I have to admit that prior to clapping ears on this recent release I was unfamiliar with the name Kevin Kastning. Quite how I’d not come across such a talented and progressive guitarist before is a mystery, but I’m glad…
View More Kevin Kastning / Sándor Szabó / Balázs Major – Ethereal IV
I went to the doctor in search of a panacea for my Covid-related live music withdrawals. While the doctor was unable to provide a cure, he did prescribe an intensive regimen of heavy guitar riffs and Hammond organ to treat…
View More Kylver – The Plague Tapes
Hot on the heels of McStine and Minnemann’s debut album – less than six months later – Randy and Marco have only gone and popped out another one. If there is any kind of positive to be had with Covid…
View More McStine & Minnemann – II
In this update we feature: • Once & Future Band – Deleted Scenes • Ray Russell – Fluid Architecture • Custard Flux – Oxygen • Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere – θ5 • Causa Sui – Szabodelico • Stephan Thelen…
View More A Different Aspect #52
When I was asked to write the review of the debut album by Dutch band Perfect Storm, I had to scratch my head: I had never heard of this group before. But the weblink to the collective’s first single quickly…
View More Perfect Storm – No Air
With going on tour having become an impossibility in the current situation, many artists have instead been working hard in their homes and studios on new albums. No more poignantly can this be seen than in the case of Downes…
View More Downes Braide Association – Halcyon Hymns
“The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding (in all of the directions it can whizz…)”, sang Eric Idle in his Galaxy Song from Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, which apparently was how Roine Stolt described the recording of…
View More Transatlantic – The Absolute Universe
I made mention of Nación Progresiva’s nominees for the Latino Progressive Album of 2020 recently, as I realised I had heard of only two of the bands whose albums were up for the award, and had heard only the nominated…
View More The Advent Equation – Remnants Of Oblivion
So let me set the scene for you. It’s a very 2020 sort of story, you know, musicians can’t tour and so whilst locked down, decide to record that solo album they always wanted to make but never had the…
View More Hosianna Mantra – Particle Mythology
For much of Italian band Nodo Gordiano’s existence, Andrea de Luca has been the only constant, and after a six year absence, he is back again with a new line-up, and a new album – Sonnar. Of the three Nodo…
View More Nodo Gordiano – Sonnar