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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Yacobs "Clouds"


Country: Germany
Sub GenreNeo-Prog
Label: Musea
Release date: October 24, 2012
Tracklist
1. Dawn
2. Cinderella
3. Twilight Sun
4. Indian Clouds
5. Turn Off the Sun
6. All You Have Is Now
7. My Very First Day
8. Hot Summer in Transylvania
9. A Heavenly Sound
10. Lift Off
11. Clouds
12. Dusk


Line-up
- Ulf Jacobs / all instruments
With:
- Thomas Klarmann / bass
- Àkos Bogati Bokor / guitars

Description/Reviews
The second album by Ulf Jacobs (Argos) feat. Thomas Klarmann (Argos) on Bass & Àkos Bogati Bokor (Yesterdays) on Guitar.
Media/Samples 
Cinderella
Twilight Sun

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La Fin du Monde "Embers"


Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock/Metal
Release dateOctober 24, 2012
Tracklist
1. Master Quarter Horse 08:13
2. Saint of Killers 06:02
3. Barbata 09:36
4. Accidentally About Sharks 04:17
5. Buckhorn Short Shank 09:29
6. Speedboat Ron 07:03
7. A Murder of Crows 06:23
8. Grey Skies Shade Bombs 12:45

Line-up
Mike Crew: Bass
Dan Elsen: Drums
Joshua Kinsey: Bass
Chris Roberts: Guitar
Adam Scarborough: Guitar

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

SoulenginE "Mind Colours"


Country: Italy
Sub Genre: Eclectic Progressive Rock
LabelMa.Ra.Cash Records, MCR030
Release date: October 23, 2012
Tracklist
01 Polheim
02 Third In Line
03 Rain Flower
04 On The Other Side
05 Down The Street
06 No Way Out
07 No Rewarding
08 Asleep
09 Challenge To An End

Line-up
Ettore Salati - electric, acoustic, 12-strings and doubleneck guitars, bass pedals, dulcimer
Fabio Mancini - hammond, piano, mellotron, wurlitzer, rhodes, moog
Nando de Luca - electric, acoustic, fretless bass, acoustic guitars
Giacomo Pacini - drums, percussions

Description/Reviews:
First album for the Italian band formed by ex-The Watch Ettore Salati and Fabio Mancini. The music is new and unique even if it draws from the 70's with veins of Progressive Jazz, classical music, psychedelia. An album full of melodic virtuosity and arrangements that bring out the talent of the individual elements of the band. Everything in "Mind Colours" is enriched by gorgeous arrangements and virtuosisim, and melody is the leit motiv for the whole album.

Media/Samples 
entire album online

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Listing Ships "The Hayling Island Sessions"


Country: UK
Sub Genreinstrumental Krautrock, Post Rock, Art Rock
LabelIdle Fret Records (vinyl)
Release dateOctober 23, 2012 (digital), May 27, 2013  (vinyl)
Tracklist
1. Alba Adriatica (5:44)
2. Baychimo (3:47)
3. American Steam Company (5:14)
4. Then Venice Sank (5:00)
5. The 100 Gun Ship (4:26)
6. Equus Ager (4:40)
7. Nutcracker Six (1:27)
8. 100 Tonne (Rackham remix) (04:49)
9. 100 Gun Ship (Karhide Bass Bass remix) (03:30)

Line-up
Mike Bingham - guitars, keyboards
Stuart Fowkes - bass, keyboards
Jim Hey - guitars
James Pamphlion - drums

Description/Reviews
Listing Ships are an Oxford-based, nautically-inspired instrumental post-krautrock band. Everything about their songs reflects the band’s obsession with ships and the sea, from the titles and samples collected everywhere from Venice to Blackpool, right down to the songs’ very construction, based upon and often built around tales of the sea.
Musically, Listing Ships take inspiration from classic krautrock like Can, Harmonia, Neu!, Ash Ra Tempel; sample-heavy, intricate electronica like Boards of Canada, Amon Tobin, Seefeel; expansive, exploratory guitar music like Tarentel,The Alps, Collections of Colonies of Bees; kings of the soundtrack world like Clint Mansell and Krzysztof Penderecki.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Earthcry "Where the road leads"


