Tag Archives: prog

Album review: LEGACY PILOTS – Aviation

LEGACY PILOTS - Aviation

Laterne [Release date 23.07.20] I do find in these strange days of Lockdown I am automatically drawn to the unusual and the previously unknown in terms of bands and albums.  Maybe even the underdog.  And especially those that don’t necessarily … Continue reading

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Book review: STEVE HACKETT – A Genesis In My Bed

STEVE HACKETT - A Genesis In My Bed

Wymer Publishing [Publication date 24.07.20] It was perhaps inevitable: riding the crest of the prog resurgence, repurposing classic Genesis in front of insatiable crowds, and making well received solo albums.  And now, the book! Steve Hackett traces his journey from … Continue reading

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News: JEFFERSON STARSHIP, THE CULT, SKERRYVORE, Y&T (July 2020)

SAVOY BROWN- 100 Club, London, 18 January 2020

Jefferson Starship are planning to put out an EP, ‘Mother Of The Sun’, on 21 August via Golden Robot Records. Guitarist David Freiberg is the only original member remaining in the group, although former bassist Pete Sears plays on three … Continue reading

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Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to STEVE HACKETT

Steve Hackett Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 7th May 2017 photo Steve Goudie 27

Alan Jones and David Randall chart the rise and revival of progmeister par excellence, Steve Hackett When we reviewed the Steve Hackett gig in October 2013 following the release of the second Genesis Revisited album, Pete Whalley summed things up.  … Continue reading

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Album review: MAGENTA – Masters Of Illusion

MAGENTA - Masters Of Illusion

Tigermoth [Release date 10.07.20] It seems a while since Magenta’s last studio release – We Are Legend (2017), and much as I enjoyed it, I have to confess it isn’t an album I’ve felt overly inclined to revisit at regular … Continue reading

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Album review: MANDOKI SOULMATES – Living In The Gap/Hungarian Pictures

MANDOKI SOULMATES - Living In The Gap/Hungarian Pictures

Red Rock Production/Cleopatra Records [Release date 06.20] 2-CD Reviewing in the millennium means that we miss out on previous decades’ lavish PR packages.  If we are lucky these days we get a 320kbps download.  The arrival of the re-promoted Mandoki … Continue reading

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News: THE QUIREBOYS, AYREON, JOE BONAMASSA, ASH, KORN (June 2020)

JOE BONAMASSA- Royal Albert Hall, London, 25 April 2019

Valentine (the melodic rockers featuring Hugo on vocals), have teased on Facebook that new material is due soon. Joe Bonamassa has released a new song ‘When One Door Opens’. Feature: Gigs of the Millennium Arjen Lucassen has announced the release … Continue reading

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Album review: RUSH – Permanent Waves 40th Anniversary Edition

UCM [Release date 29.05.20] Back in January 1980 Rush released their seventh studio album which met with great critical acclaim and saw the band reach their highest chart positions worldwide. That album was Permanent Waves and it was the first … Continue reading

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Album review: MYRATH – Live In Carthage

earMusic [Release date 17.04.20] Carthage has a lot of history, not all good unfortunately. It was one of the richest cities in the ancient world and was the centre of the Punic empire which proved to be a thorn in … Continue reading

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Album review: MAGENTA – Acapela 2016 and 2017 (CD/DVD)

MAGENTA - Acapela 2016 and 2017

Tigermoth Productions [Original release date 04.11.19] Magenta are one of those bands who have influenced many other prog wannabes whilst sometimes getting overlooked themselves.  They’ve never had significant wider acclaim, never employed big time PR or appeared on major labels, … Continue reading

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Feature: Call Collect: An introduction to FOCUS

Focus - Hard Rock Hell Prog, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

In their own words, Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman discuss the early days of Focus and their wider success…and demise in the late 1970s.  This feature is based on interviews in 1990 for a ‘Record Collector’ article published in … Continue reading

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News: QUEEN, MARILLION, HELLOWEEN, DEVIN TOWNSEND (April 2020)

Quireboys - Giants of Rock, Butlins, Minehead, 26 January 2020

Hawklords release a new live album ‘Hawklords Alive’ on May 29. Marillion have started work on a new album during the current lockdown and are posting regular updates on their social media. Pattern-Seeking Animals (who feature current and former members … Continue reading

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Album review: CAMEL – Live At The Royal Albert Hall (CD/DVD/Bluray)

