Fractal Mirror #4

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

I’m thrilled by this news.  The first three albums were extraordinary, and I’m sure #4 will live up to expectations.  And, to make it all even better, FRACTAL MIRROR is now a part of the Bad Elephant Music family.  In addition to Kscope and Karisma, who doesn’t love Bad Elephant!!!

No. 4

Bad Elephant Music is delighted to announce that internationally renowned progressive rock band Fractal Mirror is joining the family for the release of its new album, Close To Vapour, in early 2018.

For this, their fourth album, core members Leo Koperdraat and Frank L Urbaniak are joined once again by Brett Kull (of Echolyn, and producer for label-mates Valdez) and founder member Ed van Haagen guesting.

“We’re extremely pleased to join the diverse Bad Elephant Music family”, said Frank. “We are confident that together we’ll be reach a wider audience with Close to Vapour. For us this reflects a dramatic step forward in both composition and production, and we’re grateful for BEM giving us this opportunity, and for the confidence they’ve shown in us”.

David Elliott from Bad Elephant had this to say: “I’ve been a keen follower of Fractal Mirror’s music since Strange Attractors, their first album, and we’ve been talking over the last couple of years about working together. The stars finally aligned after I met Frank at RoSFest this year, and with Close To Vapourthey’ve produced their finest work yet. We’re proud to be associated with the guys, and delighted to be once again working with Brett!”

Close To Vapour will be released on CD and high quality digital download in the first quarter of 2018.

Fractal Mirror are:
Leo Koperdraat: voice, Mellotron, guitars, keyboards, recorder and programming
Frank L. Urbaniak: drums & percussion

with:
Brett Kull: guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Ed van Haagen: occasional keyboards

Leo and Frank formed the band in 2013 (with Ed van Haagen, pictured above), after discovering each other’s demos posted on online music forums. Both have long been involved in the progressive music scenes in their relevant home countries, The Netherlands and the United States. Frank was involved in the progressive scene during his college years in Essence, with Larry Fast, which led to Synergy and Larry’s involvement with Peter Gabriel and others.

Fractal Mirror’s music represents a multitude of progressive, pop, rock and indie influences, having drawn comparisons to David Bowie, Tears for Fears, R.E.M. Psychedelic Furs, Blackfield and No-Man. Their debut album, Strange Attractors, gained positive reviews, with follow up Garden of Ghosts, making the shortlist for a Grammy award nomination. By third album Slow Burn 1 the band had secured the talents of Brett Kull (Echolyn) as producer, and to add additional musical embellishments.

Their new album, Close to Vapour, introduces further influences from the likes of The Grays, Jellyfish, Pugwash and Beck. Lush vocal harmonies abound, with perhaps a rougher musical edge being introduced, all without losing the characteristic Fractal Mirror sound. Close To Vapour will be released by Bad Elephant Music in the first quarter of 2018.

Fractal Mirror website

Matt Stevens News

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
Matt Stevens
Hi!
Thank you to everyone who booked tickets for the Fierce And The Dead album launch show next May, only 18 tickets left then we have our first London headlining show sold out! Incredible! If you want one of the last ones it’s:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/423353

Album pre-order info soon.

If anyone wants a weird guitar album for Christmas you can get my Lucid album for £4.99 on CD from:
Forthcoming Fierce And The Dead shows:
Thursday 15 March 2018 w/Stick Men Robin 2
Saturday 16 June 2018 Sonic Rock Solstice Festival Senser, Evil Blizzard, Astralasia,
Cheers for your support
Thanks
Matt Stevens

My Best of 2017???

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments

Let me just state from the outset that I love that Chris had the gumption to post his favorites albums of the year already.  We’re not even in December, Chris!  Love it.

So, just as an experiment, I checked my player’s settings and calculated the albums I listened to the most.  While I can’t claim this to be a fair statement of what I think the best of the year was–after all, some albums, such as Glass Hammer’s UNTOLD TALES.  It’s only had a month to compete against some albums that have had 11 months.  Still, it’s a marker.

Additionally, because my player calculates the number of plays for the year total, it registers all albums in my collections, not just those that came out in 2017.  So, by the number, folks, by the numbers—the ten most played albums in the Birzer house for the last 11 months.

