT The Silent Sentinel 
39. NATIVE CONSTRUCT Quiet World

40. COSMIC GROUND 2

Honorable Mentions:
KARDA ESTRA Strange Relations
LA CURVA DI LESMO La Curva di Lesmo

Special Mention:

THE NERVE INSTITUTE Fictions

The Reviews

The Masterpieces

(Ratings of 100 to 93.34)

****** Album of the Year for 2015! *****

1. LA COSCIENZA DI ZENO La notte anche de griorno

This is my favorite release coming out of the AltrOck/Fading Records stable from this year (so far)—which is saying a lot since a) AltrOck is my favorite record label and b) I’ve already awarded five stars to Ciccada’s new release. La note anche di giorno is an album with two multi-part “side-long” epics both constructed in symphonic style. Because the songs of each epic flow one into the other without break, the pieces really should be listened straight through, but I will review the album with the parts broken down as they are listed on the album credits.

     Lead singer Alessio Calandriello’s wonderful vocals always impress. There is something reassuring I find in his voice. There is a confidence to his singing and he is so versatile and yet consistent! Between the three La Conscienzo di Zeno albums and two Not A Good Sign efforts he’s become quite a fixture in my life. There is plenty of his fantastic work throughout this album. 

     The entire band is in great form throughout this album, guitarist Davide Serpico always integral and never over the top, drummer Andrea Orlando and bass player Gabriele Guidi Colombi make a stellar rhythm section, with some added kudos to GG for his wonderful double bass and bowman-ship. The prominent role of violin and flute, thanks to Domenico Ingenito and guest Joanne Roan, are touches that really set this album, this group, apart—they really help make this album so enjoyable and compelling. And then, of course, there is the backbone to La Coscienzo di Zeno, the keyboards. Here we have not one but two masters of their craft working together to compose and perform these brilliant pieces, Stefano Agnini and Luca Scherani. My hat is off to you, gentlemen.    

I. “Giovane Figlia” (23:59) (48/50)

1. “A Ritroso” (5:26) (9/10) opens with Alessio’s powerful voice straight out of the gate. Awesome! The song plays out dynamically like an overture bouncing several themes back and forth throughout with Alessio even doing some theatric voice-play á la Peter Gabriel in his Genesis days.

2. “Il Giro del Cappio” (5:22) (9/10) opens slowly, softly, with “harpsichord,” violin and Alessio’s low register voice. At the two minute mark drums, bass, and electric guitars join in to accompany Alessio’s step up into his voice’s upper registers. Key change at 4:20 gets us ready for the next song. 

3. “Libero Pensatore” (5:12) synths with guitar arpeggios open this one until an electric guitar carries in the main melody from the previous song—just before Alessio comes in. There is another melodic lead guitar solo in the third minute. Alessio sings slowly before a GENESIS-like shift at 3:20. Violin and organ alternate with synths and a staccato section in a very pleasant kind of rondo between the three sections. (10/10)

4. “Quiete Apparente” (1:37) (5/5)opens with driving bass and drums with Mellotron voices, steady and hypnotic until Alessio’s entrance to prepare us for the shift to: 

5. “Impromptu pour S.Z.” (1:10) (5/5) is a brief but beautiful folksy café piano and violin intro which shifts when joined by synth and electric guitar before:

6. “Lenta Discesa all'Averno” (5:12) opens with Alessio’s powerful voice driving the song (which reminds me a lot of Alessio’s amazing vocal from “La città di Dite“ from Sensitività). At 0:40 the music softens with organ and electric guitar before moving into a kind of GENESIS area again. Great vocal and narrative voice until the two minute mark when soft organ, flute and double bass are joined by gorgeous chanteuse Simona Angioloni singing in French. Simona’s vocals are gradually multi-tracked to form a choir, whose increasing numbers and power are matched by that of the accompanying instruments. Sublime! The suite finishes with violin and bowed double bass. Amazing climax and ending to an amazing musical adventure! (10/10)

II. “Madre Antica” (20:08) (43/45)

7. “Il Paese Ferito” (5:52) opens with heavier, more ominous tone and mix of instruments. At the one minute mark the tempo and rhythm changes—to which piano and flute add a jazziness. Violin, synths and electric guitar interplay until at 2:00 Alessio’s voice enters and the music shifts to sound like a the narration to a bar room movie scene. At 3:00 piano, bowed double bass, and violin carry forward the pastoral late night debauchery feel with Alessio singing within the instruments’ storytelling. At 3:50 drums and organ enter and change the tempo into a kind of stop-start. At 4:25 electronic keys and guitars enter play with a two-steps forward, one step back ascending chord progression. At 5:15 there is a shift to more PINK FLOYD-like guitar chord and fretless bass with violin accompaniment until the song bleeds into the next. I like the kind of classical music structure and feel of this one. (9/10)

8. “Cavanella” (3:09) seemlessly shifts the music to a more upbeat mood with Alessio’s easy-going vocal leading throughout, though his speed and style changes four different times before the instrumental section at 2:20 shifts into another different time, rhythm and style before settling into the next song. (9/10)

9. “La staffetta” (4:01) (10/10) opens with a nice weave of synths and violin before Alessio comes in to continue telling us the story of the Ancient Mother. He gets quite emotional, powerfully so, at the end of the first minute. A brief break allows everyone to recharge before coming back full force, letting Alessio and the violinist take their turns. The music turns quiet at the end of the third minute, allowing the entry of a jazzy piano —who takes us solo into the suite’s finale:

10. “Come Statua di Dolore” (7:06) opens so cool, so confidently. It’s like the band knows they’ve had you and they’re saving the best for the end—the enravelling, the dénouement, the dessert. And what a dessert it is! A chapter straight out of the best of the Masters. Perfect instrumental work, perfect melodies, perfect chord changes, perfect choices in instrumentation. GENESIS, PFM, CURVED AIR, at their absolute best! The violin is definitely on front display—along with Alessio’s voice, of course. What a way to end an absolutely brilliantly crafted album! (15/15)

My biggest disadvantage in reviewing this album is that I don’t know Italian and I have thus far been unable to find translations into English for the lyrics or even a synopsis for the stories being told. If I do eventually find what stories are being told, I will amend my review. 

95.79 on the Fish scales = A/five stars; a masterpiece of progressive rock music. ALBUM OF THE YEAR!

2. MONOBODY Monobody

Precisely performed jazzy Math Rock from some youth from Chicago. Gutsy, intelligent, complex and intricate yet delivered tight and with great melodic sense.

1. "Lifeguard of a Helpless Body" (4:15) with the same fast pace and upbeat nature of a TOE (Japan) jam, this sets the tone for the album with some fast-picking (and tapping) guitar work. Such a refreshing sound! (10/10)

2. "I Heard them on the Harbor" (5:56) takes its time in establishing patterns as it opens with several instruments taking turns appearing and disappearing. It is only into the third minute that a rhythm and structure is established and played over--but then is challenged and discarded in lieu of some spacey and then jazzy keyboard. The spacey, spacious soundscape reappears for a while until at 4:18 an entirely new and soft-beat rhythmicity is established and built around. And exquisitely so, I might add! Cool and unusual song. (9/10)

3. "Curry Courier Career" (8:11) opens sounding like an intricate, upbeat WES MONTGOMERY song. It then diverts into I kind of étude in sharp time changes and collective band discipline. Things shift and progress in this song so quickly and suddenly--totally unpredictably. There is, however, a pattern to the song structure here (as opposed to song #2). A song that displays some seriously talented and skilled musicians and some seriously well-rehearsed execution of some seriously well-thought out song composition. Definitely the most jazzy song on the album. (13.5/15)

4. "Exformation" (5:21) opens with some intricate and frenetic guitar tapping leading the band into a stop-and-go kind of rush hour traffic pace. The guitarists melody lines here are seriously (and continuously) fast! Even in the mid-song lull the keyboard and guitar lines are intricate and speedy. STANLEY JORDAN would be impressed! (9/10)

5. "Gilgamesh (R-Texas)" (6:18) lots of interplay between instruments off doing their own thing: staccato rhtymic hits from drums and rhythm instruments, polyrhythmic arpeggi from piano, guitars and synths. It is an amazing display of artistry, vision, discipline and restraint. There's even quite a liteel MUFFINS-like Canterbury play in the chord and melody structures of the third and fourth minutes (and the horns in the fifth minute). Everything drops off at the end of the fifth minute save for an electric piano chord sequence--over which the delicate play of other instruments is added to the end. Another outstanding gem of a song! (10/10)

6. "Country Doctor" (5:25) opens with a simple little piano arpeggio repeated over before countrified big band joins in. The pace is atypically slow for this band until the one minute mark when a wall of KAYO DOT-like electrified sound enters and swallows us. The music vacillates back and forth for a while between the MAUDLIN OF THE WELL like beauty of intricately woven soft-picked instruments and the occasional wake-up call of a blast of heavy metal dynamo then settles into a long section of soft but intricately woven multiple instruments. The final 35 seconds allows instruments final flourishes over a fast piano arpeggio. Beautiful song! My favorite on the album. (10/10)

Every once in a while an album comes out of nowhere to shock and surprise me--and this is one of those. I only wish I had heard it in the year it was released so that I could have had more say in helping to bring attention to it. This is an AMAZING album that is truly worth the while of any prog lover's time and attention. Check it out!

94.61 on the Fish scales = a veritable five star album; a true masterpiece of progressive rock music! But what is it? Post Rock/Math Rock like TOE or ALGERNON? Eclectic Jazz Rock à la FROGG CAFE or UNAKA PRONG? Canterbury jazz like MANNA/MIRAGE/THE MUFFINS? It's a mystery! They're chameleon's! I can't wait to watch their future unfold for the skies are not too high for these talented musicians!

