UMR notes
One of These Days & Thee Heavy Random Tone Colour Lab, Spain
File One of These Days into the camp that believes music had no reason to go past 1975. You won't get much of an argument from me on that front. The all-analog instrumentation, composition style, and vinyl-only release - in a gatefold cover with lyrics and recording details of course - all point to 1971. Nektar's Journey to the Centre of the Eye or Pink Floyd's 'Atom Heart Mother' suite will certainly set your expectations correctly. The latter right down to the use of a Euphonium. Other modern day (lol) instrument call-outs include Farfisa Compact Duo, Vox Continental, Hammond Porta B, Minimoog D, fuzz bass, theremin, hurdy-gurdy... oh you get the idea. There is only one track, broken into 4 movements, split evenly across both sides of the vinyl with sub titles such as 'Nexus 2CBeautiful Things (including "Gurls & Chloroform")'. Peter Sinfield will be happy to know his legacy is secured. All the right ingredients are in play, and this is clearly a band with their atom heart in the right place. So it's perfect then? Well, no, but it's a great debut. I think the band could work more on the compositions themselves, and perhaps not rely solely on the same music that was created with these instruments 40 years ago. The beauty of the original early 70s movement is that it was way too short of a time frame to fully explore all the possibilities. And while numerous bands of the last 25 years have tried, there are still millions of possibilities. Especially when you load your studio up with only pre-1976 gear. In fact the biggest surprise came from the sequencer use on the 'Nexus...' track mentioned above - that seemed plucked more from Tangerine Dream's Phaedra rather than Dark Side of the Moon. It provided an excellent contrast to the full band performance and psychedelic guitar soloing. I think it's something Edgar Froese would have enjoyed (back then anyway).
So, in the end, we have a very exciting development. Let's see if they do more with the concept!
12/19/13 (new entry)
Willowglass, England ***Inactive***
Retro prog
Latest: The Dream Harbour (2013)
Marshall appears to be still stirring about teasing us with new material, but nothing has surfaced in over a decade.
The Dream Harbour (2013)
As a reviewer myself, I tend to read dozens of reviews. It can be wearisome to see the same tired critiques by those who think they have something novel to say - when in fact it's the same old blather. Generally these reviews are from newbies who digest 30 albums a day via illegal download and spit out whatever is in their addled brain. They have no context or sense of history. Just bla blabla blabla. Sometimes you can tell they aren't even reviewing the correct album, but something else - probably a mislabled download or one too many bong hits. So with that in mind, I had a bit of fun with the below review, as The Dream Harbour is just the type of album that is ripe for getting picked on.
Willowglass continue to improve with each release. Now a full three piece, Willowglass is beginning to come together as a full unit rather than just a solo effort with a drummer in tow. If progressive rock is a regular part of your diet, then Willowglass are your IHOP. Good ole eggs (mellotron, organ), bacon (flute, violin), and pancakes (guitar) with syrup (soaring guitar)... and coffee (odd time signatures) is what is served at The Willowglass Cafe. Sure, you've had bacon, eggs, pancakes, and coffee a million times before. But when it's all cooked right, you walk out happy and smiling. Willowglass does that for you.
Oh, you wanted scallops with parsnip puree, l'orange spinach, and a balsamic vinegar reduction? Oh that would be the restaurant to our left called the Avant-Garde Noise Cafe!
For the first reviewer that comes here and says this has "all been done before, therefore don't waste your time" you get a gold star!
TWO stars if you look just like a Starbucks' Barista!
And THREE stars if you look like a Starbucks' Barista but have never actually had a job before!
Willowglass continue to improve with each release. Now a full three piece, Willowglass is beginning to come together as a full unit rather than just a solo effort with a drummer in tow. If progressive rock is a regular part of your diet, then Willowglass are your IHOP. Good ole eggs (mellotron, organ), bacon (flute, violin), and pancakes (guitar) with syrup (soaring guitar)... and coffee (odd time signatures) is what is served at The Willowglass Cafe. Sure, you've had bacon, eggs, pancakes, and coffee a million times before. But when it's all cooked right, you walk out happy and smiling. Willowglass does that for you.
Oh, you wanted scallops with parsnip puree, l'orange spinach, and a balsamic vinegar reduction? Oh that would be the restaurant to our left called the Avant-Garde Noise Cafe!
For the first reviewer that comes here and says this has "all been done before, therefore don't waste your time" you get a gold star!
TWO stars if you look just like a Starbucks' Barista!
