Absoluuttinen Nollapiste "Pisara ja Lammas 1"

Country: Finland
Sub Genre: Prog Related
Label: Diu Dau Records
Release date: October 12, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Alkusoitto (3:08)
2. Planeetta Hyvä (4:03)
3. Juhlija (3:30)
4. Nainen lentää (5:08)
5. Kohtaaminen (3:29)
6. Pisara (4:07)
7. Paimenen uni (4:34)
8. Lampolan aamu (2:30)
9. Lammas näkee naisen (2:09)
10. Lampaan etsintä (5:54)
11. Lammas saa vainun (2:51)

Line-up: 
Aki Lääkkölä / guitars, synthesizers
Aake Otsala / bass, synthesizers, sound design
Tomi Krutsin / drums, percussion
Erkki Seppänen (The Ram)
Olavi Uusivirta (The Shepherd)
Paula Vesala (The Woman)
Tommi Liimatta (Narrator)
Emilia Norppa, Lotta Savolainen and Teemu Eskelinen (Choir)

Description/Reviews: 

The Droplet and The Ram 1 (orig. Pisara ja lammas 1) is the first part of a conceptual double album by the Finnish progressive rock band Absolute Zero (orig. Absoluuttinen Nollapiste). This chronologically proceeding science fiction epic takes place in the near future. A droplet of pure evil is sent onwards from Planet Benign. It sweeps across the universe towards Earth and then...

Media/Samples 
Kohtaaminen
Planeetta Hyvä (video)

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Special Others "Have a Nice Day"

Country: Japan
Sub Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion, Post Rock
Label: Speedstar Records
Release date: October 10, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Root
2. Orion
3. Raindrops
4. Beautiful World
5. Organ Bass
6. Hawaiian Secret Beat
7. Barrel
8. Dance Festival
9. Provence
10. Have a Nice Day

Line-up: 
- Ryota "Toyin" Miyahara / drums, vocals
- Yuya "Segun" Mitayoshi / bass
- Takeshi "Dayo" Yanagishita / guitar, vocals
- Yuma "Remi" Serizawa / keyboard, vocals

Description/Reviews: 

A Japanese jazz band, with strong characteristics of a jam band (musical improvisation over rhythmic grooves and chord patterns and long sets of music that cross genre boundaries) and post-rock. Although their songs are long, ranging all the time and are melodic, giving greater dynamism holding you until the final minutes.

Media/Samples 
Youtube

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Yowie "Damning with Faint Praise"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Avant Prog
Label: Skin Graft Records
Release date: October 9, 2012
Tracklist: 
1 Slowly but Surly
2 Whippersnapper
3 I Could Care Less
4 Shriners Sure Do Cuss A Lot
5 Eternally Collapsing Object

Line-up: 
Jeremiah Wontsewitz: Guitar
Sr. (H), jb: Guitar
Defenestrator: Drums

Description/Reviews: 

"Damning with Faint Praise" is the second full length release from Yowie. This album surpasses the girth and intensity of their debut, "Cryptooology," an album that few have learned to decipher (or pronounce). "Damning with Faint Praise" moves through an array of multidimensional shifting structures, while inexplicably maintaining cohesion, and even, yes, grooves. 

Media/Samples 
Shriners Sure Do Cuss A Lot

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Marchesi Scamorza "La Sposa del Tempo"

Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Symphonic
Label:  Flow Double H Records
Release date: October 2012
Tracklist: 

1. Intro - 1:03
2. Sentieri di carta - 6:42
3. Lo schiavo di babilonia - 7:25
4. L'uomo dall'ombra lunga - 4:52
5. Un passo ogni parola - 6:22
6. Quelle volte - 4:11
7. Il castello delle stagioni - 7:18
8. Nelle notti più lontane - 4:09
9. Autunno - 7:01 

Line-up: 
Enrico Bernardini - vocals, acoustic guitar
Lorenzo Romani - guitar
Enrico Cazzola - keyboards
Paolo Brini - bass
Alessandro Padovani - drums

Media/Samples 
Intro
Un passo ogni parola
Il castello delle stagioni
Nelle notti più lontane
Autunno

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Lost Kite "Lost Kite"

Country: Sweden
Sub Genre: Instrumental Alternative, Progressive Rock
Release date: October 7, 2012
Tracklist: 

