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ZEUHL

• ZEUHL SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! ... ZEUHL SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! .... Those who are fans of the incredible drummer Tatsuya Yoshida will be soon rewarded by a flow of releases, events and reissues, just have a look here!
  - A new Acidmothers Gong - Live In Tokyo (Yoshida will play with them at the Gong Festival in Amsterdam in November)
  - A new studio album by Korekyojin
  - A new Koenjihakkei DVD (this time with 2 cameras )
  - A European tour with the Satoko Fuji Quartet this Fall.
  - And, last but not least, Koenji's 2nd album "II" (often wrongly referred to as "Viva Koenji") was remastered and will be reissued on the label Skin Graft this summer.
• Ad Vitam: Là Où Va Le Vent; second release by the french group with an inspiration drawn from Magma's lesser known aspects: their choir work. The second album features Christian & Stella Vander's daughter on vocals.
• Amygdala 2: Complex Combat. Soleil Zeuhl 18. 2008. This Japanese duo released their first album on the French label Soleil Zeuhl and are now ready with a second opus; the band has been expanded and will see the participation of drummer Daniel Jeand'heur, known by most of you as member of the bandOne Shot, as well as Kenichi Oguchi, one of the keyboardists in the band Kenso, featured on two tracks.
• Amygdala: S/T. Soleil Zeuhl 11. A Japanese duo of keyboards / guitar-bass-vocals for an energetic music. Even if synth programming can't replace a real drummer, the rhythm work is well done.
• Eskaton: Ardeur. Released on the french label Soleil Zeuhl. The 2 tracks from their debut single "Le chant de la terre / If" are included as bonus tracks.
• Eskaton: Fiction. Soleil Zeuhl 13. The 3rd album from 83 is released and also includes part of the until now unavailable album Icare
• Guapo: Black Oni. After two years of work, a limited edition - 500 hand-numbered copies on 180g white vinyl and super-deluxe gatefold jacket - of this album is released on December 12, 2007
• Guapo: Five Suns. A Cuneiform release. English trio of keyboards/dms & percussion /bass & electronics. Actually their 5th album. Enormous power, rhythmic complexity, harmonic atonality, hard-core energy.
• Hur!. After Hamtaï, here's a new tribute to Christian Vander's music, taking place as part of the big celebration of the 40 years of existence of our French heroes Magma! Released on the reknown Soleil Zeuhl label, it is again a 2CD of selected pieces by our drummer. And again, the list of groups and musicians willing to participate is indee impressive, just see here: Guapo, Simon Steensland, Pochakaite Malko, Forgas Band, Setna, Minimum Vital, Post Image ... as well as newcomers Neom, Ain Soph Aur and a band led by the son of Magma member Claude Olmos. That's it? Not quite ... what about Klaus Blasquiz, teamed for the occasion to Steve Shehan, Jannick Top, Patrick Gauthier, Claude Salmieri? The selected works cover a large period of Vander's repertory and testify of his impact on several generations; close to a must!
• New Koenji Hyakkei DVD due to be released on the Magaibutsu label (MGDV-04). This will please and highly excite all fans of the band since it features fantastic special guests such as Tipographica's guitarist Imahori Tsuneo , violinist Tsuboy Akihisa (from KBB), keyboardist wizzard, producer and God Mountain's owner Hoppy Kamiyama and another keyboardist, Ishibashi Eiko . It was recorded on May 31th, 2007. The first half of the show is exceptional, with improvised performances by the various combinations obtained when shifting the guests. In the 2nd half they play Koenji Hyakkei songs with the one off twin keyboard line-up of this day. Imahori and Tsuboy also join on some songs. All in all, a must for EVERYONE!!! Did you hear me?
• Koenjihyakkei: Nivraym. Skingraft Records. The third album by the Japanese cult band, led by the much versatile drummer Tatsuya Yoshida has been extensively rebuilt for this 2009 worldwide release. The band has gone back to the original master recordings and the current line-up has added new flourishes, additional overdubs, re-recorded drum tracks and the entire album has been remixed and remastered at Japan's Magaibutsu Studio!
• Korekyojinn: Isotope. TZ 7257. 2nd album by this super group featuring Ruins drummer Yoshida Tatsuya and members of groups Altered States and Bondage Fruits. This is taken from a live concert in Tokyo. There is also a nice extra in the form of an unreleased track from their previous session "Arabesque".
• Magma: Emehntett-Re. Street date: November 13!! The new studio album is on the way and with him is following a DVD with "Making Of" stuff for about 60 minutes. The Kobaïa meteroid is approaching, Zeuhlians take care!
• Magma live in Bourges, France, 1979. This is the latest release from Seventh Records archive department (AKT XV). Double CD featuring maybe one of the less heard Magma line-ups, with André & Michel Herve, respectively on Fender Rhodes/synths and el bass, Jean-Luc Chevalier on guitar and bass, Klaus Blasquiz, Stella Vander, LisaDeluxe, Maria Popkiewicz on vocals. This is a rarely documented period and the songs played include classics like Mëkanïk Dëstruktïw Kömmandöh, Hhaï, but also tunes from the Attahk album or in a similar spirit - like Retrovision, heard on the Retrospektïw album! And a few surprises!
• Magma: Mythes Et Légendes Volume 4. Seventh Records (SEVENTHVD7). This is the last volume dedicated to the coverage of the band's 2005 residency at the French club Le Triton in Paris. This volume is mainly focusing on the current Magma line-up but there is a version of Kobaïa featuring both Klaus Blasquiz & Jannick Top and a bonus documentary as well.
• Magma: Mythes et Légendes Epok 3. This is the 3rd DVD devoted to Magma's residency at the French club Le Triton in 2005. Epok 3 features the current formation with keyboardist and previous member Benoit Widemann as special guest. There is one more to be released!
• Magma Live / Attahk / Üdü Wüdü have been released by RCA/Victor (Japan) as CD "mini LP reproduction". You will loose the bonus tracks which were added on the Seventh Records releases but you will definitely win more dynamic and stereo details. For you guys who need thosae telluric bass sounds!
• Neom: Arkana Temporis. Soleil Zeuhl (SZ21). 2009. New French band who recently opened for Magma. All music is composed by Yannick Duchene Sauvage (he's in charge of vocals, electric guitar and drums). With Rhodes played by Carole Duchene Sauvage (his wife?) and William Pawelzik on bass, you have the complete line-up. The mastering is due to Israeli sound expert Udi Koomran, which in itself is a guarantee of a top notch end product! Go get them!
• One Shot: Reforged. Soleil Zeuhl (SZ 25). 2010. Woow ... the long time OOP debut album by the French quartet is now reissued, re-mixed by James Mac Gaw & Pierre Luzy and remastered for better dynamics. It has 1 bonus track, recorded the same day as the album and not featured on the first issue. New cover art too!
• One Shot: Dark Shot. Le Triton TRI-08515. 2008. This splendid CD + DVD release will certainly rejoy fans of this Magma offshoot. Recorded and mixed in the own studios of the French club (and label) Le Triton on January 13-14th (CD) or January 24th (DVD), this is the 4th output by the band, grooving like hell and really really hot! The DVD is taken from a concert and the entire unit will provide you with over 2 hours of revitalization and renewed NRJ!!
• Another Zeuhl nice surprise is the release of a new live album by the French group One Shot: Ewaz Vader. It is released on the label Le Triton and was recorded live at their own Parisian club in 2005. A video track of nearly 15 minutes completes this wonderful release! In case you don't know, the musicians of One Shot are, except from the drummer, all members of the current Magma line-up :)
• Since we are buzy with Zeuhl, please note the new release on the French label Soleil Zeuhl:
  Pienza: Indiens d'Europe (SZ14). The line-up is James Mac Gaw (Magma, One Shot) on bass (yes, NOT guitar, he plays bass too!!), Daniel Jeand'Heur (One Shot) on drums and percussions. Add to this Thierry Bruneau: electric hurdy gurdy. The music was recorded live during summer 2005 and is very heavy, the electric hurdy gurdy being treated like a guitar with a lot of power & distorsions. Folk is just a basis for this powerful great jam between 3 exceptional players who each push the boundaries of their instrument in very unusual ways : distorted electric hurdy gurdy, explosive drums & a Huge Zeuhl bass that goes chorus almost every minute. Difficult to name.....explosive-zeuhl-folk ?
• Pseu: S/T. This French band coming from the prog scene around Bordeaux existed between 1979 and 1983. This release presents us studio recordings from 81 & 82. The Zeuhl lineage is obvious but guitar gets here a more present role than in any Magma record, giving the music another flavour and originality which prevents it from being stamped as a clone.
• Shub Niggurath: Introduction. Soleil Zeuhl (SZ22). 2009. Also mastered by Udi, this is the CD transfer of the first Shub Niggurath demo, going back to the mid 80's and until now only available as a cassette recording. Presented in a nice flat digipack, here are 41 minutes of dark delirium!
• Jannick Top: Infernal Machine. Utopic Records (UR01009). Sensational news! Magma's bass player has finalized a new Zeuhl project: a new 57 minutes long composition, recorded with the help of many Magma members, from the boss himself on the drums and his wife to Klaus Blasquiz or newer members like guitarist James MacGaw. As usual with Top, you'll have to expect this slowly hypnotic spiral building up and up, magnifying musical tensions before releasing them; the soundscape is heavy throughout and has such a massive feel that you will expect your speakers to crater your floor boards! So welcome back Mr. Growl!


• Universal Totem Orchestra: The Magus. Black Widow BWR106. "The Magus" is the second album from Universal Totem Orchestra after the debut titled "Rituale Alieno" (Black Widow Records, BWR 022, 1999), and describe a host of influences to create a dark and dense experience such a combination of the grandeur of the best symphonic rock with the repetitive intensity of zeuhl music. It's a jazz/rock simphonyc composition which concludes a Trilogy ("Hidden Opera", "Rituale Alieno", "The Magus") dedicated to the Human Alienation; from the most esoteric state to the most psychal complex one, crossing extreme forms of analysis and autoanalysis
• Seventh Records Japan reissue the third album by keyboardist Benoît Widemann, originally released on CY Records in 1984 and centered around the trio format. Four players are making various combinations of rhythm section; bass player Sylvin Marc with either drummer Kirt Rust or François Laizeau, the latter being also paired to ex-Magma bassist Dominique Bertram. The final tune is a lovely Moog solo piece, just for the sake of its fantastic sound! A bonus track recorded in 2009 also presents the current work of Widemann, due to a later release. So if you want to hear expert hands and brain tilting Moog, Prophet, Oberheim analog synths, this one is a MUST!
• Xing Sa: Création de l'Univers. Soleil Zeuhl (SZ 24). 2010. Debut album by this French trio and side band evolved from Setna. Mostly instrumental and in a Zeuhl prog vein, the compositions are rockier than in Setna; let's note the guest appearance of Yannick Duchene Sauvage from the band Neom (another French affiliate of the Zeuhl family) and a superb Moog work throughout the album (Hello Benoît W. !!)


TO TOP


CANTERBURY


• Amoeba Split: Dance of the Goodbyes. This Spanish progressive jazz-rock band heavyly influenced by the Canterbury Sound had released some kind of demo in 2003; those three sounds have been included in the present CD but rearranged and in fact re-recorded too. Three more and new tracks complete the CD and winkles to Canterbury are also shown with some humour, aka this title: Dedicated to Us But We Werent Listening! Oh by the way, it's a 500 CDs limited and numbered edition.
• Brainville 3: Trial by Headline. Recommended (RER0244). The spelling Brainville *3* is used to remind us that this is the third line-up by this Canterburian super band. After the loss of the late Pip Pyle, drummer Chris Cutler, of Henry Cow's fame, took up the torch, rejoining the two Soft Machine alumni, bassist Hugh Hopper and guitarist, poet, rebel Daevid Allen. This explosive meeting was recorded during their 2007 tour.
• More Brainville! A DVD is also available, presenting the shooting of 3 tracks during a concert at the French club "Le Triton" on June 8, 2007. Clocking just above half an hour, it is completed by a 52mn film consisting of an interview intersperced with music inserts. And oh! I was just about to forget to tell you that Didier Malherbe is guesting in the concert on tarobago ...
• Caravan: In The Land Of Grey And Pink. 2CD+DVD. Street date: 30/05/11. To celebrate the 40th year of "In The Land Of Grey And Pink"‘s release, Caravan are releasing a three disc version of the album. The first disc will be a remastered version mixed by Paschal Byrne and three stereo mixes done by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Blackfield and more) while the second disc features two previously unreleased versions of “It Doesn’t Take A Lot” and “Nigel Blows A Tune” plus four non-album tracks remixed by Wilson. Disc two also includes three songs recorded live for BBC radio’s Sounds of the Seventies – “Love To Love You”, “Love Song Without Flute” and “In The Land Of Grey And Pink” plus two songs recorded live for John Peel’s Sunday Concert which included a superb cover version of Soft Machine’s “Feelin’, Reelin’, Squealin’” and Caravan’s own magnum opus, “Nine Feet Underground”. The third disc is a DVD featuring the brand new 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo mix of the album plus two performances recorded for German TV’s Beat Club in June 1971. “Golf Girl” was broadcast at the time but “Winter Wine” has never been seen. A defining moment in Caravan’s career and in the Canterbury progressive scene!
• Clear Frame: S/T. Continuity Records (TINU001). Distributed by Recommended Records, here's a record between free jazz and Canterbury, commissioned by the BBC and scrutinized for the production by ex Soft Machine bassist, the one and only Hugh Hopper. The Canterbury link is further sensible in the presence of Robert Wyatt as guest artist on cornet. The connection with free are drummer Charles Hayward (The Heat) and saxophonist Lol Coxhill, while the last member is vibraphonist Orphy Robinson, also playing marimba and steel pans.


• Corte Aulica: Il Temporale E L'arcobaleno. Mellow Records MMP490. The progessive rock band Corte Aulica started playing in January 2006 with the objective to create music which reminds of the Canterbury setting of the seventies, Camel, Caravan and Hatfield and the North above all, but at the same time keeping its strong originality both in the composing and in the sound. In December 2006, nearly only a year after their birth, the group recorded 9 pieces of own composition.
• Beppe Crovella: What's Rattlin' On The Moon? Moonjune (MJR030). 2009. Mellotron, Fender Rhodes Stage 73 electric piano, Wurlitzer E200 electric piano, Hohner electric piano, Hohner Clavinet D6, Rösler Grand Piano, Hammond Organ M102, Farfisa Professional; neither analog or digital synthesizers, or other digital keyboards were used on this recording, an entirely personal vision of the music written by Mike Ratledge, the much acclaimed keyboardist of Soft Machine. Beppe Crovella has succesfully avoided all the traps that such a tribute may throw under your feet! By bringing his love into the very spirit of our man, not interested in emulating or just faithfully reproducing phrase for phrase, he has achieved this fantastic challenge of bringing you from Mike Ratledge to Beppe Crovella! Allusions and familiar sounds appear of course here and there but they remain means of tightening you to the spirit of Ratledge, never becoming a goal for themselves. And after presenting you the core of his love work, Beppe offers a few more pieces conceived as before and after the project, the latter being as well some kind of good bye to departed stars of the Soft Machine galaxy, saxophonist Elton Dean and bass extraordinaire Hugh Hopper. Thank you, Beppe! This is one of the best tributes I've heard for years!
• Elton Dean & Sophia Domancich! This is the new release by HUX Records HUX 063, entitled “Avant” and due to release for March 25, 2005. It features a recording of a live concert which the duo performed in France last year. This fully improvised show was the first time they had ever performed as a duo. The accompanying full colour booklet includes a brief note from both Elton and Sophia.
• Delta Saxophone Quartet: Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening - The Music Of Soft Machine. Moonjune MJR017. The Delta Saxophone Quartet was formed in 1984 and whether performing works by Mike Westbrook, Steve Reich, Philip Glass or Terry Riley, their musical choices have always come with their own demands and challenges. This time, the challenge is to tackle Soft Machine's music, bringing it anew knowing it is already perceived as cult-like and legendary! It takes a love of the source and a strong desire to create something fresh and inviting that stands both as a tribute but also on its own terms! The repertoire chosen spans over many years in the band's career and stylistic periods and to help them reach the sacred goal without alienating the music's spirit or even the fans, we'll find special contributions by bass player Hugh Hopper (also standing for loops on Facelift) and vocalist Morgan Fischer (also playing hurdy gurdy and background electronics). All in all, a new angle of vision and new colours for a still much alive music!
• Santa Claus has surely flown over Canterbury this year and the brand new Egg archive release is a pure gift to all lovers of the genre. Egg consisted of Dave Stewart (keyboards), Mont Campbell (bass/vocals) and Clive Brooks (drums). Known for their uncompromising complexity and pinpoint accuracy of performance, the group was one of the most musically adventurous to emerge from the UK underground scene of the late '60s. The new archive release is titled "The Metronomical Society" and is a collection of live and studio recordings made by the pioneering trio between 1969 and 1972. It features archive material unheard for nearly 40 years, including a sizeable segment of Egg's last Roundhouse concert which demonstrates the group's live power. Also included are superior versions of tracks from the band's radio sessions, previously available only on poor-quality bootlegs. The CD lasts over an hour and ships in a full-colour Digipak with a 20-page booklet containing Egg's history in the musicians' own words, unique period photos and artwork. If not enough, a companion booklet called "Copious Notes" is also released and tells the inside story of Uriel, Egg, Arzachel and the Ottawa Company from the formation of Uriel in early 1968 to the making of Egg's final album The Civil Surface in 1974. The text is crammed full of personal memoirs, anecdotes, short stories, random recollections, social observation, period details, musical analysis and song lyrics, as well as a priceless collection of archive photos taken by Terry Yetton and the musicians. An essential read for Canterbury and prog fans, UK music historians and collectors. Available from Burning Shed!
• Equip’Out: Up! Voiceprint VP348CD. Equipe Out was the band Pip formed with Sophia Domanchich and also former Soft Machinesax player Elton Dean and fellow Softs member Hugh Hopper. Up was the bands second album originally released in 1991. This album has been unavailable for many years and this re issue has been remastered for this release.
• Patrick Forgas: Cocktail. Musea FGBG 4758. May 2008. Another welcome reissue! Forgas' debut album from 1977 got him to be often called the French answer to Canterbury! And in fact there is indeed an inspiration from the likes of Robert Wyatt or his band Soft Machine. But this is only one picture from the entire album. In his first album, Forgas has with him a serious and rock solid bass player in the person of Gerard Prevost, who has been member of groups such as Zao or Rahmann. Cocktail is an album that displays superb compositions, full of invention and melodic research. It has been OOP for many many years so pick it NOW and rediscover one of the best hidden secrets of the French scene from the late 70's!
• The Happy Accidents: Masters of the Balloonafon (DVD-Video). Burning Shed. July 07. A collection of songs, instrumentals and vocal narrative pieces accompanied by video sequences that enhance the mood and content of each track. The audio has been recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound and is also stereo compatible. Each track invokes the spirit of the Canterbury Sound, possessing the musical originality and multi-instrumental dexterity associated with the genre but leavened with large doses of humour and eccentricity. Featuring a cameo appearance by Robert Wyatt.
• Hatfield & The North: Hattitude. Following the success of Hatwise Choice, the Hatfield musicians continue their archive CD series with a second volume of rare '70s recordings. The series was given extra momentum by the discovery of a large collection of previously unheard live tapes, the highlights of which have been personally compiled by the band members themselves. As on Hatwise Choice (released in January 2005), the new CD contains a mixture of live and studio tracks (including extracts from the band's radio sessions) and features some hitherto unrecorded compositions. The CD comes in a full colour Digipak with a 20-page booklet containing archive photos and period artwork. The band history initiated in Hatwise Choice continues with the four musicians recounting behind-the-scenes events, road stories, musical reflections and descriptions of recording their debut album in Oxfordshire's Manor Studios. These personal memoirs provide a detailed chronicle of the events of 1973, a 'year in the life' of a young, talented and exciting British band. They will allow us one more time to think of and appreciate all facets of the late Pip Pyle, from solid and energic drummer to phenomenal entertainer
• A Canterburian Miracle! has got the name “Hatwise Choice”. This is no less than the result of years of hard work used to persuade the musicians of Hatfield & the North of finally setting up an official release showing their strength and magic as a live act. Initiated by drummer Pip Pyle, the CD presents a choice of tracks taken either from live concerts or first generation tapes of BBC sessions. The booklet contains many informative details by the musicians about the band’s history, the instruments used and a good dose of a humoristic approach. This CD can for the moment only be ordered here: www.burningshed.com. Not to be missed! This is vol. 1 of a series suggesting that more is to come ...


• Henry Cow: 40th Anniversary Box Set Volumes 1 & 2. This release is without any doubt one of the biggest hits for the rest of the year! 9 CDs and 1 DVD with 2 substantial books, in two solid boxes. Limited Edition. Pre-order taken directly by Recommended Records UK. In its about 10 years of existence, Henry Cow covered much ground and if the official studio releases are not missing, live performances are far less with nearly only "Concerts" giving us a complete idea of what the band was able to come with on stage! This boxset will definitely bring new light on those aspects since all material is chosen from all previously unreleased recordings, that include many compositions and improvisations new to anyone who only knows the official releases; there is also a rich documentation of a number of one-off projects and events and - where different or remarkable enough to justify inclusion - live versions of parts of the LP repertoire. Many of these recordings are high quality radio transcriptions taken directly from the original masters, others are less hi-fi, but justified we think by their historic and musical quality. And everything has been carefully transferred and re-mastered by Bob Drake to the best audio quality that current technology allows without interference or tampering. It's all a million times better than the terrible bootlegs that have surfaced until now. And then there is the DVD: 80 minutes of the 1976 Cow (with Georgina Born & Dagmar Krause) performing many unreleased pieces as well as "Living in the Heart of The Beast", "Beautiful As The Moon", etc... This is the only known video recording in existence - professionally made, multi camera - and has not been recovered since its original broadcast (just scour U-Tube, Cow is conspicuous by its total absence). And last but not least, there is a great deal of written, photographic and textual documentation. So let's the fest begin!


• Honduras Libregrupo : La Única Posición Es La Oposición (2008). This quartet from Argentina had previously interpreted Robert Wyatt's "Sea Song" (downloadable on their site at Sea Song). Here's their *real* first album and the spirit of Matching Mole is not quite far! A nice surprise!
• Brian Hopper: If Ever I Am. Voiceprint VP 337. If Ever I am is a fine album that has its roots in the revered Canterbury scene and its sights on perhaps wider pastures. The album is an eclectic mix of jazz and progressive rock and features performances from at least two other members of the Wilde Flowers in Brian's brother Hugh Hopper and also Robert Wyatt. Brian's other musical partner Robert Fenner is also featured throughout on guitar. If Ever I am is of course aimed at the huge cult following that the Canterbury Scene attracts but the album will also be of interest to lovers of finely crafted jazz tinged progressive rock.
• Hugh Hopper: Numero D'Vol. Saxophonist Simon Picard, keyboardist Steve Franklin and drummer Charles Hayward join Soft Machine Legacy’s Hopper for a session that also proves there’s plenty of room for a backbeat in extemporaneous music. A music which has somehow an obsessive feel due to a rather groovy and repetitive playing of the rhythm section; not the *straight ahead shake it baby* kind of groove, rather a haunting and lurking one, on top of which the sax improvisations fly with passion and intensity. Steve Franklin has a really impressive palette of sounds and structures here and he sometimes explodes as well, showing great chops and a playing rich in ideas. Hugh comes in the front a few times with his demonic fuzz bass playing, like a short but violent rain taking everyone by surprise. Hayward is definitely (together with Hugh) the clock of the entity and shows a real organic calm power. The CD is produced by Hugh but all compositions are collectively signed. A much recommended recording to Canterbury fans but beyond this genre as well!
• Hugh Hopper: Hopper Tunity Box. Cuneiform RUN 240. Remastered edition of the 2nd solo album by the ex-Soft Machine member. With him are taking part a great number of musicians affiliated to the Canterbury style: old time mate Elton Dean, drummer Nigel Morris, the head, heart and legs of National Health: keyboardist Dave Stewart, saxophonist Gary Windo, cornetist Mark Charig, etc...
• Jakko M.Jakszyk: The Bruised Romantic Glee Club. It is a stunning and beautifully packaged 2CD set containing one disc of powerfully haunting original songs and another comprising unlikely cover versions of material by Soft Machine, King Crimson and Henry Cow. Featuring sophisticated production values and inspired guest performances from a stellar cast that includes Robert Fripp, Mel Collins, Danny Thompson, Gavin Harrison, Dave Stewart, Hugh Hopper and many others, this is Jakko Jakszyk's most accomplished and heartfelt release to date. street date is October 16 and signed copies can be ordered on Burning Shed's web site!
• Matching Mole: On The Radio (HUX 083). Fans will certainly have got in hands this collection of BBC recordings, which was years ago available on the market, more or less bootleg. The good news is that even for those completists, the HUX release will have some interest in that more material, previously unavailable, has been added to the previously known! (some more John Peel sessions!). Both Dave sinclair & Dave MacRae are featured keyboardists on this record. This special digipack CD features an original cover photograph by Robert Wyatt, who also compiled the running order. The accompanying 12 page CD booklet features extensive liner notes by Matching Mole bassist, Bill MacCormick, plus rare period photo’s and comprehensive recording details.
• The new album by Phil Miller's In Cahoots is ready and called "Conspiracy Theories". Released on his own label Crescent Discs (CD8CD), it shows a few conceptual changes in that the band has morphed into a multifaceted group with a more varied personnel. The project for recording this CD started in November 2004 and was completed in July 2006. Fred Baker, Pete Lemer & Mark Fletcher are still at the heart of the group but many old friends are making this time their appearance, like Richard Sinclair or the duo Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, which was already heard in Phil's album "Cutting both Ways", many years way back. Also the presence of Didier Malherbe goes back to the time of Short Waves. Other guest appearances include guitarist Doug Boyle, Zappatistas members Annie Whitehead & Simon Finch and finally a musician who played with In Cahoots in July 2005, Simon Picard. Doing a CD this way implies that the band redefines itself by what is written for and attempted by it and who is in it.
• Miller / Coxhill: Miller / Coxhill - "the Story So Far..." "... Cuneiform RUNE253/254. After having met each other in 68 in the group Delivery, pianist steve Miller (Phil's brother by the way) and saxophonist Lol Coxhill released in the 70's two duo records which quickly became cult records. Cuneiform reissues them today with a gorgeous 20 pages booklet filled with notes, interviews and rare photos plus 20 minutes of unreleased music by Delivery, just as it was about to become Hatfield & The North. Those treasured minutes feature bassists Richard Sinclair & Roy Babbington, the late drummer Pip Pyle, supplementing Miller and Coxhill. A must for Canterbury fans!
• Mop Meuchiine: Mop Meuchiine plays Robert Wyatt. Le Chant du Monde (2010). Here's a French tribute to the music of Robert Wyatt, counting 9 cover tunes (or tunes covered by Wyatt) and also offering some nice surprises like an interview of Robert, giving his meaning on the Big Bang theory!
• Shortwave! A Canterburian reissue.
  This album was previously released on the Gemini label and is now reissued by Voiceprint (VP 347) under the name of its drummer, the great Pip Pyle. The other mates were, let’s say it again, Phil Miller (Hatfield, Matching Mole), Didier Malherbe (Gong) and the ex Soft Machine’s bassist, the wonderfuzzy Hugh Hopper.


• Dave Sinclair: Stream. Canterbury's first class melody maker, Dave Sinclair's great new studio album "Stream", will be available soon, planned for February 14th 2011 and to be released on the Crescent label. It will be a real Canterbury feast, look at the guests! Robert Wyatt: Vocal & cornet, Jimmy Hastings: Flutes, clarinets, & soprano sax, Andy Latimer: Electric lead guitar, Annie Haslam & Barbara Gaskin : Vocals, Dave Stewart: Keyboards & arrangement, Doug Boyle: Acoustic & electric guitar, Fred Baker: Bass!
• Dave Sinclair: Full Circle / Into The Sun. During the sessions for "Full Circle" (featuring Richard Sinclair, Jim Leverton, Doug Boyle and Theo Travis amongst others), so much material was recorded that a decision was made to issue a further album, "Into the Sun". Available through Burning Shed.
• Music By Mail is now able to provide you with most CDs of Richard Sinclair. This includes his newest "What In the World" but also: Live Tracks / RSVP / Caravan of Dreams / Evening of Magic (double CD) / Somewhere in France.
• Soft Heap: Al Dente. Al Dente is a Mid-Fidelity concert recording of one of only two public appearances given by the original line-up of Soft Heap (Hopper/Dean/Gowen/Pyle). Recorded on a consumer reel-to-reel machine, November 22nd, 1978 concert at London's Phoenix Club, and featuring a hitherto unreleased composition from the pen of Alan Gowen titled "Sleeping House". Release planned for Spring 2008
• Soft Machine. Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the long overdue release of the re-mastered edition of two classic albums, out of print since ages and sought after by many!
  + 25/05/10 Bundles (Eclec2196). This classic album from 1975 was starting the jazz-rock period of the band, featuring no less than his highness Allan Holdsworth
  + 28/06/10 Softs (Eclec 2202). The follow up of Bundles came in 1976 and guitarist John Etheridge had replaced Holdsworth. This album has been particularly hardly missed by fans!
  + 29/11/10 Alive and Well Recorded in Paris (ECLEC 22234). Deluxe remastered 2cd edition of Soft Machine's classic 1978 live album with 10 bonus tracks, 8 of which are previously unreleased! The final live recordings to be released by the band during their lifetime, "Alive & Well" was the product of several nights of excellent concerts at Le Palace Theatre in Monmartre, Paris in July 1978. The album was initially released as a single album, although the discovery of multi-track masters of a concert in the archives has resulted in this expanded edition with a CD of additional material recorded in July 1978. Newcomers in the band were violinist Ric Sanders and bass player Steve Cook.
  
  All three titles have been carefully remastered from the original tapes and fully restore the original artwork.


• Soft Machine: NDR Jazz Workshop. Cuneifom (Rune 305/306). May 2010. Released for the very first time here is the Soft Machine's television broadcast, recorded for Germany's famous "NDR Jazz Workshop" on May 17, 1973. This performance was one of the earliest shows by the quartet of Roy Babbington (electric bass), Karl Jenkins (oboe, baritone sax, soprano sax, electric piano), Mike Ratledge (electric piano, organ) and drummer John Marshall . The band performed a set of their repertoire in their quartet format and then for the second set they were augmented by two guests: guitarist Gary Boyle (who had just started Isotope) and saxophonist Art Themen. Additionally, Hugh Hopper had just left the group, but he makes a guest appearance (unfortunately audio only), performing 1983; the only known live version of this composition! This long sought-after performance has never been seen since its original broadcast over 35 years ago, not even in poor quality bootlegs. It is the single best quality video document that exists of the group, featuring clear and beautiful visuals and superb live stereo sound. The film footage is so clear and sharp that you can actually see the tape loops that Hugh had set up, hanging from the scafolding next to the band and you can read the address on the box next to Mike Ratledge's echoplex!
• Soft Machine: Live At Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971. 2009. Reel Recordings (RR014/015). 2CD + Bonus CD-ROM. Reel Recordings is pleased to announce the imminent release of, according to them, the finest recording of the classic Soft Machine quartet ever committed to tape. They have added to this simply stunning concert performance a specially designed CD-ROM. This colourfully presents an extensive eight-chapter essay: The Soft Machine Sound: An Acoustic Electronic Experience Examined, replete with previously unseen photos and unheard recording extracts. If this concert was known since long among the bootleg collectors, the present release comes from an extraordinary direct-to-Studer, two-track ambient recording and will certainly become the definitive release. Enjoy!
• Soft Machine: Drop. Moonjune MJR 023. Leonardo has done it again! This time presenting an often overlooked phase in the long and complex history of Soft Machine, the quartet with the Australian drummer Phil Howard! He only assumed a five-month interim behind the drum stool between Robert Wyatt's departure and his eventual long-term replacement John Marshall. Until today only documented on half of the studio album "Fifth" (1972) and a couple of BBC radio sessions, Phil's buoyant and rather free drumming in a live environment is now perfectly highlighted by this release, also showing how he pushed the band - together with saxophonist Elton Dean into unchartered areas of electric madness, which certainly changed many things, from the way of composing to prospective thoughts of possible futures! This CD documents the German leg of the tour and, as veteran music journalist Steve Lake notes in his detailed liner notes, is a revelation - a glimpse of a highly exciting alternative route Soft Machine decided not to explore further.
• Soft Machine still going strong!
  
  + Soft Machine: Alive in Paris 1970. Voiceprint VPDVD45. This Soft Machine DVD features a live performance captured by French Television on March 2nd, 1970. The concert was filmed at the Théâtre de la Musique in Paris, France and features the classic quartet line-up + saxophonist Lynn Dobson. At last a visual testimony of this cult band live which is long enough to set you in the right mood and give you the feeling of having been there! Absolutely recommended for Canterbury interested people and fans of the band! Lovingly restored from the original master, remastered sound track, 8 page booklet and extensive liner notes by Canterbury expert Aymeric Leroy. Street date: 05/05/08
  + Soft Machine: Middle Earth Masters. Cuneiform RUN 235. This is the remasterized, cleaned up presentation of one of their oldest recordings from before the first album. The original trio of Ayers/Ratledge/Wyatt was recorded in 1967 at the Middle Earth Club of the swinging London. And live .... they were a smokin' trio whose high energy can be rediscovered in this release. Even though everything has been carefully taken care of, the mix still reveals problems with the vocals or instrument levelling. Thus maybe only for the fans, collectors and completists!
  + Soft Machine Legacy: The Paris Concert (INAK6458). DVD. Unfortunately the last testimony of Elton Dean's fabulous playing, both on alt sax and Fender Rhodes. The concert was recorded at the French cult jazz club "New Morning" in december 2005. Elton passed away in February 2006. Great energy and a not to be mistaken pleasure in playing can be perceived throughout, guitarist John Etheridge in great form and always whipping with a brilliant guitar playing, followed enthusiastically by the strong veteran rhythm section of Hugh Hopper & John Marshall. An historical document not to miss!
  
  + Soft Machine Legacy!
  After Softworks comes now a new collaboration where guitarist John Etheridge replaces Alan Holdsworth, the rest of the band still being unchanged: Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper and John Marshall. The band has started its career with an extensive European tour in 2005. Available for now is a limited edition live CD from May 10, 2005 at De Kade, Zaandam, Holland.
  
  + Soft Machine Out-bloody-rageous: this is the title of a splendid book written by Graham Bennett, the definitive story of Soft Machine with forewords by Daevid Allen, Hugh Hopper and John Etheridge. It is illustrated with over eighty photographs, posters and clippings and includes a full Soft Machine family tree, concert file, discography and sessionography. Strong recommended!
  
  + Cuneiform Records has now (June 06) released the CD + DVD titled "Grides". The CD portion is from a show from fall, 1970 while the DVD is their performance on the German Beat-Club TV program, recorded March, 1971. Additionally, there is an extra 8 minutes of footage of the band performing "Virtually" that was filmed but never broadcast and which no one has ever seen. Both sound and image quality are amazing!
  
  + Moonjune Records will that same year present 2 releases: Soft Machine "Floating World Live", the Radio Bremen broadcast from a live concert on January 29, 1975 and featuring the breathtaking performances of the guitar-equilibrist Allan Holdsworth. This record can be ordered now and is available, distributed by Musea (FGBG 4651).
  
  The second release is an upcoming brand new studio album of the latest Softies, The Soft Machine Legacy with John Etheridge, Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper and John Marshall. In addition, another archival Soft Machine album will be released in 2006, and they also have plans for a Soft Machine "Legacy" DVD (maybe two!) and another live album of the current band with completely different material, taken straight from the road!


• Soft Machine: Breda Reactor 1971. Voiceprint VP 345. 2CD. The recording captured on this album comes from a very important and yet brief time in the history of the band. The recording features the short-lived quintet line up of Soft Machine, which consisted of Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge, Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean and Lyn Dobson. The concert took place at the 'Het Turfschip venue in the town of Breda in the Netherlands.
  (NB! the year indicated in the title IS wrong and must be corrected to 1970).


• Soft Machine BBC Radio 1971-1974. The second part of the Soft Machine BBC sessions (after Wyatt) has just been released by Hux Records. Most of the material has never been released before and the final 3 tracks on CD2 cover the interesting period around 1974 with guitar virtuoso Allan Holdsworth. Strongly recommended to collectors and Softsheads!
• Soft Machine BBC Sessions 1967 -1971. Long time OOP, those fabulous sessions are now rereleased on the HUX label. The present is a 2CD and includes all BBC sessions with Robert Wyatt in the group. The 1967 sessions are available from the first time directly from the masters.
• Cuneiform releases:
  - rerelease of Soft Machine Live In Paris (Olympia 1972)
  - University Of Errors: Jet Propelled Photographs. Daevid Allen revisiting his Soft Machine roots!
• Soft Machine "Live At The Paradiso" (1969) has been released by the italian label Turning Point as a 180g vinyl and a round cover (TMP02212).


• Soft Machine Legacy is still alive and live will be indeed their next CD, on the way to be soon ready. Built from their recent European tour on few German gigs, the album will be called "Relegation Of Pluto" and the planned track list shows agian a move away from the classic Soft repertory. Except Ratledge's "Gesolreut" and another version of Hopper's classic "Facelift", the list opens up now to later period's tunes by Karl Jenkins (The Nodder, Song from Aeolus) and new compositions by the current members (Travis, Marshall, Etheridge), pointing out clearly that beyond the legacy, there IS a living entity functioning and thinking in today's world!
• Soft Machine Legacy: Steam. The group’s new studio release combines collective freely improvised jams with new writing from Hopper, Etheridge and Travis. Gone are the keyboards that so defined 1970s Soft Machine. In their place are modernistic sampling/looping and sonic processing, creating expansive soundscapes not possible during Soft Machine’s heyday. Between John Etheridge’s broad sonics, Hugh Hopper's legendary bass loops and "fuzztonics" and Theo Travis’ system of ambitronics - allowing him to sample his saxophones and flutes in real time and naturally layer unpredictable harmonies - Soft Machine (Legacy) often sounds larger than a quartet. Powerful rock rhythms, funky jazz-rock grooves and abstract interaction are interspersed with muscular soloing and dense textures.
• Uriel - Arzachel: Collector's Edition. Burning Shed. Completing the Canterbury batch of surprises for the late 2007, comes this CD, a re-mastered version of the legendary 1969 psychedelic album recorded under a pseudonym by Uriel, featuring the amazing 17-year old Steve Hillage on guitar throughout. The CD also contains four unreleased, ultra-rare Uriel studio demos, a spoken-word message from the past and a live snippet recorded in 1968. Steve Hillage plays on two of these bonus tracks. 61 minutes of mind-expanding music and the occasional freak-out in a full-colour Digipak with its own 20-page booklet. As in The Metronomical Society, the story of Uriel (told in the band's own words) is illustrated by a unique set of photos taken in the late '60s.
• Elton Dean & The Wrong Object: The Unbelievable Truth. Moonjune Records 2007. Saxophone legend Elton Dean shines on one of his final recordings with powerhouse Belgian improv group the Wrong Object. Recorded live less than four months before his untimely passing, "The Unbelievable Truth" demonstrates the remarkable breadth of the late British saxophonist’s reach. With Dean originals ranging from the 7/4 jam Seven for Lee to the tender ballad Baker’s Treat , the record also highlights The Wrong Object’s equally diverse writing and freewheeling improvisational ability. From quirky Zappa-esque complexity to ominous material reminiscent of Dean’s 1970s tenure with Soft Machine
• Robert Wyatt. EDA 03, June 2011. This is the title of a book made in collaboration by Philippe Thieyre (text) and Jean-Francois Drean (photos). Despites the fact that it is written in French, it should anyway be of high interest for those following the drummer's musical and personal life, because of the many photo illustrations of Robert in his daily life; during conversations at the marketplace, in restaurants or at his home in Louth, he quietly deploys - at times with comments by his wife Alfie - the thread of his life and career, bringing many stories and anecdotes, around emblematic themes like record companies and royalties, his enrolment in the Communist party during the Thatcher years, Israel and Palestine, jazz, the work in the studio, etc... without of course forgetting Soft Machine and Matching Mole.
• Robert Wyatt: For The Ghosts Within. Domino Records. Planned for October 11th, the new album by the singer and ex Soft Machine drummer is billed as a "song cycle"; it's a collaboration with saxophonist and composer Gilad Atzmon + violinist and composer Ros Stephen, credited to all three. Nearly half of the tunes are jazz standards. Wyatt's youth dream finally come true? Stay tuned! Domino describe the album as placing Wyatt's voice "amid the seductive drama of string quartet, alto saxophone, and the universal rhythms of the night".
• Robert Wyatt: Radio Experiment Rome, February 1981. Tracce (RTP 0014). 2009. Invited by the RAI to do a program (Un Certo Discorso) dedicated to his way of composing, singer, keyboardist and percussionist Robert Wyatt got the entire freedom of sharing with us the creative process of a "work in progress", a week of experimentation during which 45 minutes of unreleased music got immortalized, presenting new versions of songs, a jazz tune by Charlie Parker and other surprises ...
• Robert Wyatt!. Nothing less than 2 new releases by the brilliant ex Soft Machine drummer, composer and singer Robert Wyatt.
  + on Cuneiform Records comes the CD "Solar Flares Burn For You", a collection of diverse material such his 2 BBC sessions for Top Gear in 72 and 74, the soundtrack of an experimental film from 73 and newer works with colleague Hugh Hopper as well as a demo tune which didn't end in ..
  + Cuckooland, his new studio record following "Shleep" from 1997. To be discovered!


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RIO

• Art Bears: The Art Box. On Recommended Records. This superb boxset contains all 3 official albums (remastered by Bob Drake) + 2 CDs of Art Bears revisited by others + a live recording and a mini CD of their singles. Limited edition ….. hurry up!

• Chansons Jamais Entendues à la Radio is a compilation of "songs never heard on radio", including the participattion of Albert Marcoeur, Joseph Racaille, Etron Fou Leloublan, Ferdinand, François Billard, Toupidek Limonade, Klimperei, David Fenech, Frédéric Le Junter. Some pieces are unrealesed (particularly the one by Albert Marcoeur . If you want to fight the censorship de facto exerced by this mass media, if you refuse dull uniformity, then get this CD and discover how the artists made it their duty to push the limits associated to this form of communication, put it up and down, deconstruct and rebuild it. The period treated goes from 1981 to 2009 so it is short, compared to the size of this topic but it is nevertheless each penny worth!
• Music By Mail is now distributing the records of the Swiss band L'Ensemble Rayé and his founder, multi-instrumentalist Cédric Vuille. There are quite a few to pick so mail us if you want details about a specific title!
• Fastilio: S/T. ERH 003. A 6 members italian woman-band playing a very good music with a strong RIO touch (slight reminiscences of Picchio dal Pozzo or Samla Mammas Manna).On the Erosha label.
• Ferdinand et Les Diplomates: E-Pop. Outone Disc KBS-DDCO-1008. This is the same Ferdinand known in RIO circles, who had a record with Fred Frith in the 80's called "En Avant!" and whose bass player was member of the cult RIO band Etron Fou Leloublan. French avant garde or abstract hip-hop, this CD has been written and composed between 1998 and 2001. It is the trio of Ferdinand Richard, still playing a 1961 Fender-6 bass guitar and singing, drummer Gilles Campaux and DJ Rebel. It is evolving from a previous project called "Ferdinand et les Philosophes". If the main part is built on studio recordings, there is also some improvised music recorded live in Japan in 99 and an active mix of several improvisations recorded in 1998 in Slovenia and Serbia. Not for the fainted heart but a very charming album in its way!
• Flying Food Circus: S/T. Don't miss this solo project by Samla Mammas Manna's drummer Hasse Bruniusson. And with the help of Roine Stolt plus one half of the Mats & Morgan duo (Mats Öberg), you can't really go wrong! This record is from 2002 but was quickly out of reach. So here's another chance. Get it now!
• Gilbert, Abel / Factor Burzaco: Factor Burzaco (2007) - Argentina - {Prog Rock / Contemporary Music / R.I.O.}. Born in 1960, the Argentinean composer and musician Abel Gilbert delivers here his debut album, a very promising one. The stylistic references are many, from Henry Cow or Egberto Gismonti to modern classical composers like Berio, Ligeti, Morton Feldman. The female vocalist and her at times dissonant voice could bring to mind groups like Thinking Plague as well. The rock combo with guitars, piano, bass and drums has allied forces with a chamber orchestra directed by composer Marcelo Delgado. A man and a band to follow!
• Hodgkinson / Gilonis: Woof 7 Inches. The label Woof was created by Henry Cow's member Tim Hodgkinson and Bill Gilonis. This fantastic compilation gathers all the singles they released between 1980 and 1984 in their respective groups and projects, plus a few unreleased. Noteworthy is the inclusion of the mythical "I Hate America" by The Work.
• Catherine Jauniaux: Fluvial. AD 02. Reissue of her first album from 83, co-produced with Tim Hodgkinson
• Mass Culture Control Bureau...: ...things From The Past. AD 01. In one CD, all the recordings + a few unissued tracks from the Anglo-Dutch label MCCB, who between 78 and 82 released the projects of saxophonist Geoff Leigh (Henry Cow). This includes The Black Sheep, Kontakt Mikrofoon Orchestra, Geoff Leigh, Red Balune, Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Tim Hodgkinson, etc...
• Mathilde 253: S/T. SLAM Productions (SLAMCD528). Jan. 2011. Mathilde 253 is the real-time musical meeting between legendary avant-rock drummer Charles Hayward (This Heat, Massacre), "careful and crafty" guitarist Han-earl Park (Paul Dunmall, Kato Hideki), and mainstay of the London improvised music scene Ian Smith (Derek Bailey, London Improvisers' Orchestra). Mathilde 253 was born out of an opportunity to explore the spontaneous mashup of avant-rock, African-American creative musics, European free improvisation and noise. Joined by the veteran iconoclastic saxophonist Lol Coxhill, this recording documents the weaving of physical virtuosity and humorous sound poetics, a patchwork of restraint, subtlety and recklessness.
• Miriodor: Parade. Cuneiform RUN 208-209. This 2CD by the Canadian outfit present for their 6th effort a new studio album and a live recording from Nearfest 2002. Miriodor have been making adventurous, memorable and truly entertaining instrumental rock music for 25 years, performing on guitars, keyboards, violin, saxophones, bass and drums.
• Picchio Dal Pozzo: Picnic@Valdapozzo (AUD01704). This recording is much more experimental than the others previously recorded. They even used the voice of the great Demetrio Stratos, recorded and pasted in a collage of avantgardistic thoughts.Released by the label Auditorium
• Present: Barbaro (Ma Non Troppo). Recommended AD30-31. Oct. 2010. This new present (ah ah ah) is a CD+DVD package. The audio CD consists of three long tracks all through-composed, with insistent iterations, big piano, strong cello, shifting accents and slow melodic colouration; all played at a high level of competence and with a Kobaian precision! On the DVD are 3 hours of (mostly) professionally recorded, multi-camera videos of fine live performances in France and Portugal. And last but not least, it ends with three extra film extracts from earlier days, featuring other incarnations of the band, all impressive (one with Daniel Denis at the kit). Bands like this are an endangered species.
• Pikapika Teart: Moonberry. Altrock Productions (ALT 015). 2010. After Rational Diet & Aranis, here's a new chamber prog band to add to the AltRock roster! Hailing from Siberia and called by some the "Siberian Henry Cow with Russian folk music roots", here's a band equally inspired by modern classical Russian composers (Stravinsky, Schostakovich, Schnittke), RIO prog (Volapuk, Samla Mammas Manna, Henry Cow) or even the mighty Crimson!
• Present: A Great Inhumane Adventure. Cuneiform RUN 207. Live and hot recording from a US concert in 98. The drums chair is assaulted by Dave Kerman
• Radar Favourites: S/T. Reel Recordings RR017. 2010. Radar Favourites was formed in the summer of 1974 by saxophonist/flutist Geoff Leigh, after making Henry Cow’s "Legend" album the undisputed classic it is. Geoff & his lady, keyboardist/singer Cathy Williams, teamed with Scottish electric guitarist Gerry Fitz-Gerald (Mouseproof), bass guitarist Jack Monck (Delivery and Stars) and drummer Charles Hayward (Quiet Sun, This Heat). This historical CD release presents the original Radar Favourites, carefully remastered from the reels extant. At last we can experience the bands sublime studio recordings, an untethered private session and a forceful concert excerpt recorded at London’s College of Printing, in a specially designed cover by Hawkwind’s graphic artist, the legendary Barney Bubbles. Seldom has an ostensible rock group scoped such prescient musical terrain; free collective improvisations, dynamic tension and release within interweaving layers, and dramatic trans-dimensional song structure.
• Slapp Happy: Acnalbasac Noom. Recommended RER 3157. Album of demos recorded in the legendary Wumme studios owned by Faust musicians. On this reissue (remastered) there are unissued takes as well, which were not part of the original album, songs like Charlie & Charlie, Karen, Blue Eyed William, Everybody's Slimmin' and the very faustian Messages.
• Stormy Six: Un Biglietto del Tram (VM 096). This historical album by Stormy Six is finally available again on CD! Stormy Six best selling album was first released in 1975.
• Slapp Happy & Henry Cow: Desperate Straights is now available on Recommended in a remastered edition
• Tornando: Menù. Erosha ERH 005. Strong ironic touch in the music and the texts, sophisticated music reminding of Stormy Six or Picchio Dal Pozzo ….. a really good record for people who like the Canterbury/R.I.O.-style !
• Laboratorio di Musica E Immagine: a propos de... Erosha ERH 001. An italian answer to Henry Cow, Slapp Happy or 5uu's! Another release - Timetables (ERH 004) - features the experimental violinist Jon Rose.
• Univers Zéro: Live (2006 cuneiform RUN 220). Partly recorded at the Tritonales festival in Paris last year, this is their 10th album and the first live release since "Crawling Winds" in 1983. The Belgian sextet led by drummer Daniel Denis is in full form as this exceptionally well recorded CD will certainly not fail to prove ...
• New recording by the Belgian Univers Zéro entitled ”Implosion”. On Cuneiform.
• The Work: The 4th World. RER Recommended AD36. Oct. 2010. This is the 5th album by ex-Cow member Hodgkinson's band, recorded in Freiburg, Germany in 1994. Except from two covers, the material was unreleased until now
• Yugen: Iridule. AltRock Productions (ALT013). Street date: 23/09/10. With this 3rd album, Yugen goes back to what made their first album a huge success: large dynamics excursions, a meticulous timber research, rhythmic details, maybe even more divided and stratified this time. The new intruder here is the voice, making a brilliant appearance in the name of Elaine Di Falco, a qualified choice for entering Yugen's universe and their mix of late 20th century classical music and syncopated prog-rock. The line-up is also changed, some musicians left, other join in, like bass player Guy Segers of Present and Univers Zéro fame. Now, if you take the pedigree of all the musicians making this collective, see what you get! Present, Thinking Plague, Univers Zéro, 5UU's, Hughscore, Caveman Shoestore, Hamster Theatre, Spaltklang, Überfall, Ulterior Lux, French TV, Areknames, The Watch, Stormy Six .. Impressive, isn't it?
• Zou: Bouzillator. Bouzillator" (1996) is a constant research of new musical ways sometime close to progressive music mixed with canterbury and R.I.O influences
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KRAUT & SPACE ROCK

• Amon Düül II. Carnaval In Babylon* / Lemmingmania* / Live In Tokyo / Phallus Dei* / Tanz Der Lemminge / Utopia* / Vive La Trance* / Yeti / Wolf City* are now available on remixed & remastered versions. Titles marked with * include bonus tracks.
• The Crack In The Cosmic Egg. After the success of the book written by the Freeman brothers, here's a vastly updated version formatted as CD-ROM, that will make you the ultimative expert of Kraut Rock. Thousand of pics and infos, loads of appendices, lots of extra features, sections on Austria, Switzerland and the ex DDR. All this and much more yet at the click of a mouse!
• Emtidi: Saat. Lion Productions (LION 627). Reissue on a US label of this classic kraut rock album, originally released in 1972 on the German label Pilz. Saat is an elevated cosmic folk brew of a refined and most magical kind; a richly textured sound thick with treated guitars, phased keyboards and trippy electronics, rendering a cosmic atmosphere similar to vintage Klaus Schulze or Ash Ra Tempel, and creating an album which has been called one of the most beautiful cosmic treks of all time. The Lion Productions edition comes with a 16-page booklet which contains band info, a history of Rolf Ulrich Kaiser and his OHR/Pilz/Kosmischen Kuriere Records empire, and a Pilz label discography.
• Released on the German label Garden Of Delights:
  + CD099 AMON DUUL II: Made In Germany 1975. Underrated sort of rock opera originally released as a double LP.
  + CD092 EMBRYO: Father Son And Holy Ghosts 1972. It includes one 20 minutes long bonus track.
  + CD088 AGITATION FREE: Fragments 1974. It includes one bonus track.
• Hawkwind: USA Tour 1989 - 1990. Hawk (HAWKVP48CD). Street date: 01/03/10. Hawkwind USA is the soundtrack from the recently released DVD of the same name covering dates in America from 1989-90.
• Hawkwind: Hawkfest 2002. Release date: 27/10/03. This double CD was recorded at the first Hawkfest in 2002; as well as featuring an all star line up of Hawkwind (with many past members) it also includes many of the bands satellite bands, some even dating back to Dave Brocks busker roots.


