If you like what you hear, please support the band by buying the disc, to ensure they can continue to bring you Something For The Weekend! And please do let us know if you discover something you enjoy.
Published 3rd August 2016
1: DREAM THE ELECTRIC SLEEP - Beneath The Dark Wide Sky
Country: USA
Sub-genre: Progressive alt rock
Description: Hailing from Kentucky, DTES have been developing their own band of progressive alternative rock for seven years now. I reviewed their first album back in 2011 for DPRP and concluded it was a "very creditable debut". Five years and two albums later and they have refined their sound into a very accessible, melodic brand of rock that sits amiably somewhere between Radiohead and Abigail's Ghost. Not overtly challenging, this album has enough dynamic variety to keep me coming back for more.
Listen to it now: Full Album on Progstreaming
More Information: Artist websiteListen to it now: Full Album on Progstreaming
2: ALEX’S HAND - Künstler Scheiße
Country: USA
Sub-genre: Avant Rio
Description: Künstler Scheiße (German for “shitty artist”) is what listeners of mainstream music might think about this band in general. No wonder, because the music of Alex’s Hand ranges somewhere in between Frank Zappa, Mr. Bungle and the Mars Volta. Quite naturally this seventh album of theirs, creates a good amount of haters among the faint-hearted mainstream music fans.
Listen to it now: Listen to the album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist on FacebookListen to it now: Listen to the album on Bandcamp
3: IRON MOUNTAIN - Unum
Country: Ireland
Sub-genre: Post rock/folk metal
Description: Limerick-based quintet Iron Mountain’s debut album Unum makes for an intriguing listening experience. Especially recommended to fans of instrumental progressive rock, the album blends the rich tradition of Irish folk music with the sharp edge of metal, the moody, dreamlike atmospheres of post-rock and the hypnotic allure of psychedelia.
Listen to it now: Album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist on Facebook
4: TWENTY FOUR HOURS - Left-To-Live (A meditation on past and present perfect crimes)
Selected by: André de Boer
Country: Italy
Sub-genre: Progressive psychedelic rock
Description: A great use of the synth attracted me to listen to this at first. But this album offers much, and much than that! Really catchy, idiosyncratic and peculiar songwriting by this Italian band. Which is amazing, as this great gem is only their second album. Every now and then it is embellished with these 'Italian moves' which I can't explain, but admire so much. I really ca not think of anyone not liking this album, as it flows from their hearts to yours without any doubt.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist on Facebook
5: BIG HOGG - Big Hogg
Selected by: Andy ReadCountry: UK
Sub-genre: Modern eclectic prog
Description: I'm a bit slow to catch up on this band, as the cover gave me the impression of a gothic metal album. Actually Big Hogg comes from the more inventive fringes of the progressive music spectrum. Hailing from Glasgow, this sextet-with-sax have produced a remarkably mature and incoherently cohesive album, that heartily pushes at the corners of multiple boxes in the same song. Impossible to categorise, this has a classic prog rock pedigree with six toes in the Canterbury camp and four toes wandering off towards the folk avant-garde. Perhaps if Frank Zappa joined Big Big Train...? At a very sensible 47 minutes, Big Hogg endears, but never outlasts its welcome. Top track: the strangely R&B-infused Turn to Prayer.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist on Facebook