*Aunt Mary - Janus. 1990 Vertigo (CD) (1973). Collection revisit (Oct). Janus represents a smorgasbord of popular early 70s music, especially of the progressive rock persuasion. 'For All Eternity' sounds like Yes; 'Candles of Heaven;' is their ELP contribution; 'Stumblin' Stone' has a War slant; 'Mr. Kaye' is their Beatles rendition; 'Nocturnal Voice' could have been on the Junipher Greene album; and finally 'What a Lovely Day' sounds like any number of early 70s obscure UK prog bands. It was the right sound at the right time.
Aufklarung - De La Tempesta… L'Oscuro Piacere. 1995 Pickup (CD). Collection revisit (Sep). Yet another obscure 90s prog CD languishing in the collection that hasn't been touched in over 20 years. Much praise was heaped onto Aufklarung's debut on release, as it offered more than the usual Marillion styled neo prog / arena rock coming from Italy. Their sole album possesses quality songwriting and challenging segments, but does suffer from a typical 90s production. Singing in English takes away from the "Italian" edge, and some of the music falls flat. As you'll see repeatedly below, it was "good for its time" but hasn't aged as well as some of the albums I've recently featured in UMR from this same era.
Kraken in the Maelstrom - Embryogenesis. 1993 Mellow (CD). Collection revisit (Sep). One of the oddest releases in my collection. Not strange in an overt manner, more in the way it all comes together. Embryogenesis is a good example of a band with great ideas, but their musicianship hadn't caught up yet with their imagination. The guitarist has an excellent sound, one that would feel comfortable in a post-Hendrix funk band circa 1971. The keyboards sound like something you could buy from a discount retailer inside of an old suburban mall in 1985. The music is all over the place without rhyme or reason. Melodies are non-existent, vocals are in iffy out-of-tune English, and they throw in some atonal sax just to ensure you're irritated. The master tape cuts off unexpectedly in places. Honestly, what were they doing? I dunno - I bought this album not long after release and kept it for the quirkiness, which I usually reward. But maybe this one is a bridge too far. I don't think they're incompetent, perhaps it came out of the oven too soon? Going to have move on from this title.
Il Castello di Atlante - Sono io il Signore delle Terre a Nord. 1993 Vinyl Magic (CD). Collection revisit (Sep). Solid debut from Italian prog group arriving at a time when we were still starving for new acts in a much missed style. There were a few, many singing in English and trying their hand at Marillion styled neo prog. Il Castello di Atlante were from the old school. However their sound was very much of the early 90s. Many new exciting bands would arrive from Italy only a year later, pushing this album to the margins. I kept it all these years as there's some fine tracks and the violin is splendid at times. But today it finds itself at the bottom of the rankings and this listen didn't push it back up. Time to let go.
Los Jaivas - Alturas de Machu Pichu. 1989 CBS (USA) (CD) (1981). Collection revisit (Sep). Another one of those albums lingering in my collection for 30 years based on reputation rather than my actual enjoyment of it. I love the freak folk debut and the wild prog / Krautrock-genre of their 3rd effort. But this one plays it too safe. It does have plenty of prog rock moments - mixed in with traditional Andean music. Too watered down for me to consider this their best album, and to take it further, not really collection worthy for me anymore.
Yes - Union. 1991 Arista (CD). Estate sale find for a buck (Aug). Like every dedicated prog fan, I heard Union not long after release. Like every dedicated prog fan, I hated it lol. Scoffed and mocked it in fact. Because that's what you were supposed to do. Shows you that Yes were more religion than music by that point. I long zeroed out my grade on it, having no recollection whatsoever of its contents, other than it supposedly sucked. But is it so bad really? No, of course not. It's the 80s Yes, Asia, ABWH contemporary sound. Union is a long album that involves clock watching, and nothing too catchy to maintain much interest. It has the Yes trademarks but with a coat of super gloss and none of the magic. Not sure how that would be possible given this is largely a studio amalgamation. One wonders why a band can't recreate the sound of their youth, but Yes wasn't the exception, more the rule.
