Iron Maiden - En Vivo (2012)

En Vivo is the last of many Iron Maiden live albums. It was recorded in Santiago, Chile during the tour supporting their latest album The Final Frontier.

All Iron Maiden live albums tends to be compared to the genre setting monumental Live After Death from 1985. That is by far their best live album ever. They have also released some very little satisfactory live albums along the way. They also had a pretty bleak time around the turn of the century. Their albums from Brave New World and to their most recent one has been brilliant though. Their live albums from this period has also been very good.

En Vivo has a very unpolished live sound. The band also does some alternative takes on some of the songs and varies them around a lot. Most of the material is from The Final Frontier and this live album is a good oppurtunity for the fans to get live versions of those songs. The other material is also good and I am always up for another version of Hallowed Be Thy Name. Running Free is a song I can live without, though.

En Vivo is Spanish for "live" and this album is exactly that. A live album. It is a good live album too and I enjoyed the listening sessions. I am an unrepentent Iron Maiden fan too so this album has found a happy home in my flat. This is a good album. It is not one of their best live albums. Neither is it one of their worst live albums too. Middle of the road, it is.

3 points 

U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)

The Joshua Tree was their fifth studio album. It was also their biggest selling album and perhaps also their downfall.

Their previous album The Unforgettable Fire was a brilliant album which elevated U2 to the status as the best band in the world. A status cemented by the follow up album, The Joshua Tree. The album was announced by their first single and video; With Or Without You. A revolutionary video and song back then. A song that has survived the test of time. Not every song on this album has survived the test of time.

The next thing to appear was the epic cover artwork. A new standards setting artwork and one of the icons from the 1980s. Then we got the music itself. O boy were we in for a treat. U2 and their producer had ditched the remaining art bits from the previous album and gone commercial. Commercial on U2s own terms. Many hit singles followed. Side 1 of this LP/cassette, that is the five first songs on the CD/MP3 file, is a hit parade. It is also their creative peak. A peak they did not climb on side 2 and on the following albums.  

Side 1 is U2, full frontal and in your face. Side 2 is much more withdrawn and pastoral. Much more like the previous album  The Unforgettable Fire.

The Joshua Tree was hyped up and the band was hailed as the second coming of Jesus Christ. Unfortunate, the band started to believe the hype. Their following album, a semi live album called Rattle And Hum had some severe messiah complexes. It was not a good album either. Neither was their following albums. The duo The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree was U2s finest hours. A band who still release albums and does extensive tours. I highly recommend The Joshua Tree as it is a great album. One of the best albums from the 1980s, no less.

4.5 points

Sigur Ros - Valtari (2012)

This album has been kicking around on my MP3 player since it was released and given some listening sessions. Neither this or any other Sigur Ros albums is easy listening. Let alone easy to write about. That as in a review.

Sigur Ros from Iceland is the most important band within the post rock/shoegaze genre and one of the most important bands in the music scene today. They have more or less re-written the rules for melodies and how to present sounds as in the form of music. Sigur Ros does not write music. They paint big soundscapes.

Valtari is their latest painting. A painting of desolate and lush Icelandic landscapes. Snow, ice and green pastures at the same time. The music is ambient and is painted with broad strokes. Well, I am not a painter so I have no clue about what a painter do. Best to stop it here. The music is mostly instrumental with some male vocals used as instruments. The music is pretty bleak and beautiful at the same time. This is music only Sigur Ros can make and it is beautiful. It is also a bit hit and miss, their music. They mainly hit me at home with this album. They are though making too much of each of their ideas. Ideas which is perfect as soundscapes in movies and TV programmes. On this album though, they sounds a bit flat. This is though a very good album. It is not their best album though.... I believe.

3.5 points

Daal - Destruktive Actions Affect Livings (2011)

Daal and this album, their second album, is one of those listening projects which does not pan out right.

Daal is a duo of experienced musicians from Italy. Davide Guidoni and Alfio Costa plays in numerous other bands. All of them more straight prog bands than Daal. Daal is their studio avant-garde project which is more based on creating moods, multi layers and electronic journeys. That is what we get here. Faint melodies with double layers and studio experiementations. There are some references to The Flower Kings in their music. Music created by keyboards, drums and numerous studio wizardry.

The result is eclectic to say at least. Eclectic and far too much in one soundscape. There are far too much bass and a good speaker would get an overload of bass on anyone's listening devices. I have tried three different devices myself. The music is decent enough. But Daal has tried to swallow too much meat in one bite and the meat has become stucked during the studio session. That is what I get from this album.
This is a decent enough album which falls a bit flat on it's face in my view.

2 points

Scherzoo - 01 (2011)

Scherzoo is the brainchild of François Thollot, a French musician with two albums out on his own. He has now put all his efforts into the band project Scherzoo.

Listed as a zeuhl band, you would probably expect zeuhl. This is not exactly the case here. The music is driven by alto saxophone, bass, drums, piano and guitars. Despite of being an electric band, they still have this chamber and rio feel over them. The music is very tight and intense. The music is very intense. I mentioned chamber and rio above. I would also label the music jazz. Very intense jazz. It also has a faint zeuhl feeling.

The main instrument is alto saxophone. The other instruments is backing up the solos and this main instrument. The musicians does a great job. My main gripe with this album, their debut album, is the lack of any real great tracks. The music is good enough, but does not really capture my imagination. This is a good album and one to get if intense jazz and avant-garde is your thing. As a debut album, this album promises a lot.

3 points

Hidria Spacefolk - Astronautica (2012)

The fourth album from these Finnish space rockers. This band has been compared to Ozric Tentacles during their whole career. Luckily for them, I don't know that band or music. So I got no clue.

Hidria Spacefolk does a highly energetic, heavy form of space rock. The music on this album is not as spaced out as I expected. It is closer to instrumental prog metal and fusion than space rock, really. There are even some symph prog and electronica in their music. They also uses some keyboard runs I guess they have borrowed from symphonic black metal.

The music has got tonnes of guitars, keyboards, drums and bass. Some added vibrafone gives their music some extra textures. The music is instrumental throughout.

The music is very flowing throughout. So much that the fifty minutes of music passes through effortless. There is hardly any contrasts in this music. The music is good throughout. But there is not a single moment which makes the listener stop and think this is really something. This album feels like a soundtrack which is supporting the pictures and the storyline. This is not a soundtrack though. It is a good album, but nothing more.

