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Album review: ROBERT REED – Sanctuary IV
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Album review: LAURENCE JONES – On My Own
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Album review : FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS – You Were Made For Me, The Complete Recordings, 1963-70
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Album review: PHIL THORNALLEY – Stacked
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Album review: AMY HOPWOOD – Gone to Flowers
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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – First Light
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Tag Archives: prog
Album review: ROBERT REED – Sanctuary IV
Tigermoth Records [Release date 16.04.25] I can’t quite understand Robert Reed’s obsession with Mike Oldfield. ‘Tubular Bells’ was a landmark album but in some respects very much of its time. Yes, it made greater impact in 1973 because of Oldfield’s … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Les Penning, Mike Oldfield, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Robert Reed, Sanctuary IV, Simon Phillips, Tubular Bells
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Book review: WOODCUT – THE MAKING AND THE MEANING by Andy Stuart
Kingmaker Publishing [Publication date 06.02.26] Written to accompany the new album from Big Big Train, ‘Woodcut – The Making And The Meaning’ follows the gestation of what would result in the Progressive Rock band’s first concept album, through to the early … Continue reading
Album review: SPOCK’S BEARD – The Archaeoptimist
Madfish [Release date 21.11.25] Album reviewers, including this one, are often guilty of mining the cliché vaults and using five words where one would suffice. But then, every so often, something so good comes along that it defies words. ‘The … Continue reading
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Tagged Alan Morse, album, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Ryo Okumoto, Spock's Beard, The Archaeoptimist
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Gig review: CURVED AIR – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 20 November 2025
To those of a certain age and male – most of the audience here tonight in fact – Sonja Kristina was a poster girl for rock in the early 1970s. Pre-Stevie Nicks, pre-Debbie Harry. Interestingly she told me in 2015 … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20 November 2025, Curved Air, gig, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Sonja Kristina, Stroud, The Sub Rooms
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Album review: JAN AKKERMAN – My Focus Live Under The Rainbow
Music Theories Recordings [Release date: 12.12.25] Possibly missed by some, Jan Akkerman played a short series of dates in the UK in February 2025. Fortunately this rare excursion has been captured on a new live album. It seems that Akkerman … Continue reading
Album review: ASH WING – s/t
White Knight Records [Release date 07.11.25] This album is one of several that arrived at GRTR! Towers without an accompanying press release. Perhaps this is a new trend: get the journos to do the work. Again, from the Rob Reed … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Ash Wing, neo prog, Peter Jones, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed
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Album review: STEVE MORSE BAND – Triangulation
Music Theories Recordings [Release date 14.10.25] Steve Morse Band’s ‘Triangulation’ is a complex, intense and yet accessible virtuosic album which successfully evokes the conceptual ‘Triangulation’ album title. The ‘triangulation’ concept refers to geographically pinpointing your exact location at a specific … Continue reading
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Tagged album, blues, Dave LaRue, Dixie Dreggs, Eric Johnson, Flying Colors, funk, fusion, instrumental, Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull, John Petrucci, Kevin Morse, King Crimson, prog, review, Robert Fripp, rock, Scott Sim, Steve Morse, Steve Morse Band, Triangulation, Van Romaine
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Album review: PAVLOV’S DOG – Essential Recordings 1974-2018 (5-CD box set)
Ruf Records [Release date 27.09.24] What are we to make of a fairly basic box set from a band that have been described as “legendary” but who – this side of the pond – have largely gone unnoticed? ‘Essential Recordings’ … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets
Tagged album, AOR, box set, David Surkamp, Essential Recordings 1974-2018, melodic rock, Pavlov's Dog, prog, prog pop, progressive, review
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EP review: JIMMY OWEN – 10Ft Squared
Self Release [Release date 24.10.25] ‘10Ft Squared’ is the perfect introduction to Jimmy Owen, a guitar driven, singer-songwriter and restless artistic spirit, who straddles prog, fusion, Californian tinged soft rock, pop and unexpectedly the blues. It’s a mini album or … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged 10Ft Squared, album, blues, Brave Rival, Dave Gilmour, Emily Francis, Eric Johson, Erik Stams, Frank Zappa, fusion, Jimmy Owen, Lindsey Bonnick, Nick Drake, Noah Nelson, prog, review, soft rock, Steve Hillage, Wolf Moon
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Gig review: SOLSTICE – Jellyman’s Mill, Kidderminster, 31 August 2025
One of my favourite albums of the year is ‘Clann’ from long term prog rockers Solstice. For the past few months it has been a case of catchup as the only other album I was familiar with is ‘Prophecy’ reissued … Continue reading
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Tagged 31 August 2025, Jellyman's Mill, Kidderminster, prog, Progressive Rock, Solstice
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Album review : SWEET FREEDOM – Blind Leading The Blind
Frontiers [Release date : 29.08.25] Swedish band Sweet Freedom is the real deal. Head and shoulders above most others walking the Classic Rock road nowadays (even if occasionally going off tangentially). The band: founder member Jorgen Schelander’s background is in … Continue reading
Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – Conflict