Jethro Tull - The Broadsword and the Beast. 1982 Chrysalis (LP). From a friend's garage sale (Aug). Catching up on Tull albums I missed in my youth apparently. Despite sporting a proggy / metal styled cover, it's neither. Many fans point to this as a return to the sound of early 70s Tull. Not really. It's like that Kayak - Merlin album I wrote about many years ago. It's "good for 1982" in a mainstream kind of way. Nothing underground about it. Slick 80s production hides whatever creativity Anderson and team may have brought forth. You can hear a little flute and some tepid guitar - and lots of modern synthesizers. It was the sound of New Wave contrasted with AOR styled compositions. I would still submit it's a good album, but nothing to raise much interest.
Strawbs - Grave New World. 1976 A&M (1972) (LP). From a large garage sale buy in Monument (Jul). Deceptively beautiful gatefold package with booklet. More folk than prog at this stage, though the mellotron is much welcomed. Almost kept it but they lost me on side 2.
Jethro Tull - Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll; Too Young to Die! 1976 Chrysalis (LP). Thrift shop find (Jun). Starts off pretty decent but gets increasingly boring as it goes. Song oriented without the songs I'd submit. Definitely a weak link in Tull's 70s output. I was surprised to learn that even nice gatefold originals (like this copy) are only going for $5. It's the first one I've found in the wilds in five years. But demand is light and I can understand why.
Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds. 1978 Columbia (2xLP). Thrift shop find (Jun). Rare to find in this great condition and with the book. One has to wonder just how much juice Wayne was able to squeeze from to be able to put out such a big budget affair. Judging by the number of pressings, this album can only be considered a wild success. I'm not a rock opera guy, so it mostly flew by without notice for me. In today's world, the kids call this "good cheese". I don't think it's cheesy rather it's a sincere work of art. Just not my thing.
Dunaj - Rosol. 2001 Indies (1991) (CD). Collection revisit (May) More art rock from Czechia (as they now call it). Their next album Dudlay has a special place in my heart for a variety of historical reasons. I grabbed this one much later, and it doesn't resonate as much as, say, the other MCH Band albums. There's a similarity to all the songs here. I think I'd enjoy better if a couple of these tracks showed up on a compilation.
Finisterre - In Limine. 1996 Mellow (CD). Collection revisit (May). To be honest I thought I had this one rated too low. I'm a fan of their debut, and especially of Zuffanti's retro prog group La Maschera di Cera. As it turns out I had it rated properly. Like the debut, it's a bit all over the place. But this one comes across as more sterile. I also felt that way when I first obtained the album upon release. Tastes change, and I thought this would be one that would have joined me on my journey. If anything, we're further apart. It is a very good album, but I fear that In Limine falls into the dreaded "too much of the same thing".
Echolyn - Suffocating the Bloom. 1992 private (CD). Collection revisit (May). Echolyn are/were one of those bands that I was dictated to that I must like, but I just never could get into them much. Some 30 years has passed, so I think its time for an objective listen at my advanced age. Mannn... I still don't get them! At least on this album. But I do see the allure. One cannot accuse Echolyn of not giving it their all. They are talented - this is obvious - and their brand of the Midwest variation of Gentle Giant should push every button I possess. But it doesn't. Why? Not really sure. It's overly vocal oriented which can be a turnoff for me. They don't let the instruments breathe. Their melodic style doesn't resonate either. I can honestly state that I like the album, but it isn't next level for me. I fear to say I have to move on from this CD. Maybe other albums will trigger the right emotion, but Suffocating the Bloom never did.
Submarine Silence. 2001 Mellow (CD). Collection revisit (Apr). Created by members of the Italian neo prog band Moongarden, Submarine Silence jumped on the retro prog bandwagon and went for a more 70s aesthetic. The overall music approach is very similar to mid 70s Genesis (including Paul Whitehead artwork from the Foxtrot era). It's all instrumental and I was quite impressed when it first came out. Perhaps too many other albums have come along since that are much better at replicating the sounds of the past. In reflection, Submarine Silence misses on the analog warmness, and it does possess a more modern touch, even if that wasn't their intent. One more "too much of the same thing" when expanding the lens.
* - Keeping for the collection
