‘Transneptunian’ is the term given to “any minor planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater average distance than Neptune, which has a semi-major axis of 30.1 astronomical units”, and so would include Pluto (the opening…
View More J. Peter Schwalm / Stephan Thelen – Transneptunian PlanetsThe Aristocrats – The Aristocrats with Primuz Chamber Orchestra
The Aristocrats unfreeze themselves from pandemic mode with their first studio album since 2019, ahead of a US tour. Nothing particularly strange about that, perhaps, but this is an album that appears to have happened almost by accident. In a…
View More The Aristocrats – The Aristocrats with Primuz Chamber OrchestraNational Diet – The Noon Hour
National Diet is a music project formed by self-confessed “Prog rock nerds” Jake Rose (Rainbow Face) and Conner Reilly (Mercury Tree, Rainbow Face, Nick Prol), their aim being to create songs which are melodic and complex. The songs are written…
View More National Diet – The Noon HourUfomammut – Fenice
This is a review of Ufomammut’s latest album, Fenice, but I’m going to begin by writing about an earlier one. That might seem a strange thing to do, but it feels right for me. My descent into the dark and…
View More Ufomammut – FeniceGeoffrey Feakes – 1973: A Year in Progressive Rock / Richard Rees Jones – Peter Hammill On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Sonicbond’s series of books by amateur music enthusiasts continues with these two volumes, and before I go any further, I would simply say that the many and mostly, if not all, amateur enthusiasts, are all far more disciplined than me.…
View More Geoffrey Feakes – 1973: A Year in Progressive Rock / Richard Rees Jones – Peter Hammill On Track: Every Album, Every SongPryzme – Four Inches
Pryzme hail from Rennes in France, and the amusingly titled Four Inches is their debut album. Why Four Inches? Well, I guess it’s catchier than 10.16 centimetres. Odd album titles aside, this is an impressive piece of work, exploring the…
View More Pryzme – Four InchesGhost Of The Machine – Scissorgames
The first album from a brand new band, particularly one that chooses the rarefied pastures of prog to sew their seeds, is always going to be a defining one, and for the relatively small (but perfectly formed) audience, it is…
View More Ghost Of The Machine – ScissorgamesThe Utopia Strong – International Treasure
Calm. Peace. Tranquillity. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? With the world all going a bit bonkers (again), this album, the fifth release from The Utopia Strong in three years, is like an oasis of light in the darkness. A haven of…
View More The Utopia Strong – International TreasureThe Tangent – Songs From the Hard Shoulder
Andy Tillison has been going through a purple patch of late. Since his mild heart attack back in 2015, the Yorkshire keyboard player has released four albums as The Tangent, three as a solo artist (albeit under a variety of…
View More The Tangent – Songs From the Hard ShoulderMalcolm Galloway – Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate
In the run-up to the official release of The Confidence Trick by UK progressive rock band Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, TPA’s David Edwards had the opportunity for an extended chat with the band’s Malcolm Galloway. Speaking remotely from his…
View More Malcolm Galloway – Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate