Crashride – Crashride (2015)

Crashride is a debut album made by French Canadians Jean-Sébastien Côté (composer, sound designer) and François Therriault (guitarist, composer), and has different musicians contributing on several tracks. The sleeve looks very interesting, it reminds me of a microscopic cluster of plant cells. The music itself is mostly instrumental. It is dreamy progressive and electronic music, with lovely ambient and soundscape moments, which I find very beautiful. Twelve tracks that are between three and six minutes long, which sound very good. Keyboards/synthesizers, guitars, bass, Chapman stick and v-drums are mostly presented. Frédérike Bédard provides vocals on some of the songs. This is a tough album to review track by track, because the instruments you hear are often merged together perfectly, making it one gamut of musicality.

Downes Braide Association – Suburban Ghosts (2015)

The first question that came to mind while listening to this album was “Does disco prog exist”? I’m sure some of the tracks on this album can be categorized as disco prog! All songs are created by Geoffrey Downes (Yes, Asia) and Christopher Braide, who does a lot of songwriting and producing for other well-known artists. Suburban Ghosts is the second album they made together, and it’s a wonderful album! It’s a concept album about isolation and loneliness in a small town suburbia, a subject that Christopher has experienced himself during his own childhood. You can hear certain themes and lyrics coming back from time to time in some of the songs. The album sleeve looks like it comes from the flashy eighties. The neon like colours, fonts and designs that are used make me happy.

Mäläskä, Live at De Hommel Vlaardingen, 1 July 2016

A brand new band/project, established in 2016, doing their first (mini) European tour… That must be something to look out for! The band members Remy Stroomer and Petter Janse are far from unexperienced, they have worked wonderful together a couple of times before in a project named Free Arts Lab, which is also still active. Mäläskä’s debut album Uncle Jim’s Cidney Factory was just released before their tour started, and I had the honour to see them at music pub De Hommel in Vlaardingen. They told me it was going to be an evening completely based on improvisation, which made me very curious!

Honourable mention: Darkroom (Michael Bearpark & Andrew Ostler)

I bet most readers here never heard of this band. The music this band makes isn’t something you would call ‘Prog’, but why should it be? How many people like music because it is categorized as ‘Prog’, and would not take any effort to listen to it when it’s not labelled ‘Prog’?

Tim Burness – Whose Dream Are You Living? (2015)

Whose Dream Are You Living is Tim Burness’ seventh album, and not just an album. The energy what Tim Burness puts in his music immediately grabbed my attention. The album contains a lot of different music styles, from progressive rock to pop, from electronic to ambient like moments. I have to admit, I’m not totally convinced by Tim’s vocals. They’re far from bad, but I just miss a certain power in his voice to carry the songs well enough. Somehow it does fit the music just fine.

Purple Flower Progressive Hour with Remy interview!

Interview with Remy Stroomer! 

Molesome – Songs For Vowels And Mammals (2015)

Molesome is a solo project by Mattias Olsson (Necromonkey, ex-Änglagård). All songs are written, recorded and produced by Mattias. The tracks were recorded between 1998 and 2001. He plays a variety of instruments, from mellotron to synthesizers, from guitars to flea market toys. Songs For Vowels And Mammals is Molesome’s debut album.

Necromonkey – Show Me Where It Hertz (2015)

Necromonkey are Mattias Olsson (ex-Änglagård), David Lundberg (Gösta Berlings Saga) and additional musician on this album is Kristian Holmgren. Show Me Where It Hertz is their 3^rd studio album. First thing that I would like to say about this album is that I really love the title and the ‘pun’ with ‘Hertz’. The album cover is also amazing, I really love the artwork (maybe it’s because it reminds me of the pictures I had in my study books when I studied microbiology). I think the artwork would  even look better on a big vinyl sleeve.  If they have the chance to release this album on vinyl I will put the sleeve in a picture frame and hang it on the wall.

Manuel Göttsching performing E2-E4 live at Dekmantel Festival, Muziekgebouw Aan Het IJ, Amsterdam, 30 july 2015

First, I have to thank Aharon Mikel for making it possible to attend Manuel Göttsching’s concert. I’ve never heard of Dekmantel Festival before, and Facebook-friend Aharon pointed me to the festival and made sure I got in contact with Manuel himself. The festival was sold out, but Manuel had put me on the guest list for the festival that day. I also had an interview with Manuel after his performance, you can listen to it here!

Prog Communion Episode 3 including interview with Manuel Göttsching (Ash Ra Tempel, Ashra) and TRYO (August 9th, 2015)

Episode 3 of Prog Communion, with Ian Beabout and me, Iris Hidding!