3. METHEXIS Suiciety

A concept album following the life cycle of a human being, childhood to citizen adult, the lyrics (and music) are replete with references to all of the odd destructive and self-destructive patterns our ‘civilized’ race has attached itself to. Brainchild of Athenian Nikitas Kissonas, Methexis’ music is never predictable and always unexpected. Begin with The Enid's Joe Payne's enigmatic voice. It seems that he can sound like anyone he chooses. Amazing! Then focus on Nikitas' eclectic and stunningly diverse guitar soundings and stylings. Then try to pinpoint his influences, the styles he is drawing from in order to make his eminently creative and original songs. It is nearly impossible. This is music that draws from so many diverse and unusual styles and ideas. This is music that tests the capabilities, the combinations and permutations, that are possible within the realms of human expression using sound and music. 

Line-up / Musicians:
- Nikitas Kissonas / electric, acoustic & Classical guitars, composer, arranger & producer
With:
- Joe Payne / vocals
- Linus Kåse / keyboards, synthesizers, grand piano
- Nikos Zades / sound design
- Brett d'Anon / bass
- Mickael Walle Wahlgren / drums
- Lu Jeffery / violin
- Bernard Kane Jr / viola
- Juliet McCarthy / cello
- Ron Phelan / double bass
Brass Quintet:
- Tom Heath / trumpet
- Catriona Christie / trumpet
- Nerys Russell / horn
- James Patrick / trombone
- Alistair Clements / tuba

1. “Chapter IV - Ruins” (4:49) starts the album with ‘the end’! The fourth and final suite in the album’s song-cycle, entitled “ruins,” is what Nikitas chooses to begin his album with. I love it! 

     It is an atmospheric ‘post-apocalyptic’ song much in the vein of Mariuz Duda’s LUNATIC SOUL or even Norway’s ULVER. (9/10) 

2. “Chapter 1 - Exterior - Remember, Fear’s a Relic” (6:11) opens with the energetic force of a great blues-based jazz-rock song—complete with Hammond organ, sassy horn section, and bluesy GINO VANELLI-like vocal (grâce à That Joe Payne). A surprise as this was quite unexpected but I have to admit: it is quite refreshing and enjoyable. The falsetto chorus is also quite unusual, but then, everything Nikitas (and Joe) does is quite unusual and unexpected. Quite fun. (9/10)

3. “Chapter 1 - Exterior - The Windows’ Cracking Sound” (1:46) (4.5/5) is another unusual song for its surprising mix/engineering: the entire time a heavily-treated electric guitar is slowly strumming the accompaniment to Joe Payne’s delicate, untreated voice, a drummer is jamming away at a very fast pace in the background. Amazing creativity! Once, at the end, the drums are brought up to front and center before being faded back to deep background for the horn opening of the next song,

4. “Chapter I - Exterior - Who Can It Be” (6:34) is a song performed by a horn ensemble with occasional whispered vocal and mid-song classical guitar interlude (including a brief slightly angular/diminished replication of Beethoven’s “Ode to joy”). The post-guitar interlude shifts into PETER HAMMILL territory with some odd jazz instrumentation for accompaniment and the PH vocal. When things amp back up—first via return of the horns and then full TOBY DRIVER-like band to spacey end. So odd! So outstanding! (10/10)

5. “Chapter I - Exterior - The Origin of Blame” (3:27) starts out as a piano-accompanied cabaret-like vocal much in the MATTHEW PARMENTER style. The cacophonous ‘chorus’ is equally ‘out there’—but so creative and idiosyncratic! This is such an amazing mind that can successfully weave such odd and unusual sounds and styles into the flow of this, a concept album. I call it genius! (10/10)

6. “Chapter I - Exterior - Prey’s Prayer” (6:07) is an instrumental support/setup for an amazing guitar solo. The guitar play reminds me of JEFF BECK, ROY BUCHANAN, HIRAM BULLOCK, or RAY GOMEZ! Great horn support. This is not a song to be missed! Guitar this sublime is too seldom recorded! (10/10) 

7. “Chapter II - Interior - Sunlight” (8:20) opens with some more adventurous guitar sounds before shifting into a sensitive  acoustic guitar supported ballad—not unlike the recent work of JOHANNES LULEY—including the voice (though on this song Joe Payne’s voice is more similar to that of RITUAL lead vocalist, Patrik Lundström). Quite unusual song structure and sound combinations. So like our enigmatic chameleon Nikiitas! Excellent song. The final section sounds like recent ECHOLYN before the solo voice closes in Peter Hammill fashion! (20/20)

8. “Chapter II - Interior - The Relic” (8:28) opens with a minute of purposefully picked chords on acoustic guitar which are eventually joined by Joe Payne’s equally composed yet emotional vocal. By the end of the second minute piano and then full band have joined in to support a multi-voiced chorus. In the instrumental fifth minute the music builds in layers and intensity before crescendoing and crashing into silence with a brilliantly placed audible sigh to restore the gentle yet plaintive sounds and structures of the opening. Piano and violin—and later cello—perform some nice soli to accompany the synth orchestral sounds. Nice Post Rock song. (18/20)

9. “Chapter - Suiciety” (6:40) opens with a fast-paced, hard-driving PORCUPINE TREE-like sound of drums, odd spacey synth sounds and ominous keyboard bass chords until 1:37 when the drumming cuts the pace in half while the pile of ominous incidentals and washes mounts higher and higher. Then at 2:20 everything drops away to leave the slowly picked notes of a solo classical guitar. Cymbol play accompanies the addition of orchestral participation (I especially like the horns sections’ contributions). This is then followed by a creative section in which the drummer creatively fills orchestra-supported ‘space’ with his cymbol and kit play. A return to full force in the ominous chord progressions crescendoes and decays while Joe Payne’s treated voice alone fills the album’s sad finale. (13.5/15)

This is an awesome album of eclectic music! Being a concept album with songs integrated to express this elevates it a notch above Methexis’ previous 2011 effort, The Fall of Bliss (which I also love). A brilliant masterpiece of modern progressive rock music—one that gets me so excited to come back to it and hear it again. Special shout out to Linus Kåse and Nikos Zades, the keyboard player and sound design/D&B programmer, respectively. Amazing contributions! And Walle! Awesome play on the batterie! Check this one out, people!   

94.54 on the Fish scales = A/five stars; definitely essential:  a masterpiece of progressive rock music.

4. CICADA Light Shining Through the Sea

Light Shining through the Sea is a stunningly beautiful collection of songs released in September of this year. This album has really connected with me--much moreso than the band's last two albums. I attribute this fact to the new level of maturity in both composition and instrumental contributions of each of the band's five. Veering more and more away from the repetitive Post Rock/Math Rock stylings that the band has been pigeon-holed with since the release of their 2010 debut, Over the Sea/Under the Water, this album sees much more variation in styles, transitions, moods and while still maintaining--no, far exceeding the high standards of composition and musicianship established by all of their previous albums. Light Shining through the Sea even shows some experimentation with expansion beyond the usual quintet form. But more, the contributions of violin, viola, cello, and guitar are all much more unique and individualistic instead of feeling as if they are just part of composer Jesy Chiang's mind (and more than substantial heart).

1. "Sunrise" (7:03) opens the album with (surprise!!) guitar picking, drums, and a kind of Western United States acoustic jazz feel. The interweavings of the strings and piano really jump out at the listener with individual melodies that all somehow work magically as one beautiful tapestry. I would like to go to this movie!

     At 2:10 everything shifts to a piano foundation while the strings and guitar all take turns equally distributing their bursts of melodic input--again creating quite an extraordinary tapestry. At 3:40 we take another turn, piano, guitar and percussives take on a three-part weave with violin, viola and cello sneaking in with their own beautifully harmonized melody lines. The big peak beginning at 5:25 is perfect. But, wait! It's not over! A wild-West kind of ride ensues at the six minute mark to ride us out of the waves and across the prairie in the sunrise. (13.5/15)

2. "Ray of Sunshine" (2:24) is an upbeat, spirited song with the unusual feature of having a melody line (at first presented by cello) central and fore to the song. Another example of the amazing growth this band has undergone. (8/10)

3. "Over Coastal Range" (5:32) is another upbeat, almost chimerical and childlike song of beauty and delicacy--this one more of a quintet weave as is more typical of the band's previous albums' songs presentations. (8/10)

4. "Deep Blue Shadow" (2:35) opens with Jesy's rather pop piano chords played out in arpeggi to establish a melody. Then, surprise of surprise! Electronically treated instruments! A veritable flood of reverb á la BRIAN ENO/HAROLD BUDD, COCTEAU TWINS, and Japan's excellent Post Rock band, MONO. (9/10)

5. "Seashore of Endless Worlds" (2:10) is a guitar-centric song in the style of WINDHAM HILL founder and artist, William ACKERMAN. Gorgeous cello and string accompaniment enrich this brief song to deeply moving levels. (5/5)

6. "Rolling Waves" (6:53) is the my favorite song on the album and The Best Song of 2015. Each time I listen to it I am struck by over 20 occasions in which my mind and emotions are caught unaware by the mood, instrumental, and tempo changes rendered by Jesy and crew. Each and every instrumentalist is seemingly let free to contribute their personal magic. (16/15)

7. "Ocean Foam" (6:56) is one of the more simpler, stripped down songs on the album--a kind of George Winston with accompaniment, but is quite beautiful and powerful in its simplicity. (13.5/15)

8. "Diving Into Pacific Ocean" (3:32) Very much a Jesy Chiang piano-based song (a very cinematic song, at that), I am truly impressed by Jesy's strict adherence to background/foundational work while the other instrumentalists shine and embellish with their subtle magic. The bow work on this song is extraordinarily powerful--as is the guitar's work with harmonics! (10/10)

9. "Light Shining Through the Sea" (8:35) is another gorgeous chamber weave adventure that Jesy and the gang take us on. The opening is so inviting, so engaging, that I'm almost let down when we're forced to "get off the bus" and look for ourselves during the third minute. Thankfully, our chaperones gradually surround and comfort us with their wisdom and love again--but only briefly! A flugelhorn and its stark guitar accompaniment grab our unshaken attention for a minute or so before they bow to Jesy's gut-wrenching finger play on the piano. Viola, cello, and violin each take their turn expressing their feelings (gratitude and sincere joy, I think) before the flugelhorn signals another shift--in which violin, viola, and horn take turns . . . saying goodbye.