Country: Italy
Sub GenreProgressive Metal, Power Metal
LabelRevalve Records
Release date: October 22, 2012
Tracklist
01. Sailing On 01:59
02. New Fading Sun 06:46
03. Hospitality 07:07
04. Recall 06:48
05. Into The Asylum 05:35
06. Landscapes 08:21
07. Stranger 06:18
08. Uncharted 05:34
09. The Temple 05:28
10. Inside 08:23

Line-up
Oliver Hartmann (At Vance, Avantasia, Iron Mask) - Vocals
Mark Basile (DGM) - Vocals
Zak Stevens (Circle II Circle - Vocals)
Marco Sandron (Eden's Curse) - Vocals
Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace, DWB) - Vocals
Roberto Tiranti (Labyrinth) - Vocals
Diego Reali (Evidence) - Guitars
Simone Mularoni (DGM) - Guitars
Bruno Di Giorgi - Guitars
Leone Villani Conti (Trick Or Treat) - Bass
Tommi Delfino - Keyboards
Enrico Sidoti - Drums

Description/Reviews
Based on prog and power metal influences (Ayreon, Dream Theater, Angra, Symphony X), cinematic soundtracks and electronic music (Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield), it melts these different styles to create something very solid and modern on Where The Road Leads. This album is the first chapter of a bombastic prog metal sci-fi opera featuring 10 tracks of intense and powerful sound.
Also read the review by Drew Tyler at sputnikmusic.com

Media/Samples 
Uncharted

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Monday, October 22, 2012

High Spy "Ignition"


Country: UK
Sub GenreNeo-Prog
Release date: October 22, 2012
Tracklist
1. On The Breeze
2. Move The Earth
3. Cappuccino
4. The Eyes Of The World  
5. Arrival  
6. Skinny Man
7. Mirror Man  
8. Drowning

Line-up
Mark Price - keyboards
Adrian Peddie - vocals, guitars
Lee Steinberg-Weston - bass
Mark Stokes - guitars
    With
Rick Maper - drums

Description/Reviews
The eight track album works on different levels, mainly
dealing with that fact at some point, some time, every second of everyday there is an action which causes a reaction, which causes a chain reaction, and so forth - caused by one incident an "Ignition" of that point in time, and all experiences in life and history can be traced back to that one second.
Media/Samples 
Promo Video

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Saturday, October 20, 2012

Salim Ghazi Saeedi "namoWoman"


Country: Iran
Sub GenreProgressive Metal, Art Rock, Avant Prog
Release date: October 20, 2012
Tracklist
1. namoW
2. nam
3. amo
4. moW
5. oWo
6. Wom
7. oma
8. man
9. Woman

Line-up
Salim Ghazi Saeedi / all instruments

Description/Reviews
An instrumental avant-prog and prog metal album, namoWoman hires microtonal Persian music influences while introducing a newly constructed language (conlang) named "l3abEl" (pronounced Babel) in which the album's booklet is written.
Salim is the man of extremities while always seeks reconciliation and harmonization among the most remotely contradictory elements. So developing as a rock/metal artist in a rock alien environment in his hometown or expressing himself by personalized mediums like a conlang of his own, all comes natural to his lifestyle. In his 2012 album, Salim has hired an expressionist microtonal approach toward art rock/metal that he describes himself as "empty spaces filled with occasional wild electric guitars and expressive melodies while having oriental dance elements undercover".
About the concepts behind namoWoman composition, Salim says "I have always found the assumption of impossibility, an important trick against my mind - a human mind that usually prefers patterned and inductional methods of cognition." Salim adds: "As an artist, creating and experimenting yet unexplored mental realms has always fascinated me and in order to trick my mind into pushing toward new possibilities, I like experimenting around fundamental concepts like human sexuality. Ideas like considering human sexuality beyond its dualistic nature let me to enter a new mindset and fascinations about worlds of non-Carbon based life, gradually fed my creativity for namoWoman. Maybe I can say this mindset forced my mind to respond on vital levels and challenged its own existence..."
Here, Persian music quarter tones are coming in between western music intervals. While quarter tones harmonize namoWoman album's musical language, the l3abEl conlang accompanying its booklet tries to establish the harmony in realm of words.
Also read the review by Rok Podgrajšek at therocktologist.com

