“The pen is mightier than the sword; the music of the word is scored”

Folklore dance (2)

There’s a wonderful revolution currently taking place and it’s happening in unexpected places, like on hillsides in Winchester and deep in the Wiltshire countryside rather than in some huge faceless metropolis or swanky foreign location.

It brings together a lost tribe, a band of people who would not have known about each other’s existence without what communication philosopher Marshall McLuhan described in 1962 as “the global village concept”.

Fifty-four years later, McLuhan’s prophecy has been fulfilled with the global reach of Facebook gathering in self-proclaimed Passengers from as far afield as Australia, Sweden, Germany and Scotland.  But more about them later.

Continue reading ““The pen is mightier than the sword; the music of the word is scored””

Interview with PULSONICA

pulsonica
Argentinian progressive/fusion band Pulsonica put out their most recent album titled “Fuera De Tiempo” in 2015. The band’s founder, drummer and percussionist Jorge Gonzalez told with Progarchy about the band’s work.
You released “Fuera De Tiempo” last year. How do you feel about the release?

Continue reading “Interview with PULSONICA”

Releases Today: BBT and Frost*

So, today is a big day–the first studio album from Big Big Train in three years and the first studio album from Frost* in eight.  Amazing.  Enjoy!

 

12916337_10208335237154258_8486060721684551076_o
Big Big Train, FOLKLORE.
frost-falling-cover
Frost*, FALLING SATELLITES.

Have You Pledged Yet? Fire Garden.

I have!  Proudly.

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/firegardenmusic

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 1.40.31 PM

Big Big Train – Folklore – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal

Artist: Big Big Train Album Title: Folklore Label: English Electric Recordings Date Of Release: 27 May 2016 Albums like this need to be consumed for some time before any thoughts are committed to paper or PC. However, I was desperate to review ‘Folklore’ by Big Big Train before it was officially released and so, after […]

via Big Big Train – Folklore – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal

The Wall Street Journal on BENT KNEE

say so bent knee
The brand new album from Bent Knee, SAY SO!

 

One of America’s two finest print sources has a great writeup on BENT KNEE.  And, well deserved.  By Jim Fusilli.

Bent Knee, whose latest album, “Say So” (Cuneiform), arrived on Friday, has been classified as a proponent of art rock, which is only a little more helpful than saying it makes music. Across the span of its three full-length discs, the silo-smashing, Boston-based sextet taps into cabaret, ’70s piano-based folk, chamber pop, industrial rock, metal and prog rock—with the snap of funk and hip-hop in some of its rhythms. Featuring the versatile, ever-appealing voice of Courtney Swain on top, Bent Knee’s unique mix is equal parts ingenuity and deliciousness.

Bent Knee may begin and end a track near the same sonic place, but in between it offers a journey filled with fruitful detours. The initial listening experience is to wonder what’s next; later, it’s a matter of catching up with what was missed the earlier times around. On “Say So,” the track “Counselor” features bouncy allusions to show tunes; punchy funk; wailing metal; and a sing-along worthy of a protest rally. A cocktail-lounge piano and a theatrical vocal by Ms. Swain introduce “Nakami,” but soon comes Gavin Wallace-Ailsworth’s booming drums, a stinging guitar and sweet strings; Ms. Swain, who also plays keyboards, sings the stirring outro in Japanese. “Eve” has two bludgeoning interludes right out of sludge metal, but there are also little bits on plucked violin and accordion, with some jazzy chording on electric guitar. For all that’s happening on this album, there’s little bloat or self-indulgence, and even the longest tracks feel like concise statements.

To read it all, and you should, go here: http://www.wsj.com/articles/say-so-by-bent-knee-review-1464125585

Thanks to Stephen Humphries for pointing this out to me this morning.

Album Spotlight: Pendragon – “Not of This World” — The PROG Mind

My lyrical analysis of one of my favorite albums, Pendragon’s “Not of This World”.

via Album Spotlight: Pendragon – “Not of This World” — The PROG Mind

CONNER GREEN Talks New HAKEN Album, Gear, Tour & More — Prog Sphere

I believe that everybody already knows that Haken have a new album called Affinity and that it’s bloody great. The band is literally about to kick off their European tour together with Special Providence, Rendezvous Point, and Arkentype. For bassist Conner Green, Affinity is the second release with Haken after 2014′s EP Restoration, and in an interview for…

via CONNER GREEN Talks New HAKEN Album, Gear, Tour & More — Prog Sphere

Airbag – Disconnected – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal

Artist: Airbag Album Title: Disconnected Label: Karisma Records Date Of Release: 10 June 2016 I may be the Man Of Much Metal but occasionally, there’s nothing I like more than to dial down the extremity and indulge in something altogether more relaxed. The scratching post for this particular itch comes in the form of Norwegian […]

via Airbag – Disconnected – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal

ABRAHAM SARACHE to Play “The Gardener” on June 24 in Amsterdam’s Volta

Abraham Sarache

Multi-instrumentalist Abraham Sarache, who recently released a new album titled The Gardener, will play a special release show in support of the album at Volta in Amsterdam on June 24th. The show will be recorded for a future live release.

The Gardener is an alt/progressive rock concept album with the inclusion of folk instruments like ukulele and Venezuelan cuatro. To express the feelings involved, different kinds of voice registers are provided: from a soft, melodious or whispered voice to raspy voice. Various pads and synthesizers are used to give depth and warmth to the songs where an acoustic guitar with a low tuning predominates. A multicultural composition on the instrumental level and a progressive rhythmic base create an exquisite atmosphere of imbalance and peculiarity.

Continue reading “ABRAHAM SARACHE to Play “The Gardener” on June 24 in Amsterdam’s Volta”