Strawbs – Dancing to the Devil’s Beat (2009) U.K.

One of the better British progressive groups, The STRAWBS were a 60’s folk and medieval band turned prog-rock with the help of Dave COUSINS (the heart and soul of this group) and Rick WAKEMAN “master of the keyboards”. WAKEMAN is featured on the albums “Strawbs”, “Dragonfly”, “Just A Collection of…”, and “From The Witchwood” before he joined YES. The line-up for the group changed markedly over the years. Their sound has been in a state of constant evolution combining English folk and progressive sounds to form their unique style. Critics seem to have a preference for the STRAWBS in the early Seventies when the group consisted of Tony & John HOOPER, John FORD, Richard HUDSON and keyboard virtuoso Rick WAKEMAN. The group ceased to exist at the end of the 1970s, and COUSINS embarked on some solo projects. STRAWBS would appeal to fans of bands like FAIRPORT CONVENTION, STEELEYE SPAN, PENTANGLE, etc.

Prog Folk • United Kingdom

Studio Album, released in 2009

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Revenge (Can Be So Sweet (5:15)
2. Beneath The Angry Sky (4:27)
3. Copenhagen (4:44)
4. Pro Patria Suite (7:42)
(i) Back Along (We Were Young)
(ii) All For Each Other
(iii) Home Is Where The Heart Was Ever
5. Where Silent Shadows Fall (5:42)
6. The Man Who Would Never Leave Grimsby (4:59)
7. The Ballad Of Jay And Rose Mary (4:14)
8. Dancing To The Devil’s Beat (3:36)
9. Oh How She Changed (4:21)

Total Time: 45:20

Line-up / Musicians

- David Cousins / vocals, guitar, banjo, autoharp
- Dave Lambert / vocals, guitar
- Chas Cronk / vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, programming
- Rod Coombes / drums
- Oliver Wakeman / keyboards, orchestration

Guru Guru (1976) Germany

“We`re not cosmic rock, we`re comic rock.”
Mani Neumeier, 1973

A free form jazz mentality, avoiding musical clichés and commercialism, has always characterized the music and philosophies of German freak `n roll band GURU GURU who have categorically occupied their own special stage within the realms of modern music. From it`s LSD induced origins in the late `60s to it`s present day configuration which still rocks and grooves with intensity, countless personnel changes have occurred making it more of a succession of musical ventures and concepts under the moniker GURU GURU, which came about as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the BEATLES and their guru worshipping of the late `60s. GURU GURU were one of the first bands to become associated with the German Krautrock movement from that era along with bands such as XHOL CARAVAN, AMON DUUL and CAN. However, the band was not partial to the absurd stereo-typing and preferred the terms “acid space” or simply, “acid rock” which better described their loud, trippy, improvisational music.

Krautrock • Germany

Studio Album, released in 1976

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Tomorrow
2. Tango fango
3. Soba soave bossanova
4. Un, deux, trois
5. Nightbear
6. Banana flip
7. L. torro
8. Salto Mortadella
9. Das lebendige Radio
10. Rattenfänger

Line-up / Musicians

- Ingo Bischof / keyboards
- Tommy Goldschmidt / percussion
- Sepp Jandrisits / guitar
- Jogi Karpentiel / bass
- Mani Neumeier / drums, keyboards, producer
- Roland Schaeffer / synthesizer, guitar

Fuchsia – S/T (1971) U.K.

Not to be confused with the flower (fuschia), this group took its name from Mervin Peake’s book Titus Groan (just like the proto-prog group of the same name, Steerpike and Gormenghast) and was the project of Tony Durant. Having dabbled in the music business since 66 (he started with Henry Cow’s Chris Cutler in a band called Louise), but leaving it for a University spell, he started writing again eventually forming a trio with drummer Gregory and bassist Day. But Durant was interested in using and integrating string instrument in another fashion than using them as a string section for embellishment, so they joined forces with a truio of classical music student babes (what a coincidence, them being a trio too . The project was contemporary of the start of ELO and Jan Dukes De Grey. The music developed then very charmingly as a folkish trio with extended strings arrangements integrated fully in their music.