• Simon House: Yassasim. Reissue and remastering of the debut album from 1994 by the violinist who was member of space rock group Hawkwind from 74 to 78 and moved thereafter to work with pop-rock icon David Bowie.


• V/A: Krautrock Meeting 2005. 2DVD. with the following bands: Guru Guru, Karthago, Peter Pankas Jane, Epitaph, Amon Düül II and Birth Control.
• M.A.R.S.: Tales Of A Reluctant Astronaut (DIY). A fine debut album from USA with spaced and krautrockish sounds. Ash Ra Temple meets NEU and Quarkspace. Especially tracks like The invisibles" and "Authorization code" is really nice tracks. File under Space Rock !
• Organisation: Tone Float. Organisation is nothing less than the band formed in 1969 which would become world famous under the name Kraftwerk. This CD presents the first musical attempts of the founding members, Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider-Esleben and the sound which became the root of Kraftwerk's unique style. Butch Hauf, Fred Monicks and Basil Hammond are the other members completing Organisation.
• Radio Massacre International: Emissaries. Cuneiform RUN 211-212. This British trio formed in 1993 is considered by many as one of the leading forces in the return of 70's cosmic music, Berlin style. Moogs, mellotrons, sequencers and echo chambers are to be found here of course in a 2CD combining a live concert from 2004 in Philadelphia and a studio album with a comics in pdf format, which you can read on your PC.
• Klaus Schulze: Cyborg. Rereleased now as a 2CD on the Spalax label!
• Klaus Schulze remastered releases! Deluxe package, booklets including new photos and liner notes, biography, bonus tracks.
  - Mirage. 1 long (19:39 mn) bonus track: In Cosa Crede Chi Non Crede
  - X (2CD). Bonus track (21:32 mn): Objet d’Louis
  - Dreams. Bonus track (23 :52 mn) : Andromeda Constellation
  - Le Moulin De Daudet: Bonus track (15 :58 mn) : The Ion Perspective


• Tangerine Dream: L’Inferno: 1911. Label: Eye 4 Films. DVD (73mn). NTSC Region 0. L'Inferno (1911), a silent movie and the first Italian feature film ever made, is a fantastical journey into the imagination of Dante as we travel through hell encountering angels, demons and Lucifer himself. Release Date: 17/05/04
  
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THE PROGRESSIVE CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC STYLE

• New record by the Italian chamber group Gatto Marte: Marachelle. BA 078 CD. Marachelle is the 5th album by Gatto Marte.
• Acoustic Asturias: Bird Eyes View. March 2005. FGBG 4583. Asturias is a band from the first generation of the Japanese Progressive rock scene. Published as a joint-venture between the Poseidon and Musea labels, "Bird Eyes View" (2004) offers five acoustic pieces with an original line-up : piano, guitar, glockenspiel, violin, clarinet, and female voice on one track. Here's an exquisite music, delicate and refined, with joyful and sensible atmospheres. The musicians are virtuosos, and this subtle chamber music sometimes recall Debussy's or Satie’s most melodious pieces, with also a more modern approach on rythms. Not to be missed !
• Aranis: Roqueforte. AltRock Productions (ALT012). 2010. Short after the release of their 3rd album, the Belgian chamber prog outfit makes again the actuality with a new recording on the soon cult Italian label AltRock. Their intelligent and winning synthesis of acoustic sound, minimalism and folk - but with the taste and pulse of a rock band - is this time emphasized by the presence in the line-up of Dave Kerman (Thinking Plague) on drums and Pierre Chevalier (Univers Zero, Present) on piano. As in a fanciful gastronomic journey, Roquefort mixes heavy flavours and dreamy atmospheres, virtuosity and lyricism, intricate rhythms and references to distant and far ages.
• Aranis: Songs From Mirage.Home Records. 2009. This is the third opus by this Belgian "chamber" ensemble mixing classical strings and rock instruments; this time, the emphasis has switched towards the integration of vocals and the general feel could remind at times the Adiemus ensemble set up by ex-Soft Machine member Karl Jenkins, without the Celtic influence. Aranis still maintains this hypnotic quality sustained by various dynamics and repetitions (intertwined cross riffs, rhythmic patterns), the whole being tightly well orchestrated and performed with a soft zest of Zeuhl!
• Cuac!: S/T. Miedito Records. This is the debut album of a new band releated to Senogul. Eclectic, with many influences (jazz, funk, progressive rock, bossa and soul) sieved through pop music, sung in a non-existent language and including unexpected instrumental sections, this quartet is evolved from and the natural follow-up to a previous band called Nun
• Aranis: Aranis I & II. This is a limited hand numbered edition (300 copies) of a LP sampler containing 4 tracks of each album released by the band in 2005 and 2007. Aranis, from Belgium, brings acoustic chamber-rock, with explosive fragments of music and muted simplicity, emphasizing the cinematic aspect of their music. An imaginary film with musical subtitles ... they blend different genres into a cocktail of muted minimalism and classicism with a post-rock drive. Other bands like Univers Zéro, Art Zoyd, Wim Mertens come easily to mind!
• Cro Magnon. They're back! The "Brosella Suite" is their new album on Lowlands. Fresh, still chamber music but with a richer instrumentation and stylistic approach. The music was written to be performed with a theater troup (BUB)
• Donella Del Monaco is the well known voice of the extravagant group Opus Avantra. On top of a new release with the group - Venetia Et Anima - (unfortunately without Alfredo Tisocco), the whole body of her work is now available, from Venetian songs to reinterpretations of Satie, Schoenberg or Berio's repertory. Another glamorous and splendid release is the 4CD boxset of the italian group Opus Avantra led by Alfred Tisocco. The boxset features a live record with Opus Avantra, the rerelease of their late "Lyrics" album and the two remaining CDs deal with Tisocco's more recent solo carreer. Recommended for those who like progressive music with classical elements (even opera at the time of the fantastic female singer Donella Di Monaco) going from chamber to orchestral. From Akarma.
• Far Corner: S/T. Cuneiform (RUN 194). An exciting debut release by a chamber rock quartet from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Far Corner play carefully honed compositions, composed in a style that reflects influences from 20th century composers, such as Stravinsky and Bartok combined with classical/chamber rock greats like Univers Zero , early ELP, the Belgian group Present and more, combined in their own fashion. In addition to their compositions, Far Corner also perform purely improvised music.
• New release on Carbon 7!
  10 years after Louise Avenue's "Let's Take One More", cellist and composer Jan Kuijken is back with a new production and album: Vertigo. Basically the result of many years work done for several theatre and dance pieces, the music has been rethought and adapted to specific instruments and musicians, between free and fixed structures, but generally built more around a way of playing it rather than academic rules.
• Rational Diet: On Phenomena and Existences. AltRock Productions (ALT014). Street date: 23/09/10. The band from Belarus offers again on this 3rd opus their love for the Russian 20th century big names (Stravinsky and Shostakovich above all, but also Bartok and Prokofiev), filtered through the most evoluted rock and, as usual, without compromises. The atmosphere of the songs, effectively dotted by the unmistakable voice of Olga Podgaiskaja (also composer), is unquiet, sleepwalking-like, sometimes grotesque; overall and with an increased maturity, this album points in the same direction as their previous one "At work".
• Rational Diet: At Work (ALT004). 2008. 2nd album for this band from Belarus. Another unusual mix of styles and sounds but with a greater attention to melody and composition. Univers Zero seems to be the nearest comparison but also modern classical composers like Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Webern, Ives or other RIO outfits like Henry Cow, Art Bears, Debile Menthol may come to mind. This is another adventurous album strongly recommended to all the lovers of Rio, Avant-prog and contemporary music.
• Vlasnaald / Nicolas Roseeuw / Argo Ensemble. Erosha ERH 009. Instrumental and classical work with lots of cello, great piano parts,violin... and sophisticated compositions. In the vein of Gatto Marte.
• Maelzel Metronome: S/T. ERH 002. This Italian quartet presents an instrumental music with lots of cello sometime close to After Crying, sophisticated drums parts and, really, complex music reminding of the best Miriodor / Muffins works...
• Rick Wakeman: The Real Lisztomania. Back in 1975 Rick was asked to oversee and compose a lot of the music for the film „Lisztomania" which was directed by Ken Russel. Rick was also given a part in the film in which he played the god Thor. The label released the music material in another form as Wakeman wanted. So, after 27 years, when the master tapes have been finally found, Wakeman decided to release it again, in a remastered form, with many other tracks, which could not be released in 1975.
• Julverne: Emballade. Now released as a LP mini sleeve digipack CD on the label Pleasantville.


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MUSIC INFLUENCED BY FRANK ZAPPA

• Paolo Angeli: Nita, L'angelo Sul Trapezio. Recommended RER 2082. This new opus gathers 30 of the best musicians from Bologna. The huge mix of sounds, styles and ideas will remind us of Zappa in the "Uncle Meat" period. A luxurious colour booklet (28p.) follows and abound in photos, texts, comments about this ambitious project.
• Vladimir Bozar 'N' Ze Sheraf Orkestär: Universal Sprache. Imago VB 001. March 09. This French collective from Nice are heavily influenced by Zappa and deliver an evil patchwork of sounds and sequences based on prog-rock, gipsy music, black metal or jungle samples; destabilising at first but quickly addictive after the first listening!
• Ossi Duri: Scadenza Perfetta (2009) - LZRM 0030D. This new instrumental Cd features, among many musicians, the contrabass player Furio Di Castri, a well known jazzman. With this work Ossi Duri set themselves on a musical side which goes against every commercial logic; they are still inspired by their mentor Frank Zappa, but yet give fresh air to his music and take an original approach.
• Ossi Duri: La IV (VDUVDTU21218). 2009. DVD coming from the (ex)young Zappa disciples, featuring David Surkamp (from Pavlov's Dog fame).
• Ossi Duri: L'Ultimo Dei Nostri Cani (Electromantic FRFRFRZ 87453). 3rd album, sophisticated, complex and original music inspired by Frank Zappa.
• Ossi Duri: Gnam Gnam. 2nd album by this Italian band playing Zappa's tunes, this time helped by another Italian musician, Elio. Very professional recording with high sound quality, mixed and mastered at the Electromantic studios in Turin with a strong help by Beppe Crovella from Arti & Mestieri.
• The Purple Cucumber: A Tribute To Frank Zappa.
  The Purple Cucumber was a Frank Zappa tribute with music by Peter Vermeersch, Claude Coppens, George De Decker, Frederik Dí Haene and Peter Swinnen. It was performed on 30th April 1995 in de Singel, Antwerp, by the BRTN Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mark Foster. The concert was recorded by Radio 1 producer Zjakki Willems, but legal problems have so far delayed its commercial release. The concert was broadcast live on the radio, and was of course taped by fans, so copies have been available in the tape trading circuit. The cd now available on the label Auditorium is a real must for all Zappa’s fans.
• Ossi Duri: X. A unique tribute to Frank Zappa, X years later, with the participation of former Zappa member Napoleon ”Brock” Murphy but also Ike Willis & Mike Keneally
• Trank Zappa Grappa In Varèse: Play Zappa Live In Waremme 08. Fazzul Music (FM0825). 2009. Contrary to their previously released studio album, this 25 mn long live mini CD made of 6 tracks has a direct relation to the group's name in that they exclusively play Zappa compositions. TZGIV? combines the talents of Swiss reedman Markus Stauss and members of the Belgian group The Wrong Object to bring new instrumental readings of some of the master's early compositions with the Mothers; big hits like King Kong or Apostrophe but also some lesser investigated like Mom & Dad or Mother People (both from the album "We're Only In It For The Money"), that here after 40 years get a modern revamping or should we call it a musical hair cut?
• Glauco Venier: Glauco Venier Suona Frank Zappa. Music Center BA204CD. 2009. Recorded in July 2005, this album is a great tribute to the music of Frank Zappa. Venier is the arranger and plays piano and el piano, leading a tentet that has no problems at all to give an appropriate and expert new life to classic tunes like King Kong, The Grand Wazoo, Zoot Allures and more yet.


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NEWS FROM THE ITALIAN PROGRESSIVE FRONT

• VIII Strada: La Leggenda Della Grande Porta. Ma.Ra.Cash MRC 016. 2008. A new musical workshop where harmony, sounds and words are forged together to create songs whose essential aim is to transmit a state of mind and share emotions with the listener. An unmistakable symphonic-classical influence mixed with the raw energy of rock defines the VIII Strada sound, enriched by diverse contaminations from various worlds, cultures, times and ages. If you like Banco, Le Orme, Locanda Delle Fate but also have feelings for Maschera di Cera, Ubi Maior, Deus Ex Machina... this album will certainly please you!
• Abiogenesi: Io Sono Il Vampiro (Black Widow BWR 088). 4th album by Tony D’Urso, this album is the soundtrack of the Italian horror movie “I Am A Vampire” in the usual dark prog style but also exploring a more psychedelic touch with the addition of great cover versions of Never Let go (Camel), Lady in Black (Uriah Heep) and Mary Clark (Black Widow) and with the help of Marco Cimino (mellotron) and Gigi Venegoni (Guitars) from the Italian band Arti E Mestieri... Beautiful artwork made by Anna Ferrari on the gatefold cover.
• Accordo Dei Contrari: Kublai. ADC 002. 2011. Kublai represents ordered chaos, light and dark, the balance between written and improvised music, as illustrated both by the cover and by the music. This 2nd album is articulated in six different parts, from light to dark, and from dark to light. Between progressive (with a Canterbury hint reinforced by the presence of Richard Sinclair on one track) and jazz-rock, the album offers great guitar playing, bass with a nerve and a richly contrasted music!
• Accordo Dei Contrari : Kinesis (ALT 003). Group formed in 2001 in Bologna. After some changes in the band, now they’re an instrumental quartet, and Kinesis is their first album. Recorded in two days live in studio in June 2006, Kinesis shows the main influences of the group, ranging from Seventies’ rock and jazz-rock to contemporary jazz and, least but not last, classic music of 20th century (in particular Igor Stravinskij and Olivier Messiaen). Their music is powerful and definitely rock, but subtle and rich of nuances, «like calculating the lightness of an imperceptible feather or measuring the perfection of a sphere».
• Both albums by Acqua Fragile have been reissued on the label Esoteric (street date: 27/06/11). They include extensive liner notes, original artwork, photos, history and an interview of Bernardo Lanzetti
• New Genesis tribute: The Cryme Of Selling Lambs by After Genesis. Genesis' music revisited in a classical style with a lot of piano and cello. It is a private pressing but a really professional release, excellent sound quality and, also, a really nice Genesis-style cover.
• Agora ..... at last! The italian guys behind the label BTF have finally taken the brilliant initiative of releasing for the first time on CD the two albums of this jazz-rock group who started in 1975 with an unforgettable performance at Montreux festival. Agora were moving in the same style as Perigeo and are really recommended to collectors or fans of that music genre.
• Ainur: Lay of Leithian (ART 2CD). At present, Ainur rank among the most important authors of Tolkien-inspired musical productions, as their CDs are aimed at transposing J. R. R. Tolkien's work, The Silmarillion, into music. After their first two works, "From Ancient Times" (2006) and "Children of Hùrin" (2007), both produced by Beppe Crovella and Electromantic Music, here comes "Lay of Leithian". The CD will be wholly devoted to one of Tolkien's greatest epics, written entirely in verse form and unfortunately never completed: The tale of Beren and Luthien. Several composers have been at work and adopted a quasi orchestral approach, juxtaposing classical instrument and modern electrical instruments, touching on various genres and different musical sonorities in order to re-create the whole mythology and cosmogony of J. R. R. Tolkien. In short, a huge conceptual work!
• Ainur: Children of Hurin. Electromantic ART 222. New release for this Italian band focusing on Tolkien's works. This CD is a fantastic opportunity to fall into Tolkien's universe with a progressive rock mixed with some classical music and some hard rock sketches. Also available in a CD+DVD edition.
• Airportsman: Letters. Lizard (LZ CD055). 2008. 3rd album by this band originating from the Piemonte area in the North-West of Italy: new soaring atmospheres, letters maybe stopped or never sent. Letters which pile up each over as wandering thoughts, curious and restless. Floating sounds close to Godspeed You Black Emperor, a touch of kraut-rock and dreaming post-rock, but once again.... more soul than post-rock.
• Ainur: From ancient times. 2007 (ART 420 CD). Inspired by "The Silmarillion" by JRR Tolkien. Ainur is a very special progressive project with lots of guests playing cello, violin, viola, horns, harp, flute as well as moog, hammond, piano and guitars, with a fantastic female voice!
• Algebra: JL. AMS173CD. 2009. JL stands for Jonathan Livingstone and the album is indeed a conceptual one, inspired by Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Musically speaking, the basic structure of this concept album can surely be seen as belonging to progressive rock, embracing at once different influences from jazz to folk, from fusion to opera, from classical music to a more traditional songwriting approach, never forgetting the strength of the typical Italian melody, which has been so appreciated abroad over the years. Apart from the well-known Algebra band, the project features some illustrious guests whose credentials shine in the firmament of progressive rock, beginning with Steve and John Hackett (the former Genesis guitarist plays a short but stunning solo on "Il Molo Deserto", while his brother adds his wonderful flute playing to three tracks); two of the most characteristic singers of the 70’s also can be heard within: the dreamy voice of Le Orme's Aldo Tagliapietra (who introduces the protagonist of the story) and the raving singing of Osanna's Lino Vairetti.
• Alphataurus: S/T. AMSLP09. Exact replica of the triple gatefold original cover, with labels replicas and yellow vinyl. Alphataurus were one of the many unknown Italian bands who suddenly had a recording deal - with the newly born Magma label - made an album and disappeared into oblivion.
• Alphaterra: Planet In A Day. Ma.Ra.Cash MRC 011. This collaboration between guitarist Giorgio Gabriel and keyboardist Giovanni Viaggi presents us with a concentrate of prog with hints to celtic folk but not ignoring a certain jazz-rock feel, where some rarefied and introspective tracks take us back to a certain relaxed fusion style much appreciated by fans of Pat Metheny; to sum it up, a versatile quality recording, for all sorts of listeners!
• Altare Tothemico : Altare Thotemico. Maracash records (MRC 017). 2009. New project with Area and Biglietto per l'Inferno influences. New italian band really skilled and promising.
• Anatrofobia: Tesa Musicale Marginale. A new band with an experimental edge. Andrea Biondello: drums and percussions / Alessandro Cartolari: sax, vocals, synthesizer, sampler, electronics / Luca Cartolari: electric bass / Alessio Pisani: bassoon / Roberto Sassi: electric guitar.
• Antonius Rex: Ralefun 32nd Anniversary edition. Black Widow BWR128 CD. Feb. 2011. This concept album from 1979 carried the band to notoriety and is here presented with the unreleased song “Proxima Luna”, recorded in 1980.
• Antonius Rex: Zora (77). Black Widow (BWR118CD). Feb. 2010. Re-issue of what is considered as the real first official album by the band, here in a 32nd Anniversary Edition with the original artwork including new photos and an unreleased track titled Monastery never heard before! (on top of "The Gnome", also a bonus track but previously already presented).
• Antonius Rex: Per Viam (2009). Black Widow BWR126CD/LP. The album releases a series of no rational blue-black visions, sometimes heavenly, sometimes terrifying, making each vision available to the listener for reaching the subliminal fusion. The mortals, listening to the album, get a praeternatural power and become able to live free, away from stupid, demented and alienating problems of the daily life.The guitarist Antonio Bartoccetti, as for the previous album, first wrote the video screenplay for each track, then composed the audio tracks and recorded all the album: all the work lasted 14 months. PER VIAM .... the most exceptional, fantastic, hyperbolic, mystic, progressive, dreaming, visionary, charming and terrifying Antonius Rex new album, including a CD-ROM video as extra track
• Antonius Rex: Switch On Dark (2006). Black Widow BWR099. The brand new Antonius Rex CD is now out on the BWR indie label; it presents an esoteric vision of a haunted castle lived in by witches, demons, wizards, ogres, gnomes, fairies... "Switch on dark" is obscure, dark and mystic, fascinating, sinister and occult. Still with the beautiful Doris Norton on keys: Yamaha, Moog, Mac G5 Quad Computer, Digital orchestra (EastWest).
• Antonius Rex: 2001 Anno Demoni. The repress of the Anno Demoni LP with a bonus 7" and three extra tracks + renewed artwork makes this a collector's object.
• Aphelion: Franticode. Lizard LZ0054CD. 2008. Aphelion is an all instrumental project formed in 2004 and featuring a mixture of tech-prog and fusion/jazz styles. Aphelion’s main goal is to reach a unique signature and groovy sound encompassing progressive, rock/fusion, technical metal, jazz ,experimental sides. It is the result of a hard work of structural, harmonic, rhythmic, melodic research, and of a huge arrangement effort. The dense texture between the instruments gives the opportunity to create new solutions, new proposals.
• Apostholi: Un'isola Senza Sole. MPRCD051 . Originally released in 1983, as a private pressing of 500 copies, it is surely one of the rarest italian progressive rock LP. After their first work "Ho smesso di vivere" (1979), the Apostholi made a much more elegant album, with better arrangements and closer to the progressive tradition, reminding Orme, Delirium And Locanda Delle Fate (in fact in this album there is the first appearance of the flute). Of course they still have some pop influences, but the music is much more elaborated.
• Area: The Essential Box Set Collection. CRSBOX0210 (2010). This 6CD boxset includes the first 6 studio albums released during the seventies by Cramps Records, gathered together for the first time in a collectible box. It also features a 36-pages book which tells the birth and many curiosities about one of the fundamental Italian progressive rock bands. The cover reproduces the original paintings created by Andrea Pazienza for the Cramps catalogue in 1979. The box also features the photographic reproduction of Area in 1974, shot by Roberto Masotti.
• Area!: Area International Popular Group. This special release includes a 96s. book + a CD of music dedicated to this legendary band. Written in English + Italian by Claudio Chianura and Patrizio Fariselli, keyboard player of Area and composer of most of their music. Housed in a special CD size Box. Fariselli goes through the carreer of the band, their albums, their concerts, their friendship and their unforgettable artistic experience. He has selected himself the tracks contained in this CD.
• Area Live 77'!
  Some censorship here! We previously pasted the following text, which was the press release from Akarma. At that time we hadn't received the CD. We leave the text now between brackets but we owe to tell you that the sound quality is far from *high quality* as Akarma proclaims ---> (Thanks to our hard working treasure hunters, Akarma has dug up this long lost high quality recording of Area performing live in Turin in 1977 and presented now as a 2CD (AK 1042/2)! This historic concert by one of the most internationally acclaimed Italian rock bands in history is only available from Akarma. Featuring the classic "La Mela di Odessa", "Luglio, Agosto, Settembre, Nero" and "Cometa Rossa" plus songs from their experimental Maledetti album, also released in 1977. The concert ends with a long and inspired improvised number.)
• Area 2. After the death of their singer Demetrio Stratos, the famous italian band disappeared from the scene but their drummer Giulio Capiozzo reformed a more jazz-rock orientated version of the group in the 80's under the name Area II. The two albums, a self titled "Area II" and "City Sound" are now reissued and available again!
• Areknames: In Case of Loss. Black Widow (BWRCD120-2). 2010. This new Italian band is masterminded by composer, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Michele Epifani who handles the Hammond organ, piano, mellotron, synths, harpsichord, acoustic and electric guitars as well as the recorder. This third album is another magical trip through the '70's dark, dramatic, symphonic atmospheres of progressive rock influenced by VDGG and the Canterbury scene; it contains a wonderful suite almost 20 minutes long and some beautiful arrangements of violin, cello and saxophone! If you enjoy the dark or heavy style of VDGG and their likes, but can do without the ultra speed factor, you'll certainly enjoy Areknames.
• Aries: Double Reign (2010). VM192 CD. Aries is a duo formed by singer Simona Angioloni and the much icinic musician Fabio Zuffanti. After a first album in 2005, they're back now with their 2nd opus, a concept album entitled that draws part of its inspiration from the book of the writer Paola Roe "Double kingdom" published in 1997. Musically speaking, the focus is on dark and ethereal, electronic pop and hard rock athmospheres as well as obviously on all the great modern unconventional progressive rock. There is also the usual array of guest musicians including a string quartet and the flute of Vittorio De Scalzi from New Trolls fame.
• Arti E Mestieri: Il Grande Belzoni (AEM 3391). 2009. Mini CD 4 tracks. This is something belonging to a far greater project; within this year Arti & Mestieri will release a full length CD containing 13 other songs about the entire life of Giovanni Belzoni, an Italian adventurer and a pioneer in Egyptology. For the first time, Arti & Mestieri craft just songs, not instrumental movements. They now aim at spreading Arti's music outside the progressive world.
• Arti E Mestieri: 33. Electromantic. What a story, what a package! Everything focuses on the figure 33! The box is titled "33", housed in a LP-sized deluxe package, the title being both a reference to their 33th anniversary and an homage to the LP (33½). This limited edition and numbered package will also contain a book, a photo of the current band, a bonus card which will allow each buyer to get exclusive "personalized" free audio material to pick on the net. The first DVD - named Il GUARDarti - will include 2 hours of video, dealt in 33 clips, mixing professional and "amateur" shots, live and studio ones, portraiting the most vital and expressive side of the band throughout the years, with added backstage and moments on the road, without forgetting some moments of pure humour. The second DVD - IL GUARDAmestieri - has a similar approach and, as the first one, is a full length DVD with 33 sections! There is also a CD - IL RECORDarti - a full length CD made of 33 never released before "audio episodes", taken from their long musical life and mixing studio, live parts; the listener is guided in this promenade by 33 new themes played by the current band. The result is a unique long composition/suite, which is totally original in the way it has been conceived and in its unusual "united fragmentation" structure. It is like a movie made of bidimensional musical images, Arti & Mestieri's story on one side and a new Arti's path on the other, giving life to a an intemporal and unusual long journey! The package will be available in 4 different formats: DVD PAL / Book in Italian // DVD NTSC / Book in English // DVD PAL / Book in English // DVD NTSC / Book in Italian // DVD NTSC / Book in japanese. As to end of March 2008, only the PAL versions are avilable for sale. Get it and enjoy!


• Arti & Mestieri: First Live in Japan. the Arti & Mestieri live performance of 2005, their first time in Japan, is now available on CD !!! This great live album is divided in three suites, the first one is dedicated to "Tilt", the second one to "Giro di Valzer per Domani", the third one to their most recent tracks. Arti & Mestieri is captured here in top shape during their japanese shows at Club Città in Tokyo: the band is still formed by seven musicians, as it was in the Seventies. The second part of this concert will be released in a special Arti & Mestieri deluxe box that will also feature 2 DVD and more rarities !!! The box is titled "33", housed in a LP-sized deluxe package and will be available soon! The title "33" is both a reference to their 33th anniversary and an homage to the LP (33½). This limited edition and numbered package will also contain a book, a photo of the actual band, a bonus card which will allow each buyer to get exclusive "personalized" free audio material. The first DVD - named Il GUARDarti - will include 2 hours of video, dealt in 33 clips, mixing professional and "amateur" shots, live and studio ones, portraiting the most vital and expressive side of the band throughout the years, with added backstage and moments on the road, without forgetting some moments of pure humour. The second DVD - IL GUARDAmestieri - has a similar approach and, as the first one, is a full length DVD with 33 sections! There is also a CD - IL RECORDarti - a full length CD made of 33 never released before "audio episodes", taken from their long musical life and mixing studio, live parts; the listener is guided in this promenade by 33 new themes played by the current band. The result is a unique long composition/suite, which is totally original in the way it has been conceived and in its unusual "united fragmentation" structure. It is like a movie made of bidimensional musical images, Arti & Mestieri's story on one side and a new Arti's path on the other, giving life to a an intemporal and unusual long journey!
• Arti & Mestieri: Estrazioni. AEM 95251. The long awaited new CD by Arti e Mestieri is finally available! Eleven new songs by Beppe Crovella, Furio Chirico and Gigi Venegoni. With "Flautofonia" written by Demetrio Stratos (Area).
• Arti & Mestieri. Both "Acquarius" (TJRS 1961) from 1983 and "Children Blues" (TJRS 1962) are now reissued.
• Arti & Mestieri: Prog Day. Released both in a regular and a limited edition including a nice tee-shirt. The CD is rather a mini CD with 4 tracks for just 30mn of music.
• Astralia: Osmosis. Ma.Ra.Cash Records (MRC 025). 2011. After more than 10 years the band Astralia is back with a new and marvelous album. The band - with some change in the original line up, especially vocalist Massimiliano Biolo, has been able to compose a musical masterpiece. A modern sound, but with a clear vintage inspiration, sets "Osmosis" among the best CDs of the Italian scene. A mix of symphonic, psychedelic and with that particular sound close to the best VDGG, but also with an eye looking at the new prog trends (Porcupine Tree) makes this album accessible to all. Do not miss it!
• Banco! Reissued by Manticore in August 2010: S/T (75) MANTCD1009, the English version of "Photos of Ghosts" and "As in a Last Supper" (MANTCD1010) from 1976, the English version of "Come in un'Ultima Cena". Both are now released digitally remastered from the original master tapes and with a new booklet.
• Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: S/T. Sony (88697545051). June 09. Limited LP edition. The first album, simply called Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, housed in a large money box shaped cover, is still one of the most representative examples of the Italian prog, with classical influences based on the twin keyboards interplay and the original operatic voice of Francesco Di Giacomo.
• Banco: Live 1980. AMS 102 DVD (available in Pal or Ntsc edition). It is a unique concert movie, professionally filmed in 1980 by director Luigi Faccini, now finally restored and released on DVD in a special ltd. edition box with an extensive booklet. This is one of the best live performances of Banco ever, featuring over 60 minutes of the band at its best, performing some of their greatest classics. Add to this a a 45 minutes interview with Vittorio Nocenzi titled "La verità darwiniana del rock". Area code 0 (all zones).
• Banco: Collezione Italiana. This is a greatest hits double CD shaped as a book. Released by EMI and with all tracks digitally remastered (catalog 0946 3647952). A nice collector item!
• Banco Live 1975!. Recently rediscovered and remastered recording taken from a 1975 concert at Teatro Verdi in Salerno. WOOOW!
• Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: No Palco (SAS 5135072)
  No doubt this is one of the GREATEST news of november month. This live recording from 2002 in Rom celebrates their 30th anniversary. For this occasion, many guests came on stage and - fixed now on laser for the eternity - you will have the great pleasure of hearing original members Pier Luigi Calderoni (drums) and Gianni Nocenzi (keys) as well as eminent guest on violin Mauro Pagani! The choice of tunes is great and even if some may ask themselves how many more variations on "Darwin" this group may present us, you'll find here nice surprises like "Canto Di Primavera", "Moby Dick", "Traccia I and II", one piece taken from Vittorio Nocenzi's recent release "Movimenti". Now, when will we get a new studio album with NEW compositions? Stay tuned and let's hope they hear the call!
• Luciano Basso: Voci. AMS04. Deluxe LP. Finally available in vinyl edition, the debut album of acclaimed keyboarder Luciano Basso, originally released in 1976. This is a highly appreciated instrumental effort, being cited by "The Billboard Guide to Progressive Music" as one of the best-ever examples of classically-influenced progressive rock. Voci is one of the few Italian records dealing with electronics, representing an interesting mix of classical-influenced progressive music and avant-garde. The record contains five long instrumental tracks, with keyboards to the fore and backing electric instruments. Among the guest musicians on this album, the Nuvole Di Paglia bass player, Mauro Periotto. A long OOP and therefore must-have for lovers of Italian prog!
• Luciano Basso. The classical album "Voci" from 76 is now reissued (AMS123CD). Voci is one of the few Italian record dealing with electronics, representing an interesting mix of classical-influenced progressive music and avant-garde. The record contains five long instrumental tracks (plus one bonus track, taken from the 1975 recording session), with keyboards to the fore and backing electric instruments. Also available as AMS 124CD is his newest album "Free Fly". 12 sparkling piano gems nicely mixed with some violin and cello interplay. Luciano Basso plays expressive and somehow "real" progressive music, mixing the Italian classical tradition with a personal, spontaneous and colourful approach. Stunning audiophile recording quality.
• Franco Battiato: Inneres Auge (2009). Universal 2722666. Nov. 09. New album with 10 songs, 6 covers (among which "Inverno" - an old De Andrè tune) of his old songs and 4 new original tracks.
• Franco Battiato again making actuality with a new recording in limited edition: Il Vuoto. Release date: 05/02/07
• Franco Battiato: Pollution. Now reissued on the label Water. Battiato's wonderfully lively 1973 concept album Pollution is an audaciously psychedelic album drawn from the space rock dimension with much electronics and keyboard layers. Drawing heavily on the VCS3 synthesizer, Battiato & Co (besides himself, 3 backing band members play synth as well) give Pollution an extreme electronic edge. With comparisons to Ash Ra Tempel, Faust & Pink Floyd, Pollution was declared "genius" by Frank Zappa. Extremely influential on the '90s Chicago post-rock mafia. Original artwork. New detailed liner notes.
• Franco Battiato: Dieci stratagemmi (2004). SONY 5185652 CD. Brand new studio album by Italian master musician Franco Battiato. Including 3 multimedia video tracks for PC.
• Franco Battiato. Quite a few new releases with this renowned eclectic italian composer. Perduto Amor is the original soundtrack of his first attempt as film director. Music is of course composed by himself. Released by Sony. La Convenzione comes from another label (D'Autore) and presents us with an avantgardistic composition going back to 1972. On this record Battiato also interprets other's pieces like Osage Tribe and Juri Camisasca.
• Lucio Battisti: Amore E Non Amore. Water 171. Considered one of the greatest Italian songwriters for his ability to reach the primal core of emotional matters, Battisti is helped here by members of PFM and guitarist Alberto Radius of Formula Tre. Battisti made this much adored cult masterpiece in 1971. Imagine Brazilian psych-pop combo Os Mutantes fronted by Southern soul legend James Carr and you'll get a glimpse of this inexplicably accomplished and adventurous album.
• Bella Band: S/T (Edel 0169252CRA). Finally released! Bella Band was one of the missing pieces of Italian progressive music of the late 70's. Originally released in 1978 on the historic Cramps label, this jazz-rock album was very very hard to find, and it had not been available on CD since decades! The new reissue of this Italian classic is available, distributed by BTF in remastered digipack edition! The music is in a vein not unlike Agora
• Biglietto Per L’Inferno.Folk: Tra L’assurdo E La Ragione. AMS 175 CD (2009). Huum, you're wondering why *.folk* has been added to a familiar band's name? Well, for the first the band's classics have been rearranged! For the second, by a new band featuring original band members Pilly Cossa, Baffo Banfi, Mauro Gnecchi AND young talented north Italian folk musicians + a great female singer. For the third, blessed by the approval and contribution of singer/lyricist/flautist Claudio Canali, today retired in a monastery (the CD namely features one previously unreleased song composed by him). Therefore the newly recorded and re-arranged old tracks are ready to get a second shining life!
• Biglietto Per L’inferno: S/T. AMS 172 CD. This historical album is now benefitting of a special 35th anniversary release. Directly remastered by the band, for the first time ever we hear the exact original vinyl, as the previous CD releases always lacked over one minute of music of the "L’amico suicida" song. This reissue faithfully reproduces the original single sleeve, is limited to 500 copies and printed in Japan with audiophile techniques.
• Biglietto Per L'Inferno: Complete works. 3 CD + 1 DVD + 1 Book in a special deluxe hardcover box edition. The European edition has DVD Area 0 and PAL Standard and book with english text!. A world edition is also available with DVD Area 0 and NTSC pic format.
• Biglietto Per l'Inferno: S/T (73). Trident TRI 1005. Brand new reissue of this classic album rated among the best Italian progressive rock releases of the 70's. As usual, the papersleeve reissue CD edition includes a detailed booklet with lyrics, vintage material and special notes.
• Sandro Brugnolini: Overground. AMS 157CD. This rare album from 1970 has been finally reissued on CD by AMS, in a limited pressing of 500 copies. It is a nice instrumental record not far from the style of Blue Phantom and featured among the players future Perigeo bass player Giovanni Tommaso
• Caboto: DidYouGetVisuals? RAV 002. 2nd album by this Italian band between jazz-rock and Canterbury
• Calomito: Cane di Schiena. AltRock Productions (ALT 017). 2011. Five years after their much-acclaimed album Inaudito, Calomito is coming back with a new great album! Calomito melt with taste avant-prog, Canterbury, jazz and folk, but they give the right space to melody, a typical feature of many Italian bands. Beside usual electric instruments, their arrangements include a peculiarly nice palette of acoustic colours (trombone, violin, viola) that gives the band a really recognizable sound. Sharp and groovy, Cane di Schiena is a relevant step forward compared to the first album, being a clear sign of maturity for a band that is considered as belonging to the most interesting ones on the alternative Italian music scene, taking the best from the past and revising it in a new direction.
• Calomito: Inaudito. MPL 002. Calomito are a six-piece Italian band who use: violin/viola, guitars, alto/soprano saxes/percussion/weird vocal efx, Fender Rhodes/synth/organ, electric bass/double bass and drums, the sound is a mix of Canterbury and RIO sound with a mediterranean influence that sometimes reminds of the fantastic Area, Gong, or Zappa … complex compositions, skilled musicians, a really good debut album !
• Camaleonti, I: Che Aereo Stupendo ... la Speranza. Vinyl Magic papersleeve (VM150CD). 2011. Very popular in Italy during the 60’s and 70’s, like many other beat and pop groups, I Camaleonti had slight progressive influences in some of their 70’s albums, notably this one from 1976. It is a good album with heavy guitar riffs by Valerio Veronese, close to New Trolls. The title track is a wonderful track with Pink Floyd influences. Maybe an album which was released too late for its style, but a very tasty one.
• Campo Di Marte: S/T. AMS - Vinyl Magic AMSLP01. This is a strictly limited reissue of 500 copies in 180gr vinyl, nice carton cover and a fully exact replica of the original (except that the new catalog number is on the labels), including the rare inner sleeve. Red vinyl pressing.
• Campo Di Marte: Concerto Zero - Live 1972/2003. Double live CD in papersleeve, double booklet, live pictures and detailed notes. It includes (disc 1) a historical unreleased concert, recorded before their first studio album "Campo di Marte", remastered from a test LP on United Artists Sugar of 1972!!! The second CD is a live recording from summer 2003, with the original band line-up reunited for that special occasion!
• Capra, Marcello: Preludio Ad Una Nuova Alba (2010). Electromantic TJRS&F909. This is the eight solo album by the popular guitarist from Turin and ex-Procession member. He has never been this expressive and deep, rythmic and meditative as here. His flatpicking style has often been labelled "mediterranean" and in this album there is a blend of colours, styles and influences: blues, folk, new age touches, progressive and classic reminiscences and a solid rock base. For the guitar freaks, let's tell that Marcello uses his acoustic Ovation Legend but we also get whiffs of the electric past with the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe!
• Alex Carpani: The Sanctuary. Ma.Ra.Cash Records (MRC 021 CD). 2010. After the huge success of the critically acclaimed first album, the new one is a long story divided in 10 tracks forming a long suite. The incredible talent of Alex on keyboards is evident, both as regards orchestral background and magical solos. Along with the tried and tested band (in which stands the former guitarist of The Watch), we find Gigi Cavalli Cocchi on drums (Mangala Vallis, Moongarden, etc..), as well as Fabiano Spiga on bass. The artwork is signed by prog icon Paul Whitehead
• Castello Di Atlante: Tra Le Antiche Mura (2009) – ARTP504. This is the seventh album recorded by the band, founded in 1974. A great come back on the prog rock scene after the good acoustic CD a couple of years ago ... this time with the original line-up and a strong will of digging again into the 70's sounds!
• Catafalchi Del Cyber: Benediktus und Vobis Quoque Catafalcus Est Tu. Ma.Ra.Cash Records (MRC022). Street date: 15/03/11. CD & LP available. This is a strong release, thanks also to the skilled work of Cristiano Roversi as producer and instrumental collaborator (he is known for his band Moongarden, but also for his many collaborations with John Wetton Band, Mangala Vallis, The Watch and more ...). Double-edged, ironical, dadaistic, with some hints to the Canterbury genre or heavy prog, the music is defying and seeking an original identity. The graphic artwork and packaging, both of the digipack CD and the vinyl, comes in a totally unique form and shows precisely the ambivalence of the band. There are many collages that remind of Dada, on both outside and inside covers, and the listener is invited to an interactive approach to the musical object: via a mobile wheel, you can actually modify the album cover, having your say in a multiple choice as interpreter and consumer!
• CCLR: Cavalli-Cocchi, Lanzetti, Roversi. Esoteric Recordings (eclec2280). Street date: 27/06/11. This project is close to be defined as a super group as it involves drummer and percussionist Gigi Cavalli-Cocchi (Mangala Vallis), keyboardist, composer/arranger Cristiano Roversi (mellotron, piano and Stick), also known as the mastermind behind the band Moongarden and last but not least, PFM's lead singer Bernardo Lanzetti, also appreciated in other bands such as Acqua Fragile and Mangala Vallis. The trio is also joined on the album by special guest Steve Hackett. CCLR continue the tradition of Italian Progressive Rock groups, singing in English and bringing the genre up to date whilst acknowledging their past. Aside from new material, CCLR also revisit and re-arrange the Acqua Fragile song "Morning Comes" and offer their interpretation of Brian Eno’s "By this River". Not enough? Well, what about having invited Aldo Tagliapietra of Le Orme fame, guitarist Anthony Sydney from Perigeo and six other guitarists from the Italian rock, classical and jazz scenes? Majestic choirs created with the mellotron and fusing with the unmistakable voice of Lanzetti? Welcome to CCLR!
• Finally available, the concept album produced by Gigi Cavalli Cocchi (Mangala Vallis): Canossa. This is a rock opera based on the Canossa history (on the old and famous castle in the north of Italy), offering more than 75 minutes of great music performed by seven progressive bands: Mangala Vallis, Trama Sonora, Sequencer, Arcanoise, Type, Oltremare, Master Experience. 7 long tracks, seven suggestive stories in a really nice digipack set with a complete multimedia section in 3 languages to discover this record!
• Tony Carnevale: Piano. Artonica 96 (ARTCD 1/06). This album is based on piano improvisations around pieces by Chopin but the most interesting for most of you will certainly be the duo he plays with Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso's guitarist, the great Rodolfo Maltese.
• Tony Carnevale: Live-Rock Symphonic Concert. We already had the pleasure to listen to this incredible live gig (one track on the CD La Grita Da Vida) featuring Banco's members Francesco Di Giacomo & Rodolfo Maltese as guest stars: it's a fantastic effort which is highly suggested both to Tony Carnevale fans and those who are interested in a highly energetic, keybord-driven symphonic prog.
• Castello di Atlante: Concerto Acustico. ART 417 CD. It's a live recording of Castello di Atlante in Novara, performing acoustic tracks, with violin, piano, guitar, bass and drums.
• Celeste: The Complete Recordings (2010). AMS167. BOX 4CD. Finally on a 4CD-box the complete works of Celeste, starting from Il Sistema and up to Saint Tropez! Many records of this box have been out of print for a long time! Stunning bonus tracks included! All tracks have been carefully remastered by Celeste’s Ciro Perrino. But the most incredible bonus is the original and complete demo recording for the Celeste debut called "Prince of one day", recorded with a female singer and with English lyrics. A stunning historical document! This limited oversized deluxe box-set also features a huge, glossy 100 page book with the complete history of Celeste and the Liguria prog-scene with more than 100 rare pictures, directly from Ciro Perrino’s archive. A must-have!!!
• Central Unit: I See You. M.P. Records (MPRCD059). Sept. 10. Six years after "Internal Cut", the group from Bologna is back. Often called the Italian Porcupine Tree, they offer a music between acid/nu jazz and prog-rock. Sax and flute, keyboards and samplers, bass and drums, vocals will take you for a journey in 9 tracks.
• Chance:Risiko: Sleep Talking. Alt Rock (ALT 010). 2009. This is the debut album of a quartet from Bologna. Just in their early twenties, they deliver eleven songs, very refined, measured, and with great atmosphere. The four musicians take up the thread left dangling by the Art Bears, through a song-format expanded, enhanced by asymmetrical rhythms and rich arrangements. Among the echoes of Robert Wyatt and calm melodies, Chance: Risiko intrigue and fascinate for the intelligence, sense of melody and depth of sound.
• Furio Chirico: Father To Son. Electromantic This is the second solo Cd, following "Furiosamente" by Arti & Mestieri's drummer, who tragically lost his son last year and dedicates him this record. Old and new members of Arti & Mestieri have contributed to the Cd with their compositions as well as other close friends of furio in 2 compositions. Consequently it's a record rich of varied feelings and surrounded by Arti & Mestieri's colours!
• Cincinnato: S/T (1974). AMS 102. Never reissued on CD until today !!! Featuring some great progressive and jazz-rock tracks and an incredible 20-minutes long suite. This fabulous CD reissue was licensed by band members and is packaged in a gorgeous papersleeve CD including a detailed booklet with many unreleased vintage photos, lots of historical infos. The CD even includes 3 bonus tracks: a long suite recorded in 1972 and two new songs performed by Cincinnato today!
• Circolo Culturale Federico Magnani: Effetto Tindall. 7 members band from Rome playing a very sophisticated progressive music with originals themes and complex parts... sometimes close to Deus Ex Machina, Area, D.F.A. & Brand X.
• COD Trio: We Will Rock You We Will Jazz You We Will Mock You. Alessio Brocca Edizioni Musicali (BA 227 CD). 2009. Unusual Italian trio (sax, guitar & drums) for unusual task: reshaping classic rock hits made by the likes of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Police and treating the "victims" with a healthy dose of European avant-garde, jazz and progressive rock.
• Combo Jazz: No Speed (TJRS 1965). Brand new reissue of a rare jazz-prog-rock album of the late 70's by an obscure band from Torino. A remarkable album, with ex-Procession Maurizio Giannotti playing sax.
• Conqueror: Sprazzi Di Luce (CNQCD002). While a third full CD is planned for 2010, the Italian band offers in the mean time a mini album of 4 tracks, two of which have never been released before; the third is a cover of "E mi manchi tanto" from "Alunni Del Sole", heavily reworked by the band. The fourth track is a live version of Pensieri Fragili, a song taken from the Istinto CD (2003). Very tasteful!
• Conqueror: 74 Giorni. Ma.Ra.Cash MRC 013. A concept album in 13 chapters, rich in emotions, coming from the fervent creativity of this great band from Sicily! There are hidden references to those who have been the pioneers of this musical genre that we love so much and basically call "PROG" but the band also looks at the British new-prog scene with great interest
• Conqueror: Storie Fuori Dal Tempo. Maracash MRC 006. Concept album by this band from Sicily, inspired by the ancient legend of Fata Morgana (The Fairy of the Waters), mythological figure of both Celtic England and Medieval Italy. Influences from both the classic groups like Locanda Delle Fate, Apoteosi, Goblin or newer outfits like IQ, Marillion or Arena.
• Another self titled album, from Italy this time: Crystals. This is the debut album of the italian super group - formed in 1973 by members of Banco and PFM - and finally available after thirty years! The album was recorded for the Cramps label. It includes now a new artwork and the lyric sheet (all songs are sung in English).
• Fabrizio De Andrè! Prog heads will know him from his concerts with PFM but in Italy, De Andrè is a cult protest singer and huge musical icon! To celebrate the 10th anniversary of his passing away, Sony is marketing a huge box set featuring all the 19 albums recorded by Fabrizio De Andrè and one DVD from his legendary concert in Rome in 1998. Including a Deluxe Booklet with 160 pages and preface by Franz Di Cioccio!
• De Scalzi, Vittorio : Gli Occhi del Mondo (ARSFV/1007 CD). Due to May 17th 2011, the new album by one of the founding members of New Trolls! 12 tracks that draw lymph from the poems of Richard Mannerini, enhanced by special guest Franz Di Cioccio (PFM) on one track. This new CD by De Scalzi could be seen as the natural following of "Senza Orario Senza Bandiera " from 1968!
• Vittorio De Scalzi: Mandilli (0194292AER). 2008. A collection of charming musical frescos by New Trolls's composer, keyboardist and singer (...and more!). If you admire De Scalzi's skill in writing soundtracks you can't miss this new chapter of his career.
• Dedalus: Nomos Apache Alpha. 30+ years after their last work, the group gives us at last a new record. This is an interesting avantgarde rock album. CD is packaged into a beautiful gatefold papersleeve edition, with a deluxe cover artwork similar to ECM jazz products and booklet with liner notes and album details written by Dedalus historic member and leader Fabrizio Bonansone. A Vinyl Magic release (VM 097).
• Delirium: Il Viaggio Continua: La Storia 1970 - 2010. Black Widow BWR127 DVD + CD. For the first time on DVD, this legendary band tell their fantastic history through clips and videos from the beginning, 40 years ago, with “Canto di Osanna” passing trough the San Remo show with Jesahel, ‘til nowadays with the memorable Concert in Genova during “Il Nome del Vento” tour. This DVD contains, in addition of the Politeama Concert, cuts from Teatro della Gioventu (“King’s Road” 2007) and from Bloom (“Viaggio negli Arcipelaghi del Tempo”, Mezzago, 2003) plus - first time on DVD! - all rare 70's clips and appearances from the RAI Archives with all their hits: Canto di Osanna, Jesahel, Dolce Acqua, Jill, Live, Love and be Free, Treno....a real gem! and more, a rich photo gallery, backstage and interviews (with english subtitles) for a total running time of 3 hours!! As if not enough, the packaging also includes a bonus CD with the Politeama Theatre performance! Do not miss it!! Format: PAL, Region: All
• Delirium: Il Nome Del Vento (2009). BWR 113. If we except the release of their first live record "Vibrazioni Notturne" in 2007, the band from Genova had last released a studio album in 1975!!! So we are indeed facing an important celebration! Concept album, many guests invited, a strongly crafted symphonic music embellished by the presence of a string quartet, beautiful melodies (an aspect that Italian always master!), majestic keyboards. CD and LP release!
• Deus Ex Machina: Imparis. Cuneiform (RUNE 259/260). 2008. New studio album recorded at the Parisian club Le Triton (in the club's own studios!) and DVD covering a concert at the same club, several excerpts from European and US concerts between 2002 and 1996, Italian TV in 1996 and a video clip from 1993. There is also a 22mn long interview with the band.
• Francesco Di Giacomo: Banco D'Acusa (EDEL digipack 112042). This is a reissue of the solo album by Banco's singer, formerly known as "Non mettere le dita nel naso". Slightly pop flavoured but intelligently crafted and recommended to any fan of the group!
• Dr. Hasbeen: Signs (2008). Black Widow BWR 104-2. CD. Technicians of spaceship Earth, take note: the legacy of Hawkwind lives on in Dr. Hasbeen's newest release. If you're looking for the psychedelic meltdown euphoria of The Space Ritual or the earth-shattering space rock of Doremi Fasol Latido, your search is over. Signs, a collection of studio & live tracks from various venues, evokes fond far flung memories of Hawkwind at its best: blasting off live in all its acid glory for the heart of the sun.
• Dropshard: Anywhere But Home (SVRCD017). 2011. Here's a project set up by ex members of the group Antares. This debut album is an ambitious but ultimately triumphant concept album comprising the "Anywhere But Home Suite" and the bonus track "Freedom Supermarket". Taking inspiration from early Genesis and contemporary prog metal bands such as Riverside, Dropshard have honed an absolutely stunning piece of work which drifts from choral harmonies through to blistering chunks of powerful but complex metal riffs using interesting time signatures and high levels of technical proficiency.
• Dunwich: Heilagmanoth (2008). Heilagmanoth, the long awaited 4th album by Dunwich, is finally available in an amazing digipack edition containing a 16 page color booklet, with original artworks depicting the themes of the album. Wonderful, intriguing and misterious songs with female vocals in English and Italian.
• Edera: And Mouth Disappears. Maracash MRC 009. A really progressive band close to V.D.G.G., Genesis, Iq, Twelfth Night & Marillion ... with lots of keyboards, sophisticated guitars works and a great vocalist!
• Ego: Evoluzione delle Forme. Ma.Ra.Cash Records (MRC024CD). 2011. Second album for this eclectic band of Varese; the band has a style that varies from the most classical symphony (Le Orme and Banco) to a modern avanguardistic expression. The use of flutes, trumpets and trombones as well as a magnificent violin add a filmic character to the music, that could easily be coming from a classic Italian film of the 70's. The band shows a very high professionalism that will certainly set them apart!
• Electric Swan: Electric Swan. Black Widow Records (BC002-08). 2008. Here is a solo project from Wicked Minds guitarist and founding member Lucio Calegari. It offers a collection of new songs (some instrumental), 2 ten years-old Wicked Minds tracks never recorded before, and 3 covers: Tommy Bolin's "Teaser", Ruth Copeland's "Your Love Been So Good To Me" and Metallica's "Creeping Death".
• ELECTROMANTIC has recently added a few releases to their catalog:
  - Randone: Nuvole Di Ieri. Sicilian band with Beppe Crovella (Arti & Mestieri) guesting on vintage keyboards.
  - Marco Gallesi, Arti’s & Esagono’s bass player, signs his first solo album ”Riff”. From jazz to rock to fusion and with the superb drumming of his mate Furio Chirico on 9 tracks. Previous releases include:
  - Esagono "Vicolo". A Jazz rock band with several members of "Arti+Mestieri" among its ranks, leaning heavily towards progressive.
  - Arti & Mestieri "Live 1974-2000", a 2CD of live recordings; the first CD is from 1974, the second from after the reunion of the band in 1999.
  - "Rumore Rosso Live" is to my opinion an even more interesting CD of live performances by Venegoni. This too much unknown group was seducing with a mix of fusion and ethnic mediterranean rooted music. This is the first album available showing the group live! A very nice initiative indeed.
  
