With tracks entitled Repeat Until Muscle Failure, Slam Your Head Against the Wall (Carefully) and Make It Look Like An Accident, these Swiss sonic explorers were always going to spike my interest. Even more so when I pressed ‘Play’ as…
View More The Universe By Ear – The Universe By Ear
When long time member of White Willow Ketil Vestrum Einarsen decided to make an album, I became interested. When I learned that he was also joined by Jacob Holm-Lupo and Mattias Olsson my interest took off. This album is Ketil’s…
View More Weserbergland – Sehr Kosmisch, Ganz Progisch
Think 1969, and you’ll be thinking of the genesis (pardon me) of many great prog acts, some might even say the progressive movement in general. Unfortunately, Little Free Rock was not to become one of these acts, due to poor…
View More Little Free Rock – Little Free Rock
Nearly six years on from their breakthrough and fifth studio album Deep Politics finds Portland, Oregon instrumental electronica crossover project Grails having refined their sound further on Chalice Hymnal. If I may deploy an over-used reviewers staple, this album is…
View More Grails – Chalice Hymnal
Galahad have characteristically released rather a ‘different’ album in Quiet Storms, displaying a much more contemplative and mellow side to their persona, but with a barely concealed ‘edge’. Galahad is a band which has not been afraid to experiment and…
View More Galahad – Quiet Storms
My first introduction to Schnauser came one night in a Bristol pub a few years ago where they were supporting Knifeworld. I was impressed by their musical presentation, style and performance, a great live band. They now present Irritant, their…
View More Schnauser – Irritant
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
I have to say this is a bit of a weird album all told, almost like a lo-fi Prog album in fact. That said, it is certainly worth at least listening to. The opening track, Into the Void of Emptiness,…
View More Elk Minister – There’s a System Of Control
A solo album in the truest sense, music and lyrics written and arranged by Stewart Bell, as well as the artwork and design, keyboards, drums and much of the vocals. Stewart uses the name of his band, Citizen Cain, to…
View More Citizen Cain’s Stewart Bell – The Antechamber of Being (Part 2): Stories from the Antechamber
The fizzing French confection Aquaserge, makers of highly individual left-field pop-prog that explodes on your tongue like sherbert dip (Google it, non-Brits!), released their second album earlier this year. It is a joyous and celebratory affair, and a welcome tonic…
View More Aquaserge – Laisse ça être