     I feel so blessed to be able to witness such beauty from the art form of music like this.  (20/20)

93.63 on the Fish scales= five stars; a masterpiece of progressive rock music. I am so impressed with the huge leap in creative and diversity represented on Light Shining through the Sea. Cicada have finally begun to truly realize the tremendous potential I heard in them those six years ago. One of my favorite albums of the year and definitely one of the best albums of the year.

The "Minor" Masterpieces

(Ratings of 93.33 to 90.00)

5. JAGA JAZZIST Sunfire

What an incredible breath of fresh air! I am so glad to be reminded by an album like this of how much I love upbeat, happy-go-lucky groove tunes like these. From the first notes of the opening song, Starfire, I was gushing with a big grin across my face. After finishing my first listen I went back to listen through an "old" favorite of mine that I'd almost forgotten, 2010's One-armed Bandit.

I love the band's self-written tome on their history on their Facebook page:

Jaga Jazzist is:

(a) A jazz band; 

(b) A rock band; 

(c) A progressive rock band; 

(d) A hip hop group; 

(e) A rap group; 

(f) A reggae group; 

(g) A polka band; 

(h) A comedy band; 

(i) An electronica group; 

(j) A classical ensemble; 

(k) A choral ensemble; 

(l) All of the above; 

(m) None of the above.

with the answer being (l) and (m). Obviously a gang who are out to have fun, pure and simple. But talented, too! As a matter of fact, I'm beginning to think that the entire population of Norway must be made up of really interesting, fun-loving, laid-back, happy-go-lucky people! I need to get there!

     Anyway. Back to Starfire. (Can't believe I just missed JJ's North American tour!) The entire album plays out like some incredible soundtrack music, starting with the opening song, 1. "Starfire" (8:47), which sounds like the opening song from a light-hearted French murder mystery (yes: there is such a thing) from the 1970s. Nice syncopated rhythm making at a rather pleasant cruising speed with great guitar and tuned percussion work. There's even a cool MOTORPSYCHO sound & feel during the fifth and sixth minutes with the rising scale of musical progression. Then the odd synth melody/riffs take over for a while before the song mellows down for a brief bit with vibes before weaving all of the song's themes together for the final minute of awesomeness. (18/20)

2. "Big City Music" (14:07) opens by introducing us to its KLAUS SCHULZE-like electronica foundation--which sounds awesome--before the other keyboard and drums take over the establishment of the songs foundation. Sounds like LARRY FAST playing with BILLY COBHAM. At 2:46 the music breaks down to allow some hand drums and odd computer incidentals which establish a kind of odd rhythm before strummed guitar joins in. Then Martin Horntveth reenters with his jazz drumming for a bit before the song breaks down again to allow individual instruments to help fill a rather spacey, spacious soundscape--very OZRIC TENTACLES-like. A BLADE RUNNER-like moment at 6:30 opens the next section of the song as multiple melody lines are woven together for a minute. Another shift at 7:30 as vocals are used to mirror a new keyboard melody line--we are now into PAT METHENY GROUP territory, big time! A minute later everything shifts again, back to the opening electronica with some funky synth fuzz bass play, which is then joined by pizzicato strings play, again forming a weave of differently syncopated melodies into one fascinating tapestry of sound. The full band seems to come into play with a return to a PAT METHENY style of pulsing rhythm and sophistication. (27/30)

3. "Shinkansen" (7:43) is probably my favorite song on the album for the laid back groove set up and maintained throughout the song by the strumming acoustic guitars as well as due to the prominence of the flutes and myriad "windy" synth sounds. Just a gorgeous, breezy, Nature-celebrating song all around. (Shinkansen is, by the way, the word for Japan's network of high speed trains. How appropriate!) (15/15)

4. "Oban" (12:42) is also quite Asian/Japanese (think: "Ryuichi Sakamoto") sounding in its melodic and rhythmic approach--though the work of KRAFTWERK, GARY NUMAN, and PETER SCHILLING also comes to mind. Eventually, in the second half of the song, the sounds and stylings turn to sound more like early DEPECHE MODE--though the drumming always remains quite exceptionally a notch above any of the above mentioned. Mellow sax in the fourth minute is beautifully offset and accompanied by multiple other rhythm instruments and horns. Then a little slow down of delicate horns in the fifth minute makes way for an awesome display of electronica (OZRICS again) before the original ensemble return with the full weave of music--including choral vocals! 

     Another song that could work awesomely as a soundtrack. I personally would love to see this made into a video. In the tenth minute the DEPECHE MODE-like synth bass line is gorgeously offset by harp and strings melodies (slide guitar). Just an awesome song with so much to listen to! Every time I hear it I discover so much more than I had previously heard! Gorgeous little outro, too. (30/30)

5. "Prungen" (6:35) shows the band taking on some Arabian-like musical sounds and stylings. The song does, however, continue the amazing string of made-for-movies music that they have going here. The Arabian melodies become even stronger with wooden flute in the second minute and strings in the third. Sax in the third doubles up with the flute and then electric guitar takes up a variation of the theme while layer of layer fills the background tapestry. An Arabian "violin" joins in the melody making in the fourth minute until a scratchy saw-like horn synth takes over with a ROBERT FRIPP-like dissonant melody line. This dominates the song despite the rejoinder of the rest of the band and the addition of a horn section, until 5:45 when everybody falls into line, working with the original melody line. Great song though the use of that one "Arabian" melody line makes it a little less exciting as the previous songs. (8/10)

This is an awesome album of great mood pieces--all deserving of film soundtrack contracts. I'm not yet willing to give it full masterpiece status though I think it is, it's just a little at the edge of what I consider progressive rock music--which is really a good thing. It's like The Amazing or Five-Storey Ensemble: incredible music but perhaps not true progressive ROCK music. We'll see.

BUT: Check out the album! You will LOVE it! And if you want a little taste of the band in concert, try this:  Oban live!

93.33 on the Fish scales = five stars; a minor masterpiece of refreshing progressive rock music.

6. ANEKDOTEN Until the Ghost Have All Gone Away

Now this is a Progressive Rock album! Great mix of styles and moods and lots of instrumental choices and stylings that are fairly fresh for Anekdoten. I guesss the eight years off tending to other projects served Nicklas, Ana Sofia, Jan Erik and Peter well. 

1. “Shooting Star” (10:10) opens deceptively quietly for what is to follow. A hard driving album with some organ and lead guitar stylings that remind me of URIAH HEEP-era Ken Hensley and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT’s “Buck Dharma” Roeser and even a little of TRAFFIC-era Steve Winwood and NEKTAR’s Roye Albrighton. Definitely one of the best long-play prog songs of the year and one of the best songs overall! Despite the awesome mood and key changes, this song maintains its hard driving force throughout the entire ten minutes. I can never believe how quickly this song plays! Just awesome energy! (19/20)

2. “Get Out Alive” (7:32) opens with what I call their signature “oppressive heavy-happiness”; while driving us into despair and doom, Anekdoten’s music somehow maintains an upbeat, “happy” feel to it. The band just can’t go full-out doomer. Devil may care, they must love the music too much. 

     The vocals and doomer lyrics are somehow quite fitting for the music and yet I love how they feel secondary to the heavy (and light—from the sixth minute on) instrumental parts. Nice Frippertronics in the fifth minute. That one note Nicklas bends up and then down is so cool! Awesome song. (15/15)

3. “If It All Comes Down to You” (5:52) Melllotron drenched with CRHIS REA-like lead guitar riffs playing tantalizingly over the top, this song is just gorgeous and very jazzy—almost in MOTORPSYCHO or THE AMAZING territory. The constant background ’tron and Theo Travis flute play are awesome but it’s Nicklas’s delicate guitar play and the background tuned percussion (xylophone?) that make this song for me. (10/10)

4. “Writing on the Wall” (9:03) opens with another familiar Anekdoten opening and settles into a structure not unlike their masterpiece “Hole”—that is, until the lead vocal establishes its surprisingly light melody. An especially heavy subject matter is treated rather lightly, almost happily, for sure lackadaisically, as if in complete resignation to the belief that there is absolutely nothing to be done. Perhaps the weakest song on the album, it is still a pretty good song. Some nice drum and guitar work in the middle over Ana Sofia’s awesome chord progression of the Mellotron foundation. The delicate guitar and synth “raindrops” interlude section is very KING CRIMSON-esque before bursting back into a two minute, two-part outro with some awesome REINE FISKE-like guitar soloing. (17/20) 

5. “Until All the Ghosts Are Gone” (5:07) opens with full band, some nice guitar work, and more of Theo Travis’ awesome flute (and saxophone) work. The vocal feels and sounds a bit too much like older Anekdoten, but the acoustic and electronic interplay is awesome throughout. between acoustic and electric guitars, mellow drum play, multiple keyboards and even some harmonized vocals. Acoustic and electric guitars, mellow drum play, multiple keyboards, beautiful flute play, and even some harmonized vocals for the repetition of the catchy final lyric, “Praying that it will work out ok” is really nice. (9.5/10) 

6. “Our Days Are Numbered” (8:36) is an instrumental with a familiar Anekdoten feel, driving acoustic drums with bass, electric guitar and keyboards weaving with and around each other in and out of synchrony and from collective play of the melody to weaving into harmony structures. Return of Nicklas’ new “Buck Dharma” guitar play preempts a brief polyphonic section before all music drops away for bass and echoed sax notes and riffs float around the background. The band gradually builds back its volume and full presence until at 6:28 Theo Travis’ saxophone screeches out some awesome notes to signal the beginning of a section in which there is a kind of gradual whole band climb until at 8:15 it all comes to a head for the finale. Another gem! (18/20)

93.16 on the Fish scales. I don’t feel as positively about any previous Anekdoten studio album as I do about this one. Until All the Ghosts Are Gone deserves five stars all the way. A masterpiece of progressive rock music that is definitely a candidate for Album of the Year!

