Saturnia - α Ω α. 2012 Portugal

Saturnia is the solo project of a one Luis Simões, a multi-instrumentalist from Portugal. His primary interest is psychedelic space rock, somewhat similar to Sweden's ST Mikael, but more varied and less aggressive. I can remember reading about his albums at the beginning of the millennium. However the idea of a one man show - playing in a style that I prefer the synchronicity of a band - wasn't enough for me to separate some money from the wallet. Fast forward some 20 years, and I have trade credit to use, and there is Saturnia. It was mixed with a pile of other new heavy metal titles, which makes sense when you realize the album was released on Elektrohasch, the house label of stoner extraordinaire Colour Haze. Why not give it a chance? And I was rewarded with a very thoughtful psychedelic journey. The variety of instruments and the decidedly warm tone definitely transcends the genre norms. It sounds very much like something that could have been released in the early 70s. A double album set is almost certain to induce boredom and yet it never feels that way. I didn't pick up any highlights, but I'm certain more focused listens would yield such. Not sure I need a lot more of Saturnia, but as one representative for the collection, α Ω α is a good one.

Ownership: LP: 2012 Elektrohasch. 2 LP set. Gatefold. Wonderful overall presentation. As noted above, recently picked this up in trade with our local friends at What's Left Records.

2018 Journal #7: Michel Madore, Bayete, Cesar Ascarrunz, AnVision

Michel Madore - La Chambre Nuptiale. 1978 Canada

Instrumental electronic album. A bit static on the whole. Never been reissued.

Bayete - Worlds Around the Sun. 1972 USA

Bayete, Todd Cochran by any other name, is a highly praised jazz release, but I don't hear anything overly special myself. It's... jazz. Good but nothing more.

Cesar Ascarrunz - Cesar 830. 1975 Bolivia

Has a couple of great songs, along the lines of Santana ('See Saw Affair' and 'Gotta Get Away'), but mostly this is fairly typical of the region. I had such high hopes for this title originally.

Anvision - Astralphase. 2012 Poland

Despite purporting the album to be more progressive rock oriented, along the lines of Eloy, this album proved to be somewhat generic prog metal. It's good though.

Chickencage Experience - An Eggspoiltation Movie. 2012 Germany

Basically the 4th Polytoxicomane Philharmonie album, Chickencage Experience pays homage to the female whispered space rock of the early 1970s. A perfect realization of psychedelic bluesy guitars, steady groove rhythms, copious phasing in the studio, synthesizers galore, and of course soft female vocals from a duo of angels. The most intense moments of Galactic Supermarket, Cosmic Jokers, Gong's Gilli Smyth, and Gilles Zeitschiff... meet Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus and Dead Can Dance at their most transcendental. Where you wanted Ash Ra Tempel's 'Jenseits' to go, and this time the dream didn't end.

And I haven't even watched the video yet that comes with it! (June 2018 note: still haven't!)

I sit in stunned silence.

Personal collection
CD: 2012 Nasoni w/DVD

Last listen: May 2013

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)

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)

Necronomicon - Haifische. 2012 Germany

Now this is how you do a reunion album! Essentially Necronomicon reformed and newly recorded previously composed tracks from the early 1970s. These compositions were never properly recorded, so the band reformed last year to finish the job. What's most interesting to me is that this sounds exactly like a well recorded album from 1973. There isn't a hint that this is a modern recording. The instrumentation, the production, and the songcraft all point to 40 years earlier. And, best of all, the four lengthy tracks presented here are better than their 1972 album proper! Much more progressively minded, with plenty of space for instrumental improvisation. As with their "Tips For Suicide" album, all the lyrics are sung in German. Perhaps the only downfall is the 13 minute 'Wenn die Menschen Tiere Wären' which is a tad too wordy for my tastes, but that's just a personal grump. But otherwise, Necronomicon's comeback is superb! And I hope they don't stop here. I wish all reunions would use this as a blueprint for how to restart a career (or hobby as it should be known).

Ownership: LP+CD: 2012 private. And now let's talk about the packaging, which is nothing short of magnificent. It is an exact duplicate of the multi foldout Tips zum Selbstmord - but this time it's white on black (see above photos). As well, the LP comes with a free CD to take along for the car ride. If you're an LP collector, this is the kind of album you dream about.