And THREE stars if you look like a Starbucks' Barista but have never actually had a job before!
---9/3/13
Book of Hours (2008)
What do you do with a guy who is enamored with the European Medieval past of stained glass windows, Celtic crosses, and towered villages - and who has an obsession with 1970-1973 era Genesis? Someone who distills those ideas, reshapes it in his own image, and then pushes back out to the wilds for all to critique. It's easy to pan such an effort, but when it is done this well and with this kind of passion, one really does have to admire the final product. If early Genesis is your thing, and you're OK with no vocals being present in such a setting, then it's highly likely you will enjoy, or at the very least appreciate, Andrew Marshall's Willowglass.
---6/27/13
9/3/13 (new entry)
Temple of the Smoke, Serbia
Location: Belgrade
Overview: Temple of the Smoke are a psychedelic spacerock band who mix stoner metal motifs with that of progressive electronic music.Very unique and satisfying.
UMR notes
Setna, France ***Disbanded***
Latest album: Guérison (2013)
Guérison (2013)
For my tastes, I feel Guérison is a definite improvement on their debut, though the band still needs to take off the leash a bit. The introduction of Ratledge-styled organ, and fuzz bass, gives the band a cool Canterbury edge. Setna are definitely more of a Zeuhl band now rather than an atmospheric jazz ensemble with Magma trimmings. But they still seem to lay back all too much. Sure would like to see Setna go all-in like Corima or Koenji Hyakkei - at least on occasion. All that emotional build up needs an epic climax... a release of anger.
---5/8/13
Cycle 1 (2007)
If Zeuhl is the genre tag that must be applied, then it's Zeuhl in the same way Offering is rather than Magma. Cycle I is primarily an atmospheric jazz release with soft chanting female vocals. Electric piano, synthesizer, and saxophone are the other primary instruments of choice. Those coming to this looking for ripping Paganotti/Top-styled bass and insane martial Vander-like drumming, will surely come away disappointed. Certainly Setna sit towards the Magma side of Offering (especially as the disc spins on, and the last track features some fine Mahavishnu styled guitar from guest James McGaw), but still the metaphor holds. Ambient jazz Zeuhl.
---5/18/13
5/21/13 (new entry)
Mantric Muse, Denmark
Location: Copenhagen
Overview: Mantric Muse are bread and butter Hillage-era Gong styled progressive rock. For fans of early Ozric Tentacles and Quantum Fantay.
UMR notes
Walrus, Sweden
Overview: Walrus mixes retro progressive with classic Krautrock sounds.
UMR notes
Kama Loka, Sweden
Location: Stockholm
Overview: Kama Loka brings back the classic psychedelic progressive rock of early 1970s Sweden.
UMR notes
Kharmina Buranna, Peru
Location: Lima?
Overview: Though from Peru, Kharmina Buranna remind me quite a bit of the 1970s Argentine progressive rock scene. They squarely fit the "retro prog" category and play a direct mix of early 70s styled blues rock mixed with classic era Yes, and a dose of 70s Italian progressive rock.
UMR notes
Montibus Communitas, Peru
Overview: Though a 6 piece ensemble, who play a myriad of acoustic and electric instruments, the band seem more like a free folk collective than a rock band per se. Montibus Communitas' music is about cycles, trances, and meditation. Deeply ritualistic.
UMR notes
Psycho Praxis, Italy
Location: Brescia (east of Milan)
Overview: Psycho Praxis are a retro prog Italian band heavily influenced by the early 1970s UK scene.
UMR notes
My Brother the Wind, Sweden
Location: Stockholm and Gothenburg
Overview: Formed by guitarists Mathias Danielson (Gösta Berlings Saga, Makajodama) and Nicklas Barker (Anekdoten), My Brother the Wind (named after an obscure Sun Ra album from 1970) exists as the musician's vehicle for improvised space rock.
UMR notes
Ornithos, Italy
Location: Umbria
Overview: Ornithos are a sextet that is culled from the excellent ensemble Il Bacio delle Medusa. Like many new progressive bands from Italy, Ornithos looks back to the classic 1973 era for inspiration.
UMR notes
Sithonia, Italy ***Inactive***
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La Soluzione Semplice (2011)
La Soluzione Semplice (2011)
It's a rare case indeed when a band that possesses a full 6 piece membership reforms after 13 years with all attendees still accounted for and present. Perhaps even more surprising is that it sounds like Sithonia picked right up where Confine left off, especially from a compositional standpoint. And, best of all, this time the band showed up with some old-fashioned analog gear, allowing Sithonia to showcase their immense songwriting talents with the proper (or preferred I should say) instrumentation. So I had asked the question in my Spettacolo Annullato review what that album would've sounded like with a less tinny and digital sound. And we get our partial answer here. It's different material, but the style is similar, and thus I think we know that the album in question would benefit with the addition of organ and mellotron, as presented here. Not to mention the fatter production.
