Temple of the Smoke - The Lost Art of Twilight. 2013 Serbia

Temple of the Smoke are a four piece psychedelic spacerock band from Serbia. The country itself has spawned perhaps one of the greatest progressive psych bands of our time in Igra Staklenih Perli. Well, Temple of the Smoke certainly won't remind you of the great ISP, but they are carving out their own niche in the genre that is just as exciting. It's rare to hear a band that mixes early 80's Tangerine Dream sequencer based Berlin School electronic with modern day slabs of riffing metal, ala classic Kyuss or Colour Haze complete with lengthy psychedelic blues guitar solos tagged to the end. There's some Ozric Tentacles reggae inspired space rock bits mixed in. Elsewhere, long tracks driven by woody bass, steady drums, and soaring synthesizer solos. Late 70s Eloy meets an instrumental Manilla Road? Wow - that's a comparison that'll have me mailing in a check for a copy as fast as possible! Am I exaggerating? I don't think I am.

Ownership: LP: 2013 Cosmic Eye (Greece)

5/31/13 (new entry)

Papir - III. 2013 Denmark

Papir's third album is like a bridge between Ash Ra Tempel's Join Inn and New Age of Earth. From the latter, the guitar playing perfectly emulates Manuel Gottsching's shimmering, yet tropically sunny, spatial sound. From the former, the band as a whole gets down to no-nonsense cosmic psychedelic jamming. Papir are a guitar trio with keyboard accompaniment, and no doubt are influenced by the original early 70s Krautrock movement. Even the motorik sounds of Can are apparent here. Certainly more an accurate portrayal of Papir than the "West Coast" jam band motif of The Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Music Service. I also appreciate the high melodic quotient applied here, something many jam bands today completely miss out on. I only wish Papir had been around 25 years ago, when bands such as this were non-existent, and most assuredly would have been a favorite of mine back then. Today, they get lost in the shuffle.

Ownership: LP: 2013 El Paraiso. Single sleeve. Side 2 has the times reversed. It is, in fact, the last track that is over 15 minutes long.

5/31/13 (new entry)

Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark. 2013 Canada-Ontario

The Eldritch Dark sees Blood Ceremony improve on the already excellent Living with the Ancients. The doom metal Black Sabbath component has been reduced, and a decidedly more typical 1969/70 tone has been adopted in its stead. Oh yes, it's still a heavy album - just not as overt as prior. Organ, mellotron, acoustic guitar, fiddle, and flute are more prominent than prior. From a compositional perspective, the band took a page from the early 70s UK folk rock playbook of Mellow Candle and Fuchsia. And Blood Ceremony are now fully admitted into the Post psychedelic, proto progressive with female vocals club. As I said on my Living with the Ancients review, Ian Anderson wasn't the only one walking around with a flute in England in those days - it was a fairly standard instrument in the 1970 English rock landscape. So you may find comparisons to Tull compulsory, rather than accurate.

Now a word about Alia O'Brien's vocals. Throughout the album, I was reminded of someone very specific. But I couldn't figure it out. Then it hit me. All I needed to do was look at my own list above. It's Silvana Aliotta of Circus 2000, who no doubt was influenced by Grace Slick herself. And the first time I read a description of Circus 2000, her vocals were said to be "witchy". How appropriate, then, that O'Brien has a similar voice. Not sure if it's intentional (probably not), but definitely a cool voice to possess.

All the changes Blood Ceremony implemented on The Eldritch Dark are for the better as far as I'm concerned. Even the lyrics have improved. It's still witch stuff, but at least they seem to be taking it more seriously and professional than prior.

Ownership: CD: 2013 Metal Blade (USA)

5/28/13 (new entry)

Il Segno del Comando. 1997 Italy

Il Segno del Comando's debut comes from the 90's renaissance wave of darkly influenced Italian progressive music as promoted by the Black Widow label of Genoa. Their haunting formula includes pipe organ, synthesizer, echoplex'd guitar, and impassioned vocals in Italian. Il Segno del Comando were the culmination of Black Widow's stable of the era, which included Runaway Totem (especially at the time of their debut), Standarte, Malombra, and Abiogenesi. Perhaps a bit more space rock influenced than the aforementioned bands, making it all that much more interesting. As is typical of albums from the 90s, the production is a bit bright and thin - thus diluting the impact of the overall power of the compositions. Also Il Segno del Comando are one of the few Italian bands using a real mellotron during this era.

