In common with most Jethro Tull fans, I was shocked and saddened when Ian Anderson knocked the band on the head nearly 20 years ago. By all accounts, long-time guitarist Martin Barre felt exactly the same. But listening back to…
View More Jethro Tull – The Zealot GeneMonth: January 2022
Nektar – Sounds Like Swiss
Well now, where has this little nugget been hiding for the last 49 years I wonder? I’d have thought all the half-decent Nektar live recordings must have appeared long ago, and then this turns up! A sound board recording of…
View More Nektar – Sounds Like SwissJomo Tuun – One Tuun
One of the first albums I reviewed for TPA was Guranfoe’s debut, Sum of Erda – a wonderful and eclectic fusion of sounds that was thoroughly grounded in the ’70s yet never suffered the pitfalls so many retro prog bands…
View More Jomo Tuun – One TuunRetreat From Moscow – The World As We Knew It
The World as we Knew it is the debut album of the rather strangely named Welsh melodic rock band Retreat from Moscow. They may be new to most people, but when someone with the ear of the excellent Robin Armstrong…
View More Retreat From Moscow – The World As We Knew ItSomalgia – Inverted World
Black Metal. What do those words conjure in your mind? Even though I know and like some black metal that does not fit this stereotype, as soon as I see or hear a band described as black meatal I think…
View More Somalgia – Inverted WorldMonarch Trail – Wither Down
Monarch Trail are a Canadian progressive rock trio, led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ken Baird, Wither Down is their third release. Now, if the band and the album have gone under your musical radar of late, amongst the other fine…
View More Monarch Trail – Wither DownInvolute – Hindsight
Once upon a time there was a prog metal band named Blind Spectrum. I really enjoyed their music, but could never get on with the vocals of Sean Butler. I always felt that they would be better as an instrumental…
View More Involute – HindsightTony Patterson & Doug Melbourne – Dark Before Dawn
Dark Before Dawn is the follow up to The Divide, the excellent 2019 debut album from Tony Patterson and Doug Melbourne, who were previously in the eminent Genesis tribute band Regenesis. Dark Before Dawn has a lot to live up…
View More Tony Patterson & Doug Melbourne – Dark Before DawnLyle Workman – Uncommon Measures
Hold the end of year Best of 2021! Damn, too late… Although released in February 2021, it was purely happenstance that I discovered Uncommon Measures during the recent festive period. So… there I am beavering away on something TPA related,…
View More Lyle Workman – Uncommon MeasuresMannheimer Schlagwerk – The Numbers Are Dancing: New Works for Mallet Quartet
The Mannheimer Schlagwerk is a percussion collective which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It was the brainchild of Dennis Kuhn, who created it to play a one-off event, but it has somehow endured ever since. The group is known for…
View More Mannheimer Schlagwerk – The Numbers Are Dancing: New Works for Mallet Quartet