Life Line Project "20 Years After"

Country: Netherlands
Sub Genre: Symphonic
Release date: September 10, 2012
Tracklist: 

1. Three's A Crowd (3:40)
2. Worries (6:27)
3. 20 Years After (3:41)

THE TRUE TALE OF DUPLO THE EQUIVALENT (60:27)
4. Duplo's Theme (4:01)
5. Morning In Equivalesia (2:10)
6. It's Fun To Obey (5:38)
7. Evening Thoughts (2:42)
8. Working On The Mountain (7:40)
9. Unica (2:21)
10. Love Is In His Eye (1:34)
11. Together (4:04)
12. Life In The Individual State Of Ridicula (5:42)
13. Happiness (4:39)
14. The Guy Is Cool ! (3:47)
15. Same Old Song (6:21)
16. Move Out (5:16)
17. Finale & Epilogue (4:33)

Bonus Track:
18. One Night In Mantua (3:59)

Line-up: 
-Erik de Beer - acoustic & electric piano's, Moogs, Hammond organ, synthesizers, harpsichord, all electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin, lutes, baroque guitar, chitarrone & harmony vocals
-Marion Brinkman-Stroetinga - all lead vocals & harmony vocals
-Elsa de Beer - flute & harmony vocals
-Dineke Visser - oboe
-Anneke Verhage - clarinets
-Ada Bienfait - bassoon
-Iris Sagan - Ibanez BTB 5 string & Fender Jazz bass 4 string bass guitars,
acoustic bass, harmony vocals & narrating voice
-Ludo de Murlanos - Gretsch drums, Zildjan, Sabian & UFIP cymbals, timpani,
roto-toms, bongo's, renaissance drum, triangle, claves, shaker, cowbell,
tambourine & harmony vocals
     With
-Iris Kranenburg & Patricia Kalkman - violins
-Christine van Blitterswijk - viola
-Aris Anninga - violoncello

Description/Reviews: 

The album contains four shorter tracks, of which opening track "Three's A Crowd" full of keyboard wizzardry by Erik de Beer and the incredible beautiful and touching unplugged "Worries", so beautifully sung by leadvocalist Marion Brinkman, immediately catch the ear.The album also contains their ultimate epic masterpiece "The True Tale Of Duplo The Equivalent", finally revealing the true identity of the little guy on the LLP guitarpick. This over one hour lasting epic against the silliness of both communism and capitalism is by far the best way to discover all the possibilities of this Dutch symphonic rock band. Here you have it all: the richness of true Hammond sound, the analogue strength of several Moog synths, electric guitar leads that remind us of the fullness of the best Hackett sound, an abundant woodwind section adding to the diversity of the sound and an excellent female lead singer. Live this epic has been their battle horse for years and it's now finally recorded in its definite studio version. Those who like the sound of solid symphonic progressive rock combined with beautiful insertions of woodwinds like the flute, oboe, clarinet & bassoon, mixed to the subtle sounds of lutes, mandolins, harpsichord and a chitarrone can't go wrong with this album. (record heaven)

Media/Samples 
Move out

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The Muffins "Mother Tongue"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion, Avant Prog, Canterbury
Label: Hobart Films & Records
Release date: September 10, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Little Squares 03:25
2. Trench Mouth 04:57
3. Sure Thing 03:34
4. Going Softly 05:25
5. Never Slap A Monkey 03:18
6. Illegal Aliens 04:33
7. 6 Dozen Names 03:31
8. Parade March 04:06
9. Beat 10 04:31
10. In The Ghost Light 03:28
11. Tribute To Percy 00:14

Line-up: 
- Billy Swann / bass, E-bow guitar, acoustic guitar, double bass
- Tom Frasier Scott / soprano & alto Saxophones, flute, clarinets, oboe, bassoon, keyboards, trumpet, voice
- Dave Newhouse / keyboards, tenor & baritone saxophones, bass clarinet, accordion
- Paul Sears / drums, percussion

Description/Reviews: 

This album is over-all a little bit looser than the very highly arranged and produced Double Negative, but it also has a bit more of a 'live feel', even though it isn't a live in the studio recording by any means. It's said it fits somewhere between Bandwidth and Double Negative stylistically.

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Elephant9 "Atlantis"

Country: Norway
Sub Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion
Label: Rune Grammofon
Release date: September 7, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Black Hole (9:05)
2. The Riddler (6:13)
3. Atlantis (12:56)
4. A Foot In Both (6:11)
5. Psychedelic Backfire (10:33)
6. A Place In Neither (2:01)
7. Freedom's Children (13:38)

Line-up: 
Ståle Storløkken / Fender Rhodes, Hammond Organ, Minimoog, Grand Piano
Nicolai Hængsle Eilertsen / Electric Bass, 12-String Acoustic Guitars (track 4), Percussion (track 7)
Torstein Lofthus / Drums, Percussion (track 7)
Special Guest:
Reine Fiske / Electric Guitar (tracks 3,5 & 7), Nylon String Guitar (track 4)

Description/Reviews: 

In the five years they have been together, Elephant9 has brought back a form of music which has long been dormant. I am talking about fusion, as played by cats like Miles Davis, Tony Williams, and John McLaughlin back in the early '70s. In other words, the real stuff....

