(33:29; Arnaud Bukwald) Over the years Arnaud has released albums under his own name and under the bandname Moon Dragore, and here he combines both with his latest album which also includes Gong co-founder Didier Malherbe. Arnaud provides vocals, guitar, weissenborn, sitar, keyboards, Didier suling, flute, bawu, ocarina and the line-up is completed by Cherry Pob with vocals, bongos, frame drum, tongue drum and drummer Cloudy Myster. The result is something which truly stands out among the dross of the modern world as Arnaud has taken his influences from world folk and then brought it to life with musicians who truly understand the vision. Didier is in his eighties now, but still as vibrant and important as he was when he was playing on classics like ‘Camembert Electrique’, ‘Flying Teapot’ and ‘Angel’s Egg’ and there are times when he and Arnaud combine to create music which is refusing to be bound by any boundaries or preconceived ideas and the listener can just revel in what is going ...

(77:00; Malcolm Galloway) Composer and musician Malcolm Galloway continues to lead a double life where on one hand he is the leader of UK progressive band Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, and on the other releases music, which is contemporary classical, minimalist, electronic, and instrumental. This is his seventh solo album, which opens with the longest track on the album, “Metazoa One”, which was released as a single back in May 2023. It also includes a track which will be of great interest to fans of HOGIA as here we get the original version of “The Anxiety Machine” which was later rearranged and became three pieces on the album ‘The Light Of Ancient Mistakes’. There is deliberately a lot of repetition within this album, and while that does take us more into the world of ambient there is undoubtedly far more focus. And while atmospherics are very important, they are there are support to the main melodic thrusts as opposed to being all there is. This is far less whimsical than one m...

(70:00; Mad Parish) Following on from 2015’s debut, ‘Procession’, Montréal-based rock outfit Mad Parish suffered some line-up issues which means it has taken a decade for them to come back with the follow-up. Mind you, they decided they may as well go the whole hog and decided it would be a concept album, complete with a story and a companion comic book. Musically they say they have influences from NWOBHM, progressive rock, 70’s rock, 80’s new wave, punk, pop music new and old, classical and jazz, but to me it sounds just like a good old-fashioned rock/metal album which refuses to stay within any particular genre. The press release says it is for fans of Iron Maiden, Virgin Steele and Camel, which is stretching it just a little, as this is more about being for those who don’t necessarily follow a crowd or labels. On their website Mad Parish list some very famous names they have opened for, but one must wonder if that was around the time of the debut as opposed to now, as I cannot imagi...

(50:44; Saibot Reigns) This is the first time I have come across Sacramento-based progressive metal collective Lunar, but apparently, they were formed all the way back in 2013 by drummer Alex Bosson (Helion Prime, Planeswalker) and Ryan Erwin who passed in 2018. This is their fourth album, following on from 2023’s ‘The Illusionist’, which has seen a few line-up changes so on this recording the band was Chandler Mogel (clean vocals), Brian Lewis (growl vocals), Carlos Alvarez (rhythm guitar), Connor McCray (lead guitar), Ryan Price (bass), Alex Bosson (drums) and Anthony Stahl (keyboards). There are many guest guitarists providing solos, while I note cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne (Leprous) is also on one number.    Lyrically, what we have here is a concept album dealing with the passing of time and the effects it has on us physically and mentally. Bosson said, “This album deals with something everyone can relate to, and no one can escape: the passing of time. We get older, ou...

(72:00; Fruits de Mer Records) I must admit to some guesswork on this one – I am currently separate from the physical product but looking at the images I have I cannot see a label logo, although it is indicated as all songs are copyright Jam Recordings, but on that site, it is indicated as being a UK import. Seeing as how Discogs list this as being by Fruits de Mer that I how I am putting it, but I could be wrong. The Lemon Clocks have long been a trio of Jeremy Morris, Stefan Johansson and Todd Borsch, but here it says all songs were written and performed by the first two only, which I presume means Todd is no longer involved and may also explain the title. As with all releases by The Lemon Clocks (this is their seventh album), and many by Jeremy Morris himself, here we are back in the world of 60's and 70's psychedelia drawing from elements of psych rock, power pop, jangle rock, garage rock, folk rock, and bands like The Beatles, The Byrds, Pink Floyd, Pretty Things, etc. Jer...