Park Records [Release date 23.05.25] Always good to have a new album from folk rockers Steeleye Span and this is their 24th studio album. Still led by singer Maddy Prior, the rest of the band consists of Julian Littman (guitar, mandolin, vocals), … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Conflict, folk rock, Julian Littman, Maddy Prior, prog, review, Rick Kemp, rock, Steeleye Span, traditional music
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Gig review: CHANTEL McGREGOR – The 100 Club, London, 23 May 2025
Before concentrating on Chantel’s set, a quick word about Blue Nation, who kick off proceedings tonight with a highly entertaining 45 minute set. The Brummie band have some great songs and a ‘let’s have fun’ ethic that shines through their … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 23 May 2025, Album Launch, Blue Nation, blues, blues rock, Chantel McGregor, gig, guitarist, hard rock, London, prog, review, rock, the 100 Club
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Album review: CHANTEL McGREGOR – The Healing
On Sunday 11 May on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio Pete Feenstra chatted to Chantel about the new album and featuring a selection of tracks. Website [Release 23.05.25] This is Chantel McGregor’s third studio album, following on from her 2011 debut, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, Chantel McGregor, guitarist, hard rock, interview, prog, radio, review, rock, The Healing
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Album review: GENTLE GIANT – Playing The Fool – The Complete Live Experience
David Randall chatted to Gentle Giant frontman Derek Shulman on release day, featuring tracks from the album and with reference to Derek’s subsequent career as a top record company executive. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 4 May … Continue reading
Album review: SOLSTICE – Clann
https://solsticeprog.uk/ [Release date 04.04.25] I should start this by saying “where have Solstice been all my reviewing life?” I have been vaguely aware of their existence, more familiar with their album ‘Prophecy’ (2013), but it is only now that they are … Continue reading
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Tagged Andy Glass, Clann, folk, fusion, prog, Progressive Rock, Solstice
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Gig review: FISH – O2 Academy, Glasgow, 9 March 2025
‘So here I am once more in the playground of the broken hearts…’ Fish and his music have been a constant in my life for the past 42 years. I first saw him onstage back on the 31st December 1983 … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 9th March 2025, Edinburgh Playhouse, Fish, Fugazi, gig, Glasgow, live, Liz Antwi, Lucky, Marillion, Market Square Heroes, Mickey Simmonds, O2 Academy, prog, Road To The Isles Tour, Robin Boult, rock
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Album review: DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM – Big Blue Sky
Pete Feenstra chatted to Doris Brendel about her music and her influential artists/tracks. Including tracks from her new album with Lee Dunham ‘Big Blue Sky’. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 23 February 2025. Sky Rocket Records [Release … Continue reading
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Tagged album, blues, Doric Brendel, Eliza Neals, Gary Moore, gospel, interview, Lee Dunham, prog, radio, review, rock, soul, vocal
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Album review: EVERON – Shells
Music Theories Recordings / Mascot [Release date: 28.02.25] German progressive rock band Everon were quite prolific in the late nineties / early noughties, releasing seven albums between 1993’s ‘Paradoxes’ and ‘North’ in 2008 – all of which somehow avoided … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Everon, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Shells
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
They may not have the same veteran status as the headliners of this show, but Reef are celebrating 30 years in the business this year. No mean feat, with founding members Gary Stringer on vocals and Jack Bessant on bass. … Continue reading
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Tagged 6 November 2024, blues, Deep Purple, gig, hard rock, live, prog, review, rock, Smoke On The Water
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Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024
Steve Hackett continues to tour relentlessly, playing to packed houses of knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans, year after year. Tonight, the venerable Royal Albert Hall was sold out and brimming with anticipation. A couple of tracks in and even the vastly … Continue reading
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Tagged Genesis, gig, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, live, prog, review, Royal Albert Hall, Steve Hackett
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Album review: NEKTAR – Mission To Mars
Deko [Release date 30.06.24] And so Nektar are back with another new line-up, but without keyboard player Klaus Henttatch, the last mainstay of the band since the passing of Roye Albighton. Sadly drummer and founder member Ron Howden also passed … Continue reading
Album review: CIRCULINE – C.O.R.E.
Inner Nova Music [Release date 20.09.24] There’s nothing quite like a bit of old school schmoozing. Circuline have, let’s say, a certain maturity of years (their bassist Shelby excluded) and – therefore – a maturity of outlook. Old timers like … Continue reading
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Tagged album, C.O.R.E., Circuline, Dave Bainbridge, prog, Progressive Rock, review
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Single review: HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT’S ADEQUATE – Copenhagen
Bandcamp [Release date 11.06.24] ‘Copenhagen’ is the second single from forthcoming album ‘The Uncertainty Principle’ by Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate. It is currently available on Bandcamp, and will be on other platforms from July. ‘Copenhagen’ is about a disputed conversation … Continue reading
Album review: THE DAVE FOSTER BAND – Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us
English Electric Recordings [Release date 31.05.24] Several years ago when I saw The Steve Rothery Band playing live Dave Foster provided support, and then reappeared in the Marillion guitarist’s band. Half way through Foster’s own set, an ethereally toned guitar … Continue reading