If there was ever an album that proves the theory that a weak ending can ruin the overall impression, it's Il Segno del Comando. After an impressive 6 track run, the band enters a full 10 minute clumsy 90's styled funk track ('La Taverna dell'Angelo') with no less than the annoying soprano sax in the lead. I'm convinced the low grades this album gets tagged with are no doubt weighed down by this clunker. Try to overlook it.

Ownership: CD: 1997 Black Widow. Standard jewel case new album layout. Purchased new online upon release.

5/19/13 (new entry); 6/1/20 

Hokr - Zahřáté Brzdy Optimismu. 2012 Czech Republic

It's been 8 years since Hokr's last album, and in between they released an album under the name Poco Loco. Zahřáté brzdy optimismu is closer in sound to Poco Loco than the last Hokr. The vocals have an anguished guttural quality similar to Peter Hammill (except sung in Czech), and the dense complex compositions recall the early 70s albums by Van der Graaf Generator. Sax, fuzz bass, and amplified organ lead the instrumental side of the band. This a fairly unique album overall. Perhaps only Garden Wall of Italy has a similar compositional style. Remove the metal guitars and add sax, and you have about the closest cousin you can spot. And they are distant cousins. Very distant. Highly recommended for the adventurous progressive rock listener.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Ears & Wind

5/18/13 (new entry)

Setna - Cycle I. 2007 France

If Zeuhl is the genre tag that must be applied, then it's Zeuhl in the same way Offering is rather than Magma. Cycle I is primarily an atmospheric jazz release with soft chanting female vocals. Electric piano, synthesizer, and saxophone are the other primary instruments of choice. Those coming to this looking for ripping Paganotti/Top-styled bass and insane martial Vander-like drumming, will surely come away disappointed. Certainly Setna sit towards the Magma side of Offering (especially as the disc spins on, and the last track features some fine Mahavishnu styled guitar from guest James McGaw), but still the metaphor holds. Ambient jazz Zeuhl.

Former ownership: CD: 2007 Soleil Zeuhl. Digipak

2008 (first listen); 5/18/13 (review / new entry); 4/11/24

Purson - The Circle & The Blue Door. 2013 England

Starting with strummed acoustic guitar, followed by flute mellotron, shimmering cymbals, and phased female vocals - yea ALRIGHT we're in 1971 again! Do I look like I'm complaining? Helllll, no. A heavy bass run, more mellotron, acoustic guitar, and there it is, heavy organ and psychedelic guitar. Cool, I'm happy. What's for dinner?

Purson is more early 70s rock than progressive rock, and in reality, it fits quite nicely in my Proto Prog with Female Vocals list.

If any of the above remotely interests you, then of course you'll want to own this. Another winner from Rise Above!

Ownership: CD: 2013 Rise Above

5/18/13 (new entry)

Wolf People - Fain. 2013 England

For those who keep hoping that Transatlantic didn't release all of their tapes in 1971, then Wolf People gives one hope that such reel-to-reels may have been found. Except Fain was recorded in 2013. Don't tell the band though. It may depress them beyond recovery. So, in the end, Wolf People appear to be a cross between fictional band mates Stray, CMU, and even Gryphon. Perhaps Wolf People may want to go completely madcap and next try to emulate Jan Dukes de Grey and Marsupilami. Not sure even I could handle that - may need a heart surgeon nearby for an experience like that. I'll take what I can get... and encourage Wolf People to continue their odyssey through the deranged 1971 mindset. I can listen to stuff like this all day.

Ownership: CD: 2013 Jagjaguwar (USA)

5/18/13 (new entry)

Gunter Schickert - Samtvogel. 1974 Germany

Schickert was one of the pioneers of the sound-on-sound guitar based electronik musik movement along with Achim Reichel (AR & Machines) and Manuel Gottsching (Ash Ra Tempel). An intense, burning, cyclical pounding of the senses, as Schickert tries to resolve the angst of the Cold War Berlin world he lives and breathes. A psychotic aural vision that is so perfectly realized.

