This jazz-rock band made two albums in their relatively short career, the first coinciding with a jazz-rock boom in Quebec. Their energetic fusion-type music was well received at home, but they gained sufficient recognition to be invited to the International Festival of Montreux in Switzerland (not to be confused with Montreal, their home base, which has also an equally important jazz festival nowadays). Their first self-tiled album, also known as Sous Un Arbre, was released in 78, and they managed a second release by recording their set in the famous festival that was made up of almost all-new tracks. They unfortunately broke-up after this release, but leader keyboardist Pierre Lescaut went on with a solo career in new age music. Line-up / Musicians Anne-Marie Courtemanche/vocals Pierre Lescaut/keyboards Stéphane Morency/guitar Pierre Bournaki/violin Jean-Philippe Gélinas/saxophone,flute Michel De Lisle/bass André Leclerc/drums Discography(Album) Aquarelle(Sous un arbre) 1978
1.Aquarelle 2.Aquarelle II 3.Aquarelle III 4.Bridge 5.Esperanto 6.Francoise 7.Magic Of Sounds 8.Under A Tree 9.Volupté
Aqua were founded in Kassel in 1972. They played progressive rock like it was at fashion at those times, thus with a lot of organ. In 1972, too they recorded four self-written songs for to show to promoters and record companies. Though they couldn't make a record company to become interested they got a lot of gigs. Thus, they themselves released a 7" single in 1978, already more smoothed out. In 1981 they did an LP which already was mainstream, like it was up to date, then. The number of copies released was 1000 for each record. The here available CD contains the until now unreleased four songs of 1972, both tracks of their single, and according to the demand of the artists two songs from the LP which still show some progressive influences. Line-up / Musicians Martin Ulrich/guitar,bass,vocals Klaus Borucki/vocals Martin Großkurth/keyboards,vocals Georg Röber/bass Bernd Billhardt/drums Jörg Rainer Wiesner/keyboards Wolfgang Eckhardt/bass,vocals Roy Kaleve/drums,vocals Mike Fajgel/vocals Wolfgang Ide/bass,flute Matthias Reim/vocals Discography(Album) Aqua 2008
1.Bolero 2.Soul of My Soul 3.Tempest 4.There Is a Place 5.Going My Way 6.Teenage Feelings 7.No Use to Live On 8.No More Love
DROSSELBART is a Krautrock band from Germany featuring the talents of Peter Randt on guitar, Jemina on vocals, Christian Trachsel on keyboards, Dietmar Mainka on guitar, Werner Schuler on bass, and Martin Honemeyer on drums. The band have released one self titled studio album in 1970, and 2 singles lifted from the LP "Jemima / Du Bist Der Eine Weg" 1970, and "An Einem Tag Im August / O'Driscoll" 1971. The music is keyboard driven with the melodic vocals of Jemima, along with psychedelic textures and church organ passages. The band utilize a Hammond organ sound at times, swathes of ethereal synthesizers and then launch into heavy rock guitar in the vein of DEEP PURPLE or URIAH HEEP. There is a beauty in the sound infused with heavier aggressive riffs. The German vocals are expressive, often crying out, similar to the German vocals of DR. WOLFFF or EULENSPYGEL. Line-up / Musicians Peter Randt/vocals,guitar Jemina/vocals Christian Trachsel/keyboards Dietmar Mainka/guitar Werner Schuler/bass Martin Honemeyer/drums Discography(Album) Drosselbart 1970
1.Inferno/Drosselbart 2.Jemima 3.Liebe ist nur ein Wort 4.Du bist der eine Weg 5.Engel des Todes 6.Böse Buben 7.Vater unser 8.Folg mir 9.Montag 10.Nach einer langen Nacht 11.Der Sommer
composer and keyboardist Carlo Barbiera dedicated a full album to the life and works of sculptor Luciano Ceschia (1926-1991), both coming from near Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the north-east of Italy.The rare album is a rather original example of experimental electro-acoustic progressive style, mainly based on synth effects and acoustic guitars and often reminding some of Battiato's early works. Despite the presence of five singers in the line-up, the vocal parts are short, spoken or recited rather than sung. 19 tracks are listed on the cover, but these are connected to form two long suites.All in all an interesting album for the adventurous listeners in search of something different. Line-up / Musicians Carlo Barbiera/keyboards,vocals Paciuli/vocals Paolo Coretti/vocals Ettore Lo Cascio/vocals Flavio Variano/vocals Maria Zanetti/vocals Leo Croatto/guitar Alberto Zeppieri/sax,flute Gianfranco Lugano/keyboards Edi Croatto/vocals Paolo Tosolini/guitar Roberto Colella/guitar,bass Zladko/percussion Discography(Album) Per una scultura di ceschia 1978
