Under the Radar Music

October 24, 2025

Under the Dome ~ Scotland

Berlin School electronic

Latest: Almagest (2020)

Not too much happening with Under the Dome, but they are still fiddling around out there with a new single from 2025. Reopening this page from many years ago.

UMR review page for Under the Dome

8/20/12 (new entry)

October 19, 2025

Sammal ~ Finland

Retro prog

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Aika Laulaa (2022)

The group is active and it appears they are working on a 5th album, with no timetable set.

UMR review page for Sammal

8/15/16 (new entry)

October 18, 2025

Level Pi ~ Germany

Berlin School Electronic

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Elektronische Klänge (2025)

UMR review page for Level Pi

7/23/15 (new entry)

October 1, 2025

Dawn ~ Switzerland

Progressive rock

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Case a Chocs 2014 (2024). Live album.

As of July, they are still working on their third album.

---8/12/24

They are still promising to release their third "old school prog" album sometime soon.

UMR review page for Dawn

10/31/23 (new entry)

Free System Projekt ~ Netherlands

Berlin School electronic

Website

Bandcamp

Latest: Archives Volume 2 (2025)

It doesn't appear that FSP are active anymore, but they are in the process of emptying the vaults. I'm sure there's plenty of great music in these archives. Apparently there will be a 3rd archival release by year end.

UMR review page for Free System Projekt

Passenger 4 (2004) w/Dweller at the Threshold

Probably the least inventive of the FSP albums. Not only is it influenced by Rubycon, it's almost a cover version of the album. Which doesn't make it a bad effort. But given how many albums I already own in the style, including by Tangerine Dream themselves, this album comes off as "too much of the same thing.". Gotta go, Joe.

---2/19/24

Pointless Reminder (1999)

Of all the current bands playing in the retro Berlin School of sequencer based electronic music, Dutch ensemble Free System Projekt may be the closest in imitating the original pioneers. Especially the Tangerine Dream variant circa 1976 to 1977. For some, Free System Projekt are no doubt likely to irk purists, and state they are nothing more than plagiarists. But I don't feel that way strangely enough. The style of music that TD laid down 35 years ago is open in nature, one that can be explored in a variety of different ways. I've heard most of FSP's official releases (including collaborations), and I'd probably rate this first album as their best. But they're all very good.

---2008

7/20/11 (new entry)

September 29, 2025

Minimum Vital ~ France

Progressive rock

Latest: Bloodliners (2025)

Here's a band I had no idea was still around. They don't maintain a traditional social media presence. So how did anyone know they had a new album? Disk Union's updates. Here's what they say about the new album, translated by Google: "Japan's leading progressive rock band, Bikyoran, has finally completed their new album, "Bloodliners"! This album approaches modern and alternative sounds, while maintaining the sharp, thrilling sound and incredible performance ability that make Bikyoran Bikyoran, reminiscent of King Crimson's "Sun and Terror" period!"

I'm going to guess that "Sun and Terror" period is Larks Tongues in Aspic to Red, which is what all Bi Kyo Ran albums are patterned after. I didn't know that Bi Kyo Ran meant Beauty Madness until now either.

UMR review page for Bi Kyo Ran

9/10/25 (new entry)