PROG ROCK FOR BEGINNERS

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1. 

   Žaltys

   by Raphael Rogiński

   favorite track

   Šilinis Viržis (feat. Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė)

   Here is a wonderfully atmospheric offering from a gifted Polish composer/guitarist. The music is very layered and enigmatic, primarily all Raphael, but he is assisted by a fine ethereal female vocalist on two tracks. It’s inspired by the pastoral Suwalki region of northeast Poland, and he has perfectly captured the essence of rolling hills, lakesides, and the deep night skies of the countryside.

   1. 

       

      Grimston’s Oak

      Paul Newland is a singer/songwriter who moves adroitly from intimate folk to electronica, with dalliances in between. His vocals, guitars, piano, synths, drums and percussion are joined sparingly by some double bass and a delicate female backing vocal from time to time. The pieces are ruminations on Epping Forest and it’s environs, and it sounds a lovely place to be, indeed.

      favorite trackFC6 – Muntjac

      by Clevelode

      

      1. Vol. 1

         by Yellow Saturnians

         favorite track

         No Man’s Land

         Great, gritty, gripping space psych from Russia, this band is easily one of the favourites of all at Progrock.com, me included. As their name would suggest, the music draws on space exploration and scifi themes. Heavy drums and bass provide the bedrock for hypnotic fuzzed guitars and searing leads, purportedly all instrumentation is by the enigmatically named Sergey, with vocals by Ilya.

         1. 

            Yesterday Is Gone E.P.

            by Vincent Carr’s SUMIC

            favorite track

            Piranesi’s Ruins

            This EP from Vincent Carr is all improvised, and all Vincent. Acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, and synthesizers are woven into a contemplative tapestry, with Carr’s signature style to the fore. The EP opens with a single suite comprised of all of the individual pieces, which follow the suite. My favourite track captures the antiquity, immensity and grandeur of it’s inspiration, the setting for the book by Susana Clark, Piranesi.

            1. 

               Grudge Party

               by Rolf Zero

               favorite track

               1998

               Eclectic band from Australia that ably hops from Celtic to Surf to Flamenco, and tosses in some Middle Eastern, Prog and even some spooky stuff here and there. They are thoroughly capable and comfortable in any genre they choose to showcase. I don’t know what happened in 1998, but it must have been beautiful.

               1. 

                  Laid under leaf, under branches

                  by Dark Leaves

                  favorite track

                  Fast Wears The Night

                  Dark is right, and dreamlike. This is music that explores a mythical place (or maybe several). There is a definite narrative sort of feeling to the pieces. Wherever it is, it is surely haunted and mythological. The soft, whispery vocals of Patrick Ason and Mari Randle perfectly add to the sense of mystery that pervades this release.

                  1. 

                     Whiteout Hi Res (24 bit)

                     by Sonus Umbra
                     This is a very politics-forward release by the magnificent Sonus Umbra. My usual aversion to speaking within musical pieces is thrown aside, both for the message and the superb staging around the soundbites. Complex and edgy musical and spoken diatribes are here in abundance. There are no exotic instruments, but expect the unexpected nonetheless.

                     1. 

                        The Red Valley

                        by Elkhorn

                        favorite track

                        Inside Spider Rock

                        Elkhorn is Drew Gardner and Jesse Sheppard, here joined by Jesse Sparhawk. This is hypnotic trip music. The instruments are electric, acoustic, and pedal steel guitars, zither, bass, vibes, and harp. This is a foray through the desert southwest, and they capture the forever skies and spaces there on this release.

                     1. 

                        WF 78 – Felt Interscape

                        by Ozbolt

                        favorite track

                        Intercape

                        This enchanting release by solo artist Andy Aquarius (under the Ozbolt moniker) has been on almost nonstop for me since I first heard it. Here, he is joined at the piano by others who provide subtle bass, guitars, synths, and spare vocals. A tribute to an unnamed coastal area, it’s mesmerizing, and utterly addictive.