I’m lucky and musically I’m in a good place. I am trying to cut down on carbohydrates, though. I may even be slightly obsessed with my craving for yummy food. I’m lucky to be writing album reviews for The Progressive…
View More Sweet Synth Prince – Sweet Synth PrinceAuthor: Phil Lively
Charlie Cawood – The Divine Abstract
Charlie Cawood (Pronounced “Kay-Wood”) has been working on this album for many years. Has his hard work paid off? It is always good to hear an album that feels meticulously presented. From the opening sustained bass note and apparent sitar…
View More Charlie Cawood – The Divine AbstractSummer’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 2017Shineback – Minotaur [EP]
It is worth revisiting the history of Shineback when considering this extended player. Shineback is a Simon Godfrey (ex-TinyFish) project, the first album under the name – Rise Up Forgotten, Return Destroyed – launching the now rather successful independent label…
View More Shineback – Minotaur [EP]Anathema – The Optimist
Perhaps I should always read sleeve notes and promotional materials that frequently accompany releases. Sometimes I wonder if I’m missing the point of any album because of this. Then I usually conclude that the album should stand up or fall…
View More Anathema – The OptimistSΔCRED ΔPE – SΔCRED ΔPE
I may be using genres to describe music in this review… If you’re not familiar with John Bassett then you are missing out on a prolific and varied output in a number of guises from this talented multi-instrumentalist. Check out…
View More SΔCRED ΔPE – SΔCRED ΔPEIsaac Vacuum – Lords
When I heard the Isaac Vacuum debut EP I knew that the next thing they did would be interesting. I liked it a lot. Whereas the EP was at once dissonant, melodic, metallic, quirky and progressive, I found this album…
View More Isaac Vacuum – LordsTom Slatter – Happy People
Tom Slatter has made another album. Where, in the past, his music has prompted reviewers to describe him as a “quintessentially British eccentric with a quirky imagination” – and he has never failed to live up to that – this…
View More Tom Slatter – Happy PeopleSimon Godfrey – Black Bag Archive, Vol.II
Back in November (ish) of 2015, I was lucky enough to get to get hold of a copy of Simon Godfrey’s Black Bag Archive, Vol.I and felt compelled to write a review. When Simon announced that he was going to…
View More Simon Godfrey – Black Bag Archive, Vol.IIStick Men – Prog Noir
What is a Stick Man? Documentary pictures taken in the 1950s by the celebrated bloke Laurence Stephen Lowry (RBA,RA) show matchstick men with their matchstick cats and dogs making music. Bored with these omnipresent artists of that time who were…
View More Stick Men – Prog Noir