Call them fusion, prog, psychedelic, or whatever. None of these tags do justice to what Elephant9 are all about. They create music that is as adventurous and powerful as any I have ever heard, and Atlantis is proof positive that they have only just begun.

Read the whole review by Greg Barbrick at blogcritics.org

Media/Samples 
Atlantis

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The Mimi Burns Band "Brave Journey"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Prog Folk
Release date: September 6, 2012
Tracklist: 
01) Stone Of Scone
02) Gypsy Dance
03) Humbled Ground
04) Don't Forget Me
05) Jack And Jill
06) Sprit Mountain
07) Netherworld
08) Enchanted Night
09) Women Of Lockerbie
10) Exalt

Line-up: 
Mimi Burns - Vocals
Stephen Styler - Guitar and vocals
Derek Reeves - Violin
Andy Kramer - Pipes
Gonzalo Carrera - Keyboards
Adam Colclesser - Bass
Mister William Brown - Percussion and vocals
Bryan Nellems - Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Brave Journey seems to mix traditional Irish, Afro-Cuban rhythms, symphonic grandiosity and Uriah Heep. You’ve got a U.K.- born guitarist, a Midwest gal with some serious pipes, a classically trained violinist and round it out with a highly competent rhythm section. They make a style of music that falls into its own category...

Read the whole review by John Hubner at whatzup.com 

Media/Samples 
3 songs at band's web page

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The Mercury Tree "Freeze in Phantom Form"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Psychedelic, Post Progressive
Label: self-released
Release date: September 16, 2012
Tracklist: 
01. Anamnesis (2:05)
02. Frontera (5:47)
03. Avenues (6:03)
04. Sepulchre ( 4:42)
05. Cipher (6:10 )
06. Proteus ( 5:20)
07. Zeta (7:41)
08. Interspatial (2:26)
09. Inflexus (4:25)
10. In Partem Scalpere (9:31)
11. Rotating Cast (5:20)

Line-up: 
Ben Spees: guitar, keyboard, lead vocals
Connor Reilly: drums, percussion, background vocals
Aaron Clark: bass, background vocals

Description/Reviews: 

Portland Oregon’s The Mercury Tree come up with another (their 3rd full length) highly melodic occasionally aggressive mixture of dreamy progressive, post, electro, ambient, perfectly balanced pop/rock.

Read the full review by Lee Henderson at prognaut.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Spyros Charmanis "Wound"

Country: Greece
Sub Genre: Progressive Rock
Release date: September 5, 2012
Tracklist: 
1.Pushing The Sky 06:16
2.The Great Outdoors 05:43
3.Entry Wound 02:58
4.Subconscious 04:36
5.You've Met Someone 05:01
6.Better Halves 06:22
7.Hinder 07:04
8.Open Wound 06:37
9.The Glacier 02:16
10.Our Time Expires 05:24
11.September 02:04
12.Exit Wound 10:08
13.Say Goodnight 07:51

Line-up: 
Spyros Charmanis - vocals, guitar, bass, piano/keys, oboe, percussion, drums programming
        Special appearances:

Dimitris Tsoukas - Davul, darbuka, bendir (throughout)
Melina Kyritsi - vocals (You've Met Someone, Say Goodnight)
Sofia Nassiou - vocals (Say Goodnight)
Nikolas Sideris - piano and orchestral arrangements (Our Time Expires)
Catherine Charmanis - accordion (Exit Wound)
Thodoris Papadimitriou - cello, recorded and mixed by Nikodemos Triaridis (Say Goodnight)

Description/Reviews: 

Charmanis describes this as a concept album about an unnamed character going through a journey of good intentions, bad decisions, emotional fracture and resolution until the final track which is, appropriately enough, a song of moving-on entitled Say Good Night.
It's not exactly The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway or even something mid-period Floyd-like but his background in Beatles is evident (some classy George Harrison-like slide figures) as much as a sense of hefty rock. It's a mid-point between many influences but comes off as something of his own...What also makes this interesting is that Charmanis keeps you both outside the character but also drawn in. With very little assistance (guests on cello, occasional vocals, piano) this is quite a grand but sharply focused conception and he can bring as much seriously disturbing sky-falling guitar crunch as elevating resolution.

