Etron Fou Leloublan are (were?) an avant-guard rock band out of France whose main claim to fame was being one of the early bands who would end up forming the genre Rock In Opposition, a loosely-knit group of bands who opposed the business which refused to recognize their music, according Continue Reading
Progressive Rock
Zhaoze – The Life of a Dayfly | 蜉生记
I suppose one can call this post-rock with Chinese characteristics. Zhaoze are a progressive rock/post-rock band out of Guangzhou, China, and this is the first I’ve heard of them. Their sound is mellow, almost dramatic in a TV-theme way, yet the music, though soothing, is also engaging, especially after about Continue Reading
handwrist – The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
As we celebrate Christmas on the Julian Calendar this day, I thought it nice to share with you an album I found from a Portuguese composer called handwrist, working in the medium of psychedelic, progressive and drone rock, perhaps with lo-fi touches, basing his compositions on the aforementioned Forty Martyrs Continue Reading
Pekka Pohloja – Jokamies (Everyman)
Jokamies (‘Everyman’ in Finnish) is a collection of tracks for a television series of the same name composed by the Finnish bassist Pekka Pohjola. After his work with the hard-rock/progressive outfit Wigwam, he ventured into jazz fusion (perhaps New Age as well) and made some of the most impressive Continue Reading
This Penguin Can Fly – For All Our Hopes. For All Our Dreams.
This Penguin Can Fly is a band out of Portugal. which combines elements of post-rock, prog and math-rock into a rather brutal, mostly instrumental, concoction. Heavy, but rewarding, listening.
Gleb Kolyadin – The Outland
Gleb Kolyadin is the pianist of Russian progressive rock band iamthemorning, but in this release, he has no problem mixing prog rock with jazz fusion. The album is full of guests, but perhaps the biggest one is King Crimson’s legendary bassist and Chapman stick player Tony Levin playing upright bass. Continue Reading
La Compagnia Digitale – La Compagnia Digitale
This is a weird little gem. The three tracks on this album point not only to La Compagnia Digitale’s roots as an Italian progressive rock band, but there are even elements of the Berlin School which would make Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream proud. Think of this as a more Continue Reading
Beat Love Oracle – Turning The Table
Our friends at áMARXE Records out of Galicia in Spain have released a really heavy album influenced by Canterbury Music, Zappa and jazz-rock in general. There are so many twists and turns in Beat Love Oracle‘s album that it’s one I’d have trouble finding words to describe, so it is Continue Reading
Pekka Pohjola – Harakka Bialoipokku (B The Magpie)
Hands down, this is my favorite Finnish progressive rock album. I was introduced to Pekka Pohjola early in life, and now that I am listening to this album in my middle age, I can hear how beautifully it aged. Pekka’s bass is at the forefront, of course, and his playing Continue Reading
A.M Ferrari Fradejas – Shiarkha
Our beloved friend A.M Ferrari Fradejas has a new album out consisting of six tracks filled with lush, yet quite heavy, progressive rock tinged with black metal if you listen closely. The release features some guitar work by her husband, the inestimable Santiago Fradejas, and the whole album smolders wonderfully.