(44:24; Apollon Records) Track list: 1. Breaking Protocol 6:04 2. Confusion 5:55 3. Clockwork 5:14 4. Are We There Yet? 5:18 5. Time Out 6:18 6. Little Nellie 4:43 7. Doppelmayr 4:46 8. WTG 6:06 Line-up: Övvind Bröter - keyboards Stephan Hvinden - guitars Andreas Sjo Engen - guitars Are Nerland - bass, keyboards, guitars Robin Havem Lövöy - saxophone Arild Bröter - drums, keyboards Oda Rydning - percussion with: Mattias Krohn Nielsen - guitars Ole Michael Björndal - guitars Erlen Lindvaag Solemdal - Rhodes piano Filip Brekke Steigedal - trombone Petter Lien - trumpet Roine Stolt - guitars Prolusion. Norwegian band Pymlico have been a going entity since 2009 or thereabouts, and have been steady suppliers of their specific brand of progressive rock ever since, lead by the creative impulses of main man Arild Bröter. "Supermassive" is their seventh studio production, and was released in the spring of 2022 through Norwegian label Apollon Records. Analysis. If there is one key word...

(Box Set, Giant Electric Pea) Track list: CD 1: 1. The Darkest Hour 2. Fading Senses 3. Out of Nowhere 4. Further Away 5. Leap of Faith 6. Came Down. 7. Came Down - The Solos that got away 8. Lost in Paradise. CD 2 (Recorded live at the Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany, 10 February 2018): 1. Intro/The Darkest Hour 2. Fading Senses 3. Leap of Faith 4. Came Down 5. Further Away 6. Out of Nowhere. DVD: 1. Ever 2018 Remix 5.1 Surround Sound Mix 2. Ever Live at the Colos-Saal 5.1 Surround Sound Mix - Album Demos: 3. The Darkest Hour 4. Fading Senses 5. Unholy Cow (Out of Nowhere) 6. Further Away Intro 7. Further Away Complete 8. Leap of Faith 9. Came Down - Studio Outtakes: 10. Darkest Hour 11. Fading Senses 12. Out of Nowhere 13. Further Away 14. Leap of Faith 15. Came Down. - Unused Ideas: 16. Waltzy Song 17. Echo Song 18. The Blues Riff 19. Bassy Track 20. Guitar Thing 21. Quiety Demo 22. Some Chordage 23. Monks - Rehearsals: 24. The Darkest Hour (Pt. 2) 25. Fading Senses - Jamming The...

(65:00; Alchemy Records) Swiss guitarist Stephan Thelen and his American counterpart Jon Durant conceived and executed the album ‘Crossings’ during the Covid lockdowns of 2020. Each working in his own home studio, Thelen on Lake Zürich, Durant on the Willamette River. Originally, they had talked about working together to create a track for a sampler, but instead conceived a complete album which was composed entirely of guitars (plus one bass part). Sonically, in many ways the best way to describe the music is to look at the album cover as the mystical feeling created by slow shutter speed combined with air and water is a magical way of looking at this. Both guitarists have worked in multiple different bands, as well as producing solo works, and are renowned for pushing the boundaries of what can be done with an electric guitar, and the use of repeated loops on this album allows them to do just that. It is strange to think that the two guitarists were working on opposite sides of the At...

(64:47; Lazy Bones Recordings) There surely is no need to describe the musical careers and skills of Tony Levin, Marco Minnemann and Jordan Rudess, so I’m not going to bother, but given what they achieved over the years it is no surprise that I am just going to say that what we have here is an instrumental album which is certainly worth digging out. I only came across this 2013 album fairly recently, since when it has been hogging an inordinate amount of time on my player. Although all those involved have fearsome reputations for improvisation, this is actually an album of crafted material as opposed to everyone getting together in a studio and wondering what they are able to achieve. In many ways it reminds me of Colosseum II, but without the fearsome histrionics of Gary Moore as the melodic lead is of course the keyboards of Rudess who is to keyboard playing what shredders are to the guitar. Mind you, the only way for this to really work is if the rhythm section is up to scratch but ...

(66:36; Lobate Scarp) Lobate Scarp released their debut album in 2012, and it has only taken them 10 years to come up with the next one. Mind you, I seem to recall it took five years for the debut, so does that mean it will take 20 years for the third? Only time will tell. The man behind Lobate Scarp is Adam Sears, who provides lead vocals and keyboards, and the only other full member of the band who played on the debut is bassist Andy Catt (although guitarist Hoyt Binder does appear on one track). These days the guitarist for the band is none other than Peter Matuchniak who has had a load of fun playing on this while also working on a new album with Kinetic Element as well as some solo albums. Most of the heavy and lead guitar is him, with rhythm shared. There are a load of “names” on this album, with Jimmy Keegan, Ryo Okumoto, Jon Davidson and Billy Sherwood just some of the ones who should be mentioned, while Rick Mouser is again at the production helm, but all of this talent would ...