Read the whole review by Graham Reid at  elsewhere.co.nz

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Star FK Radium "Solitude Rotation"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Chamber Rock
Release date: September 4, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Solitude Rotation  4:18
2. A Month's Lifetime  4:43
3. Daisypop 2:13
4. Honey Jarz 5:23
5. Morning Star 1:23
6. My Favorite Colour  4:03
7. Rhythm of Breathing 2:02
8. Song #8 2:58
9. Will It Fly 3:45

Line-up: 
Bill Martin (guitar)
Matt Clark (drums)
Alissa Taylor (violin)

Description/Reviews: 

Solitude Rotation is made up of nine tracks once again, clocking in at a scant 30-minutes, but it is a very captivating 30-minutes none-the-less. The instrumental sound of the band is one that I’m quite sure will appeal to fans of what’s often referred to as Chamber Rock, the kind of music created by bands like Karda Estra. The music itself is restrained and kept to essentially the thee prime instruments. But what they may be lacking in terms of instruments they make up for in unusual arrangements. The music floats along, in a plaintive and even mournful manner, drawing the listener into a unique series of musical soundscapes. It can get quite mesmerizing. The interplay between the guitar and the violin propels these compositions along

The music of Solitude Rotation at first glance wouldn’t be something you’d think would appeal to prog fans and it probably won’t appeal to some. However there is something in the sound and style that will appeal to others. On the surface, no it’s not a progressive rock album at all, however for those of you who appreciate the more subtle sounds instruments can make Star FK Radium will be a most enjoyable listening experience. (Jerry Lucky)

Media/Samples 
Solitude Rotation
Rhythm of Breathing

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Moonwagon "Foyers Of The Future"

Country: Finland
Sub Genre: Instrumental Space Rock, Psychedelic
Label: Presence Records
Release date: September 3, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Elsewhere (8:00)
2. New World Warrior (4:25)
3. Dawnwind (6:43)
4. Endless Collision (2:21)
5. Through The Veil Of Rain (11:36)
6. Shadows Whisper Fire (8:02)
7. Saturn Summer (4:12)
8. Past Moves (6:28)
9. Tranceport (10:33)

Line-up: 
- Ami Hassinen / Keyboards
- Joni Tiala / Guitars
- Janne Ylikorpi / Bass
- Jani Korpi / Drums

Description/Reviews: 

Moonwagon are an outstanding Finnish instrumental progressive space-rock quartet formed in 2008. Foyers of the Future (2012, digipack, 62-minutes) is their second. Labeling Moonwagon simply ‘space-rock’ would be selling them short, as there is more to their music than what you might expect from that label, but their music does sound like a band playing together (and enjoying the hell out of it) as opposed to a studio construction, and the space-rock energy and flow is dominant. They have a rich sound palette; they have a dedicated keyboardist with an impressive arsenal, while the stringed things used include electric mandolin and dulcimer alongside the expected electric & acoustic guitars. (Kinesis)

Media/Samples 
entire album online

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AnVision "AstralPhase"

Country: Poland
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock
Release date: September 3, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. The Astronaut 6:16
2. S.O.D 5:34
3. Family Ties 6:37
4. Mental Suicide 7:51
5. Mercitron 7:16
6. I Can't Live Without My Love 7:47
7. I Have No Fear 8:48

Line-up: 
Marek "Marqus" Ostrowski- vocal
Grzegorz "Greg" Ziółek - guitar
Artur "Art" Serwin - bass guitar
Marcin "Larz" Duchnik - drums
Łukasz "Lukas" Piwowoński - synthesizers

Description/Reviews: 

‘AstralPhase’ is the first full-length CD from Polish ANVISION, another in a line of solid progressive groups coming out of that country in recent years. What makes this newcomer really special is how they can demonstrate the diversity to provide a catchy blend of melody and power. The battery of sound meshes with dark and light themes, sudden changes in tempo, a sense of direction, lots of atmosphere, a deal of determination. There's progress of alternating pieces within each track and the overall feel of this release is a unit of very catchy compositions and expert instrumentation. Whether it’s with extensive guitar soloing and sensitive singing, or multi-layered keyboard parts, expressive drums and creative bass, it is all about the big picture.  A word should be said about the production, by the band themselves, which is of a high standard, as is the accompanying booklet. Undoubtedly, AnVision is one of the great surprises for 2012. And if you’re a fan of melodic prog metal oriented towards the current neo-progressive scene, you'll want to check this out. (Prog Head) 

Media/Samples 
entire album at youtube

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Enmarte "Enmarte"

Country: Argentina
Sub Genre: Modern Prog, Psychedelic
Release date: September 1, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. No juegues con las almas 03:45
2. Decadas Frias 06:34
3. B1 07:17
4. Mar de arena 05:48
5. Los verdaderos dioses son de hueso 03:35
6. Libres de inmensidad 05:28

Line-up: 
Pablo Torres - Bass
Diego Perez - Guitar
Eugenio Mazitelli - Vocals
Nahuel Zarate - Keys
Brain Nicassio - Drums
Sebastian Vazques - Sax
Juan Manuel Mazitelli - Accessories

Description/Reviews: 

The band plays heavy and complex psychedelic-influenced progressive rock, in the vein of The Mars Volta, Rishloo or Children Of Nova.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (free download)

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