soundstreamsunday: “Through the Lurking Glass” by newspaperflyhunting

On By Craig BreadenIn Progressive rock1 Comment

newspaperflyhunting1When the Polish band newspaperflyhunting released Iceberg Soul in 2014, to my ears it was a shot across the bow of prog, which maybe needed a little hard striving to bust out of the templates.  The album was an original in a widening landscape littered with knockoffs, so while their sound skimmed Pink Floyd and the Velvet Underground, Mazzy Star and modern metal, their song structures, melodies, and presentation were a strong reminder of prog’s roots: a playground for the far out and unexpected, combining psychedelia, improvisation, and musics new and old, with a focus on riffs and the straight-up sonic power of rock’s stomp.  This was not a music to be sequestered unto itself, and reminds me how the Soft Machine cut their teeth opening for Jimi Hendrix, and Yes was as likely to be paired with Iron Butterfly, or Rush with ZZ Top, as with strictly like-minded souls.

“Through the Lurking Glass” is representative of the rest of Iceberg Soul, which is unfussy and melodically rich, a dark stage lit by accents like Fender Rhodes piano and an innocent, plaintive vocal approach which is improved by its Polish tilt.  It’s an utterly unique record.  Along with the work of Gazpacho, newspaperflyhunting is the best argument I can find for the continuing vitality of progressive rock.

soundstreamsunday presents one song or live set by an artist each week, and in theory wants to be an infinite linear mix tape where the songs relate and progress as a whole. For the complete playlist, go here: soundstreamsunday archive and playlist, or check related articles by clicking on”soundstreamsunday” in the tags section above.

The Neal Morse Band Live – 2017 Tour Kickoff

On By Thaddeus WertIn Progressive rock3 Comments
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The Tour T-Shirt

A fired-up and ready-to-rock Neal Morse Band kicked off its 2017 Similitude Of A Dream Tour last night at RockeTown in Nashville, TN. They performed the entire album before an ecstatic crowd, most of whom knew every word of the 2-disc magnum opus.

This was a different kind of show than Neal and his band mates have performed before. It’s clear that they want the album as a whole to take center stage, and not the musicians themselves. For instance, Neal did not even address the audience until after Shortcut To Salvation, which was in the second half of the set. Mike spoke briefly before Freedom Song. Other than those breaks, the focus was entirely on the songs.

The performance began with a darkly cowled Neal singing Long Day off to the side, illuminated with a handheld light. Then the entire group exploded into Overture, and we were off on an adventure through all kinds of trials and tribulations. Throughout the show stunning videos complemented the songs, and Neal wore various masks and outfits.

As a group, Neal, Mike, Randy, Bill, and Eric have melded into a mighty musical force. When Randy George and Mike Portnoy lock into their groove, the result is ferocious thunder. Eric Gillette has matured into an extraordinary guitarist and vocalist (give him more lead vocals!), and Bill Hubauer’s keyboards and vocals are always rock-solid. Neal, of course, is the consummate showman – singing, pulling off amazing guitar solos, and mugging for the crowd before every keyboard showcase.

But the real star of the evening was The Similitude of a Dream. Everything was done in service to the tale of a pilgrim on a spiritual journey – one that went from the City Of Destruction through doubt, fear, confusion, sloth, and battle until he reaches the shining city on a hill. When I first heard TSOAD, I liked it, but I wasn’t knocked out – it was just too sprawling a work for me to take in. After last night’s performance, I get it now. It all holds together as a unified work of art, and it is a beautiful allegory.

Highlights of the show were So Far Gone, where everyone takes a turn on lead vocals; a very moving Breath of Angels, which ended the first half; Shortcut to Salvation; a heavy Man in the Iron Cage; an all-acoustic Freedom Song; and the concluding Broken Sky/Long Day. By the end, everyone was wrung out and happy.

