Foreign Spaces - Phaeton. 2000 Germany

Foreign Spaces were one of many bands resurrecting the Berlin School electronic sounds of the 70s and 80s. A trio from Germany, all on various synthesizers, Foreign Spaces doesn't experiment beyond the genre norms in terms of sound and instrumentation. However what the band does manage to accomplish is capturing that unique vibe that Tangerine Dream brought forth circa 1979 to 1981 - that transitional phase from Force Majeure to Exit. There's an optimism in this sound - mysterious, joyous, and uplifting. Foreign Spaces also keeps the compositions from getting stale - always on the move keeping the listener guessing. Tangram ends up being the album it most reflects yet it's different in the way it develops. Perhaps Foreign Spaces is nothing more than a microplay on a broader sound, but for what they do, it's darn near perfect. There's nothing else like Phaeton in my collection, so I'm keeping it. +1 listen last night.

Ownership: CD: 2000 Invisible Shadows. Jewel case release with booklet and fold out poster. Acquired online at a time when I was loading up on electronic music (2004). I was surprised to see I'd heard this CD three times prior. This was definitely the most impactful listen.

11//04; 5/25/15; 2/3/16; 11/15/23 (new entry)

Kumm - Moonsweat March. 2000 Romania

Certainly one of the more interesting albums I've heard in some time, Kumm combines neo psych, indie, and progressive rock seamlessly. Their sound is distinctly of an earlier era, and that's where the allure lies here. It's an impeccably recorded album, and there's plenty of vintage gear to savor. I'm not an indie rock fan, and I have to admit that's where they get a couple of demerits here. The style mostly shows up in the vocal sections (all sung in English BTW) which aren't overly prominent. When learning of their heritage, the story become clear - one of their earlier incarnations was Talitha Qumi, which was one of my favorite new discoveries of the last decade. Had Kumm stayed out of the era from which they came, this too would have been a near masterpiece. As it stands, still very much worthy of ownership, given its unique style.

Ownership: CD: 2010 Soft Records. The CD is housed in a fine mini-LP package. This is the second press and includes one short bonus track.

Svarte Pan - Nattvandring. 2000 Sweden

Following up on my ExCubus review, here's another that found its way into a drawer marked "to sell". Hmmm... how about one more listen? And like ExCubus, I had another +2 moment (mind you I'm weeding out albums in my collection at a fairly healthy clip (and not reported here on UMR), so it's not the best environment to be successful - I just have too many CDs of the same type). I've said this before, but it seems every hard rock band from Sweden is trying to be the next November, a relatively obscure early 70s outfit that defines the movement for many musicians back at home. The problem here is that most bands from Sweden cannot eliminate modern influences - if even they are trying to. So what most of the hard rock bands from Sweden I've heard sound like are November meets... Stoner. Yeeuckk. I just cannot absorb that style no matter how hard I try. There's a pattern, and what seems like unbendable rules, to stoner music. The part that sounds like November is the lyrics are in Swedish - and that's about it.

For whatever reason, I think I was predetermined to put Svarte Pan in that bucket. But that's not right. These guys really do make a sincere attempt at a 70s Swedish hard rock sound. Language plays a key role, as does the analog production. It's a bit heavier and meatier than November, but that's not a problem at all. Certainly it's not metal though. Albums like this are going to only draw a certain kind of fan, and it's understandable why it rates lower (and probably sold less) than other bands who did embrace more modern sounds and techniques. Naturally I have to be the oddball. Story of my life.

Ownership: CD: 2004 Ant Nest. Not sure why they reissued this title as it never was really out of print or hard to find. Ah, I just remembered I'm the one who added it to Discogs. In any case, I picked this up in a bulk buy about 5 years ago, and it just now found its way into the collection.

Paradox - Collision Course. 2000 Germany

About 100 years ago - sometime in the early 90s - I had a chance to source Paradox's album Heresy on LP on the cheap. But I was "growing out of metal" and let it lay. So a century later or so, by pure chance, I ended up with the followup Collision. Released in that oh-so-not-thrash-metal year of 2000. And this mature (old? disposition?) corporate guy, has grown completely back into metal. I was never like the other children, that's for sure.