All the trademark sounds of Sithonia are present: Great songwriting, an impassioned vocal performance (appropriately done in Italian), and excellent instrumental work which also now benefits from a larger palette of sounds to choose from.
In short, La Soluzione Semplice is Sithonia's best album to date. Quite a remarkable achievement for a band that was gathering mothballs for over a decade. Let's hope they continue this reunion with another effort!
All the trademark sounds of Sithonia are present: Great songwriting, an impassioned vocal performance (appropriately done in Italian), and excellent instrumental work which also now benefits from a larger palette of sounds to choose from.
In short, La Soluzione Semplice is Sithonia's best album to date. Quite a remarkable achievement for a band that was gathering mothballs for over a decade. Let's hope they continue this reunion with another effort!
---1/2/13
Confine (1995)
On the Spettacolo Annullato review, I mentioned that it would be interesting to hear that album with a more modern (and analog) recording. In some ways Confine is that album. Not quite what I would expect from a band today, but at least this effort from 1995 has more heft than its predecessor. Especially surrounding the guitar sound, which when in riffing mode, at least gives off a whiff of true heavy metal. Make no mistake, Sithonia aren't a progressive metal band, but at least if they're going to use a heavier tone, give it a little muscle - and they did. The keyboards are still digital, but are somehow mixed a little further back and the sound is a bit better as a result. On the down side, I don't think Giovannini's vocal performance is as inspired as on Spettacolo Annullato, and the compositions aren't as memorable or as deep. Perhaps they're letting the production be the star, like we see in the movie industry (who needs plot when we have special effects). However, there is no question they manage to capture the spirit of the best themes from their past. On the whole, Confine is a very good album.
---10/12/11
Spettacolo Annullato (1992)
Spettacolo Annullato is Sithonia's sophomore effort and is a huge leap in quality from their good-not-great debut.
In some ways, the band succeeds despite itself. The guitarist plays in that annoying pseudo-metal riffing style, stopping just short of actually being balls-out metal (which would be far more preferable actually), with plenty of pig squeal guitar leads to send everyone racing from the room covering their ears. Worse are the digital keyboards, a set of plastic wonders that A Flock of Seagulls most assuredly would enjoy playing.
With that bit of grime out of the way, let's focus on why the album works. Primarily it's the compositions themselves, which are incredibly well thought-out while constantly on the move, in that classic early 1970's Italian style. There is quite a bit of thematic development as driven by the fantastic acoustic piano work, and the melodies are in your mind long after the music has stopped. With the right editing, and other factors, some of these songs could have been major label radio hits. But perhaps best of all is new vocalist Marco Giovannini's performance. What an outstanding impassioned display he gives here - some of the finest from the Italian progressive rock scene.
I rarely vote for re-recordings, but I would love to hear Sithonia record this album with a instrument setup of all analog gear and perhaps a bit more crispness during the recording. It should prove to be a masterpiece.
In some ways, the band succeeds despite itself. The guitarist plays in that annoying pseudo-metal riffing style, stopping just short of actually being balls-out metal (which would be far more preferable actually), with plenty of pig squeal guitar leads to send everyone racing from the room covering their ears. Worse are the digital keyboards, a set of plastic wonders that A Flock of Seagulls most assuredly would enjoy playing.
With that bit of grime out of the way, let's focus on why the album works. Primarily it's the compositions themselves, which are incredibly well thought-out while constantly on the move, in that classic early 1970's Italian style. There is quite a bit of thematic development as driven by the fantastic acoustic piano work, and the melodies are in your mind long after the music has stopped. With the right editing, and other factors, some of these songs could have been major label radio hits. But perhaps best of all is new vocalist Marco Giovannini's performance. What an outstanding impassioned display he gives here - some of the finest from the Italian progressive rock scene.
I rarely vote for re-recordings, but I would love to hear Sithonia record this album with a instrument setup of all analog gear and perhaps a bit more crispness during the recording. It should prove to be a masterpiece.
---10/9/11
Other albums heard: Lungo il Sentiero di Pietra (1989); Hotel Brun (1998)
1/2/13 (new entry)
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