Prog writer and Whitley Bay enthusiast Sid Smith recently divulged that his desert island Gong album was 1973’s Flying Teapot. Of course, he was wrong to write that, as the best Gong album, from a subjective and objective point view,…
View More Tim Blake – Crystal Machine / Blake’s New Jerusalem
Esoteric have a knack for finding the most obscure records that only bear a passing resemblance or connection to progressive rock. At first glance, The Road seems like an overblown religious folk concept album. And even though this still rings…
View More Quiet World – The Road
Like most “underground” bands of the turn of the ’60s into the ’70s, Patto emerged butterfly-like from the chrysalis of an earlier pop group. Timebox were a band who specialised in dance-orientated Motown and R&B covers, and even had a…
View More Patto – Patto/Hold Your Fire
A graceful serenity peacefully descends as you listen to Through the Fire. The hectic sounds of life’s frenetic bustle gradually fade to a distant murmur, replaced by the gentle embrace of a calming, tranquil spirit which enfolds you with its…
View More Renaissance Illusion – Through the Fire
From Finland, the duo that call themselves Tervahäät have been producing their eclectic mix of folk and industrial ambient since 2008. Originally released in 2012 on the Anima Arctica label Kalmonsäie, their second album, is now available on vinyl. As…
View More Tervahäät – Kalmonsäie
For almost 50 years Allan Holdsworth has been at the cutting edge of guitar craft, boldly going where no player has gone before with a jaw-dropping fluidity of style that continues to influence generations of players. He has been referred…
View More Allan Holdsworth – Eidolon: The Allan Holdsworth Collection
Esoteric Records continue their reissue of Hawkwind’s albums, grouped together in box sets with the other releases on the original labels. On this occasion we have the albums released on the GWR Records label between 1988 and 1991, these being…
View More Hawkwind – The GWR Records Years: 1988-1991
I’ve never understood the need to endlessly compare Anthony Phillips’ work with Genesis. Sure, he was the original guitarist, but it has been over forty-five years since he quit the band; doesn’t the man deserve to be examined as an…
View More Anthony Phillips – Private Parts & Pieces V-VIII
Blonde On Blonde – Rebirth Blonde On Blonde, despite sounding like they lived on the corner of Haight-Asbury actually hailed from the far less glamorous surroundings of Newport, South Wales. Like many bands of the turn of the ’60s into…
View More Blonde On Blonde – Rebirth / Reflections On A Life
This album is a real throwback to the late 1960s. Eclection made their first public appearance supporting Tom Paxton at the Royal Festival Hall in 1967. Their debut album was originally released on the Elektra Records label in 1968, amidst…
View More Eclection – Eclection