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Polska Radio One, Russia

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Polska Radio One - Cosmos Inside. 2014 Trail Records (USA CD); 2014 Clostridium (Germany LP)
Polska Radio One - Cold Sun. 2016 Opium Eyes (CD)

----Cosmos Inside

Polska Radio One are a fantastic new band from Yekaterinburg, in Central Russia, relatively not far from Kazakhstan. Though thousands of miles away, Polska Radio One clearly have their musical hearts tuned into the late 80s and early 90s UK scene - specifically the Festival Psych and Neo-Psych sounds of the era. Exactly, more at the point where modern bands were emulating the cosmic psychedelic sounds of Pink Floyd and their 60s brethren, rather than the actual 60s sound itself. That is - the concentrate version! And perhaps we're all the better for the focus applied.

At the start I was reminded of Soma, then Sun Dial at their most psychedelic (Other Way Out), and onto the most trippy post festival sounds of the Ship of Fools. Wonderful echoplex'd guitar, ancient organ, phased vocals, and just a general otherworldly atmosphere that is at once disorienting and yet exhilarating. Another great new band on the best space rock specialist label today: Trail Records of New York City.

Last update: August 29, 2016
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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)
Kenso - Fabulis Mirabilibus De Bombycosi Scriptis. 2002 Nexus (CD); 2002 Vinyl Magic (Italy CD)
Kenso - Utsuroi Yuku Mono. 2006 King (CD)
Kenso - Uchi Naru Koe Ni Kaikiseyo. 2014 King (CD)

There are many other live and archival releases from the band, though I only own Ken-Son-Gu-Su. All the other entries above represent their studio albums. There's also a 14 CD box set on King that contains all their studio albums through 2012, as well as a handful of live recordings.

For a band with so many recordings, an…
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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.

The 1970's Italian progressive rock greats are regarded as such because of their innate ability to compile and distill the influences of their day. Namely classical, jazz, rock, indigenous folk, avant-garde, and canto. And a big old scoop of youthful exuberance. Considering this, Egonon are true to the philosophy of their ancestors. Rather than recreate the sounds of the 70s, as many Italian bands are doing today (and wonderfully so I might add), Egonon are assimilating their own influences. In their case, the list might look like: Heavy Metal, Alt-Rock, World Music, funk, and... everything that was also included in the 1970s Italian progressive rock scene, including the end result of said scene, which they clearly respect and pay homage to. It may be a restaurant with too many ite…
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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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Perhaps no band arrived with such an in-your-face sound as Happy Family did in 1995. Their fabled live shows were popular amongst the tape trading crowd of the early 1990s. So there was quite a bit of buzz on what their first CD would sound like. The band insisted their albums come out on the preeminent Avant Prog label Cuneiform, and were willing to wait until that label had room on their release schedule. By 1995, anticipation was high, and Happy Family not only delivered, but exceeded, most everyone's expectation.

Consider the first track 'Rock & Young'. Hard to imagine anyone delivering such a strong overpowering opening punch as Happy Family did here. If this track doesn't move your heart rate up a few beats, you're probably dead already, and no one told you (did Aunt Sally for…
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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)
Kotebel - Fragments of Light. 2003 Musea (France)
Kotebel - Omphalos. 2006 Musea (France)
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Kotebel was formed by Venezuelan keyboardist Carlos Plaza in 1999, and 13 years and 6 albums later, could be considered the premier symphonic progressive rock group from Spain. And one of the top groups for all of Europe.

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"Omphalos" is the album that catapulted Kotebel into a more formidable full band progressive rock operation. The additi…
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Ayahuasca Dark Trip, Peru

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

Ayahuasca Dark Trip are a psychedelic ambient band from Peru that use guitars and soft vocals to achieve a hypnotic affect. Dark and mesmerizing, the group lull you into the site of Machu Picchu ever so slowly. Just when you think it's safe to close your eyes, a pulverizing blast of metal comes plowing through the speakers to pummel you into submission. Ayahuasca Dark Trip are an amazingly patient band, who have tapped into an ancient ritual - deep in the recesses of your mind.

The album was originally released as a download. However, my first exposure came via the newly released LP pressed by an excellent new label from Greece called Cosmic Eye, that I think we're going to hear a lot from in the coming months and years.

You can purchase these albums here
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Purson, England

News: Well... It appears Purson has broken up. One band member (George Hudson) has now hooked up with a new project called Flare Voyant. OK, let's see where all this goes. Bummer though, as Purson had enormous potential. Perhaps a reformation will happen. 

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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.

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Atomic Simao, Ukraine

News: Hot off the press, Cosmic Eye of Greece have just announced they will be releasing the latest album from Atomic Simao on vinyl. Release date set for April 4th. Label says: ""Echo" is the second album from Kiev's ATOMIC SIMAO and we're privileged to issue it on vinyl, as a follow-up to their successful first LP "Nōdo" of two years ago.

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Architrave Indipendente, Italy

News: It appears the band is no more, and they have no active internet presence as of January 2, 2017.

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.

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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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