3 points

Happy The Man - Happy The Man (1977)

The debut album from this US band.

Happy The Man has a legend status in the scene and this album has been hyped up a lot by my friends in the scene. When I finally gave in and got this album, I quickly found out that there is a lot of substance behind this hype.

It is fair to say that Happy The Man has their own sound and style. This is displayed on this album. It is not easy to describe the music on this album. I will do my best, though. Their base camp is in what Keith Emerson and ELP did. Then you add fusion as Return To Forever to the mix. Also add what Camel and Caravan did too. A bit whimsical bits from Gentle Giant should be added too. Add Cathedral to the mix, too. That should give you some indications of where you find Happy The Man.

The music is performed with keyboards, guitars, bass and drums. There are

This album starts with a majestic melody and it continues down that road throughout the fifty minutes. Majestic with a lot of whimsical solos and details. This is a very eclectic piece of music, indeed.

The music on this album is both fascinating and great. It is never dull or boring. It really has both this x-factor and the ability to surprise the listener throughout. When you think you have heard it all, this album proves you wrong. This is indeed one of the great US albums from the prog scene and highly recommended.

4 points 

Echolyn - Echolyn (2012)

Their eight studio album since 1991.

Echolyn is an US band which has passed me by until I got this album. They are highly regarded with their albums making it into the top ten in the best albums of the year awards in most prog rock magazines. This is my first exposure to them and I have been listening to this album on and off for some weeks now.

Yes, Echolyn is a prog rock band. They play symphonic prog, they and their fans claims. Which is mainly spot on. This album starts of with the usual symph prog structures. The sound is also supported by some modern rock and art rock structures. Their vocalist Brett Kull partly sounds like Jeff Lynne in ELO though and I get a lot of ELO vibes on this album. ELO stands for Electric Light Orchestra, btw and they were a development of the Beatles sound. I would put a straight line of evolution from Beatles through ELO to Echolyn. That is an observation and is by no means a negative remark. Take that as a good thing.

The music on this album is performed by the usual keyboards, guitars, drums and bass. Brett Kull's vocals is excellent and so is the many vocal harmonies too.

The quality of the music is great throughout. I have clearly made a mistake by ignoring this band until now and I will later make amends for that. I am pretty sure this album too will feature high on the album of the year's lists. Echolyn is a quality album from a quality band. Simples. Best song ? They got a killer song in the sixteen minutes long Island which both sounds as fresh as a celery stick and as refined as a bottle of well matured wine. That song alone is worthy the purchase of this album. I am very pleased with my own purchase of this album and I guess I will not be the only one with a happy grin on my face.

4 points

Finch - Galleon Of Passion (1977)

The third and final studio album by this Dutch band.

Finch always operated within the instrumental symphonic prog genre and this album is not any exception from this rule. There is a lot of fusion too in their music. Camel is a good reference.

The music is performed with the usual guitars, keyboards, drums and bass setup. Nothing unusual there. The music is pretty intense and in the fusion/symph border land. The music is also pretty hard at times. Intense and hard. The sound is great.

The music is good too. Unfortunate, it never rises above that level. Finch has a very good reputation and I am a bit disappointed that this and their two other albums is not to my liking. It is still a good album, well worth checking out.

3 points

Camel - Breathless (1978)

Their sixth album. The sixth album from which band ?

It says Camel on the tin. My speakers says Caravan, though. That is not only because Richard Sinclair is the bassist and vocalist again. It is also because the band has now turned into solid Caravan territory. Caravan at their worst, that is.

Gone is the long, lingering fusion and symph prog workouts from their first four albums. In comes a very commercial, calculated sound which is meant to give the band commercial success. Just like Caravan also did and that did not bring them much luck.

The songs on this album is pretty poor. Richard Sinclair's vocals is great. Latimer's great guitars has been pushed into the background and we have got some funky songs instead. Very commercial. Very much falling flat on it's face anno 2012. This is a decent album though. But it is hardly worthy of the Camel brand. This album is best ignored.

2 points

Colour Haze - She Said (2012)

Crikey !! I have never heard about this band before. I do not have any contact with the underground psychedelic rock scene. Colour Haze released their first album around 1995 and has released numerous albums since then. She Said is a double album and contains over eighty minutes of music. Mostly long suites.

Style wise, I would label their music as krautrock. Krautrock as in Amon Duul II and Agitation Free. Their sound and music is not as necro dirty garage as Aqua Nebula Oscillator's sound and it is not as clean as Agitation Free's either. The sound on She Said has a lot of garage feel though. It also has a lot of post rock feel too. This album is not a straight psychedelic space rock album either. It has taken some elements from indie and post rock too. Krautrock is the right label for this music.

The music is performed with tonnes of driving guitars who repeats and expands on the themes in the tracks. The drums and bass is also very much driving the tracks forward too. The instruments and the driving guitars gives this album a post rock sound. There are some vocals too on this album. But only sporadic. The vocals are good and adds added colours and textures to this album.

Most of the tracks are driven by driving, hard guitars. But some vocals and guitar harmonies, supported by keyboards, is really adding both more colours and quality to this album. Some of the guitar harmonies are stunning great. Wow...... is what they make me mutter under my breath.

This album is divided into some long suites. The title track is a nineteen minutes long suite (see Youtube) and shares Disc 1 with a small interlude and another long suite. Both of them are really great with a superb krautrock vibe. Disc 2 has some shorter songs and a couple of suites too. Disc 1 is by far the best disc on this album. The stunning at times pretty ambient title track is the best track on this album.

My only gripe with this album is the lack of a killer track or two. This album is a great album and I am almost ashamed of myself of not knowing about this band until three weeks ago. I need to move my antennas more in the direction of the underground kraut and psychedelic rock scene in the future. Do the same yourself and get this album. You will not regret it.

4 points

Blue Öyster Cult - Tyranny And Mutation (1973)

Their second album.

Blue Oyster Cult is a band I have difficulties really labelling. Their sound is very thin and pop-punk like. Their music is in the hard rock vein with some art rock influences. At least on their first albums. I suspect their studios was not the best. The result is a sound which I don't think suits their music. A bit more beef and punch would had been an advantage.

Their music is guitar based and supported by some good vocals. Bass and drums also comes included in the package. That and some keyboards. But the guitars and vocals is pretty much dominant here.

