Tag Archives: ambient

Album review: LAURA MEADE – Remedium

Posted on May 12, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Doone Records [Release date 18.05.18] Anyone heard of New York-based progressive rock band Izz? No, me neither, but they’re another in a long line of bands inspired by the pioneers such as Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, ELP, and Renaissance. Laura … Continue reading →

Album review: AURI – s/t (Tuomas Holopainen)

Posted on April 23, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Nuclear Blast [Release date 23.03.18] Auri – a side project of Nightwish pair Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards) and Troy Donockley (acoustic guitars, Uilleann pipes, vocals) – is one that’s been a while in the gestation. The oldest song in the set, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, ambient, Auri, Celtic, Johanna Kurkela, Nightwish, review, Troy Donockley, Tuomas Holopainen | Leave a comment

Album review: TONOCHROME – A Map In Fragments

Posted on January 9, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Bad Elephant Music [Release date 02.02.18] The debut album from London based art rock quartet, has proggy undertones, but at heart is more rooted in jazz and ambient soundscapes. The brainchild of singer and main songwriter Andres Razzini, it’s an … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged A Map In Fragments, album, ambient, art rock, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Tonochrome | Leave a comment

Album review: WHEN MARY – Tainted

Posted on November 3, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond [Release date 10.11.17] The second album from Norwegian art rock band When Mary – Trude Eidtang (vocals, synth, percussion, glockenspiel), Christian Paulsen (guitars, programming, synth, bass) and Vidar Uthaug (synth, organ, korg, Rhodes) is a rather enchanting affair. That … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, ambient, art rock, electronica, pop, review, Tainted, Trude Eidtang, When Mary, White Willow | Leave a comment

Album review: COLIN HARPER – Titanium Flag (Remastered & Expanded Edition)

Posted on March 31, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Market Square Records [Release date 24.04.17] The sad thing about this album is that most punters will be drawn in primarily by Track 3 which features legendary Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman. In fairness, back in 2010 when this was released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged acoustic, album, ambient, Andy Roberts, Colin Harper, Cormac O'Kane, Focus, folk, instrumental, Jan Akkerman, jazz, Liverpool Scene, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Phil Shiva Jones, Premik Russell Tubbs, Quintessence, review, Titanium Flag | Leave a comment

News: VANGELIS 13-CD Box Set released via Universal on 3 February – win a copy! (Competition)

Posted on February 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Modern music visionary Vangelis has announced the release on 3 February of a new 13-disc box set entitled ‘Delectus,’ featuring a chosen selection of his early discographic work. The mammoth collection will include all of his albums on Vertigo and … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Competitions, NEWS | Tagged album, ambient, box set, CD, competition, Delectus, instrumental, Jon Anderson, new age, retrospective, soundtrack, Vangelis | Leave a comment

Album review: VANGELIS – Delectus (Box set)

Posted on January 23, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Win the box set!! (Comp. closes 19.02.17) UMC [Release date 03.02.17] Just too late for Xmas, comes this mammoth 13-disc box set of Vangelis’ albums on Vertigo and Polydor, remastered from the original first generation tapes under the big man’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Reissues | Tagged album, ambient, boxed set, Delectus, instrumental, Jon Anderson, new age, orchestral, reissue, review, rock, soundtrack, Vangelis | Leave a comment

Gig review: IAMTHEMORNING, Tim Bowness – Bush Hall, London, 14 November 2016

Posted on November 15, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

On a unique collaborative evening broken into two halves, Tim Bowness was first to take the stage with his merry band of musicians. Bowness, one half of No-Man (the other being prog legend Steven Wilson) was tonight showcasing his work … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged ambient, gig, Iamthemorning, No-Man, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Steven Wilson, Tim Bowness | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JULIETTE STRANGE, NERISSA SCHWARZ, THE FERTILITY CULT, MAGNUSON

Posted on November 8, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

JULIETTE STRANGE Romeo Kills Romeo [Release date 12.05.16] Sometimes you hear an album that just chimes with the way you are feeling at the time. ‘Romeo Kills Romeo’ may be one of those. A collaboration (presumably via the ether) of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged A Forest Of Kings, album, ambient, Discordia, Frequency Drift, Juliette Strange, Magnuson, Nerissa Schwarz, Playgrounds Lost, pop, prog, progressive, psychedelic, review, rock, Romeo Kills Romeo, The Fertility Cult | Leave a comment

Album review: ERIC JOHNSON – EJ: Song Explorations on Acoustic and Piano

Posted on October 26, 2016 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 07.10.16] ‘EJ’ is a stripped down celebration of simplicity and feel, bolstered by Eric Johnson’s dazzling technical ability on original material and some imaginative arranged covers. Austin guitarist Eric Johnson pushes himself into new musical avenues by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged acoustic, Al Stewart, album, ambient, ECM, EJ, EJ: Song Exlorations on Acoustic Guitar and Piano, Eric Johnson, folk, Jackson Browne, Jimi Hendrix, Les Paul, Mary Ford, Mason Williams, piano, review, Simon & Garfunkel, vocals | Leave a comment