1.Nascita 2.La Sfera 3.Ankh 4.Zed 5.Stelle Cadenti 6.Cheope 7.Campanelli 8.Pianeta Terra 9.Violenza vestita 10.Puntine 11.Verdi prati 12.Magia 13.Adam 14.La fonderia 15.L'incoronazione 16.Luci dal pianeta 17.Sotto il ponte 18.Nell universo 19.Sul ferro
WUTHERING HEIGHTS was formed in Copenhagen in the early 90's and started out as a speed metal band.They went through some name changes (MINAS TIRITH,VERGELMIR) and numerous line-up changes(the only founding member left is Erik Ravn).1996/97 was a pivotal year for the band,as they were one of the bands featured on a compilation CD made by Serious Entertainment titled "Extremity Rising Volume 2".Their song "Sorrow in Memoriam" was used and WUTHERING HEIGHTS was signed to a German label who wanted the band to play Gothic/epic metal.The result was 1997's demo "Within",which saw the band heading in a more progressive metal direction and led to a break up with the label.In 1998 the band worked out an album by album deal with The Lasers Edge/Sensory Records and recorded their debut album "Within",the first in a conceptual trilogy of albums.They also started playing some gigs in and around Copenhagen,and some good buzz started to develop about the band.More personnel problems plagued WUTHERING HEIGHTS in 2000,and the band replaced their drummer and bassist.In 2002 WUTHERING HEIGHTS unleashed their sophomore effort "To Travel For Evermore".The album is extremely epic and was a step up for the band technically,featuring better melodies and production.Heavy promotion followed,but no tour.Erik Ravn continued to write and soon WUTHERING HEIGHTS recorded their third album "Far From The Maddening Crowd",which featured new singer Nils Patrik Johansson(ASTRAL DOORS,SPACE ODYSSEY).This album is more melodic than the previous album,and the band injected more folk music influences into the songs."Far From The Maddening Crowd" is also the last album in their trilogy about the Lonely Wanderer.More line-up changes ensued in 2004,with many members in the band being replaced.WUTHERING HEIGHTS played their first gig outside of Europe in 2004 as part of the Prog Power Festival in the US. Line-up / Musicians Erik Ravn/guitar,bass,keyboards,mandolin,vocals Nils Patrik Johansson/vocals Martin Arendal/guitars Teddy Moller/bass Andreas Lindahl/keyboards Morten Gade Sorensen/drums Discography(Album) Salt 2010
1.Away! 2.The Desperate Poet 3.The Mad Sailor 4.The Last Tribe (Mother Earth) 5.Tears 6.Weather the Storm 7.The Field 8.Water of Life 9.Lost at Sea
Another symphonic German band in the vein of Eloy, Anyone's Daughter were formed in the seventies and disbanded with the release of 1986's Last Track album. The band reformed in 2000 to release two additional studios and one live album. While the band originally recorded mostly English lyrics, they returned to their native German the last several years of their original existence. Their debut album Adonis is distinguished by the sidelong track of the same name, a four-part epic featuring heavy use of keyboards (primarily Moog), and periodic violent crescendos combined with languid guitar lulls. The band's subsequent albums were increasingly filled with shorter, often experimental works and occasional spoken-word passages. While the early music can be favorably compared to Genesis, their later work is more in the style of German contemporaries like Grobschnitt and Amenophis. The band's musical peak is arguably their third release Piktors Verwandlungen, a ranging experimental concept album based loosely on Herman Hesse's novel "Pictor's Metamorphosis", a brooding lament of lost innocence and spiritual exploration. This was also the band's first recording in their native German tongue. The band toured heavily in the early eighties before civil service commitments and outside interests caused their eventual fracture in 1986. With their reformation in 2000, the band has returned to English vocals, and have adopted a sound that ranges from electronica to jazz/fusion, but is primarily hard rocking with ranges of intensity. Line-up / Musicians Harald Bareth/bass,vocals Uwe Karpa/guitars Kono Konopik/drums Matthias Ulmer/keyboards,vocals Discography(Album) Adonis 1979
