AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
GRANT MOON has a rummage down the back of the Prog sofa for the ones that nearly got away…
Clive Mitten has given the (virtual) orchestral treatment to his former group Twelfth Night (on Suite Cryptique) and his favourite prog bands (Suite Sixteen), but Transcriptions (twelfthnight. info) is his first pure classical album. Over two discs he interprets the work of some major composers, in an innovative compositional style. The grander pieces (Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis) show the limits of even the best sample software, but smaller moments (Bach’s Concerto For 2 Harpsichords And Strings) are more convincing, and they all showcase Mitten’s musicality, intelligence and focus.
West Yorkshire prog metallers Knim announced their presence on the scene in early 2022 with first single A Prisoner On The Seas. That’s the closing track on their impressive debut album, When A Star Falls (knim.bandcamp.com), on which the trio weave the theme of loss through intelligent, tough and textured compositions full of grunt and melody. Singer/bassist Andrew Mawer is a compelling vocal presence on a grand, ambitious album with some proper prog mixed in with the mosh. Guitar maestro Dave Brons’ recent success with his Lord Of The Rings-inspired LP Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost helped him secure £20k of crowdfunding for its sequel. Return To Arda (davebrons.bandcamp. com) was inspired again by “Tolkien’s mythical places” and is another evocative and accomplished blend of Brons’ shreddyyet-tasteful guitar and cinematic, Celticflavoured soundscapes. With production by Iona/Lifesigns star Dave Bainbridge and vocal work from Sally Minnear, this was always going to sound beautiful.
Kent-based pianist and composer Paul Gunn combines his extraordinary jazz/modern classical keyboard chops with a baroque/chamber pop sensibility and a progressive mindset on The Ludwig Suite (paulgunn.bandcamp.com). This unusual, cheekily high-brow EP broaches lockdown, Norse mythology, Debussy, ‘Ludwig’ himself – Beethoven – with London Philharmonic Orchestra cellist Helen Thomas and acclaimed sax player Josephine Davies adding class to the brainy, quirky, slightly Canterbury mix. Led by Canadian guitarist/ composer Don Dewulf, The Wring last featured in this column with their heavy and epic second album The Wring2: Project Cipher. The follow-up, Spectra (WormHoleDeath Records) is another dive into their assured, theatrical, 80s metal-inflected soundworld. Dewulf’s a mean, precise player, Chandler Mogel is a strong vocal presence, and guest drummer Marco Minnemann kicks the tune Stiletto up a good few notches.
And finally: The Quest have been knocking around since the late 80s and their CV features support slots with everyone from It Bites to Magnum. Their new EP, The Book Of Caleb (bit.ly/thequestuk) is really strong – a 20-minute/six-chapter track packed with thrilling symphonic prog moments, strong modern/classic instrument tones and rocksolid songcraft. Good to have them back.