PROG ROCK FOR BEGINNERS

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1. 

   Towers of Silence

   by Lost Harbours
   favorite track

   Lake

   Ethereal, dreamy, sometimes nightmarish free folk music from a collective of sorts. Richard Thompson (not that one, this one), provides lyrics, quavery vocals, guitars, and “atmospheric sounds,” with Emma Reed on clarinet, and flute and vocals, as well as Sabine Moore and Diana Collier on vocals. The result is murky, dark, and utterly phantasmagoric.

   1. 

      Mount Elephant

      by Upupayāma
      favorite track

      Thimpu

      Veering from psychedelia to folk with some world and krautrock elements thrown into the mix, Upupamaya is multi-instrumentalist Alessio Ferrari, who resides not far from Parma, Italy. The music is hypnotic and meditative, exotic and esoteric. The vocals are rather mysterious, which suits the intricate musical tapestry.

      1. 

         Marked For Death

         by Emma Ruth Rundle
         favorite track

         Medusa

         Emanating from my neck of the woods, this Portland, OR singer/songwriter’s release is drenched in melancholy. It appears to intimately explore her emotions during an intense period of loss and self-reflection. Her confessional tone with the hushed, whispery vocals, in the echo-y production are absolutely addictive.

         1. 

            The Fellowship of the Mystery

            by Compassionizer
            favorite track

            For Them Who Shall Be Heirs of Salvation

            This masterful quartet with two multi-instrumentalists returns with a knockout of evocative and imaginative music. The array of instruments features the rarely heard spinet, plus guitars, bass, synths, drums, clarinet, violin, trumpet, rubab, doira, kalimba, and even ukulele. This truly deserves to be heard from start to finish, with the epic final track being absolutely stunning, but since I’m compelled to choose a shorter favourite, going with For Them Who Shall Be Heirs of Salvation.

            1. 

               Vessel

               by Vitskär Süden
               favorite track

               Hidden By The Day

               Angelenos Vitskär Süden bring on the heavy psych. The distinctive, deep voice of their singer and bassist, Martin Garner, makes them instantly recognizable. The band is rounded out with guitars and drums, and they’ve added cello, violin, and keyboards, plus Kristi Merideth on backing and a solo vocal as well. The lyrics are foreboding and vivid. Altogether intriguingly dark and chilling.

               1. 

                  Forest Grimoire

                  by Andy Aquarius
                  favorite track

                  Ein Vogellîn

                  Harpist Andy Aquarius teams up with a wooded setting and brings 8 improvised pieces, accented with birdsong and trees rustling in the breeze. You feel as though you are sitting in the glade with him, the production is very “live,” and pristine. His impeccable playing is reverent and effervescent, inviting one to stop and stay in the forest for a while with him.

            1. 

               Langt, langt vekk

               by Kanaan & Ævestaden
               favorite track

               Farvel

               This is actually a merging of two Norwegian acts, Kanaan, and Ævestaden. They have delivered an amalgamation of traditional Norwegian folk music and hymns with psych and folktronica sensibilities, to lovely effect. Instruments are fiddles, cow’s horn, kravik lyre, mouth harp, synths, guitar, percussive elements and male and female vocals.
            1. 

               Ultralight

               by Ethan Janais
               favorite track

               Parasol

               Previously recording under the name of Echo Us, this artist emerges with another wondrously light and faerie-like offering. Here, he primarily utilizes various synthesizers, with guitars, hammered dulcimer and several percussive elements, along with very effected, washy vocals. Spellbinding.

               1. 

                  Myth of Europe (Ancient Lyre Improvisation)

                  by Ekaterina Shelehova & Theodoros Koumartzis
                  Another beautiful (sadly just a) single from Italian opera singer, Ekaterina Shelehova. Here, she pairs with Theodoros Koumartzis on lyre for a gorgeous improvisational piece, which just gives me chills. As usual, I could go for a full album (or several) of her material, my persistent and only complaint.

                  1. 

                     FC7 – Through Me, You Pass / Through You, I See

                     by Ryan Shirlow & David Colohan
                     favorite track

                     Through You, I See

                     This EP was inspired by a recent lunar eclipse. The music exudes distance and grace of motion. Guitars, synthesizers, strings, banjo, some spoken word and also choir vocals create a sense of mystery, wonder, and awe.

                     1. 

                        Black Chapel Music Part 3: The Garden Gate / Above the Hill

                        by The Owl Service
                        favorite track

                        The Garden Gate

                        2 song EP, or single? No matter, this is top-notch stuff. One traditional piece and one original. Steven Collins plays all instruments and sings on Above the HIll, with Liz Overs providing her haunting voice on The Garden Gate. Both pieces are excellent, but having a special place in my heart for eeriness, going with The Garden Gate as my favourite piece of the two.