Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Tuesday, 29th October 2024 A year (almost to the day) before this very gig, Dream Theater announced the return of founding drummer Mike Portnoy. This wasn’t news I took happily as I was upset by the…
View More Dream TheaterAuthor: Basil Francis
Alphataurus – 2084: Viaggio Nel Nulla
Of all the Italian progressive rock bands of the 70s, Alphataurus was one of them. Not blessed with the chops of Area, the creativity of PFM or the unique musical talent of Banco, this Milanese band produced one perfectly decent…
View More Alphataurus – 2084: Viaggio Nel NullaEyes Of Blue – The Light We See: The Recordings 1969-1971 [3CD Box Set]
How often have you wished that obscure, short-lived band you once enjoyed had just made one more album? It doesn’t count when they reunite several decades later, of course, because their energy and influences will have changed completely. For some…
View More Eyes Of Blue – The Light We See: The Recordings 1969-1971 [3CD Box Set]Rick Wakeman – Yessonata
It’s understandable that one could be sceptical of a release such as this. After all, Mr Wakeman has cashed in on his Yes connection as well as his own back catalogue more times than I can possibly count. Yessonata certainly…
View More Rick Wakeman – YessonataStackridge – Lost And Found: The Reunion Years 1999-2015 [4CD Box Set]
Esoteric’s Stackridge collection is finally complete after their string of (mostly 2CD) reissues of the band’s 70s albums last year, as well as the live 2CD+DVD of The Forbidden City released in April this year. It might seem like a…
View More Stackridge – Lost And Found: The Reunion Years 1999-2015 [4CD Box Set]Anubis – The Unforgivable
Early in my days as a prog rock reviewer, Anubis’s sophomore album A Tower of Silence fell into my lap and I was instantly smitten. While it only got an 8/10 from me at the time, I found that it…
View More Anubis – The UnforgivableJade Warrior – Borne On The Solar Wind: The Vertigo Albums
Jade Warrior – a name that has cropped up many times in my exploration of 70s prog, but a path I’ve not had the courage nor motivation to travel down until now. By reputation, they’re a more psychedelic, experimental group…
View More Jade Warrior – Borne On The Solar Wind: The Vertigo AlbumsGentle Giant – The Missing Piece (2024 Steven Wilson Remix)
As I mentioned last year in my review of Interview, I had not delved into any Gentle Giant releases beyond their eighth album, given how sharply public opinion seemed to drop off after that. The appearance of this Steven Wilson…
View More Gentle Giant – The Missing Piece (2024 Steven Wilson Remix)Carmen
Carmen was one of the most unusual and original outfits to emerge from the original progressive movement in the early 1970s. Hailing from America but based in the UK while singing songs about Spain, Carmen concocted their own brand of…
View More CarmenEurosong – Najveći hitovi
Boogaloo Club, Zagreb, Croatia Saturday 8th June 2024 Eurovision 2024 was a stressful event for fans of the contest with Palestine protests happening in and around the venue, the disqualification of one of the most popular acts this year and…
View More Eurosong – Najveći hitovi