And for this album by Paradox? Well... quite the band name, eh? Just askin'.

Musically speaking, Paradox pretty much come up with a riff - and then another riff. And followed that with a.... c'mon guess?.... riff. For each song. Yea, the muddled timid Hetfield soundalike vocals kinda blow, but it's a small price to pay. Because thrash is all about riffs. And they are here. All over the place.

Personal collection
CD: 2000 AFM

Kopecky - Serpentine Kaleidoscope. 2000 USA-Wisconsin

Serpentine Kaleidoscope is the second album from the brothers' Kopecky, hailing from Racine, Wisconsin. The music is primarily a sophisticated kind of (mostly) instrumental prog metal, with middle eastern and Asian themes, including sitar from brother William. There's a couple of experimental tracks that detract a bit ('These White Walls' and 'Wings of Asphyxia'), but otherwise a very fine effort - one that will satisfy fans of progressive rock, jazz fusion, and metal.

Concerning Racine, interestingly enough I worked in the city for most of 1997 (as an IT contractor for tractor/farm equipment manufacturer J.I. Case). It's a nice town primarily made up of blue collar workers, with delicious family run Italian/Pizza restaurants (RIP Totero's), Greek diners, and Kringle shops on every corner. I hadn't heard of Kopecky while there, but admittedly I wasn't seeking live music at the time, nor was I plugged into that aspect of the culture. Though it's likely the band built up their following in nearby Milwaukee regardless.

CD: 2000 Cyclops (UK). CD is housed in a standard jewel case, and was released by the UK progressive rock specialist label Cyclops. The label is no longer active, though copies are still available for below retail. I suspect that will not always be the situation.

Removed from collection (2022)

12/29/16 (new entry); 6/8/22

Taal - Mister Green. 2000 France

On their debut album, Taal carefully skate the fine line between progressive rock and musical genre hopping. There is a difference. The former integrates influences into the full composition, whereas the latter throws a bunch of mud on the wall on the hopes something will stick. The first three tracks demonstrate that Taal are a force to be reckoned with, taking the 1970s French progressive masters into the modern age regarding instrumentation (heavier guitars, better production techniques) as well as filtering the best moments of the past. But once 'Ragtime' begins, Taal takes everything to the next level. Suddenly there's no comprehensive whole, and various factions are at war with each other as to what the album's music is to be. Something akin to ordering a Supreme pizza, where there's tons of ingredients, but someone in the kitchen lost focus on the crust, sauce, and cheese. (I always think in terms of food. In fact, what's in the fridge right now?...). In any case, there's still plenty of tracks to enjoy on their own, primarily 'Aspartamus', but the craziness detracts from what could have been a focused piece of art.

Ownership: CD: 2000 Musea. Standard jewel case release

Removed from collection (2020)

2001; 9/11/16 (new entry)

Spickle. 2000 USA-Louisiana

Spickle were a quartet from New Orleans, who play a type of instrumental metal, as performed by a late 1960's era garage psych band. Sure, one would call this math rock as well, I suppose. Whatever the genre warriors want to label it, this is one entertaining progressively slanted instrumental (heavy) rock album. It appears this is a band that fell entirely through the cracks. That's too bad. 

Sold the CD (2021)

2004; 9/6/15 (new entry); 10/12/21

Rain of Thought - A Realist's View Of Hope. 2000 USA-California

A really good example of modern instrumental progressive rock music. Complex, but subdued. Fantastic violin work throughout. Bass and drummer are putting on a clinic despite it not being an energetic release – almost a pure jazz approach to the rhythms. I would’ve preferred a more affected guitar tone, as the music seems so perfect for it, but still an excellent album. Features former Gnosis-mate Mike Ezzo (Newcross) on drums and percussion.

Ownership: CD: 2000 Ohsoddit

9/6/11 (new entry)