The 1960s were a rather bizarre time to live through. The war in Viet Nam dominated the headlines, but a growing awareness of impending ecological disaster was never far behind. Sit-ins and love-ins competed with student protests and Jesus Freaks…
View More Various Artists – Too Much Sun Will Burn: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967, Volume 2
What the ???? Yes, you read that right. Cherry Red Records, in association with Robinsongs, has compiled some of the more outstanding dance mixes from the golden age of disco into one glorious, joyous, can’t-stop-moving compilation that will leave you…
View More Various Artists – The Greatest Soul, Funk & Disco 12” Singles of the ‘70s & ‘80s
Between 1976 and 1979, the Alan Parsons Project were a staple of FM radio here in the States. With the release of The Turn of A Friendly Card in 1980, the band became a hit-making juggernaut. An interesting proposition for…
View More The Alan Parsons Project – The Turn Of A Friendly Card
During their tenure with Island Records, Jade Warrior received critical plaudits while failing to garner album sales. This new box set makes the case for why that might have been. Progressive in the small “p” sense, this was a band…
View More Jade Warrior – Wind Borne: The Island Albums 1974 – 1978
Back in the seventies, the epitome of having “made it” (and maybe a bit of self-congratulatory excess) was the release of a triple vinyl live album. Some of the more notable examples are Yes’ Yessongs, ELP’s Welcome Back My Friends…,…
View More The Tangent – Pyramids, Stars & Other Stories: The Tangent Live Recordings 2004 – 2017
Every once in a while, reviewing an album presents a conundrum. Richard Dawson’s latest release, The Ruby Cord, is a case in point. Having released his first album in 2007, Dawson seems to have largely aligned with the freak folk…
View More Richard Dawson – The Ruby Cord
Last October, one of the acts to grace the stage at Progstock was Reuter Motzer Grohowski, Marcus Reuter has a CV that spans everything from Stick Men to contemporary classical to being the designer of the Touch Guitar. Tim Motzer,…
View More Reuter Motzer Grohowski – Bleed
Formed in Rio de Janeiro in 2011, Caravela Escalarte is firmly rooted in classic seventies prog. Comprised of bassist/vocalist David Paiva, keyboardist Ronaldo Rodrigues and drummer Elcio Cafaro, the band is a delightful trip back to the days of keyboard-driven…
View More Caravela Escalarte – III
Full disclosure: I am a sucker for both symphonic Italian prog and concept albums. Kim, by L’Estate di San Martino, satisfyingly scratches both itches. Formed in Perugia in 1975, the band has had an unconventional journey to this point. Following…
View More L’Estate di San Martino – Kim
Hailing from the heel of the boot of Southern Italy comes the band Crianza. The beautiful white limestone cliffs, the blue-green Adriatic and sun-kissed beaches are reflected impressionistically, if not directly, in the breezy watercolor sailboat that adorns the cover…
View More Crianza – Suoni a Sud