7. OZRIC TENTACLES Technicians of the Sacred

This is an album that I liked immediately--for the familiarity of the sound that is so uniquely that of OZRIC TENTACLES--but that has taken me quite some time to get familiar with. That seems to be the problem with these modern artists who release 80-plus minute long albums (Dave Kerzer, Sanguine Hum, Barock Project, Nightwish, IOEarth, Sylvan, are a few of the others who have released long playing albums this year, so far.), it takes quite some effort to listen through and to thoroughly get to know them compared to a 45-minute long release. Anyway, the patience and time invested in getting to know Technicians of the Sacred has been well worth it. This has become my favorite Ozrics release since Jurassic Shift. While all the albums I've heard have been nice, none have really possessed that magic touch that compels me to return time and again. And, while the Ozrics sound, style, and magic is pretty generic (it is often difficult to distinguish individual tracks by title--this owning to the fact that they are an instrumental band), yet almost every song on Technicians has had a way to worm into my brain, to get me engaged and then to build, shift, add, twist and turn enough to keep me interested--and, often, smiling! These guys certainly have an unique way of creating sound combinations. I cannot think of anyone quite as eclectic and electronic as them and yet they are always grooving me with their bass and drum rhythm tracks. Always! Plus, their unusual combination of spacey, "Nature" electronic walls of sound with odd and unexpected world instruments never ceases to astound me. And these guys have been doing it for 30 years! BUT they have NEVER done it better than they have on this album. Hail Technicians of the Sacred! The stars have aligned in such a way that Ozric Tentacles have created a masterpiece (of their own genre of music)!

Favorite songs: 11. "Zenlike Creature" (9:54) (20/20); 9. "Smiling Potion" (7:12) (15/15); 3. "Far Memory" (7:12) (15/15) 4. "Changa Masala" (6:05) (10/10); 10. "Rubbing Shoulders with The Absolute" (8:36) (20/20); 8. "The Unusual Village" (6:21) (10/10); 7. "Epiphlioy" (11:50) (22.5/25); 2. "Butterfly Garden" (5:04) (9/10), and; 6. "Switchback" (10:13) (18/20).

93.07 on the Fish scales = five stars; a masterpiece of progressive rock music. This is an album that is hard to find flaw with as it is all pretty engaging and highly creative (even witty) stuff. Check it out for yourself. You may be surprised!

8. MAGMA Slag Tanz

There are several things that set this album apart from other Magma albums that I have heard. First and foremost is the amazing cymbal play of drummer extraordinaire, Christian Vander. Second is the way in which Magma have refined and mastered their delivery format for their stories from the world of Kobaia. And third is the way in which the long-time band members have mastered and their vocal instruments:  Stella Vander, Isabelle Feuillebois and Hervé Aknin (and even Klaus Blasquiz, who does not appear on this album) are simply astounding. They are solid as rocks. They are so seasoned that it is hard to discern any flaws in their work. It must be so nice for band leader, Christian Vander, to have such companion/collaborators who seem so unwavering in their support and who are so dedicated to this form of music, to the vision of their band leader, as well as to the betterment of their own skills. 

     While I have to admit that I find Slag Tanz slightly less engaging than Magma's previous recent studio releases, however, I find it hard to rate any modern recording of Magma's with anything less than five stars because the composition, performances, and recording/engineering is so consistently strong (even though many of the compositions were composed decades ago and have been performed live for years). It is my strong opinion that we music listeners are so very privileged to have the recordings and concert performances of an artist with such strong and independent vision who always composes and performs at the absolute highest levels every time (and, of course, demands the same of his collaborators). Try a listen for yourself "Slag Tanz" (2:29).

92.5 on the Fish scales = fives stars; a masterpiece of progressive rock music.

9. THE PSYCHEDELIC ENSEMBLE The Sunstone

The mysteriously anonymous artist who chooses to let his projects attract their own merit without name associations under the title The Psychedelic Ensemble has released his fifth concept album in six years under the title, The Sunstone. Based upon legends and mythologies that have emerged from sea-faring cultures (mostly Viking) revolving around the mysterious navigational aid known as “the sunstone,” the gifted and eminently skilled composer/performer behind The Psychedelic Ensemble once again draws from universal archetypes to offer entertainment and meaningful lessons to we, the people.   

    Four things are particularly noticeable upon listening to this new TPE album that make it stand out as a bit different from previous releases. First is the way in which the presence of the orchestral and chamber instrumentations and arrangements are much more foundational and integral to the overall sound of The Sunstone’s music—on virtually every song. This artist is above all quite accomplished as a composer and arranger of symphonic sounds and structures; TPE’s song tapestries are always interesting and complex in a multi-layered way that is strikingly similar to symphonic structures from ‘classical’ music. 

     The second thing that is noticeably evolved from previous TPE recordings (at least the previous two albums) is that the soloing weaves of multiple instruments that we’ve come to know and be awed by are somewhat tempered and not always delivered at such breakneck speed. It’s as if TPE has let go of a desire to impress in lieu of allowing more emotional content to be delivered. I am still amazed by how he can create and perform these three-, four-, and sometimes five-instrument “duels.”

     The third thing that I’ve found so noticeable is the way TPE has committed to sharing the lead vocal duties with his relatively new and quite talented female vocalist, Ann Caren. She is given lead opportunities in no less than three songs. And I hear more of Ann’s own imprint on her vocal delivery than on her performances on The Tale of The Golden King.

     The fourth change—and, to these ears, the most significant improvement to the TPE sound—is the more ‘real’ or ‘drum-like’ sounds of the toms and snares used in the drum recording. I have always felt that the previous settings/tunings of these ‘skins’ were too tight, too plastic sounding.  

1. “Prologue - The Voyage” (2:14) opens with a wonderful display of the potential of full orchestra to set a mood. By the time TPE’s electric guitars and synthesizers join the party there is a wonderful feeling of excitement—and perhaps a little bit of Blade Runner or Harry Potter-ish foreboding. (5/5)

2. “The Sunstone” (5:32) Moving straight from the Prologue, “The Sunstone” enters familiar TPE territory in that the drums and magical weave of multiple stringed and keyed instruments present themselves with the immediate joinder of the soothing voice (multiply layered) of TPE. The vocals are nicely harmonized and kind held back within the instrumental mix—which sounds really fresh and demonstrates that restraint I mentioned above. Great TPE song! (9/10) 

3. “The Siren’s Spell” (4:17) opens with organ, synth and dirty distorted guitar setting the stage for Ann Caren’s first vocal performance. Again, restraint rather than flamboyance seems to be the modus operandi here as Ann’s vocal is never ‘in your face’ strong. The mid-section of soli is also much less flashy and feverous/high-pitched than we’ve come to respect—again to great effect. The song’s acoustic guitar coaxed outro is very nice—and a perfect segue into the next song. (8/10) 

4. “The Storm” (4:50) is an instrumental in which we see a return to a weave of more rapid-fire instrumental solo melody lines—though this time in the form of but two instruments—at least for the first 2:15. Then the Hammond organ gets a turn. Back to original two ‘dirty’ instruments, then electric violin to make it a threesome. Nice but could’ve used something . . . more. (8/10)    

5. “A Hundred Years On” (8:04) opens with some gorgeous orchestral play—like watching a sunrise through music! After two minutes the song shifts into medieval acoustic folk with some acoustic guitars, harpsichord, double bass and drums while TPE sings. The fourth minute opens with a new feel—some great vocals and Hammond organ with full band and some chamber support. Really beautifully constructed song—with great effect! The final minute sees an awesome atmospheric section in support of Ann Caren’s lovely voice. I love this one! One of my favorite TPE songs ever! I wish every band could afford the support of such a wide range of instrumentalists—and compose with the maturity and sophistication that TPE does! (15/15)

6. “Sun Mad” (6:59) is kind of a continuation of the previous song’s storyline but it brings the pace and tone down a bit—allowing piano, jazzy lead guitar, emotional vocal, and orchestral support to come shining through. Such a brilliant weave of melody lines, start to finish! Awesome chord progressions and key changes. Great choice of instrument sounds. Quite a beautiful song. Definitely a favorite of mine. (15/15)

7. “Digging Up the Past” (5:45) At the 1:30 mark the song is established. I love the three or four bass melody lines interweaving at the bottom of the song with drums and Hammond organ. Hypnotic in a kind of TANGERINE DREAM way but amazingly mixed into a 60s blues-rock song. Awesome song! (9/10)

8. “The Quake” (5:42) opens with a kind of jazz fusion soup with some wonderful vocal inputs trying to steer the song onto its proper course. Once established, it becomes a very solid instrumental display of jazz fusion. The sound and instrument choices are definitely meant to capture the sounds and stylings of 1970s fusion. Like something from JAN HAMMER or electro-funkified STANLEY CLARKE, even a bit of WEATHER REPORT. Incredible song! (10/10)

9. “Gaze” (7:43) is a sensitive, emotional song constructed mostly of orchestral instruments in support of a wonderful vocal of Ann Caren. Synths and electric guitar enter in the third minute; drums, fretless bass, and Hammond organ in the fourth. I love the JEAN-LUC PONTY-like electric guitar arpeggios providing the glue to the song throughout the second half. Awesome bass play (including a brief solo) in the sixth minute traded with synths and guitars. My only criticism is of the fact that Ms. Caren’s voice gets a little buried in the mix of the instrumental weave going on throughout the last two minutes. (14.25/15)

10. “Endgame” (4:07) features Ann Caren and TPE trading vocal duties in a conversant kind of way over an often rhythmic KIG CRIMSON like weave of arpeggios coming from multiple instruments. A very familiar sound from previous TPE releases. (8/10)

11. “Back to the Sea” (7:19) opens with ocean waves and a bit of a folk sound with acoustic guitar, mandolin, recorder weaving behind TPE’s light IAN ANDERSON-like vocal. In the second minute Ann Caren takes over the lead vocal—this time with additional support of folk electric guitar and slide synth sounds giving it more of a Nashville sound. Light and upbeat though—kind of like a 60s Flower Child song of total optimism. The church organ opening the fourth minute, coupled with the chunky bass notes, gives the song more of a YES “Your Move” feel to it. Then the fifth minute sees a shift into more of an ominous tone with horn-synth taking lead over some minor key chords. At 6:00 we re-enter the sunlight and hope with the church organ—which then gives way to the original light folk feel and its instrumental support. The final minute sees the return to ominous and heavy as the soloists vie for supremacy and dominance. The song finishes with the dominant church organ and folk voice harmonies claiming the title. Definitely the most mood-complex and song on the album. Nice to end the album on a bit of a quieter if still dramatic note. (13.5/15)

TPE believes that this is his best release yet and I agree. The variation and maturity of presentation on The Sundstone coupled with the slight evolution of soundscapes and slight pullback from the previous tendency to be a bit over-dramatic puts this one ahead of his previous masterpieces, 2013’s The Tale of the Golden King  and even my previous personal favorite of his, 2011’s The Dream of the Magic Jongleur.