3/3/13 (new entry)

Kharmina Buranna - Seres Humanos. 2012 Peru

Seres Humanos continues in the same path, though they aren't as pointedly retro, and their sound has been updated ever so slightly. While the analog keyboards and production are still in full force, the composition style reminds me of the best bands of the early 90s. Gone is the blues rock, and in its place is a more stately sound with added female vocals. I hear a cross between Quaterna Requiem with Solstice in many places (though there is no violin). I found their new album no less enjoyable than the debut, despite a conscious move away from the early 70s style. The compositions are multi threaded and consistently engaging. Kharmina Buranna has certainly put forth a strong argument that they may be the best pure symphonic progressive rock band from South America today.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Azafran (Mexico)

2/18/13 (new entry)

Experimental Quintet - Atlantis. 2012 Romania

Experimental Quintet (aka Experimental Q, Experimental Quartet) are a group that go back to the 1970s. They were a band I had researched for the CDRWL, and after hearing some songs on YouTube, I about wet my pants. This is some of the finest unreleased progressive rock music I'd ever heard. Imagine a cross between Progresiv TM and Tortilla Flat, and you'll understand my enthusiasm. Flute, organ, fuzz guitar and hyper complex rhythms are what defined their sound. Unfortunately, as I already mentioned, the key word is unreleased. So therefore I couldn't really add it to the CDRWL. Apparently a whole LP was recorded, but the state label Electrecord must have thought it too subversive. And sadly, most of this material remains that of mystery and imagination.

After many years, the band decided to reform, sans the flute player who is now MIA. That's a pity, as the flute is such an integral part of their original sound. So they decided to use synthesizers to recreate the sound of the flute. Perhaps the weirdest part of this reunion is that the sound quality of the CD is worse than a Communist era 1970s recording. I'm guessing they were going for an "authentic" original experience, but I'm not sure it was necessary to take it that far. However, the guitar sound is still great, so there's much to grab onto here. All the music was originally written in 1970s, so it has that compositional reckless abandon that we only find from that era. Perhaps the best track of the CD is the one they didn't re-record: 'Quintet No. 2', which they transferred from the 1970s, complete with the original flute. Once you hear this, you'll see the great potential the band once had.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Soft Records

2/14/13 (new entry)

Montibus Communitas. 2012 Peru

A sister group to the band Ayahuasca Dark Trip that we featured yesterday, Montibus Communitas (Mountain Community) are more tribal and atmospheric than the ambient metal of the former. Though a 6 piece ensemble, who play a myriad of acoustic and electric instruments, the band seem more like a free folk collective than a rock band per se. Montibus Communitas' music is about cycles, trances, and meditation. Deeply ritualistic.

Ownership: LP: 2012 Cosmic Eye (Greece)

2/5/13 (new entry)

Lumerians - Transmissions From Telos Vol. 4. 2012 USA-California

Being the eternal packaging loons that the Lumerians are, they decided to put a mirror image on the different LP covers, so the bird faces a different way on each. The cover above is the French version, since that's all they have on RYM and I'm way too lazy to upload the version on Permanent. Oh, the US version is on white vinyl and the French one is beige. This band loves their packaging details that's for sure.

Putting the baseball card aspect aside for a moment, what about the music? As I'd read prior, this album is indeed more loose in structure. It features 4 long jams, that are untitled. "I mean, that's such a square thing to do man... who names songs anymore? They have no meaning anyway, ya know." Side 1 contains three songs. The first is within their trademark motorik territory, recalling the Can/Neu! sound. Track 2 is really interesting, like a freakbeat 1960's track gone amok. You can just picture the Girl in the Cage dancing her brains out, with the psychedelic liquid light show flashing chaotically behind. Track 3 is the real revelation here. For the first time that I can ever recall, a band has successfully attempted the Middle Eastern psychedelic jamming of Agitation Free's "Malesch". For that alone, the album should be held in high regard. Pounding drums, hand percussion, haunting organ atmospheres, with synthesizer solos laid on top. Breathtaking. What a sublime track! Unfortunately the momentum stops on the side long track for the flip side. I can appreciate a jam with focus, but this one just meanders aimlessly with far too much noise and chaos to have any impact. Such a shame to not capitalize on the fantastic first side. Still a recommended album - just not as much as the potential suggests.

Ownership: LP: 2012 Permanent

1/30/13 (new entry)

Psycho Praxis - Echoes from the Deep. 2012 Italy

[1971. A major city in the USA] Me and my friend Billy went over to Peaches Record Store and I just bought this great import album by an English band called Psycho Praxis. Dude, I spent 3 week's allowance on it. Looks awesome. A killer gatefold cover on Vertigo, mannn. Features acid guitar, Hammond organ, dreamy/amplified English vocals, fuzz bass, and flute. Reminds me of that other new band we bought called Uriah Heep, crossed with Jethro Tull, Atomic Rooster, and Raw Material. Right Billy?

....Except it's 2012 and they're from Italy.

