Beamed in from the outer reaches of known space, or Sheffield to be more precise, is the third instalment from Martin Archer’s Kraut/jazz/experimental space rock troupe Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere. Theta Three finds the band continuing on from the…
View More Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere – θ3
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
Miriodor were formed in 1980 in Quebec City by François Émond and Pascal Goblensky, and had the internet been around back then, would have instantly become part of the Rock In Opposition movement that was striking out on the other…
View More Miriodor – Signal 9
Just in time for their Saturday night performance at 2017’s Night of Prog Festival at Loreley on 15th July, Comedy of Errors return with House of the Mind, a collection of great new music, which also includes a newly arranged…
View More Comedy of Errors – House of the Mind
You know that thing where Henry Cow gatecrash a Randy Newman song? No? Well it happens on the opening track to Putting Off Death, the 18th(!) album from redoubtable Chicagoan avant rockers CHEER-ACCIDENT, and their third for Cuneiform Records. They…
View More CHEER-ACCIDENT – Putting Off Death
Harold Wilson once famously said that a week was a long time in politics; I wonder what he would have made of my forty-six years of following one band fandom? It was forty-six years ago today I first heard Stackridge…
View More Stackridge – The Final Bow, Bristol 2015
Toby Driver is an integral cog in one of the few truly progressive rock bands on the planet, the ever-morphing Kayo Dot. More than a decade on from his first, here Toby makes his second solo album, as he ironically…
View More Toby Driver – Madonnawhore
From Detroit, Michigan, Discipline return for their fifth studio album, Captives of the Wine Dark Sea, released on their new label Laser’s Edge. There are few bands that can give me a buzz of anticipation for their new release, but…
View More Discipline – Captives of the Wine Dark Sea
‘Haunting’ is a word which is frequently used in relation to a number of progressive albums, signalling a disquieting and lingering sense of presence which inhabits and permeates the music, bringing with it associated feelings of wistful nostalgia, the pain…
View More Bjørn Riis – Forever Comes to an End
Patto – Roll ’em Smoke ’em Put Another Line Out Judging by the chaotic, unfocused but nonetheless glorious mess that this album is, it would seem its title was instructional rather than allegorical. Weirdly described by Rolling Stone at the…
View More Patto – Roll ’em Smoke ’em Put Another Line Out / Monkey’s Bum