Crafting a musical skeleton that has as much in common with British folk as it does with West Coast jam bands, DARK wouldn't be unlike a lot of other psychedelic bands in the late sixties/early seventies. What made them different was one thing: a solid understanding of fuzzy guitar. Rather than merely using the fuzzbox to show off, DARK incorporated it into the build of their songs, laying it across moody, heavy tracks that approached sprawling.It all began in 1968, when guitarist Steve Giles grabbed other guitarist Martin Weaver, drummer Clive Thorneycroft and bassist Ronald Johnson, and formed Dark at a school in Northhampton. Local touring followed for several years, until, in 1972, the band only produced their first album, the not-quite-as-scary-as-you'd-think "Round the Edges" (occasionally featuring Colin Bush on bass. Go figure). Only about sixty copies were issued, and original albums remain a collector's item to this day, and has been hailed as the UK's most expensive album. Soon after the album was released, the band broke up, and its members were scattered to the four winds (aka other bands and failed solo projects). An effort was made at a revival in the early Nineties, which resulted in more local live shows; however, no new album was produced. Despite a couple of records of outtakes, the only true album by this intelligent jam band remains "Round the Edges". Line-up / Musicians Colin Bush/bass Steve Giles/guitar,vocals Clive Thorneycroft/drums Ronald Johnson/bass Martin Weaver/guitar Martin Moloney/organ,vocals Discography(Album) Round the Edges 1971
1.Darkside 2.Maypole 3.Live For Today 4.R.C.8 5.Cat 6.Zero Time
Italian band NOTTURNO CONCERTANTE has been a going concern for almost 20 years, citing 1984 as their year of formation. The first half of the 90's appears to have been their most active period, with a substantial amount of years between new album releases from the second half of the 90's and onwards. "Canzoni Allo Specchio" is their sixth full length production, following 10 years after their previous album. Notturno Concertante have made themselves a solid sixth full length production, a smooth and well produced affair that emphasizes on accessible, harmonic melodies and finely controlled arrangements. As it is a CD that broadly can be described as progressive folk rock for the first half and accessible but sophisticated jazz-oriented music in the latter half, and those who tend to enjoy both of these stylistic expressions explored in an accessible manner should be a key audience for this album. Line-up / Musicians Lucio Lazzaruolo/guitar,keyboards Raffaele Villanova/guitars,vocals Giuseppe Relmi/vocals Carmine Marra/sax,clarinet,whistles Carmine Meluccio/violin Gabriele Moscaritolo/accordion Antonio D'Alessio/bass Giuseppe D'Alessio/bass Simone Pizza/drums Discography(Album) Canzoni Allo Specchio 2012
1.Ahmed l'ambulante 2.Young Man Gone West 3.Come il vento 4.Le anime belle 5.On Growing Older 6.The Price Of Experience 7.Lei vede rosso 8.La Milonga di Milingo 9.Canzone allo specchio 10.Ark En Ciel
WORMFOOD is a Progressive Metal act from Rouen, France. The band formed in 2001 and plays a dark and gritty style of Progressive Metal, sung in French, and with influences from Doom, Gothic and Black Metal. On the recent albums, the Progressive Metal traits prevail, with epic songwriting and a theatricality in vocal delivery that recalls ANGE. The bands latest album Posthume could in fact be described as a mix of ANGE, FAITH NO MORE and early EVERGREY slowed down to a crunchy Doom pace. Line-up / Musicians El Worm/Vocals,Guitars Fred Patte-Brasseur/Guitars Romain Yacono/Bass Efflam/Drums Discography(Album) France 1971
1.Leçon de Français/French Lesson 2.Bum Fight 3.Ecce Homo 4.TEGBM (Fantaisie galante du Grand Siècle) 5.Daguerréotype 6.Mirroir de chair 7.Comptine 8.Vieux pédophile 9.Dark Mummy Cat 10.O = Ø 11.Love at Last
No information available for this album Line-up / Musicians Frank Dostal/vocals Kuno Dreyse/bass Michael Anton Eckard/vocals,guitar Peter Hecht/keyboards Peter Hesslein/guitar Achim Reichel/guitar,vocals Dicky Tarrach/drums Discography(Album) Jesus Makes You High 1971
1.Jesus Makes You High 2.Sing And Pray 3.Doctor Jesus 4.Look At Birds 5.Gospel Train (Ride On) 6.Stranger Man 7.Twelve Men 8.It's A Miracle 9.Love Your Enemy 10.Get Out Of My Temple
Formed in the fall of 68, Skin Alley turned professional when they signed to Clearwater Productions as managers (whom also handled High Tide, The Trees and a bit later Hawkwind), on word from an ex-member that was now in the firm. Gigging around regularly for free (concerts organized by their management firm) in order to find a following, this West-London quartet developed a different kind of rock that drew much from jazz and blues. Built around keyboardist Juskiewicz and part-time guitarist, but sax and flute player Bob James, Skin Alley had a distinctive sound, which made them stand out at the many free concerts they played. Having been spotted by the legendary John Peel, they recorded a BBC session for the Top Gear program, which in the short term landed them a recording contract with the English branch of CBS. Recorded in November of that year, it was released in March 70 coupled with a non-album single. The