Ownership: LP: 1975 Brain. Single sleeve

CD: 2013 Important

Until ebay came along, I wasn't aware that Samtvogel had originally been a private press (first scan). The 2nd photo is the Brain release, that was purchased (not licensed) by Metronome a year later. As you can see, the cover was slightly enhanced to show the artist and title. Also worth noting that this was a later green Brain era pressing, and thus no Metronome was appended. This was the version I first found in a Dallas area record store in the late 1980s, and still own. While most of the "Rock On Brain" series of albums featured substandard covers, I have to admit that I do enjoy the one they pressed for Samtvogel (3rd photo). As for reissues, it seemed it would never happen, and was one of the last of the "Green Brain" albums to be considered (there's still a few to go!). But the ice finally broke in 2010 with the announcement of both a CD and an LP reissue. Except only the LP came out (on Spain's Wah Wah)! Finally, 3 years later, the CD is here. And it's a beauty! A stunning tri-fold digi-pak (that replicates the original private press cover) with in-depth liner notes and an album review. The CD itself looks like an old Impulse jazz release if considering the back cover (thanks goes to Gnosis Mike for that observation). About the only bummer is the lack of bonus tracks, which is a bit surprising given that Schickert was one of the original "bedroom" composers.

1989; 5/17/13 (new entry)

Musica Ficta - A Child & A Well. 2005 Israel (archival)

Musica Ficta's A Child & A Well remind me of some of the best of the 90's progressive rock bands, with heavy guitars (not quite metal, but almost), flute, soaring synthesizer solos, acoustic piano/guitar, an active rhythm section, and pretty female vocals. On this latter point, despite the English titles of the songs and the album itself, the lyrics are entirely in Hebrew. As if to prove that the native language should always be the first choice, and the Hebrew language is practically impenetrable for English speakers, and yet it sounds beautiful as if another instrument has been applied. Compositionally complex, so that the attentive listener is rewarded with multiple screenings.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Fading / AltRock

5/15/13 (new entry)

Runaway Totem - Affreschi e Meditazione. 2012 Italy

A very odd new release for Runaway Totem. Those coming to this album looking for their trademark Zeuhl sound will be sorely disappointed. It's mainly an electronic album (heavy on the brass sounds) with acoustic nylon guitars, all heavily filtered - and could almost be considered an ambient release. There are a couple of rock moments, with Italian vocals, but overall this one is a real curveball. That's not to say it's a bad album - it is indeed a very forward looking and progressive release in the truest meaning of the term. Not sure where I stand on it. Definitely not what I expected so I stand confused. 

---3/15/18

Decided to sell after all...

Former ownership: CD: 2012 Lizard

5/9/13 (first listen / review / new entry); 3/15/18 (update)

Setna - Guérison. 2013 France

For my tastes, I feel Guérison is a definite improvement on their debut, though the band still needs to take off the leash a bit. The introduction of Ratledge-styled organ, and fuzz bass, gives the band a cool Canterbury edge. Setna are definitely more of a Zeuhl band now rather than an atmospheric jazz ensemble with Magma trimmings. But they still seem to lay back all too much. Sure would like to see Setna go all-in like Corima or Koenji Hyakkei - at least on occasion. All that emotional build up needs an epic climax... a release of anger.  

Ownership: CD: 2013 Soleil Zeuhl

5/8/13 (new entry)

Oxhuitza. 2013 Italy

So we have a strange one here. If you read the advert for the band, you'd think Oxhuitza were a pure retro 1970s Italian progressive rock play. But this is two separate bands playing together. On the one hand you have the guitarist laying down chords in a pseudo metal style that was popular in the 90s. And the plodding fat rhythms could have backed up Dio in his prime. Then there's the two keyboard players, who seem completely oblivious to modern times. Each are playing away on a bank of Moogs, Mellotron, Hammond organ, and acoustic piano in the grand tradition of the 70's Italian masters. Meanwhile the bass player straddles both genres with his decidedly retro flute playing. I suppose the keyboards are truly the focus here, so it definitely appeals more to my tastes. But one does wish for Furio Chirico (Arti + Mestieri's drummer) and Danilo Rustici (Osanna's guitarist) to walk in and lay the place to waste, for something truly extraordinary. Maybe next time?

Ownership: CD: 2013 Mirror

5/7/13 (new entry)

Mantric Muse. 2012 Denmark

Mantric Muse are a band from Denmark that have been around for nearly 20 years, and have received many great write-ups for their fiery club concerts in Scandinavia. But the band never officially released anything (beyond some archival live stuff on CD-R), and it seemed this tree would produce no fruit. Mantric Muse proceeded to become the root system for Oresund Space Collective, which dimmed hopes further for a studio outing. OSC, ironically, have been incredibly productive since 2005. While OSC tend to be more sprawling, improvisational, and more in line with traditional space rock - Mantric Muse are a much tighter outfit. This is bread and butter Hillage-era  Gong styled progressive rock. For fans of early Ozric Tentacles and Quantum Fantay, this a no-brainer pick up. Always great to hear new inspiration applied to an already excellent formula. 7 minute 'Azur' has to be heard to be believed. A breathless track with many twists, turns, spins, swoons, and just an overall dizzying track of immense proportion. Don't miss this gem.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Transubstans (Sweden)

