Hafan Y Mor, Nr. Pwllheli, North Wales 16th – 18th March 2017 Part One (We do this so you don’t have to…) There is a mysterious enclosed community hidden away somewhere on the North Wales coast where all sorts of…
View More H.R.H. PROG V – Day OneMonth: March 2017
Gordon Giltrap & Paul Ward – The Last Of England
In what seems to have become a relentless, burgeoning and ever diversifying musical climate it is so easy to lose sight of what first attracted you, so with the release of The Last Of England the opportunity to reflect, rekindle…
View More Gordon Giltrap & Paul Ward – The Last Of EnglandHaken in Manchester / Richard Henshall Interview
Haken – Academy 3, Manchester 24th March 2017 On their tenth anniversary Haken find themselves well established as leaders in the heavier progressive market. Could be a pressure or a curse yet they seem to be revelling in the fact…
View More Haken in Manchester / Richard Henshall InterviewPaul Morley – The Age of Bowie
Back in the days of the tabloid-sized music weeklies, or “inkies” as they were known, for a period from the mid ’70s until the early ’80s the NME was my music Bible. It was The Guardian to the Melody Maker’s…
View More Paul Morley – The Age of BowieThird Quadrant – re:generator
From the first sonar-like ping to the last note, Third Quadrant’s 2016 album re:generator holds your attention, with a vocal style not dissimilar to Paul McCartney (at his best), and the modern prog interpretation of Dave Kerzner (with or without…
View More Third Quadrant – re:generatorA Formal Horse – Made In Chelsea [EP]
Atomic Rooster. Trojan Horse. Henry Cow. Er, Canned Goat? I may just have made that last one up but farmyard-related band names appear surprisingly thin on the ground. Bucking that trend (ahem…), please trot forward, in a genteel and decorous…
View More A Formal Horse – Made In Chelsea [EP]O.R.k. – Soul of an Octopus
Two years after their first album, Inflamed Rides, this rather thrilling gathering of enquiring musical like-minds return with Soul Of An Octopus, their first for the always interesting Rare Noise label, and it seems that no little development of their…
View More O.R.k. – Soul of an OctopusOnce and Future Band – Once and Future Band
I forget now where I read about the Once and Future Band, but I was very interested in reviewing their self-titled album, released in January this year. The author made comparisons in the article, to Queen and ELO. OK, I…
View More Once and Future Band – Once and Future BandMatheus Manente – Illusions Dimension [2017 remaster]
This new remaster of Illusions Dimension, Matheus Manente’s first solo release from 2014, has the dramatic feel of a film soundtrack. Some songs clearly stand on their own, while others seem to be intended as auditory backgrounds to theatrical developments.…
View More Matheus Manente – Illusions Dimension [2017 remaster]Beatrix Players – Magnified
Beatrix Players are a London-based female trio, comprising Amanda Alvarez, Jess Kennedy and Amy Birks. They have been described as combining elements of Folk, Jazz, Progressive and Classical music, citing influences as diverse as Michael Nyman and Regina Spector whilst…
View More Beatrix Players – Magnified