Exposé Online » Issue 36

Date : October 2008
Pages : 92
Summary : Fern Knight, Sonja Kristina interview, Baja Prog 2008, Mircan interview, Greg Bendian interview, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Fern Knight cover feature, Jade Warrior 2008
Items found : 160

Down to Dots and Quavers —
The Edward Ka-Spel Interview

For those of you who don’t know, Edward Ka-Spel is a founding member and driving force behind The Legendary Pink Dots. Both Edward and the Dots have a long and prolific recording career, dating back to 1981. Edward and the band for that manner are very friendly to their fan base. They will talk with fans after their concerts as well as taking time out of their demanding touring schedule to reply to emails. Edward has been interviewed countless times over the years and I attempted to avoid some of the more typical interview questions, focusing instead on topics that may not have been covered in the past.  » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Dagobert Böhm / Markus Reuter / Zoltán Lantos - String Unit

Here’s an album and ensemble that is more than the sum of its parts: a startling reflection of a multi-ethnic modern world tempered by a very wooden traditionalism. Dagobert Böhm (acoustic guitar),...  » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Acid Mothers Temple +/- Guru Guru - Crystal Rainbow Pyramid & Psychedelicnavigator

Here we have a brand spanking new full length album from Acid Mothers Temple featuring their recent addition of female vocalist Kitagawa Hao. AMT front man Kawabata Makoto claims, half-jokingly,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Aegis Integer - Sand Timer

This California trio seems to have sprung fully formed from the brow of some musical god. The music is undeniably "progressive" in a number of ways, but rarely reminds me more than very...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Ahleuchatistas - Even in the Midst

Maybe I'm just imagining it, but I swear this time out Ahleuchatistas are sounding more accessible than ever. Still crazy as hell, but maybe a little less abrasive. Or maybe I'm getting...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Aidan Baker - Book of Nods

While there are four indexes on this latest disc by Aidan Baker of Nadja, there are really only two tracks here, each in excess of 25 minutes, none of which are titled. We are clearly in minimalist...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Akai Ikuo - Language without Words

This short album (in the neighborhood of 30 minutes even including the two unlisted tracks) is the first US release but Japanese experimental multi-instrumentalist Akai Ikuo. It’s a combination...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Alma - Sobre Fantasías

There appears to be an emerging group of excellent South American bands, one of the more recent being Alma from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The band members Carlos Lucena (guitars, bass, and programming)...  » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Alonso Arreloa / LabA - Música Horizontal

One of the big surprises of Baja 2008, Alonso Arreola and his band/project LabA tore up the opening slot at the theater on the first night with his funky 8-string bass maneuverings and avant-garde...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Alpha Wave Movement - The Mystic and the Machine

A one man band sounding for all the world like a power trio from the mid 70s, Greg Kyryluk, joined on four tracks by Steve Hillman (not Hillage) on guitar, has hobbied through a convincingly nostalgic...  » Read more
(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Amygdala - Complex Combat

It’s been a few years since Amygdala’s eponymous debut, a complex, powerful and high-energy opening statement if there ever was one; and as strong as it was, its main weakness was the fact that...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Ange - Zenith An II

October 13, 2002 is perhaps a legendary date for fans of Ange. It was on this autumn evening that the band took to the stage at the Paris Zenith with a host of Ange members past and present, along...  » Read more
(Posted by Mac Beaulieu 2008-10-01)

Aquaplan - Old Waves, New Seas

Aquaplan are relative newcomers from Finland with one previous album under their belt, 2001’s Paperimeri. Their sound is like an updated version of Vermillion Sands: female lead singer...  » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Ariel Kalma - Le temps des moissons

Subtitled “Electronica Ragas of the 70s” Le Temps des moissons was Ariel Kalma’s first solo recording. Ariel had spent a lot of time in India learning the basics of modal music and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Art Cinema - Art Cinema

Unlike most other projects directed by multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Robin Taylor (those being Taylor’s Universe, Taylor’s Free Universe, and numerous solo endeavors) which tend to be...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Asia - Phoenix

When Asia’s debut hit turntables in 1982 it quickly became clear that this was not the next coming of progressive rock many had hoped for. The names were familiar: John Wetton, Geoff Downes,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Asia Featuring John Payne - Scandinavia (AKA Extended Versions)

Among the finite number of prog fans who are Asia fans there is a subset that enjoys the lineup with singer/bassist John Payne (i.e., the non-original Asia that’s been on tour recently). This...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Attrition - All Mine Enemys Whispers: The Story of Mary Ann Cotton