Gig review: KING CRIMSON – Aylesbury Waterside, 3 September 2016

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Davoski

This was a journey deep into hard core prog territory and a little beyond. King Crimson have been on the go – give or take the odd hiatus – since 1968. However, our paths had not crossed until this steamy, … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3 September 2016, ambient, Aylesbury Waterside, gig, Jakko Jakszyk, King Crimson, live, Mel Collins, prog rock, progressive, review, Robert Fripp | Leave a comment

Album review: RACHAEL YAMAGATA – Tightrope Walker

Posted on September 1, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Frankenfish Records [Release date 04.11.16] Virginia based singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata’s 4th studio album, to be supported by US and European tour dates, is something of a departure on a number of levels. Inspired by the ‘there is no why’ philosophy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, ambient, pop, Rachael Yamagata, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Tightrope Walker | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS ALLARD – Invisible Landscape

Posted on May 28, 2016 by petefeenstra

Perdido [Release date 10.06.16] Chris Allard probably won’t thank me for saddling him with the jazz fusion tag, but he’s a subtle guitarist who evokes the likes of John Schofield and Lee Ritenour over 10 tracks full of inspired interplay, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, ambient, Charlie Wood, Chris Allard, fusion, guitar, Invisible Landscape, jazz, John Schofield, Lee Ritenour, Nick Smalley, Oli Hayhurst, review, Wayne Shorter | Leave a comment

Album review: FORBIDDEN PLANET – From Bedroom To Oblivion

Posted on March 18, 2016 by petefeenstra

CD Baby [Release date 11.10.15] Not to be confused with anything pertaining to science fiction, save for some obtuse voice-over snippets, Forbidden Planet is a Singapore based instrumental prog rock outfit with an open ended style that finds them truly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged Adam Quek, album, ambient, David Baptista, Forbidden Planet, From Bedroom To Oblivion, fusion, guitar, instrumental, Laurence Buzzi, metal, review, rock, Steve Howe, The Freq | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SOUTHERN COMPANION, RACKHOUSE PILFER, MATT WOOSEY

Posted on March 9, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

SOUTHERN COMPANION 1000 Days Of Rain [Release date 23.02.15] On first listen you’d be forgiven for thinking The Southern Companion were from across the pond with their soulful brand of blues / rock infused Americana / country. In fact, you … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged 1000 Days Of Rain, album, ambient, Americana, Desiderata, Love And Havoc, Matt Woosey, Rackhouse Pilfer, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Southern Companion | Leave a comment

Album review: ANDY SUMMERS – Metal Dog

Posted on December 26, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Andy Summers Music/Cargo Records [Release date 15.01.16] A new solo album from Andy Summers? He of the heavily arpeggiated, chorused but always ear-friendly guitaring? He’s released a string of solo albums since ‘XYZ’ in 1987 and his last release was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, ambient, Andy Summers, fusion, guitar, guitarist, instrumental, Metal Dog, Police, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: TANGERINE DREAM – Out Of This World (Vinyl Edition)

Posted on December 22, 2015 by alanjones

Invisible Hands Music [Release date (vinyl): 11.12.15] Released in memory of Edgar Froese, founding member of the legendary electronic rock pioneers Tangerine Dream who sadly passed away in January 2015, ‘Out Of This World’ is a compilation of the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, ambient, Edgar Froese, electronic, Out Of This World, Progressive Rock, review, rock, special edition, Tangerine Dream, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Quick plays: FOREVER STILL, KARI RUESLATTEN, CELIA ROSE

Posted on October 21, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

FOREVER STILL Tied Down [Release date 15.01.16] Danish female fronted heavy rockers Forever Still’s debut release is typically ‘in your face’ mixing some bludgeoning riffs from the fret board of Mikkel Haastrup, with melodic lead vocals from Maja Schoenning. While … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged album, ambient, Celia Rose, Double Exposure, folk, Forever Still, Kari Rueslatten, review, rock, singer songwriter, symphonic metal, The Scars That Heal In Time, Tied Down, To The North, Zig Zag | Leave a comment

Album review: BEAR SUCCESS – Brevira

Posted on September 5, 2015 by petefeenstra

Downport Records [Release date 01.07.15] New York instrumental outfit Bear Success describe themselves as new post-rock band outfit. Their debut album ‘Brevira’ comes with a Colin Fangicetto’s trippy art work and suitably places the emphasis on ambient moods, shifting rhythmic textures … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Alex Roth, ambient, Bear Success, Brevira, Brian Eno, Colin Fangicetto, drone, indie, Jeff Morris, Jefferson Airplane, Kyle Gallagher, Post-rock, review, rock.metal, Spoon | Leave a comment

Album review: 4th LABYRINTH – Quattro Stagioni

Posted on June 20, 2015 by petefeenstra

4th Labyrinth Music [Release date 04.09.15] Described as classic progressive rock & pop band, 4th Labyrinth is much more than that. They are a band that reaches well beyond the 4 seasons concept of the album title. And while … Continue reading →