(139:16; Tigermoth Records) After 20 years at the top of the game, is there really anything left to say about Magenta? Since Robert Reed and Christina Booth started working on an one-album project back in 2001 they have pursued a path of incredibly melodic prog based on the songs of Rob and the vocals of Christina, with every release being an absolute delight. Guitarist Chris Fry has been there since the beginning, with the line-up completed by Dan Nelson (bass) and Jonathan 'Jiffy' Griffiths (drums), and they are an incredibly tight unit moving through different styles and dynamics as the need arises, with Christina sometimes waiting patiently for the right moment as the boys run through yet another instrumental passage and others where she is totally dominant, very much in charge of proceedings. This release is a DVD and CD set of a very special performance to celebrate their twentieth anniversary, so we get material from all their albums, as well as some special guests inclu...

(39:40; Bad Elephant Music) Back with their seventh album, PsychoYogi have maintained the line-up from the last album with Chris Ramsing (guitar, vocals), Justin Casey (drums, percussion) and Izzy Stylish (bass) again joined by Toby Nowell (alto & soprano saxophones, trumpet) who played on half of the tracks on ‘Dangerous Devices’ as he took over from John McNaughton. Yet again they have released a complex Canterbury-driven art rock album which is a melting pot of styles from jazz through prog, Beefheart and Zappa into Caravan and Can as well as the likes of XTC, yet somehow making perfect sense throughout. One can imagine this being released in the late Sixties as there is a naivety within, with horns being an important part of a sound which is massively complex and complicated at one level yet so simple on another. Follow any of the musical lines and wonder how the quartet manage to make them all sound as if they belong together as the threads are often incredibly disparate and a...

(55:35; White Knight Records) Originally self-released in 2008, the debut from Red Bazar featured the trio of Andy Wilson (guitars), Mick Wilson (bass, keyboards) and Paul Comerie (drums). Of course, since then the trio have become a quartet with the addition of Peter Jones while the band have also increased their profile, so in 2020 they decided to revisit the debut and re-record it for their fifth release. I must confess that I have only heard their previous two albums, the ones recorded with Peter, so the first two as a trio are new to me so cannot say how much has been changed. But given the impact Peter has on every band he is involved with I would have thought it would be considerable, and I am sure that playing these songs is concert has seen quite a departure from the original debut which is why the decision was made to re-record it. Remember, these songs were originally written and developed by a trio, and I expect keyboards were used here and there but were not a major part o...

(55:41; Roz Vitalis) Over the years I have been fortunate enough to hear a great deal of music from Russia, who have some incredible progressive rock bands, and one of my favourites is definitely Roz Vitalis. Apart from the closing track, “Peace”, which was recorded the year previously, this album was recorded in St. Petersburg on 27th February 2021. The line-up was Ruslan Kirillov (bass), Vladislav Korotkikh (flute), Ivan Rozmainsky (electric piano & synth), Vladimir Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (electric guitar, guitar synth) and Evgeny Trefilov (drums). One of the real joys of this instrumental band is the way they mix and blend the instrumentation, with everyone being given the chance to shine. The drums are quite low in the mix, but the picked bass (which provides a very hard strike) is very high, providing a counter melody for the other instruments to play against. The three melodic leads support each other, so while it may be guitar here, flute there, or keyboards, they all interwea...

(22:58; Cafe Fistfight) It feels like a lifetime ago now, but I guess it must be closer to 18 months, when I started daring to head into central Auckland and Dead Witch. I had agreed, in a moment of madness, to cover all the heats for the local battle of the bands competition and had no idea what I was letting myself in for. Four or five bands a night, chatting with the judges, we soon settled into a routine, and one of the bands which impressed me the very first time I saw them was Cafe Fistfight. At the time I had no idea that three of them were originally in Antares, and that the shredder was the brother of the drummer and had been involved in recording Antares back in the day. All I knew is that I loved them and had no idea what was going on as musically they made just no sense to me whatsoever. I have been fortunate enough to see them play multiple times since then, and still have no idea what they are doing, except that I really enjoy them each and every time. Just why is that? I...

(35:44; Is It Jazz? Records) Track list: 1. Chun Li 9:45 2. Zangief 8:48 3. Ken 7:43 4. Dhalsim 9:28 Line-up: Tom Hasslan - huitars Axel Skalstad - drums Trond Frönes - bass Vegard Lien Bjerkan - keyboards Prolusion. Norwegian band Soft Ffog is a fairly new creation, with the earliest information about the band appearing towards the end of 2021. Their self-titled debut album was released in the spring of 2022 through Norwegian label Is It Jazz? Records, a subdivision of Norwegian label Karisma Records. Analysis. To open with an answer to the name of the label releasing this album: No, Soft Ffog isn't a jazz band as such. At least to my mind this is a unit with more of an orientation towards psychedelic rock, and a progressive variety of that style at that. But this isn't music without it's jazz-oriented elements either, so a certain affection for jazz music elements will be needed to enjoy this production. I gather that the key aspect of this production is that it is retro-...