• Eris Pluvia: Third Eye Light. AMS 185 CD. 2010. Nearly twenty years after their first album, the band from Liguria celebrate their comeback with a new concept album, continuing the themes of the previous album. Eris Pluvia play a majestic classic progressive rock, symphonic yet pastoral with influences ranging from bands like Camel and Pink Floyd, through the best international neo-prog and the classic Italian prog of the seventies.
• Esagono: Apocalypso. Electromantic (TJRS&F005). May 2008. This jazz-rock outfit from the Torino area is back again! Opening up universes of sound with a rock-solid substancy and some elegance, the band delivers sincere and strong emotions without any mannerism and with the assurance of their past experience, bringing the essential of yesterday into the forms of today. The album also includes an hommage to film music composer Ennio Morricone, a new version of "Metti Una Sera A Cena"
• After 30 years, finally the comeback of Esagono!!!! Esagono was born as an offspring of Arti & Mestieri and inaugurated with their first album "Vicolo" the famous Italian indie label "MU", run by musicians themselves. Their style, whose sound is influenced by Arti & Mestieri, basically spins round a jazz-rock matrix full of soloist cues and virtuosities that may or may not be influenced by the moment's progressive scene. "Due", the album title, comes from it being the second album of Esagono (in Italian "due" means "two") and also because the album is divided in two parts, one recorded live and one in studio, plus recordings from the '70s never previously released. Electromantic TJRS&FOO3
• Patrizio Fariselli: Variazioni per Pianoforte. Cramps CD+DVD. Compositions of Fariselli or Area are here revisited and played for solo piano. The DVD is a film showing the process of the recording, including the difficult transportation of a grand piano through the narrow streets of a village and quite up to a castle's room where it is supposed to be used. Much fun indeed! An extra shot is also showing Fariselli's group in concert.
• Finisterre: In Ogni Luogo. AMS152CD. 2010 remastered edition of the third album originally released by Finisterre for Iridea records in 1999. This papersleeve CD reissue has been carefully remastered, has a renewed artwork, new liner notes and four completely unreleased tracks dating back to the recording sessions of 1998. An italoprog landmark finally available again!
• Flashmen: S/T. Reissue (Mellow Records MMP 301) of their fourth album from 1973, originally released on Kansas PL catalog LDM 17005.
• Flora: S/T. Lizard (LZ 0039). 2006. A new prog band from Piacenza debuting with warm moods, grotesque poetic lyrics and minimalist jazz and post-rock sounds.
• Fonderia: Re>>Enter. 2006 (VMS506CD). 2nd album by this band from Rome. Will be available in July 2006 in a deluxe jewelbox CD edition with the usual nice booklet and glossy external sleeve found in Vinyl Magic's releases.
• Fonderia: My Grandmother’s Space Suit (Biz2010). 28/07/10. Released four years after Re>>enter, this 3rd album marks a major change in the band's professional perspective, a musical challenge, and it is characterized by many new features, as the band decided to produce the record in the UK to get a different and richer sound. Recorded in the Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios this new work reflects the different styles of music that environment suggests: Jazz-rock, post rock, melodic and atmospheric ...
• Fonderia: S/T (VMS0503). Fonderia is one of the newer Italian bands enjoying an increasing reputation. From the old prog-rock of King Crimson and National Health to the fresh post-rock of Tortoise and Mogwai and the ethnic jazz-rock flavours of Indaco and Earthworks, Fonderia's debut album from 2002 had been out of print for quite some time and is now available again, remastered with a renewed artwork.
• Ivano Fossati: L'Arcangelo. The new release by ex-Delirium singer is due to February 3, 2006. Sony/BMG will have the first pressing released as a limited digipack edition that will not be available in future reprints.
• Gan Eden – Il Giardino Delle Delizie: Ritratto Di Ballerina. AMS 164 CD. Sept. 09. The project of keyboard player and vocalist Angelo Santo Lombardi has taken the world of Italian prog by storm, adding influences of such Italian prog giants as Banco, PFM and Orme to the keyboard wizardry of a Keith Emerson. Ritratto di Ballerina is the logic follow-up to its predecessor, while being more complex, compact and with a slightly harder edge. Quality standards remain unchanged, while the somehow playful atmosphere of the debut has moved to a stronger awareness. This record represents the artistic maturity of the Gan Eden project, that confirms itself as one of the best bands of the actual prog scenes. As usual, the album is available as a beautiful vinyl replica CD.
• Gap Party: Additives (2005 LZ 0033). New Italian prog band with psychedelic-rock sounds. Their CD includes a cover of the Van Der Graaf Generator track "Afterwards"
• Garybaldi: Note Perdute. AMS 2010. An amazing collection of rarities for one of the most important bands of Italian 70�Œs prog-rock: Garybaldi. This anthology contains a track that was meant to be included in their Gleemen debut, some live and alternate versions recorded between 1969 and 1998, and an amazing gem, three live tracks recorded during the Naples Be-In festival of 1973, one of the very few testimonies of those legendary festivals, as in those times no one used to record gigs in Italy! The CD version of this release also includes a special DVD documentary dedicated to Garybaldi with some amazing interviews and vintage videos.
• Gatto Marte: Colombo Tutto Tondo Opera Buffa (BA 246 CD). Subtitled "Opera Buffa", here's a new album by the chamber ensemble!
• Gli Alluminogi: Scolopendra (VMLP121). New vinyl reissue with the original artwork, label replicas and remastered sound. This trio from Turin, formed in 1970 by keyboard player Alluminio (hence the name of the band) and drummer Ostorero with various guitarists, only lasted for a couple of years and their only album, Scolopendra, was issued when they had already split. Their sole album is very well made, mainly based on Hammond organ and other keyboards, with good instrumental parts and an outstanding B side. A must-have for lovers of Italian prog!
• Goad: Masquerade. Black Widow BWR 122-2 CD. March 2011. With this new work, Goad returns to break up the ground native to rock; they are experts in practicing cold and warm, from damned evocations to dreamed episodes, from ruined nightmares to unforseen lightness, from organ and guitar to flute and violin. They bring surprises too, like “Highway To Hell” by AC/DC, played in a singular version in which the classic piece of Hard Rock is strongly executed, even in the fast parts.
• Goblin: Roller. Cinevox MDF 635 CD. Digipack, digital remastered edition! One of their most progressive rock albums, while at the top of their form in 1976!
• Goblin: Profondo Rosso. Now reissued as a 2CD. CD1 is the original record while CD2 is made of alternative takes. Also reissued with 5 bonus tracks and remastered is the seminal '77 album "Suspiria"
• Goblin: Zombi. Cinevox CDMDF 606. Great digipack reissue of the soundtrack album from 1978 by the champions of horror film music! This reissue includes 7 bonus tracks (nearly 20 minutes extra) consisting of alternate takes. All original session master tapes were found and used to bring you this reissue!
• Gran Turismo Veloce: Di Carne, di Anima. Lizard (LZ 0072 CD). 2011. This new band from Tuscany oscillates between two well known poles: tradition and innovation. On the first side, the soothing taste of vintage prog, featuring Hammond organ, Moog and mellotron; on the other side, the search of new ideas and a new momentum towards the third millennium.
• Gruppo D'alternativa: Ipotesi (1972). AMS papersleeve CD (AMS 114 CD). Another great Italian rarity album from 1972 !!! Complex and excellent Italian prog, with classic moments, jazz-rock influences in the Canterbury vein, acoustic parts, sudden rhythm changes and complex arrangements, in a few words everything we love from vintage Italian prog! The nine tracks of the CD are connected to form two long suites. A superbe historical italian album and never released on CD before !!!
• Hero: S/T (1974). AMS 104. Hard-prog recording by Italian trio, originally released back in 1974 for an obscure German label. A very pleasant music style overall, at times close to harder New Trolls, but Hero are mainly influenced by the hard-prog style of the British bands of the 70's released on the historic Vertigo label.
• Hostsonaten: Mirrorgames (MRL 1001). Carefully remastered for the new Mirror label, dedicated to the rediscovery of Fabio Zuffanti's catalogue, it is released in a lavish papersleeve carboard, with a totally new artwork, new liner credits and a previously unreleased track entitled "The Garden" (parts 1-4). Mirrorgames featured all members of Finisterre
• Hostsonaten: Autumn Symphony. Second part of a "musical painting" in four movements dedicated to the four seasons and called the "Sesasoncycle Suite", Autumn Symphony is following the releases of Springsong in 2002 (reprinted in a new version in 2009) and Winterthrough (2008), respectively parts 4 and 3. The brain behind this project is Fabio Zuffanti, one of the most creative and active Italian musician of the last 15 years, band leader in groups such as Finisterre or Maschera Di Cera. In the present album, the melancholic feeling (at its highest in the winter chapter) gives life to many moments of pure musical poetry. The music seems often like a lost soundtrack of some Andreij Tarkowskij' movie, a very important director and one of the greatest inspiration for Fabio's music and life. The jazzy influences (mainly British jazz, the one of groups such as Nucleus), more evident in this album, are united with a chamber music mood. The acoustic instruments (violas, violins, cello, trumpet, double bass, etc...) are often supported by a rock rhythm section with great mellotron and moog sounds. The voice, for the first time in the "Sesasoncycle Suite", flies high and brings the autumnal vortex to the winter spirals, falling deep in the abyss and leaving the listener alone with his emotions.
• Host Sonaten: Springsong (AMS153CD). This remastered edition will be launched on March 21st, 2009, the very day of the Spring equinox! Springsong is the 4th and final chapter of Hostsonaten's "Seasoncycle Suite", originally released in 2001. The original Cd has been out of print since a few years and AMS records decided not only to reissue it but to realize a brand new album only in little part based on the old version. Starting with the *exterior* aspect we find a wonderful new graphic work completely different from the previous one, in line with the 'Seasons project' and with excellent paintings by Davide Guidoni. All in a gatefold LP replica box with a deluxe booklet with new credits, informations, images and details.
  Musically speaking, the 2001 work has been completely reworked. The album has been remixed in high definition quality, every single track has been cleaned and re-equalized to give a new and strong dynamics to the music, now more powerful and trenchant. Fabio Zuffanti and Robbo Vigo, the authors of this restyling, have also added a great number of new musical details and, most important thing, have played a lot of new musical parts absent in the old version: new mellotron parts played with a real mellotron (the old parts were played with samplers), new bass parts on the whole album, new moog, bass pedals and percussion parts, a 13 minutes bonus track (Suite bretonne), an acoustic suite. If you love such works as Genesis' "Trespass" or Anthony Phillips's "The Geese And The Ghost", you will certainly enthusiastically welcome this album. But you will also feel at home if you are searching for jazzy and traditional echoes from other European latitudes. For this adventurous trip, Fabio Zuffanti united some former Finisterre members (Stefano Marelli, Agostino Macor, Boris Valle, Francesca Biagini) as well as some very talented musicians who normally approach rock music in a different way (Sergio Caputo, Federico Foglia, Edmondo Romano, ex Eris Pluvia and Ancient Veil). The result is a brand of powerful modern sounds and exotic and unusual voices of ancient instruments (woodwinds, pianos, strings, guitars and so on) that give "Springsong" its very unique and original flavour. With "Springsong" Fabio Zuffanti offers us his most painstaking recording, a work which shows the maturity he has reached and which goes beyond the fences that sometimes enclose the progressive rock world.


• Hostsonaten: Winterthrough. AMS 133CD. New concept album by prog mastermind Fabio Zuffanti (Finisterre, Maschera di Cera), Winterthrough is the 3rd section of SeasonCycle Suite, a musical celebration in four movements of seasons' power; it features a long instrumental suite of nearly 46 minutes, divided in several movements. The musicians involved in the project are mainly coming from Finisterre & Maschera Di Cera . Marvellous symphonic movements, highly influenced by the top notch instrumentals of Italian bands from the 70's, sometimes dreamy and pastoral, sometimes epic, but always highly emotional. And what a Mellotron!! This is Italian prog as we love it, a must-have for lovers of Finisterre and Maschera Di Cera but also a great way to get into Fabio Zuffanti's music.
• Hypnoise: St. Valentine's Porno Bar. Veneto West VW06-02CD. After their debut album "Opium" on M.P. Records, starring Trey Gunn (KC), here is the 2nd album and follower, this time featuring among guests the blues singer Cheryl Porter
• Il Balletto Di Bronzo: Live in Rome (2008) – Black Widow. Available from June 1st, 2008, This DVD captures what Balletto di Bronzo is today, as a trio. The great novelty is the inclusion of four brand new and previously unreleased songs, perfect syntheses of Leone/LeoNero’s multifaceted soul: dark, progressive, new wave, electropop, songwriter, rock, atonal, free jazz and avant-garde, at the same time. The performance was held on 21 September 2007 at the Stazione Birra, a club in Rome. And yes, those nostalgic of the 70's will also get a rendition of the cult piece "Ys". The version is deliberately reduced in order to give space to the more recent production, in accordance to Leone’s wishes.
• Il Tempio Delle Clessidre: S/T. Black Widow (BWRCD123 / BWRLP123). 2010. New Italian band that tries to express ideas and music with a typical 70's progressive rock sound. Elisa Montaldo, a keyboardist and composer fond of progressive rock and Stefano "Lupo" Galifi, exceptional singer in “Zarathustra”, the progressive masterpiece by the famous Italian band Museo Rosenbach, met in 2006 and started the project; each song tries to express a different atmosphere, the arrangements are often difficult but in the meantime pleasant to be heard, the selection of keyboard sounds is refined and emotional, with a large use of vintage sounds like the Mellotron; in this album there are light and darkness, joyful and doomy moments, fast and slow parts, acoustic instruments such as acoustic guitar, piano, concertina, to make the sound warmer and true; there are also occasional and strange percussions, even a church organ for the final of the song “Faldistorum”, to give more mysticism and gothic attitude to the two-parts instrumental suite!
• Illachime Quartet: I'm Normal, My Heart Still Works (2009). Lizard CD 0062. Illàchime Quartet is an instrumental ensemble based in Napoli (Italy) that joins electronics and acoustic instruments. It gathers sounds and noises from the surroundings as well as scattered fragments of acoustic memories, which form the texture for the interventions of the musicians along rough and terse lines, often improvised. Final target: to intrigue and to seduce the audience by means of an unconventional, highly kinematic sonic experience.
• L'Imbroglio: Krar/Qelt. MP Records MPRCD052. A step "beyond" jazz improvisation..... the CD starts and after a while you become yourself involved, wrapped, captured by a dense, original sound, in which a free-form structure (coming from a certain kind of improvisation) merge with an experimental sound, rough and dissonant. The basic sound is a combination of nervous rhythm, with long guitar riffs, with minimalistic electronics and a trumpet, sometimes classic, sometimes free. A kind of Henry Cow brought in the years 2000, even if the work doesn’t look back to the past but, after learning the lesson, is looking towards the future and beyond.
• Italian Prog. The book by Augusto Croce is now reprinted in a new and lighter soft cover version. "Italian Prog" is the definitive English language guide to Italian Progressive Rock of the seventies! On nearly 800 pages this guide features detailed and exhaustive info of over 560 bands and artists with complete CD and LP discographies and descriptions, details and releases lists of 26 labels, and a huge section with all 33" and 45" records covers in full colour! Price guide for collectors included!
• Italian Prog. Big event here, please read on! Written by Augusto Croce, released on the AMS label (AMS100), weighing 1,4 kgs spread on nearly 800 pages ... drums roll please, here is The comprehensive guide to Italian progressive music 1967-1979! And surely now the definitive English language guide to Italian Progressive Rock of the 70's! On nearly 800 pages this guide features detailed and exhaustive info of over 560 bands and artists with complete CD and LP discographies and descriptions, details and releases lists of 26 labels, a huge section with all 33" and 45" records covers in full colour! Price guide for collectors included! Deluxe hardcover edition on glossy paper. The first 500 copies will contain a free bonus CD with 19 (!!) unreleased tracks from the 70's, including bands hardly covered like Officina Meccanica, Gli Esseri or Breznev Fan Club! Stret date: 02/12/08 .... the perfect christmas gift!!!
• Jacula: Pre Viam. Black Widow (BWR 135-2 CD). June 2011. Not to be mistaken for "Per Viam" (another album and both anagrams for vampire!), here's a great new epic, focused on the sadness, the melancholy and the suicidal tendency of the protagonist portrayed through seven fantastic musical paintings. The concept created by Antonio Bartoccetti is a spine-chilling release and promises it won't miss a beat: catacombal groove, cryptic rhythm guitars, unique chanting of the Lady in Black, aristocratic, noble, dreaming atmospheres and surely great visions...
• Jumbo: Anthology live (AMS 101 DVD). The final rock documentary about this legendary Italian prog band! 90 minutes of interviews (in Italian language, with English subtitles), rare pictures (over 600 photos) and clips never seen before, including one hour of live footage from a concert recorded in the 90's by the original line-up. This is the first documentary regarding an Italian prog band and therefore not to be missed. A must for Jumbo fans and lovers of the historic Italian prog scene. Deluxe DVD packaging! Area code: 0 (all areas), PAL standard.
• Jumbo: DNA (VMLP 082) and "Vietato ai minori di 18 anni?" (VMLP 084) are now available on 180 Gr. LP as strictly limited 500 copies edition. Those reissues are faithful reproductions of the originals, housed in their wonderful gatefold cover made in thick carton, insert, heavy vinyl and present a superb remastered sound. Never before reissued on vinyl.
• Jumbo: both "Poche Parole" (DJ 009) and "Passing By (1991-2001) (DJ 007) are now available again. "Poche Parole" includes a Jumbo video bonus-track too. These are CD releases with old, new and material "from the vaults" compiled by Jumbo guitarist Daniele Bianchini.
• Kurai: S/T. Alt Rock (ALT 008). 2009. This new band could be seen as the far shadow of Yugen! Not only are 5 of Kurai's members coming from Yugen (Francesco Zago, Markuss Stauss, Peter Schmid, Maurizio Fasoli and Giuseppe Olivini but the music itself draws on some hints from their first album "Labirinto d'Acqua". The metronomic rigour has been this time dissolved in order to give room of such a huge breath that it sometimes sounds inhuman. There is a careful attention to colours, nuances and depth, favouring the acoustic instruments and atmospheres not unlike those found on the German label ECM. The two members not having belonged to Yugen are bass player Christian Weber (heard with British jazz musician Paul Dunmall and - on a not too often met instrument (the harp) - Enrica Di Bastiano.
• La Maschera di Cera. The self titled debut album from 2002 is now reissued in a new digital remastered edition
• La Maschera di Cera: Petali Di Fuoco. EDEL/ ARSIMM/1003(2010). New album by one of the top Italian prog bands in newer times!
• La Maschera Di Cera: LuxAde. QQ 1003 CD. The new record is finally ready for delivery since February 28, 2006! Released on Immaginifica, the label started by PFM's drummer Franz Di Cioccio. The album contains seven songs
• La Torre dell'Alchimista : Neo. Ma.Ra.Cash MRC-012. ... every single note is in place, done right and even perfectly, a musical construction that with extreme gentleness takes us immediately back in time to those great 70's when the history of Italian prog rock was written, a little unreal world that at first gets you dizzy with those tastes from the past, Hammond organ, Mini Moog, Fender piano ... and then reality is allowed to come slowly to the surface, bearing a new freshness rich in strong sensations and new flavours, the flute, the rythmic session, some aerial singing, thin but dramatic at the same time... so get ready, you who have great taste and always look for spicy emotions, the tumultuous creative breath of this band is going to astonish you once again!!!
• La Torre Dell'Alchimista: U.S.A....you know. Maracash MRC 004. Live CD by this talented italian band. The music is dominated by the powerful Hammond organ as usual. Great show!
• Lachaise: Silent Cries For Help. MP Records (MPRCD053). 2008. Debut album by Italian act whose name is taken from the famous graveyard in Paris, le Cimetière du Père Lachaise, where many artists (for exemple Jim Morrison) are buried. This links of course the music to the usual gothic-rock aspects but it also includes incursions into other territories like pop or progressive. The very talented female singer, Annallisa Monticelli, brings a real grace in her singing. The classic guitar/keyboards/bass/drums lineup is set to work to bring some freshness and ingenuity in the music and in fact the band tried to avoid all the cold perfectionism of studio electronic tricks and adjustments to give, at last, a real feeling of a playing band. They have been chosen as opening act for Christian Death 's Italian tour.
• Bernardo Lanzetti. The ex-PFM singer release in 2010 the mini CD "Blueslanz" that offers 5 tracks on which he presents his take on the blues (all his own compositions), in collaboration with his new working partner Cristiano Roversi, here arranging and mastering the project. At about the same time, he also releases a tribute CD to Bob Dylan, called "Dylanz" and covering many hits (Mr. Tambourine Man, Like a Rolling Stone, Just Like a Woman, Hurricane, etc...) plus one composition by the singer; this project is more a group effort, with keyboards, guitars, organ, bass, programming (it doesn't seem there is a *real* drummer playing and none is credited). To those who may wonder what's going on there, yes, there are still prog-rock elements haunting this CD!
• New album by ex PFM singer, the great and only Bernardo Lanzetti! His new record "Eclecticlanz" is a true gem featuring brand new sounds as well as vintage instruments and stunning vocals experimentations carried out during a time span of 20 years and thereafter rearranged, creating a sort of "archaeological founds of the future". Intertwined with some of Lanzetti's original artwork, the album could be defined as the first example of a Concept & Code production. In other words Ecleticlanz is an amazing and exciting melting pot of foreign languages vocals and genres like avant-garde rock & prog, but also classical, pop, metal, contemporary music and even a tango!AMS decided to pack such a masterpiece in the incredible and unique gimmick called by the artist "CD Fashion Jacket" and, with this special packaging, all CD covers come out in different colours and patterns. There will be no identical artwork!
• Latte E Miele: Live Lasting. EDEL 0193582AER (2008). The historic Italian prog trio is back, 30 years after their last album Aquile e Scoiattoli! Live Lasting is recorded live in 2008 and features some of their best songs together with an unpublished track (Vision of Sunlight) and new sections for two famous songs of theirs: “Tiberiade” for Passio Secundum Mattheum and “Counter Dance” for Pavana.
• Latte E Miele. the folks at Akarma have done it again! They are this time releasing a 4CD boxset by the renowned progressive italian group; the boxset contains Passio Secundum Matteum, Papillon in both english and italian versions (one CD each) and Aquile E Scoiattoli.
• Lucio Lazzaruolo: My Favourite. 2006. Mellow Records MMP444. Debut solo album from Notturno Concertante's leader. Coming out in June 2006.
• Le Mani: S/T (1976). AMS 103CD. Italian progressive group formed in the early 70's by Claudio Fucci & Dario Piana. After professional mastering and sound restoration, five very interesting tracks recorded by Le Mani have been brought back to life and are now available in a special papersleeve CD in strictly numbered limited edition of 666 copies. This is good italian prog-rock from the vaults of the mid 70's
• Le Orme: Live in Rome – Official bootleg (SMN004). Sept. 2010. Here's a very limited release of a concert captured live on May 21st, 2010 at the Crossroads Live Club in Rome! New vocalist Jimmy Spitaleri (from Metamorfosi is doing a good job and brings a new life to this historic Italian band!
• Le Orme! "Ad Gloriam" and "L'Aurora Delle Orme" are now re-issued as Japanese papersleeve CDs in SHM technology (AMS SHM02MMX & AMS SHM03MMX), with bonus tracks. Expensive price too!
• Le Orme: Album Originali. This 11 CD boxset released on Universal (2715654) is a limited edition and gathers all the 11 Philips-Polygram releases from Le Orme: Collage / Uomo Di Pezza / Felona e Sorona / Contrappunti / In Concerto / Smogmagica / Verità Nascoste / Storia o Leggenda / Florian / Piccola Rapsodia Dell’ape / Orme. All masters have been digitally remastered by Maurizio Biancani at Fonoprint in Bologna. Street date: 23/10/09
• Le Orme: Live Orme. Black Widow (BWRCD115-2). 2009. This 2CD was once available as a Japanese release on the Nexus/King Records label. It is now available as a new European reissue, completely remastered and offering 5 bonus tracks not included in the original Japanese pressing. If you prefer vinyl, it is also marketed as a 2LP + a 10" grouping the bonus tracks. In case you should have forgotten what's this recording is all about, we're talking of various wonderful live performances captured between 1975 and 1977 and featuring a few covers like Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" or Jethro Tull's Aqualung, alongside many of the band's most known compositions like for example "Cemento Armato" or "Sguardo Verso Il Cielo".
• Le Orme: Venerdi. This album from 1982 has been OOP for quite some time and is today again available; this time as a digipack CD in a limited edition, offering the remastered original album and two bonus tracks: "Rosso di Sera " and " Sahara ", until now only released as single. Fans of Le Orme, rejoice!
• Le Orme: Live in Pennsylvania (SBM 0001 LP). 2009. In 2008 Le Orme released a fantastic DVD+2CD of their performance in Bethlehem for the 2005 Nearfest. Now they reprint in a limited edition the triple vinyl of that concert. The 3 tracks making side 6 have never been released before!
• Le Orme: Live in Pennsylvania (2008). 2CD+DVD (SBM 0001). Finally Le Orme release this fantastic DVD plus double CD of their performance in Bethlehem for the 2005 Nearfest. It has a fantastic set list, including tunes from the 70's as well as some other picked from their most recent albums like "L'Infinito".
• The new Le Orme album – L’Infinito – is available as CD or LP. The cover is one more time due to Paul Whitehead and the music quite as strong as in the previous album. The group seems to have the same qualities as the best cellar wines! Better with age.
• Giorgio Libera: What's all this noise for (PRIVGIOR2). This new and 2nd album is maybe better than the previous “Red Powder”, just a little more sophisticated with many instrumental tracks and always close to Zappa, Keneally... Stravinsky !!! Also featuring Remy Strauly (YOLK) on drums !


• Out on 14/02/03: The Asimov Assembly on M.P. Records. This tribute to the mind and work of science fiction writer Isaac Asimov features nice surprises such as the presence of Fabio Liberatori, one of the most acclaimed soundtrack composers in Italy and of Sonja Kristina, who writes and sings here two songs.





• Lome’: Fiori Su Marte. Remember this name because it’s a great band who – I take a bet here – will stay for years. This debut album presents us a music strongly inspired by the jazzier side of Area with an incredibly funky acoustic bass, gorgeous piano playing and a singer who reminds much of Alberto Piras from Deus Ex Machina; not only by his voice but also by the impressive presence and energy delivered. Not to be discarded if you want my advice!
• Luna: S/T. First ever CD release CD for this forgotten early 80's album by Osanna's guitarist Danilo Rustici. It's an obscure rock CD from 1981, featuring a long suite of Stravinsky's "Firebird" that fills in the gap between Osanna's split up and later Rustici solo works. Coming out in June 2006 in deluxe gatefold papersleeve CD, with detailed booklet, the original LP labels, biography and historical liner notes.
• Magnetic Sound Machine: Chances & Accidents. LIZARDCD0068 - 2010. Second album for Magnetic Sound Machine, very much appreciated for their first album, with their adrenalinic jazz-rock very close to the style of Perigeo, but also for the elegant "fusion" that reminds Chick Corea Elektric Band, Brand X, Yellow Jackets, Uzeb, Jung Chi.
• Magnetic Sound Machine : Chromatic tunes. Lizard (LZ 0053). May 2008. An instrumental jazz rock classic! Magnetic Sound Machine are really young (19 years old) but very skillful. If you like Perigeo 's music you can’t miss this new CD, the cross point between rock and jazz we were looking for. A bunch of tunes rich of groove, characterized by versatile dynamism and the highest instrumental cohesion.
• Malaavia: Vibrazioni Liquide (2008). CNT 08.01. After the good success of the previous effort "Danze d'Incenso", this new CD sets new standards for the quality of the band. Their skill in the writing process has fully developed. Still haunting in places, "Vibrazioni liquide" is structured in 2 long suites but the songs are well recognizable. Sung in Italian, Latin and English!
• Malaavia: Danze D'Incenso (MRC-002). Second release by Ma.Ra.Cash Records, a new label in Italy. Malaavia is a very professional band playing a sort of old & new progressive music really close to Osanna, P.F.M., Locanda Delle Fate, Renaissance and E.L.P.. An absolutely sophisticated musical project also featuring Lino Vairetti (Osanna), Michele Mutti (La Torre Dell'Alchimista) and many others.
• Malibran: Trasparenze (ARTP502). 2009. The spirit of the band is still really progressive and the 79 minutes stand among their finest so the album may become one of the finest italian prog rock CD of the year.
• Rodolfo Maltese Group: Il Gabbiano Jonathan (AMS146 CD). Woooow! I have been waiting for years to see this coming out! In 1987, Banco's guitarist had recorded this mainly instrumental concept album. You can find there the first ethnical Mediterranean sounds that became typical for Indaco, some laid back and high class Italian jazz-rock and some more epic and guitar-solo focused tracks. All in all it is an important missing link and a must have for fans of Indaco and Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, since besides the guitarist the listener will also note the presence of another Banco member, pianist and keyboardist Vittorio Nocenzi!
• Mangala Vallis: Lycanthrope. Release date: 25/10/05. The new album still features Bernardo Lanzetti (PFM & Acqua Fragile) who sings all the tracks and regards today Mangala Vallis as his new band but the real surprise will be this time the guesting of another great musician, David Jackson from the newly revived and still legendary Van Der Graaf Generator... !!!!!!!!!!!!
• Mappe Nootiche: Cieli Sommersi. Ma.Ra.Cash (MRC-026). 2011. This is a concept album dedicated, among others, to the fractal geometry of Benoit Mandelbrot. The CD is a project of experimental music based on improvisation and electronic sounds inspired by lysergic Pink Floyd "Barrett era", Ozric Tentacles, Mike Oldfield, Goblin but also more dreamy soundscapes like Vangelis, David Arkenstone, Yanni, Patrick O'Hearn, Brian Eno. After "Le Origini" and "Terra", and already veterans of several live performances at festivals in Italy and France, this CD displays the band's instrumental growth, placing it among the best cutting-edge musicians in Europe.
• Mass Media: Opacità Scura (TJRS 1963). Live CD recorded in Torino on September 11, 1978. The band mixes the progressive rock influeces of Yes with the more experimental approach of Mahavishnu Orchestra. A great live CD by an obscure italian band from the Seventies!
• Maxophone: From Cocoon To butterfly. Vinyl Magic special set CD+DVD VM 100 A-B/MVA, marketed by BTF in late October, housed in a deluxe packaging with a special booklet including rare vintage photos. A brand new Maxophone recording will be available soon on BTF's own VM label! The new Maxophone is a very special deluxe box set including a CD with 10 vintage tracks recovered from outtakes and alternate demo material from 1973-1975 (4 tracks are unreleased), plus a DVD with Maxophone live footage from a 1976 concert at RAI studios in Torino. All recordings have been carefully remastered: the songs on the CD were recorded on 4-tracks equipment. The DVD footage was professionally filmed by Italian TV in 1976 and has a bonus video track of Maxophone re-formed in 2005, playing one live track at Radio Popolare studios in Milano. The DVD also includes bonus features, such as interviews with group members. The DVD will be available in PAL and NTSC formats BUT please note that the NTSC release will only be available in the first pressing of this special set! No reprint is planned so ... don't let it go and act NOW!
• Mediterranea: S/T. Ecce Rock. AMS (AMS184CD). Mediterranea released only one LP in 1981, made of 9 all-instrumental tracks. It was released in a period where progrock was not fashionable at all. Nevertheless it was noticed by a Japanese label that printed it in the land of the rising sun, but with a totally different cover. This edition repairs the mistake, making it finally accessible to all in Europe. It contains both the original and the Japanese cover, extensive liner notes by the musicians and some pictures of Mediterranea today.
• Merme: Live in Singakong (2011). Lizard LZ 0074 CD. This is the debut album by a band hailing from Toscany, recorded live in the studio. Godchildren of King Crimson ("Thrak" period) and the Italian RIO band Zu (without the sax), they deliver an instrumental math-rock prog with a great guitar-bass-drums interplay. A new name on the Italian avant-rock underground scene, a new guitar power trio on emphetamines!
• Metamorfosi: Paradiso (GMP 003). Davide Spitaleri is back with a great new album, the long-awaited italian progressive-rock masterpiece dedicated to the third part of Dante's "Divina Commedia".
• Modal Sound Trio: S/T. VM127 CD (AMS papersleeve series). M.S.T. is an instrumental combo defined as a jazz-rock/prog band formed in Bergamo, Italy in 2002. As a matter of fact the trio made up of synth-guitar player Rudy Corbetta, drummer Vittorio Bonadei and 4/5 strings bass player Alberto Bigoni, aspires to overcome the above mentioned definition. The self-explanatory name of the group indicates a musical direction tied up to modal "fragrance" with a modern and relevant harmonic approach enriched with an unconventional use of MIDI devices. Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" and "Bitches Brew" were and remain the pathways in which the group musically walks and tries to express its ideas. The tunes show a perfect blend of rock-fusion structures with jazz improvisations. Modal sound trio performs and records live without any kind of loop or overdubs wizardry. If you need stylistic references, those bands come to mind: DFA, Area, Baricentro, Dedalus.
• Mogador: S/T (MOG01CD). 2011. Debut album by a band influenced by Marillion and Glass Hammer. The eight tracks take us from unsettling audio effects and sound bites, through Canterbury folk-drenched accoustic songs, and over into more progressive areas that also have it's cues from Yes or ELP.
• Moongarden: A Vulgar Display of Prog (DMF-CD01). 2009. This is the sixth album for the famous Italian progressive rock band Moongarden which after their two releases (Round Midnight and Songs from the Lighthouse) gained fame as an emerging reality. We can call it progressive crossover: it is a new style which Cristiano Roversi has forged. The band introduced a stylistic contamination without giving up their progressive roots. The lyrics are really modern as well, ironic and nipping. The final song "Compression" is a completely reworked cover of an Anthony Phillips & Mike Rutherford old tune.
• Morkobot: S/T. Lizard (2006 LZ 0038). Debut album and a high-voltage hard psychedelic rock mixed with early Black Sabbath. An instrumental, raving, electric space trip.
• Tom Moto: Junk (LZ CD 0057). Extreme-jazz-rock is perhaps the best definition for the music of Tom Moto. Tom Moto plays junk music, an extraordinary mix of schizoid jazz and derailed funk, but not just. A fantastic trio based on bass, drums and trumpet with intrusions of sax, contrabass, guitar, electronic stuff and reading. Tom Moto plays the misfit life of Henry Chinaski, prime character of "Post Office", a novel based on the dirty face of the big American dream.
• Albero Motore: Il Grande Gioco (AMS118). CD reissue in deluxe papersleeve edition with extended liner notes. Long time OOP record, finally available again!! A five-piece of very good musicians from Rome, Alberomotore (or Albero Motore as it was sometimes written) were aided and produced by 60's singer-guitarist Ricky Gianco (owner of the Ultima Spiaggia label). The musicians where involved with acts like Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno, Samadhi, Goblin, Libra, Quella Vecchia Locanda, Carnascialia. In this album the band recorded tracks that are not immediately recognizable as classic Italian prog, having a rural and genuine hard rock edge, full of suspense, highlighting the excellent and rough voice of Maurizio Rota.
• Nadma: Paura. (10 TES). What a super nice surprise! The distinguished legacy of the group has been hidden from view to nearly everybody until now. The discovery and classification of the original reel tapes owned by founding member Davide Mosconi enabled the Italian indie label Alga Marghen to reissue a large group of recordings by Nadma, their first output under the name "Quartetto" and the various offsprings that followed. A complete series of CDs will document those activities. The first Nadma title of this unique CD series is "Paura" (live concert at Circolo Lepetit in Milan in March 1973). Nadma was officially born in 1972. The identity and musical orientation of this collective - The Natural Arkestra Da Maya Alta - centered on the convergence of heterogeneous interests and sentibilities coming from avant-garde jazz experiences liberated by post-free curents, from classical studies, or from musicians also active as visual artists, who had cultivated an instrumental practice utilising spontaneous expression. All the group members assimilated and creatively incorporated the most progressive influences of Afro-American music and the contemporary neo-avantgarde, but shifted noticeably in the direction of the contemplative and ecstatic vitality of non-European, especially African, musical cultures. Nadma was, and still is, known to a limited group of devoted listeners on the merits of the only record released by italian RCA back in 1973. It was Davide Mosconi's experimental progressive group, their unique album "Uno Zingaro di Atlante con un Fiore a New York", originally released by RCA, is highly requested by collectors and is unavailable on CD since a very long time !!!
• Napoli Centrale/James Senese: "Jesceallah" (1992). Partly rereleased under the name Napoli Centrale but in fact more a solo project by its leader James Senese, this record is groovy like hell and features on two tracks Lester Bowie and Famoudu Don Moye from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago alongside acknowledged musicians such drummer A. Marangolo (Goblin), bassist R. Zurzolo or keyboardist Joe Amoruso (Pino Daniele). If you don't know Senese, it's time you get touched by his warm, rough and ultra expressive voice! The label Blue Angel behind this rerelease also took up another Senese album from 1994: "'Ngazzate Nire".
• New Trolls: Concerto Grosso N. 3 (The Seven Seasons). AER0182912. New Trolls latest album, with the original band's line up, featuring both Nico Di Palo & Vittorio De Scalzi, some 31 years after "Concerto Grosso n.2" !!!! This CD will be available in early July 2007.
• Nichelodeon: Il Gioco Del Silenzio. AMS169CD (2010). "The Game of Silence" is the 2nd album by this band, moving into dark avant-prog territories, theatrical atmospheres haunted by dark progressive harmonies but also noise-ethno-jazz influences. And first of all, let me remind all who do love a great voice: Claudio Milano's voice is one of the most beautifully expressive heard in recent times (for me since Alberto Piras). Within seconds he is able to shift register or spring octaves like mad! Like all talented musicians with a voice, he doesn't consider it as just this, he sees it as an instrument or the extension of his body and soul; this aspect is even more noticeable on this 2nd album, compared to the first, as he on some tracks plays a percussive voice, perfectly integrated to the other instruments and adding either a colour or some effect to the whole!
  In addition to the CD, a DVD titled “Come sta Annie? Twin Peaks 20th anniversary show” has also been released. Recorded during a live performance at the Bloom club in Mezzago (Italy), it collects part of the repertoire of the group in some ill-tempered interpretations and the soundtracking of the last episode of “Twin Peaks”, the popular serial drama by David Lynch, whose twentieth anniversary is hereby celebrated. It is also a multi media project in that it presents the cooperation of painter Ambra Rinaldo, performing all the while, and several video makers accompanying the songs of Nichelodeon with their images.
  
• Nichelodeon: Cinemanemico. Self release. Street date: 13/07/09
  
  Claudio Milano is probably for most of you a new name on the Italian musical scene. He is a songwriter for theatre productions and the present CD was actually recorded live during a performance of the piece "The Room Plays What I Cannot See" in late 2007. The music played here could be described on many ways but is first of all a perfect vehicle for Milano's voice, one of the best I've heard newly from this part of the world: warm, rich in technical details, from sudden octave shifts to yodling reminding of the late Demetrio Stratos or a wide vibrato and velvet falsetto. The absence of rhythm section (no drums, no bass) force in fact to bring the focus back to his voice and multi facetted expression; the rhythm will have to be found mainly in the diction or the often arpeggiated piano playing of Maurizio Fasoli; his piano brings forth an acoustic feel very close to modern chamber music with here and there atonal touches; if he's the ying, then the yang is provided by the haunting guitar playing of Francesco Zago and the effectfull synths of Riccardo Di Paola; electric in contrast to the acoustic piano, they are heavily responsible for all tensions brought in the music, from dark sustained tones to avant garde like electronic blips and blurps (Di Paola is in fact mostly known as an avant-jazz player). Let's also remind you that both Zago and Fasoli are coming from the much acclaimed avant-prog outfit Yugen. One thing I hope will be fixed at release time will be to have (maybe in a booklet) an English translation of the Italian texts used; some are already sung or read in English (taken from works by the Italian writer Pellegrino Artusi) but having a complete control over the word would certainly add a dimension and allow the listener to better apprehend their relation to the music! This album is a first shot and will mainly appeal to people who appreciate the voice in all its possible and subtle meanders; it also has a falsely minimalistic character that could interest those digging this genre or experimental avant garde; seeing it performed on stage would certainly be the best so what about a DVD?


• Nicosia & C. Industria Musicale: Una favola vera. VM125CD. AMS papersleeve series. Named after their leader, guitarist Nuccio Nicosia, Industria Musicale were formed in 1972 with an unusual 12-piece line-up including a full horn section. Based in Piemonte, their sound was a mixture of melodic pop, rock, prog and jazz, strongly characterized by the heavy use of brass instruments. Their sole album "Una Favola Vera", released by Fonit in 1973, is a unique example of orchestral prog rock in the Italian scene and an interesting listening. It includes eight tracks, four of which are instrumental. Some similarities with Showmen (or their later incarnation Napoli Centrale) can be heard in the melodic vocal parts and the use of horns, but the sound is very rich and definitely jazz-styled in the solo interludes, much in the same direction as some foreign groups like Blood Sweat and Tears or even Chicago Transit Authority in their lighter side. Many of the group members remained in the music scene after the album. This edition includes 2 bonus tracks.
• Vittorio Nocenzi: Estremo Occidente (0197612AER). 2009. Nine new compositions for pianoforte by the maestro Vittorio Nocenzi (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso). The tunes are inspired by 9 esagramms from "I Ching". "I Ching" are something esoteric and apparently accidental, therefore the recordings looked for the same feeling. Only three takes for each track. Vittorio adopts also a strange technique: he keeps the piano pedal pressed longer than the usual to let the listener get strange sensations, as if someone listens from the coda of the pianoforte. A great work by one of the most important Italian musicians.
• Nodo Gordiano: Flektogon. AMS 162CD. 2009. After their successful debut dated 1999 and the rather experimental and improvised "Alea" from 2005, "Flektogon" is surely the magnum opus of this band hailing from Rome. Their spooky, dark and complex, yet pretty dreamy progrock has an irresistible hypnotic edge that catches the listener from the very beginning. Besides some shorter tracks, the most outstanding moment of this record is the 30 minute long psych-opus "Avventure di mastarna", a progressive firework in which the music develops its very different moods while keeping a regular pattern and taking the listener on an adventurous and never boring musical trip.
• Nosound: sol29. Giancarlo Erra, band's leader and multi-instruments player, seems to be Steven Wilson playing the first Porcupine Tree albums... the same fantastic atmospheres with hypnotic keyboards and fluid guitars... an incredible trip!
• I Numi: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard (AMS117). Reissue. This band from Pavia, formed around 1967 from the ashes of local beat groups, only released an album in 1971 for the small Polaris label (the same as I Teoremi). Alpha Ralpha Boulevard nowadays is considered a minor Italian prog classic , is housed in a very nice cover, while music is song-based, with soft and dreamy atmospheres and good lyrics by composer Guido Bolzoni. He had worked with some important names of the Italian pop music (like Mina).
• Nuvoleincanto: Non Per Un Dio (Ma Nemmeno Per Gioco). Oct. 09. Not absolutely progressive in a musical sense (but the lyrics are!), we put this album here for two reasons. First, this is a tribute album to the nearly sanctified author-singer Fabrizio De André. Secondly you will find on guitar and keyboards no less than the great Gigi Venegoni. 10 years after his death, De André still brings memories forth!
• N.Y.X.: Down In Shadows (ARTP 901). Here is a concept album, in the best tradition of the Italian progressive rock, which deals with betrayal and solitude in a surreal and haunting way. Seven tracks span from a really intense electric rock to melodic and acoustic tunes. This project was created by Danilo Abaldo and Walter F. and tries to gather together the classic progressive rock and the more futuristic trends. The two special guests play on the album: David Jackson, mostly remembered in sound and person as the famous saxophonist of Van der Graaf Generator and the Warr guitar specialist Trey Gunn, often appreciated as an innovative and creative bass player in the more recent incarnations of King Crimson


• Luca Olivieri: La Quarta Dimensione. AG Prod (AG 2/500). 2009. Born in Milano in 1968, Luca Olivieri offers here his new album consisting of 12 instrumental tracks. I never really fancied what the fourth dimension could be but I can tell you that as musician and multi-instrumentist, composer and arranger, Olivieri has already produced in the past original musics for various companies and theatres, as well as studied electronic music. There is no doubt that the present album has a strong filmic character and may be felt as close to some kind of minimalistic expression. Not because instruments are scarce - there are indeed plenty - but because of the consistent low tempi and drone like tonalities (which I do find too monotonous after a few tracks of the same vein), small melodies of an insisting hypnotic nature. So if you are excited by quiet and rather dreamy atmospheres, there are plenty of goods here: excellent sound production and stereo field (especially the low panned Fender Rhodes), perfect placement and recording of the instruments, fresh waves of a folky nostalgic accordion swirling here and there; even when el guitar and drums occasionally appear, the music refuses to take off and remains as quiet as before, which to me sounds a bit strange and frustrating. More variation would have been appreciated. If you like things that move, don't stop here! Oh yes, a few guests show up and among them are musicians from the band Yo Yo Mundi, with whom Olivieri already had worked with in the past.
• Orange Shading Starlight: S/T. Released by W-Records in a 500 copies limited gatefold LP edition. Distributed by Black Widow Records. Orange Shading Starlight is the first Wicked Minds' official side project. The album is an instrumental jam where the band developes all its power and experiment some interesting possibilities! Of course we have on guitar and devices Lucio Calegari, Paolo "Apollo" Negri on synthesizers and electric pianos (yes, no Hammond this time!), Enrico Garilli on deep, deeeeeep bass and Andrea Concarotti on drums (this was his last recording before leaving the band).
• Orchestra Panica: Journey to Devotion. Lizard CD 0065. 2010. New project coming from Luca Vicenzi (guitars) and Francesco Agostini (keyboards, programming). Psychedelia, Steve Reich minimalism and Miles Davis electric jazz are the main influences.
• Osanna & David Jackson: Prog Family. AMS 150CD. 2009. Legendary Osanna is back! With a new line-up but still representing the spirit that was always typical for the original band, but with a new, dynamic, innovative and passionate sound. David Jackson from Van Der Graaf Generator joined this project, becoming much more than a guest but a stable element of the band, contributing with a strong added value, and so did guest stars Gianni Leone (Balletto di Bronzo), David Cross (King Crimson), Tim Stevens, Lello Brandi and the other guests, who enriched the project with their talent and creativity, creating a true and deep-hearted homage to this historical band. Lino Vairetti knew how to gather a real "Prog family" rearranging Osanna's classic tunes keeping the vintage sound of the electric and acoustic guitars, synths as Mellotron and Hammond, and especially the flute and saxophone of David Jackson. The Cd also includes a stunning version of Theme One by Van Der Graaf Generator! Over 70 minutes of music, deluxe limited edition papaersleeve. The first 1000 copies come with a hand numbered and signed litography by Lino Vairetti!
• Mauro Pagani, the unforgettable violinist from PFM is again making the news with a new studio recording, "Domani". The brand new CD will be available as a normal edition and a limited digipack collectors edition with a 40-page booklet (in italian I guess).
• Mauro Pagani: Sogno di una Notte d'Estate (1981). The second album by ex-PFM violinist Mauro Pagani is finally available for the first time ever on CD! Pagani wrote the soundtrack for this theatre musical. Released by Vinyl Magic (VM 095)
• Pangea: Invasori. AMS-Vinyl Magic (AMSLP02). Deluxe LP. This is a conceptual album with 10 tracks put together into 2 long suites, some long instrumental and much elaborated parts, Italian lyrics. It's spacey progressive music with some pop hints too. It was out on Philips in 1976 but only in promotional form and without a cover! It comes today in gatefold cover, obviously new artwork, great sound and is limited to 500 copies that will sell-out very fast! €17,50.
• Pensiero Nomade: Tempi Migliori. AMS 161 CD. 18/09/09. New effort from Salvo Lazzara, on vacation from Germinale. Salvo plays here guitars, basses and double electric bass, loops and samples; he has with him another colleague from Germinale, flutist Alessandro Toniolo and drummer Davide Guidoni (among other from Taproban); the music is a melting pot of new acoustic music, acoustic jazz and folk prog, sustained by a new impulse of more dynamic intentions. An album for relaxed but serious listeners, with a sense of deep lightness, somewhere inbetween Mauro Pagani and Hostsonaten
• Pensiere Nomade: Per Questi Ed Altri Naufragi (2007). AMS 119CD. This is the debut solo CD of former Germinale member Salvo Lazzara (guitar, bass and bassoon, stick). Germinale released 4 CD’s between 1994 and 2005 before splitting last year. Salvo Lazzara’s brand-new instrumental CD is an excellent and refined piece of work. It reminds the mellower and intimate side of the acclaimed Germinale sound, but with influences of David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri. A must not only for Germinale fans, but especially for lovers of dreamy, pastoral, laid-back and atmospheric sounds, highlightning a melancholic and lush approach to Mediterranean traditions, but always keeping a complex and adventurous structure.
• The 3rd album by the Italian group Periferia Del Mondo should be released in May 2006. This band is featuring woodwind player Alessandro Papotto, today member of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. The album should be released on the Electromantic label
• Perizona Express: Ora e' sempre. Lizard CD0043. Official debut CD for this experienced Italian ensemble. A journey into psychedelic-prog world with memories of the hard-psych-space rock played by Hawkwind.
• PFM: Amico Faber. Edel (0206504AER). 2CD+DVD. Feb. 2011. For those who'd like to resume their knowledge of one of the top names of Italian prog, this package is rightly priced and could be a good choice; the package contains the albums "PFM canta De Andrè" and "A.D.2010 - La Buona Novella" (still their latest output to this date), a 16 pages booklet with unpublished photos and 3 prints by Guido Harari
• PFM: A.D.2010 La Buona Novella Opera Apocrifa. Edel / Aerostella 0204902AER-CD (2010). Celebrating the 40th birthday of Fabrizio De André's album (La Buona Novella), PFM decided to read again the whole record with new arrangements and new music parts written right for this anniversary edition, incorporated in each of the original tunes and thus refreshing their story with new sounds, ballads or choral solos. A new PFM album or a new De André? It's up to you to listen and decide! Also released as 2LP.
• PFM! All albums originally released on the Manticore label have been recently remastered and reissued with plenty of bonus tracks. Here are the details:
  + 29/03/10 Photos of Ghosts (MANTCD 1006) + 6 bonus tracks (instrumental mixes, first mixes, unreleased single edit of "Celebration")
  + 29/03/10 The World Became The World (MANTCD 1005) + 3 bonus tracks (UK single version of "La Carrozza di Hans", unreleased single edit of "Four holes in the Ground" and unreleased 1975 single version of "Celebration"
  + 30/04/10 Chocolate Kings (MANTCD 1008) + one entire bonus CD (Live At Nottingham University In 1976)
  + 29/03/10 Jetlag (MANTCD 1007) + 1 bonus track (Live At Nottingham University In 1976)
  
• Prog curiosity? Desperate marketing? The label Winter Shine Records offers today gathered on one CD both English and Italian versions of early PFM albums: Per Un Amico / Photos of Ghosts (WSRD-9294K) and L'Isola Di Niente / The World Became the World (WSRD-9295K). They include the band's history and the lyrics
• PFM: PFM Canta De Andrè (0195603AER). CD+DVD(2008). Remember PFM backing De André in 1979? Well, PFM strikes back and releases this wonderful DVD+CD, filmed and recorded during their 2007/08 tour.
• SONY / BMG announces the new studio album by PFM! The new album will be a CD + DVD, released in two different packagings. The title is "Stati di Immaginazione" and it should be available on November 24, 2006. The album is made of eight instrumental tracks. The DVD will probably be area 2 encoded and pal standard, but I will keep you informed as soon as I know more!
• Dracula! Brand new Opera Rock by PFM! Released by Sony / BMG (82876723062) who announced this product for delivery on October 14, 2005.This is THE new PFM studio album! The Italian prog-rock masters have composed the music for a rock opera dedicated to Dracula and to be staged in Rome's theater during the spring of 2006.
• PFM Live In Siena. Following the great DVD from the Japanese tour in 2002, Sony is now releasing a special limited edition of a CD + DVD based on a superb live recording by the historic Italian prog dinosaur at Siena's Piazza del Campo in August 2003. This incredible and very inspired concert from PFM's summer tour also reunites them with original member Mauro Pagani guesting on violin and duelling with Lucio Fabbri! A great event indeed also featuring another special guest in the person of the violin player Piero Pelù. Buy it now!