91.80 on the Fish scales = five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music theater.

10. BATTLESTATIONS The extent of damage

With The extent of damage, Battlestations have put on display the fact that they have become masters of painting pictures—moving pictures—adventures!—with music.

1. “Necro” (12:38) The first five minutes of slow, ominous music sounds like a soundtrack to a French mystery film of the 70s or 60s. Then the music shifts into atmospherics and odd eerie background noises and voices until at 6:35 things kick back in with heavier synth washes, lead electric guitar, and loud eerie wind/voice noises. At 7:39 everything cuts out again only this time we are presented with some different deeper synth “voices.” It’s like the sounds our imaginations would play upon as we’re walking alone through a large wooded cemetery in the middle of the night! At 9:35 you’d think we were just accosted by someone or something jumping out from behind a tree. The ensuing “battle” or “flight” does not end well, methinks!

    At first listen I did not think much of this song, but as I think of it as a soundtrack—and such vivd imagery passes within my consciousness—I am convinced that the band did their work admirably! Scared me through and through! (25/30)

2. “The Lies We Share” (9:46) the introduction of the VANGELIS-like synth wash minor chord at 3:30 is awesome! Then heavily treated guitar power chords. And the choice of percussion sounds that soon join in are equally great. The chord progression that takes over at 5:55 is absolutely heart-breaking! You’ve won me over, boys! I am at your mercy! But then you let it fade away at the eight minute mark and then we slowly shift and drift into a more somber, almost sad chord progression—equally gut-wrenching but sad! Amazing song! You have mastered the art of toying with your human listeners! (19/20)

3. “The Great Divide” (9:27) opens like a sunrise on an empty parking lot. But then at 1:40 the city seems to come to life:  cars and traffic trickle onto the streets, begin flowing with early morning rush hour regularity. At 3:10 the view shifts, and we are suddenly looking skyward—at cloud, wind, and air traffic. Is this the last day? The end of life as we know it? The sky view is so ominous and confusing. What are we seeing? 5:10. What? What was that? Is there something to give us hope? Something to give us strength and resolve? Cuz that’s what the new key and chord changes are making me feel. But then, at 6:28/6:38, reality bursts our bubble. It is the end. We are all going to die today. The slow but insidious devastation of the surface of the planet is in progress. We can only watch in total helplessness—we can choose to revel in the glory of the cleansing that Mother Earth is receiving as its parasitic humans are scoured from her skin by the consequences of their own hubris. Awesome journey. Awesome song. (20/20)

4. “They Sleep While We Burn” (9:33) opens with some industrial sounds creating percussive rhythms upon which other incidentals flit in and out. The first four minutes kind of build, kind of take me nowhere, but then a shift to an unusual (for Battlestations) chord sequence (kind of a Blade Runner theme sequence and sound) brings us to the private home and research offices of Tyrell Corp—oops! Misdirection! At 6:10 we are halted in mid-air turned around to look at a more beautiful version of what is possible—perhaps some of Roy’s memories from his off-world adventures—while we are numbly, humbly forced to watch. AT 8:10 a new chord and sound sequence segues us into a remorseful, conciliatory mood. Perhaps we can live in peace and harmony, after all! (19.5/20)

5. “The Extent of the Damage” (3:56) feels kind of like a medium for re-entry, re-integration into the normal human life that we were used to before entering the soundscapes of this album. And boy is it appreciated! It’s like the walk out of the theater while the credits are rolling—getting used to light, one’s body, movement, and negotiating through the “real” world again. But, What a show! (8.25/10)

The key to the stunning success of this album is in the band’s growth in engineering/mixing as well as in timing. The mastery of knowing when and where to shift the song’s themes and sounds is so difficult to achieve but boy have you guys found it! I love the visual stories I’m sucked into as I listen to these songs! This is exemplary of some of the most magical potential that music contains! The power to transport! Mega kudos, Boys from Bruxelles!

91.75 on the Fish scales = five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music.

11. ALIO DIE & LORENZO MONTANÀ Holographic Codex

Ambient music in the vein of BRIAN ENO's 1982 classic, Ambient 4: On Land, seasoned electronica veteran Alio Die teams up with countryman Lorenzo Montanà who is more known for his film scoring. The collaboration is perfect as Alio Die's typical Arabian-indfused heavily treated zither, voice, and percusssives are mixed and diluted with M. Montanà's contributions, making them more ethereal and more effective. All but one of the song compositions rate exceedingly high in their capacity to engage and interest the listener.

     The above-mentioned comparison to the classic Eno masterpiece--a veritable landmark in the progression and evolution of ambient music--is not without purpose as Holographic Codex presents seven songs, three of which explore some of the less angelic, less relaxing, more unsettling, even "darker" effects of musical soundscapes--areas of response that invite exploration of what is called the "shadow" side of our psyches--as the Eno album did for us psychopsiritual explorers of the 1980s.  Three of the other songs evoke spiritual uplift through the use of familiar religious means, two more Christian, the other very Islamic.

1. "Muns de Etrah" (6:56) is beautiful in a peaceful, angelic way using treated organ, wind sounds, computer clicks, treated percussion, processed zithers and more. Gorgeously layered and flowing song. (10/10)

2. "Hydra e Vers" (5:16) is dark and brooding in a BRIAN ENO Ambient 4: On Land kind of way using what sounds like Islamic chants, prayers or calls to prayer. (9/10)

3. "Akvil" (9:35) starts out uplifting in a meditative way with church bells as if at the end of a wedding or high mass but then turns subtly in a darker direction around the 2:30 mark with a sub-layer of sound that at first creeps in and eventually becomes the dominant mood driver. (18/20)

4. "Silent Rumon" (15:16) is ominously laden with a full orchestra-like feel and a subtle yet driving Berlin School electronic percussion. This feels like a KLAUS SCHULZE classic. The use of Arabian voices, sounds, and melodic patterns is quite prevalent in this one. (30/30)

5. "Egetora" (5:24) not the prettiest or most engaging nor relaxing song. The music is so ethereal, so distant and almost pitchless that it almost fails to qualify as music! But it does produce an ambient space, with a limbo-like feel in a way that only Brian Eno has done well. It's like being in Purgatory:  We are waiting and waiting--we are all waiting! (7/10)

6. "Cinta della Breccia Divina" (15:14) wind and pulsating drones give this an On Land feel to it. Even rejoinder of the ambient and incidental zither makes it feel Eno-esque--kind of like Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, Eno's recording of the music of African-American street musician, zither player Laraaji. (26/30)

7. "Eternal Wisdom" (6:12) embraces the angelic in a European cathedral choir practice kind of way. From the uplifting opening chord to its end. (10/10)

I have to say, the fact that I keep playing this CD for background music everyday while doing our farm wash'n'packs says a lot about its effect. It offends no one and adds a bit of the dramatic-contemplative to our day. This is definitely one of the best ambient albums I've heard in a long time (And I'm so glad ambient is an accepted sub-category of the prog rock sub-genre "electronic.")

91.67 on the Fishscales = A-; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock and deep ambient music.

12. SYLVAN Home

I've been listening to this album for a couple of months with increasing enjoyment with each listen. As a matter of fact, I can say that this is the first Sylvan release since Posthumous Silence to truly captivate me. Marco and crew (a much changed crew since PS) have returned to more of the elements of progressive rock while at the same time using their greatest strength to its utmost. Of course, in that I speak of the marvelous voice of Marco Glühmann doing what he does best: telling a compelling story of the challenges and pitfalls of being human in this confusing modern world. I think Marco's voice is the strongest I've ever heard it--using all of his tricks and strengths in perfect timing with the emotion of the lyrics--of each word--embellishing the music perfectly. And I really like this stripped down, simplified music mixed with elements of electronica, classical, chamber and Sylvan's usual solid rhythm section. I have to agree with one of the previous reviewers that sitting through 80 minutes while trying to remain fully attendant is challenging. (But, even sitting through the entire play through of my favorite album of all-time, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, is a challenging thing to achieve.) But the rewards of having a song from this album pass through my iPod Shuffle's random playlist is always rewarding and enjoyable. Especially as I have gotten more familiar with them. Consummate professionals with a very polished and straightforward presentation, they have the experience and maturity to employ all of the "tricks" to hook the prog listener. I love it! I love the throbbing bass! the way the grand piano is recorded to sound like a classical piano, the powerful yet succinct guitar solos, the deliberate arrangements and orchestrated sections, and, of course, the sublime voice of one of progressive rock's all-time masters!