1. A Walk - 13:19
2. Sails Across The Sky - 9:32
3. The Hopoo's Call - 4:31
4. With Eyes Wide Open - 15:30

Line-up: 
David Carlsson - acoustic 12-string guitar, electric 12-string guitar (track 3), Spanish guitar, voice
Stefan Carlsson - acoustic and electric 6-string guitars, bass, guitar synthesizer, electronic drums

Description/Reviews: 

Lost Kite gives us some very nice instrumental melodic and reflective Prog music, in a variety (but not too distant) of seventies inspired styles. For example, the first piece "A Walk" offers hints of Marillion (and also Gazpacho) but also of Tales From Topographic Oceans' era Yes. Yet, on With "Eyes Wide Open" I hear more of a Mike Oldfield influence, and so on. I must say that these references are all very subtle. Some listeners will notice others, and some won't aggree at all with what I perceive, because the music on Lost Kite is very original and creative, even though it does stay near some well travelled (and loved) roads. Lost Kite is a "father/son" project and I can only guess they consider it to be a labor of love. Still, I am very much impressed by the quality of this CD. Fans of melodic 70's inspired Prog music should certainly take a listen. Nice stuff indeed. (Marc Roy, Proggnosis.com)

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Continuum "From the Depths"

Country: France
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Musea
Release date: October 6, 2012 (digital), March, 2013 (CD)
Tracklist: 

1. Contamination
2. Initiation of a New Eon
3. Astral Journey Through the Ether
4. Explorer of Distant Galaxies
5. The Light I'm Awaiting
6. The Loss and the End
7. Rising of R'Lyeh
8. From the Depths...
9. Dreams of Cyclopean Inferno
10. Vision from Afar - Another Representation
11. ... in the Depths
Bonustrack
12. In the Court of the Crimson King


Line-up: 

Franck Dibari - Keyboards
Aldebaran - Guitars
Phillipe Gabison - Guitars
Clement Marse - Vocals
Mickael Raverdino - Bass
Guillaume Morero - Drums

Media/Samples 
Vision from Afar - Another Representation

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Taika "Pulsate"

Country: Japan
Sub Genre: Canterbury, Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Musea
Release date: October 4, 2012
Tracklist: 
1 - Beyond The Promise - (5'40)
2 - To The Farthest - (4'32)
3 - Mirage - (6'23)
4 - Deep Sea - (6'05)
5 - In A Different World - (5'48)
6 - Spiral Forest - (5'34)
7 - Moon And Solitude - (5'11)
8 - Awake - (7'11)
9 - Meteor - (6'58)

Line-up: 
Tae (ex-Ashada) on vocals and accordion
Dani (KBB) on bass
Zaiya Takahashi on piano
Tomoyoku Tanimoto on drums

Description/Reviews: 

Taika are an excellent Canterbury-ish Japanese prog band with female vocals (lyrics in Japanese). "Pulsate" delivers delicate vocals and sublime accordion sounding, while free and improvisational performances by other members illuminate their world. Their sound is both glittering and airy, inspired from images of flickering star and deep forest (The lyrics represent these images). With somewhat tranquil and oriental mood, their music will give you unique impression that can't be given by other singer-bands.

Media/Samples 
Track online

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Sleepers Awake "Transcension"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Progressive Metal
Release date: October 2, 2012
Tracklist: 
1.The Augur 05:16
2.Burdened 09:30
3.Apparitions 08:04
4.Slave Within 08:35
5.Heathen Verses 01:19
6.Saint Condemned 09:13
7.Circles Without Division 04:03
8.Throat of Winter 06:54
9.Wintertide 01:11
10.Equa Mortuorum 05:42
11.Under Hoof and Gavel 03:16
12.The Fulcrum 06:32

Line-up: 
Chris Thompson - Vocals, Guitar
Rob Bradley - Guitar
Chris "Ambrose" Burnsides - Drums
Kedar Hiremath - Bass

Description/Reviews: 

The names of the likes of Tool, Opeth, Mastodon, even Rush have been cast over the band leading up to the album release and at times it is easy to see why especially in regard to Tool but there is much more to their sound and immediately across the opening tracks we would add the likes of Life Of Agony for the depth of emotion and dramatic structures to the songs, and Poet Of The Fall for the more instantaneous melodic temptation offered. Do not mistake this as suggesting the album is an echo of such references or from the constant mention of its melodic heart that it is a mellow or restrained beast. The album stands apart from most with ease and has a snarl and aggression which leaves you exhausted. It offers a seamless merger of glowing sonic beauty and stern merciless shadows making for a sensational exploration.