• Premiata Forneria Marconi, better known as PFM toured Japan in 2002 with an incredible success. The result can be heard and viewed as it has been released by Sony both as 2CD and DVD. The 2CD features 2 bonus tracks, one of them featuring the italian singing of a certain Peter Hammill.
  
• New soundtrack album by PFM member Flavio Premoli. "RIS - Delitti imperfetti" is the soundtrack of a very succesful action tv serial that has been broadcasted on italian national tv company RAI.
• Pop Villa Pamphili is a 2CD released in 2002 to celebrate the then called "Pop Festival" taking place in Rome. This festival was breeding all the major progressive bands to come and the CD is therefore a cheap and fantastic opportunity to discover the very productive italian progressive scene: Banco, PFM, Area, Perigeo, New Trolls, Acqua Fragile, Osanna, Il Volo, Napoli Centrale, Cervello, Pierrot Lunaire, Delirium and many more ….
• Picchio Dal Pozzo: A_Live. AltRock Productions (ALT011). Street date: 23/09/10. The recording of this concert, held on November 16th, 2008 and closing the AltrOck Festival, is a wonderful happening! It unites on stage two major spokesmen of the "Rock in Opposition" movement, PdP and Yugen, who here were in their very first live testings, having just released their first album a few monthes ago. What can one expect from such a union? Surely the fire and the flame, music without boundaries and a decapitating humour between the lines!
• Picchio Dal Pozzo: Abbiamo tutti i suoi problemi (1980). In the last decade the group's 2nd album was reissued briefly in Japan, then it disappeared again. A new remastered CD edition is now available (RERPDP). Copying no one, though there is some Frank Zappa influence - Picchio had a unique and highly developed style of composition that was not only out of step with it's own time but still sounds contemporary today. Highly composed and devoid of jazz phrasing and riffs with solos, this record achieves maximum musical effect with minimum instrumental means through close attention to timbre, dynamics and expressed tempi and a kind of deep complexity that sounds simple but changes with each listening. A lot of ideas subtly developed - rather than experimented with; a one-off classic.
• Postmeridiem: The Sun And The Blue (Lizard). 2009. Debut album by a new band leaning towards prog fusion and atmospheres full of charm and light. The keyboards have a major role in creating landscapes and colours helped by the classy work of bass-guitar-drums.
• Procession: Esplorare (ART 221). 35 years after this band was born, "Procession" are back with "Esplorare"...an album that has been played, recorded and produced today with the compositions of yesterday! The album includes all the tracks (but one) that were on the two records by Procession released in the '70s ("Fiaba" and "Frontiera") plus an unreleased track!

• Progressive Italia - Gli Anni '70. This is a seies of 6CDs boxsets dedicated to Italian prog (even pop). If the albums included are not all necessary (some of them have really a very minor interest for prog heads!), there are also real jewels, some appearing for the first time on CD (where you'll see a * listed). The boxsets are not especially luxurious, no booklets but all vital infos printed on the back side of the cardboard cover of each album. Here's the deal!
  
  + Vol. 1: Balletto di Bronzo: YS / De De Lind: Io Non So Da Dove Vengo / Jumbo: Vietato Ai Minori Di 18 Anni / Sensations’ Fix: Portable Madness* / Latte e Miele: Passio Secundum Mattheum / Mauro Pelosi: Al Mercato Degli Uomini Piccoli*
  + Vol. 2: Locanda Delle Fate: Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più / Sensations’ Fix: Finest Finger / Ibis: Ibis / Roberto Cacciapaglia: Sei Note In Logica (*) / G. Vivaldi/P.Minieri: Carnascialia (*) / Stradaperta: Maida Vale (*)
  + Vol. 3: Jumbo: S/T / Billy Gray: Feelin' Gray*. Gray was the guitarist in the band The Trip. / Sensations’ Fix: Boxes Paradise* / Tritons: Satisfaction / Toni Esposito: La Banda del Sole* / Mauro Pelosi: S/T
  + Vol. 4: Ibis: Sun Supreme / Jumbo: DNA / Madrugada: S/T* / Sensations' Fix: Fragments of Light / Mauro Pelosi: La Stagione per Morire* / Latte E Miele: Papillon
  + Vol. 5: Claudio Pascoli: Naifunk* / Maurizio Arcieri: Trasparenze* / Sensations' Fix: Flying Tapes* / Claudio Dentes: Pantarei* / Mauro Pelosi: Il Signore Dei Gatti* / Madrugada: Incastro
  + Vol. 6: Franco Falsini: Cold Nose* / Maurizio Fabrizio: Movimenti Nel Cielo* / Pangea: Invasori / Carlo Siliotto: Ondina* / Pueblo: S/T / Sensations' Fix: S/T*
  + Vol. 7: Maurizio Fabrizio: Azzurri Rizzonti* / Francesco Messina: Medio Occidente* / Latte E Miele: Papillon (English Version)
  Gino D’Eliso: Santi ed Eroi* / Ermanno de Biagi: L’Albero della Pazzia* / Saro Liotta: La Seduzione*
  + Vol. 8: Gens: Gens / Mario Panseri: Sulla Spiaggia D’inverno* / Maurizio Fabrizio: Primo* / Gianni Bonfiglio: Luci Spente a
  Testaccio* / I Nuovi Angeli: Stasera Clowns* / La Stanza della Musica: S/T*
  
  
• Prophexy: Alconauta (UKD027). After opening for some major prog acts in Italy and having released some demos, including the tribute to King Crimson for Mellow Records, here is finally the first complete CD by this promising band from Bologna. Prophexy play what they call "pro-aggressive music", so be prepared for rather aggressive, hard edged and pretty complex sounds, though this is definitively not sheer prog metal. Closest comparisons that come to our mind are a sort of more evil Deus Ex Machina or even Gecko's Tear or Garden Wall.
• Quelli: "Same".Brand new reissue for this pre-PFM band! Quelli was the founding core of PFM in the late sixties, with drummer Franz Di Cioccio, guitarist Franco Mussida and several other gifted musicians. Now available in a brand new reissue in double CD format, priced as a single disc!
• Quasar Lux Simphoniae: Synopsis (2010). Lizard ART 073. This is not only classical, operatic and melodic in quiet and fierce waves as we know it from the band, this is also their best production until now. The band describes in their nice artworked booklet: an "evolution with a special emphasis on the past styles". Starting with an instrumental rock fugue, the album also includes a 15 minutes long epic, based on the biblic character Moses.
• Quasiviri: The Mutant Affair. Megaplomb. This is the debut album by an Italian epic-prog trio, struggling with synths, 8-string bass, drums and great big voices. Discovered newly but already released in June 2009!
• Sony releases on LP the sole album by I Quelli, a group that everyone will recognize as they are the forerunner of PFM, evolving from beat and moving towards prog-rock. An absolute must for any PFM collector!
• Alberto Radius: Please my guitar (2004) - COM 151 CD. Brand new solo album and 10 new tunes composed by the talented italian guitarist and ex-Formula Tre axeman Alberto Radius!
• Randone: Linea Di Confine (ARTPQ 1112). 2009. The sicilian band is back with a new concept album based on the self-penned book by Nicola Randone
• Randone: Hybla. Electromantic ART 416. Brand new album by this progressive group from Sicily. "Hybla" is a long prog suite dedicated to the city destroyed by an earthquake.
• Reale Accademia Di Musica: Tempo Senza Tempo (DEDL 22641). New album by an old band that never quite was considered as a real prog outfit, being too close to pop and songwriting styles. The new album will not change this, we're not quite in prog land but many elements in the music are taken from prog (keyboards sounds for ex.) and this time we're neither close to pop. Instead we're heading towards a much atmospheric and melodic hybrid with an excellent sound and workout that holds the road. A remote morphed ghost of Jon & Vangelis, if you need a bit of a comparison and if I say this, I do it just because of the sequenced parts and the hypnotic dreamy quality! The rest is up to you!
• Reale Accademia Di Musica: Il Linguaggio Delle Cose (DEDL21537). An unexpected but welcome comeback by this Italian prog band that has released two classics back in the seventies. Still led by songwriter Adriano Monteduro, tough this is not a 100% prog CD, it has has many reminiscences of the group's second album, with a predominace of beautiful songs with soft rock and folkish arrangements, while Adriano Monteduo's voice has even got better aging.
• The Red Zen: Void. Ma.Ra.Cash Records (MRC 023 CD). Fe. 2011. 54 minutes of evil choppy rhythms, guitars and keyboards for an album which is a mix of progressive rock and fusion, influenced by artists such as Return To Forever, Genesis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Ozric Tentacles, and so on.
• Paolo Ricca Group: Volcano (TJRS&F 006). 2nd album for the Electromantic label.
• Riddle: S/T. LP 004. Brand new debut album by an interesting Italian prog band. Debut CD with 11 instrumental tracks of experimental progressive rock influenced by the 80's version of King Crimson. The work of Riddle's lead guitarist is very similar to Robert Fripp.
• Ripper:The Dead Have Rizen (2009) (BWR 111 CD/LP). Texas horror-metal monsters Ripper have come alive with a vengeance, and a new album entitled "The Dead Have Rizen", the long awaited sequel to 1986’s "And The Dead Shall Rise".
• Claudio Rocchi. Both ”Non Ce n'e' Per Nessuno” (79) and ”A Fuoco” (77) are now rereleased by EDEL (a Cramps license) as digipack remastered versions.
• Wonderful release! for all collectors of Italian prog. Rock Progressivo Italiano: The Complete Discography, written by Paolo Barotto and Marco D'Ubaldo (AMK 5003) is a brand new deluxe hardcover book about Italian progressive rock !!! This new volume includes complete discographies for all artists and groups. Many new entries and weird, obscure Italian prog bands rare discographies are mentioned in this new book, packaged in an oversized cardboard outer cover including a sampler CD of Italian prog-rock best tracks from the Seventies: 15 famous tracks representing the Italian prog scene, with one track each by Osanna, Delirium, New Trolls, Quella Vecchia Locanda, Raccomandata Ricevuta di Ritorno, Area, Panna Fredda, Orme, Procession, Metamorfosi, Genco Puro & Co. Osage Tribe, Libra, Cherry Five and Motowns. The book features reproductions in full color of hundreds of original LP and singles covers, plus rarity ratings, plus rare magazine covers of Ciao 2001 from the Seventies and text in Italian and English
• Rohmer: S/T. AMS 141 CD (2008). Rohmer is a project born from Boris Valle (piano) and Fabio Zuffanti (bass, electronics), founder member of Finisterre, one of the most important Italian progressive group of the last 15 years. Fabio and Boris has been joined by Agostino Macor (synthetizers, mellotron, electric piano, electronic, glockenspiel) and Mau Di Tollo (drums, percussion, guitars). Rohmer's music begins where Finisterre's "In limine" (1996) ends and continues its work between tradition and experimentation, mixing prog, ambient, electronic, postrock, contemporary, minimalism and jazz. So, if you loved those haunting, dreamy and yet catchy atmospheres you will fall in love with this shining little gem. Deluxe vinyl-replica packaging.
• Runaway Totem: Le Roi du Monde. Lizard (LZ 0075 CD). March 2011. After a musical life spanning 20 years and eight records, Runaway Totem reaches this new chapter. "Le Roi du Monde" has very high moments, enriched by the extraordinary presence of Modern Totem Ensemble (violin, cello, contrabass, flute, oboe, trumpet, vibraphone). The CD consists of 2 long suites (30 minutes long) and a short interplay.
• Runaway Totem: Ai Cancelli dell’Ombra (1994-2010). Lizard (LZ0011). Finally released, here's the live recording of the last concert Runaway Totem did in 1994 at the Teatro Albatros in Genova. The album, an ordered chaos that seems to channel the energy of the universe into music, will delight fans of Magma and is produced by Runaway Totem Records in co-production and collaboration with Lizard and Andromeda Relix Records.
• Runaway Totem: Manu Menes (2009). RTR GMG 01002/Lizard. This is the seventh album released by the mystical Italian combo. 3 long suites (above 20 minutes), obscure, esoteric and charming as usual. The Magma archetype is always present but mixed with female vocals, clarinet, flute and vibraphone. "Manu Menes" means "Cosmic Intelligence" !
• S.A.D.O.: Imprescindibile Momento Di Cultura Italiana. AMS174CD. 2009. SADO is back! In this performance the band brings one of its typical trademark to an extreme by playing weird cover versions of some well-known pieces of the Italian repertoire (among them songs by Dalton, Cugini di Campagna and Alan Sorrenti) but as always in their special way, mixing jazz-rock parts with more experimental avant-prog others!
• Saint Just's eponymous album is finally reissued on CD! Released by Akarma (AK1045), this debut album from 1973 proposes a kind of contemporary folk that draws inspiration from the Italian culture of past centuries, in particular the Middle Ages. In the vein of Pentangle, Third Ear Band, and Steeleye Span, these rarified atmospheres and the skillful use of instruments, (i.e. Robert Fix’s creative sax playing and Jenny Sorrenti’s sweetly provocative vocals) create fascinating moments of unmistakable mastery.
• Samadhi: S/T (VMLP124). New vinyl reissue with the original artwork, label replicas and remastered sound. See description below for the CD edition
• Senza Nome: S/T. (SN01CD). 2011. I wonder why this album, from 2008, went unnoticed! Hailing from Marino (a small town near Rome), they definitely have absorbed the lessons of the mighty Banco! The cloning is so strong that they at times find themselves at the very limit of becoming plagiators but they don't go beyond the limit and in fact show many other qualities that give their music a much enjoyable drive and strength: a healthy dose of melodic pathos, enhanced by thematic and rhythmic changes, a wonderful singing with meaningful lyrics, a careful choice of instrumental sounds and techniques (including virtual instruments). Add a video clip ending this CD and you're pretty close to defining an attractive debut album!
• Claudio Simonetti: Daemonia. Dario Argento Tribute Live in Los Angeles. CD + DVD. The CD part was already released by Sony in 2001 but has been added video clips this time. The DVD part is new.
• Sithonia: La Soluzione Semplice. Locanda del Vento (LDV004). 2011. The historical band from Bologna, among the protagonists of the new-prog scene of the 80's and 90's is back with a brand new album of unreleased tracks after 13 years from "Hotel Brun". And it's a great return, with sounds of the 70's, which has always been the Sithonia trademark. A lot of keyboards (piano, organ and mellotron), Genesis-alike intros, with more rock passages.
• SKE: 1000 Autunni. Fading Records (FAD 003). 2011. This is the first solo album by Paolo «Ske» Botta, keyboard player from Yugen and French TV. From these twelve tracks an unexpected compositional maturity comes out, able to alternate with great conviction different styles, from a more traditional sympho-prog (Gentle Giant, Genesis, Änglagård) to Canterbury and bolder avant-prog (Picchio dal Pozzo, Henry Cow, Hatfield and the North). The presence of various Yugen members (just to mention a few, Fasoli, Cipollone, Zago) confirm the «chamber rock» setting of the album; beside the unmistakable Botta’s vintage sounds (Hammond, Arp, Rhodes, mellotron, but with no retro complacency) you can find violin, harp, voice, reeds and woodwinds, percussions, and a sophisticated sound treatment.
• Alan Sorrenti: Aria. One more time reissued, this time on the label Water (water180CD). Originally released in 1972 on Harvest, it opens with the long title track, which occupied all of Side A of the original vinyl. It's a dreamy suite that starts with acoustic guitar, ends with a remarkable violin solo from future Mahavishnu Orchestra member Jean Luc Ponty
• Arturo Stalteri: Half Angels. Felmay (FY7131). Another great production from ex-Pierrot Lunaire member, a wonderful piano album... with Yasue Ito (violin), Laura Pierazzuoli (cello) and Pino Zingarelli (drums, percussions and electronics). A great album for Satie's lovers...but you can also hear Wim Mertens inspiration in it!!!!
• A new untraditional release from M.P. Records! A 2 tracks 7" composed by Arturo Stalteri, founding member of the progressive band Pierrot Lunaire; he is here featured on acoustic & sampled pianos, synthesizer and.....for the first time after the Pierrot Lunaire experience .... as singer! The single is released as a limited edition of 1.000 copies in clear vinyl! It has to be played at the same speed as LP's. MPRSIN049
• Arturo Stalteri: Early Rings - Compositions 1974-1975 (MPRCD046). This new release on MP Records is by the founder member of Pierrot Lunaire, now one of the most appreciated pianist for contemporary music; he has always confessed how he was charmed by Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" since he was a teenager and those early tracks were in fact composed just before the creation of Pierrot Lunaire. Those "old" tapes have been restored and remastered under the full supervision of Stàlteri and still gives the full flavour of the nordic saga and above all of progressive rock of an unforgettable era....... More over there is an absolute fantastic bonus track: a version for violin and piano of "After the Ordeal" from Genesis, by Arturo Stàlteri and Yasue Ito, a very talented young violinist from Japan, opened by "Before the Ordeal", a brand new track by Arturo Stàlteri. A nice supplement to his previous release from 2003 "Il Decimo Anello", also based on Tolkien's trilogy.
• Arturo Stalteri: ...e il Pavone Parlo' alla Luna. His 2nd solo album was released in 1983 (originally composed in 1979 during a trip to India and recorded between 1980 and 1981), after Pierrot Lunaire split. Remastered with a new sleeve (Digipack) by M.P. Records (licensed by Materiali Sonori), this work is the connecting point between the "progressive" past and the "avant-garde" future of the great Italian artist.
• Arturo Stalteri: Il Decimo Anello. This new release on the italian label Materiali Sonori is a concept album which stalteri had in mind for quite some time: an entire record dedicated to the fantasy world created by Tolkien. Special guests include Jenny Sorrenti & Arlo Bigazzi. The record is accompanied by a multimedia compilation (as has become usual for many recent Materiali Sonori releases) put together by Pier Luigi Andreoni with photos, video and three tracks.
• Steeo: Four Eyes in the Silence (2010). Electromantic (ARTPG 2111). Debut album by a new band of a clear undiscussed Floydian influence. All 3 "pinkfloydian eras" (the "barrett-era", the "Gilmour-era" and the "Waters-era" ), have been revisited, blended, re-interpreted and widened in a free and original way, to find the ideal soundscape for Steeo's composing work. The album is artistically produced by Beppe Crovella, who also contributes as a musician along with two more Arti & Mestieri members.
• Stereokimono: Primosfera. A young trio from Bologna playing a mix of prog and psych-rock.
• Demetrio Stratos: La Voce Stratos. DVD + Book. Electromantic. This DVD is a film by Luciano D’Onofrio and Monica Affatato, about one of the maybe best and most unique voices in the world, Demetrio Stratos, fantastic singer and charismatic personality in the band Area.
• Demetrio Stratos "Box". This new 5CD boxset from Area's singer documents one of the most important artists in the Italian musical panorama. These 5 albums (Cantare La Voce, Metrodora, Le Milleuna, Recitarcantando and Concerto All'Elfo ) span the career of the amazing vocalist who used his own voice as an instrument like few others had ever dared. 25 years later Demetrio's work is still extremely relevant, and he stands out as one of music history's true unique voices.
• Syndone: Melapesante. Electromantic (ARTPG2621). 2010. After 18 years, the band led by keyboardist Nik Comoglio is back! Comoglio is the only remaining member of the original trio and therefore the new quintet could be seen as a new group! The spirit and the typical sound of Syndone remain alive, but with a new ensemble compositional vision that refers to all the technical/expressive contributions and the artistic backgrounds of the individual musicians who are part of the new band: Federico Marchesano (bass and double-bass), Francesco Pinetti (vibraphone and timpani), Paolo Rigotto (drums and percussion), Riccardo Ruggeri (vocals), Comoglio taking himself charge of piano, Hammond, Moog, Rhodes and other keyboards. Produced by Beppe Crovella!
• Tagliapietra, Aldo: Unplugged 1/2. Trident (TRI 1156). 2011. Double CD unplugged for Le Orme lead vocalist and bass/guitar player; Aldo revisits old hits from the past as well as more recent songs from his solo career
• Three Monks: Neogothic Progressive Toccatas. Black Widow (BWR 132 CD). June 2011. This one will truly be a one of a kind in your progressive rock collection. The project is centered around the incredible pipe organ playing of Paolo Lazzeri , supported by a thundering bass/drums rhythm sections and little else. This album is a church organ purist's dream. The various tracks are inspired by baroque composers and stories of cathedrals and their huge, historic pipe organs: the liner notes give specific historical information into each track's inspiration, some human, some cathedrals and instruments. The music is incredibly heavy, vast, formal, and tinged with centuries of age. You feel as if you are walking into one of those centuries old European cathedrals and hearing the bombast of the ancient organ, yet it is swirled into often dizzying progressive rock pieces, thanks to bassist/engineer Maurizio Bozzi and drummers Roberto Bichi & Claudio Cuseri. One last thing about Paolo Lazzeri: his influences came from in-depth study of the music of composer Julius Reubke (1824-1858) and his enjoyment of the progressive rock of King Crimson & Van der Graaf Generator. You will not often meet this specific mixture and the result is worth getting the album!
• Ubi Maior: Senza Tempo (AMS160CD). 2009. 2nd album by this outfit. The giants of the 70's Italian prog rock are not the one and only reference anymore; yet the 2009 Ubi Maior sound remains powerful, with its strong, dark and symphonic atmospheres. The sound of the band is still vintage, based heavily on Hammond organ, mellotron and pianoforte with a hard-edge guitar lines.
• More about Gigi Venegoni: Ante Tilt. Electromantic AEMS 0983 CD. "Ante Tilt" is a collection of tracks realized by Gigi Venegoni between 1972 and 1973, before the classic progressive album "Tilt" by Arti & Mestieri was released. Giovanni Vigliar plays on this album too: he eventually became an Arti & Mestieri member. This CD features embrional versions of "Aliante" and "Gravità 9.81", two classic Arti compositions!
• Venegoni & Co: Planetarium. New release by this absolutely great band! Recorded and mixed in September-December 2006 at Dynamo Sound Studio, Turin, Italy. After 26 years, guitarist Gigi Venegoni decided to take the challenge up and work on a new album; the work took 11 monthes and is soon ready for release! Stay tuned!
• Void Generator: Phantom Hell And Soar Angelic (PH 01). 2011. This band from Rome offers a varied music that goes from 70's English progressive to other genres such as stoner, psychedelia and space rock. There are multiple influences: Pink Floyd, Van Der Graaf Generator, Gong, Hawkind, Porcupine Tree and Kyuss just to give the reader a better idea about the eclecticism of this band.
• Void Generator: We Have Found The Space (ANTAFF 01). 2011. Another release by the Roman band. The songs are characterized by hard and heavy metallic space rock 'n roll, blazing guitars, a solid rhythm section and trademark space rock electronics, all of which make for a tight and smoking quartet. The band excel at songcraft and cool lyrics, but also at creating a well structured balance between the core song and taking off into space, developing the instrumental segments and really jamming hard.
• The Watch: Timeless. Lizard LZ 0071. 19/02/11. The Watch are back with a new studio breakthrough: borrowing themes from Genesis's very first album "From Genesis to Revelation" and re-shaping them to create brand new songs bound to become classics. The Genesis connection is also reinforced by the guesting of John Hackett who joins the band with his flute on one track.
• The Watch: Planet Earth. Lizard 4003357. 2010. 4th album by this Italian *Genesis clone* band. Melodies, energy and 70's classic progressive rock atmospheres are the main focus of the opus. The search for unusual harmonies has been a main goal for the band in this album. Pure classic 70's sound obtained using original instruments (not sampler) like the real mellotron, the Hammond organ, moog synthesizers, flute and 12 strings guitars.
• The Watch: Live. 7 tracks recorded during the band's 2008 European tour. The long awaited live will be released in the first days of December, right when a new tour 2009 is starting.
• The Watch: Primitive. Lizard (LZ CD 0051. It consists of seven tracks for a total of about 48 minutes. Primitive is a step forward to what the audience have been already used to: an extensive use of vintage keyboards ( Mellotron M400, Moog, Organs & Arp Solina, Arp Omni & MK1 Synthesizers) plunged in a modern fairy atmosphere. Nature, love and friendship are the main issues tackled in this new album. As before the lyrics are often plunged in unreal atmospheres.
• Wicked Minds: Visioni, Deliri e Illusioni. Black Widow BWR 136-2 CD. June 2011. Again and again Wicked Minds confirm their brilliant attitude to a perfect 70's feeling but this time, even if they are usually considered most influenced by bands such as Uriah Heep and Deep Purple, they play a tribute to 70's Italian Prog, not a standard tribute but a real challenge against themselves, trying to find the perfect compromise between their own style and the original essence of the tracks they interpret with the help of some of the best names in Italian prog: Lino Vairetti (Osanna), Martin Grice (Delirium), Sophya Baccini (who sings New Trolls and Circus 2000 songs), Aldo Tagliapietra (Le Orme), Antonio Bartoccetti (Dietro Noi Deserto, Antonius Rex, Jacula), Stefano “Lupo” Galifi (Museo Rosenbach)... an ambitious work which will not disappoint all 70's prog fans, a great music party which let you dive in the best pages of 70's Italian Prog.
• Witchfield: Sleepless (BWR 112 CD/LP). New musical project involving the former drummer of Death SS and bass player of Paul Chain; the music shows influence of both metal and psychedelic as well as progressive reminiscences
• Yugen: Labirinto d'Acqua (2006). ALT001. Long awaited debut album for this group of international musicians. And surely one of the best things having come in 2006! This is instrumental music with roots in the RIO sound like Univers Zero but also with a biting rock edge. Surprisingly, one of the originators of the project is guitarist Francesco Zago, former guitarist of Genesis-influenced band The Night Watch. But here the music is far from symphonic rock, even if classical prog instruments like the mellotron can be heard. The compositions are complex and much written, leaning to contemporary classical music and with an omnipresent chamber feel. The work on the sound is BIG! and splendid, thanks to the presence of the invisible member Udi Koomran (which you probably have already met at work on other projects like the Belgian band Present or 5UU's or the Israeli band Sympozion). The dynamic is incredible, even more pathetic when Udi adds to it his sound treatments, the instrumentation rich and varied and what about a blast when you take a look at the cast of enthusiasts who sweat hard on the project: Markus Stauss (Überfall, Ulterior Lux ...), Dave Kerman (Thinking Plague, Present), Peter Schmid (Evan Parker), Tommaso Leddi (Stormy Six)... A must for lovers of strong dangerous sonic adventures!!
• Yugen Plays Leddi: Uova Fatali. Altrock ALT005CD. 2008. The 2nd album by the European collective is in the can! As implied in the title, Tommaso Leddi's (member of Stormy Six) compositions are this time highlighted, as well as new players enter ( Valerio Cipollone on clarinets and sopran sax), other leave (Markus Stauss & Peter Schmid, Dave Kerman), plenty of guests appear, new instrumental colours are added (accordion, oboe). One more time challenging their audience but themselves as well, Yugen delivers a complex body of quirky orchestral arrangements that are the fruits of a long work of love and passion!
• Zaal: Onda Quadra. AMS 188. 2010. Second effort by Agostino Macor's band. The brilliant keyboard player of La Maschera di Cera, Finisterre, LaZona and Rohmer develops its unique and outstanding instrumental approach, somewhere in between prog and jazz, with tunes that are complex, yet dreamy. In this project Agostino is free to develop his unique talent for hypnotic, catchy and complex tunes with an unique and cool laid-back feeling.
• Zauber: S/T. MU (MU104). Deluxe LP. This is their brilliant, impossible to get first album, from 1978. It was a 500 units pressing, locally distributed by the small label MU. It's a truly fantastic album whose sound is compared to Pierrot Lunaire and the album features 7 nice songs with acoustic guitar, keyboards and a strong use of flute. This wonderful, very very rare album had never been reissued on vinyl before, so this is a very welcome release for all Italian progressive lovers. Label's replica, 180g vinyl and with the original printed inner sleeve.
• Zauber: Draghi e Vampiri. EDC 2369. Zauber is back with this new self produced CD after 5 years since "Profondo Blu", their last work. Seven new songs and three covers of classic tracks by Banco, Gravy Train & Lucio Battisti
• Zitta Ensemble: Volume 2 (LIZARDCD 0059). Following the first volume (2006) and "Quintet Sessions" (2007), here are now 7 instrumental tracks for more than 70 minutes of acid-psych-rock assaults, spooky landscapes spotted with Rhodes piano allucinations, jazz-rock disgressions. "Volume 2" ia a long breath-taking voyage (maybe a crazy run?), with all the acid evanescent colors from the guitar of Luca Vicenzi, the dynamic of Fabio Gatti 's drums and the bass of Marco Fortuna, enriched by the keyboards of Francesco Agostoni.
• Zitta Ensemble: Volume 1. This is the debut album of a very young group of musicians coming from Capo di Leuca, near Lecce, in Puglia - South Italy. Their music is always alternating: a dreamy, drunken violoncello, then a choir of mermaids, a trombone in Canterbury style, some sampling, then new wave, post rock and mobile phones come in... without any time and space references.
• Zuffanti, Fabio: La Foce del Ladrone (SPIRALS0014 CD). Available from May 10th 2011. After a career of 17 years and various projects with which he has explored many different musical genres, the leader of Finisterre has felt the need to engage himself in a work of real own songs and comes out with a pop album! Well in fact, Zuffanti pays homage to an Italian icon who influenced him already as a young boy: Franco Battiato! The tracks are crossed with a charming blend of an hypnotic world, prog, a Wyatt-like dreamy music that has always characterized Zuffanti's solo music and some atmospheres that were in the air in Italy in the early '80s, creating a sound that is revealed at the end as original, adventurous and new.
• Fabio Zuffanti: S/T (AMS155CD). March 2009 will see the release of Zuffanti's first solo album! He has composed, arranged, played, recorded and produced the whole CD on its own. Only the mixing work has been done at the Zerodieci studios. Zuffanti solo's music is a mix of electronica, songwriter, post-rock, psychedelia and lots of other influences. It contains moods between dream and reality, infuenced by a lot of non-musical factors such as snow, asphalt, rain, mud, wardrobes, fallen leaves, stones, strange novels and the soul of earthquakes...




.... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels ....



• Releases from the prog italian label MELLOW RECORDS:
  
  - DORACOR: La Vita Che Cade (MMP522). 09/09/11. New symphonic prog album!
  - LA COSCIENZA DI ZENO: S/T (MMP 521). 2011. Combining lightweight and elegant symphonic prog to hard-rock, drawing from and restructuring the lessons of the renowned Italian prog, this album is a work that immediately shows its success while it grows on you listening after listening, gradually revealing the rewarding complexity of its construction, an undeniable sign of technical skill, a surprising maturity and original taste. The songs all enclose the passion for progressive, hard rock and symphonic music and it’s a spontaneous stream of emotions and melodies.
  - PROWLERS: Sogni in una Goccia di Cristallo (MMP 520). 2011. The return of the classic symphonic progressive rock by Prowlers, one the pioneers of 90's Italian prog. Many vintage keyboards and a fantastic female voice make this album one of the surprises of 2011
  - DORACOR: Onirika (2007) MMP 495. 6th and best album to date by this new Italian prog band close to a Genesis style.
  - NOTABENE: Sei Lacrime d'Ambra (2007) MMP 496. 2nd album by one of the new Italian progressive revelations of the last years.
  - AARDVARK: Tuntematon Sotilas. MMP 487. New album by finnish prog band
  - NOTABENE: S/T (2005). MMP 486. Debut release by this new Italian prog band! A mix of old Italian progressive of the 70's (Balletto, Rovescio della Medaglia, Banco) with a touch of Yes and Deep Purple! Great musicianship with an incredible violin player.
  - YLECLIPSE: Opus. MMP 485. 3rd album for this new italian progressive band coming from Sardinia. Mellow Records
  - NODO GORDIANO: Alea (MMP 484). 2nd album by this Italian prog band influenced by King Crimson but this time the focus is on analog keyboards/synths and the music gets a more spacy electronic touch than on the previous one.
  - DORACOR: Evanescenze. MMP483. Brand new fifth album. Mellow Records MMP 483
  - ARIES: S/T (MMP479). A new supergroup led by the famous Fabio Zuffanti with a fantastic female vocalist and a deep italian symphonic sound
  - GROUP THERAPY: Nightmare in the college (2006). MMP 478. Latest album by this very interesting jazz-rock band from Japan, whose leader Hiroyuki Hitada sadly passed away in the beginning of 2006. Release planned for July 2006.
  - HOSTSONATEN: Springtides. Brand new CD with a collection of rare and unreleased Hostsonaten tracks from 1992-2002 selected by Fabio Zuffanti. MMP475.
  - GOAD: The Wood (dedicated to H.P. Lovecraft). This is the Italian new progressive best kept secret! Goad is a band active since the 80's and they released many private CD that never sold outside Italy. Goad is deeply involved with the progressive music of the Seventies (Procol Harum, Genesis, Pink Floyd), their brand new album will be a pleasant revelation for everybody. MMP474
  - FUNGUS: Careful! Debut album for this promising new italian band, deeply involved with psychedelic sounds (with reference to Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd and even Ozric Tentacles) and with a very good female vocalist reminding of Gong. Fungus could very well be the new italian revelation for psyched minds! MMP 473
  - ZAAl: La Lama Sottile (MMP 469). Another brand new fine side-project CD by the prolific and skilled Fabio Zuffanti, bass player and singer for Finisterre.
  - MARY NEWSLETTER: L'Attenzione Debole (MMP 468). Their 3rd album
  - GARDEN WALL: Towards The Silence (MMP 463). Less metallic than their previous "Forget The Colours" this album will surprise many adventorous listeners.
  - GROOVECTOR: Darklubing at Tavastia (MMP462). Live album from 2001-02
  - TAPROBAN: Outside Nowhere (MMP 461). 2nd release by this keyboard oriented band.
  - THE LETTERS / An Unconventional Italian Guide to King Crimson.
  (MMP 460 A/B/C). This 3CD boxset, a tribute to King Crimson features many talented italian prog bands, including Greenwall, Germinale, Ubi Maior, Malibran, Spirosfera, Taproban, Psychonoesis, Jet Lag, Floating State, Notturno Concertante, Caboto, Nodo Gordiano, Area Palea and many more... Most of the King Crimson classic tracks are included here. Each KC era is represented in this fantastic tribute: from the late Sixties to the late Ninenties, with great covers of : Frame by frame, Cat food, Discipline, One more red nightmare, The Sailor's tale, One time, Lark's tongues in aspic I and II, The Great Deceiver, Starless, Formentera Lady, Epitaph, Pictures of a city, Prince Rupert Awakes, Exiles, In the Court of the Crimson King, Red, Fracture, Lament, and more...
  - EDHELS: Saltimbanques. French Progressive band reissued. MMP459
  - CRISTIANO ROVERSI: The park. MMP458
  - MALIBRAN: Strani Colori. MMP456. New CD by the Italian prog group from Sicily, including 14 rare tracks from 1989 to 2002! - AZAZELLO: Wings. MMP452. Russian band, influenced by Dream Theatre
  - APOGEE: On The Aftertaste. Brand new album for this german prog band linked with Versus X. MMP 450
  - PHILIPPE GRANCHER: 3000 Miles Away (1977). CD reissue of Philippe Grancher's 1977 album, originally issued on the Pole label. Comparable to Vangelis or Clearlight, this recording is mostly made of instrumental music, piano and synthesizers. MMP449
  - SCARLET THREAD: Psykedeelisia Joutsenlauluja. MMP448
  - ALTAIR: 3 (live 2000). Third album for this great spanish new progressive band, recorded live in Barcelona in May 2000. This is instrumental-classical-progressive-keyboards-rock with ELP or Triumvirat as primary influences, plus a touch of Genesis and jazz/rock. MMP445
  - NOTTURNO CONCERTANTE: Transparent Music. MMP 444 - YLECLIPSE: Prime substance. MMP441
  - X RELIGION: Dances of the Gobelins. 2nd release of this band from Uzbekhistan with Vitaly Menshikov (yes, the one and only from the Progressor website) on bass. MMP440
  - THE GIANT HOGWEED ORCHESTRA: S/T (MMP439). Newcomers from Finland discovered by Mellow Records. Completely instrumental, they travel somewhere between space rock, prog, psychedelia and some hints of post rock.
  - TILION: Insolitariamente. MMP438
  - ONZA: Zona Crepuscolar. MMP437
  - THE FAR SIDE: Parallelebipedo. MMP434
  - LAZONA: Le Notti Difficili. MMP433
  - ANCESTRY: Discendenze. MMP 430
  - ZAQ: Zaq. MMP427
  - DJORDJE ILIJIN: Zabrabjeno Prisluskivanje. (solo project from the leader of ex yugoslavian band Tako) MMP426
  - GARDEN WALL: Forget The Colors. MMP425
  - OUTSIDE: Freedom. MMP423
  - MOON FOG PROPHET: Taunting Tin Bells. MMP420
  - SUBMARINE SILENCE: S/t. MMP419
  - OVERHEAD: Zumanthum. MMP416
  - EDHELS: Saltimbanques. French progressive band. MMP459
  - FREE WAVE SYSTEM: Nonostante tutto. 70's album re-issued. MMP410
  - MAHOGANY BRAIN: With/Without. MMP402
  
  
• Italian Prog papersleeve reissues from Sony/BMG! A new batch of releases is planned for May 31th 2011. Here's the list:
  
  Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: Io Sono Nato Libero (886979214323)
  I Dik Dik: Suite per una Donna Assolutamente Relativa (88697924062)
  Flea: Flea on the Honey (82876659342)
  Festa Mobile: Diario di Viaggio della Festa Mobile (88697922692)
  Formula 3: Dies Irae (88697922672)
  Nuova Idea: In the Beginning (82876641232)
  Osanna: Suddance (886979228528)
  Perigeo: Abbiamo Tutti un Blues da Piangere (886979214521)
  Premiata Forneria Marconi: Per un Amico (886979214224)
  Claudio Rocchi: La Norma del Cielo (Volo Magico 2) (82876637412)
  Claudio Rocchi: Volomagico (88697922652)
  Sangiuliano: Take Off (886979226821)
  The Trip: S/T (828766303124)
  Il Volo: Essere o Non Essere (88697922702)
  
  Another batch was already delivered in February, as follows:
  
  Acqua Fragile: Mass Media Star (88697853642)
  Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso (88697853662)
  Capitolo 6: Frutti Per Kagua (88697853622)
  Cervello: Melos (88697853602)
  Museo Rosenbach: Zarathustra (88697853632)
  Nuova Idea: Clowns (88697853652)
  Pfm: Storia Di Un Minuto (88697853682)
  Quella Vecchia Locanda: Il Tempo Della Gioia (88697853672)
  Alberto Radius: S/T (88697853612)
  Rovescio Della Medaglia: Contamination (88697853692)
  
  

Papersleeve releases from Vinyl Magic / AMS

• Alluminogeni: Scolopendra. VM121CD. The album, from 1973, is very well made, mainly based on Hammond organ and other keyboards, with good instrumental parts
• Alusa Fallax: Intorno Alla Mia Cattiva Educazione (1974) VMCD 103. New superbe reissue of Alusa Fallax's progressive album from 1974. It includes a detailed 20 pages booklet with original LP labels, vintage photos and promo posters and a long long interview with their keyboards player!
• Area: Gli dei se ne vanno (VMLP142). This is the 7th release (1978), which has never been reissued on vinyl before! The record contains some good progressive songs and some close to free-jazz as well. Gatefold cover, label replicas and 180 Gr. vinyl.
• Baffo Banfi: Galaxy my dear. VMCD099. 1978 solo album reissue by Biglietto per L'Inferno keyboards player "Baffo" Banfi. Electronic keyboards influenced by Klaus Schulze, including one bonus track. Deluxe papersleeve CD edition, gatefold cardboard cover, detailed booklet with vintage photos and original LP labels.
• Luciano Basso: Cogli Il Giorno (AMS142CD). First CD release for the ultra-rare second work (78) by acclaimed keyboardist Luciano Basso. As usual a great instrumental work, mostly unknown, underrated and of course very rare in its original LP form. Musically it is the usual and great blend of classical-influenced progressive music and avant-garde, just as its stunning debut "Voci". Among the guest musicians on this album, Leonardo Dosso from Gruppo D'Alternativa
• Biglietto Per L'Inferno: Il Tempo Della Semina (1974). BTF papersleeve CD (TRI 1009 CD). The historical second album from one of the most famous and original Italian progressive band from the 70's scene. Now available in the brand new deluxe papersleeve CD edition.
• Breznev Fan Club : L'Onda Vertebrata. AMS 191 CD (2010). A mysterious band, only known to very few collectors, they where noticed at first for their contribution on the hopeless sold-out Italian Prog sampler that was a bonus to the same-named book. Breznev Fan Club were born in the deep south of Italy, namely Montescaglioso (MT) at the beginning of the 80's and probably it is the first prog band from Lucania to release a CD. With this album, recorded in 2009 with new musicians from Lucania and Puglia, Breznev Fan Club show a part of their music production of the last twenty years. More than a proper band, BFC are an ensemble with great guest star that perform the compositions of Rocco Lomonaco, somewhere between avant-prog and contemporary classical music, with rock and jazz rhythms, surrounded by the poetical Sprechgesang of lyricist Franco Sciscio. If you look for comparisons, Breznev Fan Club are close to Picchio dal Pozzo, representing their logic sequel in terms of musical skill and irony.
• Buon Vecchio Charlie: S/T. AMS181 CD. Finally available again after being out of print for nearly 10 years, this symphonic prog gem dated 1972 is now available again in the usual papersleeve AMS format. This is a fantastic album of pure complex Italian symphonic prog with a great interplay between flute, guitar and organ, strong classical influences, a solid musicianship, really sounding like the big names (PFM, Banco, Orme and Quella Vecchia Locanda come to mind) of those years.
• Califfi: Fiore di Metallo. VM119CD. A very good prog album by a band from Florence, based on organ and moog sounds, with two outstanding instrumental tracks.
• Campo Di Marte: S/T. AMS 101 CD. The new edition has been completely remastered under Enrico Rosa's direction, resuming the original feel and the original track list of the 1973 recordings! Their debut album rates among the best known records from the original italian progressive music scene of the 70's.
• Circus 2000. Both albums - S/T (1970. VM014CD) and "An Escape From a Box" (1972. VM015CD) - are re-issued as papersleeve CDs with bonus tracks (4 on the eponymous album), Obi and extended liner notes!
• Citta’ Frontale: El Tor (74). Vinyl Magic VM135CD. Sept. 2010. Città Frontale were in fact two different bands, the first one being active in 1970 before Osanna were formed with four of that later band members and Gianni Leone, that left to join Balletto di Bronzo. Compared to Osanna's albums, "El Tor" sounds much more lightweight, with some jazz-rock influences. Now available as papersleeve CD!
• Dalton: Riflessioni: Idea d'Infinito (1972). VM 012 CD. Reissue of a great album by prog outfit with nice flute playing. The remastered release also adds one bonus track
• De De Lind: Io non so da dove vengo (73).
• Delirium: "Lo Scemo e il Villaggio" (72) and "Dolce Acqua" (71) are now released as papersleeve CDs by Vynil Magic (respectively VM145CD and VM149CD).
• Duello Madre: S/T. VMCD127. Reissue of the band's sole album done in the 70's (73). This is a jazz-oriented album with just one single vocal track. Duello Madre was a sort of superband as it included 2 members of Osage Tribe and drummer Dede Lo Previte from Circus 2000 (he joined Nova after the band's split while the bass player went to Il Volo).
• Eneide: Uomini Umili Popoli Liberi. Papersleeve AMS 190 CD. 2011. This album was scheduled for release and recorded in late 1972, but went only released in the early 90's, both on vinyl and CD in a limited pressing; it has been out of print for many years now. It's a very good album made of ten short songs with little instrumental parts but competent playing, especially when the solo instruments (especially organ, guitar and flute) are given a leading role. This 2011 reissue is on deluxe papersleeve, remastered by Eneide's Gianluigi Cavaliere, and features extended liner notes, plus two bonus tracks from an unreleased second project, a concept album dedicated to "Oblomov", a Russian novel written by Ivan Goncarov.
• L'Estate Di San Martino : Febo. VM129CD. After the overwhelming success of the papersleeve release of their 1983 concert in Perugia (Alder, AMSCD126), Estate di San Martino decided to reunite with the original line-up, composing a brand-new work for the AMS label in 2006. “Febo” is an outstanding gem, a concept album in the best tradition of Italian melodic Progrock, highlighted by a superb musical production with complex but still beautiful atmospheres and skilful musicianship.
• Ivano Fossati / Oscar Prudente: Poco Prima dell'Aurora (1972) VMCD 104. New reissue for the second Ivano Fossati album, soon available in BTF's own papersleeve VM CD series, with detailed booklets including all the lyrics in Italian and German plus the original LP labels, extensive liner notes, a reproduction of the original poster that came with this LP.
• Garybaldi: Astrolabio (73). VM 116CD. This reissue CD includes a light booklet with liner notes only
• Garybaldi: Nuda. VM114CD. Packaged in a gorgeous three-folded papersleeve CD displaying the beutiful original artwork by famous italian comics designer Guido Crepax in full shape. The reissue CD includes a detailed booklet with vintage photos and lots of historical infos.
• Genco, Robert: Beyond the Life (Oltre la Vita). AMS 182 CD. April 2011. 1977 was in Italy - as well as many other places in the world - a year starting the decline of progressive music and too many good things didn't benefit of the right conditions for a proper release, becoming left for too long in the vaults; this is the case with this one, never reissued for almost 40 years! Even if drummer Robert Genco had made a nice album where Italian prog cohabits with sophisticated jazz-rock, showing signs of many influences: James Senese & Napoli Centrale, Perigeo, Osanna, Dedalus or international names like jazz-rock icon Chick Corea but also lesser known artists like Canzionere del Lazio; now you can judge by yourself!
• Germinale: Scogli di Sabbia. VM 108. Germinale's brand new album! with unreleased material, live material and assorted live tracks.
• Hostsonaten: Summereve. Papersleeve AMS 194 CD. 2011. Musically the first but coming last, here's the final part of the Seasons Cycle Suite, no need to say ... dedicated to summer! This record is close to "Springsong", containing positive, sparkling moments, being influenced by ethnic and folk music. At the same time it is also somehow reminiscent of "Winterthrough", but for sure "Summereve" is the most progressive symphonic record of the seasons cycle, as the contribution of a real string quartet make the sound even more majestic and dream-like.
• Ibis: Sun Supreme (74). Band issued from the split of New Trolls.
• Indaco: Amorgos (99). AMS 132CD. This was the debut album of Indaco - some will say their best! Here again a host of guests! Especially worth of note is the presence of trumpetist Lester Bowie and Banco's keyboardist Vittorio Nocenzi as well as one more time Mauro Pagani from PFM. also here one live bonus track
• Indaco: Vento Del Deserto (1997). AMS 131CD. Finally the papersleeve reissue of the long OOP second record by this ethno-prog superband who housed two fast members coming from the one and only Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: guitarist Rodolfo Maltese and drummer Pierluigi Calderoni. If it wasn't enough to convince you, then please take note of the following guesting musicians: Francesco Di Giacomo (Banco's singer), violinist Mauro Pagani (ex PFM), percussionist Toni Esposito, bandoneon player and pianist Antonello Salis and more .... All in all a great blend of Mediterrean flavors and progressive rock, including a cover of Pink Floyd’s "Set The Control For The Heart Of The Sun!" and one live bonus track
• Latte E Miele: Papillon (73).
• Maxophone: S/T. AMS 138 CD. Finally the legit remastered version on deluxe vinyl-replica of one of the most legendary Italian prog records ever! Maxophone, released on the Produttori Associati label (along with Duello Madre) is a marvellous and timeless album, full of dreamy atmospheres and complex horn arrangements, with good vocal parts in a Genesis style. Other influences may be PFM and Gentle Giant, though Maxophone keep a very distinctive and unique sound. This remastered edition faithfully reproduces the sound of the original master tape, while the cover and artwork is the exact replica of the vinyl version of 1975, including extended liner notes in a separate booklet and two bonus tracks.
  At the same time, the English version (AMS 139 CD) will also be released as a limited edition (500 copies). This remastered edition faithfully reproduces the sound of the original master tape with English-sung lyrics and a slightly different instrumental mix while it must be pointed out that this English-sung version does not contain the bonus tracks of the Italian CD version.
• Metamorfosi: S/T (72). VM002CD. A classical record now remastered!
• Murple: Quadri Di Un’esposizione. AMS 145 CD(2008). Murple is back! Not the usual, odd reunion with just some few originals band members, but the original line-up of this Italian prog outfit of the 70's! "Quadri Da Un Esposizione" is a lovely concept album, in the style that made their debut and sole LP "Io sono Murple" so succesful over all these years. Murple still play vintage instruments, keeping the real Italian prog spirit alive. A welcome comeback and a great record. Deluxe vinyl-replica packaging.
• New Trolls: FS (1981). Vinyl Magic VM147CD. Sept. 2010. Papersleeve re-issue of a *back-to-the-roots* album, with a conceptual side inspired by the Italian State Railway Society (FS stands for "Ferrovie dello Stato").
• New Trolls! "Ut" and "Searching For A Land" (both from 1972) are now released as papersleeve CDs by Vinyl Magic (VM 138 & 139)
• Nuova Era: S/T (2010). AMS187CD. Nuova Era is one of the bands responsible for the renaissance of the "progressive" Italian rock toward the end of the 80's. Standard-bearer of a baroque and melodic sound woven into a turgid organ sonority reminiscent of the great Italian progressive rock of the 70's, they express in this new work their loyalty to their own history and confirm that still after all this infinite time, they shimmer with infinite intensity. The rhythm section present here is made of players who are members of another new raising band: Taproban!
• Officina Meccanica : La Follia Del Mimo Di Fuoco (1976). AMS 116 CD. Officina Meccanica from Rome had several single releases in the 70's and this CD contains their best singles + 5 tracks never heard before (3 of them are over 10 minute long suites!!), planned for an LP release. Musically Officina Meccanica play a very theatrical, dramatic and complex Mediterranean prog like Osanna or Semiramis, but with a large use of horns that can remind Van der Graaf Generator
• Osanna reissues! Both Palepoli (1973 - VM127CD) and Landscape of Life (1974 – VM136CD) are here released in the usual gorgeous VM papersleeve edition! Palepoli contained three long tracks and is housed in a nice gatefold cover. With "Landscape of Life", the band was trying to play abroad and the album was also intended for the foreign markets, so five of the seven tracks are in English, but due to the split it had to be finished with the help of Corrado Rustici (Danilo's younger brother from Cervello) and drummer Enzo Vallicelli (then with Uno).
• Osanna: Landscape of life (VMLP 136). The last of good early 70's albums Osanna did for the Fonit label, released in 1974 just prior to splitting up. Gatefold cover, exact label replicas and 180 grams vinyl.
• Osanna: L'Uomo. VM131CD. This papersleeve reissue of the debut album from 1971 by one of the top Italian progressive bands has the great asset of reproducing exactly for the first time the original triple gatefold cover. For those who missed this album, here's a new chance for rediscovering the nice voice of singer Lino Vairetti (plus interesting lyrics indeed), the aggressive flute of Elio D'Anna, the fluid guitar playing of Danilo Rustici and the solid rhythm section of Lello Brandi and Massimo Guarino.
• Osanna: Palepoli. Vinyl Magic VMLP127. Delucxe LP. Now available again with the original gatefold cover, label replicas and the printed inner sleeve including the lyrics. Limited to 500 copies. Palepoli - Osanna's third album - was originally released in 1973 and contains three long tracks only, the first of them an amazing mixture of progressive rock with local Napoli folk. The whole album has excellent guitar and powerful rhythm section, and the production of the record is fantastic.
• Mauro Pagani: S/T. VM115CD. The fantastic debut album by PFM violinist in 1978, featuring his hit "Europa Minor".
• Pandora: Sempre e Ovunque Oltre il Sogno. AMS 193 CD. Jan. 2011. This awaited second output has the band exploring even more than ever the hard and powerful side of Italian symphonic prog rock; the songs have gained in length and the superb packaging of this papersleeve includes some great artwork, with a painting for every song in the CD!
• Pandora: Dramma Di Un Poeta Ubriaco. AMS 143 CD(2008). Pandora are a five-piece band form Piedmont, directly following the footsteps of Italian prog giants. Long tracks dominated by intricate vintage keyboards, a killing ballad and a delicious medieval folk song, a great guitar player, a really superb and outstanding drumming and a powerful voice; they follow the footsteps of giants like La Torre Dell'Alchimista or La Maschera di Cera while they also refer to the more hard and powerful side of Italian symphonic prog rock. Lyrics are strictly Italian. Dynamic and complex Italian prog with excellent musicianship. Deluxe vinyl-replica packaging
• Panna Fredda: Uno (71). VM118CD. 4 bonus tracks
• I Pooh: "Per quelli come noi" (VRM36033) + "Contrasto" (VMRS358). Two nice, licensed deluxe vinyl reissues of 60's beat Italian pop classics by I Pooh, both in strictly limited reissue of 500 copies. They are now nearly gone, so place your orders very soon if you want to get your hands on one! The first is the classic debut from 1966 and the other is their 2nd album from 1968. Both are presented with the original (and great) artwork and improved sound quality
• Procession: Fiaba. VM123CD. This band from Torino reappeared in 1974 with a new line-up and a new recording deal, this time with Fonit dueed to release their second album Fiaba. A mature work, much more original than their first and more in a symphonic vein with large use of sax and flute with guest appearances by drummer Francesco Froggio Francica (from Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno), Delirium's keyboard player Ettore Vigo and Circus 2000 female singer Silvana Aliotta.
• Quella Vecchia Locanda: S/T. A classic italian progressive masterwork from 1972! The self titled album is now available with deluxe gatefold papersleeve artwork in remastered CD edition. VMCD 054.
• Raccomandata Ricevuta Di Returno: Per Un Mondo Di Cristallo (1972). VM 117CD. This group was formed in Rome in the early Seventies by musicians that later on formed Samadhi and Procession. Their sound mixes typical italian prog-rock with acoustic guitar, flute and keyboards in evidence, with some jazz influences too. The new reissue CD includes a booklet with liner notes and photos.
• Raminghi: Il Lungo Cammino dei Raminghi + Live 1975. VM double paper sleeve CD. VM 102 A-B. New double release in BTF's own paper sleeve CD series: Raminghi's only album in remastered edition + a second CD with a very rare live recording from a 1975 concert!
• Sado: Holzwege. AMS 129CD. 2008. Sado is a side-project by some of the members of the band Archansiel but don't expect a music in the same vein as they're taking their distance with the easy-listening neoprog sound that characterized the band. Sado lies somewhere in between the more aggressive spirit of Area (especially for what the stunning vocal experimentations by Boris Savoldelli concern), the happy nonsense of Picchio dal Pozzo and some weird and spacey psychedelia.
• Salis: Seduto sull’Erba a Guardare (1974). AMS177CD. Sept. 2010. One of the very few missing links in the history of Italian prog CD reissues, this is the second effort by the brothers Salis, Antonio and Francesco from Santa Giusta, Oristano in Sardinia. Released in 1974 and one of the first quadraphonic records from Italy. A very nice album, much better than the first, this has much in common with another group from Sardinia, Gruppo 2001. Featuring Antonio Salis on bass, his brother Francesco and Gianni Serra on guitars, Dario Baldan Bembo on keyboards and drummers Andy Surdy and Furio Bozzetti, this is a gentle and underrated gem, with beautiful acoustic interludes, nice vocal harmonies and some catchy tunes.
• Samadhi: S/T. (VM114CD). A sort of supergroup, as most of their members came from well-known bands, Samadhi were formed after the split of Raccomandata Ricevuta di Ritorno by singer Regoli and guitarist Civitenga, along with keyboard player Sabatini (from Free Love and Kaleidon), Aldo Bellanova from Teoremi on bass and drummer Ruggero Stefani (L'Uovo di Colombo), and two other members.The album mixes very good prog influences with some jazz and even pop, the best of the seven tracks being the closing L'ultima spiaggia with religious text.
• Showmen: Showmen 2 (VM126CD). This AMS papersleeve release is the very first legitimate reissue of this Napolitean masterpiece dated 1972! The Showmen from Naples had some soul influenced hits in the sixties featuring names like Mario Musella, James Senese (Napoli Centrale) and Elio D'Anna (Osanna). After a short time Senese and Del Prete, aided by the guitarist Botta, reformed the group with a new line-up, this time much more influenced by the current Italian prog tendencies and released the album called Showmen 2. The album contains a peculiar mix of rock, jazz and prog, somewhere in between Osanna and the more dynamic British bands of jazz influenced prog like If. The music is powerful, well played, with strong horn arrangements that make this album unique in the Italian prog scene of the time. The band disbanded after the album, founders Senese and Del Prete creating Napoli Centrale. Much confusion has been made about Showmen's name, with their album being reissued by the B.B.B. and Replay labels as Showmen 2 / Napoli Centrale; a later compilation on the same label mixed tracks from their 60's beat repertoire, the Showmen 2 album and even a Chicago track cover (Introduction). In the last years there have been some bootleg releases of this record, with material poorly mastered, wrong artworks or with music taken from previous demo sessions. So this is the first legitimate release (as the original LP is very hard to find), taken from master tapes and faithful to the original artwork. Not to be missed for lovers of the Napoli prog scene (Ref: Osanna, Uno, Nova, Città Frontale, Cervello, Luna, Napoli Centrale).
• Stormy Six: Al Volo (1982). Vinyl Magic VM144CD. Sept. 09. This was their swan's song and is still their last studio album to date. Maybe rockier than the other but still with plenty of creative ideas
• Stormy Six! Vinyl Magic releases on one CD two albums (Cliché + Pinocchio Bazaar - VM 140CD) consisting of music for different theatrical pieces. Cliché (76) contains completely instrumental songs that once again demonstrate how courageous and experimenting Stormy Six were at the time; for Pinocchio Bazar, the songs were recorded live during Autumn 1976 at Teatro Arsenale in Milan. Some of them appeared re-arranged on the bands next great studio album "Macchina Maccheronica" but here we get the original music used by the theatre company during the musical representation! This is undoubtedly the most difficult Stormy Six's album. On it appears for the first time drummer Salvatore Garau
• Stormy Six: Macchina maccheronica (1980) VMCD106. New reissue of the Stormy Six 1980 album with two very detailed booklets including all the lyrics in Italian and German plus the original LP labels, extensive liner notes, a reproduction of the original poster that came with this LP.
• Stormy Six: L'apprendista. VM 107. New reissue of their album from 77. Now again available in BTF's own papersleeve VM CD series with a very detailed booklet including lyrics and photos plus the original LP labels, extensive liner notes and historical introduction
• Triade: 1998: La Storia di Sabazio (VMCD 105). This is the only album released by this group in 1973. Sadly forgotten (even the keyboardist didn't remember the names of his partners) but now maybe getting a second life, this combo was mainly a trio in the vein of ELP.
• Ubi Maior: Nostos (2005) VM 110CD. Brand new debut CD for this talented new italian band. The influences of Biglietto per l'Inferno and PFM are melted with original stuff composed by the band. Sometimes obscure, sometime melodic and poetic.
• UNO: S/T (VMCD 109). Nice italian progressive album from 1973 by the same musicians that formed Osanna, later to become Nova. An amusing oddity: this recording features the same woman who performed the now famous vocals on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon".
• Riccardo Zappa "Chatka" and "Celestion" soon coming (VMCD 112 and 111). Zappa was a master of electronic sounding like music based on sequenced guitars. His debut album "Celestion" dates from 77