(72:31; Brigand Broadcasting Company) Track list: 1. Intro / Pretending to be a Person 5:19 2. A Million Lightbulbs 3:21 3. Clarabelle 5:57 4. Getaway Drivers 8:11 5. Quieter 4:42 6. Animals on an Island 5:22 7. Death of the Attention Span 3:41 8. Noise and Amusements 5:33 9. How Big the Small Can Be 2:38 10. Plastic Flowers for Stone Hearts 3:42 11. I Don't See You 5:59 12. Paper Aeroplanes 5:13 13. Mysterium Tremendum 12:53 Line-up: Captain - vocals, bouzouki, mandolin, guitars Damian Clark - keyboards, synthesizer, sounds, effects, programming with: Aid Todd - drums, percussion, programming, bass Wendy Ross - violin James Reid - trumpet, guitars Julian Socha - guitars Prolusion. Following various adventures in bands and project constructions, the person who prefers to be referenced as The Captain launched his solo project Captain of the Lost Waves some years ago, with a small handful of albums released under this moniker so far. This spring The Captain is back with his fourth st...

(37:36; Tonzonen) Track list: 1. Sıfr 7:12 2. Morgenwelt 3:44 3. Stereo Indigo 4:00 4. Fase 2:34 5. Globus 6:08 6. Neume 2:15 7. Schwan 3:33 8.Buto 2:25 9. Copor 3:32 10. Philia 2:13 Line-up: Dominique M. Täger - vocals, waldzither Tine Täger - bass, theremin, percussion, vocals Boris Boskovski - drums, percussion with: Markus Kampschulte - synthesizer, piano, strings, effects Matt Korr - synthesizer, field recordings Thomas Mrosek - saxophone, recorder Simon Becker - organ, piano Prolusion. German band Anderes Holz have been a feature of their native rock scene for a good handful of years, and I understand the band is just as well known for their live performances as they are for the type of music they explore. They have two albums out to date, of which the first one appeared back in 2018. "Continuo" is their second production, and was released in the spring of 2022 through German label Tonzonen Records. Analysis. Anderes Holz is a band name that 'can' be metaphorica...

(71:50; Apollon Records) Track list: 1. Sonisk Blodbad 3:14 2. Alan Vega 2.0 6:00 3. Photons 4:26 4. The Shores of Oblivion 9:40 5. Dark Clouds Passing By 7:24 6. An Echo in the Dungeon City of My Heart 6:42 7. Aspik 11:20 8. Blue Triptych [CD only] 23:04 Line-up: Ole Christensen Kristian Stangebye Niklas Rundquist Nils Wohlrabe Heidi Torsvik Ulf Knudsen Sam Fossbakk Haavard Tveito Wolfgang Seidel Conrad Schnitzler Tord Litleskare Laurie Amat Katje Elise Janisch Beate Jacobsen Helene Rickhard Oliver Kersbergen Steven Cerio Jan-Morten Iversen J. S. Theracon Sandra Minter Prolusion. Norwegian project Sonisk Blodbad have been around for just over a decade at this point, initially releasing material through the label Inner Robot Records and then switching over to Norwegian label Apollon Records a few years back. This spring they released their fourth studio album "The Shores of Oblivion". Analysis. Sonisk Blodbad are purveyors of progressive electronic music, and they are a creat...

(42:20; Apollon Records) Track list: 1. Hell's Belle 5:07 2. The Journey Begins 1:55 3. Too Far 4:24 4. Come Join Me 5:12 5. Dreams 4:27 6. Haunted Wedding 2:19 7. Courting / The First Marriage 5:14 8. Rumours Say 3:18 9. Voices 4:52 10. The Last Goodbye 3:57 11. Crossing 1:35 Line-up: Kjell Myran - vocals Elen Cath Hopen - vocals, piano, flute Terje Craig - bass, vocals, synthesizers, mandolin, mandola Terje Flessen - guitars Odd-Roar Bakken - organ, synthesizers Alf Helge Lund - drums, percussion with: Marit Johan Stokke - voice Per Arne Aftret - voice Grethe Bogen - backing vocals Berit Överkil - violin June Straume Strand - voice Prolusion. Norwegian band Adventure has been an ongoing venture for 25 years and a bit, with a new album appearing every 5 years or thereabouts on average. This spring they released their fifth studio album "Tales of Belle Part I - Across the Ocean" through Norwegian label Apollon Records. Analysis. Adventure is among those progressive rock b...

(49:55; Moonjune Records) All the way back in 2003 I reviewed an album by TriPod, which was one of the first releases on the fledgling Moonjune Records label. While I was pulling together all my old reviews for the first three volumes of The Progressive Underground Clint Bahr from that band got back in touch and I have been waiting for this album for quite some time. Clint has not only brought in old TriPod (and Television, among others) drummer Billy Ficca but he has gathered around him musicians of some note. I’m not going to mention all of them, but any album which features the likes of David Jackson (VDGG and so many others), David Cross (King Crimson etc), Peter Banks (Yes, Flash) and Colin Carter (Flash, Camel) is certainly going to pique the interest of many. Add to that additional instrumentation such as sitar and trombone, while multi-instrumentalist Bahr goes through various basses, stick and so much more. The album itself is a combination of songs and instrumentals, which ar...