I'm most anxious to see what they come up with next! Great album.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Black Widow

1/24/13 (new entry)

Quaterna Réquiem - O Arquiteto. 2012 Brazil

O Arquiteto is Quaterna Réquiem's first new studio album in 18 years. And really, as far as I'm concerned, it's the first new album by the band since 1990. Quaterna Réquiem has successfully reunited Wiermann and Vogel, along with long time drummer Cláudio Dantas and two new members on guitar and bass, to continue on the legacy they began on Velha Gravura. Unlike the Sithonia reunion that we just wrote about, Quaterna Réquiem eschewed the temptation to go retro with all analog instrumentation. Rather they decided to continue on exactly as if it were 1991 and it was time for a followup album. Still, the production standards are definitely 2012 and the keyboard tones are fatter and better recorded than the 1990 album - so fear not as they wisely upgraded in the production department. The highlight, of course, is the compositional quality which is richly layered and deeply thought out. Violin, piano, synthesizers and guitar all take their turn at leading the instrumental parade. It's a long instrumental album, as 22 years of ideas come pouring out, that requires close listening to fully appreciate. Quaterna Réquiem were at the forefront of the 1990 progressive movement, one that never really had much chance to spread its wings as the commercial neo-prog bands were dominating the contemporary audience at that time. If you long for the progressive rock sound of the 1990 era such as Solaris' 1990, Nuova Era's Dopo L'Infinito, Minimum Vital's Sarabandes, and Tribute's Terra Incognita, then Quaterna Réquiem's O Arquiteto will fill that void. It brought a rush of memories back for me. Highly recommended.

Ownership: CD: 2012 private

1/8/13 (new entry)

Ornithos - La Trasfigurazione. 2012 Italy

Ornithos are a sextet that is culled from the excellent ensemble Il Bacio delle Medusa. Like many new progressive bands from Italy, Ornithos looks back to the classic 1973 era for inspiration. On that front, Ornithos will remind the listener of other such groups like La Maschera di Cera, La Torre dell'Alchemista, and Il Tempio delle Clessidre. But Ornithos doesn't stop there, as they also have one foot in the classic Vertigo label heavy rock sound of 1971 England. In this way, they recall groups such as Areknames (Italy), Diagonal (England), and Astra (USA). With an equipment setup straight out of the 70s (Hammond organ, mellotron, sax, flute, loud psychedelic guitar) along with female/male vocals and a songwriting style from the past, Ornithos are the perfect recipe for a heaping dish of Retro-Prog. So if you have a craving for such a meal, then be sure to stop by Ornithos. They're open all night!

Let's hope that Ornithos doesn't take the classic Italian concept too far - that is to say - we are requesting another album! Too many of the best bands from 1972-1974 Italy were "one and done".

Ownership: CD: 2012 AMS/BTF. Papersleeve gatefold.

1/2/13 (new entry)

Moonwagon - Foyers of the Future. 2012 Finland

For their followup Foyers of the Future, it appears Moonwagon are consciously moving away from their Ozric Tentacles roots, and trying their hand at slower, more melodic music - citing perhaps the influence of a group such as the Future Kings of England. 'Elsewhere' opens the album with a Pink Floyd styled atmospheric rock number. This is followed by two rave-ups 'New World Warrior' and 'Dawnwind' that recall "Night Dust", and it would seem Moonwagon are off to the races. But from track 4 on, they put on the breaks and the focus is more on melody and atmosphere, rather than rhythms and pyrotechnics. I think I prefer the former style, but it will be interesting to see where Moonwagon goes from here.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Presence

12/8/12 (new entry); 9/7/18

Hidria Spacefolk - Astronautica. 2012 Finland

Space rockers Hidria Spacefolk return five years after Symetria with Astronautica, an album that has been highly anticipated by many, including myself. A couple of changes have occurred in the interim. The original keyboardist moved to Germany and has been replaced by Veikko Sutinen, who seems to favor the Fender Rhodes a bit more than his predecessor (that's a good thing). Hidria Spacefolk have also expanded to a sextet (yet another good thing) with the addition of percussionist Olli Kari, formerly of the much respected Uzva. Olli plays marimba, vibrafone, xylosynth, and sundry percussion. Despite these changes, Astronautica is largely a continuation of the style found on Symetria. Broader strokes, larger sound, simpler compositions, with more emphasis on atmosphere rather than tricky intricacies. However, there's no mistaking that this is a Hidria Spacefolk album, and they continue with their lively instrumental melodic psychedelic music, with plenty of tempo changes and electric guitar solos. Great driving the highway music! Overall an excellent album, though still not up to the high standard (IMO) of Symbiosis and Balansia. I'm already waiting anxiously for the next album!

