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Published 19th October 2016
1: DAVID MAXIM MICIC - The Stock Challenge | Vol. 1
Country: Serbia
Sub-genre: Contemporary electronica
Description: Aimed at encouraging young musicians to create their music, wunderkind Micic started this project in which he limits himself to gear that is affordable for everybody, stating: “For this one I worked in Cubase Elements 8, using the stock plug-ins only and the cheapest equipment I had laying around.” And he proves perfectly that today, it only needs talent. Curious? Check out this video (link: https://youtu.be/i3VY-0konHM) to find out more.
Listen to it now: Full Album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist websiteListen to it now: Full Album on Bandcamp
2: HALF PAST FOUR - Land of the Blind EP
Country: Canada
Sub-genre: Art-pop
Description: This fine Toronto band returns after a three-year hiatus with this new EP of superb art-rock/progressive tuneage. Half Past Four, in my mind at least, were one of the first bands in this new scene over the Pond, where eclectic music-making is fronted by a distinctive female vocalist, in this case the more-than-aptly-named Kyree Vibrant. Give it a listen, it will put a spring in your zing!
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist websiteListen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
3: JEREMY FLOWER - The Real Me
Country: USA
Sub-genre: Avant/Chamber pop
Description: Hailing from the Boston area, Jeremy Flower is a talented musician with an eclectic background. For his latest album he is aided-and-abetted by none other than Carla Kihlstedt and Matthias Bossi of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum fame. However, The Real Me is not just for hardcore Avant aficionados. It is a surprisingly accessible album, with its rich orchestral arrangements and Kihlstedt’s outstanding vocals and violin, Thus The Real Me inhabits a similar (though by no means identical) space as Bent Knee’s two most recent efforts. A perfect listen for the autumn season.
Listen to it now: Album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist website
4: VERBAL DELIRIUM - The Imprisoned Words of Fear
Country: Greece
Sub-genre: Progressive eclectic metal
Description: I met this Greek band at the ProgPower Europe festival in 2013 and they easily earned the title for 'best performance of the day', for me and many others. Now they have released a new album, The Imprisoned Words of Fear, that is even better than I could have imagined. This is a top 10 album for 2016, with a brilliant, intelligent and progressive mixture of styles. Some parts even remind me of Némo. Recommended. A must listen!
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist website
5: BURAK OZMUCUR - A Distant Light
Country: Turkey/USA
Sub-genre: Progressive atmospheric rock
Description: The flood of excellent albums that I've already listened to in 2016, suggests that the era of independently produced and released progressive music has finally come of age. Very few of my favourite discs (such Odd Logic, Thankyou Scientist, AmLimbus& Scarlean), will have come from a record label. And this is another contender. Burak is a songwriter from Istanbul, now based in New Jersey. His last three-track EP, In Silence, was one of my favourite albums of 2014, and his new effort offers four enjoyable slices of atmospheric rock/metal, with a superb building of atmopherics. For fans of Porcupine Tree and The Addiction Tree, with touches of Riverside and (new) Katatonia. (It is a free download - so what have you got to loose?)
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist website