I’m pleased to point you dear readers to a progressive rock blog that covers a lot of music I missed, mainly symphonic prog. My Facebook friend César Inca Mendoza Loyola runs Autopoietican – Apuntes de Musica Progresiva Contemporanea, a blog you should consider subscribing to immediately!
Art-Rock
[Music] Sintez – Guzal
Here’s some really relaxed folky-vibed psychedelic music from Sintez, a hip band out of Uzbekistan.
[Music] Seirios Savvaidis – μώλυ
A mind-blowing good new release by Seirios Savvaidis, μώλυ (“moody”) is a masterpiece which recalls groups like the Japanese folk-psych group Ghost, Amon Düül II, Popol Vuh and drops of old Greek psychedelic records from the 60s and 70s.
[Music] Falling Into Birds – Falling Into Birds
Falling Into Birds is an avant-progressive/Rock-In-Opposition band led by guitarist Joey Bishop. They bring together such influences as Univers Zero, Art Zoyd, touches of the freakier moments of King Crimson, and maybe a dash of the Belgian Aksak Maboul. Truly one of the most remarkable releases of 2017!
[Music] Oaksenham – After Death Fantasy
Oaksenham are a progressive rock band formed in Yerevan, Armenia in 2001. It’s exceptionally good symphonic prog.
[Music] Subact – The Dubsquad EP
I have to thank my friend Yasen Kazandjiev for quite a few upcoming reviews of some of the most intriguing music I’ve heard in some time, starting with this EP by Dresden-based band Subact.
There are elements of bands like Ozric Tentacles and other psychedelic prog groups as well as sample work reminiscent of Front 242 and other Electronic Body Music bands from Belgium and Canada which I grew up listening to. This music is thoroughly modern, but it also hearkens back to an era when sampling technology was new. Martin Grellmann and company have done stunning work balancing past and present with this release.
[Music] Kauan – Kaiho
[Music] Edward Ka-Spel – High On Station Yellow Moon
Though I loathe that I can’t simply buy a download from Edward Ka-Spel (too many of his latest Bandcamp releases are truncated version so that you’re forced to buy a hard copy, be it vinyl or CD), that’s his prerogative. The music is up to the standards one expects from the Legendary Pink Dots‘ frontman.
[Music] Holger Czukay – Blessed Easter
Legendary Can bassist and recording engineer Holger Czukay passed away today. He was 79 years old.
Pitchfork Magazine reports about his passing here.
Many thanks to my friend, Michael Schneider, for posting this video, which we share in Holger’s honor.
Rest in peace.
[Music] Steely Dan – Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
Steely Dan bassist and songwriter Walter Becker passed away today. Variety Magazine provides a eulogy for him here. Inside the article is a statement given by his friend and fellow band member, Donald Fagen.
In his honor, I post the song that first attracted me to the band.