There is a persistent case to be made for metaphoric musics deriving from literary sources, even as such practice now belongs more and more to the tattered remnants of the Romantic era. Dark...  » Read more
(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Autumn's Grey Solace - Ablaze

This may be a Projekt release featuring a female singer and guy playing all the instruments, but if you’re expecting another Dead Can Dance clone think again. Ablaze is a collection...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Avi Belleli - Strawberry Cream and Gunpowder

Avi Belleli has been on the Israeli fringe working with the likes of Tractor’s Revenge as well as doing stage and soundtrack work for quite some time. Longtime friend and collaborator Udi...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Barock Project - Misteriosevoci

The Barock Project is the name of a relatively new Italian progressive rock band led by keyboard virtuoso Luca Zabbini. Their desire is to promote baroque music in a progressive rock context with a...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Basement 3 - Under

Bay Area singer-songwriter-musician Kenny Schick (also known under the moniker Basement 3) is back with a new album that’s a left turn. Basement 3 albums have always been an outlet for Schick’s...  » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Bass Communion - Pacific Codex

Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree has his hands in any number of diverse musical projects. One of them, Bass Communion, is his ambient drone explorations with Theo Travis. Bass Communion has been...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Beardfish - Sleeping in Traffic: Part One

Over the years there have been so many “next great things” in progressive rock that the phrase has lost meaning. The world is big enough, and prog varied enough, that there are always good things...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two

Beardfish’s rise to prominence is due to hard work and good music, as long as your tastes run toward the sort of modern prog that pays homage to classic 70s bands. Main man Rikard Sjöblom is one of...  » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Bernie Worrell - Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth

Keyboardist Bernie Worrell is no stranger to making friends while making music. Since his initial ground breaking work as keyboardist and synthesizer innovator for Parliament / Funkadelic, the...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Bert Jansch - Fresh as a Sweet Sunday Morning

Drawing a British folk icon out of semi-imposed retirement can seem like an impossible task. But contrary to many fans’ expectations, Bert Jansch not only demonstrated the delicate finger...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Bevel - Phoenician Terrane

I’m generally a big fan of music born of lofty ambition, even if it doesn’t entirely succeed, but there’s something to be said for a modest recording that accomplishes its goals completely. Via...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Birds and Buildings - Bantam to Behemoth

Like Dan Britton’s other project, Deluge Grander, this is an album for true prog geeks. It’s the same sort of uncompromising assault on the ears that was so riveting on Änglagård’s debut or...  » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Born Again Floozies - Street Music

This Indiana based quintet led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Joey Welch caught this writer's ear a few years ago with their debut EP Novelties, Addenda and Ephemera, five songs...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Buyi - Buyi, Namejiu & Endless Wine

Sometimes I think that every tradition of folk music must at some point have its own Fairport Convention. Of course it’s an oversimplification, but in broad terms we can say that FC melded...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Caamora - She

Clive Nolan (Arena, Shadowlands, Pendragon, etc.) rarely does anything on a small scale, and elements of theatricality and drama have appeared in much of his past work so it seems only natural that...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Canartic - Bouncing Radar Beams off the Moon

For the quick-and-dirty part of the review I’ll say this: imagine Bill Laswell’s kind of dub production only with a dose of psychedelic space rock instead of world music. The Austin, Texas duo of...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Carsick Cars & Snapline - Two Debut Albums

These two closely related bands represent Beijing's current underground rock scene quite nicely. Both are trios, and they share two musicians: Li Weisi (bass) and Li Qing (drums in Carsick...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Cast - Originallis

For their latest, Mexican proggers Cast have delivered a super-sized collection of 16 songs spread across two CDs – a Flower Kings-like effort, with similar strengths and weaknesses. For some...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Chandeen - Teenage Poetry

The Projekt label has been searching beyond US shores for new groups to host on their label, one example being Chandeen from Germany. This trio was formed around keyboard player / programmer Harald...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Chris Squire - Swiss Choir

Chris Squire's second solo album since 1975's classic Fish out of Water is actually the third Christmas album from a Yes alumnus... In tow is ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett who...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Circa - Live

Billy Sherwood’s plan to get some kind of Yes-related project into play resulted in this DVD from one of the band’s first performances. On board are Yes stalwarts keyboardist Tony Kaye...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Craig Padilla - Below the Mountain

Practitioners of electronic or space music can often times be seen as little more than technicians with the knowledge and ability to produce interesting sounds from arcane and complex synthesizers...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Cronico - Delirium Room

Cronico is a promising new entry in the classic symphonic proggy-prog field from Mexico City. A five piece featuring bass, drums, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, and a female vocalist,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

D.F.A. - 4th

It may have been close to ten years since DFA’s last studio album, but this band has certainly not lost their edge; in fact, if anything the intensity and passion in this new set makes up for...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Darryl Steurmer - Go

So there I was, driving across northern New Mexico and Arizona in a car with no air conditioning. Did I mention it was June? As I was sweltering, windblown by the hot desert air and traveling at 75...

