AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
GRANT MOON has a rummage down the back of the Prog sofa for the ones that nearly got away…
They may be from Caen, France, but Veik’s heart lies in Berlin. This hip trio’s debut album, Surrounding Structures (Fuzz Club), is a deep dive into kosmische, kraut, new wave and postpunk. Wonky analogue synths, crunchy bass guitars, and a plethora of cool grooves build into their wry examination of the modern world. Drummer/vocalist Boris Collet is almost horizontally laconic, but run him through a vintage echo unit and he becomes an enthralling presence on the likes of Political Apathy and Life Is A Time Consuming Experience.
Inaugurated in 2003, Kentucky’s Chest Rockwell have always had a little filth in their sound, and they’re focusing on big riffs on their latest. The Existentialist (chestrockwell. bandcamp.com) is strong, grinding, garagey stuff, owing a big debt to 80s metal, but with Rush and Voivod smarts in there too. Singer Josh Hines favours melody over grunts and screams, and steers the whole enterprise away from prog metal cliché to edgier places. Malta’s Different Strings are back with their fourth and best record. The Sands Of Time (ProgDome) is notably brought to life by Italian singer Andrea Casali, who elevates sweet ballads and tougher rockers alike. Trumpet and saxes add to the prog-lite feel, which is sure to appeal to fans of the direct, melodic approach of Neal Morse and his ilk.
Artnat is the new band from Manuel Cardoso of Portuguese proggers Tantra. That band’s catalogue is full of pure symphonic prog with an exotic feel, and that’s what you get on Artnat’s The Mirror Effect (artnat.bandcamp.com). Cardoso’s insistent guitar lines weave through some huge, dramatic female harmonies, dissonant riffs and memorable melodies. There’s something here for fans of Yes, Crimson, and even Return To Forever, with a little Gong madness around the edges. Buckingham-based guitarist Rod While offers up interesting and accomplished instrumentals on Open The Cage (Stardance). There’s a little Satriani in opener Breakout and plenty of latter-day Jeff Beck across the board. While’s judicious use of synths and electronics shows a shrewd producer’s mind at work, and his music draws on prog, jazz and fusion, with some eco/world nuance too. It’s a rich, intelligent record that lets its creator’s talents fly free.
And another sterling, guitar-orientated album comes from Corrado Rustici, who played for Italian proggers Nova and Cervello in the 70s. Interfulgent (corradorustici-official. bandcamp.com) proves he still has plenty of creative fire, as he exhibits blazing/tasteful fusion fretboard chops that nod to Allan Holdsworth and (again) Jeff Beck. The backing music has a late 90s tinge, blending drum’n’bass, trip hop and fusion with electronics. Rustici’s own production polish ensures Interfulgent shines brightly throughout.