The album was well received by the critics but insufficiently promoted, sank without a trace and the group did not manage to tour the university circuit to promote it either. The group disbanded a little later that year, but Durant revived it for further sessions in 75. The albums with all of those side-sessions got a release in 05. This historical album got a re-issue in the Cd format in 01

Prog Folk • United Kingdom

Studio Album, released in 1971

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Gone With The Mouse (4:59)
2. A Tiny Book (8:03)
3. Another Nail (6:57)
4. Shoes And Ships (6:14)
5. The Nothing Song (8:23)
6. Me And My Kite (2:34)
7. Just Anyone (3:33)

Total Time: 41:43

Line-up / Musicians

- Tony Durant / acoustic & electric guitars, vocals
- Michael Day / bass
- Michael Gregory / drums, percussion
- Janet Rogers / violin, backing vocals
- Madeleine Bland / cello, piano, harmonium, backing vocals
- Vanessa Hall-Smith / violin, backing vocals

Shub-Niggurath – Les morts vont vite (1986) France

SHUB-NIGGURATH was formed in 1983 and consisted of six musicians: Allan Ballaud on bass, percussionist Franck Coulaud, Frank Fromy on guitar and percussion, Jean-Luc Herve on harmonium, piano and organ, vocalist Ann Stewart, and a trombone/bass player Veronuque Verdier. The band released their first untitled demo on 1985 and got good feedback from critics. The promising debut album, “Les Morts Von Vite”, was released on Musea label in 1987. The album received good reviews and is their finest moment: it caught the band at the peak of their creativity. Musea reissued this album on CD in 1997, including two rare bonus tracks.

SHUB-NIGGURATH’s best album is the debut, and it’s also the best place to start exploring their music. However, their career has been fairly consistent and the other two albums are quality efforts.

If you like dark, brooding mix of RIO and Zeuhl you will like SHUB-NIGGURATH. their avant-ish dark prog with a sharp edge is both unique and challenging.

Zeuhl • France

Studio Album, released in 1986

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Incipit Tragaedia (15:46)
2. Cabine 67 (5:55)
3. Yog Sothoth (12:27)
4. La Ballade De Lénore (8:58)
5. Delear Prius (4:03)
6. J’ai Vu Naguère En Peinture Les Harpies Ravissant Le Repas De Phynée (4:19)

Total time 51:28

(These are the real track times; the cover of the CD indicates other track lengths, but they are incorrect.)

Line-up / Musicians

- Alain Ballaud / bass
- Franck Coulaud / drums
- Franck W. Fromy / guitar
- Jean-Luc Herve / piano, organ and harmonium
- Ann Stewart / voice
- Véronique Verdier / trombone
- Michel Kervinio / drums and percussion

Pulsar – Görlitz (1989) France

The legendary French space-rock group. On their debut “Pollen” the media had them promoted as the French PINK FLOYD, though they were a lot more original than that would suggest, with much use of flute and electronics. They had a uniquely French sound. PULSAR’s third album, issued in 1977, “Halloween” (a conceptual “horror-rock” symphonic opus) is generally considered one of the ten best symphonic albums in the world. A masterpiece of refinement. Definitely indispensable for all progressive rock fans! “The Strands of the Future” contained beautiful, spacey, symphonic progressive music along the lines of PINK FLOYD, GENESIS, the early ELOY albums. This album featured some of their finest work, particularly the 26 minute mostly instrumental title-track. The atmosphere is enhanced by fantastic passages for mellotron. Probably as good or even better than “Halloween”! An excellent album!

Symphonic Prog • France

Studio Album, released in 1989

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Görlitz (19:25)
2. Fin de voyage (4:00)
3. Naufrage (4:58)
4. Pour un autre départ (2:46)
5. Autour de toi (5:40)
6. Tara (3:00)

Total Time: 39:49

Line-up / Musicians

- Victor Bosch / drums, percussion
- Gilbert Gandil / guitars, vocals
- Roland Richard / sax, keyboards
- Jacques Roman / piano, synthesizers
- Louis Paralis / bass

Pictorial Wand – Face of Our Fathers (2009) Norway

Symphonic Prog • Norway

Studio Album, released in 2009

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. The Wasteland (11:12)
2. Struggle Of Autumn Leaves (8:41)
3. Prince Of War (8:19)
4. The Ghosts Start Dancing (11:44)
5. Verse of Despair (6:10)
6. Face Of Our Fathers (9:33)
7. Circle’s End (12:05)