The catchy, pretty heavy Hot Rails To Hell is a great song. The other songs are pretty good on an album which neither disappoints or impresses me.

3 points 

Maiden United - Across The Seventh Sea (2012)

The second album from this Dutch novelty project. Novelty project because they do lounge rock versions of Iron Maiden songs. Their versions of well known Iron Maiden songs are mostly acoustic and very nice on the environment. The vocals are good. The performance is good.

Maiden United has been praised for their untraditional approach to these excellent songs. Whether you praise or loathe their versions is a matter of taste. I find it strange, very strange to hear their piano based version of one of the most epic songs from Powerslave; the excellent Flash Of The Blade. Excellent on Powerslave, that is. I am too shocked to decide what I really think about Maiden United's version, though. This even after several listening sessions. The other Powerslave standard, 2 Minutes To Midnight, also gets a solid mauling. As you have sniffed out by now, Powerslave is my alltime favourite Iron Maiden album. My alltime favourite metal album, no less. Maiden United's version of the ballad Children Of The Damned is good, though. The same can be said about Infinite Dreams.

The reason I am perplexed and shocked is that Maiden United has stripped down these songs and built it up again in their own sound and personality. Gone is Iron Maiden's own personality and sound. Something I find very strange.

Maiden United is dead serious about what they are doing and they and their releases is getting rave reviews everywhere. There is no doubts their versions of Iron Maiden songs is a tribute and an acknowledgement of these great songs. As an unashamed Iron Maiden fan, I am not entirely sure how to react to this album. I love Maiden United for proving to us that Iron Maiden's songs are truly great. I am not a fan of their versions of these songs, though. I very much prefer Iron Maiden's versions, the original versions and the live versions.
Maiden United's versions falls a bit flat on their face. They are decent though. That is all I can say. If you are an Iron Maiden fan, this album is must-buy though. Make up your own mind.

2 points

Maiden United

Sunchild - The Wrap (2010)

The third album from this Antony Kalugin (Karfagen, etc etc) lead band from Ukraine.

Where Karfagen is an all out one man keyboards assault in the ELP vein, Sunchild is a band affair with guitars, bass, keyboards, drums and Antony's vocals. It is also very much neo and symphonic prog orientated and draws a lot from the likes of Marillion and Genesis. At least on The Wrap.

The album starts with some laboured vocals by Antony and a five minutes long, radio airplay orientated song (Day Of Destiny) which is not representative for the rest of the album. After another short song, we get the centrepiece of the album, the forty minutes long  Under The Wrap. A very elegant neo and symph prog piece with a lot of great keyboards and guitar runs. That and some sampled ambient symphonic orchestra bits. The album closes with some shorter songs.

The Wrap is a very elegant album which would make any neo and symph prog fan happy. Although elegant and with a great sound, it is a bit lacking in the great songs department. The Wrap is agonising close to being a great album. Fans of neo and symph prog will still love this very good album, though. I will get their other albums too.

3.5 points

Ego - Evoluzione Delle Forme (2011)

Finally, this band has delivered on their promise.

Their debut album MCM Egofuturismo from 2008 was pretty dire and was universally disliked and slaughtered in the reviews. That also includes my review. A generous two pointer. Far too generous, I was. Ego did not give up though. They has taken the best from MCM Egofuturismo and developed it on their Evoluzione Delle Forme opus.

Evoluzione Delle Forme is an instrumental album (with the exception from the final track) and it sounds like Le Orme going instrumental. There are a lot of ELP references here too. Not to mention church music and fusion. The music is performed with drums, bass, flutes and tonnes of keyboards. Despite of the cascades of keyboards, the music is still pretty organic.

My major gripe with this album is that there is no real great melodies here. The music also becomes a bit dull after some listening sessions. It's longviety is disputed. It is still a very good album though and well worth checking out.

3.5 points

Xhol Caravan - Electrip (1969)

Wow !!

Xhol Caravan, also called Xhol, released three studio albums and five live albums (three of them posthumous) during their far too short career. They are regarded as one of the fathers of the Krautrock genre. Much due to this album, their second album.

Krautrock is not the first thing I knotted down on my notepad when listening to this album. Soft Machine was the first thing I knotted down. All the music on this album, with the exception of a short blues rock interlude, has the typical Soft Machine intensity and mood. The intense keyboards and woodwinds reminds me a lot about Mike Ratledge and Elton Dean in Soft Machine. Then again, there is a lot of krautrock too on this album. The intense space rock runs is the typical krautrock trademarks.

All songs are instrumentals, with the exception of some vocals on the blues rock interlude and the short two bonus tracks Planet Earth and So Down. The main instruments here are woodwinds, keyboards, bass and drums.

Intense, spaced out and avant-garde is the three things I will remember this album for. The quality of the songs are great too. The first three tracks Electric Fun Fair, Pop Games and All Green is great workouts. The seventeen minutes long Raise Up High opens with a blues workout before reverting into avant-garde Soft Machine @ Third territory. Not copycats, but in the same spirit. From there on and out, the album is in the same vein. The two short bonus tack is the weakest tracks here by far.

This album is one of my alltime favourite krautrock albums. It is only let down by the two bonus tracks. But it is still a great album and one to check out.

4 points

Barclay James Harvest - Barclay James Harvest (1970)

"Which one of you is Barclay ?"

My first ever meeting with this band after buying ten of their albums last year. The albums then went into cold storage.

I have always had problems with really understanding where this band fits into the scene. After listening to this album, I guess art-rock is the right label. This, their debut album takes the baton from The Beatles and merge their music with the likes of The Nice. The opening fiddle and hard rock on the opening song/salvo Taking Some Time On is really only a distraction from the main theme on this album. It is a good track though.

This album has the vintage sound too. A sound I really like. From Taking Some Time On and onwards, there is a great chamber classical music and folk music theme on this album. That and some strong hints towards The Beatles. All this a big plus in my book. The minuses is the overly use of strings on this album which makes parts of this album sounds like elevator music. Another minus is the lack of a real killer track. But my overall impression of this album is really good.

This is a very good album which has made me really interested in this band.

3.5 points

Originally published in ProgArchives 11. November 2011.

Barclay James Harvest - BJH And Other Short Stories (1971)

Their third album and the follow up to the excellent Once Again album.

