Exposé Online

A Beautiful Day in Mill Valley —
The David and Linda LaFlamme Interview

While his musical resumé is lengthy and varied, ranging from symphony orchestras and pop bands to jazz ensembles and improvisational work, David LaFlamme is best known as the violin and lead voice of the legendary San Francisco band It’s a Beautiful Day, whose debut album in 1969 produced the FM radio hits “White Bird” and “Hot Summer Day,” a powerful musical statement that has stood the test of time.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Visions and Dreams —
The Edgar Froese Interview

To use an overused yet highly appropriate cliché, Edgar Froese is truly a man who needs no introduction. As founding member of the immensely successful band Tangerine Dream, he practically invented and defined a new genre of music, which still defies easy categorization. Whether you call it electronic music, electronic rock, space music, kraut rock, or (shudder) new age or whatever, Froese and one-time TD member Klaus Schulze were the true forerunners who would spawn a generation of loyal followers, fans who buy their music as well as musicians who strive to imitate their classic sound, particularly from their arguably most innovative period in the 70s and 80s. Now going over 35 years strong and with his son Jerome at the co-helm, Edgar was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule and answer a few questions for Exposé.  » Read more
(Posted by Phil Derby 2003-12-01)

2 by Bukowski - Drink from My Bastard Grail

After reviewing two of this Greek post-rock outfit’s previous...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Agalloch - The Mantle

Black metal often joins the wallop of heavy, dense rock and roll with occult overtones that stretch back to 70s Black Sabbath. Because of this very tenet the genre is often maligned and...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Anekdoten - Gravity

The most distinctive things about Anekdoten have always been overdriven bass, Mellotron, cello, and the vocals. This CD answers the question of what happens when you remove two of those elements,...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Ars Nova Biogenesis Project - Biogenesis

Biogenesis is the kind of overblown sci-fi epic that has both a built-in audience and legions of detractors. The fact that it comes from Japan’s Ars Nova, not exactly known for...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Audra - Going to the Theatre

Audra is the stylishly gothic venture of brothers Bret and Bart Helm who originally hailed from Chicago. Going to the Theatre is the trio’s second CD after three West Coast tours and...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - The Iridium Controversy

This new offering from my favorite prehistoric animal noise group certainly lives up to the high standards of their previous releases, and over the long term may turn out to be one of my favorites....

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Brandywine Bridge - An English Meadow

English trio Brandywine Bridge released its LP, An English Meadow, in 1978. The album, just reissued by Kissing Spell, contained twelve original songs penned in the style of traditional...

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(Posted by Jim Chokey 2003-12-01)

Brannan Lane / Ashera - Sextant

Why is it that I always end up reviewing CDs like this late at night? In fact I’ll probably be conked out long before the disc is finished; fortunately I’ve been playing this one at...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Brazelton / Naphtali - What Is It Like to Be a Bat?

The opening tracks offer sweet bits of melodic a capella and seemingly lighthearted lyrics mixed with grinding industrial guitars, experimental ambient bits and noisy cacaphonic interludes, all...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - Happiness Heartaches

The latter incarnation of Oblivion Express (led by Hammond B3 player extraordinaire Brian Auger) was characterized by soulful blues-rock, percussion, and danceable grooves. Ex-Return to Forever...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Cast - Al-Bandaluz

By this time, many readers will know what to expect from Mexico's Cast: complex, keyboard-heavy neo-progressive with lots of odd meters. They've stuck to that for what seems like twenty or...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Cherno - Missing Illusion, Trigonometric Reactor & Slight Trick All Around

At its core, Cherno is the duo of Shin Sugawara (sax, wind synth) and Junichi Kishimoto (guitar, guitar synths, drum programming), sometimes joined by other players, track and disc depending...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2003-12-01)

Clear Light - Clear Light

Other West Coast bands like the Doors, Love, and Jefferson Airplane may have grabbed center stage in the history of the psychedelic era, but there were many others, and some of them rivaled the...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Cobra High - Sunset in the Eye of the Hurricane

I have learned to be wary when the mainstream press describes an artist as “progressive” – you never know what they really mean, since the vast majority of progressive music is...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

David Sancious and Tone - Transformation (The Speed of Love)

David Sancious came at the genre of jazz-rock fusion from a rather different direction than most of the key figures. Rather than coming into it as an established jazz player or from the progressive...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)

Divided Sky - Spectral

Divided Sky is a Philadelphia based four piece progressive act that relies on heavy riffs that don’t quite fit into technical metal categorization. Phased guitar effects on...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid - Dubtometry

Hot on the heels of the acclaimed Optometry sessions (charting high in the Billboard top 100) comes an all-star set of seventeen remixes of samples and tracks from that disc. The...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2003-12-01)

Drama - Inspiración

It’s only been in the last couple years that I’ve started hearing any of the progressive music originating in South America, and while I’m reluctant to make broad generalizations,...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2003-12-01)