There are no songs that I skip or dislike but I find myself really tuning in when I hear:  1. "Not Far from the Sky" (6:31) (9/10); 4. "With the Eyes of a Child" (4:19) (10/10); 6. "The Sound of Her World" (9:23) (18/20); the refreshingly genius and emotion-packed 7. "Sleep Tight" (5:31) (10/10); the MARILLION-like 8. "Off Her Hands" (3:33) (9/10); the best song on the album, 9. "Shine" (6:19) (10/10); the hypnotic 10. "Point of No Return" (5:25) (10/10); the gorgeous finale, "Home" (6:05) (10/10), and; the tumultuous epic "in Between" (10:50) (19/20).

91.67 on the Fish scales = five stars. Such a polished, mature album of excellent and original Neo-Prog. A minor masterpiece of progressive rock music.

 

13. CORVUS STONE Corvus Stone Unscrewed

Axeman extraordinaire Colin Tench has gotten busy in the engineering room! And I LIKE IT! The “new” sound Colin has produced here is wonderfully reminiscent of the pre-computer-enhanced days of sound (re-)production (i.e. before the Fairlight CMI, gated drums, PC home studio software, and the now ubiquitous sound compression). I just love listening to the drums and percussion! It reminds me of being in one room playing and recording with my brothers: the sound is all right there with you, not compartmentalized and isolated in different “rooms”. It’s like capturing live performances! Which is ironically wonderful for the fact that Colin and his bandmates, I believe, live in widely distant locations and, therefore, submit their instrumental contributions over the internet (or by mail).

    Unscrewed also displays another step forward in the progress of this band as a band. Corvus Stone I put on display the (not insignificant) instrumental talents of individual band members while failing to consistently present the feel of an integrated band. Corvus Stone II brought songwriting and coherent whole-band weaves into focus. Unscrewed presents what feels and sounds like a successfully integrated band with each instrumental contribution fitting into the coherent weave of each song importantly, even essentially. 

     While this music is not always satisfying to my personal musical affinities, it is always well done, incredibly well performed, well-composed, and awesomely well engineered. Last year I theorized that CS was one album away from “their masterpiece.” I am happy to say that I was right. Colin and crew have achieved the rewards of hard work and maturation: mastery of their presentation of music.

Five star songs:  the amazingly fitting soundtrack song, “Scary Movie Too” (7:38); the powerful opening instrumental, “Brand New Day” (3:52); the awesomely multiple vocals of “Early Morning Calls” (3:52); the crystal clarity of every instrument on “Horizon” (1:52); the medieval folk feel to the foundation of “Landfill” (3:44); the wonderful multiple melody lines and multiple tempos of “After Solstice (Remix)” (4:05); the awesome Al Di MELOA/James Bond-like theme song, “Petrified in the Cinema Basement” (3:10); the organ and military drum base and late Sixties feel of “Lost and Found Revisited” (3:29); the virtuosic guitar showcased on both “Cinema Finale” (6:02) and “Pack up your Truffles” (2:07), and; the rollicking fun and humor of “Moustaches in Massachusetts” (4:18).

What I’d like to reiterate in conclusion is the step up in sound and whole-band cohesion, but I’d also like to make sure attention is drawn to the wonderful contributions of each and every band member and guest on this album. It’s one of those albums that keeps revealing new jewels, new surprises with each and every listen. If you haven’t tried the previous CS albums, definitely try out Unscrewed. It is in a class by itself—the masterpiece class. 

91.54 on the Fish scales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of prog rock.

14. MYSTERY Delusion Rain

If Neo Prog has to be over-the-top bombastic, let it be like this band, Mystery, and this album, Delusion Rain, their best to date. Simply the best sound, best song construction, best lead vocalist, best tempos and best lyrical topics I can think of in the Neo Prog realm. So what if they sound like 80s hair bands WHITESNAKE, SKID ROW, QUEENSRYCHE, GREAT WHITE, DEF LEPPARD or BON JOVI. They have a clarity and consistency, a masterful command of melody and chord progressions and a solid confidence that puts them in your face but in an emotional, sympathetic way.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Jean Pageau / lead vocals, keyboards, flute
- Michel St-Père / electric & acoustic guitars, keyboards, producer
- Sylvain Moineau / electric guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar
- Benoît Dupuis / keyboards
- François Fournier / bass, Taurus pedals, keyboards
- Jean-Sébastien Goyette / drums
With:
- Antoine Michaud / guitars
- Sylvain Descôteaux / piano

1. "Delusion Rain" (10:04) A solid song that just never elevates itself into heavenly standards of memorability. (17.5/20)

2. "If You See Her" (6:11) A prog ballad by-the-numbers but done to perfection. The keyboard embellishments and restrained guitar soli (especially in the fifth minute) are wonderful. (9/10)

3. "The Last Glass of Wine" (6:47) Great pacing, great singing and lyrics, incredibly engaging chord progressions and melodic hooks, amazing sound and instrumental clarity, and hugely chunky bass, and yet nothing over-the-top or overdone. This is about as good as Neo Prog can get. (15/15)

4. "The Willow Tree" (19:30) A few choices misfire and a few opportunities were missed--and it may drag on a bit longer than it needs to, but, still, overall, another beautiful and wonderfully restrained presentation. "Have you seen your eyes" is definitely a brainworm. (37.5/40)

5. "Wall Street King" (6:39) Despite the cogent topic, pleasant opening and great fifth minute, this is one of the weaker songs on this otherwise stunning album. (8.75/10)

6. "A Song for You" (12:35) is a little on the cliché bombastic side, but I cannot argue with the gorgeous melodies, heart-wrenching chord progressions, tasteful guitar soli and amazing synth soli. Change the first 6:15 a bit and you have an outright masterpiece. (22/25)

Total Time 61:46

91.46 on the Fish scales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece and another wonderful contribution to the world of progressive rock music from these masters of Neo Prog.

Sorry, Thomas, but this, Delusion Rain, is the greatest Neo Prog album ever made. (Just kidding. That honor would have to go to either Moonshine or Seven.) If all Neo Prog were like this, I might like more of it.

15. NEMO Coma

Finally! A Nemo album that I feel immediately engaged with, that I can feel drawn into the melodies and structures! For so many albums I’ve read the rave reviews, bought or listened to the albums (with great attention, I might add) but this is the first time that I feel the music is comprehensible, that I’m not being pushed away by the music’s busyness and abrasiveness. I really appreciate Jean Pierre’s slowing down and spacing out the music a bit more. The moods and atmospherics are so much more evident and accessible this way.  

1. “Le coma des mortals” (11:38) opens with over three minutes of instrumental pomp and blaze before shifting to a more sensitive, jazzy acoustic foundation at the 3:20 mark. The piano-accompanied electric guitar lead setting up the vocal entry is sublime—very RIVERSIDE-like. And such a beautiful sensitive vocal it is! In the second verse he starts to amp up both his emotionality and volume—as does the support music. At 6:15 a BLACK SABBATh-like metal riff establishes the musical foundation for the next section—even though things quiet down soon after—back to piano and acoustic guitar with more laid-back vocal. The fretless bass play and jazzy piano tinkling are awesome! Mix in the electric guitars’ metal power chords and you have quite an ingenious passage. Militaristic drum beat with one, then two, then three lead guitars each playing their mirror’ed yet distinctive tracks eventually gives way to a steady background pulse of snare and thumping bass to set up a great old fashioned rock guitar solo. Layers of keys are gradually added to great effect. The final solo is given to a modulated synth. Awesome! Great opening track! (18.5/20)  

2. “Train Fantôme” (9:08) has quite a PINK FLOYD vibe to it without feeling as if it is a rip off or a copy—especially the opening and ending sections. Throughout the middle there is a neat little power riff used throughout that reminds me quite a bit of METALLICA’s “Enter Sandman.” I love it! (18/20)

3. “Comaïne” (6:01) starts out with a very French folk/troubadour-feel to it for the first 1:28. Then the metal guitars and rock drums kick in. The smooth vocal retains a consistency throughout—which helps in tying all of the song’s parts together. The two guitars playing out at the end reminds me of THIN LIZZY. (8.25/10) 

4. “St. Guy” (8:27) is an instrumental that opens with a Barbares familiarity to it but then morphs into its own with the gradual addition of synths and guitars. By the beginning of the third minute the song has established the structure it will hold for the next six minutes—a kind of bluesy rock, with some awesome organ, fretless bass, forward drums, and Colin TENCH-like guitar soloing. Around the 4:30 the band goes into a bit of a bridge before returning to a solo-based structure—electric guitar followed by nice showcase for the Ollivier Long, the fretless bass player. Again, the ease and dexterity of the guitarist’s play reminds me so much of the Jeff BECK side of Colin TENCH. Really nice stuff! (17/20)  

5. “Tu n’est pas seul” (8:01) a very powerful song with lots of space and atmospheric sound—definitely my favorite on the album. The opening minute is awesome with its slow-to-build weave and reversed guitar notes. The way that the delicate lead vocal is accompanied by background vocal harmonies is gorgeous. Then there is a very powerfully constructed spacious interlude in the fourth, fifth and sixth minutes—which perfectly sets up the emotional heavier lead guitar solo section that ensues at the 5:30 mark. Gorgeous solo. The vocal return is quite welcome and caps off a virtually perfect song. Awesome! (Nice to know that I’m not alone—and that Nemo appreciates my musical tastes.) (14.5/15)

6. “Coma” (12:46) opens with a bombastic beginning much more in the Neo Prog vein followed by a sensitive solo synth. At the 1:00 mark gentle arpeggiated electric guitar, military drum beat, Arp synth voices, piano and bass create a GENESIS-like weave before the electric guitar establishes a melody. Then, at 2:05 the music shifts into a rhythm-guitar and bass-dominated section with syncopated drum play over which the lead vocalist lays down his first lyrics and melody. Organ and heavier guitar chord play elevate the song into a heavier realm—over which the vocalist and his companion (tracks) sing with matching intensity. Great melody and harmony lines! At 6:00 a Jan HAMMER-like synth solo takes us away. Then at 6:25 the song shifts into a different time signature and the instrumental balance shifts toward multiple keyboards and multiple electric guitars. At 8:20 there is yet another tempo shift—this one allowing synth washes and soloing synth to take the fore while the singer shifts to singing from within the mix. The song seems to be winding down in the tenth minute as a few familiar melodic and chordal themes are recapitulated, entwined and played with. The final two and a half minutes are played out with deliberate power and bombast but at a pace that allows each and every sound and shift to be heard and appreciated. Awesome song! (29/30)

91.46 on the Fish scales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music. This is DEFINITELY my favorite Nemo album I’ve ever heard and one that I feel deserves a five star rating. Nemo has definitely brought their music into a range that is more accessible (to me) and yet is just as creative and powerful as their previous releases. Bravo! and Encore!