Barclay James Harvest has been described as a poor man's Moody Blues. I would describe them as development of The Beatles and their more mature songs. Stuart Wolstenhome's mellotron is very much the four corners of their sound. John Lees vocals is excellent.

Those who loved that album will find a lot of joy in this album too. Their BJH And Other Short Stories is not in the same class as Once Again, though. Very few albums is that, though. This album is again a grower and one which require some time. The orchestral sound is pretty big here. Songs like Blue John Blues and The Poet is the opposites to each other. The first one a hard hitting infectious excellent song. The last one a pastoral, poetic ballad like son with the full orchestral treatment. Before these two songs, the best of this album, we get treated to some excellent rock. And actually..... Ursula is the best song on this album. I am having problems deciding the best song on this album. A bit of a luxury problem. The rest of the songs are great too.

This is a great album which has convinced me that this is a band I should explore more.

4 points

Court - Frost of Watermelon (2007)

The third album from this Italian prog/art rock band and the come back after a ten years long break.

Court does not really fits into the Italian prog rock formula. They use English vocals and the sound is pretty much the usual English one too with some added, faint Italian progressive rock influences too. Well, add American too that sound too. To be more precise, I am referring to their mix of the Genesis sound and the folk rock sound combined the grungy college sound from the north-west coast of the USA (Pearl Jam springs to mind). Ditto for the music, too.

The music is performed by a variety of acoustic instruments (most notable; mandolin and flutes), electric guitars, bass, keyboards and drums. That gives the music a warm, glowing feel.

The sound is great and ditto for the vocals. Even after numerous listening sessions, I am struggling to really find some great songs here. There is none, in my view. The music is also too straight rock for my liking. The grungy Pearl Jam elements does not do anything for me here. I am by no means a fan of straight rock and there is far too much of that on this album. I also got problems remembering the music inbetween the listening sessions. That is not a good sign too.

I really like the sound though and the songs are good. So a weak good award is what I can get up with here. By all means, check out this album and their brand new album.

3 points

Court

Focus - Mother Focus (1975)

The classic Focus setup on it's last legs.

Mother Focus is the follow up to one of my all time favourite albums Hamburger Concerto. A truly brilliant album. Focus abandoned the symph prog sound on that album and went funky, fusion light on Mother Focus. Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman is still present on this album. There are also some scant glimpses of the classic Focus sound and music on this album. But the vast majority of the album is filled with fusion. Fusion of the elevator and shopping mall variety. Or lounge music, if you want.

The result is their weakest album by far. I really love their first four albums and really hate hearing what comes out of my speakers when Mother Focus is the focus of my attention. This is not how I want to remember this band.

The music is not too bad though. The fusion is pretty OK here although it is bordering to lounge music throughout. Not to mention disco. It is a decent album in my estimations.

2 points

Cirrus Bay - The Slipping of a Day (2008)

The debut album from this US band who earlier this year released their third album.

Cirrus Bay was originally a two man acoustic duo and branched out to a neo-prog band on this album. An album with one leg in flowery acoustic music and the other one in a more melodic symphonic prog landscape. There are both male and female vocals on this album. The vocals is supported by cascades of keyboards and some guitars. Supported by the usual bass and drums, off course.

This album feels like a transitional album from A to Z. The result is an album with a pretty uninteresting first half and a much improved second half. The first half is flowery rock with new age connotations. The second half is much more focused symphonic. The end result is a pretty unimpressive album which shows a lot of potential but not a lot of substance. I hope their other albums is an improvement on this album.

2 points

Zuffanti. Fabio - Merlin The Rock Opera (2000)

To say that having to review a rock opera filled me with joy is not entirely true. Operas is best left to the operas and the penguin suits. Rock is another culture and form of music again. Rock and opera is like combining water with fire. Fog and damp is the result.

Or rather; a musical. This is what this album sounds like. A musical. Which is another word for a rock opera.

Fabio Zuffanti is the mastermind behind Hostsonaten, Finisterre and some other bands. He is Italy's answer to Roine Stolt. Fabio Zuffanti, Steven Wilson and Roine Stolt is the most active persons in the European prog scene today. Unfortunate, Fabio Zuffanti does not get the same credit and status the two others has got. Is that due to the bias against everything not English and Northern European ? Answers in the comments field and my Facebook profile, please.

Fabio Zuffanti has not always come up with fantastic stuff. Neither has those two other abovementioned demigods. Merlin The Rock Opera is one of his sins. A sin he has remastered and re-released this year.

Merlin The Rock Opera starts with a good ouverture. From there on and in, the music is pretty dull to be honest. The music is pretty naive and follows the musical style of melody writing and lyrics. The type known from West End and Broadway. That may work well on the stage, but not on an album. Not at least when the music is not of the Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables quality too. Fabio's limitations as a vocalist is pretty obvious on this album too. Something I have also noted and remarked on the second Hostsonaten album. This time around, he is helped by the excellent vocalist Victoria Heward which tries to save this project. This salvage operation is aided by the usual keyboards, guitars, bass and drums. That and some other more orchestral instruments which you will find in musicals.

The storyline is OK. The excecution is a musical which sounds far better on a stage than on an album. On this album and without the costumes, musicals normally looses most of it's dynamics. Victoria's vocals are great though. The songs are pretty weak and lacks any dynamics and what I regard as good music.

This is a decent album and one best forgotten unless you are into this type of music and/or want the complete Fabio Zuffanti collection (like I do).

2 points

EPILOGUE: I have edited this review to reflect that my first edit of this review was the result of some unprecise writing and rather unsatisfactory level of work. Something Fabio noted in a reply to my first edition. I have therefore replaced the wooly bits with more flesh and meaningful comments. Fabio's reply is under and I acknowledge he has got valid points. His note is below.

Finisterre - Finisterre (1995)

The debut album from this Italian band. It's setup included the likes of Fabio Zuffanti and Finisterre is regarded as one of his bands. La Maschera Di Cera and Hostsonaten too is in that family.

Finisterre is offering up an hour of classic symphonic prog with some strong King Crimson flavours on this album. The music reminds me a lot about Banco, PFM and Genesis. That and The Flower Kings. The long guitar solos reminds me about Gilmour in Pink Floyd. The use of flutes and piano adds class to this album too. Those two instruments are prominent here in addition to keyboards, guitars, bass and drums. That and some vocals.