Total Time – 67:44

Line-up / Musicians

- Tomas di Sansimone / drums
- Idar Eidsaune / bass guitar
- Paal Selsjord Björseth / piano, organ, harpsichord
- Per Christian Jörstad / cello
- Synne Teiseth Norbeck / flute
- Staale Storlökken / synthesizer solo
- Sigrid Inderberg / flute
- Hanna Haugan / cello
- Mattis Sörum / electric & acoustic guitars, electric sitar, organs, keyboards & orchestra arrangements

La Torre Dell Alchimista – Neo (2007) Italy

Studio Album, released in 2007

Track Listings

1. Disimmetrie (6:56)
- Golem (Storia Di Una Goccia)
- Suoni Di Plastica
2. Medusa (8:27)
- Fede
- Fuga
- Corale
- Samba V
3. Idra (1:51)
4. Risveglio, Procreazione E Dubbio Pt. I (11:31)
- Preludio
- Primo Esperimento
- Secondo Esperimento
- Dubbio
5. L’Amore Diverso (2:28)
6. Cerbero (9:25)
- Promenade
- Le Tre Teste
- La Guerra All’Idrogeno
7. Risveglio, Procreazione E Dubbio Pt. II (9:31)
- Epilogo
- Coda
- L’Addio

Total Time: 50:06

Line-up/Musicians

- Michele Mutti / acoustic and electric piano, Hammond C3, Minimoog, organ, synth, Mellotron
- Michele Giardino / vocals
- Davide Donadoni / bass guitar
- Michelangelo Donadini / drums, percussion

Guest musicians:

- Matteo Rigamonti / acoustic and electric guitars
- Mauro Donini / soprano sax
- Francesca Arancio / violino
- Giovanni Bertocchi / flute

La Torre Dell Alchimista – S/T (2001) Italy

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=579

LA TORRE DELL’ALCHIMISTA is a new Italian Progressive band that we can add to a list that is getting longer and longer since about thirty years. Focused around a twin keyboard attack, strong lead flute, and confident warm Italian vocals, La Torre combines classic Italian symphonic rock with a modern sensibility. Some have compared the band to a cross between BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO and SOLARIS.

Their first eponymous album recorded in 2001 seems to have come straight from the 70’s, and shows a lot of keyboards parts. The acoustic guitar and the flute replace without problems the electric guitar, while this very Latin voice becomes highly charming.

Genre: Rock Progressivo Italiano
Origin: Italy

Studio Album, released in 2001

Track Listings

1. Eclisse (6:02)
2. Delirio (In Do Minore) (4:00)
3. La Torre dell’Alchimista (6:48)
4. Il Volo (5:53)
5. L’Apprendista (6:50)
6. I Figli Della Mezzanotte (4:48)
7. La Persistenza Della Memoria (3:06)
8. Lo Gnomo (4:26)
9. Acquario (8:10)

Total Time: 50:03

Line-up/Musicians

- Ceraolo Silva / flute
- Donadoni Davide / bass, alto clarinet on 4
- Giardino Michele / lead vocals, chorus, acoustic guitar on 1,8
- Mosconi Noberto / drums, acoustic guitar on 4
- Mutti Michele / hammond organ, fender piano, piano, keyboards, mellotron, synthesizer

Karcius – Episodes (2008) Canada

Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion
Origin: Canada

Studio Album, released in 2008

Track Listings

1. Elements I : Submersion (9:45)
2. Elements II : Sol (8:38)
3. Elements III : Combustion (12:23)
4. Incident (8:39)
5. Levant (2:26)
6. Purple King (7:35)
7. Racines (8:54)

Total Time : 58:20

Line-up/Musicians

- Simon L’Espérance / guitars
- Dominique Blouin / bass
- Thomas Brodeur / drums
- Mingan Sauriol / keyboards

Karcius – Kaleidoscope (2006) Canada

Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion
Origin: Canada

Studio Album, released in 2006

Track Listings

1. Hypothèse A (6:44)
2. Maintenant (6:02)
3. Destination (6:10)
4. Tunnel (7:11)
5. Hypothèse B (11:02)
6. A-0-14 (5:10)
7. Épilogue (6:35)
8. Hypothèse C (7:56)

Total Time: 56:50

Line-up/Musicians

- Dominique Blouin / bass
- Simon L’Espérance / guitar
- Mingan Sauriol / keyboards
- Thomas Brodeur / drums