 » Read more
(Posted by Pam Thompson 2008-10-01)

Dave Cousins - Secret Paths & The Boy in the Sailor Suit

Cousins' latest two solo releases have the masterful Strawbs leader and songwriter in two very different settings, yet his muse is entirely comfortable in both. Throughout these two discs, his...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Dave Fulton / Giles Reaves - The Range

Opening with an unadulterated nod to the analog synth sound, The Range lets loose with some overtly modulated white noise, trailing into trilling piano and finally settling into a pleasant...

 » Read more
(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Delta Saxophone Quartet - Dedicated to You... But You Weren't Listening

The subtle influences of the Soft Machine’s legacy are inherent in many European acts from Bill Bruford’s Earthworks to Theo Travis’s working ensembles. The Delta Saxophone...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Divine Baze Orchestra - Once We Were Born

The Divine Baze Orchestra is a new Swedish heavy progressive rock band with a 70s retro sound. Oliver Eek (guitars, backing vocals) and Christian Eklöf (drums, percussion) formed the band in 2003....

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Dr. L. Subramaniam / Karsten Vogel - Meetings

Dr. L. Subramaniam is an icon of Indian improvisation. From his Karnatic traditional undertakings and Western classical endeavors his...  » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Drifting in Silence - Fallto

Let’s face it, even when you like ambient electronic music, sometimes you’re just not in the mood for it. But it might be cool to have something non-ambient that features some of the same textures...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Drums & Tuba - Battles Olé

Drums and Tuba has to be one of the oddest bands active these days in terms of their basic instrumentation, which would be, um, drums, tuba, trumpet, trombone, guitar and electronics. The core trio...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Earthling Society - Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is British based Earthling Society’s fourth full-length release, and seems to authentically capture that swirling heady psychedelic space rock sound out of an earlier...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Edward Artemiev - Crime and Punishment

Opera comes with all sorts of preconceptions: large women breaking glass with their voices, too much vibrato, bombastic music. Edward Artemiev's opera Crime and Punishment (based on...

 » Read more
(Posted by Pam Thompson 2008-10-01)

Emily Bezar - Exchange

With Exchange, California singer/songwriter/keyboardist Emily Bezar has produced her definitive (so far) musical statement. The elements that have contributed to her past releases...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Erik Baron / d-z Akørd - De Futura (Hiroshima)

We’ve covered bassist Erik Baron’s releases in these pages before, and all have been exceptional, but there’s never been one quite like this. Here he has assembled an army of...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Eroc - Eroc 4

Revisited Records has now released the fourth Eroc solo album, recorded in 1982. For those of you who don’t know, Eroc is the pseudonym of Joachim Heinz Ehrig who was Grobschnitt’s drummer...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Farpoint - Cold Star, Quiet Star

Let me cut to the chase. Cold Star, Quiet Star is undoubtedly one of 2008's best progressive releases and it is Farpoint's fourth album. They have been around since 1997, and it shows. Just...  » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Faust / NWW - Disconnected

2007 has seen some interesting musical pairings of young and old. First there was Acid Mothers Temple and Mani Neumeier (Guru Guru) and now we have Faust and Steven Stapleton (Nurse with Wound)...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Flyin' Ryan Brothers - Totality

Here’s a tasty slice of instrumental progressive guitar rock, borne of the idea that lyrics and voices are unnecessary – and in fact only get in the way of the delivery of a strong...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

For Absent Friends - Square One

If you like more rock with your progressive, this is the album for you. Dutch band For Absent Friends’ eighth album is 45 minutes of solidly played (dare I say it?) neo-progressive that is...

 » Read more
(Posted by Pam Thompson 2008-10-01)

Furio Chirico & Friends - Father to Son

This could be almost any album in a lot of respects except one – the drummer is Furio Chirico, and this is his concept album dedicated to Chirico’s son Stravos (who died in 2005). Most...