This is by all means a great album with a lot of great melody lines and solos. I am not happy about the sound which I feel is a bit messy. A bit more clear sound would had been great and this album is ripe for a re-mastering and re-release. Next time with a better sound.

By all means, this is a great album and it gets a weak four pointer.

4 points

Magnesis - Le Royaume D'Océanéa (2010)

The seventh album from this French band. A band which is sticking to French vocals and is following in the great traditions of Ange, Mona Lisa and Atoll. A band who sadly only tour in France.

....Which is probably the reason why they are not mentioned in the same sentence as Pendragon and Marillion. Quality wise, they are on par with those two bands. Something this album proves.

Magnesis is a band in the theatrical French symphonic prog mould. Ange is the best known band in this genre. The vocals is in Ange mould. The music is big, bould and brave. This band is not afraid of aiming high. Sometimes, they fail. This time, they succeed.

Le Royaume D'Océanéa is by far their best album and crowning glory. It is a concept album about Phileas Fogg (?) and the ocean. It starts nicely with the Ouverture which leads to the stunning title track. A great female and male chorus leads into a keyboards and guitar solo. Brilliant solos, it is. This track alone is worthy the album itself. But the album does not finish with that song. Four more rather vocals driven pastoral, excellent songs follows before the rather strange, but also brilliant twenty-two minutes epic Abysses follows. An epic which builds up slowly and opens up as a rose at the end. A short instrumental repeat of the title theme closes this album and leaves the listener stunned. Did my ears deceive me ? Press the repeat button.

I wrote in one of the reviews of their earlier albums that this band had it in them to release a masterpiece somewhere down the road. In Le Royaume D'Océanéa, they have done that. Nice to have been proven right for a change.

In short; get this album or visit Youtube where a promotional video of the album is out. You too will be won over by this album.

5 points

Cassini Projekt. The - Filler (2012)

The second album from this Dublin, Ireland band.

I don't know anything about their 2008 album Blind Vision (but is downloading it now) so I am not able to report on their progression. Filler though is a quite raunchy heavy rock'n'metal with a lot of indie rock influences too. The music is not traditional hard rock and heavy metal by any means. The indie element is pretty big here. Ditto for some post rock elements too.

Most of all, this album reminds me about when Metallica got lost after their self titled black album. Load and Re-Load I believe was the name of those albums. The Cassini Projekt is in the same area. Just without the good tunes. Their music is very stressed out with very few pastoral melody lines. I think this is called modern rock. I am not so sure as this is not really my forte/knowledge base.

The music is being performed with guitars, bass and drums and some keyboards. All of them performed by one man, Alex Mc Donnell. He also does the pretty bad vocals. Vocals which falls short by miles on most places on this album.

The result is a pretty decent album which falls short everywhere. The songs are not particular good and the album title pretty much describes the songs here. This album is also without any direction, style wise. It jumps from one genre to another one without really making any hay in any of them. This is barely a decent album and nothing more. It is a free album so feel free to check out if I am right.

2 points

The album

Mystic Siva - Mystic Siva (1971)

The one and only album from this US band.

The title hints about krautrock. The music is not far off being krautrock either. Most will label this music krautrock. I got it included in a big krautrock box I got some months ago.

The sound and music on this forty-six minutes long album is typical late 1960s. The music is heavy acid rock. The music though is more song focused than those spaced out long trips. You get verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solos-verse. The typical 1960s and this day and age pop/rock setup. The DNA profile of rock and pop.
The sound is performed with (thankfully) plenty of Hammond organs and guitars. They are supported by bass and drums. The male vocals is pretty acid laden and the typical 1960s vocals. They are good too.

The quality is good throughout this album. There is no great songs here. This album ticks along nicely and it is a very enjoyable listen. Those into this type of music should really check out this album. I rate it.

3 points

Bondage Fruit - Bondage Fruit II (1996)

The second album from this Japanese zeuhl band and one I got some problems with.

Bondage Fruit continues their route down a the Magma fused with Mahavishnu Orchestra road. This time with some rio and normal rock intertwined into the sound too. There is a lot of rio on this album though. Japanese zeuhl albums is normally very extreme pieces of music. This album is not that at all. It is more like a pussycat than a tiger. It is also hardly zeuhl too.

I really liked their first album and I also like what I so far has heard of their other albums. This album though is one I got problems with. It is by all means a good album. But it does not really rock my boat as most Japanese zeuhl does. It is a pretty tame album, although the final track Terminal Man is a great track. Half a point is added. The rest is pretty tame music. Hence my verdict.

3.5 points

Skyfox 8 - It's Time Now To Be Inside All (2012)

The debut album from this band from Brazil.

The band is unsigned and is looking for a record label. They also describe themselves as an art rock band.
On the basis of this album, they should get themselves support from a record label. They and this album seems like an ideal fit for the likes of ProgRock Records and Musea. My guess is that this album will be picked up and re-released by one of these labels....... or someone else. The sound and production is excellent.

I am not sure if their art rock tag is the right one, though. Their music is somewhere between symphonic and neo prog. Actually, art rock is the right label for their music. A very melodic music with a modern sound which is performed with guitars, keyboards, bass, drums and vocals. The good (male) vocals is a bit heavy accented English and may be an achilles heel. I don't know as they does not bother me. But it is noticeable.

The music itself is very good. So good that I have put the band on my great talents list. I sincerely hope they will get onto release more albums. Their problem is that they operate in an overly saturated symph/neo prog market. I got many, many albums like this on my own desk and I am getting a bit fed up with the amount of new albums in this genre. But this album still stands out as one of the better ones from this year. Check it out.

3.5 points

Skyfox 8

Vangelis - The Collection (2012)

Vangelis is the artist identity of Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, an ex member of Aphrodite's Child and a very successful composer in his own right. If you have ever watched a movie or watched a TV programme, the chances for you having heard his music is very high. If you followed the London Olympic games this summer, you most certainly heard his music as his music, officially or unofficially, was it's soundtrack. The rousing Chariots Of Fire theme was everywhere during those fourteen days. That includes the stunning opening ceremony where Mr Bean fumbled around to Vangelis music.

It is very appropriate and right that Vangelis/his record label has released this 2 CD album of his best music. My partner has bought it and I have borrowed it for some days to review it.

