I could write a long passage telling any reader, who is not familiar with him, all about John Hackett’s varied musical career. Going from his work with Quiet World in 1970, appearing on early Anthony Phillips albums along with his…
View More John Hackett – Checking Out Of London
You can call Clive Nolan many things, but one of them would not be a one trick pony. Playing for bands as diverse as Pendragon, Arena, Shadowland, Caamora and Strangers On A Train, Nolan fits seamlessly into whatever role he…
View More Clive Nolan – The Mortal Light
If progressive rock is the barmy, eccentric uncle to popular music, then Tales from Topographic Oceans, Yes’s landmark sixth album originally released in December 1973, is surely the barmy, eccentric uncle to progressive rock. No other album in prog history…
View More Yes – Tales From Topographic Oceans (Super Deluxe Edition Boxset)
Popular music never ceases to amaze. For those that stick with me, you are about to read a rapturous, glowing review for an excellent forthcoming album by a band that released their first album in 1984. A band that, despite…
View More The Long Ryders – High Noon Hymns
Magenta celebrate their 25th anniversary with their first fully new studio album in six years with Tarot. This is a band which has explored various styles over the years, always with their trademark stamp of high-quality melodic rock, but in…
View More Magenta – Tarot
Hailing from Bergen, Norway, Major Parkinson is a kaleidoscopic collision of huge, cinematic melodies, memorable pop hooks, inconceivable rhythms and psychedelic lyrics. A distinctively different band, with an unconventional alliance and almost aberrant approach to the art of writing music.…
View More Major Parkinson – Valesa – Chapter II: Viva the Apocalypse!
In 1974, Camel were at a turning point. Their first album had not sold enough for MCA to retain them, but they were establishing a growing fanbase and were already creating a distinctive melodic/symphonic progressive sound. They were too good…
View More Camel – Earthrise: Live At The Marquee 1974
I have been an avid follower of Hawkwind since my early teens, first discovering them with the release of In Search of Space, the reissue of which I later reviewed for TPA. It was immersing myself in its follow up,…
View More Hawkwind – Hawkwind (3CD/Blu-Ray)
In 2021, Dutch band Leap Day surprised the prog scene with their excellent album Treehouse, which earned a leading position in my personal top 10 for the year. Surpassing a career highlight is no small feat, yet with their sixth…
View More Leap Day – When Gravity Wins
Seven years is a long time between albums, but The Gift have been on quite a journey since Antenna in 2019 with an almost completely new line-up. In Seven Seasons The Gift present a rather different album to previous releases,…
View More The Gift – Seven Seasons