Under the Radar Music: Canterbury style

Latest: Todos los Animales son Iguales (2024). Best I can tell it's only available on LP and only 100 exist. No CD or Digital. Seems like a lot of work for 100 people (if that)? Oh well, I'm sure it will eventually turn up.

Second Split (2016)

Amoeba Split are a band from Galicia, in the far northwest of Spain, who play a decidedly UK form of progressive rock: That of the Canterbury movement. Second Split is appropriately enough the band's sophomore effort. It's been 6 years since their debut, and they're now missing one key component - the female voice of Maria Toro. And with that, the late Canterbury sounds of National Health have fled the scene. No matter, as the all instrumental Amoeba Split have stayed the course, and have arguably released an even better album, demonstrating their experience over style. Opener 'Clockwise' is a clear homage to Soft Machine's Third, at that perfect point in 1970 where psychedelic, progressive rock, and jazz meet. Further in the album, 'Backwards all the Time' is once again a tribute to Soft Machine, this time emulating their 1971 sound, and thus tilts more towards the jazz side of the equation. 'Those Fading Hours' blends Canterbury with David Cross like violin, that gives an odd King Crimson vibe, which is unique and very satisfying. 'About Life, Memories and Yesteryears' once again marries Canterbury sounds with something unusual - this time symphonic progressive rock. Perhaps even a trace of Genesis can be heard. But the best for me was 'Sundial Tick' where the band finally demonstrates a bit of their native heritage, though further east towards Catalonia. And hear they blend their trademark sound with that of the classic Gotic album, and is truly splendid. Overall, a fantastic second album, and hopefully we hear from the band more frequently than every six years.

---8/12/16

Dance of the Goodbyes (2010)

Amoeba Split are one of two current Spanish bands (that I'm aware of anyway) playing in the Canterbury styled jazz rock space. The other is the more known Planeta Imaginario. Of the two, I'd say Amoeba Split are the more purest when referring to the classic bands of Soft Machine and National Health. The instrumentation is right out of the 70's: Hammond organ,piano, Mellotron, Mini-Moog, flute, sax, guitar, bass and drums. The major differentiator here is the female vocals, which are admittedly a bit shrill. Her slightly accented delivery is a bit odd, but I have a feeling that will add to the charm on repeated listens. She's really not that far from some of the early 70's shrieks of Sandrose and Joy Unlimited. But it is unusual in this setting, where we're used to the soft affected tones of The Northettes. Amoeba Split score well on both of the style's major attributes - melody and complexity. A no-brainer pickup for fans of the 1970's UK Canterbury scene.

---4/24/11

4/24/11 (new entry)

September 1, 2024

Zopp, England

Canterbury; Retro prog

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Latest: Live at Danfest (2024). To be released Oct 4.

Zopp (2020)

Just like yesterday's La Maschera di Cera, Zopp are a band designed specifically for a progressive rock sound of the 1970s past. In this case it's the music of Canterbury - and even more to the point, National Health. It's a two piece group lead by Ryan Stevenson, who plays every instrument under the sun, including a host of analog keyboards (or simulations thereof), fuzz bass, and lead electric guitar. Essentially Stevenson is Zopp. Joining him in this endeavor is drummer Andrea Moneta, who does a fine job of maintaining the polyrhythms expected of the genre. In this way Ryan Stevenson is emulating another Englishman, a one Andrew Marshall, he of Willowglass fame. Marshall is all about Anthony Phillips era Genesis in the same manner that Stevenson is all about National Health. A bit obsessive, but very welcome to these ears anyway. In addition to the two piece, Stevenson recruited no less than 4 others to join him, most notably Andy Tillison of The Tangent and others. The album has a full sound, what you would expect from a much larger ensemble. All the great qualities of Canterbury are present including the wedgy analog sounds, the insouciant melodies, and the complexity of composition. For what Zopp set out to accomplish, they nailed it! I seem to never tire of the Canterbury genre, as it's a timeless and beautiful sound. It doesn't seem fair that we only got two studio National Health albums (not counting DS Al Coda or archival material of course). I mean if precisely one million bands and artists can copy the same old American Idol fare, it's not too much to ask for some small Canterbury portions is it? Zopp fits most comfortably with contemporary Italian and Spanish artists such as Moogg, Homunculus Res, and Planeta Imaginario. Easy recommendation for genre fans.

---1/26/21

6/16/23 (new entry)

August 2, 2024

Planeta Imaginario, Spain

Canterbury style; jazz rock

To the best of my knowledge, Planeta Imaginario does not have an internet presence. You can find samples via the labels and other sources.

Latest: Planeta Imaginario IV (2024). This according to Wayside. Cuneiform was their last label, so it's possible it will be released by them.

Biomasa (2008)

This is an album I've gone back and forth on, but I'm firmly in the pro camp now. For their debut I wrote that they sound every bit like a second generation Canterbury band from the late 1970s. That observation is where the breakdown occurs on Biomasa. This really isn't a Canterbury album. Gone are those warm melodies and insouciant touches. In its place is a more cerebral jazz rock, more dissonant but creative. It is interesting that if you put on a prog rock hat and listen to an album that is jazz, it doesn't sound so great. Switch to a jazz hat, and a different perspective reveals itself. The hype strip doesn't help much either, also indicating an "attractive Mediterranean sound" while listing National Health as but one Canterbury reference. Naw, none of that here. It's much more "rock jazz" if that makes sense. Favorite track is 'La Caja Negra'. An excellent album that takes multiple spins to penetrate.