The music is taken from his long career as a movie soundtrack composer. Most of the tracks here are known from TV and movies. They plays a part of our lives. Isolated on a CD, they feels a bit naked and bereft of life. The movie images is missing. This is pleasant music enough and perfect mood music. It is the soundtrack of our lives. It is a fine reminder about the London Olympics. Hence my good rating.

3 points 

Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - Banco 75 (1975)

A bit of an off release from this Italian symph prog band. This is their first English vocals album and their fourth overall album. It is also not a best off either as it includes two new songs and a lenghtened version of Metamorphosi, renamed Metamorphosis on this album.

Metamorphosis is by far the best song on this album. A fifteen minutes long epic which takes the listener through a classical music landscape. The two Italian tracks starts of the proceedings though and they are very good. The final four songs are English vocals versions of songs from the self titled debut album and Io Sono Nato Libero. Strangely enough, nothing from the ELP sounding Darwin album.

I take off course issue with the need to release an English album version. I cannot deny that this is a great album though. Those who want to know what all this Italian symph prog hype is all about will find the answer on this album. Passionate, pastoral and symphonic music from one the best bands in this scene is what we get served here. Great music, indeed. It is highly recommended.

4 points

Atoll - Tertio (1977)

This is the third album from this French band who really never found their style and sound.

On this album, they are pretty much rooted in the British symphonic prog scene. Some would even call this neo prog as the sound is neo prog. But they released this album many years before the neo prog scene was born. References are Mona Lisa and Ange though. That is if you remove the more theatrical sound of those two bands. Add Genesis and you get this album. A couple of the songs also takes a detour into krautrock. Interesting, to say at least.

The music is performe with the usual keyboards, guitars, bass, drums and French vocals. All this is good and well. The music is at times very good and it proves that this band was a great band in their time. Most of the music here is very good. Unfortunate, it never rise above that level. Those into French prog should check out this album though.

3.5 points

Tardive Dyskinesia - The Sea of See Through Skins (2009)

The second album from this Greece deathcore/hardcore/experiemental metal band. A band who is getting next to no attention from a scene who really should embrace this band.

Their debut album, reviewed in this blog some months ago, was a very technical deathcore album. Tardive Dyskinesia has put the brakes on this album and introduced some more atmospheric melodic stuff here too. They are still very technical though. Meshuggah is an obvious reference.

I am by no means a metal fan anylonger and I have no longer any interest in this tech metal scene. This album though is not bad though. The sound is great and I guess Meshuggah fans would lap up this album. It is in my ears a decent album and a wrong type of album for me.

2 points

King Crimson - B'Boom Official bootleg Live in Argentina (1995)

Please note that this album was first released in 1995 under the B'Boom Official bootleg Live In Argentina title and re-released as Live In Argentina earlier this year (2012) with two bonus tracks. It is essentially the same album though. I am reviewing the 1995 album.

This is one of many KC live albums now as they/their record label/Robert Fripp have unleashed an avalanche of live recordings on CD. Twenty or so, to be precise. In the case of KC, that is great as this band went through numerous phases and setups. This band is also among the handful of most important bands ever to grace this planet.

B'Boom Official bootleg Live in Argentina has a proper great sound and by no means bootleg sound. Don't be scared about the "bootleg" tag as this double CD is the real deal. It was recorded in Argentina back in 1994 and includes an eclectic mix of their material. It is by no means their greatest hits or even close to feature their best material. Whatever is their best material.

The version of Red is excellent and a straight version of this great song. The rest of the album is a mix of improvisations and their more eclectic material from the 1980s. There is not much from the 1970s here. Robert Fripp and King Crimson is very eccentric and that shows on this album. Very eccentric. If you want a song based live album; forget this album. If you want KC at their most eccentric, this is your album. If you love their 1980s material, get this album. I am inbetween and really like this album. Is it a great live album ? No. But I think it is a very good live album from a band who never stopped being eccentric and unpredictable. I rate KC as one of the best bands to have ever graced this planet though.

3.5 points

Genesis - Genesis (1983)

Their twelfth album and for some mysterious reason a self titled album.

Genesis had long time ago shed their prog rock music and gone for a pop Tamla Motown sound. Shades of the good old band can be found at the rather very good opener Mama. Home By The Sea is also pretty good before the rest of the album descends to the bottom of the ocean. Of their pop albums though, this is the best of the lot. It is still a pitiful experience with Phil's laboured vocals and the horrible 1980s sound as the worst of the lot.

This is a decent album which will never ever be played in my house again. Life is too short.

2 points

Farinella. Alessandro - Road To Damascus (2012)

The second album from this Italian keyboardist. His first album (2008) was named Momo and that is all I know about this album. That and that this album has been released by Musea and it is about those pesky crusades. Something that cover art work also more than alludes to.

Road To Damascus is a concept album and probably a rock opera too. It sounds like it. A lot of rock operas has been released lately. But maybe this is not a rock opera after all. I don't know.

The music is symphonic neo-prog with a lot of musical references to the likes of Anthony Phillips. But I get a lot more early Magellan references from this album. Both the vocals and most of the music. Mr Farinella's music is not as hard as Magellan was, though.

The music has a lot of keyboards (surprise !) and guitars too. The vocals are pretty good, although a bit heavy accented. The music follows the concept album formula in a quite rigid manner and the listener is not getting any surprises along the way to....... well.... Damascus. Or rather, the end of the album after forty-six minutes. Most of the music also has a pretty clinical neo-prog sound which not everyone will appreciate. It sometimes breaks out into some interesting melody lines.

This is a very good album which does not really rise above that level. I have been listening to this album on a regular basis for over a week and cannot really say this is a grower either.

This is a very good album though and well worth purchasing if symphonic neo prog is your cup of tea.

3.5 points

My Dying Bride - Like Gods of the Sun (1996)

Their fourth album and their first without growl vocals.

Like Gods of the Sun is also a break with their past as a death/doom metal band. Like Gods of the Sun is much more a progressive goth metal album. Violins and choirs has taken over from their previous harsh sound. Most of the songs are not that epic though and half of this album is pretty substandard and fillers. The first four songs Like Gods of the Sun, The Dark Caress, Grace Unhearing and A Kiss to Remember is great songs, though. The rest of this album is substandard. It is also a forewarning of the pretty dreary follow up album 34.788%...Complete which pretty much turned their fans against them without getting them any new fans.

Like Gods of the Sun is a bit of a transitional album where the band was heading for a disaster. In itself, this is a good album.