16. NATIVE CONSTRUCT Quiet World

Impressive avant prog metal vaudeville from Berklee College of Music students. (One can even watch YouTube videos of the boys playing and recording their parts in some tiny dormroom on campus.)

Line-up / Musicians:
- Robert Edens / Vocals
- Myles Yang / Guitar
- Max Harchik / Bass

1. "Mute" (6:21) opens just like a Devy Townsend piece--something from one of his more comedic entertainment classics like Ziltoid--but then at 1:35 the more theatric, QUEEN-cabaret-like stuff begins--it even sounds like a modern Brian May playing some of the guitar parts. At 2:58 vocalist Robert Edens launches into a very engaging multi-track vocal "chant"-like passage which is joined by a gradually ever-expanding field of jazzy orchestral instruments. By the end of the fifth minute the music has blossomed into a kind of Golden Age of Broadway 1950s grandiosity but then at 5:15 growl vocals, metal machine gun bass drumming and multiple electric guitars (some of which still sound Brian May-ish) explode into the track to finish the song with some modern youthful force. Very interesting and often amazing song. A top three song for me. (9.25/10)

2. "The Spark Of The Archon" (8:50) more retro-prog metal schmaltz. The combination of stop-and-go, quick-changing heavy metal structure and sound with classic jazz and Broadway melody making and stylings is quite unusual and remarkable; there are very few artists that come to mind when trying to compare this music-making style (one of which is Devin Townsend). This song does not have so much variation as the opener but continues to carve out quite an unique path for itself--especially with its melodramatic final minute. It is also filled with occasional moments of breathtaking genius, beauty, and emotion. (17.75/20)

3. "Passage" (8:07) toy piano and bassoon open this before oboe (and, later, bowed double bass) joins in to form a weave that sounds more Present/Univers Zero. After 90 seconds of this introductory overture, vocalist Robert Edens joins in, singing in a style more befitting the 1920s or 1930s. But then, around 2:05 the big band music expands with some (more) Brian May like guitar and militaristic drumming with the keyboard orchestration before crescendoing in some more metallic bursts. The music settles back into a most unusual jazz-metal sound palette as the vocalist and other instruments trade solos--until, that is, a harp bridge at 5:05 into a (13.5/15)

4. "Your Familiar Face" (4:11) A more poppy, QUEEN-like song, only, with all of the sharp edges, twists and turns of more modern metal music. I just love the multi-track vocal chanting that the band uses over the European jazzy soundscapes. My favorite song on the album. (9.25/10)

5. "Come Hell Or High Water" (5:54) a rapid-fire, twisting and turning metal song that reminds me of the stylings and humor of MR. BUNGLE and HUMBLE GRUMBLE. Man! Myles sure loves that Brian May sound! (8.875/10)

6. "Chromatic Lights" (2:14) bass and two guitars weaving ostinato melodies like a classical chamber trio. Is the crackling in the sound an attempt to throw back to the recorded music of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli? (4.3333/5)

7. "Chromatic Aberration" (12:28) quite a suite! Opening with the melody lines of the previous song, only rendered unto keyboard, the song travels on a what feels like a hero's quest journey: encountering and surmounting many obstacles as one would working one's way through a video game. The soundtrack to the "mind game" with his giant adversary and Formic queen that Andrew Wiggin is subjected to during his "down time" at Battle School training program in both the book and film of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. (22.25/25)

Total Time 48:05

The question is: Are these guys joking or will we hear more (and better) stuff like this from them in the future? The quirky changes and total mood shifts mid song--multiple times--makes one wonder what the goals/aims of these shifts are? It's almost as if multiple personalities are each given their turn at presenting the song's message. Interesting but often a bit jarring, unsettling (though never so much as in an UneXpect song). The overriding sentiment is, however, that this album's music is certainly memorable.

After years of living with this album, revisiting it several times (and feeling haunted by its very memorable and unique music), I've come to the conclusion that there is the music is steeped in some deep and complexly varied musical histories coming from each of its creators: a lot of knowledge of classical, Broadway/stage, ethnic, and, of course, metal traditions was necessary to create this very mature and complex (and theatric) music. Mega kudos to Robert, Max, and Myles, wherever you are. I think you created with your college dormroom album some kind of feat of wonder--perhaps even a masterpiece; one for the ages.

BTW: bassist Max Harchick is AMAZING!

91.01 on the Fishscales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of intricately nuanced theatric prog metal; highly recommended for all prog lover's--an experience you will not soon forget.

17. CICCADA The Finest of Miracles

It’s been five years since Greece’s Ciccada released their highly acclaimed debut album, A Child in the Mirror on AltrOck Records. Now they are back with an album that displays the maturation process the band has undergone in both recording and compositional technique. The songs of The Finest of Miracles show improved mastery of the band’s proclivity for weaving sophisticated instrumental structures using their multiplicity of ancient and traditional folk instruments integrated with modern electrified instruments. They have also refined their symphonic sensibilities, as is displayed in the long-playing masterpieces, “Around the Fire” and the 18-minute long “The Finest of Miracles Suite.” They are also much more evenly paced, eliminating the occasional tendency they had previously to over-do or flood passages with too much information. 

1. “A Night Ride” (6:26) is an instrumental "overture" putting on immediate display the fact of the band’s maturation as well as its further commitment to both rock music and symphonic song structures. Also on display is the multi-instrumental virtuosity of leader Nicolas Nikolopoulos who is credited with flute, tenor sax, Mellotron, synthesizers, electric and grand pianos, organ, and glockenspiel. The contributions of guest musician Lydia Boudouni on violin are also quite significant. Nice opener. (8.5/10) But, we’re all waiting for the complete ensemble—and especially the contributions of vocalist extraordinaire, Evangelina Kozoni. The next song does not take long to satisfy. 

2. “Eternal” (8:02) starts out sounding very much like A Child in the Mirror’s “A Garden of Delights”—though a bit more spacious. By the middle of the song the band has started mixing things up enough and by the end of the sixth minute they have finally broken away from its predecessor: organ, acoustic guitars, flutes, Mellotron and violins. In retrospect, it feels as if it is really Evangelina’s vocal melody that keeps bringing me back to “Earthly Delights,” not so much the instrumental music. Still, a great song. Great sound. (17/20)

3. “At the Death of Winter” (4:04) starts out with flute, synths, Mellotron and marimba setting things up for Evangelina’s storytelling vocal. The song is impressionistic:  jazzy, folkie, kind of childlike and pleasant. At times it even treads into GENTLE GIANT territory—especially with the jazzy section beginning in the third and the rondo weave of male vocals accompanying Evangelina which soon follows during the fourth minute. Surprising and beautiful song! (9/10)

4. “Around the Fire” (9:16) is a true symphonic construction with no single section lasting more than 45 seconds and never less than 30. It opens with two wooden flutes playing together for the first 30 seconds. Multiple tracks of acoustic guitars fill the next 30 seconds before an all-out acoustic JETHRO TULL instrumental weave bursts out. This is then joined by organ and Evangelina’s vocal. Next there is a brief instrumental of medieval instruments before the music returns to the JTULL theme with electric guitar and flute flashing in and out in an enthusiastic dance. Next Evangelina returns with the organ before the song quiets down to the medieval instrument section this time with Evangelina’s voice. It sounds like a 1960s folk songs with its strummed acoustic guitars and background vocal harmonies. Gorgeous! At the five minute mark we get to hear two electric guitar soli before the song devolves into a rapidly strumming acoustic guitar. Then, at 6:30 we get to hear some impassioned JTULL flute and guitar soli, building into a heavier JTULL crescendo before returning tho the 60s folk section with the addition of Mellotron and GENESIS-like guitars to exit. Amazing song! (19.5/20)

5. “Lemnos (Lover Dancer)” (0:47) is a song in the true medieval folk minstrel tradition. Plus horns! (5/5)

THE FINEST OF MIRACLES SUITE:

6. “Birth of the Lights” (1:52) opens surprisingly heavily, with and odd time signature, before evolving into a softer and lighter “sunshine and unicorns” mood. (4.5/5)

7. “Wandering” (6:42) opens sounding a lot like very early GENESIS. Sax with background violin and piano are interspersed with the “mischievous” “interruptions” of flute A weave of multiple synths ensues before the song returns to the sax and violin weave, this time interlaced with slightly heavier sections—one of which has some raunchy jazz guitars. The song always comes back to either the sax and violin theme and/or the flutes over acoustic guitars for its grounding. This is very much a soundtrack for a film—like an old silent film soundtrack—one in which five or six very distinct personalities are interacting and/or conversing. (8.5/10)

8. “Sirens Call” (1:38) starts with simple acoustic guitar arpeggios joined by flute and then double bass and Rhodes piano. Violin and flute trade soli throughout. (4.5/5)

9. “As Fall the Leaves” (3:09) is a medieval folk ensemble set up for Evangelina to sing in her native Greek. Very RENAISSANCE like. (10/10)

10. “Song for an Island” (4:47) sees the suite step into the electronic era with trumpets and Mike Oldfield-like lead guitar with Evangelina continuing singing in Greek. The music has the feel of an early bluesy JETHRO TULL or GENESIS song. Horns join in at 1:10, adding something special before the song returns to the opening vocal section. In the fourth minute it takes a turn into new territory—a kind of “MacArthur Park” sound and structure. At 4:30 a circus-like element is introduced—which carries us through to the end! (9/10)

Amazing composition pulled off with such skill and maturity! Awesome!