For an encore, the band tore through rip-roaring renditions of Momentum, Agenda, and The Call. Lasting nearly three hours, it was a very satisfying evening. The boys travel to Seattle and other parts west before heading up to Canada and then over to Europe and Israel. If there is any way you can catch this show, do it – it’s an amazing visual and musical experience.

Tour details can be found here.

Released Today: New John Bassett EP

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

“Live From The Byre” New John Bassett EP is released today!
You can hear it/get it now at
 https://johnbassett.bandcamp.com/album/live-from-the-byre

Its a 4 track EP, recorded in a derelict byre (cowshed) in County Sligo Ireland. It was recorded in one take using 3 microphones, 1 for vocals, 1 for guitar and 1 for ambient sounds such as the birds nesting in the roof, the wind outside and the door continually creaking. The songs featured on this are

1. Unearth (from John Bassett “Unearth”)
2. Nothing Sacred (from John Bassett “Unearth”)
3. Murder in a Small Town (from KingBathmat “Blue Sea, Black Heart”)
4. Brand New Crucifix (this song is about 20 years old and I don’t think its ever been available anywhere?)

John Bassett
http://arcademessiah.com/
https://arcademessiah.bandcamp.com/
facebook – https://www.facebook.com/arcademessiah
facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/kingbathmat/

Review: Lonely Desert by FOREST FIELD

On By Jay WatsonIn Progressive rock5 Comments

As the Forest Field website states clearly “Forest Field is not a band. Forest Field is a project.” In the way that the famed Alan Parsons Project was able to use various and rotating musicians and performers over the “bands'” discography while always availing itself of its founders and creators Parsons and Eric Wolfson, so too the album Lonely Desert is the brainchild of  Chinawhite guitarist Peter Cox.  Cox plays all the instruments on this 9 track album while he is joined by Phil Vincent who very admirably handles the vocals. Lonely Desert is the fifth release from this Dutch project that bills itself as melodic rock, new age/ambient, and progressive. I wish I had heard of this musical endeavor earlier on as they are quite good and I really like this album. It is a bit of a concept album based loosely on Frank Herbert‘s DUNE, but the listener need not know that classic to enjoy the listening experience.

Before some track by track comments it needs be said that this not your “classical” prog of the early founding 70’s nor even the second wave iteration. There is more classic rock afoot here than Yes, Genesis, or Spock’s Beard.  Forest Field is more of Thin Lizzy meets Judas Priest with Boston stirred in…infused with very tasty mellotron and synth additives. But that is not a bad thing as the music is too good to let restrictive descriptors keep ones ears shut.

The jacket art sure is prog friendly! The Blekkmark Design Studio provides a suitably Sci-Fi/Fantasy portrait in pleasing hues of purple, violet, and blue. 10/10 for the cover.

Track 1: Valley of Pain (7:10) This song has a neo prog feel, almost Frost* like. This has solid drumming (also by Cox) and a very catchy rock arrangement.  There is also the first, of an album-full  guitar solo by Cox.  I like it. There is a familiar feeling to the melody. At 4:45 there is a down tempo change where the synths predominate.  Then at 5:40 the chorus comes back. But it is catchy. 7/10

Continue reading “Review: Lonely Desert by FOREST FIELD” →

MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON at 30

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock6 Comments
momentary-cover
Pink Floyd?

Pink Floyd’s MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON turns 30 this year.  Like so much of “prog” (yes, I put this in quotes) of the 1980s, it’s still controversial.

The same thing happened to Genesis, of course.  Is ABACAB really a Genesis album?  Or, how about ELP?  Is EMERSON LAKE AND POWELL really an ELP album?  Or Yes?  Are 90125 or BIG GENERATOR really Yes albums?  Ok, I won’t drag this idea into the ground.  But, it’s fair to note, that the question regarding MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON is not unique.