3 points

Acid Mothers Temple - Son Of A Bitches Brew (2012)

The full band name of this Japanese band is Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. This album is their fifthy second (52nd) album since 1997. Studio albums, that is. Add some live albums and EPs too and you get the picture.

The band name may give the game away. This is space rock. Not only space rock. Improvised outer space rock. I have never heard a more spaced out album in my life than this album. The album title is a reference to Miles Davis classic Bitches Brew album. Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O's tribute to this album is an all out assault on this album which at times sounds like Tibetean monks and their horns. The whole album is total chaos with not much structure at all. Woodwinds, guitars and keyboards goes totally for it for the whole 78 minutes. Which explain why they have got 52 albums out of this formula. A free-space rock formula.

78 minutes is an overkill and a very challenging listen to say at least. This album is fun and a jaw dropper for the first half of this album. An album which is an aural assault throughout. This is by far the most spaced out album I have ever heard and it is visiting parts of the universe no man has ever glimpsed. That makes this music pretty funny for a while. For forty minutes, that is. 78 minutes is far too much for me.

This is a decent album and a novelty experience. My life will never be the same again. That is all I can say about this aural assault. Space rock fans should check out this album though.

2 points

 

San Martin. Rodrigo - There's No Way Out (2010)

The second of the three albums from this multi talented Argentinian musician.

His first album 1 from the same year was a pretty good art rock album. The vocals though was pretty iffy. Rodrigo very much tries to rectify that problem by hiring in Jelena Perisic from Serbia and Craig Kerley from USA to do the female and male vocals. Both delivers some great vocals here. The music is in the same area , though.

For those who does not know Rodrigo San Martin; his music is a blend of latin pop, prog metal and symphonic prog. The coolness of latin pop combined with some vintage keyboards and guitars associated with the symph prog scene and prog metal. Think Dream Theater and Genesis. All instruments are played by Rodrigo San Martin himself. That means his ideas gets full reign on this album. That too is a weakness as the bad material is not being weeded out of the album.

This album is a good album though which lacks a pretty important ingredient: Great songs. Besides of that, this album has everything required from an album. The sound is good. The songs is good. But it never rises above that level. Which is a shame. This is a good album for those who likes middle of the road latin symphonic prog though.

3 points

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire (1984)

Once upon a time, U2 from Ireland was the best thing under the sun. They were the best band on this planet and they released two brilliant studio albums. This once upon a time was back in the 1980s.

I had not been listening to this album for over twenty five years before I put it on again some days ago. I hate the 1980s sound and decade with a passion. But this album has stood the test of time. 

The Unforgettable Fire is the first of these two brilliant albums. It is their third studio album too after War and Boy. The excellent art work really describes this album pretty well. Both the music and the sound is dark and foreboding. Edge's guitars has a special time-delayed echo sound nobody has copied. He also discovered it by sheer accident and has kept it on. The riff on Pride is one of the best and most iconic guitar riffs ever to come out of this planet. Pride, the second song on this album, is a truly brilliant song.

The U2 drums, bass, guitars and vocals setup gets support from some keyboards and more orchestral instruments on this album. Instruments that adds a lot of excellent new textures to U2s music.

Pride is a commercial song and the most immediate hit song on this album. But there are better songs on this album. The dark and gloomy title track, for example. The other songs are also pretty dark and gloomy. I would also say; pretty symphonic too. This album has all the hallmarks of an art rock album in my view.
It is an art rock album.

The songs on this album is all twisted and nowhere near straight forward. There are some shorter interlude like songs too which is very twisted. As an entity, this album is brilliant with stunning, brilliant songs which resonates even in 2012. It is also one of the greatest albums from the last fifty years and it will now be moved from a dark box to my living room. It will not be twenty five years to I listen to this album again. Make it more like twenty five days 'till next time.

5 points

Offering - Offering Part I / Part II (1986)

Christian Vander's band during the pretty long Magma break.

Offering continues on from Magma's (weakest) Merci album and develops that project further into more jazz land. Obvious references are Magma, John Coltrane and Gong, believe it or not. There is a lot of Gong influences, both Allen and Moerlin, on this album.

Offering I offers up a lot more dynamic zeuhl and Magma than the other part on this album; the more pastoral jazz tinged final half of this album. Christian Vander is doing his chants and they are supported by his own drumming, bass and a wide variety of other instruments.

This album is not as full on zeuhl and aural assault as the Magma albums. Offering is a Magma-light band on this album, at least. I am not entirely won over by the material here either. This is a good album though. But I prefer Magma to this.

3 points

Eclat - Le Cri De La Terre (2002)

The fourth album from this French fusion/prog band.

Well, they were an instrumental fusion band on their previous album Volume 3 which I reviewed last month. I was not enthusiastic about that album and wanted some vocals, if my memory serves me right. Well, my wishes has been granted on Le Cri De La Terre. There are some vocals here. The sound and music has also changed to a more art prog flavoured fusion too. The fusion is still dominating this album. Long solo runs are intertwined with some jazzy guitars and keyboards workouts.

The Italian band D.F.A springs to mind as Eclat is pretty similar to them. There are some Rush in the sound too and a lot of other influences too. Even some Middle East influences.

All this makes this a good album. My gripe, as per usual, is the lack of any great songs. But this is still a pretty cosy album though. I have still to be won over by this band.

3 points

Aphrodite's Child - It's Five O'Clock (1969)

Their second album....

Their debut album was a pretty good album. And this one too starts with one heck of a song in the title track. One of the better hidden gems from this era. Check it out on Youtube.

The album takes a bit of a weird journey from there on. It really tries to include everything 1969 had to offer. That also includes space rock. This album feels more like a compilation album than a real album. The basis is in beat music though.

Besides of the title track, there is no real good tracks here. This album is saved from the turkey yard by the title track alone. It is a half decent album.

2 points

Bacio Della Medusa. Il - Deus Lo Vult (2012)

The third album from this highly acclaimed new Italian prog rock band.

This band is very much operating at the more heavy end of the Italian prog rock scene. The music is hard and theatrical at the same time. There is also a lot of symphonic prog in their music. Not to mention passion. This explains why the music sometimes breaks out in sheer hard rock on many occasions. The band also knows how to use flutes in addition to the usual guitars, keyboards, bass and drums fare. There is also a lot of Hammond organs and saxophones here. To me, this album comes across as a blend of Jethro Tull, Deep Purple and Italian prog.

