March 2015 – T P A

Steve Hackett – Wolflight

What can an artist do after having massive success going round the world reviving the music of the golden era of one of the greatest bands in Progressive Rock history? Well, what Steve Hackett chooses to do is what he…

Neal Morse

Before his recent gig in Verviers, Belgium, I got the chance to chat with Neal Morse for 15 minutes. The interview was originally scheduled to be with Mike Portnoy, but due to illness he had to cancel… Neil, you’re coming…

Syndone – Odysséas

And so the mistral swept down from the Alps, bringing a breath of fresh air, and carried on that wind a little renaissance Italian progressive rock. I think I’m in love. I don’t speak Italian but there is a sense…

Tesla Manaf – Tesla Manaf

This is two albums on one CD, and the first is entitled A Man’s Relationship With His Fragile Area. Well, if nothing else, that has got your attention, has it not? To use a British expression, luckily this album is…

Panic Room – Satellite

This newly packaged reissue of Satellite from Esoteric Recordings is a superb little set, it contains brand new cover artwork and comes with two discs, the CD contains the original Satellite album, whereas the second disc is a DVD containing…

Heliopolis – City Of The Sun

It is always difficult to review a release that has been declared “Album of the Year” by others; your expectations are heightened with a sense of anticipation and half an ear is on the plaudits you may have already read.…

Van der Graaf Generator – Merlin Atmos

Never averse to taking risks, all incarnations of Van der Graaf Generator were and are as close to the dictionary definition of “progressive” as any other band you care to mention. It goes without saying, but I will, obviously; the…

Mabel Greer’s Toyshop – New Way of Life

Albums that are almost 50 years in the making don’t come along very often but such is (sort of) the case with this debut from Mabel Greer’s Toyshop, a name that could only come from late ’60s psychedelia and for…

Aisles – 4:45 AM

Aisles are a Chilean prog rock band formed a number of years ago and 4:45 am is their third release, issued in 2013 that somehow seems to have slipped through the net. They cite the usual stalwarts as their influences, some shine…

Steven Wilson

The Corn Exchange, Cambridge 12th March 2015 by Roger Trenwith Cambridge Corn Exchange is a smallish venue, and with the temporary seating installed probably held around 1000 last night, assuming the balcony was used and full – for some reason…