With roots in internationally highly acclaimed bands like KULTIVATOR and UR KAOS, Ingemo Rylander and Johan Hedren invites you toa dreamy journey for the open minded. A rocking groove in the bottom with swirling rhythmes from a rich melodic musical trip created by vocals, flutes, keyboards, darbouka, harp, saz, wavedrum and other odd instruments.
Perfect Beings is based on Suhail Rafidi’s novel, TJ & Tosc: A Field Guide For Life After Western Culture, a science fiction adventure centered around the story
of Salvador Tosc, an artificial intelligence who used to be a live man. This story is now converted into a prog rock opera by the powerhouse L.A. duo of composer Ryan Hurtgen and guitarist/producer Johannes Luley. Both men, veterans of the music industry, were looking for a challenge, a chance to raise the musical bar, to innovate in their field.
‘Reincarnation’ is the latest solo outing and an exercise in superlative guitar-based fusion. Maillard really shows how it’s done with each composition always rooted in a melodic and a distinctly European approach. Maillard is Swiss-based.
Highly melodic and riff-driven with a good tune never sacrificed to overt musical dexterity, Maillard combines the perfect blend of tension and release. Taste is then the guiding feature and in his quest he’s ably accompanied by his brother Yan Maillard (drums) whilst adding his own keyboard textures and bass on most tracks.
The highlight has to be ‘Evergreen’ which combines a monster riff with a compelling melody and reminds me of another great European contemporary player, Marco Sfogli, although ‘Another Life’ is the best ballad and also deserves special attention.
‘Theory Of Relativity’ features some Zakk Wylde-esque riffage but always keeps the listener’s attention in spite of several time changes and a Eric Johnson fusion-inflected mid-section. And of course, the spirit of Satriani is ever-present on tunes like the title track although Maillard injects his playing with a satisfying metal thrust, whilst not averse to Satriani-esque titling as on ‘Bulldog Ants’. (David Randall at getreadytorock.me.uk)
What would get if you mixed the musical style of a band like Pavlov’s Dog with the writing style of an artist like Steve Thorne? What you would get is the music of Tiras Buck who’s first CD, Songs for Parked Cars is an amazing blend of these two approaches and in the end comes off sounding totally unique. Based in Pennsylvania and working with the likes of Echolyn’s Brett Kull and Paul Ramsey, Buck has crafted a well-conceived musical vision that will appeal to a wide range of melodic Prog enthusiasts.
Songs for Parked Cars is fifty-one minutes, eight compositions ranging in length from as short as 1:55 to as long as 12:08. In describing the musical accomplishments on this disc he references: “melodies, hymns, and anthems…” and certainly the description of hymns is very accurate for the tune that starts the disc “Our Graceful Tide” [3:55] with its stirring, emotional melody line and grand choir sing along. If you are a fan of bands like Barclay James Harvest and Strawbs the music of Tiras Buck will be right up your alley with its strong acoustic direction and layered Symphonic Prog arrangements. Lush orchestration abounds and the sound of Mellotron strings makes frequent appearances. Nothing here is overly complex, rather these songs flow smoothly melody upon melody. Every-so-often a dramatic musical change-up is employed to take a song in a new direction and while the electric guitar is there it never dominates. In the longer songs like “You Come Down” [7:05] or “Needing It” [9:21] we hear songs incorporating multiple contrasting and diverse song-segments knitted together in traditional Prog fashion.
If your penchant for Progressive Rock lies in the world of the Symphonic sub-genre Tiras Buck will find a welcome place in your collection. Fans of the more melodic styling of artists like Guy Manning or Steve Thorne and certainly any of the bands mentioned above will enjoy the music on Songs for Parked Cars. This is a wonderful collection of lovingly crafted compositions that speak to the heart of the listener. Thoroughly enjoyable recommended listening from beginning to end. (Jerry Lucky)
Echo Trails create a sound which cleverly fuses together each of the member’s individual and eclectic influences; combining the familiar melodic elements of folk, gypsy, blues and jazz, along with the stranger worlds of psychedelia, Prog-Rock, Avant-garde, and free improvisation, creating an intriguing and eccentric off-kilter sound.
A concept album about the Chernobyl disaster.
Featuring 11 tracks and over 70 minutes of new original material, the band continues to evolve it’s signature genre-bending sound. Described by veteran publisher Jack Rabid as “Prog/Shoegaze”, DTES have again produced an album that draws from an incredibly diverse pool of influences. Among them are the classic progressive sounds of Genesis, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and The Moody Blues - intertwined with such bands as U2, Ride, Catherine Wheel, and Radiohead. With “Heretics”, DTES continue to push the envelope - not only on the band's album themes and subject matter, but sonically as well. Fans will discover an extremely dynamic, thought-provoking work in “Heretics” - an album that reveals a band that is more focused than ever, and becoming increasingly difficult to pigeonhole.