Present is the project of former Univers Zéro guitarist Roger Trigaux, who is joined by UZ drummer Daniel Denis. This is less progressive rock and more furious chamber rock. There is a brutal intensity to this disc that quite possibly surpasses Roger’s former band. This is as punchy as it gets. A rough treasure.
Avant-Progressive
[Music] Hviledag – Minder i Fire Satser
Hviledag is the moniker of Anton Friisgaard, who has an EP due for release on September 22.
Listening to it, it seems Anton has captured the spirit of the best of 1970s Kosmich Musik out of Germany (think Cluster/Kluster and the solo releases by Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius [RIP], Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze during their peak in the mid-1970s, and even pre-robot Kraftwerk).
Don’t think, however, that this is some boring copy of the masters. Anton brings fresh ideas to the genre. The recording quality, however, is so familiar and comfortable to me that if this release were to come out on vinyl, I would be thrilled to listen to it and place it along with the greats mentioned earlier.
[Music] Yo Miles!: Henry Kaiser & Wadada Leo Smith – Upriver
To get an idea of just how stellar this collaboration is, simply take a look at who signed on to collaborate with American avant-jazz legends Wadada Leo Smith and Henry Kaiser:
Michael Manring – bass
Steve Smith – drums
Chris Muir – electric guitar
Tom Coster – keyboards
Karl Perazzo – percussion
Greg Osby – alto saxophone
John Tchicai – tenor and alto saxophones
Mike Keneally – electric guitar
with special guests:
Zakir Hussain – tabla & percussion (“On The Corner Jam“)
ROVA Sax Quartet [Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs, Jon Raskin) (“Black Satin“)
Dave Creamer – electric guitar (“Black Satin“)
This album a free-jazz masterpiece from 2005, is now available courtesy of Cuneiform Records, and is discounted this weekend to $7. Jump on it!
[Music] Santiago Fradejas – Electric Guitar Vol. II: Yeshua
Our friend Santiago Fradejas has returned with his most powerful album to date. From what I understand, these soundscapes were all done with an electric guitar. He makes the most out of his weapon of choice, convincingly straddling the terrains of instrumental amplified guitar music, post-Industrial, and a very eerie take on contemporary classical/avant-garde music.
[Music] David Borden / Mother Mallard – The Continuing Story of Counterpoint, Parts 5-8
Thanks to the Good Lord above for giving the world Steve Feigenbaum and Cuneiform Records, who continue to release, digitally, their amazing wares.
David Borden and Mother Mallard have their roots in American minimalist music. This particular release is the middle section of a 12-part series of variations for minimalism in the same way the Goldberg Variations were for Johann Sebastian Bach and classical music.
[Music] Leonardo Pavkovic: Nothing Is Ordinary
All About Jazz does a splendid job interviewing Leonardo Pavkovic, whose imprint MoonJune Records has released some of the most vital discs of the past five years in the field of jazz and avant-progressive rock.
[Music] El Arca de Valjós – La Pálida Alma Humana
I love Mexican progressive rock, especially when it’s avant-progressive. Many great bands came down the beltway from Mexico, especially from the capital. El Arca de Valjós seems to be keeping the avant-prog tradition alive, and it’s wonderful to hear.
[Music] Nick Sudnick – Opera of the Fourtheenth Hour
Nick Sudnick has been the leader of the Latvian experimental-improvisational ensemble Zga since 1984, but he’s been venturing into new territory lately.
This release pairs him with librettist Emily Loseva in what I could best describe as avant-opera. Wonderful, challenging, but still somewhat accessible.
[Music] Rick’s Reissue Roundup: Attack of the Spring Box Sets!
Shed a tear for the hardcore prog collector — actually, don’t. This week has been absolutely crammed with articulate announcements looking to part fans from their hard-earned cash or pull them deeper into debt. And no, I’m not talking about the upcoming Derek Smalls solo album. Check out what’s coming our way as winter (hopefully) […]
via Rick’s Reissue Roundup: Attack of the Spring Box Sets! — Progarchy
Thanks to Rick for posting this. What a good year this is going to be for prog-heads!
[Music] Autopoietican – Apuntes de Musica Progresiva Contemporanea
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!
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 