5/7/13 (new entry)

Phlox - Vali. 2013 Estonia

Vali is a live offering from Phlox that predominantly features new material, excepting the last two tracks both from the Rebimine + Voltimine album. The always excellent combination of complexity and melodicism are still in full force. Some of the unhinged improvisational aspects of Rebimine + Voltimine have returned, perhaps not surprising given the live setting. The saxophone certainly pushes the envelope and sometimes borders good taste, but reels it back just in time. Though Vali is my least favorite of the three Phlox albums I've heard, it's still quite excellent. I will say this title has grown on me since first hearing it.

Ownership: CD: 2013 MKDK

5/7/13 (first listen / review / new entry)

Liquid Wolf - First Light. 2012 Finland

While the keyboards are definitely retro (Hammond, Moog, Mellotron), I think it's only fair to let everyone know that there's plenty of chugga chugga metal riffing and androgynous nasally vocals here - putting it more squarely into the 2005 time frame than 1973. Certainly nothing wrong with that, but the descriptions I've been reading in cyberspace seem to skip that aspect of their sound.

With that out of the way, Liquid Wolf provide us with an excellent album, primarily instrumental (thank goodness, as the vocals are awful IMO - sorry to say) with plenty of long and creative instrumental runs. Lose the vocals and the metal sounding guitars (and I love metal - but not in this setting), and Liquid Wolf would probably be a 4.5 to 5 star (Gnosis 12+) band for me. And probably sell 30 albums, so don't listen to me! :-)

Ownership: CD: 2012 Samsara

5/7/13 (new entry)

SoulenginE - Mind Colours. 2012 Italy

While not the most representative nom de plume they could have selected, SoulenginE deliver a finely crafted instrumental selection of progressive rock compositions. Formed by members of The Watch, it would appear SoulenginE are yet another creative outlet for a band that has become notorious (and highly lauded) for their ability to embody all that is great about classic Genesis. And while the band can probably never distance themselves too far from penning a Nursery Cryme, I think the average progressive listener will be very pleased with this instrumental set. So have no fear, you are much closer to the made-up dance step of the Genesis Foxtrot than the disco imagery one immediately associates with Soul Train, er... Engine. Lots of mellotron, Moog, soaring guitar, time-signature-change goodness to be found within. Overall conclusion - and maybe a bit too esoteric here - but I'd say SoulenginE is to The Watch what Submarine Silence was is to Moongarden. Basically a more retro and instrumental outlook of their raison d'etre.

Ownership: CD: 2012 MaRaCash

5/4/13 (new entry)

Druckfarben. 2011 Canada-Ontario

In the 1970s, there existed a band from Toronto called Dillinger, who seamlessly mixed progressive rock and commercial styled tunes to perfection. Druckfarben are the spiritual successor to the two Dillinger albums. It is the definition of the USA Midwest / Ontario Progressive Rock (1970's/early 80s) sound that I've painstakingly documented. Given that this is a 2011 release, the commercial aspects are less "FM ready", but rather geared to the discerning listener of finely crafted pop music. Musically, with its very strong Hammond organ and violin presence, Druckfarben are clearly aiming for the Point of Know Return. And having hindsight at their disposal, they only leave the good stuff in, while weeding out the cringe worthy material. Excellent new band with many ideas. Let's see where they go next.

Ownership: CD: 2011 private. Digi-pak. Purchased new a couple of years after release.

5/2/13 (new entry)

Gorizont (Horizont) - The Portrait of a Boy. 1989 Russia

Everything I said about Summer in Town applies to Portrait of a Boy. The original cheap vinyl pressing that I once distributed due to popular demand, and that the CD is far superior with excellent liner notes.

Life at the tractor plant must have caused a certain kind of insanity, as Gorizont returned with one more flourish at producing a highly creative record. On this effort, Gorizont present us with five tracks, with the last piece adding vocals for the first time. Perhaps even more complex than Summer In Town, this continues the use of ominous fuzz guitar and shifting meters offset by happy melodies. Paradoxes such as this are what make progressive rock such an exciting genre! Comparisons to Uzed era Univers Zero wouldn't be entirely inappropriate - understanding that it's highly unlikely Gorizont were familiar with the Belgian band. Similar conclusions are often drawn from different premises.

CD: 2000 Boheme Music
LP: 1989 Melodiya