Media/Samples 
man

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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Torga Ostera "Queda Ascendente"


Country: Portugal
Sub GenrePsychedelic, Space Rock
Release dateOctober 18, 2012 (CD), June 17, 2012 (Digital)
Tracklist
1. Quase Nós (6:48)
2. Balada Ao Ensandecer (7:15)
3. Rosa Dos Ventos (5:22)
4. Apicultor De Homens (11:14)
5. Saber Porque Não (4:07)
6. Não Vi Nenhum Tentar (6:07)
7. Sol Da Noite Acordada (5:30)
8. Quase Nós II (4:02)

Line-up
João Francisco (Vocals and the main guitar)
Eurico Moleirinho (Bass)
Renato Dias (Drums)
João Faustino (Guitar)
Jorge Marinheiro (Keys)

Description/Reviews
Their debut album ''Queda Ascendente'' was recorded in Portugal but mastered in the UK by producer Jon Astley who has worked with a host of famous artists but is probably best known for his work with The Who. The result of this undertaking is a collection of laid-back guitar proposals containing lengthy instrumental passages. The keyboard work of Otez is never obtrusive and blends in nicely with the twin electric guitars in similar manner to that of Rick Wright. When you factor in the female backing vocals and slide guitars the take on Pink Floyd is strengthened, although lead vocalist Francisco sings in his mother tongue (the lyrics apparently deal with philosophical issues and the Portuguese rhythm of life) which gives the music that unique Portuguese feel. 
Media/Samples 
Sol Da Noite Acordada

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Watershed Drag "The Smoking Mirror"


Country: USA
Sub GenreNeo-Prog, Art Rock
Release date: October 18, 2012
Tracklist

1.Introduction to... 00:32
2.Transmissions from the Yaak 04:22
3.Pronouns 03:08
4.Corona 04:43
5.Tesseract 03:59
6.Polyrhythm 05:02
7.The One with the Mud 04:19
8.The Name 04:51
9.Transmissions from the Yaak (Pt. 2) 07:00
10.History 04:33


Line-up

Amy Fehrenbach - Nylon String Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Flute, Trombone, Upright Bass, Vocals
Cam Ferranti - Keyboards, Programming, Upright & Electric Bass, Stratocaster, Steel & Nylon String Guitar, Vocals


Description/Reviews
The music is a mix of slightly grungy art rock and neo prog. The music has a lot of similarities with Mostly Autumn and in particular Touchstones. The guitars are dirty. The vocals is a lot more ethereal than straight forward female vocals we knows from the English scene. The music a lot more eclectic than neo prog'ish. There is also a lot of folk rock in their music.
 Read the whole review at The sound of fighting cats

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (free download)

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Materya "Case"


Country: Italy
Sub GenreSymphonic, Neo-Prog
LabelWhite Knight Records
Release date: October 15, 2012
Tracklist
  1. Hide from an angry heart - 4:30
  2. The deed is done - 4:44
  3. Braccialetti di diamanti - 2:47
  4. Across the light - 3:14
  5. Alberi e foglie - 5:07
  6. Domenica - 6:42
  7. Case nella bassa - 6:57
  8. Stella splendens - 6:16
  9. Emozioni ad uso personale - 3:11
  10. Dormi sola - 4:58
  11. Flowers and lies - 5:51
  12. Uomo - 5:52
Line-up
Andrea Stagni (piano/keyboards, guitars, bass, percussions and vocals)
Betty Copeta (vocals)
Claudio Trotta, Marcello Bellina (drums)

Description/Reviews
Materya is a project by two members of the well - known Italian progressive band AltaVia.
The music has many influences ranging from Mike Oldfield to It Bites. Classic intelligent progressive rock.
Media/Samples 
Hide from an angry heart
Stella splendens
Across the light

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