A few weeks ago I saw a band that I’d never previously heard of, supporting Nordic Giants at their show in Cardiff. It’s always nice when the unexpected pricks your attention, and even better when listening to their recorded work…
View More Chiyoda Ku – How It WorksAuthor: Jez Rowden
Tiger Moth Tales – The Depths of Winter
Peter Jones has been making quite a name for himself in prog circles in the last few years, largely on the back of his hugely impressive live shows, both solo and in conjunction with Red Bazar, who he also joined…
View More Tiger Moth Tales – The Depths of WinterThe Knells – Knells II
From New York City, The Knells do ‘art rock’ in their own inimitable fashion. It’s a deft mix of instrumentation and voices, the coup de gras coming from the latter, a fascinating trio of female vocalists singing in complementary classical…
View More The Knells – Knells IISummer’s End Festival 2017
The Drill Hall, Chepstow 6th to 8th October 2017 “Sanctuary in Music…” The Drill Hall is fast becoming the new spiritual home for the U.K.’s longest established festival of progressive music, the setting, close to the banks of…
View More Summer’s End Festival 2017Thumpermonkey – Electricity EP
From the Deepest, Darkest Depths of Olde London Town, the first release of new material from the 16-limbed beast of depravity that is Thumpermonkey emerges blinking into the light. Has it really been 5 years since Sleep Furiously? It has.…
View More Thumpermonkey – Electricity EPRichard Wileman – Ghost EP
From the start, the delicate guitar intro to The Veil shows a more gentle and introverted side of Karda Estra mainman Richard Wileman in his first, nominally at least, solo venture. Elements of the more elaborate Karda Estra sound, including…
View More Richard Wileman – Ghost EPNorth Sea Radio Orchestra
Acapela Studio, Pentyrch Saturday, 24th September 2017 Well, that was just magical. In the beautiful setting of Acapela Studio, in Pentyrch, north of the M4 outside Cardiff, the North Sea Radio Orchestra beguiled an audience that couldn’t have numbered many…
View More North Sea Radio OrchestraThe Pineapple Thief / Godsticks
The Bierkeller, Bristol Sunday, 17th September 2017 If I may, I’d like to propose a toast to the Gods of Serendipity. Now I don’t often pay homage to deities of indeterminate origin – or any others for that matter –…
View More The Pineapple Thief / GodsticksThe Pineapple Thief – Where We Stood [Blu-ray/DVD]
The Pineapple Thief are a band that I have dabbled with over the years without giving their catalogue the attention it deserves, despite being drawn to Bruce Soord’s work many moons ago via a Cyclops Records sampler featuring tracks from…
View More The Pineapple Thief – Where We Stood [Blu-ray/DVD]Leprous – Malina
I’ve had something of a torturous relationship with Leprous over the years: I loved Bilateral, liked Coal but just couldn’t get into The Congregation, which seemed like a step too far down a cul de sac. So here we are…
View More Leprous – Malina