At the time MOMENTARY LAPSE came out, I was living in Austria for my sophomore year of college.  My great friend, Liz Ehret (now Bardwell), was visiting an American Army base in West German and picked up a copy of it as well as copies of Rush’s HOLD YOUR FIRE and Yes’s BIG GENERATOR for me.  Of the three, the only one that floored me was HOLD YOUR FIRE.  Still, I very much liked MOMENTARY.

Continue reading “MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON at 30” →

Patchwork Cacophony Five of Cups

On By James R TurnerIn Prog, Progarchy, Progressive rock, progressive rock musicLeave a comment

patchwork-2

 

Patchwork Cacophony is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Ben Bell, (keyboard player with Fusion Orchestra 2, and now keyboard player with Gandalfs Fist) in fact it was Stefan Hepe (Fist drummer) who passed my details onto Ben who dropped a nice little note asking if I’d be kind enough to listen to this, his second ‘solo’ excursion under the Patchwork Cacophony name.

I duly downloaded the album, and was blown away by what I heard.

Bit of background first, Ben, as a multi-instrumental plays pretty much everything on here, apart from a couple of guest guitarists (more about them later) and in a small genre like ours, it’s easier for albums like this to slip out unnoticed and slowly build up their reputation by word of mouth, particularly if bigger bands have new releases out there.

Continue reading “Patchwork Cacophony Five of Cups” →

Nostalgia Rock: My High School Favorites, 1982-1986

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock3 Comments

220px-thomasdolbythegoldenageofwirelessTo say that I was obsessed with rock during my high school years would be a gross understatement.  Then, again, I was pretty much either obsessed with whatever I was doing (listening to music, playing DnD, debating, hanging out with friends) or I wasn’t doing it.  Anyway, over at Facebook, a lot of folks are posting their favorite high school albums.  Here are mine.  Narrowing it to fifteen was really tough, as I would’ve preferred to have added more Rush, some Jethro Tull, some Kansas, some Pink Floyd, more Genesis, more Tangerine Dream, and more Yes.

Still, I think this is a pretty accurate list.  I also tried to be honest.  As such, I’ve really not listened to Oingo Boingo, the Police, or The Tubes anymore.

My 15 favorite high school (1982-1986) albums.

  1. ABC, THE LEXICON OF LOVE
  2. Genesis ABACAB
  3. Genesis, DUKE
  4. Oingo Boingo, DEAD MAN’S PARTY
  5. Police, SYNCHRONICITY
  6. Rush, GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
  7. Rush, MOVING PICTURES
  8. Rush, SIGNALS
  9. Tangerine Dream, FORCE MAJEURE
  10. Tears for Fears, SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR
  11. Thomas Dolby, GOLDEN AGE OF WIRELESS
  12. Tubes, COMPLETION BACKWARDS PRINCIPLE 
  13. Wang Chung, TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA (soundtrack)
  14. Yes, 90125
  15. Yes, YESSONGS

Your turn.

 

Interview with INCREATE

On By NickIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

increate

Portland-based instrumetal metalurgists in Increate will release their debut album titled “Void” on February 3rd. The quartet sat down for an interview with Progarchy and we discussed what it looks like to create music in the band. Make sure to pre-order “Void” from Bandcamp.

What made you go for the name Increate?

Johannes: I got the idea from the book series: “Urth Of The New Sun” by Gene Wolfe. When I found that the definition is “existing without having been created”, it was all over.

How do you usually describe your music?

Zev: Shreddy, psychedelic, heavy.

Dustin: Instrumental progressive metal to someone who isn’t familiar with all the subgenres. In actuality I think it’s instrumental technical death metal merged with progressive metal and jazz fusion. In other words, combine our main influences: Soreption, Meshuggah, Fallujah, Animals as Leaders, and Cynic and you’re getting close. We also take heavy influence from HP Lovecraft and many of the song titles are references to his stories.

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Jacob Moon’s SUBDIVISIONS

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock4 Comments

Ok, so I had no idea who this guy was until today.  Progarchist Kevin Williams suggested checking out his cover version of “Subdivisions.”  Ok, call me impressed.