To quote from the Karisma press release “The Swedish band Ritual entered the prog scene like a typhoon with their 1995 debut album. The Scandinavian scene was already strong with bands like Änglagård, Anekdoten, White Willow and Landberk, but Ritual came with a different approach. They are both highly accessible and melodic, and also very technical and symphonic. Tove Jansson’s Moomin universe inspired several songs on the album, but the music leans more toward folk, symphoni

As if we needed any reminders, I am re-reading Henry Scott-Irvine’s excellent book “Procol Harum: The Ghosts of A Whiter Shade of Pale” and how Gary Brooker played such a central role in Procol Harum and beyond, in his solo works and collaborations. I could not make the tribute concert on 4 th  December, 2023 but managed to get hold of a programme and, finally, the music from that night has been released in a clamshell boxed set of Blu Ray and CDs. Gary played with many illus

This is a limited hardback book forensically examining the phenomenon that was Emerson, Lake and Palmer through over 400 fans memories and pictures with many by photographer Neal Preston. It goes right up to the High Voltage Festival in London in 2010. (I was there and put in the difficult position of Marillion’s set still going on when E.L.P. started theirs. While I’m on the subject I look up at the book shelf only to see a copy of “Endless Enigma” on Open Court Books sent t

“With “ The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971-1986” – an extensive Peter Hammill boxset – due for release at the end of September, and with Hammill playing his first UK shows since 2018 in support, the publication of  Rock and Role is both timely and complementary.” Rock and Role  traces Hammill’s remarkable journey through the 1970s and beyond, providing an in-depth look at his music and lyrics, investigating the ideas behind his songs, and creating a portrait of Hammill as

Released on 28 th  November, we are promised restless rhythms, mesmerizing bass lines, twangy guitars and spacious synths from the Bergen-based synth wizard Marius Robech. ‘Unknown Overture’ has an eastern filmic feel to it and the synthesisers recall the works of John Michel Jarre and Vangelis. When the guitar comes in it could be Mike Oldfield you are listening to. ‘The Apanthropist’ is percussion and piano based and equally panoramic, ending in a synthesised loop. ‘Latibul

Malibran are Giuseppe Scaravilli - vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, flute, bass and keyboards; Giancarlo Cutuli - flute and saxophone; Jerry Litrico - electric lead guitar; Alessio Scaravilli - drums and percussion; Benny Torrisi - piano and keyboards and Angelo Messina - electric bass. Two tracks from each of their albums apart from a single excerpt from their first album “The Wood of Tales” (1990), a vinyl release are included on this compilation. ‘Trasparenze’ apparen

Malibran are Giuseppe Scaravilli - vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, flute, bass and keyboards; Giancarlo Cutuli - flute and saxophone; Jerry Litrico - electric lead guitar; Alessio Scaravilli - drums and percussion; Benny Torrisi - piano and keyboards and Angelo Messina - electric bass. Two tracks from each of their albums apart from a single excerpt from their first album “The Wood of Tales” (1990), a vinyl release are included on this compilation. ‘Trasparenze’ apparen

Gracious! supported The Who on tour in 1968. Touring with King Crimson prompted them to purchase a mellotron and change to a more progressive style. Their prospects were not boosted by the plain white ‘wallpaper’ image on their Vertigo debut in 1970 and their second album ‘This is Gracious!’ is often the more highly acclaimed of the two due to its variation in style incorporating rock, blues alongside symphonic prog as well as the interplay between the mellotron and electric

It’s hard to believe this album is 50 years old. Its core is in two parts bookending the album. It’s entitled ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ in tribute to founder member Syd Barrett. On part one Dave Gilmour re-establishes himself as an incisive and inventive guitarist while part two veers into jazz funk territory – well, Nick Mason did call the album “the descendent of “Meddle”. The title track has become a busker’s standard. Apart from that are two songs which take a dig at t

“The third and final volume in the 'Before the End' series; a collection of non-album tracks and assorted songs brought together from the years 2022 to 2025. Like the previous instalments, everything here has been carefully remastered and sequenced to work as a cohesive album in its own right.” ‘Just Another Goodbye’ begins the album with “a touch of fusion”. The vignette ‘Project B’ sounds unfinished, electronic in style along with the more substantial ‘Project A’. All instr

“Underground Sounds of 1968” has an eclectic mix of music during a very creative period; some will be familiar, others not. CD one has big hits like ‘Fire’, ‘This Wheel’s on Fire’ and ‘I’m the Urban Spaceman’ rubbing shoulders with an obscure Genesis track (‘One Eyed Hound’) and nearly made it bands like Dantalian’s Chariot (‘World War Three’ and ‘Soma (Parts One and Two)’, Eyes of Blue and Tomorrow. Of course, the musicians from many of these bands went on to greater things.

