PROG ROCK FOR BEGINNERS

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1. 

   Golla Gorroppu

   by Andy Aquarius
   favorite track

   Waters Above, Waters Below

   Here, Andy creates a mythical gorge and the creatures that live within it. Andy’s harp is to the fore, with him also on vocals, lyre, and synths, and others assist on hammered dulcimer, bowed guitar, steel string guitar, violincello, and some choir vocalization. This is on pretty constant rotation for me, and I think it will also be, for you. I love the epic final track, but for brevity’s sake going with Waters Above, Waters Below

   1. 

      Cygnus A

      by Drew Gardner
      favorite track

      Castor

      Elkhorn’s Drew Gardner plays zither, mbira, and guitar here, and is inspired by constellations, stars, and galaxies. Each one is as gorgeous as the last, perfect for spacing out to. Silvery, shimmering, and scintillating.

      1. 

         The Hunt

         by Ulvesang
         favorite track

         The End

         Canadian atmospheric dark neofolk duo evoke brooding forests, crystalline waters, and stark mountain landscapes. The music is paganistic and Nordic in feel, with tinges of dark metal. Acoustic guitars, soft percussion and mostly wordless vocals comprise this phantasmagoric release.

         1. 

            Wychwood EP

            by Chantelle Smith & Richard Wileman
            favorite track

            Wheel Of Fortune (2024 version)

            The enchanting duo of Chantelle Smith & Richard Wileman offer up some delicate folk on this EP. The 3 tunes are originals, penned by both, with Chantelle providing vocals, harp, guitar, and shruti box, while Wileman plays guitars, keys and synths, bass, percussion and also adds his vocals. My only complaint is that it is too short, and I hope they have a full length release planned in the near future. IN SHOW: To give a full idea of the EP, I am going to play 2 short tunes.

            1. 

               Funeral for Justice

               by Mdou Moctar
               favorite track

               Imouhar

               Blistering desert psych from Niger, this Taureg artist is just fantastic fun. However, he does have a serious message on this release, as the title would suggest. It’s a diatribe against the practice of uranium mining, colonialism, and slavery. In addition to his wildly psychedelicized electric guitar, he sings in his native tongue of Tamasheq, Berber dialect. This is raw, and powerfully political statement, and is just mesmerizing.

               1. 

                  Útiseta

                  by Thurnin
                  favorite track

                  Endrborinn

                  Dutch artist Jurre Timmer chooses mostly acoustic guitar, with some nonverbal vocals and flute to create an Icelandic sylvan setting, to go along with the title of the release (which means the practice of sitting out in the open air, possibly at a significant site for a magical purpose). My favourite track is the epic, Endrborinn, which references reincarnation.

                  1. 

                     Morenica

                     by Morenica
                     favorite track

                     Lo boier – Occitan, sud de la France

                     This quartet performs traditional music of the Occitan region of France. It is often dissonant, with a Gypsy flavour and fervour. They combine some electric instruments in particularly whimsical ways into the pieces, making them very contemporary in feel.

                     1. 

                        A Frame of Mind

                        by KALANDRA
                        favorite track

                        Segla

                        Kalandra finally returns with a full-length release after a single and an EP. A couple of the tunes continue on in their Nordic/Celtic/World tradition, but this time they are stretching out into Post rock territory as well, with forays into singer/songwriter material for good measure. Katrine’s compelling voice is to the fore, and she is capably backed by the band.