AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
GRANT MOON has a rummage down the back of the Prog sofa for the ones that nearly got away…
There are shades of John Mitchell’s Lonely Robot on Red (Zyse), the accomplished debut from Dartmoor duo Gravity Machine. Niall Parker and Bob Shoesmith’s influences (Chris Cornell, William Orbit, A Perfect Circle) are worn on their sleeves throughout, with their post-grunge, electronica and even celtic tones given a windswept, sometimes gothy breadth by the echoing, 80s-esque production. Promising stuff.
Proud Yorkshireman Tim Hunter offers up Living In A Looking Glass World (Northern Soundscapes), a very home-made prog opera about Alice author Lewis Carroll and his connection to Whitby. The ambition here is matched only by the lack of budget, but Hunter’s songwriting is decent, solid and fun, and Prog regular
Guy Manning is part of Hunter’s cast. If you like the sound of Manning taking on an Alan Parsons-sized concept in his usual down-to-earth style, then this rabbit hole might be for you. Somewhere in the middle of these two poles is the debut album from Realisea, a band centred on Brian De Graeve, guitarist for Dutch proggers Silhouette. Mantelpeace (Freia) is a pudding of new age, Euro rock, folk and symphonic prog ingredients. Despite some jarringly misjudged moments, it’s mainly a sweet-hearted record, thanks largely to charming singer Marjolein De Graeve, with Mystery’s Jean Pageau chipping in too.
‘Stop the violence, stop the killing/Stop the dark satanic milling’. So sings keyboardist David Kovacevic – AKA Dreaming David K & Organic – on Save The Human, the opening track of Mr Passive Progressive. This selfreleased labour of love indulges Mr K’s life-long love for the genre. There are echoes of Camel, Yes, Hawkwind and ELP in places here, and plenty for fans of pure prog. The music’s affectionately rendered by a characterful ensemble.
Amnesia (Electric Valley) is the engrossing debut LP from California psychedelicists Marmalade Knives. Guitarists Clinton Wilkins and Justin Spivey take their outer limits music seriously (Wilkins has studied music deeply; Spivey is a psych collector/historian) and that pedigree shows. Whereas cosmic echo can hide a multitude of musical sins, this quintet have plenty of melodic ideas, dynamic control and a circa70s vintage vibe. Even nine-plus-minuter
Astrology Domine (geddit?) doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Parisian proggers Baron Crâne give good psych too, but their instrumental sound is more rooted in the now – a little post-rock, and a lot pronk. Their third record, Commotions is a total blast. French rapper INCH gives On
Rase Les Murs one of the funkiest, bangyour-head choruses to have arrived in ages; pure moshpit bait. The title roughly translates as ‘Hug The Walls’ but, judging by the hooks, heaviness, and attitude on display here, that’s something these guys have probably never done, ever.