Review by sgtpepper — The band does not make any trade-off in creating another ultra-complex, non-commercial output that few other bands could match. Using no conventional song format and also not relying on loose jamming, crafting music filled with so many ideas is a very daunting task. Nevertheless, I still thing that this one is more memorable mainly thanks to the developed classical music inspired singing that has become GG's trademark. The first composition is already a masterpiece (primary falsetto vocal reminding of Focus), great elegant chord sequences. The second track is not that di ..read more

Review by bartymj — As they did with previous album Hyderomastgroningem, insane Japanese band Zeuhl mix their regular brand of thrashing around in a small room full of instruments, with more refined (but still heavily Avant-Garde) genuine compositional talent. The title track gives the impression that you're in for some chaos, but at Stara Planina and Eccentric Ditch we actually have something that's almost on the verge of catchy. Much of what follows though is noise and nonsense I'm afraid! That's followed by live versions of some previous tracks - of no more interest than the "studio" effor ..read more

Review by bartymj — The prolific saxophonist sticks solely with the alto sax on this album, and has almost left Zeuhl behind other than a few reminiscent passages and the presence of brilliant Zao drummer Jean-My Truong. There's lots of programming involved, mostly jazz fusion throughout. To be honest, not easy to be engaged with all in one go, there's only so much solo saxophone improvisation you can take! I wouldn't pick out many tracks as highlights but Avoda is decent, as is Raspoutine as a good example of the electronic/programmed element of Seffer's style of Jazz (and with a bit less Sa ..read more

Review by sgtpepper — Gentle Giant started strong and aimed at on their debut album. They are certainly among TOP 10 UK progressive bands of the 70's yet underrated by anyone but prog-lovers, probably because the high complexity and lower accessibility. A large line-up from the first album with multi-instrumental capabilities opened wide door to the progressive rock realm. At a relatively young age, the band displays familiarity with hard-rock, classical music, folk music and 60's psychedelia. The first track is absolutely amazing, very complex but perhaps the only catchy one. GG as no fear o ..read more

Review by BrufordFreak — Another awesome one-off from a short-lived Czech band. 1. "Horni konec dolni konec" (4:07) two motifs, one funkier than the other and containing some nice dueling between trumpet, flanged electric guitar, double bass, and keyboard synth. (8.875/10) 2. "Cervanky" (4:47) slow and reflective with delicate yet-nuanced performances from all of the musicians. The music keeps getting stronger, more dynamic (and, melodically, more 1960s game show-like) over the course of its almost-five minutes. (8.75/10) 3. "Osmikraska" (5:49) opening with some bowed electric bass (or cel ..read more

Review by Hector Enrique — In keeping with their tradition of not pigeonholing themselves into a particular theme, neither with tabs on the oceans, nor with the fantastical memories that the future can generate nor the dazzling lights of the circus, Nektar, the most German Englishmen of the progressive scene, take a new turn of the screw and get very serious with one of the first known works regarding environmental concerns at a time when it was not yet on the global agenda: 'Recycled', the band's sixth album, released in 1975. With no moralistic or vindicatory pretensions, Nektar exposes t ..read more

Review by alainPP — 1. From the Undertow intro to the burning rope, latent, aerial, crystalline piano, a good GENESIS encore in fact; we get into the subject and it's better than the sound of the group 2. Lucky Me with Kim on vocals, you have to get used to it, hard for me; Well-calibrated marshmallow romance with an intoxicating Banks vibe 3. The Lie as an ersatz of a Genesisian title, I'll let you guess which one but yes I'm starting to think of scraps of titles that he kept in his computer 4. After the Lie on a more airy, fresher, fruity piece, the title that we are releasing in the spring ..read more

Review by Matti — It was either JR/F or Eclectic Prog where the Finnish composer and multi-instrumentalist Antti Louhivaara was to be placed. He himself would have preferred the latter, but I agree with the decision made by the teams. Even though this instrumental music, in its rhythmic complexity and regular rock instrumentation, is thoroughly progressive rock, more clearly than it is fusion (and the plain jazz nuances being absent), it's easy to hear the stylistic connections to the jazz/fusion wing of the prog universe. My initial associations included FRANK ZAPPA, PEKKA POHJOLA and at tim ..read more

Review by kev rowland — Although this is a band, and not a project, these guys have had some issue with continuity of line-up over the years, and this has continued through to their fourth album. After 2019's excellent 'A Tower of Clocks' there was a mass departure, leaving singer Al Winter to bring together a brand-new group plus guests for 2021's 'Kites', which for some strange reason I never heard. Now we are back with their most recent release, and this time apart from Al the only musicians retained are the rhythm section of Dave Close (bass) and Alan Wilson (drums) with new members in th ..read more

Review by kev rowland — The Latin title of this album can be translated to 'Because They Don't Know What They Are Doing' and it would be interesting to ask Ivan Rozmainsky (keyboards) who he is aiming that at, although one can surmise. It has been five years between studio albums, during which time the world has changed for musicians in Russia and Ukraine, but finally here we are back with their latest release. There has been a slight change in personnel since the last one, but Ruslan Kirillov (bass), Vladislav Korotkikh (low whistle, flutes), and Vladimir Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (acoustic & ..read more