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DVDs ... DVDs ... DVDs ... DVDs ... DVDs ... DVDs ... DVDs ... DVDs ... DVDs ...



• BANCO: Ciò Che Si Vede È. Brand new reissue of this long time out-of-stock videotape of a great Banco live performance. The live video footage has been mastered onto DVD with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and stereo 2.0 audio format. This excellent Banco concert was recorded at Rome's Palladium Theater on May 12, 1992, and has a great tracklist with all the Banco classics: "In Volo", "R.I.P.", "L'Evoluzione", "Moby Dick", "Il Giardino del Mago", "750.000 Anni Fa... l'Amore" and "Non Mi Rompete". Banco line-up formed by Vittorio Nocenzi on keyboards, Rodolfo maltese on guitar, Francesco Di Giacomo (vocals), Pierluigi Calderoni (drums), and Tiziano Ricci on bass guitar. DVD tech details: Area 0, PAL format.
• Franco Battiato: Un Soffio Al Cuore di Natura Elettrica. Brand new live CD+DVD package, available in two different versions: CD+DVD double digipack or DVD+CD (DVD plastic case).
• Franco Battiato: La Cura. Fantastic DVD captured live in 1997! 23 classic songs
• Cantina Sociale: Catturati (live). From Electromantic.
• Fiaba: I Racconti del Giullare Cantore. CD + DVD. PC 005. Brand new album by Fiaba, including a special bonus DVD. Explosive and rich in fairytale, charming melodies and moods.
• Fiaba: I Sogni di Marzia (PC 001) + First cut (live). Two brand new DVD releases by italian prog-rock band FIABA. "I sogni di Marzia" is a 50 minutes movie based upon Fiaba's suite, with subtitles in Italian and English. The DVD is PAL standard, all regions. "First cut" is a live performance by Fiaba filmed in San Giuliano del Sannio, Italy, on August 15, 2004, at Fish concert opening. This is a double DVD of approx. 100 minutes, with remixed audio.
• Malibran: 10 Anni di Concerti. Electromantic ELEDVD52003. Ten years of live performances by Italian prog band Malibran.
• Mangala Vallis: Intergalactic Live Video Archives (2009) - DMF-DVD01. Recorded during the 2006 European tour, this is the first live DVD from Mangala Vallis, the progressive band which features Bernardo Lanzetti (ex-PFM, Acqua Fragile). The document highlights the great energy of the band and gathers the most significant tracks of their repertoire taken from their two albums "Book of dreams" and "Lycanthrope". It also features the two video clips produced by the band for 143 minutes of great live music.
• Opus Avantra: Viaggio Immaginario - Live in Tokyo (2008). CRSDVD 002. Opus Avantra was born during the first years of the seventies not just as a musical band but above all as an experimental aesthetic movement. An original project born from the union between progressive rock and classical music. Opus Avantra is very touched by the japanese following and they decided to record in the land of the rising sun this fantastic live DVD. All the tracks from Introspezione have been played and a selection from the other three records: Lord Cromwell, Strata and Lyrics. A musical and theatrical show where the historic members of the band prove their abilities in giving emotions.
• Demetrio Stratos: Suonare La Voce. DVD. This experimental session was available on CD and one could follow the vocal work approach of Demetrio. It is now available on DVD, the first dedicated to the great Area's singer!
• Un Biglietto per l'Inferno Tribute Concert. BG 007. Brand new DVD with many italian prog musicians bands involved in a tribute show for Biglietto Per l'Inferno!. The concert was held in Biglietto's hometown of Lecco, north of Milano, on January 29, 2005. A lot of musician friends took part in this event: Rodolfo Maltese (BANCO), Tony Pagliuca (ORME), Paolo Tofani (AREA), Patrizio Fariselli (AREA), Claudio Rocchi, all paid tribute covering one song from Biglietto per l'Inferno's songbook and own material as well. Moreover some new italian progressive groups took part in the event as well: Greenwall, Ubi Maior, Fonderia, GAS, etc... That magical winter night has been captured in a special DVD, released in area 0 format (all regions), PAL standard.
• V/A: "The Best of ..." 2Days Prog (VER 01 2DVD). 2011. Over two hours of excellent live music! Featuring videos of some of the greatest performances on the Veruno Prog Fest stage 2010, by many awesome international and Italian prog bands such as: Proteo, Moongarden, Gazpacho, Pendragon, Castello di Atlante, La leggenda dei New Trolls and Delirium.

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SPAIN: A NEW BUT OLD PROGRESSIVE CORNER

Spanish prog has been there like all other countries but it is only in recent years that labels like Guerssen Records, Picap, Fonomusic, have started a fantastic program of reissues that could not been more warmly welcomed. If you are missing titles inside such music fields as basque progressive, spanish folk & psychedelic, then be ready to get surprised. Guerssen has an impressive distribution of titles, CDs as well as LPs, featuring important names such: Lisker, Errobi, Izukaitz, Guadalquivir, Itoiz, Granada, Pau Riba, Triana, Gualberto, etc... Music By Mail will be following this label very closely. If you need more infos, send us a mail! Here is an overview of great forgotten or still unknown stuff!


• Asfalto: Al Otro Lado (Ref. 50611002) CD. Brilliant second longplayer by Spanish group, one of the all-time Spanish favourites in the field of progressive rock with some synphonic moves and strong guitars. Originally released in 1978 on Chapa Records.
• Asturcón: S/T. Label: Dial (Dial-96727). This is the sole album by this group based in Asturias, in the north of Spain. It was recorded in 1980 and released in 1981 on the Diapason label. Musically it blends local folk influences with progressive and synphonic rock with great result. This first ever reissue has been remastered from the original mastertapes.
• Atila: Intención. Wah-Wah Records (WCD008). Originally issued in 1976, Intención is the perfect follow-up to "The Beginning Of The End", with Atila offering further pieces led by the strong guitar licks of Eduardo Niebla, Benet Nogué's organ & Moog and Joan Punyet's drums melting in top progressive freakouts, plus the addition of wordless vocal parts and even some catalan sung parts, besides adding a symphonic edge to the general sound. In addition to the original "Intención" LP this CD edition will feature one bonus track recorded back in 1999 and a gorgeous 16 page booklet full of info on the band.
• Atrium: 2011. Street date: 10/03/11. Released on their own label, 2011 is the title of an ambitious symphonic/progressive rock album by a Portuguese Prog Rock Band. Definitely, Atrium are intending to conquer a place in the Progressive Rock global panorama!

• Banda Do Casaco: Hoje Há Conquilhas Amanhã Não Sabemos. CNM168CD. For the first time, Portuguese prog folk outfit Banda do Casaco’s third album is finally available in CD. Acclaimed in 1977 as best record of the year in its own country, “Hoje Há Conquilhas Amanhã Sabemos” has long been unavailable in any format. The complex sounds constructed here place Banda do Casaco among the best folk rock made internationally in 1977 – Steeleye Span’s “Storm Force 10”, Jethro Tull’s “Songs From the Wood”, Gryphon’s “Treason” or Brittany’s cherished treasures like Malicorne’s homonymous fourth album and Alan Stivell’s “Before Landing”.
• Barcelona Progressiva. Picap (911000). 04/04/11. If you haven't yet started to enjoy Catalan progressive rock, maybe this 2CD compilation is the right choice for you! It takes a look at the music produced between 1969 and 1973, picking the best groups of this time (Om, Máquina!, Pan Y Regaliz, Música Dispersa, Pau Riba and many more ...) and represents an historical document
• Barcelona Traction: S/T (Picap 910822). Sole album released in 1975, between jazz-rock and Latin jazz
• Blay Tritono: Clot 20 (Picap 910810). Catalan jazz-funk album from the mid 70's, one of the lesser known bands of the "Rock Laietà" scene but worth the discovery for anyone into Spanish prog or related music
• Eduardo Bort: S/T. Limited LP edition of 500 copies. Finally available on vinyl again, you're fronting one of the most impressive Spanish rock albums from the 70's. Astonishing blend of psychedelia, progressive, synphonic, folk, rock and jazz. The production of the album is amazing, with lots of mellotron, and the in-your-face guitars by Eduardo will knock you out.
• Brakaman: Same (Ref. 74321779622) CD. Rare Basque progressive rock from 1977 and their only album.
• Canarios: Ciclos (Ref. 74321259972) CD. Originally released in 1974 and probably one of the best progressive/synphonic album ever to come out of Spain; its adaptation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons with lots of synthetizers and guitars is really to be heard.
• Companyia Elèctrica Dharma: Mompou's Mood, Mariagneta & Patum Jack Blues. Picap 910960. Street date: 20/09/10. The famous Catalan outfit comes here with their newest release, a 3-tracks EP recorded in the mythical Sun Studios, Memphis, USA.
• Companyia Elèctrica Dharma: El Misteri D'en Miles Serra I Les Músiques Mutants (910603 - barcode 8425845906041). New album by one of the best Catalan bands!
• Companyia Elèctrica Dharma are one of the bigger names of Catalan music. Still on the road, their blend of rock, folk and jazz has made them the most well-known Catalan groups all around the world. Many of their albums were released on the Picap label, which went down some time ago! The good news is that the label is reshaped and reborn! Up to eleven albums get now back in print, some of them maybe seeing light for the first time like "Ordinaries Aventures" from 1979, a transition period from the prog-folk based music towards a more rock & pop style in the 80's and 90's with albums like Força Dharma (85), No Volem Ser (86), Fibres Del Cor (89), Tifa Head (91) and Que No Es Perdi Aquest So (93). If you have missed the early period during the 70's, then rejoice and don't do the same mistake one more time. Get your hands on Diumenge (1975), L'oucomballa (1976), Tramuntana (1977) and L'angel De La Dansa (1978).
• Companyia Electrica Dharma: La Dharma l’arma! Musica Global 56506. 2CD + DVD. This double set captures the amazing live concert that the legendary Catalan group did for their 30th anniversary, in 2005. The concert was at Barcelona’s Palau de la Música Catalana and collects all the highlights from their succesful career. Gorgeous packaging!
• Dificil Equilibrio: Live Tiana 2008. Musea (FGBG 9029). April 2010. This is the 6th release from this Spanish trio, this time a live recording fixed on DVD. It has been captured on May 24th 2008 at the Teatre Albeniz during today's most famous Prog-Rock festival in Spain, near Barcelona. Helped by Joan Santanach, a guitar player guesting for the occasion, the trio plays sixteen top-notch instrumental tracks. Lyrics even come to the fore on the seventeenth and very last song, a cover-version of King Crimson's hit "Easy Money".
• Electrik Consort: S/T. Quadrant Records (Q00011CD). Catalan group featuring well-known percussionist Nan Mercader. Prog-fusion, a good number of original tracks plus some covers, including a hurdy-gurdy version of Led Zeppelin's Cashmir. W/booklet.
• Esqueixada Sniff: Ocells. Another Catalan group from the mid-70's hitting hard with their blend of jazz, rock and slight flamenco moves. 2nd album from 1979. PDI.
• Franklin: Life Circle – Discografía Completa y Rarezas. Cocodrilo HMPE401. CD edition featuring the whole Franklin output: their two 45s, the unreleased "Life Circle" album remastered from the master tapes and a couple of rare live tracks. Includes liner notes and pictures. Their new line-up for those sessions featured two drummers and a new keyboard player. “Life Circle” is a conceptual album which sounds more prog-rock than their previous 45s, in fact we must say this is a must for anyone into Spanish progressive sounds: Nine tracks full of hard guitar, Minimoog, Mellotron, analog keyboards, some spacey and experimental-symphonic passages, English vocals.
• Fusioon: Minorisa (Ref. 74321511512) CD. The third and last album, in 1975. Another great work by the Catalan group, blending progressive, fusion and jazz with some folk elements.
• Gualberto: A La Vida, Al Dolor. Limited LP edition of 500 copies with the original gatefold cover and remastered sound from the original mastertapes. What you will find in this wax is an outstanding blend of psychedelia with flamenco. Gualberto plays Spanish guitar, flamenco guitar, electric guitar and sitar; there's great violin work by another American, Arthur Wolh, some flute and great, all original songs.
• Gualberto: Sin Comentario (Ref. LV-018) CD. Unreleased album by Andalusian psych guitar guru. Flamenco-rock fusion with some fuzz, sitar, flute... Very few last copies.
• Gurth: Tormentes. 2008. MALS 269. Spanish group of progressive rock-fusion born in 1995, from the region of Penedes (Barcelona). Two guitar players, bass and drums, percussion are the core. It seems that keyboards are used but no one is credited! Guitar synth? Influences are based on groups like King Crimson, Gong, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jimi Hendrix, Return to Forever, Iceberg, Secta Sonica, Musica Urbana, etc... they alternate instrumental songs with other sung in Catalan and some in English.
• Herba d'Hameli: Inversa Visual. Musea Parallèle (MP 3209). Nov. 2010. Here is a Catalan Progressive rock band showcasing multiple talents: the same passion for the sounds and inspiration of the 70's, mixing nice melodies with technical abilities and a subtle melancholy, writing light melodies filled with sunny notes. Alternating between instrumental and sung parts in two of the tracks, they offer a melodious, peaceful and joyful music filled with lively rhythms
• Hojas: Same (Ref. 74321779612) CD. Mid 70's Spanish/Brazilian progressive rock and their sole album.
• Ia-Batiste: Chichonera's Cat. Picap 910550. 2nd album from 1975, originally released on the Edigsa label. The collaboration of two Catalan musicians, Jordi Batiste being member of the leading psychedelic-progressive group Maquina, one of the most legendary groups ever to come out from Barcelona and Ia Clua. Musically this album is a blend of progressive, rock & folk, entirely sung in Catalan language.
• Ibio: El Regreso (Artimaña AR0030). The legendary Spanish progressive 70’s group has entered studio again, and they’re here to please their old fans. "El Regreso" is a brilliant comeback that will satisfy everyone who dug “Cuevas de Altamira”; it has the same exact feel, keeping the influence of Italian progressive with lots of cool synths, great guitar work and adding their own local folk influences. Ten new tracks, plus a new version of “Cuevas de Altamira” with sitar!!! Recommended!!! Disc 1 is a DTS 5.1 audio surround version, only available for use in DVD. Disc 2 is the same but just the audio.
• Jarka: Ortodòxia / Morgue O Berenice. Progressive jazz-rock group by a group leaded by pianist Jordi Sabatés, with the collaboration of Max Sunyer as well. Both original albums together in one cd, from 1971 and 1972. (PDI).
• Pep Laguarda & Tapineria: Brossa d'Ahir. Deluxe CD + 2 books + CD-Rom. (DM772) Discmedi. This, the only album released by Pep Laguarda, was originally released in 1978 on the Ocre label (a sublabel of the infamous Belter). Pep was helped by people like Daevid Allen and Pau Riba on this legendary album. Musically, it's the very highlight in the Spanish folk-rock history; melodic, hippie, well-crafted and with a strong Mediterranean feel. This deluxe edition contains the CD reissue of the album, plus two books (one with 36 pages, another one with 76 pages). The first contains the lyrics both in Valencian (the language Pep sang this album in) and Spanish, while the second contains lots of pictures, press reviews and comments of the album by many well-known artists. Besides this, there's also a CD-Rom with four alternate versions of tracks like "Alceu-vos, xe, que ja és de dia", and not only this, there's a video-clip of "Blues milanta anys-llum" which is surely the first rock clip made in Spain, from 1978!!! And all this, housed in a beautifully designed thick-carton box.
• Magdalena: Lanean Sartzen. S.P.A. (SPA1001). Sole album by this Basque band, a brilliant blend of progressive rock and folk-rock. It has a good dose of tasty flute, some acoustic guitar and powerful distorted electric guitar as well. Sung both in Spanish and Basque. 500 copies only papersleeve edition with fantastic remastered sound, and with insert.
• Música Laietana – Zeleste. Dec. 09. Released on the Picap label (910873), this 2CD would be a perfect introduction to the Spanish progressive rock scene for those who'd like to start listening to it. The *Laietana* is a Mediterranean blend of traditional Catalan and Spanish music and it had a strong identity in the 70's with bands such as Orquesta Mirasol, Secta Sònica, Barcelona Traction, Oriol Tramvia, Toti Soler, Toni Xuclà, Iceberg, Esqueixada Sniff, Orquesta Plateria, Tropopausa, La Rondalla de la Costa, etc... all represented here!
• Musica Urbana: S/T (Picap 910811). This Catalan outfit was founded by two original Maquina! members, Enric Herrera and Luigi Cabanach, in 1975, together with Carles Benavent and Joan Albert Amargós, who actually wrote all these compositions. This is their debut album, from 1976, originally on the Edigsa-Zeleste label. Brilliant jazz-rock and one of the top names in the so called "Rock Laietà" scene formed in Barcelona at the time.
• N.H.U.: Same (Ref. 74321779602) CD. One and only album (1978) by this Spanish progressive group with complex compositions and strong organs.
• Ñu: A Golpe De Látigo (barcode: 74321933242). BMG exclusive pressing for Guerssen. 2nd album, originally on Chapa in 1980 after their succesful "Cuentos De Ayer Y Hoy". Maybe not as great as the first, but still an excellent progressive rock album, with some symphonic moves and again strong Jethro Tull influences.
• October Equus: Saturnal. AltProductions (ALT 019). 20/05/11. Third opus for the band from Madrid, this time reinforced by two members of another excellent Spanish outfit, Planeta Imaginario. Edgy, hypnotic, fascinating, often with a leaden atmosphere, sometimes even gloomy, the album explores intricate harmonic solutions, in an endless counterpoint between guitar, saxophone and keyboards. The result is greatly solid, with unexpected melodic passages, in the middle between Starless and Bible Black by King Crimson and the structural density of Henry Cow . The 13 tracks of Saturnal show a dizzy chasing of ideas, carried out with conviction and care of details. Just not to be missed!
• October Equus: S/T (MRC 007). New Spanish band who displays originality in their compositions, they are never easy but always pleasant and well structured; an album for everybody!
• Jorge Palma: "Com Uma Viagem Na Palma Da Mao" (VSL11962 - IPLAY - 5604931119623). Debut album in 1975 by the well-known artist from Lisboa. Nice jazz-rock, digipack reissue with remastered sound from mastertapes
• Panzerballet: Live At Backstage Munich 2006. German band shifting between heavy prog metal and elegant jazz funk


• Pan Y Regalis. This self titled album is a reissue of one of the rarest psych/prog albums recorded by a Spanish band in the early seventies. On the label Wah Wah Records


• Pan Y Regalis: S/T. Reissue in digipack deluxe edition. WCD004. One of the most celebrious Spanish prog bands!
• Pegasus. The two last albums are finally available: Coctel (88) and "El Setè Cercle" (90). The band featured the great guitarist Max Sunyer and keyboard player Josep Mas "Kitflus", both coming from the 70's outfit Iceberg. The rhythm section is composed of today reknown and acknowledged players: drummer Santi Arisa and bass player Rafael Escoté
• Petrus Castrus: Mestre. CNM (CNM202CD). After having been announced a few years ago, but delayed because of a copyright question, here it is finally available! The '73 debut album by the Portuguese outfit (the 2nd album was released on the South Korean label M2U) consists of 11 tracks with lyrics in Portuguese, effective drumming and strong use of keys, though never falling into the symphonic field. It could be described as a blend of progressive rock and slight psych tinges. But beyond the final availability of this gem, highly esteemed among collectors, there are further surprises waiting for you! Two bonus tracks from 1977, unreleased until now, plus a second CD with 16 new tracks recorded between 2000 and 2005 by brothers Pedro Castro (Petrus Castrus) and José, along with Pedro’s son. Remastered sound from mastertapes, presented in a nice triple gatefold digipack with a 12-page booklet containing some rare never seen photos, linernotes (in Portuguese only) and all lyrics, this is a welcome and long awaited release sure to fill lots of prog collection gaps!
• Planeta Imaginario: Biomasa. Cuneiform RUNE 268. 2nd album by this Catalan 8-piece, between some Chick Corea like jazz-rock and sophisticated Canterbury prog (In Cahoots for example). All this tastefully and effortlessly mixed with their Mediterranean roots and the best Spanish fusion from the 70's (Iceberg, Musica Urbana).
• Quarteto 1111: "Onde, Quando, Como Porque Cantamos Pessoas Vivas" (IPV 12412 - IPLAY - 5604931124122). A vinyl version will come out very soon on the Guerssen label too. Possibly the rarest of all Portuguese 70's albums, this was withdrawn shortly after its release, because of political reasons dealing with the government and the lyrics. Progressive rock monster with only one long 30 minute track, this is a real nightmare for prog collectors that now becomes a dream come true with this wonderful digipack reissue that has a fantastic remastered sound from mastertapes!
• Jordi Sabatés is one of the great Spanish pianists from Catalonia. Already active as a member of the band Jarka, he has since released a great and varied number of releases, fortunately reissued today on the newly reborn label Picap. Here's the summary:
  
  - Jordi Sabatés and Toti Soler. Jazz fusion from the early 70's with extraordinary guitarist Toti Soler.
  - El Senyor Dels Anells. From 1974 and often classified under the prog genre
  - Tot L'enyor De Demà. From 1976 and leaning towards jazz-rock, with Jordi playing on piano, el piano, organ and moog. One of his best and classic works. Noteworthy is the presence of the famous blind Catalan pianist Tete Montoliu on a few tracks
  - A Través Del Mirall. Originally released as double LP, recorded live in Barcelona in 1986. There is an operatic singer in the line-up. Another album going in the same direction (and with the same female singer) is "Noche Oscura" from 1984
  - The Ragtime Dance. Noting to do with prog but we include anyway this Scott Joplin tribute from 1983
  
  
• Secta Sònica: Fred Pedralbes (76) + Astroferia (77). This guitar based Catalan band, another exponent of the "Rock Laietà" genre, offers a blend of classic jazz-rock with Mediterranian elements and Catalan folk; if their first album was still quite a bit progressive-sounding, even symphonic at times with some good use of electric guitars, their 2nd and last introduces some Latin sounds to the mix as well as some more experimental passages. Another reissue on the Picap label that should get your highest interest; Secta Sónica has unfortunately been too quickly forgotten and didn't have the historical impact they deserve!
• Senogul: Concierto De Evocación Sonora Para Conjunto Instrumental (Aural Impressions Concert For Instrumental Ensemble). Senogul is an instrumental band born in Asturias (Spain) in 2002 and who gained rather quickly a good reputation among the prog community. On this 2nd album, they have evolved from progressive rock into fusion, world and contemporary instrumental music. Yet, the driving force of the album is still a research and continuous reinterpretation of every sound that surrounds us. With an intensified media activity in the last monthes, Senogul will certainly prove they're a band to watch out!
• 3 albums are reissued in May 2008 on the new Picap label, all concerning guitarist Toti Soler. "El Gat blanc" (White cat) is definitely his best work ever and a well-known album among folk-psych-prog collectors around. It came out originally in 1973 and it is an instrumental and acoustic folk-psych album with many dreamy tripped out passages, but also some fuzz and wah-wah attacks. "Desdesig" is more Flamenco guitar jazz-rock (from 77) while on the 1985 album "Epigrama", Toti joined another brilliant guitar player, Feliu Gasull to produce a Spanish guitar instrumental album
• Max Sunyer: Babel (79) + Jocs Privats (80) + Trio are now released on digipacks. The first started Sunyer’s solo career before he founded the group Pegasus. The latter features the great Spanish bass player Carles Benavent. On Picap
• Tantra: "Mistérios e Maravilhas" (VSL11982 - IPLAY - 5604931119821). Symphonic progressive stuff, often compared to the UK prog sound of the 70's but this has a special flavour that makes it unique. Very skillful musicianship with lots of strong keys, electric and acoustic guitars. This beautiful digipack release is mastered from tapes, has two bonus tracks from a previous 45 and has extensive liner notes .... in Portuguese!
• Tropopausa: S/T. Picap. Sept. 2011. This is the CD reissue of an album made in 1979 by a progressive jazz band, whose one player is related to the Catalan band Blay Tritono and another one was a collaborator of the famous song writer Pau Riba. Mostly acoustic with acoustic bass and percussion in front, the music is instrumental and experimental, reflecting the ideas of the Catalan avant scene of the time



.... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels ....




• FONOMUSIC SPAIN!
  
  After the great reissues of classics like Eduardo Bort, Goma, Alfredo Carrión, etc., Warner-Fonomusic comes with a big bunch of new, fantastic digipacks. They’re all respecting the original artwork and are perfectly remastered for the collector’s pleasure. Check it out!
  
  + Azabache: Días de luna (50 5046770822 8). 1979.
  Jorge “Flaco” Barral and Gustavo Ros (both ex Azahar) joined Daniel Henestrosa and Ricardo Valle and took the name of AZABACHE. A good and rare album of progressive rock with some symphonic touches. This is the first of their two albums.
  + Azabache: No, Gracias. 2nd album by this post-Azahar group, originally released in 1980 and still a great progressive album!
  + Luis Emilio Batallán : Ahí Ven O Maio (50 5046746522). 1975
  Historic debut album by this man coming from Galicia, in the Northwest of Spain. Entirely sung in Galego, it’s a beautiful folk album that will also please most of progressive aficionados. Some members of Granada were involved in the recording and arrangements are courtesy of Carlos Cárcamo himself.
  + Hilario Camacho: La Estrella Del Alba. A collection of songs that were released on LP in 1976. This was the third album in his career. The result is a fantastic album much appreciated by progressive rock afficionados and showing his collaboration with Jorge "Flaco" Barral, whom he became friend withConexion: Harmony (50 5046770842 6). 1973.
  This very unknown group blended progressive rock with soul music, and this is their only album. Luis Fornes, one of the members, later went to other great Spanish groups like Agamenon or Dolores. Six tracks, one of them “Concierto uno” took the whole B side on the original lp.
  + Coses: Perquè no s’apagui l’aire (50 5046770812 9). 1978
  Catalan folk group with a slight progressive flavour, this one is the third and last of their albums.
  + Diego de Morón : S/T (50 5046771612 4). 1977
  Much sought after album and the only one by Diego de Morón. It features two Triana members (Jesús de la Rosa and Juan José Palacios “Tele”) who help on four tracks with arrangements, keys, drums and percussion. But also Carlos Cárcamo, best known from the group Granada who plays on the rest of the tracks. There’s some good mellotron on the album as well.
  + Granada: Valle Del Pas. 3rd and last album from 78 by this well known group. Instrumental symphonic, progressive folk-rock
  + Granada : Hablo de una tierra (50 5046771622 3) 1975.
  Folk, rock, symphonic and progressive rock get together in the debut album by this well-known Spanish group who actually didn’t hail from the city of Granada, but from Santander.
  + Gualberto: Otros Dias. In 1976, Gualberto lived in France and Holland for several months, composing the chamber music that would end in this record, released in 1979. It's a very special album in his discography as he was joined here by a classical music septet on the A side, and a quartet on the B side; he plays acoustic guitar only.
  + Gualberto : A La Vida, Al Dolor (50 5046732432 9). 1975
  Founder member of the legendary Spanish group Smash, Gualberto is no doubt the Spanish psych guitar guru. When he left Smash, he went to the USA for a couple of years, and he came back to Sevilla together with Tod Purcell, who would sing and play 12 string guitar in this, Gualberto's solo debut album in 1975. What you will find here is an outstanding blend of psychedelia with flamenco. Gualberto plays Spanish guitar, flamenco guitar, electric guitar and sitar; there's great violin work by another American, Arthur Wolh, some flute and great, all original songs.
  + Lluís Llach: Viatge a Itaca (50 5046747122). 1975
  Key album on Llach’s discography, this one is much acclaimed for its epical and synphonic feel. The title track filled whole side 1 on the vinyl.
  + Lole y Manuel : Nuevo día (50 5046771802 9) 1975
  The first longplayer recorded by this duo. Lole takes “cante” (flamenco singing) and Manuel takes care of flamenco guitar, while other studio musicians helped with mellotron (Carlos Cárcamo, Granada), bass and electric guitar.
  + Benito Moreno: Romance Del Lute y Otras Canciones. Here's an obscure album for all the progsters around, originally released in 75. The complete Triana is playing and handling all arrangements here!
  + Pau Riba: Electròccid àccid alquimístic xoc (50 5046771812 8). 1975
  4th album by Catalan hippie acid-folk weirdo.
  + Tílburi: Al Fin..! Progressive folk-rock with a psychedelic touch, made in Spain and sung in English. This is the first of their albums and was released in 1975 on Movieplay.
  + Tílburi: Alcocebre (50 5046772362 7). 1976
  2nd album by this obscure Spanish group. Rock, progressive and strong folk influences, using mandolin, violin, electric and acoustic guitar, and bass.
  + Triana: Hijos Del Agobio. New digipack edition of their 2nd album, for many the best of them all. A key album in the worldwide progressive rock scene.
  + Triana: Sombra Y Luz (50 5046617655 4). 1979
  The third album by Triana, symphonic prog-rock of the highest level, with a flamenco dose. Their best seller ever.
  + Vainica Doble: Contracorriente (50 5046658005 4). 1976
  This Spanish female folk-psych duo is probably the top cult group in the Spanish rock scene of the 70's together with Maquina! and Smash. Now we have the chance to rediscover their third effort, another fantastic blend of folk, pop and psychedelia with awesome songwriting, superb guitar work and even some sitar courtesy of Gualberto.
  + Various Artists: Rock Andaluz. Hijos Del Agobio Y Del Dolor. Street date: 20/03/06. Awesome 2CD compilation set containing a big number of Andalusian Rock groups from 1967-1972. Rock and progressive music meets flamenco. Meet acts such as Smash, Mezquita, Iman, Goma, Gualberto, Triana and many others. But that's not all! There's also a DVD containing an amazing TV documentary entitled "Underground, La Ciudad del Arco-Iris", with a long length image history of Andalusian rock and especially the mighty Smash!!! Spanish language of course, but worth alone for the mega-cool images!!! And the price! .... €25 + Daniel Vega: "La Noche Que Precede A La Batalla". Warner-Dro-Fonomusic. Outstanding progressive folk record with acoustic guitar, electric guitar leads, flute, piano and the warm vocals of Daniel Vega. Fully remastered sound, original gatefold cover artwork and 500 copies only!
  
  
TO TOP


PROG LIFE SOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES!



• 1870: Pogo y 4 Historias de Horror. Gazul (GA 8854). July 2011. Rock In Opposition made in Mexico, this album belongs to the Art Zoyd / Univers Zéro constellation, with also references to their fellow countrymen from Nazca. An avant-garde opus without any compromise, to be discovered!
• Abrete Gandul: Enjambre Sismico. Fading Records (FAD 004). 20/05/11. Released on the sub-label of AltRock Productions, here's the 2nd output by the Chilean quartet! Moulded in an evident Crimso vein, both in the harmonical geometries and in general for the sound, the band proposes an instrumental formula that ranges over ethereal atmospheres and granitic tangles, a perfect synthesis of electric and electronic, in an ongoing game of references between guitars, keyboards and the sax of Leo Aries (Akinetón Retard, from Chile as well). Thanks to a solid technic and solo skills, Abrete Gandul shows the possibility of a genuinely eclectic and perfectly recognizable approach.
• Akinetón Retard: Cadencia Urmana. The fifth release by this fantastic band from Chile. This CD features some themes that had already been debuted in their Editio Princeps's live release, "Ao Vivo", plus several new compositions. After more than ten years of existence, Akinetón keeps evolving but without leaving behind their essence, making sure their reputation as the best South-American ensemble in the genre still applies. The double multiple reeds section is this time augmented with a trumpet player and a trombonist; let's also notice the presence of Dj Vaskular, bringing in some scratches!
• Alas: Mimame Bandoneón. Digipack. Sonoram (2005). The return of a fantastic group with its original members + various guests on bandonéon. If the focus is on newer tango à la Piazzola, there is also a long progressive suite composed of new themes and adaptations of older material to the new style.
• Altruismo: Imagem. This young Argentinean band, born between 2004 and 2005, comes with their first album, marked stylistically by progressive rock with at times a metal edge, as well as fusion with a dominant and much active guitar; the pieces on this album are marked by a certain urgency, sustained by up-tempi and rather loose structures giving plenty of place to individual and also collective soloing; breaks, insisting riffs, threatening drumming or agressive slapped el bass, a tendency to modal harmonies or tone art modulations are some trade marks of the vocabulary used
• Anacrusa: Documentos. Acqua Records 2005 digipack. Re-release of recordings from 1975-76, the outfit's third and fourth albums.
• Antihéroe: Entretejido Cósmico. Iscaro Records. 2007. Here's an interesting band from Argentina. Besides the leader, guitarist and composer Dario Iscaro will be found a trumpetist as 2nd solist and a solid electric rhyhtm section also calling here and there for electronics. No keyboards! Iscaro acknowledges a huge list of people having inspired him from King Crimson to Bill Frisell or Marc Ribot and even master Frank Zappa but the inspiration isn't limited to guitarists and both contemporary jazz players or modern classical composers will be found on his list. Iscaro has a strong technique and a rich sound palette as much as soloist as comping musician; his music is well structured, rhythmically inciting and rich in melodic ideas. Worth the discovery if you're after new names!
• Daddy Antogna Y Los De Helio : Belice. Viajero Inmovil (DAHO38VIR). 2009. This is the debut album by an Argentinean band formed by ex "Ave" drummer Daddy Antogna, together with members of the excellent band "Las Orejas Y La Lengua". The hypnotic quality of the music combines the essence of hard psychedelia, Kraut Rock, Avant Prog, and touches of experimental sounds in the RIO vein.
• Ararat: Música De La Resistencia (2009). Oui Oui Records. Band led by Sergio Chotsourian (guitarist and lead vocalist of Los Natas), who together with brother Santiago and other musicians, combined forces in order to make this project a tangible reality. The outfit's musical direction could be best described as ambient, with dark, hypnotic, haunting, and dense atmospheres. Their style is very close to Kraut Rock territory, and features plenty of excursions into experimental fields.
• Arco Iris: Los Elementales. Leader Music (1977). After the departure of founder member Gustavo Santaolalla, the group began to work in a brand new musical direction. The result of this was this brilliant concept album which merges Progressive Rock, Folk, Psychedelia and fusion, while preserving the mysticism and quality of their previous efforts. Official digipack re-release which includes two bonus tracks.
• Bandhada: Alcanza El Tiempo. Mylodon Records. New album by the Chilean band!
• Cabezas de Cera: CDC Live USA. Coincidence? The Mexican trio is celebrating their 15 years anniversary and at the same time release a CD+DVD set of their performance at the Nearfest Festival in 2009. 9 tracks including some already classic songs and, as regards the DVD, plenty of extras: a short documentary about their US tour, including their their feelings and concerns before and after every concert; another short film with music by the band and also a photo gallery. The band considers this DVD as their best, compared to the previous one from Mexico, released in 2004. If you don't have any visual document of this band, you should consider this one as they are not only one of the best bands in Mexico but in the entire modern prog community!
• Cabezas De Cera: Fractal Sonico 1995 - 2005. New album by this exciting band. Not too many news available yet except that the music has been composed in a 10 years period and that the trio plays one more time on some of those fantastic metallic instruments presented in their previous album Metalmusica from 2004. Here is the present instrumentation in the new recording:
  - Ramsés Luna: Flute, clarinet, saxofon, midi wind (EWI) and voice
  - Francisco Sotelo: Acoustic drums and electronic pads.
  - Mauricio Sotelo: self built instruments based on metal structures (Jarana prisma, tricordio, charrófono), 6 & 12 string guitar, stick grid, electric guitar.
• Casa Das Máquinas: Lar de Maravilhas. Witness PG1209. A mid-70's Brazilian band from São Paulo borne out of the disenchantment of two musicians from glam/dance pop band Os Incríveis, namely drummer/percussionnist Netinho and guitarist/vocalist Aroldo who wanted to take a less commercial route. Recruiting three other musicians, they recorded 3 albums between 1974 and 1977; this one, their 2nd, is considered a national prog classic. Donning a slick production, it incorporates the intensity of the first album with more sophisticated elements such as stronger melodies, better arrangements and an emphasis on spacious, multi-layered symphonic keyboards (particularly the synths - mini moog). It is a strange collection of tunes in that it ranges from superb symphonic flights to some rock pieces.
• Carlos Cutaia: Ciudad De Tonos Lejanos. Solo album by the keyboardist of La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros released in 1982. This is an instrumental work completed together with Oscar Moro, drummer from Seru Giran and the music could be related to the solo projects of Tony Banks
• Defórmica: Paramó (2010). 2nd album by this Argentinean band playing a hard prog music with much focus on guitars (two players). The new album reinforces the stature of the guitar, with the addition of a synth-guitar played by guest musician Lucas Martí. Among other guests and new colours, trumpet and trombone are making their apparition here and add their lot to the complex amalgam of Crimsonian schemes (intertwined guitar lines at first) and post-rock attitudes, math-rock parts, jazz-rock reminiscences and heavy psychedelia.
• Delta Red: Gama de Espectros. FGBG 4827. Nov. 09. Here's a progressive jazz-rock "power trio" coming from the city of Querétaro, Mexico. The musicians' unconventional concept rises from collective improvisations where their influences converge: from classic Progressive rock to King Crimson's (Red era) to Don Caballero like math-rock. The first album "Gama De Espectros", a co-joined production between the Musea and Luna Negra labels, will please all fans of sophisticated progressive rock music, jazz-rock lovers and real alternative music from the twenty-first Century. If you're into Japan's Baraka or the Chilean revelation Tryo, you should try this as soon as possible!
• Diapasão: S/T. Masque Records (2006). Street date: 04/10/06. This is a trio of very young musicians from Minas Gerais in Brazil (the oldest is only 21!). The line-up is Rodrigo Lana (piano, keyboards), Gustavo Amaral (bass, acoustic guitar) and Fabiano Moreira (drums). The bands main influences are some masters from the 70s, such as Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Triumvirat, L'Uovo di Colombo. Lots of classical music and jazz enrich their instrumentation.
• Eblen Macari Ensamble: De Beirut a Cosamaloapan. Ethnéa/Azafran Media (ET 8816). August 2011. A collection of pieces that transcend categories and presents a rich blending of jazz, folk and ethnic music. The leader himself is a Mexican musician of Libanese origin!
• Embrujo: S/T. New release on Amort Records and 1st time on CD! This can be considered as one of the real South American masterpieces when it comes to psychedelic music, but you will also notice the folk influence in many tracks, with the use of flute, acoustic guitars, piano and beautiful soft melodies. Available in May 2004.
• Enfasis: Vencer o Morir (GDRCD0710). A true rarity from Venezuela, between prog and pop, originally released in 1984 and slightly in the vein of the neo-prog sounds that where quite fashionable in those times. The band featured a female vocalist with a strong and effective voice. Deluxe limited and numbered CD reissue in the original 1:1 LP-Sleeve. Numbered 777 copies edition.
• Entrance: Odisea. Progressive rock band from Chile, formed in late 1997 and led by keyboardist Jaime Rosas. Its music keeps the spirit of the 70's with contemporary sound and attitude. "Odisea" has been recorded during the 2003 edition of the famous Baja Prog festival. It is now released as a joint-venture between the Musea and Mylodon labels. Clocking at more than one hour and a quarter, the CD also includes two bonus-tracks captured live one week before in Aguascalientes. To be discovered !
• Escuchame Entre El Ruido. This is a double album in homage to the 40th anniversary of Argentinian Rock. Lito Vitale - ex keyboardist from the prog group MIA - next to some of the most outstanding artists of the genre is playing totally new version of classic songs. The unusual fact is that every artist performed songs by other authors, which never have been part of their repertory.
• Especies: S/T. Digipack 2006. Noteworthy debut by this young Argentine combo, who have adopted a Retro 70's Progressive sound under the welcome influences of Pescado Rabioso, Invisible and Vox Dei, and blend it together with a more updated trend in the Pez line.
• Factor Burzaco: II. AltRock Productions (ALT 018). 2011. Factor Burzaco’s popularity grows day by day in the RIO/Avant-Prog world. Coming from South America and because of their sound and musical style, they are also known as the “Argentinian Thinking Plague”. With this new album the group moves forward with their musical vision, driven by the great ability of their female vocalist, Carolina Restuccia, who shows an uncommon vocal range and, above all, a really distinctive expressive register. Intriguing, obscure, strangely fascinating, Factor Burzaco’s music is going to earn a particular place in the avant-prog world scene. References: Thinking Plague, Stravinski, Henry Cow, King Crimson.
• Falsos Conejos: YYY. Viajeros Inmovil. 2010. Hailing from Argentina, this guitar power trio comes here with their 2nd album - but first long play CD - and offer a music bearing elements of math-rock, progressive rock and psychedelic. Having brought a whole year's work on the recording and producing will tell you that those guys take attention to all kind of details, be it in the composing, playing or the sounds. Give them a try or watch them out!
• José Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q. is certainly one of the most creative and productive composers and multi-instrumentists from Mexico. Here are the two newest releases, also featuring his companion in life, singer Margarita Botello
  
  - Saena: S/T. Luna Negra CDLN-37. 2008. New group formed by the tandem of José Luis Fernández Ledesma (guitars and keyboards) and Margarita Botello (vocals, piano, accordion and percussion) with violinist Alejandro Sánchez (Decibel), Hugo Santos on fretless bass, grand stick and loops and drummer Adrián Zárate. The band is displaying a symphonic type of music, in the grand South-American tradition. Let's not forget some great experimental or jazz-rock parts. Here are eight long and mostly instrumental tracks, ponctuated by Botello's melancholic vocals (plus some parts sung in Spanish) and enriched by the Chapman Stick sonorities. The group tells the story of Saena, king of birds and owner of the Feather, who lives in the mountain Haraiti Bareza. Convoked by their liege, the birds went on an initiatic quest, musically illustrated by the five musicians. To be discovered !
  - Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma Q. & Margarita Botello: Hibridos. Musea FGBG 4738. The new album will once again treat us with an incredibly subtle and complex music, mixing electronic, ethnic and classical music with progressive rock, to create a sort of experimental music. Sometimes contemplative, always suggestive, intense and colourful, this beautiful music is played by numerous guests on violin (Alejandro Sanchez), cello, saxophone, horn (German Bringas)... Listening to this modern symphonic music is a beautiful experience to live !



