Here, five of our contributors look back and select their personal Top 5 SFTW-recommended albums from the year so far.
We have a link to the original mini review plus, where available, a track from each album to sample.
Published 11th October 2016
Selected by: Raffaella Berry
1. DEUS EX MACHINA – Devoto
After an eight-year hiatus, the Bologna-based sextet led by vocalist extraordinaire Alberto Piras are back with their seventh studio album.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/08/weekend-115-aisles-jellyhead-akord.html
2. THE WINSTONS – The Winstons
A very rewarding, entertaining listen, highly recommended to Canterbury fans everywhere.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/02/weekend-93-sky-talk-petrichor-winstons.html
3. MAMMA NON PIANGERE – Mamma non Piangere N.3
Fans of the original RIO movement are highly advised not to miss this album.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/02/weekend-97-archentype-mama-non-piangere.html
4. PANZERZAPPA – Pestrottedans
In this complex, yet melodic and surprisingly accessible album, laced with Canterbury-style humour, the challenging nature of the band’s avant-prog foundation is balanced by warmer jazz and folk influences.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/05/weekend-108-big-big-train-yossi-sassi.html
5. FINNEGAN SHANAHAN – The Two Halves
This debut mini-album by a classically-trained, New York-based multi-instrumentalist/composer is part travelogue, part song-cycle.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/05/weekend-105-suspension-solar-bubu-pervy.html
Selected by: Raimond Fischbach
1. JAMBINAI - A Hermitage
Do you miss Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum? Then this quintet from Seoul is what you are looking for!
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/09/weekend-117-plini-nonhuman-era-summit.html
2. AN ENDLESS SPORADIC - Magic Machine
A wild, but not exhausting tour-de-force through styles, which is most rewarding when listened to with full attention.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/09/weekend-119-ill-wicker-hominido-sparkle.html
3. SITHU AYE - Set Course for Andromeda
The ninth release from this Glasgow-based project is a fully loaded sci-fi concept album
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/08/edition-114-thank-you-scientist.html
4. PITTS MINNEMAN PROJECT - The Psychic Planetarium
If you like your prog jazzy and your fusion heavy, look no further.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.de/2016/03/100-editions-of-something-for-weekend.html
5. HEAVEN'S CRY - Outcast
Prolific is not a word you could ever apply to this quartet from Montreal. But their four albums in 20 years have been very much a case of quality over quantity.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.com/2016/06/weekend-110-heavens-cry-ukandanz.html
Selected by: Roger Trenwith
1. BENT KNEE - Say SoSimply the most enthralling and imaginative collection of songs released by anyone so far this year. And...that voice!
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/07/special-edition-best-progressive-rock.html
2. KNIFEWORLD - Bottled Out Of Eden
Artrock, Krautrock, jazzrock, progrock. You can have whatever you like from this ever-challenging combo led by ex-Cardiacs Kavus Torabi - as long as it has two syllables and rocks!
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/05/weekend-107-knifeworld-katatonia.html
3. ULVER - ATGCLVLSSCAP
Ulver are a band who are progressive in both the literal sense, and in the spirit of the original bands of the first wave.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/02/weekend-95-ulver-backward-runners.html
4. YUGEN - Death By Water
The Milan-based ensemble delivers a textbook-perfect slice of chamber prog, challenging-yet-elegant, and superbly composed and arranged.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/07/special-edition-best-progressive-rock.html
5. FACTOR BURZACO - 3.75
Led by pianist/composer Abel Gilbert, the band unfold their distinctive brand of classical-inflected chamber rock, at the same time serious and whimsical.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/09/weekend-118-devin-townsend-project.html
Selected by: Andy Read
1. ODD LOGIC - Penny For Your Thoughts
A truly stunning album for those who like their metal to be truly progressive.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/04/special-edition-eleven-heavy.html
2. THANK YOU SCIENTIST - Stranger Heads Prevail
An extraordinarily good, exhilarating and inventive blend of progressive rock and jazz.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/08/edition-114-thank-you-scientist.html
3. DARK SUNS - Everchild Album number five is again totally different, with a sound that has become extremely eclectic.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/07/weekend-111-thence-dark-suns-vaults-of.html
4. KATATONIA - The Fall of Hearts
From their Death/Doom origins (not-my-thing) via a very dodgy nu-metal period (also not-my-thing), Katatonia have now arrived at a place where dark but spacious sounds dominate a progressive palette (definitely-my-thing).
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/05/weekend-107-knifeworld-katatonia.html
5. AM LIMBUS - Somnia
Combining prog, art rock, occasional heavy guitars and lots of pop and electronic stylings, Somnia is packed with variety.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/06/weekend-109-airbag-syndone-am-limbus.html
Selected by: André de Boer
1. EDGE OF REALITY - Vicious Circle
You will be listening to the future of prog metal with a wink, and with hilarious fun as an extra! Highly recommended.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/08/weekend-115-griot-axon-neuron-edge-of.html
2. AMOEBA SPLIT- Second Split
Containing six splendid and utterly beautiful instrumentals, it will supply you with an ultimate musical experience.
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/07/weekend-111-thence-dark-suns-vaults-of.html
3. FRACTAL MIRROR - Slow Burn 1
Mood for a lifetime
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/07/special-edition-best-progressive-rock.html
4. ODD LOGIC - Penny For Your Thoughts
This is renewing and exciting prog metal, that takes us from the dusky past to the glorious future
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/07/special-edition-best-progressive-rock.html
5. JPL - Retrospections Volume II
This is the sixth solo album by Jean Pierre Louveton (renowned for his work with French progsters Némo and other solo projects).
http://weekendprog.blogspot.fr/2016/08/edition-114-thank-you-scientist.html