When Bad Elephant Music signs a new act one can never quite predict what the band will sound like, though the label seldom disappoints. Described by the label as an “art-rock quintet”, it is fair to say that in Tonochrome…
View More Tonochrome – A Map In Fragments
KNIFEWORLD AT THE LEXINGTON Or An Adventure In That London With A Gentleman And Some Music. It was a winter’s day of contrast and light, pummelled by cold winter rain, but illuminated in so many ways. My companion for the…
View More Knifeworld (plus Judy Dyble, Helen McCookerybook & The Perfect English Weather)
In November 2015 I reviewed Simon Godfrey’s Black Bag Archive, Volume I, a collection of salvaged tracks from unfinished projects. This was followed in February 2017 by Black Bag Archive, Volume II, a mixed-black-bag of old and new. I liked…
View More Simon Godfrey – Black Bag Archive, Volume III
Based in Kent’s Medway towns, Upcdownc describe themselves as a “progressive, sludge, horror synth outfit”. I’d go one step further and say they were a “fun” progressive, sludge, horror synth outfit. The band has been around for a long time…
View More Upcdownc – I, Awake
The Gresham Centre, St. Anne & St. Agnes, Gresham Street, London Sunday, 26th November 2017 I was in a church the other day, St. Anne and St. Agnes, Gresham Street, in the City of London, near The Barbican. I was…
View More North Sea Radio Orchestra / William D. Drake
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 Prince
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 Abstract
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 2017
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]
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 Optimist