• Forma Y Fondo: S/T. Discos Mucha Madera 006 (2008). This newly resurrected recording is from an Argentinean band and sends us back to 1977. The music is very close to jazz-rock but with incursions into Brazilian rhythms or other South-American genres. The instrumentation itself is an hymn to those glorious times: Fender Rhodes, clavinet, Selmer Mark IV sax, Fender Jazz Precision, Les Paul custom guitar, etc... so definitely an album for nostalgia lovers and collectors, well worth the listening!
• Gong Global Family: Live in Brazil 20th November 2007. Voiceprint (VPDVD62). Street date: 24/08/09. In late 2007 Daevid Allen along with Josh Pollock and Michael Clare embarked on a series of South American concerts. Along with members of the Invisible Opera Company of Brazil the band played a concert in Sao Paulo, performed under the name Gong Global Family. The DVD, filmed at the first concert of the tour, captures the magic of the evening and of course the eclectic and diverse music that is drawn from the extensive Gong catalogue.
• Habitat: Tratando de Respirar en la Furia (2010). Lizard (LZ CD 067). With this third album, the Argentinean band can be placed next to some of the better 70's Italian post-Genesis prog-symphonic bands, like Le Orme for its acoustic foundation with some electric elements and warm-subtle voice, or early PFM for instance, especially when the acoustic guitar show its arrangements amongst other instruments like flute. The guitar shows a variety ranging from acoustic to fuzz electric, the keyboards even more
• Hexatónica: Formas. Elefante Records (2006). After a lengthy wait and abundant deal of efforts, this much-looked-forward-to studio album finally sees the light of day. This talented quintet from La Plata, province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) has come up with a brilliant piece of work, which brings the band's first phase to an end. Their style is powerful and complex, with bombastic keyboards and Hard Rock-edged guitars.
• Hexatónica: En Vivo. CD. La Plata Producciones (2005). Symphonic prog band inspired by the likes of Liquid Tension, Yes, Dream Theater. Recorded during the event which took place in 2005 (Rock En Vivo 2005) in La Plata.
• Honduras: Célula Dormida (2010). This is the 4th output by this experimental band from Argentina, moving between RIO prog and Canterbury
• Honduras: 3. Azione Artigianale 029. April 2009. This Argentinean band, whose complete name was originally Honduras Libregruppo, releases here their third opus (hence the title) and it is overall under the sign of "mini"; minisleeve formatted and mini CD (running time is 22 minutes). Between psychedelic, Kraut Rock and Soft Machine Canterbury, here's the status or current musical picture of a band that quickly arose much interest throughout the world
• Lalo Huber: Lost in Kali Yuga. Record Runner RR 0580. 2009. First solo album by the keyboardist of the Argentinean band Nexus! Lalo takes on vocals and plays all instruments (Hammond organ, electric pianos, synthesizers, acoustic guitar and bass guitar), except for drums & percussion, played by best friend and guest musician Luis Nakamura, drummer in .... Nexus!!
• Iconoclasta: Resurreccion. FGBG 4826. Nov. 09. Still centered around the two guitarists and the drummer, the new line-up of this album adds a female touch to the team with bassist-singer Greta Silva and singer Alma Castillo
• Mingui Ingaramo: Patagonia. Melopea Records (2009). Digipack. Renowned keyboards player who formed part of the famous bands Los Musicos del Centro and Grupo Encuentro. In this new solo venture, Mingui continues to fuse traditional Argentinean rhythms (Tango and Folk) with his personal vision of Jazz. One can almost trace a parallel path to the works of the much applauded Lito Vitale and his group, maybe just in a more orchestral classical version, where Vitale often emphasises the combo aspects.
• Introvision: 08:36:59. This is the debut album of a band hailing from Costa Rica! Keyboards, guitar, bass & drums + Will Acuña (voice & guitar); they try to unite prog, jazz, electronic and folk through surprising ways and certainly bring some freshness and modernity to the album!
• La Gota: Galpón 11 (2009). This is the third opus by this quartet hailing from Rosario, in the province of Santa Fé, Argentina. What immediately transpires from this CD is the amazing quality and sound the band possess when performing live. Their fusionish prog-rock hits you on the face! Besides new compositions, the repertory is based on their 2006 album "Tractor" but if twin guitars were the rule in the studio, a keyboard player replaces the one guitar on those live recordings. and it works more than fine!
• La Máquina Cinemática: Música para Pantallas Vacías. Epsa Music (2010). Composer and musician Exequiel Mantega has put together a contemporary chamber music outfit of highly refined beauty and quality. Gorgeous cellos, lamenting clarinets, a lively pulsating rhythm section, music reminding at times the spirit of Egberto Gismonti, great wind and string arrangements, there are plenty of details to discover and the more you listen, the more you'll find!
• La Mujer Barbuda (the bearded woman): Música Para Cuando Aparece Un Monstruo (2008). Created by bassist Franco Fontanarrosa and with guitar, drums, sax and clarinet, this project is strongly connected to complex instrumental avant prog, even RIO, with some Crimsonian connotations (in the power rhythm lines for example. Solid and well thought, full of contrasts and surprises, this is definitely a band to discover!
• Los Gatos Savajes: Reunion 2005. For their 40th birthday, the group formed in 1965 by Litto Nebbia reformed and played concerts in Buenos Aires and Rosario between July and August 2005. The group's reunion was one of the most celebrated events of the year in Argentina, and this DVD gathers the best renditions of all the songs they played for the event.
• MediaBanda is a Chilean group created by ex members of Fulano, one of the best bands ever created in Chile. Christian Crisosto and his wife Arlette Jequier, together with newcomer and reedman Marcelo Maira and other musicians (including Christian and Arlette's daughter Regina who is one of the lead singers with mom), they took their experience of Fulano and combined it in an attempt and the will to reach the next generations; at times their music sounds like a mix of Hermeto Pascoal (the quirky harmonic approach) and Frank Zappa (the contrapuntic percussive marimba lines, the guitar soloing). They have a real fresh approach and a perfect blend of complexity and immediacy; they fly on top of any musical style they like, including reggae or modern classical arrangements. In other words, they equally address body and soul! 2 records are so far released, the newest being a double CD titled "Dinero y Terminación Nerviosa", released in 2007. "Entre La Inseguridad Y El Ego" is the title of their first album, released in 2004. A great band and music to discover! Of course a MUST for fans of Fulano!
• Great, great news from Argentina! Mamma Mia, Viajero Inmovil Records is releasing a double CD of several unreleased gems recorded in the studio, as well as some done live, by the legendary short-lived band (actually an association) MIA!! The 2CD also features some tracks which until now, hadn't seen the light of day on CD. Not only this: included is the only known filmed footage to exist of the members of such a legendary collective. This "rescue" took many years of painstaking labour and reflects the varied musical options offered by this great independent musical association during its various incarnations. Released in a special double digipack. Enjoy!
• Litto Nebbia: Bazar De Los Milagros. This new edition includes four bonus tracks culled from the soundtrack to the Argentine cult movie "Bobeta, ilusion y despertar". The original album was recorded together with guitarist and bassist Daniel Homer, while Mirtha Defilpo took responsibility of almost all the lyrics and some vocal parts too. This is a record comprising very personal songs of a certain melancholic touch, and under the obvious influences of Brazilian sounds and rhythms.
• Fernando Otero / Nick Danielson: Revisión (2006). Argentina. Talented Argentinian pianist and composer of international renown and prestige, who in the company of violinist Nick Danielson, performs a mixture of Chamber Music, Avant Garde Tango and Jazz, creating complex musical structures comparable to those of Gatto Marte.
• Overflow: Overflow (Orfeon, CSM-221). Nice mini-lp replica of this excellent Mexican progressive album from 1985. Fantastic, very well-crafted, classic progressive sound with influences of Enid, Barclay James Harvest, Yes, Genesis, Cathedral. Comes with insert and official reissue from Orfeon Mexico.
• Progressive rock from El Salvador distributed by M.P. records. The name? OVNI. The recordings? En Algun Reino (95) / Entre Seres Y Sus Raices (2000) / La Experienca (2001 and live recording). Melodic keyboard orientated neo-prog.
• Pescado Rabioso
  led by Luis Alberto Spinetta, this band is considered to be one the best from the Prog Rock scene of South America. They started in 1971 and they recorded 4 albums which are now available: Desatormentandonos (1972), Pescado Rabioso 2 (1973), Artaud (1973), Lo mejor de (1976) - all priced €16 - + the 2CD Obras Cumbres (with Invisible) (2001). €24.
• Aldo Pinelli: La Era de Melania. HTT07CD (2011). This is the third solo album by the leader of the Argentinian ensemble Habitat. Very sophisticated and polished as usual with enchanted and fantasy atmospheres sometimes near to Steve Hackett (the neo-classical influences) and Mike Oldfield (the folk, medieval touches).
• Pollo Raffo: Guarda Que Viene El Trzzarden - Música de Flores Volúmen 1 (2006). Juan "Pollo" Raffo is a composer, arranger, musical director, keyboardist and music teacher from Argentina. The music presented in this album is multi facetted with glimses of fusion jazz, contemporary music, tango or Latin jazz ... and more!
• Quaterna Requiem: S/T. Released by Rock Symphony, this DVD captures magical moments commemorating the band's 15 years of existence, one of the most highly regarded prog rock bands from Brazil, playing a music in a classical vein not unlike After Crying, though maybe less complex and more accessible.
• Andrés Ruiz: Los Deudos. Viajero Inmovil (2008). Here's a songwriter from argentina who ventures with this third album in a prog-pop musical territory, not unlike Spinetta Jade (his voice and intonation added to the harmonic structure reminds me a lot of him) or Lito Nebbia. A conceptually-themed common thread weaves very nicely and naturally throughout the entire disc, allowing the composer to pour his own distinctive trademark of melody and emotion into his songs. Keyboards (lovely Rhodes) are effectively used to bring a maximal emotion and sustain the dark dramatic feelings.
• Diego Souto: Ciudad De Grises. Parásito de Luz (2005). New and 2nd album by an interesting stick player offering a very personal fusion of Guitar Craft and tango. Both electronic and progressive and including 5 arrangements for stick of themes by Robert Fripp
• Tá. Difficult to find a shorter name for a group! This one comes from Uruguay, a trio featuring familiar names if I say Osvaldo Fattoruso ... do you remember Opa or even before a band called Los shakers ? Two albums are now released on the label Melopea. The self titled and first album from 1992 and their 2nd, lazily titled "Vol. 2" (1993). If the first tries to merge jazz-rock with candombe, the second sees a change of musical orientation, the band bringing now Latin Jazz and Brazilian Music influences into their grooves. The two other third of the band are Mariana Ingold & Leonardo Amuedo.
• Tanger: Mundos paralelos. Viajero Inmovil. May 2008. The 4th album by the Argentinean band is now ready. Still headlined by Crimsonian cross rhythms and a great flute playing!
• Tanger: Ciudad. New album from 2006.
• Tarkus: A Gaze Between The Past And The Future. This brazilian band was created in 2000, and this first album was recorded in 2002. The name "Tarkus" may sound like a reference to E.L.P., but these six pieces reveal a personal music, with heavy moments sometimes but all in all of a general symphonic inspiration. There are two covers (one taken from the Argentinean band Nexus, the other from the Italian Devil Doll). It's a brilliant symphonic rock with strong melodies and great enthusiasm
• Tempus Fugit: Chessboard. Masque Records (MRCD0708). 2011. "Chessboard" marks the return of the Brazilian band Tempus Fugit - one of the most important symphonic prog-rock bands of South America - after two fine records dated 1997 and 1999. A great comeback then, a sound characterized by rich textures of elaborate melodic nature, with keyboards of the renowned Andre Mello in evidence, including a touch of classicism, the great symphonic openings, an excellent rhythm section, brilliant acoustic and electric guitars, English singing. 50 minutes of charming and elegant symphonic prog-breath, referring to the best Yes, with almost twenty minutes of the title track in high evidence. Excellent digipack packaging. Strongly recommended to lovers of the best symphonic progressive rock!
• Lito Vitale & Víctor Carrión : Nuevo Trio. Ciclo 3. Recorded and mastered in June 2008, this new trio is actually partly gathering old friends since the special guest here is guitarist Lucho González , who already contributed many years ago to other trio recordings with Vitale. Both bring here some of their own compositions while the rest is carefully picked among songs from the historical North Argentinean folk repertory; no need to say you can expect musical links to tango, Vitale has done this in most of his long musical career. Víctor Carrión is a wind instrument player, featured on soprano sax and quena. So the rootsy aspects are counter-balanced by jazz improvised parts, which make this CD a new fresh output by the very productive and always emotionally breathtaking pianist and his two mates
• Lito Vitale has also composed the music of "Adios Hermano Cruel", especially for the ballet by Julio Bocca. This show is part of Bocca's last world tour, just before his retirement. The music is glamourous and much symphonic, extremely lyrical and emotionally strong, as is always the case with Vitale!
• Adrian Zarate: De La A A La Z. Gazul GA8697. Jan. 2010. This is drummer and composer Adrian Zárate’s debut album. Adrian is a member of the Mexican symphonic prog-rock band Saena. This album shows a different musical approach than Saena and it’s more into RIO and complex progressive music, not unlike Daniel Denis' "Les Eaux Troubles"; it is also especially influenced by the Terry Bozzio's Zappa.
• Viajero Inmovil is a label focusing on progressive music from Argentina and South America. Among their newest own or distributed releases are:
  - Los Barrocos: Sin tiempo ni espacio (1974). The outfit featured some very rare particularities: twin lead guitars, permanent presence of a violin throughout all of their songs, almost handled as a lead instrument; and excellent vocal arrangements. They mixed Psychedelia, Prog Rock and Classical Music very successfully and were finally able to boast this unusual yet inspired concoction on this, their only album, which was recorded during the latter stages of 1972. The record didn't actually see the light of day until 1974. This CD has been remastered from the original master tapes
  - Rockaphonica: Fuera de tiempo (2006). After many years of attempting to solidify his project, the talented flutist and composer Ricardo Luna was at long last able to form and establish his own band and record this heavily classically-influenced Symphonic Rock debut album. There is a certain stylistic proximity to Kollar Attila (from Solaris), and reminiscenses of Focus and Camel.
  - Espíritu: Espíritu III (1982) - Argentina (Remastered with bonus tracks)
  - Kells: Sur (2004)- Argentina.
  - Grimsditch, Andi: The Tolkien Song Cycle Vol. 1 (2002) - Argentina
  - LA Sed: ¿ Y después qué ? (2004) - Argentina
  - Uqbar: S/T (1995). This surprising and one of a kind Contemporary Chamber Music fivesome is comprised of 2 classic guitarists, a clarinet player, a cellist and a flutist. Their sound is full of fragile notes which effortlessly flow into intricate and off the wall arrangements. A distant proximity in style to Oregon is the only comparable parameter that comes to mind. A totally unknown gem which is begging to be discovered!!!
  - Rodolfo Alchourron: Tálisman (94). Unreleased album by one of the most prestigious composers and arrangers of Argentine music as a whole. Rodolfo produces a very personal brand of Fusion, via the combination of Jazz, Rock and elements culled from our territory's Popular music, through pleasant and memorable melodies, complex arrangements and constant (yet many times totally unexpected) rhythm changes, which altogether provide an amazing concoction similar to the Canterbury sound from the '70's (Hatfield & The North or National Health) or certain passages which easily remind us of Frank Zappa
  - Pacífico's sole album "La Bella Época" (1972)- a short lived prog folk trio
  - Las Orejas Y La Lengua and their 2nd studio effort "Error" from 2003
  - the sole album of the group Anima (1989)
  - Julio Presas album "Amaneciendo en la cruz del sur" (1978)
  - Litto Nebia's "El vendedor de promesas" (1977)
  - the 2002 release of the young group Tanger
  - Vytas Brenner: Lo máximo de Vytas Brenner (1975/77). At least 3rd album by this musician from Venezuela
  - Fulano: Trabajos Inutiles. The last record of this chilean group has been remastered and has one bonus track too
  - Contraluz: Ramos generales (2003) - Argentina
  - Espiritu: Fronteras mágicas (2003) - Argentina
  - Tracción A Cuerda: Circo de la Costa (1997) - Argentina
  - Mar De Robles: MdR (2003) - Chile
  - Terreno Baldio: Terreno baldio (1976) - Brasil
  - Nono Belvis/Kike Sanzol (M.I.A.): Qué están celebrando los hombres (1982)
  - Argentina will be their next release on own label.


• Mini LPs CDs from Argentina!
  Here's a list of releases presented now on the popular format called mini sleeve LPs or mini LPs digipacks.
  ESPÍRITU - Crisálida (1975)
  GABIS, CLAUDIO - Claudio Gabis y la Pesada (1972)
  GABRIELA - Gabriela (1972)
  LEBÓN, DAVID - David Lebón (1976)
  MELIMELUM - Melimelum (1976)
  MESTRE, NITO - Nito Mestre y los desconocidos de siempre (1977)
  MESTRE, NITO - 20/10 (1977)
  PEDRO Y PABLO - Yo vivo en esta ciudad (1970)
  SERU GIRAN - Yo no quiero volverme tan loco (1970)
  SPINETTA, LUIS ALBERTO - A 18' del sol (1977)
  VARIOS ARTISTAS - A través del tiempo Vol. 1 (197?)
  VARIOS ARTISTAS - Rock para mis amigos Vol. 1 (197?)
  VARIOS ARTISTAS - Rock para mis amigos Vol. 1/3/4 (197?)
  VIVENCIA - Mi cuarto (1973)
  VIVENCIA - Vivencia (1978)


TO TOP


EASTERN CORNERS OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK



• 7 Ocean: The Mysterious Race of Strange Entities. 2008. MALS 270. The 80-minute "The Mysterious Race of Strange Entities" is the debut album by Seventh Ocean, from Belarus, although the band consists of mature musicians with an experience of many years behind them. The group performs symphonic progressive rock that, while being predominantly vocals-based (which is certainly not the same as “song-based”), is highly diverse – not too dissimilar to mid 70's Van Der Graaf Generator in this respect. This is in all senses a concept recording, i.e. both stylistically and lyrically, and has a genuinely epic magnitude, obvious throughout its ten tracks.
• Android: East of Eden (AND 01). The Android group was established in 1980 as a university band. Most of the founding members are featured in the current line-up. The music of Android combines the classic progressive rock with new age, jazz, and folkloric song motifs. It is predominantly for those who have grown up on the music of SBB, Fermata, Yes, Pink Floyd, ELP, Mike Oldfield, Tomita and Kitaro and who like complex rock music. Double keyboards, guitar, bass and drums are the instrumentation used here.
• Carpathia Project: II. CP01. 2011. Started in 1998, this Hungarian project was stopped by the death of Zsolt Daczi (aka Bende) around 2006, one of the two founding members. At that time, the work on the 2nd album (the first was released in 1999) was already started but went left unfinished. Tamás Ángyán, the other founding member, multi-instrumentist playing mainly on violin and guitar and main composer of the present album, decided to finish the work and contacted guitarist Tamas Mohai to replace Bende. Together with two bass players, a drummer and a flutist, they now finally release this second album, a mix of ethno-jazz and progressive fusion.
• Colorstar: De Luxe. CSDVD 01. DVD. With two guitars upfront, this Hungarian band with already 3-4 albums behind them releases today a DVD. The main inspiration to create their own music style had come from the discovery of new technical instruments (midi and sequencer programmes). Their music is mentioned together with other psych/alternative groups such as Korai Öröm or their English counterpart and predecessor Ozric Tentacles.
• Djabe & Steve Hackett: In the Footsteps of Attila and Genghis. Gramy Records (GR 094). 2011. This double CD was recorded by the band in the summer of 2010 during the tour with Steve Hackett. This tour reached Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia (in chronological order). The show featured Djabe classics as well as Steve Hackett's own compositons and a few ones which originated from Genesis. The collaboration between the band and the guitarist is so prolific that new concert dates are planned for the summer 2011!
• Djabe with Steve Hackett: Sipi emlékkoncert (Sipi Benefit Concert). 2CD (GR080). Djabe said farewell to their percussionist and singer András Sipos in a 5 hour monster concert. This was an incredible concert, which became a real cultural event. World music, jazz, hard rock and metal elements were all present. Everybody added something to the production. Djabe were in their best form and Steve Hackett managed to blend into the band like an organic member, playing unusually freely. He apparently enjoyed every single moment. It was a triumphal homage and the musicians said goodbye to their always cheerful joker as he deserved it.
• Fromuz: Quartus Artifactus. 10T Records (10T10048). 2CD + DVD. 16/05/11. The gentlemen from Uzbekistan are back with a new release to once again showcase their amazing musical skills in a new collection of performance tracks. Quartus Artifactus is a newly recorded collection of songs from all three of the band’s previous releases, Audio Diplomacy, Overlook, and Seventh Story – rearranged and played in a prog-chamber format, with a less electric, more acoustic sound. The album includes a full concert DVD, with behind the scenes supplemental material and 2 CDs of the individual music tracks. The sound is a gentler, friendlier From.Uz, but retains the intensity of the originals while bringing in some beautiful acoustic interpretations.
• Fromuz: Inside Seventh Story. DVD. 2010. This show is an original live version of the “Seventh Story” concept album, including here some elements of dramatic art, performed on stage by actors Hasan and Husan Salikhov, especially invited for this show. The performance is an excellent and special mix of theater and progressive rock music.
• Fromuz: Seventh Story (2010). 3rd album for the fusion outfit hailing from Uzbekistan (did you ever realize the word play in their group name? From.Uz .... ). In addition to the instrumental sound that has defined Fromuz thus far, “Seventh Story” pushes into new areas including full orchestra for one track and vocals on several others. A conceptual spirit seems also floating throughout the album, bringing a more reflective side ... should I dare say at the expense of their normally high-energy delivery?
• Fromuz: Overlook. 10T Records. This is the 2nd album by this fusion prog outfit from Uzbekistan. Fromuz originally burst onto the prog and fusion scene last year with the release of their live debut CD "Audio Diplomacy," garnering spots on many critics' top 10 lists and drawing comparisons to such stalwarts as Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report and Liquid Tension Experiment. Newly reenergized, Fromuz returns with a new selection of intensely melodic hard prog-rock fusion. Displaying nearly 70 minutes worth of blistering instrumental prowess, they keep moving in the musical direction they already have established, while simultaneously stretching into adventurous new territory on "Overlook", their first studio release. All original members are back for the five epic tracks that make up Overlook, as they once again prove themselves to be among the most passionate and talented musicians on the scene today.
• Fromuz: Audio Diplomacy CD + DVD. This band from Uzbekistan is a fantastic new fusion band very similar to Frogg Café, Bolt, Mats Morgan Band & Spaced Out! This incredibly energetic and expressive live performance is a testimony of the intense musical statement that Fromuz is. This is their debut performance from April 2005 at the Youth Theater of Uzbekistan, in Tashkent. Filmed with multiple cameras and produced as a DVD, along with an audio CD of the same performance in pristine clarity. Featuring over 70 minutes of material, “Audio Diplomacy” archives a live performance by a band bound to be regarded as one of the most dynamic live bands performing on stage anywhere in the world today. The amazing level of musicianship and interplay between its members show that Fromuz is truly ready to take the current progressive music scene by storm. They have already been invited to perform at the 2007 edition of the Baja Prog Festival in Mexicali!
• The album "The Sun of the Spirit" was recorded in 1998 and the first officially published solo album by Russian composer and keyboard player Gennady Ilyin; the earlier version, originally released by Boheme, appeared as a limited edition and under the band name Little Tragedies. Since the year 2000, however, the band has played with a different line-up and a decision was made to reissue "The Sun of the Spirit" and "Porcelain Pavilion" as Gennady Ilyin's solo projects. The new release contains a bonus track that was recorded a bit later, but has never appeared on a CD.
• Indukti: Idmen. Street date: 24-07-09. 2nd album by the Polish quintet. Defined by themselves as a musical conglomerate of 5 individuals set up together to express their varied experiences, the outfit still offers a challenging instrumentation (dulcimer, trumpet, saz), with the dynamic Ewa Jablonska on violin having an important role in the band's overall sound. Dense, complex and highly energetic, the music is often based on improvisational sequences tried during rehearsals and completed thereafter with the final polish.
• Karfagen: Solitary Sandpiper Journey. The Ukrainian keyboardist Antony Kalugin is back with a new album and over 75 minutes of memorable melodies to savour. It's an excellent mix of mostly instrumental tracks with some stunning vocals and has expanded way beyond the horizons of earlier Karfagen, but still retains the much loved sounds that reminds us of bands such as Camel or Focus. This is also partly due to the debut of local guitarist Alexandr Pavlov, whose playing is masterful. This time vocals make an apparition on 3 tracks, in the tradition of Celtic flavoured bands such as Mostly Autumn, Magenta or The Reasoning, a sound that creates that special magic the listener is always seeking, with vocals that heighten and compliment the track rather than dominate.
• Korai Öröm: 2009. They're back after a 4 years break! The techno-psychedelic Hungarian outfit has released nine albums which also received a warm welcome on the international scene. The new album is still anchored in world music with titles such as "New Arabian", "Chinese", "Mbira" (a name for thumb piano) or "Latin". A few guests also appear (voice, guitar) here and there
• Little Tragedies: Cross (MALS 289). 2009. New album by this prolific Russian band. In the 72-minute recording, the music ranges from powerful and bombastic to delicate and mellow featuring the best of the Little Tragedies' style. The band shows even more skillful musicianship than before, and all the instruments get more room to play.
• Little Tragedies: The Sixth Sense. Mals Records (MALS 162). Street date: 08/09/06. Read on the GEPR: "Overall, "The Sixth Sense" has much common ground with the group's previous two CDs, "Return" and "New Faust", and features the same musicians: Gennady Ilyin - keyboards, vocals, Yury Skripkin - drums, Oleg Babynin - bass, Alexander Malakhovsky - guitar and Aleksey Bildin - saxophone. "The Sixth Sense" is a good album, but a bit more sedate than "New Faust". The heavy Hammond sound has been superseded by polyphonic synthesizers and piano to a large extent .... Even the organ sounds cleaner on this album, less distorted"
• Lizard: Spam. After the successful album "Tales From Artichoke Wood", here is the newest offering by Lizard, one of the top bands on the Polish art-rock scene. The album enchants with originality of sound and composition; the music is surreal, modern and very jazzy.
• Lizard: Tales From Artichoke Wood. From Poland. This band has already quite a few recordings under their wings. This one is their sixth or so, offering hard and complex compositions in a conceptual 70's spirit. Power and melodic lyricism are perfectly balanced. Absolutely to discover and with no doubts for fans of ELP or Crimson
• Lunatic Soul: S/T (Kscope). Released on Steven Wilson's label, this is the debut solo record from the lead singer and creative force behind the post-progressive Polish band Riverside. It features amongst the players Wawrzyniec Dramowicz, drummer in another well known (if not, discover it) Polish band: Indukti. There are plenty of spicy musical *oddities* in the instrumentation, from e-bow to kalimba
• Ádám Török & MINI: Magic Night (RTLDVD 1103). 100mn. The DVD also features interviews, photo gallery and biography.
• 2 Re-releases by the Czech group Olympic!
  - SU 5534 Olympic: Zelva. Remastered, new packaging + bonus tracks
  - SU 5535 Olympic: Ptak Rosomak. Remastered, new packaging + bonus tracks.
  
• Olive Mess: Cherdak. Mellow Records MMP501. Nearly unnoticed - but we saw it!! - here's the 2nd output by this band from Latvia, who had their debut album on the french label Soleil Zeuhl.
• Omega: Égi Jel (Sign In the skies). 984181-7. CD+DVD. The Egi jel is a new Omega studio album with 13 tracks. This release contains a CD and a DVD. On the DVD you can see some backstage videos and you can follow up how they completed the new album.
• Riverside: Reality Dream Trilogy Box. Street date: 09/09/11. Strictly limited 6CD boxset, including the following albums: CD1: Out Of Myself / CD2: Voices In My Head / CD3: Second Life Syndrome / CD4: Second Live Syndrome / CD5: Rapid Eye Movement / CD6: Rapid Eye Movement II.
• Roz Vitalis: Compassionizer. The band's name comes from the latin "ros vitalis", meaning "living water" and is used here as a word play with the man's name. This self released CD - already the seventh - is indeed mainly the work of Ivan Rozmainsky alone, playing keyboards, samples, virtual synths, percussion, helped by a few friends like Sydius (of Diogenium) and Yuri Verba on clarinets. The music has a modern classical (for ex. Stravinski) inclination which brings forth some chamber moods and the sound research is great! The writing is at the opposite maybe a little too weak (scale fragments instead of real melodies or themes, rhythms unfortunately generated by drum machines). To add some mistery to the band, check out the reviews on the net and you'll see so many diverging bets on what they sound like that you're better fared not to believe it: Deep Purple versus Univers Zéro, RIO avant-prog versus metal prog, etc... a real nightmare of this and that! Check them by yourself if you like moody, rather unconventional music; maybe not top notch or essential but with enough stuff to tease your curiosity until their real masterpiece comes!
• Rubycone: Pictures For Susceptible Housewives (MALS 310). Digipack. Young band from Moldavia, moving into the fields of technical metal prog with influences by bands like Gordian Knot. Classic format of twin guitars, bass and drums.
• Satellite: Evening Dreams. Ltd. Edt. DVD + CD. NTSC Region 0. The DVD is approximatively 205mn. long. This classic collector's item also includes: Animated menu / Bonus video: nearly 30-minute rehearsal and backstage footage! / Bonus video clip: "Love Is Around You" / 4 bonus audio tracks! / Interviews with all the band's members / Biography / Discography / Desktop images / Weblinks / Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD can also be ordered in a stand-alone plain edition.
• SBB: Four Decades. Limited edition CD+DVD. SBB keeps coming up with new stuff, here live at Wyspianski Theater, Katowice, November 19th 2007 (15 tracks) + Live At Spodek Hall, Katowice February 2006 (7 Tracks). There is also bonus material, interviews & bios, discography, photos gallery, etc... Dolby Digital 5.1. Surround Sound. Also available is the 2CD "Complete Tapes 1974", a digipak containing complete material recorded live during two shows promoting SBB's debut album in April 1974; CD 1 features material from the concert played on April 19th, 1974 while CD 2 presents tracks played in different arrangements on April 18th, 1974.
• SBB: Live In Spodek 2006. Unusual live album from a concert where SBB were the first act supporting Deep Purple! (Spodek, Katowice, February 24th, 2006). The band played in a 4-piece line-up. With a perfect choice of tracks, they kept a good balance between compositions from their last studio album "New Century" and their own classics.
• SBB: Live In Theatre 2005 Ltd. Edition DVD + CD. in special Digipack, approx. 220 minutes. This is the first live DVD of SBB performing in their new line-up with Paul Wertico on drums (prev. in Pat Metheny Group). The DVD is a bridge between the past and the future. In the concert they presented their older, cult compositions, as well as songs from their newest studio album "Walkin' Around The Stormy Bay" performed on two drum sets by the incredible duo Anthimos-Wertico! The DVD also includes: Animated menu / Band's biography / Discography / Interviews with Józef Skrzek, Apostolis Anthimos and Paul Wertico / Bonus video clip "Music Is My Life" / Desktop images / Weblinks /Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• SBB: New Century. First Polish album released in DVD Audio format, incl. three soundtracks; High Definition Stereo 96/24, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound! -SBB has been one of the most important bands in progressive rock/jazz music since the very beginning of their career
• SBB - Anthology 1974 – 2004. Still in stock ONE copy of this luxurious 22CDs boxset released by Metal Mind Productions and covering the entire production of the Polish prog group, inclusive 2 CDs of unreleased material only available in this box!
• Signal To Noise Ratio : "Stan Nieustalony" (MALS 270). This is the debut release by Polish band Signal To Noise Ratio. The music is strongly reminiscent of early '70s progressive rock with psychedelic tendencies, the band's main sources of inspiration being classic Amon Duul II, King Crimson and Jethro Tull and early Pink Floyd.
• Józef Skrzek: Viator 1973 - 2007. After the 22CD boxset of SBB, the two 9CD boxsets of SBB lost tapes, it is now the turn of Jósef Skrzek, pianist and leader of SBB. The 20CD boxset to be released on September 17, 2007 is again a monster of remastered stuff, unreleased albums and a real orgy of bonus tracks. "Viator 1973-2007" makes for a great summary of Skrzek's solo career and includes 20 CDs with music from various genres: rock, jazz, electronica plus music for films and performances created by Skrzek in the period of over 34 years! The first ever CD release of the album "Ambitus Extended" and a re-release of the album "Pokój Saren" (piano versions of the soundtrack to the opera by Skrzek and Lech Majewski) will be a real treat for all fans. The box was enriched with several previously unreleased piano tracks plus music for movies, theatre performances etc. As usual, we're dealing here with a numbered limited (1000 copies) edition
• Slivovitz: Hubris. Moonjune (MJR026). 2009. With mentors like Frank Zappa or John Zorn, the Italian outfit Slivovitz, hailing from Napoli, could be described as a hard to tame hybrid musical beast, much receptive of the various ethnographic sounds of the globe, from the Balkans to Hawaiian surf guitars or reggae, feeding at times their music through the jazz rock mincer and serving it with a zest of Zappaesque humour.
• Solaris: Live in Los Angeles 1995. DVD. 2010. Recorded at Variety Arts Center on November 11th, 1995, during the L.A. Progfest, where Solaris was the headliner. This is the visual document (an official bootleg from VHS and Umatic recordings) of the same concert that was previously released some years ago as a double audio CD. The bonus from the 2CD is omitted but the DVD offers another bonus, an interview from 2010 with the band members. Running time around 93 minutes.
• Sunchild: As Far As The Eye Can See. Caerllysi Music (CM11007). 2011. The ever productive Antony Kalugin strikes again! The sound production is absolutely great, the players invited still many, thus bringing a sure and rich instrumentation, the vocal parts still favoured and with a new singer - Olga Chernova - bearing reminiscences of a Kate Bush; all in all one more time a melodic journey into securely sailed soft prog waters.
• Tabula Smaragdina: A Szavakon Túl. Musiques Parallèles (MP 3091). 2009. Here's the debut album of another brightly talented young band from Hungary. Highly recommended for classic Progressive rock connoisseurs, and open-minded experimenters, too ! With the well-known alchemist Akos Bogáti-Bokor coming from the band Yesterdays and acting here as lead singer-guitarist, bass player and composer-producer, we're about to explore other worlds in another way, leaning much more into the rocky side. Hungarian poetry, vintageness, intricate time signatures, a sophisticated pop attitude, and some definitely original sounds build the structure of this piece of work
• The Unlimited Trio: S/T. Great Winds (GW 3131). April 2011. Here's a Bielorussian-Czech original and experimental instrumental project whose main purpose is to dig an eclectism of styles or genres. You can hear in their music elements of various historical eras and of classical music, folk, avantgarde, ambient, rock and jazz; all this played in a very unique instrumental mix: acoustic guitar, viola and accordion!
• Varga János Projekt: Elixir (VJP01). János Varga was one of the founders of the legendary Hungarian prog-rock band East! He plays here (guitar, synthesizer, bass) together with original East-drummer István Király and keyboard player Zsolt Nagy, a name that is more and more heard, not alone in Hungary but Europe as well. The album offers a variety of musical styles and instrument sounds, driven by a powerful drumming.


• PERIFERIC RECORDS / HUNGARY
  
  
• New from After Crying! The internationally acclaimed Hungarian band is again making the actuality with two releases on the label Peripheric Records
  
  + "Opus 1" (BGCD198) is the very first After Crying material released in 1989 on cassette. The compilation is based on the live recordings made in February 1988 in the Szkéné Theatre, in May 1989 in Porto and in January 1989 at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. It features of course their original pianist Csaba Vedres and the Victoria Chamber Choir
  + "1989" (BGCD197). This is the second After Crying material, released on cassette in 1989 after the Opus 1. Added to the core of the group are guest musicians on trombone, trumpet, vocal, flute and viola.
• After Crying Show. Finally after 6 years a new studio record by After Crying. And a fantastic one, maybe their best ever! Splendid orchestrations and arrangements with some recurring motives taken from Ravel, Dvorak and King Crimson. Hat off!
• Ankh: Expect Unexpected. The music of Ankh can be described as the combination of the heaviness of Anekdoten and the violin chops of Curved Air. Hard, edgy, brutal and heavy in one minute but romantic and gentle in the other.
• Winkler Balázs: Tárt ablak (Open Window). BGCD185. Also related to After Crying is this solo piano album by the group's pianist, trumpet player and composer. This album reflects well Winkler's philosophy on arts and offers a real spiritual and artistic experience to the audience, the key words of his playing being interpretation, message and articulation.
• Iván Folk: Sea Of Glass. Folk Iván is a very talented musician who recorded his second album in 2002. This is an istrumental progressive rock album featuring guitar in the main role, But all the other instruments like soprano sax, keyboards, percussion, bass make the music exciting and very close to the greatest jazz-rock names of history: RTF, Soft Machine.
• Fugato Orchestra: Noé (Noah). Periferic Records (BGCD 212). And so came the 2nd release of this young 14-piece ensemble, moving in chamber-symphonic progressive waters. Besides the usual classical intruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, trumpet, clarinet, piccolo, acoustic guitar, piano) there're drums + special percussion, synthetizer and bass guitar in the line-up. Their music is a clever mixture of different music stlyes like classical, prog rock, jazz and even early music. They play the compositions of Balázs Alpár (band leader, pianist) and his arrangements made of well-known prog rock, symphonic and early music pieces. As a new thing, the ensemble also invited a few guests: the much appreciated singer Veronika Harcsa and - featured on the characteristic ethnic instrument kaval - Nikola Parov.
• Fugato: Neander Variations (BGCD 121). Progressive symphonic rock by a young band formed in 2000 and whose Hungarian composer, Balázs Alpár, is born in 1982 in Budapest. The pieces, combining different styles, aim to retain a classical approach despite a lighter character. This is most evident in the rhythmic and harmonic diversity, the carefully elaborated voices, mood and emotional changes spanning the compositions.
• Kada: U.F.O. Spotters (BGDVD 01). The new release by this great Hungarian outfit is a DVD! Most of the tracks were recorded in December 2004 but the DVD also features a recording of the presentation of their CD Búcsúzás in Bárka Színház in 2001 as well as excerpts from concerts in the Roxkwell Klub (Miskolc) in 2004 and on the Pesti Est Stage at the Sziget Festival in 2005. Don't let this one go!
  At the same time, another CD is also available from a new formation evolved from Kada, which started during a studio recording on March 28, 2005. The name is Kada Ad Libitum and the title is "Approximationes" (BGCD 152). The music is still in a jazz vein based on collective improvisation. To make it complete, let's also mention the trio album put up by Kada's saxophonist Dániel Váczi: Akron (BGCD 156). A more traditional form of modern jazz with guitar, bass and drums. All tracks are Váczi’s own original compositions. The emphasis in the music is on the psychological touch and the complex beauty.
  
• Kada: Ohoáé (BGCD 132). Every track from this new album has been recorded at different concerts (Sziget Fesztivál, Petofi Csarnokban, Millenáris Park…) between 2001 and 2003, but the sound is as good as it was a studio-recording. Due to this Ohoáé reflects the atmosphere and penetrating force of the concerts, which are also illustrated with two videos (Tokaj, Ambientry) on the disc. On the digipack cover, the graphic artist used for the artwork the great drawings of the band leader’s 4 year old child.
• Musical Witchcraft II: Utopia. This is the second release by ex-Solaris guitarist Attila Kollár. The new CD is slightly more acoustic than the previous and this is due to the focus on guitar-flute on some compositions as well as a renewed interest in middle age and renaissance music atmospheres.
• Musical Witchcraft III: Zsoltárok és Filmzene (Psalms & Soundtracks). BGCD 175. This is the 3rd opus by Attila Kollár, guitarist of the legendary Hungarian band Solaris. Revised old psalms and hymns of the reformed church, new compositions, new musicians but also the desire of showing this time what they play during concerts. Among other in the concert *section*, three songs from the „unplugged" concert - April, 2004 at the Concert Hall of St. Margarete Secondary School, Budapest where they played with guests.
• - Periferic 2006 Symphonic-Art Rock From Hungary. Periferic Records - though they had a break last year - are known to release every year a few compilation albums presenting the various artistic lines in Hungarian music. This year, the present compilation is made even more interesting in that it includes 7 unreleased tracks of albums to come! Among other we can find Solaris, Musical Witchcraft, Inkább Holnap.
• Random Deeds: Basis Of Comparison. BGCD 171. The Random Deeds is a new Hungarian progressive-rock group (guitar/singer, keyboards, bass & drums). Very much in the vein of Pink Floyd with emphasis on lyrics. Among their issues we can find criticism of politics, self-exploration, human relationships, moments of everyday life, the atmosphere of weekends, an outstander's view of the world, and big questions of relativeness.
• Satellite: A Street Between Sunrise And Sunset. Atmospherical compositions full of space, considered arrangements, beautiful, gentle, and yet powerful sounds; close to Collage's "Moonshine" and also featuring ex members of this polish group as well as special guest Maciek Meller of Quidam!
• Solaris: Nostradamus - Live In Mexico. SMPDVD 0702. This great CD + DVD package covers a concert recorded live at Monterrey Teatro de la Ciudad on March 23th and 24th, 2004. It features the Nostradamus suite concert version, 3 short trip documentary from Mexico City, Monterrey and Baja, small excerpts from the Musical Witchcraft concert in Monterrey and the "Welcome to My Brain" concert in Monterrey. The CD contains the full concert
• As a follow-up of the cult band Solaris , Solaris Fusion was founded in May 2007. Their fist maxi has just been released: Mystica (BGCD183). The instrumentation of the new band is keyboards, guitar, flute, bass and drums (the rhythm section being the ex-members of Solaris). Their main objective is to increase the recognition and acceptance of progressive rock music.
• Solaris: NOAB - Archive 2 1980-2005 (Back to the Roots – Official Bootleg). BGCD 154. The long-awaited second part of the Archive Trilogy of Solaris with rare and unreleased songs. Noab is a more than 20-minute long suite and also was one of the basic Solaris compositions, which should have been the A-side of the very first Solaris album. As there wasn't even one complete and good recording of this composition, this final edited version on this CD was compiled and put together into one from 11 different concert recordings. That's why we had to wait so long!
• Ádám Török & Mini: Magic Night. DVD (100mn). This band, known as one of the best Hungarian prog-rock and blues-rock bands in the 70’s, celebrated its anniversary with a fantastic concert, where they invited famous guest musicians too. There also can be found interviews, photo gallery and biography on the disc.
• Turquoise: On the Other Side. 2nd album reminding of early Quidam; this time with the help of 2 female and 1 male singers.
• János Varga Project : The Wings Of Revelation Live! The DVD contains songs of the solo albums Wings Of Revelation I. and II. In addition to János Varga (ex-East) and drummer István Király (ex-East), the chapman stick player Péter Háry (who helped in concerts) and keyboardist Szabolcs Nagy, joined the band for this time.
• János Varga: The Wings Of Revelation II. This is ex-East guitarist's second album. This features another East musician: István Király (drums) but also among the musicians present is the Chapman stick player Péter Háry.
• Csaba Vedres: Breathed Prayer - The Editor's Favourite (BGCD127). A selection of Vedres compositions taken from his 5 albums released to date. In addition small piano works which could not have been placed on previous records find their place now on this album. Vedres was one of the main composers in the two first albums of After Crying.
• Xenn: Offworld. Debut album of ex members of Abraxas. Somewhere between rock avant-garde and Peter Gabriel's world music.



• INDIES RECORDS / CZECH REPUBLIC
  
  + Bittová, Iva: Superchameleon. Indies Scope Records (MAM320-9). Exclusive digipack DVD by the extraordinary Czech violinist and vocalist! The DVD is divided into three parts. The first is an exceptional, ninety-minute concert with the New York-based contemporary music ensemble Bang On A Can All-Stars. The concert was recorded in the Palace Akropolis in Prague on 26 March 2006. The concert repertoire is from the BOAC All-Stars and Iva Bittovás Elida studio album recorded in New York, which won general appreciation and critical approval. The second part, no less important or impressive, is a selection of clips taken from the Czech Television archives. The result is a treasure of 18 carefully selected songs. Totalling some sixty minutes, this material captures Iva Bittová in varying incarnations and in a variety of projects rock, folk, folkloric and classical. The oldest footage is with the band Manana from 1984. Other performances include collaborations with the Czech string quartet, the Skampovo kvarteto (Skampa Quartet), the Czech band Dunaj, the Dutch group N.B.E. and Pavel Fajt. The last and shortest part of Superchameleon is an exclusive 12-minute long video-collage created specially for this project. The five-part collage includes footage from her first major film appearance in the film Rosy Dreams also known as Rose-tinted Dreams and an assembly of rare scenes. The whole is a flicker-book of impressions of an indefinable artist.
  + Iva Bittová with Bang On a Can All Stars: Elida. The most famous Czech vocalist, composer and violinist experienced the stage of the renowned Carnegie Hall in a joint performance with the ensemble of contemporary music "Bang on a Can All-Stars" for which she wrote the musical project titled Elida.
  + Iva Bittová & Javas: The Party. Techdubby House. Iva Bittová has been working together with DJ Javas for several years and gradually, their joint performances reached the point where they decided to record it on an album, to be released soon.
  + Gulo Car: Long Way (MAM 207). Gipsy band of 9 players.
  + Jablkon: Oslava. On the 28th of July 2005 during one of the best Czech festivals, the band gave its year's concert, inviting various guests including among others the violin virtuoso Jaroslav Svecený with whom they previously had recorded an album in 1991. This concert is now released both as CD and DVD!
  + Jablkon: "Cestující v noci" (Traveller in the Night). This album will guest singer Iva Bittová as well as instruments such as tuba and trumpet. Less folky than the previous maybe.
  + Tomas Kocko & Orchestr: Do Tanca! The album "Do tanca!" contains 11 songs, variations and modifications of Moravian folk dances and original pieces by T. Kocko inspired by folk dances or folk songs.
  + Magic Music (MAM 209): a selection of 13 artists representing the roots of Moravian folklore.
  + + Maraca: "Longe". This relatively new group moves into ethno-jazz and has set the most famous modern portuguese author Fernando Pessoa into music.
  + Psi Vojaci: Tezko rict (MAM 210). The music of Psí vojáci has its roots in the world underground and is influenced by romantic composers of the second half of the 18th century.
  + Raus: Sramy. Young czech rock group.
  + Šarkösi: Magoria (MAM 198). Second album by this female singer, this time finding inspiration in electronic, film music, dance rhythms and samples.
  + Tara Fuki: Kapka. World music.
  + Uz Jsme Doma: Rybi Tuk (Fish Oil) MAM 216. New album after 4 years. 11 songs and 11 musicians guesting.
  + Vladimir Vaclavek: Jsem Hlína, Jsem Strom, Jsem Stroj (I’m Earth, I’m Tree, I’m Machine). MAM 244-2. Václavek was one of the creators of the Brno alternative scene in mid 80's. His underlying guitar riffs on this remastered solo record (including 3 new tunes as bonus) are once in a while interwoven by the motifs of the Japanese violinist Takumi Fukushima or the guitar of Josef Ostranský.
  + Vladimir Vaclavek: Pisne Nonpisne (Songs, Non Songs) MAM 225. Known from the groups Dunaj or Cikori (with Iva Bittová), this is his second solo album where he has this time set to music the lyrics of poets Bohuslav Reynek, F. G. Lorca, Antonín Pridal and some of his own.


TO TOP


ENGLISH LABELS -- ENGLISH ARTISTS -- ENGLISH LABELS -- ENGLISH ...

• 21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID BAND. No less than 3 releases by this cover band have recently appeared! "Live in Japan", Official Bootleg Volume Two is recorded live at Shinjuku Kouseinenkin Hall, Tokyo on 6 November 2002. This CD features the Schizoid Band performing 14 songs from the first four King Crimson albums plus songs from their individual solo albums. The band features Mel Collins, Jakko M Jakszyk, Michael Giles, Peter Giles and Ian McDonald. Available both as DVD and CD!. "Live In Italy", Official Bootleg Volume Three, is captured live in Italy in March of 2003 and documents the band’s new era with drummer and former Crimson member Ian Wallace. As well as five Crimson tracks, a live rendition of the McDonald / Sinfield tune ‘Let there be light’, McDonald and Giles’s ‘Birdman’, there is an additional bonus track - a new Schizoid piece currently being performed live, but included here in its studio recorded demo form and featuring all the band.
• Aardvark: S/T. Esoteric Recordings (eclec2286). 25/07/11. New remastered edition of the self titled album by this British quartet driven by Steve Milliner’s keyboard playing ability, the sole album released in 1970 on Decca's short lived progressive imprint Deram Nova. This reissue also features a booklet with fully restored artwork and new essay.
• Some new releases by Daevid Allen!
  + Daevid Allen: Australia Aquaria. Voiceprint VP294CD. This recording was originally released in 1990 and at the time was the first "planned" Daevid Allen solo album release for some seven years. It also features contributions from another member of the extended Gong family in Harry Williamson
  + Daevid Allen: Live In 1988 - The Return. Voiceprint VP 337. 2CD. This live CD was recorded at the Old Tabernacle of Portobello Road, London
  + Gongmaison: S/T. Voiceprint VP350. Gongmaison was the first album to be recorded following Daevid Allen's self-imposed exile to Australia between 1981 and 1988. It also saw the reunion between Daevid Allen and former Gong sax player Didier Malherbe. The album was recorded during the night of the Summer Solstice in 1989.
  + Gong Matrices: Parade. Voiceprint VP353. Gilli Smyth’s project with US musicians from the band Azigza. The music is written by bass player Pierce McDowell. Release date: 28/02/05.
  + University of Errors: Live in Chicago. BMOVP005CD on the label Bananamoon Obscura. This recording by Daevid Allen's "space rock band" was in the main taken from one of the best gigs on the 2000 tour although four tracks are included from a gig at the Knitting Factory in New York. The album forms part of the Bananamoon Obscura collection and has been re mastered for this release.
  + Daevid Allen & Nicoletta Stephanez: Live at the Knit NYC. BMOVP006CD. This recording is another one from the Bananamoon Obscura Collection and finds Daevid Allen in performance with Nicoletta Stephanz in New York. The duo performs several pieces together with Daevid contributing glissando guitar and vocals and Nicoletta contributing Theramin and vocals.
• Anderson / Wakeman: The Living Tree. Gonzo Multimedia 2010. Here is Jon Anderson's and Rick Wakeman's debut studio release, recorded at the end of their tour. It features nine tracks of original material which will be welcomed by the massive and devoted fan base still commanded by these two artists who to many represent the true spirit of Yes.
• Art Bears and the remastered releases from Recommended
  One could have thought that the splendid boxset recently released by ReR and celebrating Art Bears 25th anniversary was the definitive words about them. Nope! Hopes And Fears (RER 3177), Winter Songs (ReR 3178) and The World As It Is Today (ReR) are all available separately in their remastered edition due to Bob Drake and in digipack format. Furthermore, Recommended also comes with “Revisited”, a double CD featuring the 33 remixes of the boxset, to which have been added the singles “Collapse” and “Hail” as well as an unreleased track by Frith & Cutler finished last year.
• Atlantic Bridge: S/T. Breathless 52015. First released in 1970 on Dawn Records, this British band presented an interesting jazzy/prog album, that did not forget its rock roots. Great bass work and interesting covers of "Dear Prudence" and "Something." This edition also contains two bonus tracks from a rare EP, making this CD the group's complete works.
• Atomic Rooster: Homework (SJPCD241). Street date: 04/02/08. This is the forgotten *new* album required to back up the singles deal with Polydor in early 80's. Unfortunately, Polydor *passed* after the lack of single chart success and the album never saw the light of day - until now. John Du Cann, lead singer and songwriter of the group had spent nearly 9 months writing and recording his songs for that killer album. He has been the supervisor of the mastering and provided himself the masters. The album also features long time partner Vincent Crane as well as Paul Hammond
• Audience: S/T. Akarma AK357CD. Audience is one of the most interesting groups in the British panorama of the late sixties / early seventies. Their sound was a manifestation of their desire to experiment with and masterfully blend different musical styles, such as rock, folk, jazz, and blues.
• Baker Gurvitz Army: Live in Milan 76. Trademark of Official Quality (VPTMQ054CD). Street date: 31/05/10. This live recording which forms part of the Official Ginger Baker Bootleg Series was recorded in Milan on the 23rd of March 1976 during the tour to promote what would turn out to be the bands final studio album "Hearts On Fire".
  