This is one of my favourite albums, period. While there is no more keyboard dualling (Graham Field has left to form Fields. Mark Ashton has also gone to be replaced by Fred Kelly on drums), there is plenty of guitar interplay to make up for it. It’s hard for me to spot a weakness on Rare Bird’s first of three albums for Polydor and the single, an EP really,  that is included is the icing on the cake; outstanding songwriting, singing and playing throughout. Personal relationsh

Rare Bird was increasingly sounding like an American band on a rather lightweight album, far from their more progressive roots. Nothing wrong with that and they do it rather well. Taken for what it is, the desultory reviews were a bit unfair. Rare Bird remain great song writers. ‘Diamonds’ is a good funky example; the music is easy on the ear. This song and ‘Last Tango in Beluah’ (over long perhaps?) made it into their live act. (Also ‘Lonely Street’ and ‘All That I Needed’ –

An alternative sleeve, no longer gatefold, 200g vinyl. The ‘Cirkus’ track sounds very different to the original and was produced and mixed from the original tapes by David Singleton and Alex ‘Stormy’ Mundy. In extremis ‘Happy Family’, the track that inspired the name of a Japanese prog rock band, is presented as an instrumental. A lot of liberties are taken with the drums and percussion as well basically to demote them to either not being there at all or much reduced in volum

RARE BIRD – BEAUTIFUL SCARLET: THE RECORDINGS (1969-1975) EPIC FOREST (Esoteric Recordings) (CD boxset) (the third album) This is one of my favourite albums, period. While there is no more keyboard dualling (Graham Field has left to form Fields. Mark Ashton has also gone to be replaced by Fred Kelly on drums), there is plenty of guitar interplay to make up for it. It’s hard for me to spot a weakness on Rare Bird’s first of three albums for Polydor and the single, an EP really

‘What You Want to Know’ is a strong opening ballad. The mono single is also included. The replica gatefold sleeve is also much appreciated and, of course, the informative booklet and poster. The four part ‘Flight’ takes up the whole of side and this signals the more progressive approach taken. The keyboard palette has changed with what sounds like a harpsichord on ‘Down on the Floor’. ‘Hammerhead’ could have been a Van Der Graaf Generator song and was released as a mono singl

Rare Bird existed for just six years but what a six years! Each album provided something unique, labelled under progressive rock but not so easily pigeonholed. The bittersweet ‘You Went Away; finishes with a short drum solo (Mark Ashton), for heaven’s sake. It is 1969 and Rare Bird would enjoy success with ‘Sympathy’, later covered by Marillion. They also had two keyboard players: David Kafinetti (piano. Synth) and Graham Field (organ). Steve Gould was the bassist/ vocalist,

FROM THE ARCHIVE I have been reviewing the prolific improvisational space rocker Øresund Space Collective . Going back to “Ode to A Black Hole ” (2016), also by is very different. The synths take centre stage to a backdrop of heavy toms recalling the feel of Pink Floyd ’s early space explorations, guitar making an appearance later on in the second (long) piece, in a kind of Tangerine Dream  way. Mind you, it’s more of a tranquil, trippy experience than a being ripped apart as

THE MUSIC: Caravaggio is an Art Prog band with a Mediterranean flavour. A classic rock lineup – INSTRUMENTS:  electric guitar, bass and drums – meets traditional Mediterranean instruments such as accordion, bouzouki, mandolin, percussion, jigsaw WHAT’S IN IT FOR PROG LOVERS?: A distinctive sound that explores the boundaries between art rock, hard rock, world music, and progressive rock COMPOSITION:  Unconventional chords, ethnic melodies and jazz harmonies are frequently used