---4/8/23

¿Qué Me Dices? (2004)

Out of nowhere in 2004, arrived Planeta Imaginario, a band who seemed to not be aware of the last 25 years of music before entering the studio. Lucky us. Sounding every bit like a second generation Canterbury band from the late 1970s, Planeta Imaginario absorbed and filtered the best parts out of Soft Machine and Nucleus. The 8 piece band - including 2 sax players, trumpet, trombone, Hammond Organ, Rhodes electric piano and the usual rock band plus guests on flute and percussion - created a most beautiful album from a most beautiful form of melodic jazz rock (Canterbury). And the amplified guitar recalls the greats from the 70s past. I also love the horn charts, well composed and played. It's hard not to think of National Health while listening to this fine debut. Spain had no Canterbury tradition prior to this album, and Planeta Imaginario more or less imported it for the first time (and followed also later by the great Amoeba Split). A superb album, that still sadly appears to be off everyone's radar. Let's see if we can get it a bit of recognition anyway. The band later signed to the prominent Cuneiform label where presumably more fans migrated their way.

---1/4/16

Other albums heard: Optical Delusions (2011)

8/8/16 (new entry)

March 31, 2024

Aquaserge, France

Avant prog; Canterbury styled; Space rock

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Latest: La Fin de L'Economie' (2024).

Ce Très Cher Serge, Spécial Origines (2010)

Aquaserge reminds me of a time when the French reigned supreme in the creativity department. Think back to the early 1980s, when France was bursting at the seams with interesting bands like Dun, Catastrophe, Eskaton, Asia Minor, Abus Dangereux, Rahmann, Nuance, Art Zoyd, Synopsis, and many more. Aquaserge combines Canterbury, space rock, and general wackiness to create a fun filled progressive extravaganza. To me, these qualities all add up to primo Gong, though Aquaserge are more complex, more jamming, and less silly overall. Makoto Kawabata of Acid Mother's Temple provides some splendid acid guitar, and it's in this kind of setting that he shines most brightly.

---7/04/11

Other albums heard: A L'Amitie (2014)

7/04/11 (new entry)

November 17, 2023

Mahogany Frog ~ Canada ~ Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canterbury style; Post rock; Space rock

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Latest: Faust (2022)

Mahogany Frog were last seen playing in early 2024.

UMR review page for Mahogany Frog

11/17/23 (new entry)

November 11, 2023

Phlox ~ Estonia

Canterbury styled prog; Jazz rock

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Latest: Keri (2017)

The band is still playing live as of 4/3/25.

UMR review page for Phlox

5/7/13 (new entry)

November 4, 2023

Astrakan, England

Canterbury style; Jazz rock

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Latest album: Crab Weather (2023). Yet another band that I was unaware was still cooking!

Comets and Monsters (2012)

While the first album stayed completely in the underground, at least Astrakan's latest album Comets and Monsters is slightly more accessible, being readily available from online retailers. Musically the band stray further towards the jazz end of the Canterbury spectrum. Adding female vocalist and keyboardist Celia Lu has defined their new direction. She sings in a higher pitched fashion - perhaps even pseudo operatic at times - similar to Dagmar Krause. But with a Chinese accent. It's a bit bizarre to say the least. I personally wish they'd exploit their rock abilities, but it seems Astrakan are more intent to stay within the jazz idiom. Henry Cow circa In Praise of Learning is a major influence on Comets and Monsters, but without the annoying tuneless improvisations, thus endearing the band more to my tastes.

Astrakan (2008)

Astrakan starts afire with 'In & Out', which possesses a distinct Canterbury sound but completely run amok. The shredding wah-wah guitar left me breathless. Too bad there isn't much more of that psychedelic sound present throughout. Have no fear though, the melodic jazz rock that the Canterbury sound is noted for remains intact. The jazz influence becomes more prominent in the middle of the disc. Sax and organ all get plenty of time to shine. I particularly enjoy their extended use of the latter. It's important to note that Astrakan focus more on composition and atmosphere rather than noisy soloing, thus endearing itself to me. Highlights include tracks 1, 2, 5, and 7.

4/10/11 (new entry); 1/29/13

October 14, 2023

Mysteries of the Revolution, England

Jazz rock; Canterbury styled

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Latest album: Longing for the Dawn (2022). I thought these guys were long gone! Nope...

Mysteries of the Revolution (2007)

Their website says "MYSTERIES OF THE REVOLUTION features BB Davis of the legendary Red Orchidstra and virtuoso French virtuoso keyboardist Dan Biro. Influences range from Miles, Hancock, Zawinul, George Duke, Roland Kirk, Corea, Coltrane, Mahavishnu, Lifetime to Hendrix, Zappa, Led Zep, Doors, Steely Dan to neo-classicism and psychedelica all dished up in a sweaty, heady brew of heavily jazzified, passionate, funked up, blissed-out, head-on grooves with a whole dash a' finesse n' panache - yeah, really."

Yea, really. And no kidding. Damn. Here's a band that not only is current, but is already completely obscure. C'mon, this isn't fair! I think part of the problem here is it appears the band is being marketed to a jazz audience. And while that's not entirely wrong to do, I think the progressive rock buying public would perhaps be more interested in Mysteries of the Revolution.

Mysteries of the Revolution combine instrumental retro Hammond and flute driven rock with a modern jazz approach. On this latter point, despite the analog instrumentation, one can hear the crystal clear production and modern percussion ever so slightly calling out St. Germain for example. But by no means is this a techno jazz album. Just listen to The Crunch and you'll swear it's from a 1971 English proto-prog album. And they use a regular drum-kit. About the only group I can think of in this space is the Norwegian band Elephant9, but Mysteries of the Revolution are more varied and not quite as much in "Hammond overdrive" as Elephant9 are. Let's hope this isn't all we're going to hear from these guys, as they've shown tremendous potential here.

Highlights: 2. The Crunch (10:16); 3. Storius Sensorius (5:58); 7. Secret Fire (5:34)

4/26/11 (new entry)