 » Read more
(Posted by Pam Thompson 2008-10-01)

Gargantua & Cashmere - Kotegarda & Cash Romantic Music Machine

These two surprising releases come to us by way of Poland, both prominently featuring violinist, vocalist and songwriter Tylda Ciołkosz, who is also a member of the more keyboard oriented group...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

George & Caplin - He Really Got through to Advertising

At first I was tempted to look up one of my previous George and Caplin reviews and just recycle a bit, but in all fairness, this CD actually is different than the others. It’s much more...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Golden Death Music - Ephemera Blues

Hmm, Golden Death Music. Not your usual Black Death Music, or any other color, but Golden. There is a certain glow to the sound, and while it’s not exactly morbid, it’s certainly not...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Hamadryad - Live in France 2006

The Crescendo festival from 2006 featured several of today’s best prog bands, including Quebec’s Hamadryad. This album captures Jean François Désilets (bass, vocals),...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Hands - Strangelet

The Texas band Hands has been around in some form or another since the mid-70s, during which time they’ve only managed to produce a handful of albums, all of which are of consistently high...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Healing Force - Music of Albert Ayler

Guitarist Henry Kaiser is heavily steeped in the allure of classic jazz. As proven by his Yo Miles! joint projects with Wadada Leo Smith, Kaiser has been on a mission to find the essence of the...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Hermetic Science - These Fragments I Have Shored against My Ruins

It’s been close to forever since Hermetic Science’s last album of new material. In fact, one listen to this new disc might offer some partial clues as to why it took seven years....

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Hopper Picard Franklin Hayward - Numero d'vol

Hugh Hopper hardly ever misses an opportunity for a group improvisation. Given his time spent with sax player Simon Picard doing Soft Machine tributes and keeping tabs on keyboardist Steve Franklin...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Humi (Hugh Hopper / Yumi Hara Cawkwell) - Dune

Humi is the duo of Hugh Hopper (electric bass, electronics, loops) and Yumi Hara Cawkwell (voice, piano, keyboards, percussion) working in an ambient improvisational avant-garde jazz space. The...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Il Bacio della Medusa - Il Bacio della Medusa & Giovane Amante

Il Bacio della Medusa (Medusa’s Kiss) are relative newcomers on the Italian prog scene, though like many they’ve been smitten by the sound of the early 70s. Their self-produced debut caught the...  » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Lil' Tae Rides Again

Brian Haas and Reed Mathis are back on board with their first new studio recording in two years. This time out the duo has chosen to emphasize the improvisational aspect of collective live jams....

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Jade Warrior - Now

Jade Warrior is one of those musical enigmas that has been nearly impossible to pigeonhole. Founder members Jon Field and vocalist Glyn Havard resurrected the band in 2007 meeting up after a long...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton, Scott Steele 2008-10-01)

Jason Smith - Tipping Point

A tipping point is sometimes defined as the borderline where you’re just under the influence of alcohol or some other (usually illegal) substance. For drummer Jason Smith it serves as a dividing...  » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Jean Pascal Boffo - La Boîte à Musique

On La Boîte à Musique, guitarist Jean Pascal Boffo demonstrates yet again why he’s France’s answer to Steve Hackett. With every album, he reinvents himself into something new and yet...  » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Jérôme Langlois - Live au FMPM 2006 + Themes

Here we have a brand new full ensemble live recording and a piano solo reissue from 1984 together in the same package, on separate discs no less. Langlois was a multi-instrumentalist (mainly sax...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest - Legacy Live at the Shelpherd's Bush Empire 2006

The 2006 resurrection of Woolly Wolstenholme’s Maestoso gestated into a full on BJH reunion tour once guitarist John Lees got on board the rock and roll bandwagon. Picking a representative...  » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

José Luis Fernández Ledesma & Saena - Híbridos & Saena

Every new release by José Luis Fernández Ledesma seems to be like none before it, and his latest solo disc, Híbridos, is no exception. Primarily a solo venture, with...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Józef Skrzek East Wind - Tryptyk Petersburski

Skrzek is forever full of surprises, and this disc containing material hand-picked from three live performances with his East Wind quintet is certainly one of those. Most will probably know Skrzek...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Kaipa - Angling Feelings

What is Roine Stolt doing? First he leaves The Tangent and now he's flown the coop from Kaipa, a band he helped form in 1975. I can only guess he's focusing his efforts on getting Flower...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Karfagen - The Space between Us