• Baker Gurwitz Army: Still Alive. Wet World (WWVII). The Baker Gurvitz Army was formed in late 1974 by drummer Ginger Baker, formerly of Cream, and brothers Adrian (guitar) and Paul Gurvitz (bass), formerly of Gun. The band was filled out by vocalist Snips and keyboard player Peter Lemer (today heard in f. ex. Phil Miller's In Cahoots). They released three albums between 1974 and 1976, the most successful of which was their self-titled debut, which charted in the U.K. and the U.S. Having dispensed with the history, we can turn our attention to this triple-disc set of recordings. This archival collection, licensed from the band, consists of live material recorded on the Baker Gurvitz Army's 1975 and 1976 tours. The third disc is a bonus DVD, which features a German TV performance from the same era
• Ginger Baker and African Friends: Live in Berlin, Germany 1978. Trademark of Official Quality (VPTMQ057CD). Street date: 07/06/10. In November 1978 after a short period setting up his own Polo Club, Ginger found himself in Berlin for a concert with his old friend Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Africa 70 at the Berlin Jazzfest. The three tracks contained on this album are a magnificent blend of styles and one which went down exceedingly well with the audience; although best described as a jam, the music is never boring or self indulgent.
• Ginger Baker and Salt: Live in Munich, Germany 1972. Trademark of Official Quality (VPTMQ056CD). Street date: 03/05/10. This show was filmed for German television and broadcast shortly after and repeated a year later in 1973. Featuring African musicians and vocalists, it also had a very special guest on drums: Mr. Art Blakey!
  
• Ginger Baker's Airforce: Live in Offenbach, Germany 1970 (2CD). Trademark of Official Quality (VPTMQ055CD). Street date: 17/05/10. Apart from the two official Airforce releases live recordings of Ginger Baker's Airforce are extremely rare and this recording is no different. This is an audience recording of Airforce in Offenbach Germany on December the 18th 1970. This performance captures the second incarnation of Airforce following the departure of Steve Winwood and Chris Wood who had returned to Traffic by this time.
  
• Ginger Baker's Energy: Live in Milan, Italy 1980. Trademark of Official Quality (VPTMQ058CD). Street date: 14/06/10. Much of the ex-Cream's drummer's repertory is being re-issued today. The Official Ginger Baker Bootleg Series will release hard to find collectible performances from Ginger's musical past. This recording is sourced from a performance from Ginger Baker and Energy that took place in Milan, Italy, recorded on March 28th 1980. The band had a more blues based rock sound than Ginger's more recent eclectic mix of world music and jazz.
• Tony Banks: A Curious Feeling. 30th Anniversary Editions are getting released by Esoteric Recordings. A standard CD edition and a limited 2-disc deluxe edition with additional surround sound mix and promotional videos on DVD. "A Curious Feeling" was Tony Bank's first solo album.
• Hugh Banton: The Planets. Most generally known as an orchestral suite, it was originally composed as a piano duet, with the exception of the final section, "Neptune, the Mystic", which was written as an organ piece. Principally known as organist for the legendary Van der Graaf Generator, this is Hugh Banton's second release from the Classical repertoire played on organ, following his recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
• David Bedford: Nurses Song with Elephants. Esoteric Recordings (eclec 2276). 27/06/11. Recorded at Marquee studios in London, the album was released on John Peel's Dandelion label in 1972 and the first album by composer, arranger and keyboard player David Bedford. He engaged for the occasion the services of Kevin Ayers (who provided vocals), guitarist Mike Oldfield and John Peel. Unavailable on CD for many years, this edition has been remastered from the original master tapes and restores the original album artwork.
• Maggie Bell gets the spots! 2 releases coming from the British label Angel Air make it happen. The reissue of her '74 debut album "Queen Of The Night" (SJPCD200) is due to release on January 16, 2006. It has been remastered and includes two bonus live tracks from Maggie's personal archives. Later in February, Maggie's 2nd album from 1975 - Suicide Sal (SJPCD201) - will also be released. Fellow label mate Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame even played on one of the tracks.
• The self titled album from the british group Ben is now available as 180 Gr. audiophile LP on the italian label Akarma. This classic example of 1970s British jazz-rock, led by guitarist Gerry Reid and saxophonist Peter Davey, was originally released on the Vertigo label in 1971.
• Blackfield: Blackfield II. This is the second collaboration between Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree/No-Man) and acclaimed Israeli songwriter Aviv Geffen. Following the success of their debut release, the band's second album continues with 10 more highly crafted songs of beauty, power, and melancholia. An exceptional production, full of glorious hooks, lush harmony vocals and edgy guitars.
• Blackfield: S/T. A collaboration between Israeli singer songwriter Aviv Geffen and British musician and producer Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree).
• Graham Bond left Britain after the collapse of the Graham Bond Organisation to make two legendary albums for Mercury records in the US. In Los Angeles, he recorded "Love Is The Law", soon followed by "Mighty Grahame Bond". Both records saw Bond play all instruments on the album (except drums) and included material that featured jazz influences alongside emerging psychedelic & underground rock influences, resulting in a truely unique and highly sought after work. Previously bootlegged on CD with poor quality sound, those two albums are now reissued by Esoteric (31/01/11), remastered from the original master tapes and restoring the original artwork as well as adding a new essay to make them the definitive edition!
• Tim Bowness: My Hotel Year. Evocative and intense, here is the debut solo album from Tim Bowness, primarily written and produced with No-Man collaborators David Picking and Stephen Bennett, recorded in England and Germany over a six-month period. Hugh Hopper (Soft Machine), Roger Eno, Michael Bearpark, Peter Chilvers and Centrozoon's Markus Reuter, also make superb contributions. At the same time is also released "Sleepwalker", a 2 tracks CD Single taken from the album "My Hotel Year", including the non-album track "Unprotected".
• Doug Boyle: The Third Rail. Doug Boyle Music (DBM001). Street date: 01/03/10. Apart from his trademark soaring and emotional guitar voice, the album reveals Boyle's assets as a composer, arranger and producer. The music ranges from out and out agression to pastoral tranquility, melodic and harmonic sophistication to pure childlike simplicity and all points between. Joining him on his quest for an authenticly human expression are musicians such as the legendary Jimmy Hastings, keyboardist Dave Sinclair and the late great drummer Pip Pyle. So much for the Canterbury connection! All were given space to stretch out in a manner not heard for decades and are heard here in thrillingly magical form. The Third Rail is a passionate statement of musical intent in it's purest state. Unfettered by genre, this album is nothing less than an evocation of every colour in the rainbow of human emotion and experience. Uncommonly original, this is a proud statement from a man with a belief in the uniquely transcendent qualities of music.
• Terry Bozzio: Prime Cut. This album released on the label Magna Carta is now available again with new unreleased material. This is furthermore an enhanced CD featuring a 15mn. Long interview and bonus tracks in MP3 format.
• Gary Brooker: Lead Me to the Water. Esoteric Recordings (eclec 2271). 31/05/11. Remastered CD edition of the 2nd solo album by Procol Harum's keyboard player and songwriter. Released in 1982 after Brooker had spent two years as a member of Eric Clapton's band, the record was a fine effort which featured a host of Brooker's friends as guests including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Phil Collins, Albert Lee, etc... Unavailable for some years on CD, this reissue has been newly remastered and includes two bonus tracks taken from the B-sides of two singles taken from the album.
• Wahnfried, Richard & Arthur Brown: Time Actor. Esoteric Recordings (eclec2282). 25/07/11. One of the great overlooked albums of the 1970s, Time Actor was the result of a collaboration between legendary Crazy World & Kingdom Come visionary Arthur Brown and German synthesiser and ambient genius Klaus Schulze, recording under the pseudonym of his alter-ego Richard Wahnfried. The resulting record was a unique fusion of Brown’s amazing vocals and eccentric musical visions and Schulze’s innovative keyboard playing. Originally released on the German Innovative Communication label, Time Actor also features special guest Vincent Crane (who recorded a collaborative album with Arthur Brown for the label during this period). This newly re-mastered reissue restores the original album artwork and includes a new essay.
• Brown, Arthur & Crane, Vincent: Faster Than The Speed Of Light. Esoteric Recordings (eclec2283). 25/07/11. Together with former Crazy World colleague (and Atomic Rooster leader) Vincent Crane, this much overlooked album, recorded for the German Innovative Communication label, presented a unique fusion of Brown's amazing vocals and eccentric musical visions and Crane’s innovative keyboard playing and arrangement ideas. This newly re-mastered reissue restores the original album artwork and includes a new essay.
• Jack Bruce: Out of the Storm. Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2289). Street date: 30/08/11. Recorded in Los Angeles and London in 1974 after the demise of the power trio West, Bruce & Laing, the album featured a collection of compositions that reflected Jack's varied musical styles. This reissue also includes five bonus tracks, alternate first mixes (made at Olympic studios in May and June 1974).
• After his decision of quitting the scene, drummer Bill Bruford has got plenty of time to take care of his label. The last idea he came up with is to reissue on 180 gr. vinyl in a limited edition of 1000 copies his 3 albums "Feel Good To Me", "One Of A Kind" , "Going Gradually Tornado + for the first time on vinyl the concert performance of "Rock Goes To College" (already available on CD and DVD). Street date: 03/11/09
• Bill Bruford's Autobiography will be released on March 1st, 2009 by Jawbone Press. After a 40-year career spanning some of the greatest prog rock groups ( Yes, King Crimson) and his own inimitable jazz ensemble Earthworks, drummer/composer/bandleader Bruford announced his retirement from the scene in January 2009. To those curious about what's behind the decision, he replied that he didn't need to justify anything but the book would certainly satisfy the curiosity of those asking! Paperback, 352 pages.
• Bill Bruford And The Beat. Previously released on VHS and maybe one of the ever first instructional drum videos, the material contained on this DVD was filmed in New York City and New Haven, Connecticut, USA in February and March 1982. It features solos, interviews, demonstrations and rare performance footage of Bill with King Crimson, with guest appearances by Robert Fripp and Steve Howe. Both entertaining and educational, this visually rich programme will appeal to anyone interested in music but more importantly those who have followed the various twists and turns of Bill Bruford's lengthy career.
• Camberwell Now: All's Well. RER 9022. This is the remastered complete output by the group, led by drummerCharles Hayward, group which followed in the mid 80's the short lived The Heath. The present reissue gathers on one CD the complete LP, Eps collection (Meridian, The Ghost Trade, Greenfingers) recorded between 1982 and 1986. The booklet following the CD offers a biography, photos, lyrics and more.
• Camel: Stationery Traveller. Esoteric Recordings (2009). Although destined to be Camel’s final studio album for Decca Records, it was a fine effort, inspired by the Cold War (then at ist height) between the Eastern Block countries and NATO. It allowed the band to reach new heights of creativity. This reissue has been re-mastered from the original master tapes and includes the full 12” single version of "Pressure Points" and the song "In the Arms of Waltzing Fraulines" as bonus tracks.
• Mont Campbell: Music From a Walled Garden. Mostly remembererd as *the bass third* in the band Egg, this release is Mont Campbell's second solo album. Clocking at 56 minutes, it is presented in a full-colour digipak with a 12-page booklet containing track notes and musical information by himself
• Carmen: The Gypsies/Widescreen. Angel Air (SJPCD225) 2-CD Set. After a 44 date tour with Jethro Tull in 1974, Carmen went to Massachusetts where they recorded their final album 'The Gypsies'. Fast forward 20 years and band leader David Allen commenced work on 'Widescreen' which has occupied David for the past 10 years and is now released for the first time. One of the more interesting bands of the 70's, Carmen's music could possibly be described as progressive flamenco rock. [Release date 07.05.07]
• Carmen's first two albums "Fandangos in Space" (73) and "Dancing on a Cold Wind" (74) will be re-released in October 2006 as a 2 CD set by Angel Air Records! This is the first legitimate re-release of Carmen's records, with songs remastered from the original tapes. The package will also contain two rediscovered Carmen tracks, never before heard on record, and a 20 page booklet with new pictures of Carmen from the bands personal collections. Carmen was the brainchild of flamenco guitarist and vocalist David Allen .... and we insist on saying Da-vid, not Dae-vid :) !
• Centrozoon:Never Trust The Way You Are. Centrozoon's long-awaited album with No-Man singer Tim Bowness finally arrives on Berlin-based Resonancer Records. Also featuring contributions from King Crimson's drummer Pat Mastellotto. The album presents some free jazzy stuff and bits that sound like the King Crimson ProjeKcts.
• David Cross and Andrew Keeling : English Sun. Subtitled Electric Chamber Music, Volume 2, this recording presents an exquisite collection of ethereal improvisations, melodic and adventurous electric violin and flute duets; a perfect example of Electric Chamber Music at its most beguiling by former King Crimson violinist David Cross and his partner
• David Cross Band: Alive In The Underworld. Sid Smith says about it: "Documenting a series of live dates in the UK during 2006, this release finds the David Cross Band in fine fiery form, storming their way through David's back catalogue of solo releases and arrangements of King Crimson toe-tappers such as Exiles, 21st Century Schizoid Man and Starless"
• David Cross: Closer Than Skin. Without doubt the most coherent and artistically successful album of rock songs released by the ex-Crim alumni. With ten songs co-written with bass guitarist Mick Paul and lyricist Richard Palmer-James (another name from Crimson’s past), it’s a remarkably powerful and confident collection, forceful and energetic throughout.
• Db-Infusion: Dreamscape. Superb musicianship and equally spellbinding material make for a superb listen. The basis of Danny Berdichevsky, Gonzalo Carrera (also known from the bandKarnataka), Rob Statham, Ollie Usiskin and the late Steve Stephenson is high-energy in itself, but when they can draw on the saxophonic’s of Supertramp member John Helliwell, the cello of Hugh McDowell (Electric Light Orchestra), the guitar of John Etheridge (Soft Machine) and the flute of jazz musician Rowland Sutherland (Mistura) plus a whole host of excellent guests, then ... it comes out of the mincing machine as something very special, a strong cup of jazz fusion!
• Created around the core quartet of Jakko Jakszyk (21st Century Schizoid Band), Porcupine Tree's Gavin Harrison, Pandit Dinesh and the legendary Danny Thompson, Dizrhythmia is the much acclaimed Indo-Fusion project, which also features performances by a stellar group of Indian Classical and experimental musicians such as sarangi player Sultan Khan. Especially noteworthy, since he hasn't appeared much lately, is the presence of keyboardist Dave Stewart (National Health, Hatfield & The North).
• douBt: Never Pet a Burning Dog. Moonjune (MJR032). 2010. Here's a new power electric jazz trio whose initial meeting is due to ex-Softs member Elton Dean. With moods and registers ranging from heavy-rock riffs to cosmic grooves and on to more lyrical and pastoral flavors, keyboardist and Hatfield and The North highly praised member Alex Maguire stands behind a huge arsenal of instruments including Mellotron, Rhodes, el piano and Hammond organ and delivers the goods, together with guitarist Michel Delville - a name more and more heard in Europe and associated to bands like The Wrong Object, Trank Zappa Grappa in Varèse, etc... - and drummer Tony Bianco, born in New York but residing in Great Britain and having played with most influential musicians of the British or international jazz scene (including Elton Dean but also Dave Liebman, Evan Parker, just to name a few). Here's an album full of unexpected twists and stylistically borrowing from so many influences and experiences (among them the drummer's free beat concept) that the listener will probably never gets time to be bored. Renewal of ideas, sound asperities, in the face playing are some of the things you may expect!
• Keith Emerson: Keith Emerson Band feat. Marc Bonilla. EDEL (0192328 ERE). 2008. The king of the Hammond is back! A brand new album in a real symphonic prog vein. Together with Marc Bonilla (guitars and Vocals) and Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth), Keith Emerson rediscovers his roots and delivers a fantastic suite lasting most of the album. This release is also available as a 2LP and CD+DVD
• Keith Emerson: Inferno. Cinevox CDMDF605. New wonderful reissue in digipack edition of this soundtrack for an historic Dario Argento thriller! One of the best soundtracks ever recorded, now with 3 bonus tracks!
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Live At Nassau Coliseum '78. 2CD. Feb. 2011. The first-ever authorized release of ELP's legendary February 9, 1978 concert at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Previously only available on bootlegs, this concert has been meticulously mastered from the original analog tapes in order to provide the best possible sound.
• The Enid: Arise and Shine 2: Risen. This project is based on a research that showed this band's audience WANTS recordings of the contemporary lineup playing the music they have just witnessed live; therefore Arise and Shine 2! New powerful arrangements of older tunes, deconstruction or reconstruction of other and plenty of surprises are waiting for you, sounding better than ever, keeping the best aspects of the original music whilst injecting a new dimension!
• The Enid: Something Wicked This Way Comes + 3. 2010. This is a newly pressed version coming from original masters owned by The Enid, plus some extra, contemporaneous tracks that were not on the original vinyl. This album was the 5th output by the band and the first to feature vocals
• The Enid: In The Region Of The Summer Stars (ENID020CD). This is the long lost, original 1976 EMI version of the Enid's debut album, previously only released on vinyl. The original 1/4" tapes master tapes were transferred to 96KHz 24bit digital at Abbey Road in June 2010. Then the tracks were mastered for CD at The Lodge Recording Studio. The same treatment has been applied to "Aerie Faerie Nonsense" (ENID021CD), also taken from the lost original EMI version of the 2nd album from 1977
• Brian Eno / Robert Fripp: Equatorial Stars. New collaboration after many years passed. Released in late 2004 and available either on DGM or Eno’s web shops!
• Ex-Wise Heads: Liquid Assets. With their fourth album Liquid Assets, Ex-Wise Heads mainstays Colin Edwin & Geoff Leigh create a subtle blend of timeless and contemporary sounds. A focused development of the band's unique approach, Liquid Assets intelligently blends ambient atmospheres with elemental rhythmic structures, striking solos, and refreshingly unusual instrumental combinations, all underpinned by Edwin's trademark powerful, deep, basslines.
• Fish: Return to Childhood . March 09. This double CD (EX 27350)or 2DVD (EX 47272) was recorded and flmed in Holland on the tour that celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the Marillion album Misplaced Childhood. In addition to the entire Misplaced Childhood album Fish and the band perform other live favourites including both solo material such as Credo, Raingods Dancing Big Wedge and Moving Targets and Marillion material including Market Square Heroes, Incommunicado and Fugazi.
• Flash: In The Can. Esoteric Recordings (eclec2201). Street date: 28/06/10. The British label continues their series of reissues by Flash with "In the Can", which was the band's second album, released in 1973. This reissue includes two bonus tracks
• Fred Frith: Cheap At Half The Price. Recommended RER 3100. Now available as redesigned and remastered edition.
• Genesis: Chapter And Verse. Since August 2007, this 360-page hardback book (very high quality, printed in colour with loads of photos - it's a weighty tome!) or illustrated CD audio book read by David Baddiel (4CDs - abridged) is available for pre-order. It is THE biography of the band AND the first time in over 20 years that Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford have collaborated creatively on a project, working together to create the complete history of Genesis. Key fellow members of the band, management, road crew and entourage have also been interviewed, including Jonathan King (their first manager, who got Genesis signed to Decca in 1967), long-time cohort and road manager Richard MacPhail, Anthony Phillips (guitarist, founder member to 1970), Tony Smith (manager since 1973), drummers Bill Bruford, Chris Stewart and John Silver, and Ray Wilson, the Genesis vocalist after Phil Collins.
• Gentle Giant: King Alfred's College 1971. Bassist Ray Shulman produced this CD of one of the earliest Gentle Giant live gigs at King Alfred's College in Winchester. It's available from Alucard Music (as of June 18 2009).
• Gentle Giant: Live in Stockholm '75. At the top of their career and part of their Autumn tour, here's a concert recorded at the Students Union's own venue: Club Karen (Karhuset)on November 12th. Mastered directly from the original radio station tapes, the sound is superb as the band play a selection of new tracks and stage favourites from earlier albums. Street date: April 20th, 2009
• Gentle Giant: Three Friends. Repertoire digipack release (RR5114) with street date 25/01/08. Also available are : S/T (RR1015), Octopus (RR5095)
• Gentle Giant: In A Glass House, Power & The Glory, Free Hand, Giant for A Day, Interview, Playing The Fool and Missing Piece are available as part of a so called 35th Anniversary Edition, released by DRT Entertainment, Derek Schulman's company. They are all remastered and repackaged, most with bonus live tracks, bonus video track in the case of "Playing The Fool".
• The Michael Giles Mad Band: In The Moment. Ais. Street date: 10/05/11. This 2nd album adds pianist supreme (and occasional King Crimson collaborator) Keith Tippett into the mix. Sometimes challenging, sometimes lyrical, and other playfully humorous, "In The Moment" is a collection of contemporary improvised music, which moves skilfully between free jazz and free rock territory.
• The Giles Brothers: 1962 - 1967. Voiceprint VP500CD. 28/09/09. The two brothers are famous for being founders of the band Giles Giles and Fripp in 1967 but what we have here comes from a period when they were members of a number of pure pop, R&B and soul influenced bands. All the tracks come from the personal archives of Peter and Mike and as such are an interesting look into a period of time during the Giles brother's careers that has previously been less than well documented. The recordings have all been remastered for this release, giving them the best possible quality and it is the first release that gathers together all of these historic performances on one disc.
• The British label Glass House Records has in 2003 an important batch of live recordings by the prog legend group Gentle Giant. This includes:
  GLASS104CD "Artistically Cryme". A 2CD recorded at Olympen-Sparta in Lund, Sweden during September 1976.
  GLASS105CD "The Missing Face": a previously unreleased live recording from The Ballroom, Cleveland, Ohio in November 1977.
  GLASS108CD "Endless Life": another 2CD recorded on the Free Hand tour of the U.S. in October 1975. The first disc was recorded at Music Hall, White Plains, New York and the second at The Community Theater, Berkley, California.
  GLASS107CD "Prologue": double CD recorded live in Munster, Germany in 1974 and Philadelphia 1975.
  GLASS106CD "Playing The Cleveland": recorded live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland 1975 and Academy Of Music, New York, 1975.


• Gong: 2032. Except from the presence of reedman Theo Travis and a few pot-head pixies more, this album is centered around the historical line-up from 1973 at the time of the Radio Gnome Trilogy, including guitarist Steve Hillage, whose soli will certainly still wake you up! Gong is back, with Howlett, Malherbe, Miquette and they are as fresh as they were in 1973!
• Gravy Train: Staircase To The Day. Repertoire UK (RR1089). Digipack. Gravy Train was a Lancashire based progressive rock outfit, noted for its top class musicianship and songwriting skills. This was the band's second release for the Dawn label and famed artist Roger Dean designed the original LP sleeve for the album, which proved to be the band's final album, and is now a much sought-after collectors item. Original vinyl artwork in square CD digisleeve format (card wallet - no plastic) plus inserted fold-out poster. Four bonus track - featuring both A & B-sides of two rare singles! Booklet with authoritative and extensive liner notes by respected author and journalist Chris Welch. Expertly remastered
• Guapo: Elixirs. 2008. Neurot Recordings. 6th studio album by the British trio, here reduced to duo but calling for a few guests, string players and vocalist. This reinforces the chamber aspect of the music and this time, the music is slightly quieter than what we've heard on other records. But the characteristics of the group, long ascending sequences, mystical atmospheres, darkness, trance melodic lines are still there, completed with moves towards new musical territories (ethnic elements musically originated in the Asian culture, reinforced post-rock touch, etc...) to avoid being stamped as so or so. Guapo is still there, on the move, like a magma flowing further down to the coast ...
• John & Steve Hackett + Friends: Welcome Steve! (A day in Orvieto). 2009 (AMS104DVD). Release date: October 12th, 2009. Dusk Day is the annual Italian Genesis fan meeting, organized by the self-named fanzine together with the Genesis club Rex House Umbria and the association Venti Ascensionali. For their 4th meeting in 2008 they organized a truly memorable tribute gig inviting some great Italian names: former PFM vocalist Bernardo Lanzetti plays together with one of the best Italian Genesis tribute bands, The Lamb , hailing from Rome; the intellectual After Genesis, the historical progsters of Estate di San Martino are also appearing as well as several other. But the most important guests are of course our two brothers and this DVD - showing nearly two hours of the live gigs of that magic evening - includes the complete gig of John and Steve. Fans of Genesis, don't miss this one!
• Steve Hackett: Live Rails. Wolfwork Records (WWCD 002). 2011. Recorded in Paris, London and New York in 2009/2010, Live Rails captures the full Steve Hackett Electric Band at their best. The 2 CD set includes material from throughout Steve's solo career (Ace Of Wands, Spectral Mornings, Fire On The Moon, etc.) plus incredible versions of some Genesis classics.
• Steve Hackett. Both "Cured" and "Highly Strung" will be released as Japanese Mini Vinyl Papersleeves on May 30, 2007. They're digitally remastered with bonus tracks and each title includes a miniature replica of the original album sleeve, obi strip, and Japanese insert/info sheet.
• Releases from Camino Records
  
  Steve Hackett: New Horizons. Here is an album of Hackett compositions arranged for grand piano and pipe organ, performed and transcribed by international organist & pianist Marco Lo Muscio. It features pieces from "Voyage Of The Acolyte", "Bay Of Kings", "Guitar Noir" and "Momentum". Depending on the track Marco either plays a Steinway grand piano or the mighty Ruffati pipe organ of the Canadian church in Rome. There are also 2 bonus live tracks including a "Firth Of Fifth" piano solo performed in Russia.
  - Steve Hackett: Metamorpheus. New release by the guitarist in the form of a songs cyclus for acoustic guitar and chamber orchestra (The Underworld Orchestra)
  - Steve Hackett: Wild Orchids. Released in Europe on the German label InsideOut Music. The Japanese edition will be released at the same date through WHD Entertainment Inc. This edition contains 2 exclusive tracks - 'Eruption' & 'Reconditioned Nightmare'- but to make room, the tracks 'Blue Child' or 'Until The Last Butterfly' have been omitted.
  - Steve Hackett: Live Archive 04 (2CD). Live in Budapest (CAMCD 34). This 2CD set captures the last night of Steve's 2004 European tour with his full electric band, recorded on 3rd April 2004 at Petofi Csarnok, Budapest, Hungary. The band line-up is Steve Hackett - Guitar & Vocals, Roger King - Keyboards, Rob Townsend - Sax, Flute, Percussion & Vocals, Terry Gregory - Bass & Vocals & Gary O’Toole - Drums, Percussion & Vocals.
  - Steve Hackett: Hungarian Horizons - Live In Budapest 2CD (CAMCD 30) progressive
  - Steve Hackett: To Watch The Storms -Special Edition CD (CAMCD 31 SE) progressive.


• Peter Hammill: Thin Air. Due to June 8th, 2009, this is the 28th album by Van Der Graaf singer and this time - in the singer's words - the new album is about "assembling a loose collection of tunes". The process started in July 2008 and it is a real solo project (no guests came to appear) with an instrumentation mainly based on piano and electric guitars at the upfront, while - says Peter: "various elements of sonic disturbance - strings, synths, light percussion washes - peep out from behind the curtains. The voice is, in general, right at centre stage, speaking directly (although it's at times contradicted by various backing vocals....) to the audience. The sonic territory is not exactly comfortable or comforting. In the end the structures, both musically and lyrically, are impressionistic. There's something just out of sight, glimpsed out of the corner of the eye, going on. The shadows are shifting".
• Gavin Harrison / 05Ric: Drop. Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison's collaboration with singer and Extended Range bass player 05Ric. With contributions from Robert Fripp, Dave Stewart and Gary Sanctuary. Nine carefully crafted songs combined with ground breaking multi layered guitars, vocal harmonies and rhythms. Shipping planned for the first week of October!
• Hawkwind: Distant Horizons. Atomhenge (ATOMCD 1028). 31/05/11. This album, originally released in 1997 on the Emergency Broadcast label, took Hawkwind's Space Rock style into a new era, absorbing ambient and electronic influences to create a set of tracks that was both contemporary and classic Hawkwind. This Atomhenge reissue has been newly remastered to the usual high standard and is presented with a new deluxe booklet with new essay.
• Hawkwind: Choose Your Masques. Atomhenge (ATOMCD2026). Street date: 29/11/10. The album, originally released in 1982 by RCA Active, was the final Hawkwind release for the label and considered the finest of this era by many fans. This Deluxe Atomhenge edition has been remastered from the original master tapes and adds 14 bonus tracks, with 12 of these featuring on a bonus CD. Also including a lavish booklet with fully restored artwork, photos, memorabilia & essay.
• Hawkwind: Minneapolis 4th October 1989 (HAWKVP45CD). Street date: 16/11/09. 2CD. Concert coincidin with the bands 20th anniversary
• Henry Cow: Concerts. This is the long awaited remastered reissue of this cult record from 1975, including some of their collaboration work with Robert Wyatt (among other his last apparition on stage in Rome, 1975) and the 5 pieces from 73 made for the compilation album Greasy Truckers.
• Steve Hillage Band: Live at the Gong Unconvention 2006. G-Wave (GWVP101CD and GWVP101DVD). Street date: 03/08/09. This CD or DVD contains the performance captured at the UnCon and also bonus tracks which have never been released before including a rare Gong performance of the Solar Musick Suite which was recorded in 1974. There are also two Steve Hillage band performances in Holland from what would turn out to be Steve's final concerts in 1979 with the Steve Hillage Band. This performance was the first Steve Hillage band performance for over thirty years. The DVD contains the performance and also interview footage with Steve filmed at the time of the performance.
• Hugh Hopper & Yumi Hara Cawkwell: Dune. Moonjune Recordings (MJR-019). To be officially released in July 2008, here's a new project by Soft Machine's bass player, here in close collaboration with a Japanese keyboardist and vocalist living in London. Time's back for plenty of bass fuzzology again, multi-layered bass sound with various effects and loops but this time they are either coupled, intertwined to or smashed against a rather free keyboard playing and ghostly vocal escapades rooted in the Japanese culture, all contributing to build strong sonic sculptures, bring forth spacy whirlwinds from other stratospheres, icy moments detached from time. Intimacy, intense nearness and concentration, cerebral sensuality will defeat here all attempts to give this music a useless stylistic stamp. You'd fare better experiencing it as an awaken dream or some meeting of a fourth type!
• I.E.M.: 4 CD Box. 2010. Released on Tonefloat Records, here's the release in a 2000 copies limited edition of the complete works of this Steven Wilson side project. With a 60 page booklet included, the box contains the following CDs:
  1. IEM
  2. An Escalator To Christmas
  3. Arcadia Son
  4. Have Come For Your Children
  Each CD is in a Japanese mini album papersleeve style, including inner bags. Active between 1996-2001, I.E.M. is described by Wilson himself as “a curiosity in my discography”. This release, with a street date of June 8th, is both an homage and farewell. Divided into several parts and movements, the epic krautrock-suites of the debut album were equally influenced by the recording processes of early CAN, Neu! and Amon Duul II. While these long and constantly evolving pieces were built from inspired solo improvisations in the studio and catered to an anti-analytical production philosophy, "Arcadia Son" featured a more conventional blend of flute, drums and Porcupine Tree's Colin Edwin on bass. as Porcupine Tree moved more towards songs and structure, meanwhile, I.E.M. took over the experimental side of Steven Wilson's personality, with the 2001 I.E.M. album "Have Come for your Children", de- and reconstructing instrumental contributions into up to 35-minute long electronic soundscapes. After the release of that album, however, Bass Communion firmly established itself as Wilson's main experimental outfit and I.E.M. faded from sight - only to see its cult-status continually rise over the years!



• Isotope. Esoteric Recordings reissue on May 31th 2011 the three albums made by the band: Isotope’s self titled debut album (eclec 2272) was released in 1974 and continued the tradition of jazz-rock fusion that had been pioneered by acts such as Tony Williams Lifetime and The Mahavishnu Orchestra. "Illusion", 2nd album released the same year, saw some changes ion the lineup and the apparition of ex-Soft member Hugh Hopper. The final album "Deep End" (eclec 2274) was released in 1975, with one more time some changes in the line-up. The new edition features 4 bonus tracks, remixes made in 2001.
• Jackson Heights. All three albums recorded for Vertigo - Bump ‘N’ Grind (Eclec2172), Ragamuffin’s Fool (Eclec2171) and The 5th Avenue Bus (Eclec2170) - have been remastered and released in January 2010 on the British label Esoteric Recordings. The band was founded by bass player Lee Jackson upon the demise of The Nice. It also featured ex-Crimson drummer Michael Giles.
• Jade Warrior: Kites. Esoteric Recordings (Eclec 2199). Street date: 24/05/10. Kites was the third fine album for Island and remains an outstanding listening experience. The final album was "Way of The Sun" (eclec2198) and is also reissued. Both reissues have been remastered from the original tapes and fully restore the original albums artwork.
• Jakko Jakszyk, Robert Fripp & Mel Collins: A Scarcity Of Miracles - A King Crimson ProjeKct. June 2011. Some will call it the NEW King Crimson album, other just a ProjeKct! When Robert Fripp & Jakko Jakszyk got together in February 2009 neither expected that their initial sessions of guitar-only improvisations would result in a full-blown album, or that it would ultimately be deemed to be a King Crimson projeKct. As the material from those first sessions developed it was obviously becoming much wider in scope and scale. The arrival of sax player & former King Crimson member, Mel Collins, added further colour & texture to the emerging songs. The line-up was completed with the addition of bassist Tony Levin and Porcupine Tree’s drummer, Gavin Harrison (both members of the 2008 incarnation of King Crimson) adding their parts to the material in their respective studios. What had begun as an exchange of ideas had now grown into an album of heartfelt songs, an album that is immediately accessible on first hearing but reveals fresh detail & depth with each subsequent play, as one might expect from musicians of this calibre.
• Karl Jenkins and Mike Ratledge! Well, I list it here because of the men behind the project but I doubt there may be much Canterbury on those recordings! Part of the series of recordings released under the title "Music For TV and Film" (featuring other well known artists on their roaster), this is indeed what we used to call once "library music". As far as our two Soft members are concerned, two releases are planned, titled respectively "Some Shufflin'" (Voiceprint VP515CD, street date: 07/06/10) and "Movement" (Voiceprint VP516CD, street date: 21/06/10).
• Jonesy: Dark Matter (Inner Space). Street date: 06/09/11. Jonesy were probably one of the most innovative British bands of the early 1970's. Now, after years of cleaning-up and digitally re-mastering previously unreleased recordings and then cutting these together with entirely new material, the long-awaited new album "Dark Matter [Inner Space]" is finally on release! This is the first time in 35 years that these guys have appeared on the same album!
• Karda Estra: The Last of the Libertine. The seventh Karda Estra album continues their unique exploration of progressive and classical stylings using both modern and orchestral instruments. To their trademark classical instrumentation and etheral female voice this time is added some melodic trumpet work and a more uptempo rhythmic feel to the whole album.
• Karda Estra: The Age of Science and Enlightenment. The sixth Karda Estra album continues their unique exploration of progressive and classical stylings using both modern and orchestral instruments. The long suite “The Return of John Deth” is something of a new departure for the group where each part has its own atmosphere that evolves around the main theme point. Classical instrumentation and ethereal female voice mix with electric guitar/bass/keys/drums to give haunting and melancholic melodies bound together by beautiful production ideas and great progressive arrangements.
• King Crimson: In The Court Of The Crimson King. Another remaster? Well this time, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Fripp celebrates the 40th anniversary of this glorious album and here we go: a monstruous 5CD + 1 DVD-A box, completely remixed from the master tapes with no less than Steve Wilson in the production team; 5 bonus tracks with alternative takes or versions (including a guitar/flute duet on "I Talk To The Wind", an alternate version of "Moonchild" ...). CD 1 presents the new 2009 stereo album mix, CD 2 the original album remaster from 2004, CD 3 an alternate album with alternate takes mixed for the first time from the original studio recordings and de-clicked vinyl transfer of the original stereo first Island Records issued pink label UK pressing run. Sourced from two vinyl LPs - one of which is Robert Fripp's personal archive copy. CD 4 have resored bootlegs from 1969 and CD 5 is a mono album mix used for radio promotion only in the USA. The DVD-A follows the same concept and should be playable on all CD players, offering the choices of 5.1 Surround Sound, MLP Lossless Audio, 24/96 High Resolution Stereo. There is also a video content, an edit of 21st Century Schizoid Man, filmed from the Hyde Park concert of July 5th, 1969; available for the first time with original audio from the actual performance! Are you still hungry? I can't eat more ....
• Latest news from the King Crimson's Collector's Club series:
  + CLUB 35: King Crimson Live in Denver, Colorado, March 13, 1972. This is the classic quartet line-up of Fripp/Collins/Burrell/Wallace.
  + CLUB 34: Live in Alexandria, VA, 03/03/03. This is a recording of the ProjeKct Three,
  + CLUB 33: Live at Park West, Chicago, IL, June 4, 1998. 2CD by ProjeKct Two
  + CLUB 32: Live in Munich, Sept. 29, 1982. Discipline line-up with Bruford, Levin and Belew
  + CLUB 31: Live at the Wiltern, July 1, 1995. 2CD recorded at The Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA with the double trio
  + CLUB 30: Live in Brighton, October 16, 1971. 2CD recorded at the Dome with the line up of Boz, Ian, Mel, Robert and Peter.
  + CLUB 29: Live in Heidelberg, 1974. Recorded March 29, 1974 at Konzerthaus Elzerhof, Heidelberg, Germany.
  + CLUB 28: Live in Warsaw, June 11, 2000. With Trey Gunn & Pat Mastelotto
  + CLUB 27: ProjeKct Three Live in Austin, Texas, March 25, 1999.
  + CLUB 26: King Crimson Live in Philadelphia, PA, July 30, 1982. With Belew, Bruford & Levin
  + CLUB 25: King Crimson Live at Fillmore East, NYC, November 21 & 22, 1969.
  + CLUB 24: King Crimson Live in Guildford, November 13, 1972. With Cross, Muir, Wetton & Bruford
• King Crimson: In The Court Of The Crimson King. Now remastered from the original master tapes which were recently re-discovered.
• King Crimson "Ladies Of the Road". The ever inventive Robert Fripp has recently put up this 2CD record on the market. Disc 1 is a collection of KC tunes played in 1971 while disc 2 is a gathering of different sax and guitar solos from 21st Century Schizoïd Man played throughout the tune's life and edited as a continuous superjam.
• Led Bib: Bring Your Own. Cuneiform (RUNE 314). Jan. 2011. This 2nd album for Cuneiform contains some of their hardest rocking material to date, mixing the full throated cry of the dual saxes over loudly amplified Fender Rhodes and heavy bass and drums. Those familiar with the Led Bib sound will recognize the trademark hooky melodies and idiosyncratic improvisation on this album. The raw energy and style remains, but it has never sounded so confident or accomplished, so genre-crossing and definition-defying. Here eastern melodies tumble into rock and roll grooves, there jazz phrases open up pastoral overtures, and elsewhere crescendos rise and disappear into whirring kraut-rock wormholes. The group has been playing together for over 7 years – and it shows.
• John Lees: A Major Fancy. Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 22231). Street date: 29/11/10. This is the release of an expanded 2CD remastered edition of the classic 1977 album by Barclay James Harvest guitarist and vocalist John Lees. Although originally released in 1977 by EMI's Harvest label, the album was recorded between December 1972 and January 1973 at Abbey Road studios and Strawberry Studios in Stockport. The sessions featured a host of notable guest musicians including Eric Stewart and Kevin Godley (of 10CC). The bonus CD features 5 previously unreleased out-takes including both sides of John's rare 1974 Polydor single!
• Geoff Leigh & Yumi Hara: Upstream. Moonjune (MJR027). This is a collaborative work between the ex-Henry Cow member and the Japanese pianist, lately often seen in team work with Canterbury legend Hugh Hopper and with ex-King Crimson violinist David Cross. Their musical exchanges blur the line between written and improvised; although a multi-instrumentist, Leigh concentrates mainly on the flute, although it's frequently fed through an entanglement of electronic effects, lending a subtly harmonised burr. Hara plays keyboards, changing her palette from acoustic piano to hard-edged organ sounds. Often, she can be gently ruminative, but there are also spells where Hara rumbles with great intensity on the piano's bass notes or charges up to a Gothic organ sustain. Their music possesses some highly contrasting densities. Leigh coats his small gongs with an effects burnish, spangling into infinity. Hara also alters her voice at times, again with a subtly harmonised displacement. Leigh and Hara have produced a deeply sensitive soundscape, populated by a number of surprising (and exciting) forays into a more intense form of expression.
• Pete Lockett’s Network of Sparks feat Bill Bruford: One. Summerfold Records (BBSF024CD). Street date: 25/01/2010. Pete Lockett is one of the world's leading multi-percussionists. An authority on Indian percussion and an expert on tablas, kanjira, and bongos, he has played and recorded with countless international artists. Back in 1999 and before he was well-known, he toured with Bruford as "Network of Sparks" and they produced an inventive, culture-busting album called "One", out of print for several years and today finally reissued on Bill's label. The group was a percussion quintet covering many of the disciplines from around the world, in which the Ghanaian and North Indian Dhol traditions rubbed shoulders with progressive jazz and electronics. The music on "One" is an authoritative guide to the glorious colours available from more sophisticated rhythmic cultures than our own western one!
• The Long Hello: Volume 2. Voiceprint VP479CD. Street date: 01/03/10. Six years after the first volume, the ex-VDGG members, bass player Nic Potter and drummer Guy Evans recorded the second opus during various sessions throughout 1980, mainly at Evans' home and released it in early 1981.
• The collaboration between Magenta and Annie Haslam - Night and Day - has arrived. This four tracks EP contains three versions of the song written by Rob and Christina especially for Annie, plus a lovely instrumental written and performed by Rob called "Essence of Love". The song also features the entire Magenta live band plus a stunning contribution from Troy Donockley on Uilean Pipes and Whistles. Track listing:
  1. Night and Day (lead vocal by Annie)
  2. Night and Day (evening mix)
  3. Essence of Love
  4. Night and day (duet with Christina of Magenta)


• Mad Band: The Adventures Of The Michael Giles Mad Band (2009). King Crimson's legendary former drummer Michael Giles returns with his first album of original material for nearly three decades. A powerfully percussive and innovative fusion of free rock and jazz influences.
• Marsipulami: S/T. Released now on the label Breathless as digipack. This album, originally released in 1970 on Transatlantic, is made up of dark, foreboding music that touches upon the early prog scene (lots of organ, flute, electric guitar) but also throws in some folky passages and jazz experimentations as well.
• Phil Miller's In Cahoots are back again with a new release on Cuneiform. "All That" is the title and there is now a new drummer, Mark Fletcher. The album is getting a lot of good reviews and there should be a slight move towards fusion jazz.
• Moraz/Bruford: In Tokyo. Winterfold BBWF011CD. Street date: 07/09/09. Live recording from Laforet Museum, Akasaka, Tokyo, and the only official Winterfold live album available from the duo. There is a strong jazz vibe in the exchanges played by our two men and more than a hint at their background as symphonic proggers. The music is much accessible and has a dancing elastic quality with plenty of dynamics, as you may expect from Bruford!
• News From Babel: Complete Recordings. RER 9123. This gorgeous boxset gathers the two LPs "Sirens And Silences: Work Resumed On The Tower" + "Letters Home" as well as the 7" originally released as a limited edition to the subscribers. the new remastered edition contains new illustrations and texts. A unique occasion for those who missed this band born from the ashes of Art Bears!
• Nico: Nico In Tokyo (MGOTH19LP). Format: LP 180 g (with printed inner sleeve). This live LP, recorded in April 1986, just two years before her ultimately death, is perhaps Nico's last live recording ever. Many of Nico's earlier performances feature her performing songs by other artists (Browne, Cale, Reed, Dylan, etc.) often written especially for her, but the first six items on this LP were written by Nico herself.
• Noir: We Had To Let You Have It. Breathless 52016. Released in 1971 on Pye's Dawn label, this is the only known album from the British progressive combo. Exceptional guitar work! Features Barry Ford, later of Clancy and Merger.
• No-Man: Wherever There Is Light. Acting as a bridge between No-Man's elegiac 2008 return "Schoolyard Ghosts" and the forthcoming live concert DVD "Mixtaped", "Wherever There Is Light" is a strictly limited edition CD EP release. It features 2 new tracks especially written for the EP, a powerful preview from the Mixtaped DVD and a few other things as well
• No-Man: Schoolyard Ghosts (KScope 103). May 2008. A distinctive combination of beautifully detailed songwriting, haunting melodies and inventively cinematic production, Schoolyard Ghosts sees No-Man’s Tim Bowness & Steven Wilson expanding the band's sonic palette by collaborating with, amongst others saxophonist Theo Travis, KC's drummer Pat Mastelotto, another drummer in the person of Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) and the London Session Orchestra (arranged by Dave Stewart). Featuring the sweetly hypnotic Wherever There Is Light, the warped dynamics of Pigeon Drummer, and the subtly evolving explorations of the uplifting 13 minute semi-orchestral epic Truenorth, Schoolyard Ghosts reveals the band taking its music to an even more focused and personalised place than before. The cd/dvda comes in a lavish digi-pack with booklet and also features a 5.1 mix of the album, a photo gallery and videos for 3 songs.


• Mike Oldfield: Ommadawn. Deluxe Edition 2CD+DVD. Street date:04/06/10. CD1: 2010 Stereo Mix by Mike Oldfield + versions of Ommadawn previously lost, carefully selected bonus tracks / CD2: 1975 Stereo Mix and the 1975 Demo Version / DVD: 2010 5.1. Surround Mix + promo material.
• Carl Palmer: Working Live Vol. 3. Nov. 2010. This is the third installment in a series where Palmer, with his own guitar driven band, reinvents his previous bands’ work. “As with Working Live Volume 1 and 2, the idea with this record was to capture my own band arrangements of these classic and rock anthems originally recorded with ELP,” says Palmer. His trio - including bass player Stuart Clayton and guitarist Paul Bielatowicz - revisits some well-known numbers, like “Peter Gunn”, “Nutrocker” and “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Palmer and his players infuse these tunes with flowing musical diversity, ranging from jazzy improvisation, soaring stylized guitar leads, funk bass lines, classical melodies, and hard rock shredding, completed with Palmer rounding out the final song with a dynamic drum solo.
• Parallel Or 90 Degrees : Jitters. Vocalist and keyboardist Andy Tillison returns to his roots and his original band. With them, he has brought forward "Jitters", one of the finest albums of his musical career. Although fans of The Tangent will find a lot to love, Jitters shows another side of Tillison. It is an album featuring a sound that inspires very favourable direct comparison to bands such as Porcupine Tree, Elbow and Muse.
• Anthony Phillips: Ahead of the Field. Street date: 14/06/10. This is a library album composed by Ant for music publishers De Wolfe/Rouge Music. Originally commissioned in 1984, it's now being released as a commercial album for the first time. The album's primarily a showcase for Ant as a composer rather than a performer. As a library project it had a number of requirements in the initial brief, a key one being the use of then-contemporary electronic drum and synthesiser sounds. Here's the description from the original album cover... "Modern, Punchy, Industrial Themes With The Emphasis On Rhythm; Played By X-Cess"
• Anthony Phillips: Sail The World. Voiceprint (VP535CD). Street date: 28/06/10. 2010 remastered reissue with 3 bonus tracks and new artwork! Originally released in 1994, it features music composed and recorded by Ant for the TV coverage of the Whitbread Around The World Yacht Race.
• Anthony Phillips: Sides. Voiceprint VP534CD. 05/04/10. The next album from the back catalogue to receive the re-mastered treatment is now Sides; originally released in 1979, it featured performances from other progressive rock legends such as Mike Giles and John G Perry alongside Ant. The present edition includes the extra non-album track "Souvenir" on CD1 (featuring John Hackett on flute). CD2 has variations and alternate mixes plus the edited single version of "Um & Aargh" (previously unavailable on CD).
• Anthony Phillips: Missing Links Volume 4: Pathways & Promenades. Voiceprint VP526CD. Street date: 02/11/09. This is the latest release in a series of recordings that have featured some of Anthony Phillips commissioned music for film and television. Tracks include The Golden Road To Samarkand, Promenade, Cascades and Sleeping Giant.
• Ozric Tentacles: The Yum Yum Tree (CD + A2 Poster). One of the most influential bands to emerge from the UK's festival scene, the Ozrics layer ambient and ethereal landscapes with freeform dub trips, incredible rave grooves and psychedelic progressive rock. The Ozrics return in April 2009 with a new studio album, their first since 2006's "The Floor's Too Far Away".
• Anthony Phillips is on the front again with those releases:
  
  + Anthony Phillips & Joji Hirota: Wildlife. Voiceprint VP435CD. Between 1994 and 2000, Anthony and Joji collaborated on a number of outstanding soundtracks for wildlife television programmes in the award-winning "Survival" series. In addition, Anthony also wrote and recorded the music for a programme in the BBC series "The Natural World". Now for the first time highlights from these richly atmospheric and evocative soundtracks are available as a new collection "Wildlife". Release date: 21/04/2008
  + Anthony Phillips: 1984. Ant's 6th solo album, the keyboard-based 1984 was originally released in 1981. For this 2CD reissue it's been remastered by Simon Heyworth. The extra CD includes new mixes from the original 8-track masters which allow parts of the album to be heard for the first time in their original basic form. Also released for the first time is some of Ant's original music for the ATV Series "Rule Britannia" which was recorded at the same time as 1984. Other extras include the previously unheard keyboard piece "Ascension" (which was rediscovered on the original multi-track tapes during the research for this reissue, and has been mixed for the first time) and the 16-minute demo version of "Poly Piece" - a track originally written for inclusion on the album "Sides" and then considered by Ant as a possible track for 1984 when in the formative stages of the album. New liner notes feature contributions from recording engineer Chris David, the writer and presenter of Rule Britannia Dr James Bellini and Ant's own memories of the album.
  + Anthony Phillips: Wise After The Event. Voiceprint VP433CD. Street date: 19/05/08. This reissue has been remastered and contains a second disc of rarities and outtakes recorded before and during the sessions for the album. Amongst the tracks are various pre-release mixes of tracks alongside demos of a number of the tracks including tracks that never made the finished line up.
  + Anthony Phillips: The Geese And The Ghost. Voiceprint VP432CD. 30th anniversary 2CD remastered reissue of this album from 1977. It features among others performances from Genesis members Mike Rutherford & Phil Collins as well as flutist and Steve's brother John Hackett. The extra CD features a fascinating "behind the scenes" view of the initial stages of the recording of the album with the basic tracks of Ant and Mike Rutherford's original acoustic guitar parts for The Geese & The Ghost (Parts One & Two), "Which Way The Wind Blows" and "Henry: Portraits From Tudor Times" being mixed for the first time in isolation from the later overdubs that were added to the album. Complimenting these unique versions of the original tracks is the only unreleased track from the original sessions (a planned new version of the co-written "Silver Song" that never progressed beyond this initial recording), Ant's original demo of Collections (which was recorded for Charisma Records boss Tony Stratton-Smith in the Spring of 1974) and the original basic instrumental tracks of "God If I Saw Her Now" and "Sleepfall". Last but by no means least the final track is the unreleased single version of Silver Song, recorded in November 1973 by Ant together with Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins which receives here its first official release.