Read the full review by at ringmasterreviewintroduces.wordpress.com

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Wallpaper Poets "The Other Side of Maybe Suite"

Country: Belgium
Sub Genre: Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Release date: October 1, 2012
Tracklist: 
Prologue
1. Journey’s end
Part 1: The introduction
2. A Blueprint of Eden
3. The blind God
4. When the city sleeps
Part 2: A remarkable set of manners
5. I) Morning prayer
    II) The house of lies
6. III) Elegy for a dream
    IV) Tabula rasa
7. V) The house of lies (reprise)
Part 3: Life delights in freedom
8. Within focus out of reach
9. On the eve of a brand new day
10. The other side of maybe
11. Finale
Epilogue
12. Meet my eyes

Line-up: 
Jack van Poll - Electric Piano
Paul Van Laere - Woodwinds & Saxes
Bart Schram - Lead Vocals
Ping Ren - Vocals
Guy Cuyvers - Acoustic Guitar
Vladimir Gouskov - Electric Guitar
Chris Van Nauw - Electric Guitar
Pallieter Van Buggenhout - Acoustic & Electric Guitar
Peter Ridsdale - 11 string violin
Joris "BB" Liégeois - Backing Vocals
Gerd Willekens - Piano, Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Bass Programming

Description/Reviews: 

Wallpaper poets is a project directed, and produced by composer Gerd Willekens. On the album “The other side of maybe” elements of progressive rock, jazz and world music are tastefully put together in a suite.

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming

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Lee Fletcher "Faith In Worthless Things"

Country: UK
Sub Genre: Art Rock, Ambient, Prog Folk, Post Rock
Label: Unsung Records
Release date: October 1, 2012
Tracklist: 
1. Is It Me (or Is It You) 04:01
2. The Inner Voice 03:40
3. Faith in Worthless Things 04:02
4. A Life on Loan 05:06
5. The Number 03:15
6. The Answer 03:05
7. Miracles on Trees 04:30
8. Until The Playtime Whistle Sounds 01:14
9. Life's a Long Time Short 04:21
10. Long About Now 02:41

Line-up: 
Lisa Fletcher: Lead & Backing Vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Lee Fletcher: Keyboards, Electronics, Programming, Treatments, Digital Editing, Arrangements (all tracks) | Additional Vocals (3, 4, 7, 8) | Bass Guitar (1, 3) | Virtual Guitars (2, 4, 7, 10) | Soundscape (6)
Markus Reuter: Touch Guitars® U8 Deluxe (all tracks) | Soundscapes (3, 4, 5, 6, 9) | Acoustic Guitar (2) | Additional Keyboards (2)
SiRenée: Guest Lead Vocals (5) | Additional Backing Vocals (4, 8)
    with:
Steve Bingham: Acoustic & Electric Violins, Viola (1, 3)
Alan Burton: Uilleann Pipes (5, 7, 9, 10) | Low Whistle (4, 10)
Luca Calabrese: Trumpet (2, 4, 5, 6, 10)
BJ Cole: Pedal Steel Guitar (2, 5, 6, 10)
Robert Fripp: Soundscape (6)
Clint Hollinson: Acoustic Guitar (1)
Jacqueline Kershaw: French Horn (3, 5, 9)
Oliver Klemp: Acoustic Bass (2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Matthias Macht: Drums & Percussion (2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Tim Motzer: Electric Guitar (1, 2, 5) | Acoustic Guitar (1, 2) | Soundscape (1) | Ukulele (5)
Richie Nieto: Chapman Stick (4)
Chris Wong: Fretless Bass (5)
Bernhard Wöstheinrich: Additional Keyboards (6)

Description/Reviews: 

This album melds styles from folk, avant-pop, contemporary ambient, pastoral prog touches, jazz and of course post-rock. Inevitable comparisons to Kate Bush cannot be avoided when any female singer employs a wistful style, as Lisa does throughout. However, the multi-tracking and real harmonies soon allow the listener to leave the baggage of any particular comparison at the door. ...this album should delight fans of No-Man, Nosound, Kate Bush.

Read the whole review at dprp.net 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp.com

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