(41:37; Kelp Dwellers) Over the last few years, I have been in contact quite a bit with multi-instrumentalist Gayle Ellett, one of the founders of Djam Karet, a band I first came across more than three decades ago. Last year he sent me three albums he had recorded with Todd Montgomery as Fernwood, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Todd then asked me if I would be interested in hearing the debut Kelp Dwellers album which he and Gayle had recorded with drummer Craig Kahn, to which I of course agreed, and I am currently playing. Each song was recorded by the trio playing live in the studio (Craig drums, Todd electric tenor guitar and Gayle bass), and then Todd overdubbed electric mandocello, lap steel, electric guitar, keys, synths, and Gayle added 6 and 12 string electric guitar, piano. The idea was to have that live band feel, with people bouncing off each other even though the songs were arranged and not improvised and have that sense of fun which come with playing music with mates as oppose...

(53:10; Gep Records Ltd) IQ are back with their third studio album in just over a decade, with the same line-up for all three, four of whom who played on ‘Tales From The Lush Attic’ all the way back in 1983. Michael Holmes has been the only constant through the band’s career, but there was a stable line-up from ‘Ever’ to ‘Dark Matter’, and it is only the one album after that period, ‘Frequency’, which truly failed to shine, not bad for a band with the longevity of this one. Peter Nicholls (lead & backing vocals), Michael Holmes (guitars), Tim Esau (bass, bass pedals), and Paul Cook (drums, percussion) along with “newbie” Neil Durant (keyboards) may not be the most prolific, but arguably their output has been the most dynamic and consistent of the band’s career. This is not a group who are going through the motions but instead are releasing some of their most important and fascinating music yet. When I reviewed their last album, 2019’s ‘Resistance’ I said that one of the things that...

(47:26; Fosfor Creation) When I recently reviewed ‘Asleep or Insane’ by Bakelit I explained that I have known Swedish multi-instrumentalist Carl Westholm for years through Carptree and Jupiter Society, although others will probably recognise his name more for his time with Avatarium and Candlemass. After I sent out my normal Christmas update email last December Carl asked if I would like to hear the latest releases from his two new projects, Bakelit was the first and Hollingshead is the second. Carl is the only constant between the two bands, and he again provides organ, electric piano, synthesizers, theremin, backing vocals while this time the band is completed by Tony Naima (lead vocals), Johan Niemann (bass, from Evergrey, Therion and Mind's Eye), and Fredrik Haake (drums, Meldrum, Sideburn, God Is My Co-Pilot). There has been a four-year gap between this album and the debut, during which time original singer Gidon Tannenbaum departed. I have not heard the debut, and a new vocal...

(43:51; Black Sand Records) A post from Heather appeared in one of the groups I am a member of on Facebook, and the computer in my head started whirring and I immediately thought of a band I haven’t listened to in years, Mostly Autumn. Originally signed to Cyclops, I reviewed the first three albums when they were released, but the last I had heard of theirs was the wonderful ‘Passengers’ from 2003. I was not aware that Heather had left the band after 13 years and eight studio albums to follow a solo career, nor that she had formed Mantra Vega and released albums in different group formats and styles, as well as books, poetry and art. What I did know, though, was that I always loved Heather’s vocals and was intrigued to hear what she was doing more than 20 years after I last reviewed her. I was soon playing ‘Wildflower’ and fell into a world where all that mattered was the voice, and the voice was all that mattered. This is mostly a true solo album, with Heather accompanying herself on ...

