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Quarks, Chile

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Quarks - Elemental. 2013 Mylodon

Quarks are an electronic trio from Chile, with most of the instrumentalists having a progressive rock background (namely SETI, Subterra, Caamora, and Taurus). On "Elements", they pay homage to classic Tangerine Dream. Here, we have two keyboardists and a third on electric guitar just like Froese and company. I was hoping for a mid 1970's Virgin era Mellotron and  Moog Sequencer romp with psychedelic leads, but rather Quarks decided to feature electronic percussion and a decidedly more modern era keyboard sound. So it's like discovering a lost 1982 era Tangerine Dream recording instead. Certainly one can do worse than that, so most assuredly fans of the early 80s TD albums will find much to celebrate here ("Pergamon" anyone?). I do think it's all quite good, though it does seem it's been done before. But I'm all for an excellent reproduction. Quarks does a fine job at that. And with 3 protagonists, it does avoid the monolithic nature of the multitude of solo acts in this field today.

I'd be curious if the band takes this concept further, and makes full advantage of utilizing the electric guitar within an electronic music setting.  Similar to Radio Massacre International or early Redshift perhaps.

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Kenso, Japan

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No new updates from Kenso since 2015.

Kenso - s/t. 1980 Pam (LP); 1995 Arcangelo (CD)
Kenso - II. 1982 Pam (LP); 1993 King (CD); 2002 Pathograph (CD papersleeve)
Kenso - s/t (aka III). 1985 Nexus (LP; CD); 2011 King (CD papersleeve)
Kenso - Sparta. 1989 Crime (CD); 2009 Pathograph as Sparta Naked (CD)
Kenso - Yume No Oka. 1991 King; 2011 Pathograph (CD papersleeve)
Kenso - Esoptron. 1999 King (CD); 1999 Musea (France CD)
Kenso - Ken-Son-Gu-Su. 2000 Pathograph (CD)
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Kenso - Utsuroi Yuku Mono. 2006 King (CD)
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Egonon, Italy

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Egonon - Risveglio. 2011 private

Here's one courtesy of our Gnosis friend Eddie - the same gentleman that brought us all those wonderful Romanian albums earlier in the year.

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Happy Family, Japan

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Happy Family - s/t. 1995 Cuneiform (USA)
Happy Family - Toscco. 1997 Cuneiform (USA); 1997 Arcangelo
Happy Family - Minimal Gods. 2014 Cuneiform (USA)

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It – Order Through Chaos. 1994 USA

It – Order Through Chaos. 1994 Mellow (Italy)

It's sole album is exactly what I had in mind when I created this blog. There was about 10 minutes of buzz on this in 1994, and none since. But "Order Through Chaos" is a pretty good American progressive rock effort, and one that you might want to seek out before it's gone. I see Greg Walker still has the album in his catalog, which surprised me.

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Kotebel, Spain

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Kotebel - Structures. 1999 Tritono
Kotebel - Mysticae Visiones. 2001 Musea (France)
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Ayahuasca Dark Trip, Peru

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Ayahuasca Dark Trip - Mind Journey. 2010 private; 2012 Cosmic Eye (Greece) LP

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You can purchase these albums here
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Purson, England

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Location: Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Overview: The Circle & The Blue Door was an homage to 1971 England, whereas Desire's Magic Theatre seemed more geared toward 1969. They're going in the wrong direction for my tastes, but still intriguing enough to leave as an A-lister.

Reviews (click on album covers)


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Atomic Simao, Ukraine

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Architrave Indipendente, Italy

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Inactive
Location: Rutigliano, Puglia

Overview: Of all the retro Italian prog bands in existence today, perhaps Architrave Indipendente are the most accomplished - or at least the most authentic. Great care and research has gone into the creation of their debut album.

Reviews (click on album covers)
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The Morrigan, England

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The Morrigan - Spirit of the Soup. 1984 private (LP); 1999 English Garden (CD)
The Morrigan - Rides Out. 1990 private (LP); 1997 English Garden (CD)
The Morrigan - Wreckers. 1996 English Garden
The Morrigan - Masque. 1998 English Garden
The Morrigan - Hidden Agenda. 2002 English Garden

I haven't heard the debut, so we start with "Rides Out"...

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