No. 10 most played of 2017:

Glass Hammer Untold

 

Continue reading “My Best of 2017???” →

Review: Painted Black – Raging Light

On By NickIn progressive rockLeave a comment

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Lisbon based progressive metal visionaries PAINTED BLACK released their second full length album, and follow up to their 2014 EP Quarto Vazio back in October via Wormhole Death. Titled Raging Light, you may need to ensure your seatbelts are fully adjusted as you are in for one hell of a journey.

Raging Light constantly keeps you guessing as it meanders through a varied assortment of quirky time signatures, hitting you at every turn with ruthless blastbeats and piercing vocals as the quintet encapsulate you in a maze of riffs. In particular, the combination of “The Raging Light” and “Dead Time” are both packed to the brim with beautifully crafted insanity and just as you feel your head is about to spin off “The Living Deceiver” is a welcome change of pace inundated with hypnotic riffs.

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Considering the progressive metal scene’s tendency to lean towards more extensive compositions for the most part PAINTED BLACK have devised very digestable tracks which keep the listener enticed and engaged. They combine the harmonious subtleties of OPETH, the atmospheric pace of KATATONIA and the bludgeoning force of DARK TRANQUILLITY to devastating effect but where they particularly shine is on the album closer “Almagest,” a 17-minute prog epic. Ironically when they begin to dial down the vicious assault they are at their most captivating with eerie whispering verses and a more methodical pace.

PAINTED BLACK are clearly an intellectual and forward thinking band, and hopefully The Raging Light will bring them recognition they deserve. This is a band to look forward to in the coming years.

The Raging Light is available from Bandcamp.

Review: Obiymy Doschu – Son

On By NickIn progressive rock2 Comments

OD

Ukrainian Progressive Rock six-piece Obiymy Doschu have just put out their new release titled “Son” (Ukrainian for ‘dream’). The first thing that is quite obvious is that the band sing in Ukrainian, and I would say that it makes the difference indeed.

As Progressive as Progressive Rock can be, long lingering guitar solos with chords that stretch past the count of an individual musical bar blends with softly played keyboards and piano, and beautiful vocals are earnest, and in top form. The music of “Son” is hauntingly beautiful, moving, strange, and cosmic. Fans of Nosound, Lunatic Soul, Gazpacho, Sylvan, No-Man and Blackfield will want to add this release to their collections.

Obiymy Doschu - Son

What an extraordinary collection of music this is. From the atmospheric symphonic intro of the opening track “Ostannya Myt’,” to the gorgeous acoustic guitars of the gentle, “Razom,” to the supernatural, eerie, dreamlike sequence of “Son,” the listener is transfixed, almost as if staring into the darkest regions of outer space. What Prog Rock is, Obiymy Doschu does it perfectly, and this release is proof. The longer this CD plays, the more real the music becomes, and it quickly becomes clear that the members of the band have some supreme talent in composing music that is moody, atmospheric, layered and intensely technical. Each track takes the listener on a voyage, of sight, sound and sensations. String and woodwind instruments, as well as choir, are used to their fullest potential to create that sound that is neo-classical, while the drumslay a steady backbeat, but a closer listen reveals syncopated rhythms.

“Son” is just downright amazing. Listen to the title track that when hearing it, one will feel as if they are suspended somewhere between a dream and reality. Close your eyes when hearing this song, and as the song fades into black, you will be left with emotions that don’t come to often when hearing music – breathless, spent, and moved. The title track in parts is soft, in others loud, at others heavy, while music that is bizarre but passionate as hell plays havoc with your sense of what is real and what is made up.

Again, this was downright marvelous. The mixing, courtesy of Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief), is incredible, the sound astonishing, with every note crystal clear. The vocals are audible and easily understood. The lyrics make sense (no, I don’t speak Ukrainian, but the band took care of it), and the musicianship was breathtaking. Not a bad track to be heard, no “fillers” to have to worry will come along and ruin the progression of sensations that are felt during this CD’s playing time. For lovers of the intense, the heartfelt, the reflective, and the sincere type of Progressive Rock that Obiymy Doschu plays – and plays so perfectly – this is a must have.

Visit Obiymy Doschu’s official website for more information.