critical acclaim and encouraging sales lead CBS to allow Skin Alley (who suffered the departure of Crimble during the recording and was partly replaced by ex-Atomic Rooster bassist Nick Graham) to release a second album, From Pagham And Beyond, later that same year. For some reasons (the album was not as successful as the debut), CBS decided not to invest further in the band, and Skin Alley had to find another label, which took a while. It wasn't until early 72 that their third album was released on the small folk Transatlantic label (and amazingly enough, the soul Stax label in the US), but by that time Skin alley was a different band, drummer Pope had left the group, replaced by Tony Knight, and the SA had a much rockier approach aimed at the US, even enjoying some success with the track Skin Valley Serenade. Their third album Two Quid Deal offers much prog while they recorded the last album Skintight in Memphis, Tennessee (home of Stax Record), maybe a hint that they had axed everything towards America, because of its country rock flavours. They disbanded the following year and outside Graham, none were to make much waves in the music industry. Line-up / Musicians Thomas Crimble/bass,keyboards,vocals Bob James/guitar,saxophone Krzysztof Henryk Justkiewicz/keyboards Alvin Pope/drums Discography(Album) Skin Alley 1970
1.Living In Sin 2.Tell Me 3.Mother Please Help Your Child 4.Marsha 5.Country Aire 6.All Alone 7.Night Time 8.Concerto Grosso (Take Heed) 9.(Going Down This) Highway
A new young quartet playing an instrumental prog close to PENDRAGON coming from the north of France. The French guys are offering here all that the heart desires: Mysterious chords envelop strong guitar riffs, melodies on which we can dream and all kinds of varieties, that results in the listening of demo there is no boring. The guitar playing recalls very strongly Steve HACKETT and bass and keyboard players let themselves be inspired by MARILLION. It's complex, sometimes quiet, sometimes loud and always very intriguing, like a mix between ARENA, DREAM THEATER, FLAMBOROUGH HEAD, GENESIS, IQ, LANDS END, RUSH and SPOCK'S BEARD, but all instrumental. Line-up / Musicians Manu Delestre/drums Antoine Duhem/guitars Vincent Hooge/keyboards Mat Hooge/bass Discography(Album) The Last Of The Lasts 2007
1.Sacrifice 2.On Leave 3.Verdun 4.Sons Of The Empire 5.Mud 6.Roommates 7.Trenches 8.Gas
NUOVA ERA were one of the first in the new wave of Italian progressives and also one of the most highly regarded. They are a symphonic quartet (or a quintet if you count the lyricist on album cover of "Dopo L'Infinito") with a style influenced by the 70's masters but performed with contemporary technology. The album was a concept around the states of war and marked a very dark-sounding and lyrically intense effort by Nuova Era.Never denying their 70's firmly rooted sound, the new work of Nuova Era sees an even greater E.L.P. and LE ORME influence due to the total lack of guitar parts and the constant use of keyboards by Walter Pini.His playing is based on organs, Mellotron, bells and synths, delivering nice piano interludes, organ solos, Mellotron-led orchestral passages and a fair amount of virtuous offerings.The style remains highly symphonic with strong Classical influences and new singer Claudio Guerrini sounds a lot better than Camaiti, having a controlled and very expressive voice. Line-up / Musicians Walter Pini/keyboards Claudio Guerrini/vocals Enrico Giordani/bass Gianluca Lavacchi/drums Discography(Album) Il Passo Del Soldato 1995
1.All'ombra di un Conflitto 2.Lo Spettro dell'Agonia sul Campo 3.La Parata dei Simboli 4.Il Passo del Soldato 5.Armicrazia 6.L'Armistizio 7.Riflessi di Pace 8.Epitaffio 9.Nuova Era Atto Secondo
Formed in 1978 by multi-instrumentalist Claus Neide, the original Antares German trio started with Bernd Menssen on guitar/synths/vocals and Axel Cornelius on drums/vocals.The next year Menssen quits and Ludwig Eilers and Helmut Stamm jump in on guitar/synths and bass respectively.Stamm soon departed to be replaced by Jimmy Schimmelpfennig.In 1981 the band was again shortened to a trio with Neide, Eilers and new drummer Helge Bulow, formerly with the Neo/Symphonic Rock band Tau.It was time for the band's first full-length album and the LP ''Over the hills'' was released in 1982, distributed by Bellaphon Records.Neide claims to have been influenced by GENESIS, YES and SAGA and the truth is that these influences somewhat sum up Antares' style.For the most of its part ''Over the hills'' is great Neo/Symphonic Rock with dramatic atmospheres and demanding musicianship, though the heavy synthesizer sounds and the mediocre production may disturb the