CAMEL - Live At the Royal Albert Hall (CD/DVD/Bluray)

www.camelproductions.com [Release date 18.11.19]  DVD/Bluray It seems ages since Camel played a special gig at the Royal Albert Hall as the climax of their ‘Moonmadness’ outing in September 2018.  It marked a return to the hallowed portals after a gap … Continue reading

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Album review: MOON HALO – Chroma

MOON HALO - Chroma

[Release date 13.01.20] available at moonhalomusic.co.uk and bandcamp.com The tide may have ebbed for the final time on Riversea – a band who produced two quite outstanding albums that somehow failed to get the exposure they deserved – but Moon … Continue reading

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Album review: CHANTEL McGREGOR – Bury’d Alive

Chantel McGregor - Bury

Tis Rock Music Ltd [Release date 24.09.19] ‘Bury’d Alive’ is an album that celebrates honesty, integrity and intensity. It’s honest because what you hear is what went down on the night. It’s full of integrity because Chantel McGregor champions new … Continue reading

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Album review: RODNEY MATTHEWS & JEFF SCHEETZ – Trinity

RODNEY MATTHEWS - Trinity

Rodney Matthews Studios [Release date 13.12.19] Renowned fantasy artist Rodney Matthews, illustrator of over140 album covers, is also a jazz/rock/prog drummer of note, and has previously recorded solo and with guitarist Jeff Scheetz. Here he teams up again with Scheetz … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARILLION – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 4 November 2019

MARILLION - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 4 November 2019

Rightly acknowledged as one of the bands at the forefront of crowdfunding, I’m beginning to think Marillion should also be given credit as pioneers in recycling. Because whilst I’ve been a fan since Fish jumped ship 30 years ago, I … Continue reading

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Gig review: FOCUS/Chantel McGregor – Under the Bridge, London, 25 October 2019

FOCUS/Chantel McGregor- Under the Bridge, London, 25 October 2019

This show in one of London’s more enjoyably upscale venues was an opportunity for me to kill two birds with one stone, as well as bringing together two contrasting acts in an interesting pairing. Chantel McGregor has been a rising … Continue reading

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Album review: CHASING THE MONSOON – No Ordinary World

CHASING THE MONSOON - No Ordinary World

[Release date 20.09.19] Once upon a time, in a Galaxy far, far away – well, OK, maybe not a Galaxy far away, but Swansea isn’t a place most people could pinpoint on a map without the help of Google – … Continue reading

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Album review: ELAINE SAMUELS & KINDRED SPIRIT BAND – Elemental

ELAINE SAMUELS & KINDRED SPIRIT BAND - Elemental

[Release date 02.11.19] Folk rock imbued with flute?  It’s impossible not to make Tull/Anderson comparisons.  Violin – Curved Air anyone? But Elaine Samuels and her Kindred Spirits (no relation Siobhan Maher’s all too short lived post River City People liaison … Continue reading

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Album review: YOGI LANG – A Way Out Of Here

Yogi Lang - A Way Out Of Here

Gentle Art Of Music  [Release date: 08.11.19] Although probably a new name to those not in the know, Yogi Lang’s day job is as vocalist and front-man for exceptional German progressive rock luminaries RPWL (he’s the ‘L’). He’s flown solo … Continue reading

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Album review: DANDELION CHARM – Maybe Dreamers

DANDELION CHARM – Maybe Dreamers

Independent [Release date 01.11.19] Dandelion Charm – John Fowler and Clare Fowler – return with their second studio album and ‘Maybe Dreamers’ marks a big leap forward for the band, as they widen their musical horizons further. Sadly this album … Continue reading

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Gig review: FISH – Craigiehill Fest, Perth, 31 August 2019

Craigie Hill Fest is held annually in the carpark of Craigiehill Golf Course on the outskirts of Perth. I must say it hadn’t featured on my gig radar prior to this year and they have an eclectic mix of musical styles on throughout … Continue reading

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Album review: MARILLION – Live In Glasgow/Brave Live (reissues)

MARILLION - Live In Glasgow

earMUSIC [Release date 01.03.19] Almost 25 years separates the final two releases in this series of ten limited and numbered Marillion live albums. Recorded in 1989, Live In Glasgow captures the band at the very beginning of the Steve Hogarth … Continue reading

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Album review: CARAVAN – The Decca/Deram Years (An Anthology) 1970-1975

CARAVAN - The Decca/Deram Years (An Anthology) 1970-1975

Decca/UMC [Release date 06.09.19] Caravan The Decca/Deram Years may not look quite as handsome as the previous 4 disc anthology (2010), and notwithstanding the 2-disc compilation (2000), it is nevertheless the most complete introduction to the band. Presented in a … Continue reading

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