This album has an amazing 1970s feel to it in the way it is composed and performed; such mastery and maturity is rare in this day and age. Always a sucker for medieval and folk traditions, this album has bewitched me—much more than even their debut—to which I also ascribed five stars.

90.95 on the Fish scales = five stars; a minor masterpiece of folk-based progressive rock music.

18. 3RDEGREE Ones & Zeroes, Vol. 1

One of the things I had to get used to in this album is the “scantly clad“ music presented here: there are very few added layers or fluffy fills and incidentals in these songs. Each song feels rather stripped down, bare, and naked. And clean. The drums feel live. The vocals feel live. The acoustic guitars feel live. Like the recently released CORVUS STONE surprise, Unscrewed, 3RDegree seems to have gravitated to a pre-computerized recording/engineering style—which I love! Every sound is crystal clear and feeling as if you are in the room with it—as if the band is playing live, in the same room, with each other. Other than ECHOLYN, STEELY DAN, early DAVID BOWIE, or the occasional flash of CARAVAN or PETER MURPHY, I can’t find myself feeling many immediate associations with the music on Ones & Zeros. It’s just good, unusual, fresh and original music—on the pop side of prog. 

      Lyrically, once again 3RDegree comes through with a masterfully cogent presentation of one of the current “pink elephants” in the room of human civilization. They get you thinking about some of the many signs of increasingly imminent decay and death, get you asking “How should we behave, how should we think? What should we do?” The fake adverts used to tie each song together are more focused on the ludicrous, hollow and double-edged promises of science and technology, like the ‘advances’ of bioengineering and medicine. It is obvious that the band wants us to think. I love it! They remind me of the Lacuna Corporation ads in the 2004 film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Like STEVEN WILSON, 3RDegree seems brave enough to be willing to point a mirror on some of the most sensitive, touchy subjects of our modern ‘civilized’ lives and world. Bravo! and kudos to them!

     Like their previous album, 2012’s The Long Division, 3RDegree have produced an album that has totally taken me by surprise. And, also like The Long Division, I find Ones & Zeros growing on me with each listen. Wonderful stuff! Check it out!

Favorite songs: They’re all wonderful but personally I like: the mostly instrumental 9. “We Regret to Inform You” (5:23); the piercing indictments of 6. “Circuit Court” (5:19), 7. “Life at Any Cost” (8:49), and 8. “What It Means to Be Human” (5:31), and; 2. “The Gravity” (7:51). Also good are:  4. “Life” (3:08), 5. “The Best & Brightest” (4:06), and the tongue-in-cheek anthem, 10. “More Life” (5:33).

Though this is definitely the poppier side of prog (and thus the "crossover" designation), the cleverness of the lyrics and the charming, upbeat sophistication of the music make this, in my humble opinion, a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music.

90.0 on the Fish scales = A-/five stars.

19. JAM IT! Following the Unknown

Unusually well-produced jazz fusion from Russia. Though Russia is supposedly cursed with a lack of attention (or care) for rhythmicity, the drummer here, Alexey Vostrikov is quite steady, disciplined, and creative. His supposed influence from Mike Portnoy has rubbed off well. For me, however, the centerpiece of this quartet of tightly matched musicians is guitarist Konstantin Illin. His technical skill is enhanced by his creative sensibilities, allowing him to sound like some kind of cross between blues legend Luther Allison and jazz legend Allan Holdsworth. Bassist Dmitry Medvinsky and keyboardist Roman Savelyev play excellent roles in support of the machinations of the two "leads" in this band. All in all, the music and composing are very, very solid--and the songs are performed very tightly. Though some reviewers have noted the metal/Dream Theater or the 80s King Crimson influences to this music, I am not as convinced--though song 5. "Avalanche" does possess many of the shifts and angularities and rhythmic guitar and drum interplay one might expect from those kinds of influences. The presence of a strongly independent melodic sense throughout takes me out of DT-KC territory. Even the chord progressions--often quite fast and complex--are surprisingly melodic. The music produced by these guys stands on its own; they are their own force, not an imitator or clone of someone else.

1. "Following The Unknown" (10:10) opens with a 1970/80s familiarity and simplicity, but then a volume- and twang-bar-treated electric guitar proceeds to take us deep into guitar heaven. What a solo Konstantin unleashes for over a minute! Then around 2:15 things shift--they slow down to give the rhythmtist a chance to shine (though no real soloing--this seems to be Alexey's way: to surprise and express in his syncopated, intuitive and creative percussion-scapes). by the 4:30 mark the band has played around, woven something together, before a little axe solo and a wonderful NIL-like section unfolds. I'm also thinking "Fromuz" with this one. The melodic flow of this one doesn't quite make sense to me but I can certainly appreciate the 'theory' behind the compositional flow. Nice introduction but nothing mind-blowing (except for the opening guitar solo). (16.5/20)

2. "Sea Breeze" (7:16) continues to put on display the band's complex and tight tempo and chordal changes--but, though impressive, this is nothing so very new or exciting. Yet. (12.5/15)

3. "Through The Forest" (6:30) opens a bit like a CORVUS STONE song, rockin' bluesy with the COLIN TENCH guitar sound. It goes through a few shifts over the simple bass line and stumbling drum line. This is, for me, the "breakout song" in which the band shows some of its uniqeness. There are interesting tempo and key shifts, interesting keyboard choices and passages, and frequent melody shifts as well. The duplicated keyboard-guitar riffs in the fifth minute are awesome--and they're followed immediately by some awesome power chords before a piano-based section takes over. Soon bass and drums kick up a groove over which the guitar and piano rip. Awesome song! My third favorite on the album. (9/10)

4. "Mountain Of Solitude" (9:33) is the first song in which I feel as if the band members have set up a goal or study of an idea--as if they are practicing some concept from music theory. A relatively slow tempo song, the band amps up the volume around the 3:45 mark--with Konstantin's guitar, of course, taking the lead--but not for long, as the song quickly returns to étude mode though with increasingly heaviness--building toward a guitar harmonics bridge at the five minute mark that precedes another classic bluesy pitch-bending and chord-interspersed guitar solo. Stevie Ray would be proud! I love the collective control and discipline exhibited in this one. Alexey is awesome in the background! I'd love to see him and Gavin HARRISON or Vinny COLAIUTA trade punches! (18/20)

5. "Avalanche" (7:24) opens with an Alexey solo establishing the mixed-meter tempo. The rest of the band soon arrive and eventually establish some nice, complex melodies through chordal progression and instrumental interplay. Really interesting! Konstantin almost gets unleashed a couple of times until the fourth minute when tempo and mood downshift to something very pretty and simple--but not for long! A heavier expression of this same slowed down section establishes itself before alternating back and forth with the pretty section. But then, surprise, some awesome djenty guitar and bass open the door for some odd drum soloing by Alexey. Konstatin's guitar soon tries to take the lead but Alexey seems to fight him for it! Awesome! Alexey is going crazy as the band launches a new almost RPI-like section up to the end. Great song! (13.5/15)

6. "Into The Mist" (5:07) opens as a kind of gentle chordal and rhythmic etude. By the time the song gels into its second round of the study after the first "chorus" their is some significant and beautiful development. Starting at the 2:15 mark the song begins to amp up with some amazing bass and guitar play (as Alexey lays back). When Konstantin hits some amazing notes at the end of the fourth minute the 'étude' feels as if it is building, gradually filling all of the "empty" space that the opening section had displayed to the point that it is very full, but not too busy or loud by the end. It all works wonderfully! A top three song for me. (10/10)

7. "Random Name Hero" (12:22) This is the song whose surprising chord progressions are surprisingly melodic--even replete with delightful Asian tendencies. A true West-meets-East contrivance. I love it! It starts out rather mundanely but by the second minute unfolds into a wonderfully entertaining and engaging song. By the six and seventh minutes enough interplay has been displayed to allow the individuals to go on to some nice soli--bass, keys, and awesome classic rock-like blues guitar. Roman's keyboard support throughout this one is, I have to admit, quite extraordinary. And Alexey's military-founded rhythmics are, of course, in a league all their own. Wow! Another top three song. (24/25)

An incredibly tight display of teamwork with many usually brief displays of individual brilliance (most often by the guitarist and drummer), JAM IT! is definitely one of the surprise bands and albums of 2015. So glad our vigilant Russian spy Nikolaj keeps me informed as to the goings-on on the Russian front!

90.0 on the Fish scales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock (jazz fusion). This album is DEFINITELY highly recommended--it would be an excellent addition to any prog music lover's album collection! 

*** SPECIAL FEATURE***

  SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC IN THE AREA OF ORIGINAL MOVIE SOUNDTRACK:

ALEXANDRE DESPLAT  The Danish Girl

Once in a great while a film is so enhanced by its musical soundtrack as to make it bigger, better and more impactful than it would be without it. The The Danish Girl is truly a cinematic marvel--the acting, cinematography and editing are truly exquisite--but Alexandre Desplat's brilliant soundtrack is gorgeous beyond words. Each scene is enhanced artistically--in beauty, and in emotional power and depth--by the melodic, sometimes minimalist jazz contributions of Maestro Desplat. From the very first opening theme of the movie I knew I was in for something special: that the music was going to suck me into this film as deeply as I can go. And it did. Without question or hesitation I can say that The Danish Girl was both my favorite and the best movie that I saw from 2015--and the soundtrack lives on as one of my all-time favorites.