From the Cuneiform Records Bandcamp site: “Gibbs’ intermittent relationship with Germany’s NDR Bigband, one the world’s longest-running jazz ensembles, dates back to the early 1970s and has provided a particularly valuable vehicle for his vivid musical imagination. “I feel I know the individual players so well, that I write for Continue Reading
Avant-Progressive
Compassionizer – The Faithful of the Land
The band Compassionizer is the experimental/chamber/avant-prog project created by Ivan Rozmainsky of Roz Vitalis. Though I generally love most forms of progressive rock music, bands influenced by Rock-In-Opposition and avant-progressive are my favorites, and Ivan and company do a sterling job at making this album sound profoundly deep, whimsical, and Continue Reading
Athak – Best Off Era 17 – 22
Athak is a group from Hong Kong that carries the spirit of the Zeuhl genre into the modern age. It’s perhaps quieter than Magma or Zao, but just as intricate.
Culto sin Nombre – Dos Formas
Avant-progressive chamber rock has great appeal to me. Mexican quartet Culto Sin Nombre were among the best at it, though they always suffered from poor production quality. It’s a shame, really, as they should have been held in the same esteem as Univers Zero and Art Zoyd.
Devin Grey feat. Kris Davis, Chris Speed & Chris Tordini – RelativE ResonancE
It seems reasonable to call Devin Gray the apex point between the worlds of avant-prog and Frank Zappa’s weirder, cooler moments. I’m surprised he’s not better known, as he and his band sound so incredibly tight. He’s become someone whose music is worth hunting down. Quite a find, this one!
Happy The Man – Live
From the Cuneiform Records Bandcamp site: “Excellent performances & very good sound on recently discovered live tapes (7/78 & 10/78) from the final incarnation of the band [with drummer Coco Roussel] made Live possible. Spirited live versions of pieces from their two Arista lps, some of which are significantly different Continue Reading
Audion Magazine – Audion 86 (multimedia)
This appears to be the first Audion Magazine release of 2026, as far as I can tell. For those unfamiliar with this incredible magazine, it was essential reading for me during my teenage years as I sought to learn about progressive rock and its subgenres, particularly avant-prog and Rock In Continue Reading
The Microscopic Septet – Been Up So Long It Looks Like Down to Me: The Micros Play the Blues
Cuneiform Records released this gem by The Microscopic Septet in 2017 and it has held up well. From the label’s Bandcamp site: “Since storming back into action in 2006 after a 14-year hiatus, the radically old-school combo has continued to evolve and extend its reputation. The new album builds on Continue Reading
Mujician – The Journey
Mujician was perhaps one of the greatest improvisational groups to come out of England, and this album shows them in peak form. The band consisted of clarinetist and saxophonist Paul Dunmall, backed by drummer Tony Levin (not the King Crimson bassist), bassist Paul Rogers (not the hard rocker), and Keith Continue Reading
Richard Leo Johnson – The Sleeping Porch
Thanks to the ever-wonderful Cuneiform Records for offering this album by the Georgia (USA)-based guitarist Richard Leo Johnson. You can hear flashes of John McLaughlin, Leo Kottke, Larry Coryell and Ralph Towner’s influence, but Richard has carved out his own niche. A great guitar disc.