(156:26; Fruits de Mer Records) Track list: 1. Silver Birch [Phased Version] 5:18 2. Time to Breathe 6:11 3 Come Kiss Me Vibrate and Smile 3:02 4 Elapsed Memories 5:35 5 A Cure for the Inflicted Afflicted 3:55 6 Love or Confusion 4:12 7 Lovely Cuppa Tea 4:13 8 The Rubicon 3:08 9 Legend of a Mind 6:34 10 Firefly 4:10 11 Sail Away 4:09 12 Paint Me a Dream 3:51 13 The Witch 5:11 14 Dear Mr Fantasy 4:54 15 Faintly Blowing 5:32 16 The Witch 138 [Remix] 8:48 17. She's Taking Me Down 4:34 18. The World Is Hollow and I Touched the Sky 5:57 19. If Rome Was Meant to Fall 3:47 20. This Day Will Never Happen Again 2:15 21. We Live as We Dream Alone 4:18 22. Crawling Back to You 3:24 23. The Fountains of Neptune 3:51 24. The Open Window 6:14 25. Albert Hoffman 5:13 26. Winter Sun 3:15 27. The Splendour of the Universe 6:01 28. International Rescue 3:19 29. The Canyon of the Crescent Moon 4:24 30. Pink Felt Trip 3:25 31. Psychotronic Man 6:30 32. Self-Expression Trinity 11:16 Line-up: Not stated...

(47:13; Karisma Records) Track list: 1. Demring 5:01 2. Jakten Paa Det Kalydonske Villsvin 10:09 3. Gamle Mester 7:16 4. Medusas Flaate 9:07 5. De Tre Gratier 12:27 6. Skumring 3:13 Line-up: Lars Fredrik Fröislie - vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, drums, percussion Nikolai Haengsle - bass Ketil Einarsen - flute, recorder Prolusion. Norwegian artist Lars Fredrik Fröislie is best known for being a key member in Norwegian progressive rock band Wobbler, and he has also worked with other Norwegian progressive rock bands over the years. A few years back he decided to commence on a career as a solo artist too, with two studio albums and one EP being the result of this so far. The most recent of the studio albums is called "Gamle Mester", and was released in the spring of 2025 through Norwegian label Karisma Records. Analysis. This is one of those albums that you will place in terms of style and orientation only a few seconds in. This is retro-oriented progressive rock that looks bac...

(43:39: Ramble Records) Track list: 1. Tight-Lipped Thief 3:45 2. What I Keep in My Closet 6:03 3. Half-Deceased Uncle 12:17 4. Cork Flight Operation 6:16 5. Virtue of Standing Still 3:04 6. Onwards, Through the Garden Window 7:05 7. Myshhh 5:09 Line-up: Gosha Hniu - vocals and voices, lyre, kazoo, percussion Maya Pik - synthesizer, flute, programming Ran Nahmias - cello, santur, oud, voice Grundik Kasyansky - synthesizer Miguel Perez - guitars Yoni Silver - clarinet with: Andrea Serafino - drums Prolusion. The Israel based band Staraya Derevnya has been an active creative unit from back in 1994, and with more than three decades behind them as a band they have seven studio albums to their name in addition to several live albums and compilations. And a score of concerts held over the decades too presumably. The band are now out with their seventh studio production. This album is called "Garden Window Escape", and was released through Australian label Ramble Records in the spri...

(39:32; Unit Records) Track list: 1. S50und P61ant7 1:05 2. Pay Day 5:22 3. Shell 4:53 4. Fluorescent Light 4:33 5. Drops 4:05 6. Do Plastic Bags Dream  About Sunset 5:59 7. Dopamine Rush 3:15 8. March of the Invisibles 4:35 9. Chit-Kong 5:45 Line-up: Yonglee - piano Yechan Jo - guitars Youngwoo Lee - synthesizers, electronics Hwansu Kang - bass Dayeon Seok - drums with: Song Yi Jeon - vocals Prolusion. The Doltang is a band instigated and formed by band leader Yonglee. The latter is a young South Korean composer and musician that recorded material for his first solo album back in 2019, and that currently has two solo albums to his name. "Invisible Worker" is the first album to be issued under the Yonglee & the Doltang moniker, and was released in the spring of 2025 through the label Unit Records. Analysis. In terms of the progressive rock universe, jazzrock is the only appropriate placement for the landscapes explored on this mainly instrumental production. This is a mos...