Ownership: CD: 2012 private

11/14/12 (new entry)

Scherzoo - 02. 2012 France

Though released on the Soleil Zeuhl label, I think the users of RYM are right in labeling this band (on their debut) Avant Progressive first, and Zeuhl second. Scherzoo 02 dabbles in both styles, though I think the scales are tipped even further towards the dissonant avant prog methodology. It appears Present is a good blueprint here, with the addition of squonking sax - perhaps to its detriment. I'm really torn on Scherzoo. I want more of Thollot's Heldon-like Contact mixed with the Zeuhl styling of his latest outfit. Which isn't fair of course, since that's not what Scherzoo is about. But then again, as a consumer, who says I have to be fair? They're going in the wrong direction as far as I'm concerned and I may need convincing to go further with them. I think I just lost fanboy status.

CD: 2012 Soleil Zeuhl

Removed from the collection (2022)

10/2/12 (new entry); 3/7/18; 6/18/22

Barrett Elmore - Woodlands. 2012 Sweden

The first significant track here, 'The Creek', gives us a sleight of hand, as it purports that Barrett Elmore are coming from the neo-psych / shoegaze camp. But my fears were quickly removed by 'The Nixie', and the album manages to get weirder, more psychedelic and even progressive with each track. By the end of the album, on the 12 minute bonus track 'Psilocybe Semilanceata', Barrett Elmore are firing on all the right cylinders (or dropping all the right tabs). This is the kind of album one would expect to come out of the Subliminal Sounds stable with Gustav Ejstes writing the songs and Reine Fiske providing acid fuzz leads. File next to your three Smell of Incense albums.

Ownership: 2012 Trail (CD)

7/2/12 (new entry)

Änglagård - Viljans öga. 2012 Sweden

For years there was talk of a comeback. To the point of ridiculousness. It became something of a running joke. If not for the participation of actual band members on the various progressive rock focused chat boards, the whole thing would have been discredited. Then, seventeen years after Epilog had been released, another one of those tired announcements arrived: Änglagård has reformed and will have a new album out soon! Weee. Yawn. Heard that before.

Except this time it was real. The album cover was posted. The minute I saw it I just knew this was going to be special. Of course the naysayers were out in full force decrying the cover. Really? Where is the optimism of our planet anyway? To be honest, cover notwithstanding, I was still a bit skeptical. Spiritual leader Tord Lindman was no longer involved. And most importantly - 17 years is a long time. Really no band, in any era, is able to capture the spirit and angst of their youth. Anyone who has scaled challenging mountains, and the metaphoric equivalent in daily life, will tell their mighty tale on what a wonderful achievement it was - except the thought of doing it again is fatiguing. There's a price to pay for greatness. You have to exceed your mind, body, and spirit to accomplish it. And all of that is hard to regain, especially after going about the normal/mundane daily routine as we do.

But this is Änglagård, and they were always different. Personally, I'm floored by how great Viljans öga is. It sounds like classic Änglagård for certain, but it's still quite unique. They have changed some, and perhaps for the better. In fact, the two middle tracks 'Sorgmantel' (12:07) and 'Snårdom' (16:14) might be some the best compositions they've ever performed. Is it their best album? No, I'm not willing to say that. All three studio efforts are brilliant but I'm still partial to Hybris, perhaps the nostalgia factor wins the day.

So the question remains: Is this the bookend to a great era of progressive rock? Or are we about to embark on a new journey? I hope for the latter. Of course.

Ownership: LP: 2012 private. 2xLP. 45 RPM. Gatefold. Full sized booklet.

CD: 2012 private. Digipak.

CD: 2013 Arcangelo (Japan). Papersleeve edition. Part of a 3 mini-LP box set.

6/30/12 (first listen / review / new entry)

TEE - Trans-Europe Expression. 2012 Japan

So it appears TEE is going to be an acronym that remains fluid. For their debut album, they were known as The Earth Explorer. And now it is Trans-Europe Expression. Perhaps The Egg Enema won't be far behind...

Let me take you back 20 years to 1992. At that time, much was made of Änglagård bringing progressive rock back to its original splendor. Their appearance at the first Progressive Rock Festival in 1993 only solidified the legend. And I wholeheartedly agree with all the enthusiasm laid at the feet of this great Swedish band.

However, for myself and a few others, there was another album that had as much impact, but is not as well remembered. Two years prior to Änglagård, a band from Hungary released their second album: The mighty 2 LP opus 1990 by Solaris. It was a jaw dropper, a truly complex progressive rock album, with outstanding keyboards, guitars and flute. Perhaps it's only downfall for the revisionists is its lack of 1970s vintage analog equipment. And while I too would have enjoyed that, it has zero impact on my enjoyment of that amazing album.

Trans-Europe Expression is the second coming of Solaris' 1990!

This is a magnificent work, with some of the most melodic flute and guitar driven progressive rock I've heard in over 20 years. I find music like this irresistible. Love the European hill town photograph artwork as well.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Musea

3/13/12 (new entry)