• Pineapple Thief: Someone Here Is Missing - Special Edition. Street date: 24/05/10. The limited special edition of the album comes packaged in a luxurious rigid digibook format and features two bonus tracks


• The Pineapple Thief: The Dawn Raids 2. The Pineapple Thief return with two four track EPs, entitled The Dawn Raids. The EPs are available as limited edition CDs. The CDs will be strictly limited to 2000 copies of each and will be available only via the Kscope store. Volume 2 features 'Bitter Day' a track specially written for this release and 'Freefall', a previously unreleased track but a live favourite, along with 'Second Chance' which was previously available on a digital only EP.
• New Pink Floyd Tribute!. "Back Against The Wall" is built of course around the famous Pink Floyd album. In fact the project is to present personal reinterpretations of some of the original tunes. Again the master of ceremony is ex-Yes member Billy Sherwood and he has gathered here an incredible list of performers: Chris Squire, John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Steve Morse, Ian Anderson, Keith emerson, Steve Howe, Adrian Belew, Rick Wakeman, Gary Green, Tony Levin, Jason Scheff (from Chicago), Alan White, Steve Lukather, ... ooof ... more yet, the Olympiades of prog isn't it?
• Porcupine Tree: The Incident. 2CD. Written and recorded between September 2008 and May 2009, "The Incident" is the tenth studio album by Porcupine Tree. Released worldwide by Roadrunner on 14th September, the album is a 2 disc set, the first disc containing the 55 minute title track / song cycle, and the second CD featuring 4 shorter pieces.
• Porcupine Tree: Fear of a Blank Planet. Steve Wilson has always been an impressive businessman along with being a very productive musician. The new Porcupine Tree album will be available in no less than a CD edition, a special limited edition DVD-A audiophile 5.1 surround sound version ( it also includes all 4 tracks from the "Nil Recurring" mini album in surround sound and three video works directed by Lasse Hoile: a special Blank Planet Introduction short film, the uncensored version of the Fear of a Blank Planet promo video, and the full length 17 minute film for Anesthetize as seen during the band’s live shows) and finally a double vinyl edition also featuring the 4 tracks from the mini album, all on 180 gram vinyl, packed in a state of the art heavy gatefold picture sleeve with innerbags!
  
• Porcupine Tree: Stupid Dream. A brand new edition of their long out of print 1999 studio album, considered to be one of their best. The album contains classics such as Even Less, Pure Narcotic, Tinto Brass, and Stop Swimming, and has been lavishly revamped into a definitive double cd set. Disc one is a CD containing a pristine remix / remaster of the original stereo album, while disc two is a DVDA (playable on any DVD player) containing the album remixed into 5.1 surround sound (in DVDA and DTS versions), as well as a 24 bit high resolution version of the stereo mix. Also included are 5.1 mixes of bonus tracks Ambulance Chasing and the full length 14 minute version of Even Less, the promo video for Piano Lessons, and a photo gallery. The artwork has also been completely revamped, with exceptional new images by Lasse Hoile, and a beautiful package designed by Carl Glover. This is the definitive version of one of the essential albums in the PT catalogue.
  Also available as a deluxe double LP set on US label Gates of Dawn. The remaster of the original album is on sides 1-3, and side 4 contains bonus tracks Ambulance Chasing and Even Less (full length 14 minute version). Comes in a lavish thick gatefold sleeve using the new artwork created by Lasse Hoile, and designed by Carl Glover.
• Porcupine Tree: Metanoia. A remastered reissue in digipack sleeve of this album of improvisations recorded during the sessions for Signify in 1995/96. No songs here, just 65 minutes of PT in spur of the moment flow.
• Porcupine Tree: Warszawa. The second CD to be issued on Porcupine Tree's Transmission label (Fan club) is a live in the studio recording made by the Polish Radio during the band's 2001 tour (the last with Chris Maitland on drums).
• Nick Potter is remembered as the bass player in the British prog outfit Van Der Graaf Generator. After leaving VDGG, he started a side project called The Long Hello and at start featuring other VDGG members, including their leader Peter Hammill. After 4 albums, he started an extensive solo career and today his many albums are about to be reissued under his control. Here are the facts:
  + Dreamworld. Voiceprint VP482CD. Street date: 05/04/10. Dreamworld was originally released in 1997 and features musical contributions from Snowy White on guitar and former Steve Hackett keyboard player Nick Magnus
  + Mountain Music and Sketches in Sound. Voiceprint VP483CD. Street date: 19/04/10. Twofer originally released in 1995. See details below on each specific title!
  + New Europe - Rainbow Colours. Voiceprint VP484CD. Street date: 26/04/10. Two albums on one CD. They feature contributions from former Van der Graaf Generator musicians Guy Evans & David Jackson alongside guitarists John Ellis and Snowy White and former Average White Band saxophonist Malcolm "Molly" Duncan.
  + The Blue Zone Party Live 1991. Voiceprint VP488CD. Street date: 07/06/10. Originally released as a 300 copies limited edition cassette tape (each signed by himself), it quickly became a collector's item. This concert was recorded in London at The Dome on the 29th of May 1991. It features former VDGG members Guy Evans and David Jackson as well as violinist Stuart Gordon, long time partner of Peter Hammill
  + The Blue Zone. Voiceprint VP487CD. Street date: 31/05/10. The Blue Zone was recorded at sessions that stretched out between 1989 and 1990 and was originally released in 1990. The album features Van Der Graaf Generator drummer Guy Evans
  + Self Contained. Voiceprint VP480CD. Street date: 22/03/10. Self Contained was originally released in 1987 and features Nic Potter playing and producing throughout the album.
  + Sketches in Sound. Voiceprint VP486CD. Street date: 17/05/10. Originally released in 1986, it features Average White Band saxophonist Malcolm" Molly" Duncan
  + Mountain Music. Voiceprint VP485CD. Street date: 03/05/10. Mountain Music was originally released in 1983 and like many of Nic Potter's albums features music of an electronic nature. The album features contributions from Guy Evans, guitarists John Ellis - formerly of the Vibrators , the Stranglers and Peter Gabriel's band - and Huw Lloyd Langton formerly of Hawkwind.
  
  
• Quicksand: Home is Where I Belong. Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2293). 26/09/11. Highly sought after by Progressive rock collectors, this sole album from 1973 by the Welsh band is now presented in an edition that has been remastered from the first generation master tapes, fully restores all original album artwork and features a new essay.
• Renaissance: Illusion. Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2232). Street date: 29/11/10. Newly remastered and expanded edition of the classic second album, including three bonus tracks, two recorded for the 1970 unreleased film "Schizom" and a 1976 demo by Keith Relf.
• Renaissance: S/T. Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2231). Street date: 29/11/10. Newly remastered and expanded edition of the classic debut album, adding both sides of the band's first single as bonus tracks.
• RMP. Angel Air Records. Coming up in September, an unusual and rare release featuring someclass musicians in jazz rock mode: Ray Russell, Mo Foster and Simon Phillips together with special guest Gil Evans. There was talk before Hendrix's untimely death in 1970 that Gil Evans was going to collaborate with him and this concert features a Hendrix composition.
• Samurai: S/T. Akarma AK341CD. British band risen from the still smoldering ashes of Web (just after the release of their third and best LP). They only released one album in 71. One more time reissued on CD!
• Skin Alley: Big Brother Is Watching You : The CBS Recordings Anthology. Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 22243). Street date: 31/01/11. This 2CD anthology includes all tracks from the band's second album, plus the entire unreleased soundtrack album made for the film "Stop Veruschka!". Remastered from the original master tapes, it is a fine tribute to one of Britain’s greatest underground acts of the early 1970s.
• Skin Alley: Two Quid Deal Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2244). Street date: 31/01/11. Originally released on Transatlantic Records, this third album from 1972 is now also part of the Esoteric reissue program, including two bonus tracks (the A-side of the single "Sun Music" in its Glastonbury Fayre version + You Got Me Danglin).
• Slapp Happy: Ca Va. Voiceprint VP509CD. Release date: 16/11/09. Slapp Happy were a British/ German Rock band featuring Anthony Moore, Peter Blegvad and the wonderful and unique voice of Dagmar Krause. The band was formed in 1972 and moved to the UK in 1974 where they merged with the band Henry Cow , although this merger didn't last long and the band subsequently split. There have been subsequent reunions alongside solo careers for the various members. This recording was in fact a reunion album originally released in 1998. Whilst fitting in well with the bands previous work, "Ca Va" has a modern feel and was well received. The album has been unavailable for some time and this reissue will certainly rejoy the band's loyal fan base.
• Slapp Happy: Live in Japan May 2000. Voiceprint VP523CD. Street date: 26/10/09. This recording was made in Japan in May 2000 at three concerts which took place in Tokyo, Sapporo and Kyoto. The material performed was drawn from four of the bands albums (Sort Of, Slapp Happy/Acnalbasac Noom, Desperate Straights and Ca Va). The band chose to perform the concerts by playing all the instruments themselves without the aid of other auxiliary musicians. Previously available in Japan only on the FMC label.
• It has been called for some time Software. Now it is Softworks. Their recording is called Abrakadabra and is finally coming on Universal Records, Japan on March 10, 2003. Yes but who is this?
  Hugh Hopper/Elton Dean/John Marshall/Alan Holdsworth. The new Soft Machine?
• Sparks: The Sparks Guide Book 1971 - 2006. Outone Disc. Who but Japanese fans would have got the idea of putting up such a book? This guide is written in both Japanese and English and includes mutual interviews by Ron & Russell Mael, previously unpublished photos, a comprehensive discography and album reviews, essays, artwork and a CD with Spark's earliest recording - Computer Girl - plus an interview with Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), taken from the US radio show "Jonesy's Jukebox". A huge collector's item! Younger fans ... or your kids will also be able to dress Ron & Russell with various cardboard clothes .... yeah I told you, Japanese! They love that kind!
• Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin: The TLG Collection. Street date: 16/10/09. A 66-minute, 14-track compilation of rarities including demos, bonus tracks, alternative mixes and TV soundtrack songs recorded between 1983 and 2001. The album was originally sold in a limited edition to the audience at Tokyo's TLG club in 2001 and has not been available since - the music remains unchanged from the Japanese edition but the artwork has been redesigned and now includes new sleeve images, photos from the duo's personal archive, full track credits and extended sleeve notes by Dave Stewart. The CD ships in a 4-page colour Digipak with a 12-page colour booklet. Musical contributors include Andy Reynolds (guitar), Jakko Jakszyk (guitar), Porcupine Tree / King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison and trombone player Annie Whitehead . Dave Stewart says: "After the long delay in releasing our recent album Green and Blue we wanted to keep the ball rolling and get more material out there for our listeners. Barbara and I really enjoy the music in this collection so we decided to make it available as an interim release while we work on new songs for our next album."
• Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin: Green And Blue. This long-awaited new album is the most varied Stewart/Gaskin album to date, combining heart-rending ballads, poppy toe-tappers, lengthy musical explorations and a heavy metal thrash, but the diverse material is united by the duo's trademark musicality. In a departure from style, the album contains only one cover version. Dave & Barbara are joined by long-time collaborators Andy Reynolds (guitar), Gavin Harrison (drums), Peter Blegvad (narration) and the Amorphous Choir of Wales. The CD ships in a 4-page Digipak with a 12-page colour booklet containing the song lyrics and a short sleeve note by Dave. Accompanying Green and Blue is the companion CDR 'Hour Moon', featuring five bonus tracks, two of which were originally intended for the album. Other tracks include a cover of a classic '60s instrumental and an extended version of 'Henry & James' which appeared on a Flexidisc in a 1980's issue of Keyboard magazine (USA). Hour Moon ships in an eco-friendly cardboard wallet with its own custom artwork and explanatory notes. The two CDs will be released on March 27th 2009 and can be pre-ordered now from the Stewart / Gaskin Online Store.


• The Tangent: Comm. Limited digipack edition + 2 bonus tracks. Street date: 23/09/11.
• The Tangent: Going Off On Two. CD+DVD. 08/04/11. As an independent release, this DVD shows the new band performing over 90 minutes of music from different areas of their career. This is a 2 disc set that includes the DVD with extra subtitled commentary, interviews and photo gallery and audio CD that contains most of the music from the video. The DVD is in NTSC format, no area coding. There's also a completely new song "The Mind's Eye" (unavailable anywhere else at present) that is a preview of the new studio album "COMM" due for release later in 2011.
• The Work: Both "Slow Crimes" (AD15) and "Rubber Cage" (AD 14)are now available in a remastered edition. Founded in 1980 by ex Henry Cow member Tim Hodgkinson, the band was one of the most illustrious followers of the musical lineage defined by Henry Cow, together with Art Bears, Cassiber, Skeleton Crew, News From Babel, etc...
• Third Ear Band: Live Ghosts. Materiali Sonori MASOCD90004. This reissue, featuring an english group which pioneered the idea of "world music" and influenced a lot the psychedelic and progressive era, may be considered a true fusion between Eastern and Western music. This CD was recorded live in concert in Italy in 1988. It features a studio bonus track.
  
• This Heat: Out Of Cold Storage. This special package released on Recommended (RER 8007) gathers for the first time the 5 official albums by this British trio who affected at the same time audiences from punk, new wave and industrial rock between 1976 and 1981. All carefully remastered and accompanied by a 48 pages booklet offering photos, interviews and infos of all kind. There is also a CD of unreleased live material.
• This Heat: Deceit. Recommended Records RER 8002. Reissue of the 2nd album by the British trio who more or less federated the amateurs of punk, post wave and industrial. "Health And Efficiency", their 3rd album originally released as a maxi single is also available!
• This Heat: S/T (RER 8001). This cult record was released in 1979 and features drummer Charles Hayward together with guitarist, singer, clarinettist and more Charles Bullen and bassist/keyboardist Gareth Williams
• Travis & Fripp: Live at Coventry Cathedral. Panegyric Recordings (GYRCD004). 2009. After "Thread" in 2008, the collaboration between the two musicians keeps on, based on nearly the same principles: building layer upon layer of sound, sometimes so radically altered that you ask yourself who is what, even if you know that Travis operates with flute or sopran sax and Fripp with guitar. Discerning vrippertronics versus ambitronics can be a hard task, especially when mastered! What is certain is that there is an obvious empathy between the two sound makers and it builds on unpredictability and surprise, immediately converted into ephemeral, ethereal, atmospheric moods. And talking about surprise, what about the pastoral reworking of "Moonchild", from King Crimson's debut album? This release is part of a limited edition CD series that should be followed by new ones to initiate a conceptual work. A sustainable CD ?...
• Travis & Fripp: Thread. Burning Shed. This unique and almost inevitable collaboration has yielded a beautiful sequence of recordings - 9 improvised pieces - that artfully avoids the clichés routinely associated with ambient and *improv*, while wholly encompassing the core elements of both forms of music. Recorded at DGM Soundworld by David Singleton, with subsequent editing, mixing and mastering by Steven Wilson
• Theo Travis: Double Talk. Eighth solo release by the renowned British saxophonist, flautist, composer and improviser, Theo Travis who lately replaced the late Elton Dean in the current Soft Machine (r)evolution called Soft Machine Legacy. Featuring a dynamic new band and special guest Robert Fripp, the music is a highly contemporary evocation of the experimental Progressive, Jazz and Psychedelic music Travis was influenced by in his formative years. The album also features a unique Travis take on the Pink Floyd classic, See Emily Play.
• Tudor Lodge: S/T. Esoteric Recordings (eclec 2285). Street date: 25/07/11. Tudor Lodge recorded only one album in 1971 for the legendary Vertigo label. The band was a folk rock outfit from Berkshire with progressive leanings and comprised American Lyndon Green on vocals and guitar, Ann Steuart on guitar, piano, flute and vocals and John Stannard on guitar. This reissue restores the original album artwork and had been newly remastered from the original album master tapes. As an added bonus, it also includes the rare bonus track "The Good Times We Had", the B-side of the band's only single.
• Turning Point. A very interesting re-issue of the two albums - Creatures of the Night / Silent Promise - respectively made in 77 and 78 and originally released on the Gull label. Turning Point was one of the finest British jazz-rock ensembles of the mid-late 1970s, co-founded by leading British bassist Jeff Clyne (who had been both in Nucleus & Isotope) and vocalist Pepi Lemer. This re-issue has been remastered from the original analogue stereo tapes and is the work of Vocalion, a small British label specialized in re-issues. You will find it here: Turning Point
• Utopia. Esoteric Recordings will release on 31/01/11 a batch of recordings connected to Todd Rundgren's band. Here's the list:
  + Redux 92: Live In Japan (ECLECS22238). a deluxe cd & dvd set featuring a newly remastered edition of the classic live album (Tokyo, May 10th 1992) and the first ever European DVD release of the concert film
  + Oblivion (ECLECS22237). Remastered edition of the classic 1983 album and the first ever European DVD release of the concert film live at the Royal Oak, Detroit filmed in 1981. The DVD is completed by the inclusion of the 1983 promotional video for the single release of Cry Baby from the album Oblivion.
  + POV (ECLEC2255). This new remastered edition of the classic 1985 album includes three bonus tracks taken from a rare single B-side and two songs recorded in 1986 for the Utopia compilation Trivia. The reissue also includes an essay with an exclusive interview with Todd Rundgren.
  
• Van Der Graaf Generator: Live at the Paradiso - April 2007. Voiceprint VPDVD64. Street date: 07/09/09. This DVD captures a live performance by Van Der Graaf Generator and was filmed in Holland in 2007 for viewing via the internet. The performance filmed at the Paradiso in Amsterdam features the three man line-up of Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton and Guy Evans. The DVD includes the complete performance and also a bonus interview filmed with Peter Hammill in April 2009. Peter Hammill has also written the sleeve notes for the DVD.
• Van Der Graaf Generator: Live at the Paradiso - April 2007. Voiceprint VP517CD. Street date: 07/09/09. This CD captures a live performance by Van Der Graaf Generator and lifted from the soundtrack of the DVD of the same name. The performance filmed at the Paradiso in Amsterdam features the three man line-up of Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton and Guy Evans
• Van Der Graaf Generator: Trisector. New release and first album in trio after the departure of saxophonist David Jackson. Release planned for March 14, 2008
• Van Der Graaf Generator: Real Time. This 2CD documents the entire reunion concert held at the Royal Albert Festival Hall in London on May 6, 2005.
• Velvet Underground: 1965 - 1970 The Story, the lyrics. This new audiobook from Sonicbook includes a CD with pre-Velvet Underground rare tracks.
• Rick Wakeman: Past, Present and Future. Music Fusion (MFVP125CD). Street date: 01/03/10. As the title implies, the album focuses on time and the themes running through it also come under each of the three headings Past, Present and Future. The album is a solo piano work from Rick and features new material as well as reworked old songs dating back to the Yes era.
• Rick Wakeman: Live At Lincoln Cathedral. Heliopause HPVP104. 2CD. This is the latest solo piano album from Rick and is also the latest album in a series of albums released through Voiceprint that features artists specifically recorded live in the Lincoln Cathedral. The albums have also been recorded binaurally, which gives the listener a sense of actually being a part of the recording when listened to on headphones.
• Waters, Roger: To Kill The Child + Leaving Beirut. CD Single. 671188. Japanese release. And soon coming, the opera project "Ça Ira" inspired by the French Revolution of 1789.
• John Wetton: Raised in Captivity. Frontiers Records. Street date: 01/07/11. For this 6th solo album, the singer and bass player has invited plenty of guests, from previous musical partners like violinist Eddie Jobson, keyboardist Geoff Downes or ex-boss and guitarist Robert Fripp to some other big names of the prog and rock scenes: guitarists Steve Hackett, Alex Machacek and Steve Morse, keyboardist Tony Kaye; he even performs a duo with the singer of the band The Gathering (Anneke Van Giersbergen).
• Steven Wilson: NSRGNTS RMXS. Insurgentes, the debut album from Steven Wilson, was released earlier this year on Kscope. The album immediately received a rapturous reception from not just fans and critics but also from fellow artists. Several of these artists have remixed tracks from the album and NSRGNTS RMXS is a collection of some of these remixes. Tracklist: 1. Harmony Korine (David A. Sitek Magnetized Nebula Mix) 2. Get All You Deserve (Dälek Mix) 3. Abandoner (Engineers Mix) 4. Salvaging (Pat Mastelotto Mix) 5. Abandoner (Danse Macabre Mix) 6. Get All You Deserve (Fear Falls Burning Mix)



.... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels .... Labels ....

• Two reissues on the label Breathless
  + Demon Fuzz: Afreaka! CD digipack. Cat. No: 52017. Released in 1971, the music defies description: there’s afro-beat, funk, psych, jazz rock, fuzz guitar, the works in long 9 minute tracks like “Past, Present and Future” and “Mercy”. NB! The same album is available on the label Castle (CMRCD 1197). This one includes 3 bonus tracks from their rare Dawn EP (I Put A Spell On You/ Message To Mankind/ Fuzz Oriental Blues).
  + Ron Geesin: A Raise Of Eyebrows. CD digipack Cat. No: 52022. Best Known as the co-author of Pink Floyd’s “Atom Heart Mother”, this tape manipulator and multi-instrumentalist released his debut on the Transatlantic label in 1967. The contents of the tracks range from bizarre audio collage (“A Raise Of Eyebrows”) , to blistering freeform banjo (“Certainly Random”), to trad jazz arrangements (“Ha! Ha! But Reasonable”), to odd spoken interludes (“Positives”). Was previously available on the See For Miles label.


• New releases from Camino Records!
  
  + Asher Quinn: Open Secret. This was Asher's debut album originally released in 1987 - a haunting, lyrical suite with a progressive, classical, quietly epic feel to it. "Open Secret" also features rock legend Andy Latimer of Camel and Tony Freer of The Enid. The album is produced & arranged by Anthony Phillips, who also plays on the record. Both Asher Quinn and Anthony Phillips have kindly agreed to sign all pre-orders, accepted and starting on February 16, 2009 !!!
  + Marco Lo Muscio: Dark And Light. Follow-up album to "New Horizons", including original compositions by Marco and grand piano/pipe organ transcriptions of music by composers including Steve Hackett, Anthony Phillips and Keith Emerson
  
  
• Releases from HUX RECORDS:
  HUX 084 Soft Mountain: S/T. This project can be considered as the junction of 2 worlds and cultures, England and Japan. From the first we find ex Soft Machine fighters, saxophonist Elton Dean and the unequalled bassist Hugh Hopper. From the second, we'll discover keyboardist Hoppy Kamiyama (owner of the well known God Mountain label), whose 24 years career include some 200 CDs, and completing the line-up is the irresistible drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, leader of various Zeuhl charged combos such as Ruins & Koenji. The meeting dates from 2003 and is a must for lovers of either camp! This limited edition digipack features a liner note by Hugh Hopper.
  HUX 076 Connie Smith: Connie Smith / Cute ‘n’ Country ‘2 on 1’. Connie Smith is considered by many fans and critics to be one of the best and most underrated vocalists in country music history. Connie’s first two LPs were originally released in 1965 and are now reissued here together on one CD for the first time. It includes the original artwork and sleeve notes from both original LPs, along with rare photographs and new, updated liner notes.
  HUX 075 Skid Row: Live and On Song. All 4 sides of both singles are now released here on CD for the first time. Also included on this CD is the group’s powerful live show, recorded in London by the BBC in 1971. This recording captured the band at the peak of their improvisational powers as a concert act.
  HUX 074 Robyn Hitchcock: This Is The BBC. Features the best of his BBC radio sessions, recorded between 1995 & 1999. The accompanying 12 page full colour booklet includes photos and paintings by Robyn, song lyrics and an original Robyn Hitchcock poem.
  HUX 073 Kevin Ayers: The BBC Sessions 1970 - 1976. This 2 CD set of BBC radio sessions (Top Gear, John Peel, Rock On, etc..) compiled with the help of Kevin Ayers, tracks Kevin’s discography from 1970 (when his band included his former Soft Machine friends) through to 1976. Featured here are several previously unissued recordings, including the earliest surviving example of Kevin’s post-Soft Machine output. The accompanying 16 page full colour booklet includes comprehensive liner notes, plus a brief note from Kevin Ayers, full recording details and previously unseen photographs.
  HUX 070 Soft Machines: Softstage BBC In Concert 1972. Previously released on Windsong, this live BBC concert was recorded at London's Paris Theatre on July 20, 1972 for BBC Radio 1 just a few months before the live and studio material for the band’s album Six was put together.
  HUX 067 Soft Machines: BBC In Concert 1971. This is a live session recorded for the BBC at London's Paris Theatre on March 11th 1971. John Peel introduced the concert as being by "Soft Machine and Heavy Friends". It actually begins with the Elton Dean Group (which a year later evolved into "Just Us") - Dean, Mark Charig, Neville Whitehead and Phil Howard - plus Mike Ratledge on electric piano. Then Dean, Ratledge and Howard are joined by Hugh Hopper and Robert Wyatt. The 30-minute plus medley is by the regular Dean-Ratledge-Hopper-Wyatt quartet. For the last three numbers within the medley, Soft Machine is augmented by Ronnie Scott on tenor sax, Mark Charig on cornet, Paul Nieman on trombone and Roy Babbington on bass. A very strong performance that features some of the most jazz-oriented music Soft Machine ever produced. The final track is a previously unreleased recording of "Slightly All The Time/Noisette", which was performed by the Soft Machine quartet as an encore to this concert. The accompanying 12 page colour booklet includes brief notes from Robert Wyatt, Hugh Hopper and Elton Dean, who all recall their own memories of this recording. Also featured in the booklet are further extensive liner notes and band photographs.
  HUX 063 Elton Dean & Sophia Domancich: Avant. The French pianist Sophia Domancich has worked with Elton on and off over the past 20 years. During this time, she has become closely associated with the Canterbury scene and has played with most of the key figures of the genre, including Pip Pyle, Hugh Hopper, Richard Sinclair, Phil Miller & Didier Malherbe. ‘Avant’ features a recording of a live concert which the duo performed in France. This fully improvised show was the first time they had ever performed as a duo.
  HUX 062 Pip Pyle’s Equip’Out: Instants. In 1994, this band performed a live show in Paris which is now released here for the first time. This particular line-up of Pip, Elton Dean, Patrice Meyer & Paul Roger only ever did a handful of gigs. Released on november 29,2004.
  HUX 060 Family: BBC RADIO Volume 2 – 1971-73. This is the second of two volumes containing Family's previously unreleased BBC Radio 1 sessions. Covering the period from early 1971 up to mid 1973, these recorded sessions are mastered from the original BBC transcription tapes and feature one of Britain's finest bands playing in the studio, but with an extra edge that is normally only captured at live performances. Included here is a rare session by Family as a 4 piece
  HUX 059 Psychic Warrior: S/T. This is a brand new recording from the formidable free jazz quartet of Alex Maguire, Elton Dean, Fred Baker & Liam Genockey.
  HUX 057 Family: BBC RADIO Volume 1 – 1968-69. This is the first of two volumes containing Family’s previously unreleased BBC Radio 1 sessions. Featured here are several versions of tracks never before available on CD.
  HUX 055 Dreamtime: Cathanger '86. Dreamtime was formed in 1982 as a jazz trio featuring Nick Evans, Gary Curson and Jim LeBaigue. However in the same year it augmented to a quintet with the addition of Jim Dvorak & Roberto Bellatalla. A couple of years later this sextet was born, when the band augmented yet again with the addition of Keith Tippett on piano.
  HUX 051 Focus: Live at the BBC. Recorded in London on March 21, 1976 by the BBC, this concert includes new material as well as old stage favourites.
  HUX 050 Elton Dean: Sea Of Infinity. This is the 50th release on the Hux label, but it’s their first brand new album, recorded in 2003. Tracks 1 & 4 feature the Elton Dean Quartet, with Mark Hewins (guitar), Marcio Mattos (double bass) and Tony Bianco (drums). Track 2 is just Elton & Mark, displaying a fluidity that comes with 25 years of playing together. Elton & Mark are joined on track 3 by the American poet Sibyl Madrigal.
  HUX 049 Pentangle: The Lost Broadcasts 1968 -72. This double CD of Pentangle’s BBC recordings is comprised primarily of rare and previously unheard tracks.
  HUX 048 Isotope & Gary Boyle: Live at the BBC. This compilation is comprised of an Isotope BBC concert and an Old Grey Whistle Test show, plus a Gary Boyle session recorded for John Peel. None of these recordings have ever been released before.The accompanying 8 page booklet includes a brief note from Gary Boyle plus extensive liner notes, including an interview with Gary, and several rare band photographs.
  HUX 046 Elton Dean's Ninesense. A BBC live recording with such great players as south african Mongezi Feza, Louis Moholo along british celebrities like Keith Tippett, Mark Charig, Harry Beckett and many more.
  HUX 041 Gryphon: "Glastonbury Carol". This album was compiled with full assistance from the band and features their two BBC Radio 1 sessions, recorded in 1972 & 1974. Also included here is their single, 'Glastonbury Carol', which was originally commissioned for the closing titles of the film, 'Glastonbury Fayre'. The master tapes to this track had been missing for the past 30 years and were unearthed recently.
  HUX 040 Gay & Terry Woods: Lake Songs From Red Waters - The Best Of. A compilation from and by the co-founders of Steeleye Span.
  - Mick Softley: Songs For Swingin' Survivors. Album originally released on LP in 1965.
  - Billie Joe Spears: Mr Walker, It's all Over + Just Singin'. 2LPs on 1 CD.
  HUX 039 Wreckless Eric: "Almost A Jubilee - 25 Years At The BBC (with gaps)". Wreckless Eric recorded his first Peel session in 1977, when his band included Ian Dury on drums and Davey Payne on sax. 25 years later, Eric made a solo, acoustic appearance live on the Jonathan Ross show on Radio 2. This album features both of these performances, plus the best of Eric's BBC sessions recorded in between.
  HUX 038 Nucleus: "The Pretty Redhead Live At The BBC 1971 & 1982". The 1971 BBC session was their debut and one of the last times that the founder members of Nucleus appeared together, as guitarist Chris Spedding left soon afterwards.
  


• New Papersleeve Releases from Repertoire UK! at €16,5 each
  + Beggars Opera: Pathfinder. RR1066. Digi sleeve format (card/wallet, no plastic) with poster
  + Clear Blue Sky: S/T. RR1040. Digi sleeve format (card/wallet, no plastic) with poster and classic Roger Dean cover updated by the artist
  + Dr Strangely Strange: Heavy Petting. RR1045. Digi sleeve format (card/wallet, no plastic) with poster and classic Roger Dean cover updated by the artist
  + Gentle Giant: Acquiring The Taste. Digi-sleeve with poster
  + Gravy Train: S/T. RR1067.Digi-sleeve with fold-out poster
  + Jade Warrior: Released. RR1052. Digi-sleeve with poster
  + Legend: S/T. RR1064. Digi-sleeve with poster
  + Magna Carta: In Concert. RR1075. Digi-sleeve with poster
  + Nucleus: Elastic Rock. RR1076. Digi-sleeve with poster and classic Roger Dean cover updated by the artist
  + Tudor Lodge: S/T. RR1046



• VOICEPRINT 2008 RELEASES!:
  
  + 22/09/08 Jon Anderson: From Me To You. Opio Media (JAVPBX07CD). This mini CD is a unique release featuring three pieces of music which will delight long time fans of Jon Anderson. The tracks are made up of bird song overlaid with multi layered vocals from Jon Anderson Some of the music has been heard as the opening to some of Jon’s recent concerts and was also originally part of the boxed set The Lost Tapes.
  + 08/09/08 Gong: Live at the Uncon 2006. Voiceprint (UNGONGDVD003). Filmed at the Gong Family Unconventional Gathering at The Melkweg in Amsterdam in November 2006 some thirty five years after its inception, here's the Gong UnCon performance. The DVD includes performances from Daevid Allen, Steve Hillage, Tim Blake, Gilli Smyth, Mike Howlett, Miquette Giraudy, Didier Malherbe, Theo Travis and Chris Taylor.
  + 08/09/08 Howard Riley: For Four on Two Two. Jazzprint (JPVP141CD). This is the latest album from the Howard Riley catalogue to be reissued. The album has been unavailable for some time and will be eagerly received by the dedicated Howard Riley fan base and also the modern jazz fan base.
  + 01/09/08 Kevin Ayers: What More Can I Say? Reel Recordings (RR009). Kevin Ayers listened to this recently discovered collection of his private demo recordings and out-takes, and found them to be a refreshing reminder of a musical innocence, unique to the nineteen seventies. they feature appearances from Robert Wyatt, Mike Oldfield and David Bedford. Of special note is the fourteen minute private demonstration for the Doctor Dream suite, a stunning 'audio letter' synopsis with acoustic performances and wry commentary. Never has Kevin Ayers' voice and guitar been captured in such natural intimacy. These beautifully recorded reel-to-reel tapes are an indispensable portrait of an artist as a young man. Or to convey the response from manager Tim Shepard, "This is Kevin's Holy Grail!"
  + 18/08/08 Mother Gong: Live in the USA 1991. VP446CD. Live In the USA has been unavailable for some time and this reissue will be a welcome release for the dedicated Mother Gong and Gong related fan base. Recorded at various locations across America in 1991 from New York to Texas. The line up features Gilli Smyth, Harry Williamson, Rob Calvert and Tom The Poet.
  + 02/06/08 Michiel Borstlap: Eldorado. Gramercy Park GPM080808. This is the newest recording by the Dutch pianist. Coming from left field there is an element of improvisation with a definite funk element and the album will bear repeated listening from both old and new fans.
  + 02/06/08 Jimmy Carl Black: When Do We Get Paid? Crossfire 9504-2. Originally released in 1996, "When Do We Get Paid ?" pulls together material from a variety of radio broadcasts, live recordings, rare, hard to find and in some cases previously unreleased nuggets from the discography of the one and alone JCB. Throughout the album's 17 cuts, JCB is featured on a variety of recordings from the late 70's to the late 80's in the company of combos including the Grandmothers, Holzhaus, Black And Terrazas, the Jolly Rogers, Big Sonny And The Lo Boys, Arthur Brown and the X-Tra Combo. Most interesting of all though has to be the inclusion of JCB's debut recording with the Keys from 1962 in the shape of their ultra rare single Stretch Pants / Just A Matter Of Time.
  + 02/06/08 Napoleon Murphy Brock feat. Gregarious Movement: After Frank - 1st Movement. Crossfire 9509-2. This live recording from 1977 captures Napi's band doing what they did best: putting their own imprint on soul classics. After Frank - 1st Movement is the first CD in Napoleon's archival series of recordings done before or after his time with Frank Zappa
  + 19/05/08 Patrick Moraz: Future Memories Live on TV. Voiceprint VPDVD38. Future Memories Live On TV was at the time considered a brave experiment. The music was performed live for a Swiss television programme and recorded directly to tape as the programme was broadcast. All zones DVD
  + 19/05/08 Acid Mothers Gong: Live at the Uncon 2006. Voiceprint VPDVD246. This seminal band was captured live at the huge gathering of Gong fans, called the Uncon festival and having taken place in Amsterdam 2006. The band is a funny hybrid with both members of Acid Mothers Temple and in first place its leader, guitarist Kawabata Makoto but also the omnipresent octopus, drummer Tatsuya Yoshida then members of Gong with Daevid & Gilli plus guitarist Josh Pollock, in transition from The University of Errors. The recordings from that event were mixed and mastered by Harry Williamson at Spring Studios in Melbourne with assistance from Daevid Allen, and Harry also did the psychedelic video edit, and created special effects which complement the music perfectly.
  + 12/05/08 Jimmy Carl Black: Where's The '$%?@' Beer? Crossfire 9508-2. 2nd CD of a compilation series by Mothers Of Invention 's first drummer. It includes recordings from Geronimo Black (with Bunk Gardner & Don Preston), The Band's Robbie Robertson, The Mannish Boys, The Grandmothers, The Farrell & Black Band, The Muffin Men, The X-tra Comb and B.E.P. (with Roy Estrada), represented along with a JCB interview segment covering his time before and during The Mothers of Invention with Frank Zappa.
  + 12/05/08 Don Preston: Crossfire 9507-2. Don Preston's more classically slanted pieces make their mark on Works. Highly melodic at times and completely experimental at others, Preston's compositions challenge and reward the listener. Solo piano pieces, electronic works, film soundtrack excerpts and The Bride Stripped Bare performed live by The California EAR Unit are all on display. The most striking track is the 1965 recording Found, an early 4-track composition with Bunk Gardner on flute. No need to describe Don's Homage to F.Z. - it speaks for itself!
  + 12/05/08 Bunk Gardner: It's All Bunk. Crossfire 9506-2. At last, the first ever Bunk Gardner solo album! It's All Bunk! spans Bunk's first session with Bud Wattles and His Orchestra (1959) to a live track with The Grandmothers in 1981. In between are post-Mothers improvised recordings done with his late brother Buzz and bassist John Balkin, and melodic pieces with the late Andy Cahan. More than half of these tracks have never been released in any form.
  + 28/04/08 Fayman & Fripp : A Temple in the Clouds. Projekt PRO104. This album presents the Soundscapes of Jeffrey Fayman & Robert Fripp. A stunning album of looped Frippertronics and electronics, in the vein of the classic Fripp & Eno "No Pussyfooting" collaboration; Fripp's contribution of two hours worth of treated guitar work (his trademark “Frippertronics”) formed the basis for Fayman's layering of interwoven electronic soundscapes. Focusing on the subtleties and slight shifts in overtones and harmonics, Fayman and Fripp have created a dynamic musical kaleidoscope, ever changing and intrinsically radiant in each sonic fractal.
  + 21/04/08 Daevid Allen's University of Errors: Daevid Allen's University of Errors plays The Soft Machine. Voiceprint UNGONGDVD001. This Amsterdam performance from the 2006 Gong UnConvention was the first time that UofE performed most of this material live since re-recording the songs for their CD "Jet Propelled Photographs" in 2003. It was a very fitting situation as the entire weekend was a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Daevid's original vision of The Planet Gong in 1966 while a member of The Soft Machine.
  + 14/04/08 Don Preston: Vile Foamy Ectoplasm. Crossfire 9505-2. Originally released in Germany in 1993, Vile Foamy Ectoplasm reappears in a revised and expanded version covering recordings from 1967 to 2002. Preston's own compositions have been kept and eight additional tracks have been included, featuring Loki (The Thrones of Saturn) - whose gong sections were engineered by Frank Zappa - and recordings with Bunk Gardner, The Grandmothers and Don Preston's Akashic Ensemble. Also featured is the 15-minute tour de force from 1967-1968, Death Lights.
  + 07/04/08 Patrick Moraz: Live In Princeton. Voiceprint VPDVD31. This release will be the first time that this performance has been released on DVD although it was previously available as a VHS. The VHS however has been unavailable for some time and is now a collector's item. As a bonus there is the promotional footage made to accompany Patrick's debut solo album The Story Of I. This footage has not been seen since the initial release of that album and has been eagerly sought out by collectors and Patrick's huge and dedicated fan base alike. The sound reproduction on the DVD has also been personally overseen by Patrick Moraz as with the recent series of reissued CDs and the picture quality has been noticeably improved.
  + 17/03/08 Brainville: Brainville at the Knitting Factory. Voiceprint VP427CD. According to Daevid Allen’s own words, Brainville is "The Most eccentric 3 piece jazz rock outfit of the Canterbury school". This 3-piece is, besides Allen himself, composed of the late Pip Pyle and Soft Machine's bass player Hugh Hopper. This album is sourced from a concert that took place at the Knitting Factory venue in New York in 1998.
  + 10/03/08 Patrick Moraz: ESP. Time Wave IDVP015CD. ESP is the most recent album from Patrick Moraz. Originally released in 2003 ESP features sixteen tracks of classically inspired music, all of which bear the Moraz touch on the piano.
  + 10/03/08 Asia featuring John Payne: Scandinavia. Devgel1CD. Scandinavia, as the name suggests, is a live album recorded in Scandinavia whilst Asia were guests on the Dio tour. The performance featured here is one of the last performances to feature the line-up of John Payne, Geoff Downes, Guthrie Govan & Jay Schellen. This in concert recording features the classic Asia songs
  + 03/03/08 Jon Anderson: The Promise Ring. Opio Media (OPIOVP04CD). The Promise Ring was originally released in 1997 and has a Celtic feel where Jon Anderson delves into his own heritage for a thrilling celebration of traditional Irish and Celtic melodies singing his own lyrics to the joyous, percussive sounds of multiple fiddles, pennywhistles, and mandolins.
  + 11/02/08 Fish: 13th Star. Chocolate Frog CF1402207. 13th Star is the latest studio offering from Fish and was written and recorded during what was one of the biggest personal upheavals in Fish’s life. The album is a dark and reflective album although there is an optimism running throughout the album. The material from the album was premiered during the lengthy European tour to promote the album that stretched from late summer through to early December 2007
  + 11/02/08 Steel Pulse: Door Of No Return. Wise Man Doctrine WMDMDVD11. DVD NTSC Region 0. "Door of No Return" whilst being a track from the successful and 2004 Grammy nominated album African Holocaust, is also the title of an in depth documentary about the hugely successful British Reggae band. The film includes concert performances alongside interviews which give an insight to the band many consider the greatest Reggae band in the world.
  + 04/02/08 Pam & Gary Windo: Avant Gardeners. Reel Recordings RR001. In 1976 an opportunity to perform at the Maidstone College of Art as a duo allowed them to bring along the rhythm section from the Brotherhood of Breath, bassist Harry Miller and drummer Louis Moholo for a set. Gary captured this concert by placing on stage a consumer reel-to-reel tape recorder and stereo microphone. In addition, an extraordinary private home session with the magnificent percussionist from Ovary Lodge, Frank Perry, was recorded. Reel Recordings has meticulously remastered and edited forty minutes of explosive and exploratory episodes of moments frozen in time.
  + 04/02/08 Ray Russell: Secret Asylum. Reel Recordings RR005. Throughout the journey Secret Asylum presents sonic caresses and searing assaults from all its featured participants, and its success has yet to be equaled. The quintet features trumpetist Harry Beckett and tenor saxophonist Gary Windo
  + 04/02/08 Kevin Ayers and The Whole World: Hyde Park Free Concert 1970. Reel Recordings RR002. The Whole World was a great melting pot featuring organist David Bedford, saxophonist Lol Coxhill, at that time on bass Mr. Mike Oldfield himself, and on this occasion drummer Robert Wyatt. Whilst the previously released BBC sessions broadcast other sides of the Whole World that produced their classic "Shooting at the Moon" album, this summer 1970 Hyde Park Free Concert recording brings to life a deliriously heavy, heady rock experience in overdrive! Restored as fully as possible from a two track copy, Hyde Park Free Concert 1970 is presented with the fond endorsement of a former festival Jester.
  + 04/02/08 Ken Hyder's Talisker: Dreaming of Glenisla. Reel Recordings RR004. In early 70's, drummer Ken Hyder founded his own band, Talisker, focusing on spontaneously improvised music and traditional Scottish folk music, with both aesthetics being mutually informed. The instrumentation driven by Ken was unique: paired double bass and paired reeds (alto, tenor, clarinets) with voices and whistles. This debut album from 1975 stands among the finest acoustic recordings of its generation. This long awaited reissue of Ken Hyder's classic album is augmented with previously unreleased studio recordings of his quintet
  + 04/02/08 G.F. Fitz-Gerald & Lol Coxhill: Echoes of Duneden. Reel Recordings RR003. These master tapes of a '75 concert unfortunately shelved by Virgin present Lol's soprano saxophone and Gerry's electric guitar with great accuracy and presence. This is eccentric music making, presented as Three Fairy Dances, brimming with buoyancy and painted with cohesive sound colours. Echoes of Duneden invites an intimate experience to the open hearted listener.
  + 04/02/08 Jon Anderson: Totec. Opio Media OPIOVP05CD. Toltec was originally released in early 1996 and is a concept album made up of 13 cuts divided into three parts. This edition of Toltec has 2 bonus tracks "Longwalker Speaks 17 min ver" & "True Horizon".
  
  
• VOICEPRINT 2007 RELEASES!:
  
  + 26/11/07 Fish: Live in Krakow Acoustic. Voiceprint VPDVD10. This DVD was filmed in 1995 when Fish was performing acoustic sets of older familiar material. Also released is the "Live in Krakow Electric (VPDVD11)
  + 12/11/07 Fish: Live In Poland. Chocolate Frog VPDVD2. Filmed by TV Poland on October 10th 1997 in Przemysl Poland. As this recording had only been available on videotape from Fish's fan club "The Company", we have added extra footage to the DVD. This includes a documentary entitled "A Badgers Day" filmed backstage Nov 20th 1997 in Koln, Germany and an Interview - filmed at The Studio, Haddington 2002 especially for this DVD issue.
  + 12/11/07 Fish: Kettle of Fish. Chocolate Frog VPDVD1. Kettle Of Fish is the first time on DVD for the 1998 collection of Fish tracks compiled from his various albums over a ten year period. Included on this 45 minute DVD are the videos to the chart singles for State Of Mind, Big Wedge and A Gentleman's Excuse Me with a running commentary from Fish himself. Also included is a cover version of the Argent classic Hold Your Head Up from 1992's Songs From The Mirror, an album of cover versions and Short Cut To Somewhere, the 1986 collaboration between Fish and Tony Banks from Genesis and a track which appeared on Tony's solo album Fugitive this track predates Fish's solo career by a couple of years. Also included is a photo gallery and an interview with Fish himself.
  + 12/11/07 Fish : Scattering Crows Live in Europe 2004. Chocolate Frog VPDVD9. This DVD documents the tour undertaken by Fish and his band to promote his then current album Field Of Crows. Extras include an interview filmed backstage at a concert in Malta plus the songs The Rookie and Numbers.
  + 05/11/07 Patrick Moraz: ESP. Time Wave IDVP015CD. ESP is the most recent album from Patrick Moraz. Originally released in 2003 ESP features sixteen tracks of classically inspired music all of which bear the Moraz touch on the piano.
  + 29/10/07 Attrition: All Mine Enemys Whispers - The Story of Mary Ann Cotton. 2GODS (10GODSCD). A surreal and nightmare-ish dreamscape - All mine enemy’s whispers is mix of styles from avante guarde to neo-classical to music concrete - and is possibly the ultimate in “Gothic”… Recorded over 3 years in the U.K., Germany and USA, It is a culmination of everything Attrition have achieved over their 25 years of working with dark electronic soundscapes ....
  + 15/10/07 Patrick Moraz: Resonance. Time Wave IDVP014CD. Resonance was the first album of the new millennium to come from Patrick. This is a solo piano album.
  + 15/10/07 Arc: Fracture. Din Records (DIN28). "Fracture" is ARC's fifth album release and their fourth on the DiN label. It features their fabled retro style sequencing, courtesy of Shreeve's giant Moog modular system, coupled with a heady mix of quirky melodic lines and spacy atmospheres. The album is wholly instrumental and the first four tracks constantly morph and evolve with a set of chilled out grooves and sublime melodic themes. The fifth track, "Rapture", is an epic in every sense. Nearly 23 minutes in length it features a central, pounding sequencer riff section cocooned within truly awe inspiring deep space ambiences for a truly memorable track.
  + 08/10/07 Steve Hillage: Germany 77. VPDVD32. Recorded for the German television, this concert by the first Hillage line-up is now fixed on DVD, which also includes an exclusive interview filmed at Steve and Miquette’s studio in London in January 2007 where Steve and Miquette discuss the Steve Hillage Band, the German concert and also the recording of the albums Fish Rising, ‘L’ and Motivation Radio.
  + 01/10/07 Astralasia: The Hawkwind Remixes. VP361CD. This CD will no doubt appeal to the more adventurous of Hawkwind's long lasting and widespread fan base but also fans of Astralasia's ambient dub treatments of Hawkwind's material. Astralasia of course originally sprang from another British psychedelic space rock band The Magic Mushroom Band
  + 01/10/07 Bill Bruford and Keiko Abe: The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam - Go Between. Summerfold BBSF018CD. The album ‘Go Between’ was originally released in 1986 but has been unavailable since 1992. This remastered edition of Go Between comprises four long tracks of material written specifically for the project and its two stellar featured artists, the eminent Japanese composer and virtuoso, Keiko Abe and drummer Bill Bruford.
  + 01/10/07 Fish: Communion. Chocolate Frog CF040807. Communion is a double live CD and was recorded at St Mary's Church, Haddington on the Acoustic Night of the Company Convention August 2006.
  + 17/09/07 Leslie West Band: Live in Toronto, 1976. Trademark of Official Quality VPTMQ053CD. This line up of the Leslie West band also featured future Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and special guest drummer Carmine Appice who at this time was playing drums for Rod Stewart. 2007 will see the launch of the Official Leslie west Bootleg series of recordings. Hot on the heels of the Official Mountain Bootleg series of recordings Leslie has chosen key recordings from his extensive archive.
  + 03/09/07 Violeta de Outono: Volume 7. Voiceprint Brazil VPB123CD. Violeta de Outono are known for their hypnotic sound and psychedelic influences, and their live presentation are always remarkable due to the dreamy and lenghty instrumental passages, leaving their audience in a state of trance. On this album the band keep on developing their own style, using influences from English bands from the 70’s (Camel/Caravan/Soft Machine), with special attention on the Hammond organ. The album features eight new songs, full of lyricism and psychedelia, and includes as a bonus an MPEG studio video clip.
  + 23/07/07 Astralasia: Cluster Of Waves. Voiceprint VP426CD. Astralasia are a magnificent blend of Ambient –Dub and Tribal House and a few other influences thrown in for good measure. Cluster of Waves is the latest album from Astralasia; it features eight previously unreleased tracks and a guest appearance by former Hawkwind and David Bowie band member Simon House on violin.
  + 16/07/07 Mother Gong: Live in Amsterdam. Voiceprint VP423CD. The performance took place at the spectacularly successful Gong INCON which took place in November 2006 and reprised the successful appearance of Mother Gong at the previous Gong UNCON in 2005. The band featured Gilli Smyth, Orlando Allen, Didier Malherbe, Gwyo Zepix and Tim Hall and was one of the undoubted hit’s of the 2006 UNCON.
  + 02/07/07 Roxy Music: Concerto. Neptune (TUNECD112). Recorded live at the Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, California on April 4, 1979 and in Denver, Colorado on April 12, 1979. All tracks have been digitally remastered. CONCERTO is a two-disc, 15-track live document of 1979's Roxy Music reunion tour.Double disc reissue of the 1979 collection of live recordings from the group's first comeback, the "Manifesto Tour". The principle members of Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and Andy McKay were joined by Gary Tibbs (who was recruited from the Vibrators) to fill in the Spinal Tap-esque ever-changing bass player's position and the late David Skinner on keyboards.
  + 02/07/07 Jack Bruce: Bird Alone. Neptune (TUNECD114). Cream bassman goes solo! This brilliant show recorded on the US tour of 1980 fits on a 2CD and the band includes Billy Cobham on drums, David Sancious on keyboards and ex-Humble Pie Dave 'Clem' Clempson on guitar.
  + 02/07/07 Atomic Rooster: Lose Your Mind. Neptune (TUNECD105). This album features rare studio recordings from the newly reformed Rooster in 1980 - line up featuring Vincent Crane, John Du Cann and Preston Heyman. The bonus tracks include a stunning live version of the No.1 Hit (UK) Devil's Answer and a German Broadcast featuring Chris Farlowe and the original line up including Paul Hammond on drums.
  + 14/05/07 Tangerine Dream: 35th Anniversary Phaedra Concert. Voiceprint VPDVD29. DVD. This concert, filmed on the 11th of June 2005 at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, was performed in front of a sell out audience and featured material from the Phaedra album alongside newer more recent material. The band, which features Thorsten Quaeschning, Linda Spa, Jerome Froese and Iris Camaa, perform many pieces from their lengthy career including Phaedra '05, Rubycon Pt.1, Force Majeure, Logos and a cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic Purple Haze.
  + 14/05/07 Patrick Moraz: Live In Princeton. Voiceprint VPDVD31. Live In Princeton is another live acoustic outing from Patrick Moraz. The concert took place at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey in 1995 and captures Patrick’s piano work perfectly. Tracks include Blue Monk and the Intro from Best Years Of Our Lives which was originally from The Story Of I. This release will be the first time that this performance has been released on DVD although it was previously available as a VHS.
  + 07/05/07 Bill Bruford's Earthworks: 1 - 2000s. Summerfold BBSF016DVD. This 1’55” DVD is the first in a two volume anthology of concert footage of Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, one of the longest lived, best travelled, and most original jazz quartets. This volume chronicles the band’s progress through the 2000s; volume 2 does the same for the 1990s. Filmed on tour in the United States in 2001, Argentina in 2002, and Germany in 2005, this DVD also includes three previously unrecorded tracks, and marks the debut performance of bassist Laurence Cottle and pianist Gwilym Simcock with the group. Most of the material has never before been released on DVD or video. It also includes 25 minutes of new, previously unreleased material.
  + 07/05/07 Bill Bruford's Earthworks: Video Anthology Vol. 2 1990s. Summerfold BBSF017DVD. This 85 minute DVD is the second in a two volume anthology of previously unreleased concert footage of Bill Bruford’s Earthworks. This volume chronicles the band’s progress through the 1990s from its electronic start to its acoustic renaissance; filmed on tour in Germany 1991, Japan 1991, and Bulgaria 1999, this DVD includes the only commercially available footage of seminal Ballamy, Bates, Bruford edition of