Classic Prog fan's ear.But no one can deny that the album is filled with some very good arrangements, performed by a trio with talent and interesting ideas, where the melodic but also dynamic guitar work of Eiders meets the grandiose keyboard passages of Neide, no unlike the rich sound delivered by ANYONE'S DAUGHTER around the time.Additionally the trio offers plenty of complex interplays and dramatic solos along with some nervous vocals, often with a theatrical edge, to make the sound deeply underground and obscure.The sharp synthesizers, distorted vocals and strong bass remind also of British progsters QUASAR.And there is a heavy amount of GENESIS' inspired symphonic lines to make this album far from commercial and deeply emotional. Line-up / Musicians Claus Neide/vocals,keyboards,guitar Lugwig Eilers/guitar Helge Büow/drums Discography(Album) Over the Hills 1982
1.Over The Hills 2.Opening 3.Back On My Mind 4.Jumping 5.Bound 6.The Only Way
Originally a trio comprising Jim Cregan (b. James Cregan, 9 March 1946, Yeovil, Somerset, England; guitar/vocals), Charlie McCracken (b. Richard McCracken; bass) and John Wilson (drums), Stud formed from the ashes of Taste, a band that included both McCracken and Wilson in its ranks. Wilson had also been a member of Them, while McCracken had previously played in Blossom Toes and Julian Covey And Machine. This central trio was quickly supplemented by the addition of former Family guitarist and vocalist John Weider (b. 21 April 1947, Shepherd’s Bush, London, England) after the release of their debut album, a self-titled effort released in 1971 on Deram Records. This set, which secured significant press acclaim, established jazz rock as the band’s métier. Although in retrospect the songwriting did not equal their obvious instrumental skill, it was enough to earn the band a strong following in Germany. Both their subsequent albums were released in that country alone as part of a contract with BASF Records, a situation owing in no small part to their manager Eddie Kennedy’s ructions with Deram. However, German sales alone were not enough to support the band, and soon after the release of 1973’s Goodbye Live At Command Cregan left to join Family, Weider moving on to Moonrider, and McCracken joining a re-formed version of the Spencer Davis Group. Wilson, the final remaining member, attempted to resurrect the band name by recruiting Andy Sneddon (bass, ex-East Of Eden) and Snowie White (guitar), but this line-up never recorded. Line-up / Musicians Jim Cregan/guitar,vocals John Weider/violin,piano,guitar,vocals John Wilson/drums Richard "Charlie" McCracken/bass Discography(Album) Stud 1971
1.Sail On 2.Turn Over the Pages 3.1112235 4.Harpo's Head 5.Horizon 6.Song
Born as Pow-Pow in the Biella area at the beginning of the seventies, the group changed its name to Odissea in 1972 after the entrance of guitarist Ferrari, only issuing in the following year an album and a single with this five-piece line-up.The album is in a rather melodic-inspired progressive style, with eight tracks and the first side better than the second, good but not essential. The music is dominated by vocal parts, with very few instrumental breaks, and the overall feeling is similar to Jumbo's first album (even in the singer's voice). Two tracks from the album were released as a single, Unione being one of the best cuts along with the instrumental Crisalide, while Cuor di rubino, also on single, was based on a Jacques Prevert lyric.The group had a good live activity, supporting Genesis in their April 1972 Italian dates and playing at Festival d'Avanguardia in Mestre, at IX Mostra di Musica Leggera in Venezia, along with an Italian tour with Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Rocky's Filj. In 1974 singer Roberto Zola left Odissea for a career as soloist that never started, the others went back to play as backing band for singer Michele (which they had already played with in 1971) and with La Famiglia degli Ortega for some concerts in the USA. In 1976 Elio Vergnaghi (vocals) and Aldo Ambrosi (guitar) joined the group and Odissea played some concerts in Switzerland, but, when drummer Cerlati quit in 1977 they went back once again to play with Michele for many years. Ennio Cinguino (who had played in the 60's with New Blues) and Alfredo Garone still play in the piano-bar circuit. Line-up / Musicians Roberto Zola/guitar,vocals Luigi "Jimmy" Ferrari/guitar Ennio Cinguino/piano,organ,mellotron Alfredo Garone/bass,guitar Paolo Cerlati/drums "little" Simona/vocals Discography(Album) Odissea 1973
1.Unione 2.Giochi Nuovi Carte Nuove 3.Crisalide 4.Cuor di Rubino 5.Domanda 6.Il Risveglio di un Mattino 7.Voci 8.Conti e Numeri
