PROG ROCK FOR BEGINNERS

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1. 

   Bright Weaving

   by Martin Springett

   favorite track

   The Garden’s of Al Rassan / Garden 1

   Martin Springett returns with this beautifully layered release, inspired by a fantasy trilogy that he designed the cover for in the 1980s (“Fionavar Tapestry,” by Guy Gavriel Kay). In a world music vein, ornately presented with acoustic and electric guitars, fretless bass, various percussive instruments, violin, cello, and regular and bansuri flutes. It’s a lovely journey and may lead you to seek out the books, as well.

   1. 

      Shimli

      by Cynefin

      favorite track

      Cwm Altcafan

      Welsh singer/songwriter Owen Shiers brings us this stunning new release. A cultural historian, this is actually the second part of a project that began as a musical map of his home county. This one studies the crossroads where music, poetry, and nature converge. His gorgeous voice and the spare production provide the perfect pastoral setting for these tunes. A wonderful booklet accompanies even the download version, providing historical context.

      1. 

         RUTKA

         by Polky, Basset
         Polky are based in Canada and draw on folk music of Poland, infused with Americana accents. They highlight dissonant vocal harmonies and traditional and modern instruments. This piece is about a woman planting rue, and realizing that love may never come to her, and she is not sad about it. Many women were persecuted as witches for planting herbs and the like in Poland over the centuries, as elsewhere. This song celebrates the quiet strength of such women.

         1. 

            Cuckoo Storm

            by Marry Waterson & Adrian Crowley

            favorite track

            Watching The Starlings

            Marry Waterson’s rich musical lineage (being part of the Waterson/Knight/Carthy families) shows on this release, where she’s teamed up with Adrian Crowley, acclaimed singer/songwriter, based in Dublin. Both bring differing vocal styles, which blend wonderfully. Essentially acoustic, the collaboration is unhurried, and thoughtfully produced.

            1. 

               The Irrational EP

               by Paul Sadler

               favorite track

               Stowaway

               Vocalist and guitarist Paul Sadler (Ex Spires & Haven of Echoes ) presents this exquisite EP of musings on existence and mortality. Acoustic guitar and his crystalline voice are at the forefront, with light percussion, fretless bass, keyboards, violin, and cello, along with some backing vocalists, for ornamentation.

               1. 

                  MotherLand

                  by Daria Kulesh

                  favorite track

                  Lully Lullay

                  Award-winning folk artist, Daria Kulesh has brought us an eclectic mix of original and folk tunes with traditional and modern instrumentation. Singing in English, Russian, and Ukrainian, the release is varied, and she provides background information for all of the tracks.

                  1. 

                     Wasteland

                     by Jim Ghedi

                     favorite track

                     The Seasons

                     Englishman Jim Ghedi returns with an even more intense and impassioned release than his previous foray. He’s joined by some male and female vocalists, plays guitars, harmonium, synths and percussion, and others provide fiddle and other strings, electric and double bass, and more synth and percussive elements. His Yorkshire accent makes these songs even more poignant, and he hitches a ride on the drone train for several of them, underlining their dark and foreboding tales.

                     1. 

                        The Distaff

                        by maud the moth

                        favorite track

                        Despeñaperros

                        Maud the Moth returns with this astonishing tour de force. I’m not always a fan of operatic vocals, but this hits all the right notes for me. “Distaff,” refers to the female side, deriving from the wooden rod used for spinning, and is symbolic of rigidity imposed upon women by many societies and individuals. The release unflinchingly explores the theme of trauma and recovery, in all of its complexity. A profoundly rewarding listen, disturbing and exultant.

                        1. 

                           Third Eye Temple

                           by Tyler Kamen

                           favorite track

                           Charming King Snake

                           Dreamy psychy folky good stuff from New Yorker Tyler Kamen. Mostly hypnotic rainy-day music, with subdued vocals, it’s amazing how one can take the usual guitars, bass, and drums instrumentation and turn it into something that is all it’s own. A deep dive into the spiritual realm. Longest tracks are stellar, too, but I’m choosing Charming King Snake as being indicative of what you’ll hear.

                        1. 

                           Cries and Whispers

                           by Corde Oblique

                           favorite track

                           Souvenirs d’un autre monde

                           Inspired by Bergman’s film of the same name this is the brainchild of composer and multi-instrumentalist Riccardo Precipe. Released as double disc, Side 1 (Cries) is comprised of Post Metal/Folk Gaze, with Side 2 (Whispers) being Dark/Ethno Folk. All manner of guitars are played by Riccardo, with many guests on this, several vocalists, violin, drums and percussion, bass, keyboards, and mandolin and mandola. Superb.

                           1. 

                              Eyes Of The Living Night

                              by Jonathan Hultén

                              favorite track

                              Afterlife

                              This is just the sort of thing I am always searching for in music. It is profoundly inspiring, exultant without being cloying, and just scintillates with beauty. Jonathan has a lovely vocal range, from soaringly angelic to deeply soulful. Instrumentation is both electric and acoustic, and perfectly suits his insightful lyrics. This music gives me chills, you just might get them, too.