Karfagen (means Carthage) is a Ukrainian band that plays an odd mixture of New Age, cabaret, jazz fusion, and TV variety show instrumental music. The Space between Us is their second...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Killick - Bull****

Musically speaking, it’s a big world out there, and there are lots of different instruments that have been developed over the centuries to fill it. But that doesn’t mean there’s...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Klaus Schulze - Revisited Reissues, Part 2 (Plus)

The four latest Klaus Schulze reissues include one from the 70s and three from the new millennium, bringing the total to 34 and closing out the first 21 Schulze albums. As Virtual Outback...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Knight Area - Under a New Sign

Considering this Holland export’s inauspicious debut at NEARfest, I was a bit reluctant to investigate the group’s latest recording – I was underwhelmed with what I perceived as...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Kollektiv - Kollektiv

Kollektiv, an obscure Krautrock band, released their self-titled album in 1973. Three months later they recorded an hour-long session for SWF radio in Baden-Baden. Long Hair released this session...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Larry Kucharz - Blue Drawings and Text

Kucharz' latest work is split between seven softer flowing ambient pieces composed or reworked in 2007, most somewhat reminiscent of the work on some of his earlier 'Electrochoral' and...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Little King - Legacy of Fools

Originally from El Paso, Texas (and at one time based in Seattle), Little King is a power trio formed around singer / songwriter / guitarist Ryan Rosoff. This is the band’s fourth album since...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Lonely China Day - Sorrow

In the midst of all the noise found on the Beijing music scene, where feedback reigns and screaming is preferred to singing, there is one band that stands out from the crowd. Lonely China Day...

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

LSD March - Nikutai no tubomi

“Psychedelic rock group.” Those words can describe a lot of different bands: Strawberry Alarm Clock, Hawkwind, Amon Düül, Pink Floyd, Gong, Iron Butterfly, Ozric Tentacles....

 » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Magenta - Metamorphosis

Magenta have all the right things going for them: talented musicians, good label support, a loyal fan base, and an intelligent approach to surviving as a prog band. They’ve carved out a niche...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Make a Rising - Infinite Ellipse and Head with Open Fontanel

This is one very strange band. And that’s strange in a good way – interesting, unusual, even unique in some respects – something completely new, not more of the same; and after...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Mani Neumeier - Sketches

When you hear the name Mani Neumeier you think of his body of work with Guru Guru and his zaniness in concert. In addition, when you hear that he has released his first solo album,...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Manning - Songs from the Bilston House

Guy Manning’s latest collection of nine semi-autobiographical songs finds the English singer-songwriter consolidating his position among the current crop of Brit prog as this...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Mao Dou + Lu Chen - A Hippo Wildly Grinds Its Teeth Bankside

This elaborate package from the Shanghai underground would be worthy of a stateside release on Beta-lactam Ring. Seems perfect: one-of-a-kind presentation, cryptic artwork, bizarre music (and other...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Marble Sheep - Message from Oarfish

Marble Sheep is a Japanese psychedelic rock band playing wild, ecstatic, hypnotic, psychedelic, and noisy rock who were formed in 1987 by ex-White Heaven guitarist Ken Matsutani, the owner of the...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Might Could - Wood Knot

As a follow-up to their previous disc All Intertwined from a couple years ago, Wood Knot shows a definite growth and maturation for this excellent Maryland based instrumental...

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Mikhail Chekhalin - Poruganie Patsiphika, Paradigm Transition & Untimely

Mikhail Chekalin is a Russian keyboard artist and a composer who has an impressive body of work dating back to the early 80s. He has been called the Russian Klaus Schulze, but these three new...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Mind Furniture - Hoop of Flame

Mind Furniture, a Bay Area band recording their first CD in 2000, is Brett Barnett (keys), Bill Estes (guitars), Paul Harrison (bass), John Mabry (vocals and acoustic guitar), and Greg Miller (drums)....  » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Mirabilis - Sub Rosa

Mirabilis is a project that pairs singers and musicians Dru Allen and Summer Bowman. Each is involved with other projects, This Ascension for Allen and The Machine in the Garden for Bowman, though...

 » Read more
(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Mircan with Limbo - Numinosum

Mircan Kaia belongs to the Mingrelian people, a South Caucasian minority living in northeastern Turkey, in a region bordering Georgia. She is fiercely linked to her roots, but she is not a folk...

 » Read more
(Posted by Alessandro Michelucci 2008-10-01)

Morris Pert - The Music of Stars & Desert Dances

The compositional premise for The Music of Stars is not as rigorous as Cage’s Etudes Australes or as evocative as Ligeti’s Atmosphères. Pert simply...