Passionate is the right word for this music, yes. Not at least because of the male vocals. We are not quite in the Pavarotti country here. But the vocals is still great. It also sits in the front of the mix and jumps out of the speakers. The music is also very good to great throughout. Yes, the hype this band and in particular their fans is justified.

A couple of killer tracks is sorely missing. But there is enough in Deus Lo Vult to make it a great album. One well worth checking out.

4 points

Angra - Best Reached Horizons (2012)

OK, I am publishing a review a whole month before the album has been released. Naughty, but I did not spot the release date before it was too late. Neither could I be bothered.

Best Reached Horizons is a both a best off Angra and a collection of odd ends and covers. This is a double CD. 150 minutes of material should give the Angra fans and other heavy/prog/power metal fans excellent value for money.

Angra has gone through some phases from all out power metal to a bit more ethnic, Brazil folk music influenced prog metal. The more prog metal songs goes down best with me. I cannot stand power metal.
Angra has some good songs and this is a good collection until it arrives at their version of Kate Bush masterpiece Wuthering Heights. Angra's version is very poor.

Angra is a very good band. The 150 minutes of music gives their fans what they both want and deserve. I am not a fan so I have to declare myself not particular entertained. This is not for me.

2 points

Peggy's Leg - Grinilla (1973)

The only album from this Irish band who appeared and then disappeared again without a trace. This album was originally released in 500 copies back in 1973 before re-released with bonus material some years ago.

This album bears all the hallmarks of a debut album. That is a band throwing everything they can at an album. Everything means various styles from Beatles like beat to Yes like prog rock to Fairport Convention like folk rock. The sound are good. The songs though are not that good and the album is suffering from a bit of confusion where it limps from genre to genre. The music is mostly performed by guitars, aided by keyboards, bass and drums. That and vocals. All good and well.

The result is a decent album which feels more like a compilation album than a real album. You are not missing out on much if this album has bypassed you.

2 points

Woven Hand - Blush Music (2002)

Hmm.... I got their brand new album. But I decided to check out a previous album, their second album, first because I am totally new to this band. I did not get much wiser.

Blush Music is a bit of a journey, it has to be said. Their roots are in indie. They very much travels along that path too on Blush Music. They have included a huge slab of avant-garde, theatre music, space rock and folk music too in this album. Mostly avant-garde, it has to be said. The sound is great and the music is mostly performed by guitars, bass, drums, synths and vocals.

Blush Music is a very fragmented album with pieces of music setting out in various directions. It is ultimate not a good ride either. There is not much good music here. The album is a pretty frustrating piece of music which never really does the job. It is a decent album, but nothing more. It goes without saying Woven Hand is not on my list of favourite bands after this experience.

2 points

Cucamonga - Alter Huevo (2012)

The debut album from this Argentine band, released through AltRock Records in Italy. Not much is known about this band though.

As per usual with AltRock releases, this album is quite an eclectic album. In this case, a pretty surprising album too. This is a fusion album. No, not as in the musicstyle fusion. I mean as a fusion between fusion and RIO/avant-garde. The first ten minutes alludes to this being a straight jazz/fusion album and the listener settles into a false security. Then, the album takes a sharp left turn and we get treated to some Aranis like RIO.

I am confused.

That is my main impression of this album. Confusion. It feels like two bands is competing for the name Cucamonga. A fusion and a RIO band. But it is the same band and the same setup. The band just likes to play havoc with the listeners of this album. Sadists, they are. Or just musicians. Hard to know the difference in the case of this band. The music is performed with woodwinds, guitars, bass, drums and some samples. Mostly human voice samples.

The result is an album which make the listener.... well, listen to the album just to make sure it does not loose out on anything. I just wish the quality would had been a lot better than what we get here. The material is good though.

Alter Huevo is a slightly frustrating album. It is a good album though and I hope the band will release some more albums. They are clearly on an adventure.

3 points

Arti e Mestieri - Giro Di Valzer Per Domani (1975)

The second album from this Italian band who so masterfully combined fusion and Italian progressive rock.

There is thankfully more than a handful of bands with their sound and this type of music. Both new and old bands. Thankfully, because this is a crossover genre I really like.

There is a lot of Mahavishnu Orchestra type fusion on this album. It is impossible not to ignore how much they have influenced this album. There is also a lot of Italian prog and pop on this album. Mostly pop, it has to be said. The pop is very jazzy though. This album does not really embraces the Italian prog sound.

The quality is very good throughout. My only gripe is the lack of a great track or two. The music is really interesting. But without a great track, I am loosing interest in this album. This is not their best album. It is still worth checking out.

3.5 points

Big Block 454 - They'd Bought a Packard (1998)

A thirteen minutes long EP from this English avant-garde band. It is now a free download too.

The band has never hidden their fascination for krautrock bands like Can. A fascination which surfaces on this three songs EP. The music has a strong beat and some bass, drums and electronica on the top of that again. It is typical Can and trip-hop territory. It is also a pretty eccentric. The music is also very minimalistic. 
Strangely enough, these thirteen minutes actually works. Each of the songs are (worryingly !) engaging. Sometimes, less is more. In the case of this EP, that rings true. This is actually a good EP which is well worth a download and your attention.

3 points

Their Bandcamp page

 

Circle - Manner (2012)

The brand new album from these underground legends. This is this Finnish band's 24th album since 1994. This is also my first meeting with their music.

Circle has a reputation for being totally unpredictable. They have gone from space rock to prog rock to krautrock to heavy metal and some zeuhl too. They are generally off kilter and pretty much treats every expectations with the contempt they deserves. And rightly so. Their attitude is to be admired.

Manner is a brew of everything they have done, really. Involuntary a kind of a compilation of all their styles, I guess. The material varies from straight heavy metal to krautrock and space rock. That and a lot of post rock too. I would mainly label Manner as a krautrock album though. They are leaning a lot on Amon Duul II on this album.

Most of the music, with the exception of the heavy metal stuff, is improvised spaced out workouts. There are even some sami folk music here. Joiks, it is called. This makes this a musically very varied album which really engages and never becomes dull. It is an intriguing album which begs the questions: Why is this the first Circle album I have ever heard ?

My main gripe is the lack of any great tracks. Besides of that, this is a good album which really showcases this band. I want more of this band.

3 points