Top 10 Albums of 2017 @asiageoff @NFO_official @schooltree @davekerzner @UnleashArchers @bigbigtrain @STYXtheBand @SonsOfApollo1 @HackettOfficial @StevenWilsonHQ

On By Time LordIn Top Albums of 20176 Comments

As a public service (to aid you in your early shopping efforts), here are my TOP 10 ALBUMS of 2017, with an extra two (by Big Big Train) added to the list, in order to round out the harsh edges of the traditional metric ranking system, making my list into the much friendlier imperial system’s dozen…

REVISED (January 2018): explanation here

Portnoy [ProgSphere]

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Mike Portnoy talked about being a member of so many bands at once – specifically the Neal Morse Band, Flying Colors, Transatlantic, The Winery Dogs and Sons of Apollo – explaining to Metal Wani about how he handles the whole situation: “I have to approach each of them differently because there’s so many different styles…

via MIKE PORTNOY Talks About Being in Many Bands — Prog Sphere

Toto’s “Africa” Turns 35

On By Kevin WilliamsIn progressive rock4 Comments

toto-africa

The song was great in 1982 and it’s still great in 2017.

The band is, too – fellow progheads would do well to check out their last album, “XIV.”

Jessica Furseth of Motherboard weighs in on its allure while taking a few jabs at it…no matter, read on!

New Wave Revisited

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock5 Comments
the swing
INXS’s Fourth Album, 1984.

I have absolutely no idea why, but I’ve spent the last few weeks re-visiting music I’ve not listened to in decades.  Perhaps it’s because I turned 50 this year, and I’m trying to explore some of my past.  Recapture elements of my youth?  Play the historian?

I honestly have no idea why.  The past is my business, though.

Regardless, I’ve been drawn back to what was once called “New Wave.”  If you ask me to define “New Wave,” I couldn’t.  I remember from my junior high and high school years that it was that type of music that was not prog, not rock, not pop, and not punk, though it often had elements of each, usually mixed around driving beats, minimalist guitats, and wild keyboard flourishes.  Well, at least the kind of New Wave I’ve been listening to.

Let me offer a few thoughts and maybe even a few suggestions and warnings.  I picked up my old INXS albums.  KICK, to my mind, is way too overproduced and slick.  LISTEN LIKE THIEVES is too monotonous.  SHABOOH SHOOBAH has some glittering moments mixed with some mediocre ones.

But, THE SWING.  THE SWING.  THE SWING is a work of sheer genius.  The catchiness of the tunes, the variation from song to song, and the intriguing lyrical content all make this  an all too forgotten work of excellence.

I also re-listened to The Monks, BAD HABITS.  It is just weird.

I re-listened to B-Movie’s FOREVER RUNNING. It is just quirky and a little too poppy for my tastes.

But, then I go back to THE SWING.  I think I’ll stay there for a while.

Review: Fabrizio La Piana – Almond and Coffee

On By NickIn progressive rockLeave a comment

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Fabrizio La Piana is a guitarist and composer who is well versed in a lot of styles having played with jazz, rock and metal bands in the past. His new solo CD, “Almond and Coffee,” covers a lot of ground ranging from grinding jazz rock to progressive rock, with addition of ambient music here and there.

Several tunes here have him sounding like a spiritual heir to the guitar guru John McLaughlin. “Funky Song” features him winding up wobbly chords along a lurching beat in the company of bassist Bernhard Hollinger and drummer Niels Voskuil, making for a power trio that is on fire throughout the record.

Almond and CoffeeOn “Almond and Coffee” (the song) La Piana delivers series of spacious licks, with rhythm section providing depth to the overall airy tune. “Forte” has shimmering washes of guitar playing into a sinister theme, while “Pulice” kicks off with tribal drum pattern and La Piana’s noodling.

“50-50” is arguably grooviest piece on Almond and Coffee, which also features La Piana and Hollinger exchanging solos. “Rokin” feels as a slice of laid back guitar noodling with La Piana chipping out springy, twisty notes. After it lulls you in, the song takes a fusion route before eventually closing the album with dreamy, delay-laced washes.

Fabrizio La Piana uses plethora of techniques and abilities here to make a varied and enjoyable record. With “Almond and Coffee” he may not reinvent a wheel, but the record is surely one of the most enjoyable jazz rock releases to come out in 2017.

“Almond and Coffee” is available from CD Baby.