 » Read more
(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Motis - L'homme-loup & Live Crescendo

Motis is a talented French group who create what might be called medieval progressive rock. They are deeply influenced by the literature and myths of the Knights of the Round Table, the...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Motorpsycho - Little Lucid Moments

This Norwegian trio has been releasing music for nearly two decades now. This writer was a relative latecomer to their work, first introduced via their Phanerothyme and Let Them Eat...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Murat Ses - Umami

Umami is Turkish musician Murat Ses’ seventh solo album. Umami is a Japanese word meaning savory, which this new release is, not too sweet, not too sour, tangy but just...

 » Read more
(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Mushroom with Eddie Gale - Joint Happening

After our feature interview with drummer Pat Thomas in issue #32, all readers should be at least be aware of Bay Area psychedelic jazz-rock improv ensemble Mushroom; trumpeter Eddie Gale is...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Netherworld - Mørketid

For some there seems an inseparable bond between sound and place. For the avant and drone practitioner this tie is usually realized through field recordings and subsequent signal re-coding –...

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(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Nexus - Buenos Aires Free Experience 2

Nexus are a very strong rock quartet with standard guitar / keyboards / bass / drums instrumentation. The idea of the Buenos Aires Free Experience series is to place musicians in an...

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(Posted by Scott Steele 2008-10-01)

Oblivion Sun - Oblivion Sun

About fifteen seconds into the opening cut (or maybe even sooner), the astute listener will be reminded of the great Happy the Man, and for good reason – two of that band’s main...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Oho - Bricolage

Baltimore based Oho doesn’t put out a lot of product, but when they do, they do it right. Their latest offering is a combo CD+DVD covering material recorded over a 24-year period, although...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Onségen Ensemble - HottoïzzoH

They call it a Mini-CD, not because it’s smaller than a normal size CD, but because there is only about 15 minutes of music on it. But it’s among the coolest 15 minutes of 2007 releases...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Ozric Tentacles - Sunrise Festival

In years of late, at least for the studio recordings, Ozrics have been essentially the solo project of de-facto bandleader Ed Wynne (guitars and keys), with other players dropped in here and there on...  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Øresund Space Collective - Black Tomato

The Øresund Space Collective (ØSC), Sweden’s answer to Acid Mothers Temple, offers up a succulent three course culinary feast of improvised space rock on their third studio...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Pallas - Moment to Moment

Many bands who were part of the 80s neo-prog movement are facing the reality that even though their popularity is holding steady and it’s easier than ever to record albums and perform live,...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Panic Room - Visionary Position

Panic Room is a new Welsh group featuring members from Karnataka, Mostly Autumn, and Fish’s band: Paul Davies (guitars), Jonathan Edwards (keys), Anne-Marie Helder (vocals), Gavin John...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Paolo Angeli - Plays Frith & Björk - Tessuti

To paraphrase Shakespeare, there are more musics in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your CD collection. Unless you have one of his previous releases, Paolo Angeli is probably an example of...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Planet X - Quantum

Is there anyone out there who does not know what to expect from a Planet X album? Insanely complex instrumental music that melds metal, prog, and fusion, played with precision that would put to...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Pre-Med - The Truth about Us

Pre-Med is a space rock band that formed in 2004 by Danny Faulkner and Hawkwind’s bassist Alan Davey. The Truth about Us is their second release and it features the talents of Eamon...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Qwaarn - Aberrations

Qwaarn is an extremely odd name for a band, and they provide no further explanation in the package. I think that Qwaarn is supposed to be an alien; and I guess it is his picture on the CD cover....

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Richard Leo Johnson and Gregg Bendian - Who Knew Charlie Shoe?

Guitarist Richard Leo Johnson has again created a mythical context for the material on this latest disc, a story about a young boy who was transfixed by an old guitar-playing hobo at a church...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Robert Rich & Ian Boddy - React

Space is the place for this live set – marking the 30th anniversary of Chuck van Zyl’s Star’s End. Synthesized voices overlap lap steel guitar phrases that sometimes...

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(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Rotor - 3

Rotor is a power trio (drums, bass, and electric guitar) from Berlin who play aggressive hard-hitting instrumental music that is a mixture of Starless era King Crimson and stoner rock....

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

RPWL - The RPWL Experience

RPWL is a German band and even though The RPWL Experience is their fifth studio album, they are new to me. My first impression from hearing the opening song “Silenced” is that...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Rufus Zuphall - Outside the Gates of Eden

Rufus Zuphall is a German band from Aachen that first hit the stage in 1969. They released three albums in the early 70s and then disintegrated. Because of reissuing their albums on CD, there was...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Salle Gaveau - Alloy

A new French band, right? Not exactly, although this Japanese quintet of guitar, piano, violin, accordion and contrabass could give many a European folk-jazz-RIO band a surprisingly good challenge...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Sándor Szabó / Kevin Kastning - Resonance & Parallel Crossings

These are two collections of duos featuring New England based Kevin Kastning and Hungarian born guitarist Sándor Szabó, the latter with a number of previous releases to his credit....

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(Posted by Jon Davis, Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Satellite - Into the Night

Satellite are a Polish band who try to fuse modern rock and production methods with prog of the not so distant past. The songwriting has powerful dynamics and moments of clarity in the melodic...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Setna - Cycle I

It’s good to see some new releases on SZ again, after what seems like a long hiatus. Setna is a French six-piece of drums, bass, soprano sax, two keyboards (Rhodes and Mini-Moog), and female...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Signs of One - Innerlands

Signs of One is yet another industrious band trying to make a name for themselves in a crowded and competitive prog market. Innerlands is their second album, and with it they’ve...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Simon Mayor and the Mandolinquents - Dance of the Comedians

The Mandolinquents are an acoustic, mandolin based (how did you guess?) quartet that’s been playing together off and on for a dozen years or more, and this – documenting one of their...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Soma Planet - Bholenath

Musea does it again! They have found another exciting and superb band worthy of your attention. Soma Planet (Andreu P. Méndez on guitar, keyboards, Theremin, and effects; Marc Prat on bass; Furmi...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Soriah - Ofrendas de Luz a los Muertos

Sometimes music is a journey. Sometimes it’s maybe even more a journey than it is music, as is the case with Soriah’s work. He (I think that’s the appropriate pronoun) is credited...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Space Ritual - Otherworld

Space Ritual is a new band formed from the remnants of Hawkwind. Consisting of Nik Turner (sax, flute, and vocals), Dave Anderson (bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitar, and vocals), Terry Ollis...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Spaced Out - Live at the Crescendo Festival

Typically, the first thing that comes to mind when one hears the name Spaced Out is the superhuman bass playing of Antoine Fafard. Make no mistake, band mates Mark Tremblay (guitar) and Martin...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Spirits Burning & Bridget Wishart - Earth Born

Some may remember Wishart from her brief tenure as a member of Hawkwind in the early 90s (she was featured on the Space Bandits studio album, and the live Palace Springs and...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Steve Hackett - Tribute

During the last decade many British rock musicians either went classic or strengthened their classical roots: examples range from Jon Lord to Roger Waters, from Mike Oldfield to Sting. Steve...

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(Posted by Alessandro Michelucci 2008-10-01)

Steve MacLean - Bridges

The double set covers two decades of work from composer, guitarist, and programmer Steve MacLean. The pieces run a gamut from completely computer-based programmed compositions to a five-piece band,...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Steve Peters - The Webster Cycles

One usually thinks of the trombone in its more typical context as an essential part of a jazz ensemble, filling in the melodic low end parts between blazing trumpets, saxophones, and such. On its...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Steven Freeman and Alan Freeman - The Crack in the Cosmic Egg

Brothers Alan and Steve Freeman have been long time fans of Krautrock etc. as well as record shop owners specializing in this and similar music, and publishers of Audion magazine. This...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Stone Breath - A Silver Thread to Weave the Seasons

Picture if you will that it is harvest time in the heart of Appalachia. Leaves are blowing, acorns are falling, pumpkins are ripening, and all manner of woodland critters are scurrying about. That...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Strawbs - The Broken Hearted Bride

Over the last ten years or so, Strawbs have toured and recorded in various configurations, from a three-piece acoustic trio to a fully amplified five-piece electric band. The Broken Hearted...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Sun Ra - Disco 3000 - Complete Milan Concert 1978

Most of the Sun Ra I’ve heard before (and I’m far from an expert on his extensive catalog) was in large ensemble settings. Here we get an Italian quartet gig from 23 January, 1978, featuring the...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

The Frankenstein Consort - Classical A-Go-Go

That’s "The Frankenstein Consort featuring Erik Lindgren." That’s the Erik Lindgren of Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. That’s “Invigorating Musical Novelties for Woodwinds, Piano, and...  » Read more
(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

The Gourishankar - 2nd Hands

In 2002, Russian guitarist Nomy Agranson and keyboardist Doran Usher formed The Gourishankar, a Russian neo-prog band that now also includes vocalist Vlad MJ Whiener and drummer Cat Heady. 2nd...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

The Neil Campbell Collective - Particle Theory

Neil Campbell is a talented composer, virtuoso classical guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist (acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, synths, glockenspiel, and harmonic vocals). Particle...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

The Wrong Object - Platform One & Stories from the Shed

Platform One from last year is properly credited to The Wrong Object featuring Annie Whitehead and Harry Beckett, British jazz trombonist and trumpeter respectively, continuing this...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Thork - Nula Jedan

Hmmm… programmed drums transmitting from another planet, ghostly atmospherics, trance-y scraps of electronica, crunchy guitars… do I detect the hand of Porcupine Tree? Germany has...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Through a Glass - Tragedy vs Comedy

Through a Glass are a young (as in still in high school when this was recorded), Tennessee-based rock band. That’s rock as in two guitars, bass, drums, vocals, and lots and lots of youthful...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Time's Forgotten - A Relative Moment of Peace

Time’s Forgotten is a new progressive band from San Jose, Costa Rica. Formed in 2004, the band consists of Juan Pablo Calvo (keyboards, samples, background vocals, programming), Jorge Sobrado...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Tom Heasley & Toss Panos - Passages

For those who admire purely timbral musics, Tom Heasley and Toss Panos have put together more than an hour of inventive, often original work based wholly on the tuba and percussion. Original because...  » Read more
(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Tony Harn - Loops

Ever since his 1998 debut, From the Inside, English guitarist Tony Harn has demonstrated a keen knack for creating densely layered instrumentals revolving around his harmonically nuanced...

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(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-10-01)

Tor Lundvall - The Seasons Unfold Sampler

Lundvall seems stubbornly drawn to subject matter already covered. His 2006 Empty City drew context and settings from a topic covered by composers as disparate as Aaron Copland and Henry...

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(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-10-01)

Trank Zappa Grappa in Varese? - More Light

TZGIV is a band led by Swiss saxophonist Markus Strauss; the band’s name stands for “Trank Zappa Grappa in Varese?” so one might take a wild guess at who one of their chief...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Turn to Fall - For the Fairest

Turn to Fall is a Seattle-based band that falls into the same general category of contemporary alternative prog that houses The Mars Volta (though less frenetic), Coheed and Cambria (less emo and...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Ulkomaalaiset - 1 & 2

How do you celebrate Easter in rural Finland, especially when you are a foreigner? All the shops are closed and the locals are home spending time with their families. It so happened that three...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Unitopia - More Than a Dream

More Than a Dream is probably the best of the recent Unicorn Digital releases, and that is saying a lot! Unitopia hails from Down Under and they independently released More Than a...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Various Artists - Psychedelic Phinland: Finnish Hippie & Underground Music 1967-1974

This archival collection presents the music of 24 Finnish bands, most unknown to Western ears. Disc One contains 19 psychedelic/progressive rock songs and Disc Two contains ten experimental/avant...

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(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-10-01)

Volcano the Bear - Amidst the Noise and Twigs

In #34, I likened Volcano the Bear’s previous outing, Classic Erasmus...

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(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-10-01)

Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet - Tabligh

Wadada Leo Smith is known to many fans as the joint leader of the Yo Miles! projects that spawned a new audience for heavy groove inflected fusion. Tabligh is a cousin of that...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton, Scott Steele 2008-10-01)

Wayne Horvitz - A Walk in the Dark & Once Dance Alone

One of Seattle’s finest composers, Wayne Horvitz, has crafted a new ensemble album for his main quartet. Horvitz’ signature technique translates into imploring melodic constructs within...

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(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-10-01)

Willowglass - Book of Hours

Perhaps I’m just overly influenced by the artwork in the booklet, but it truly does seem like this music conjures up imagery of scenic rural England in times long gone by – green grass,...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)

Xinema - Basic Communication

Xinema is a three-piece group from Sweden; the members originally played in a band called Madrigal in the mid-80s (not to be confused with the current band of the same name). Basic...

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(Posted by Pam Thompson 2008-10-01)

Zed - You Are Here

Not to be confused with Bernard Szajner’s dark and ominous band Zed from the late 70s, this Colorado based jazz-rock quartet has a positive outlook and a bright, colorful collection of styles...

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(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-10-01)