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Published 2nd November 2016
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1: SECOND RELATION - Eno
Selected by: Raimond Fischbach
Country: Austria
Sub-genre: Progressive pop
Description: This is what might have been, had Toto not gone down the path of success. This Austrian quintet cleverly blends rock, funk, soul and fusion elements to a stunning musical level. If you like Toto, Subsignal and Dirty Loops, then you must add this album to your collection.
Listen to it now: Full Album on Spotify
More Information: Artist websiteListen to it now: Full Album on Spotify
2: DWIKI DHARMAWAN - Pasar Klewer
Selected by: Roger Trenwith
Country: Indonesia
Sub-genre: Symphonic jazz prog
Description: MoonJune Records' continuing mission to expose our western ears to the many delights of Indonesia's huge music scene continues, with this nigh on uncategorisable album. A multi-national band, led by pianist and keyboard wizard Dwiki Dharmawan, recorded this double album in London in 2015. This time restricting himself to acoustic piano, Dharmawan leads his band through a jazz-tinged, but boundary-free, modern symphony that leaves me spellbound. This music is so all-emcompassing and expressive, even narrow-minded folk who claim to hate "jazz", whatever that means, cannot fail to be impressed. A definite album of the year contender.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist websiteListen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
3: RICHARD PINHAS & BARRY CLEVELAND (feat. Michael Manring & Celso Alberti) - Mu
Selected by: Raffaella Berry
Country: Multi-national
Sub-genre: Ambient/world/electronic
Description: Guitarists/composers Richard Pinhas (formerly of Heldon) and Barry Cleveland are highly respected in the world of experimental music, and have teamed up to record Mu (a Buddhist concept that translates as “nothingness”). It is an album completely based on improvisation. Aided and abetted by the outstanding rhythm section of drummer Celso Alberti and bassist extraordinaire Michael Manring, Pinhas and Cleveland unfold a panoply of mesmerising soundscapes in which ambient, world music, art rock, jazz and electronics converge to produce a unique whole. Highly recommended to all lovers of atmospheric instrumental music.
Listen to it now: Album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist website
4: THE GIFT - Why The Sea Is Salt
Selected by: André de Boer
Country: UK
Sub-genre: Progressive rock
Description: The Gift has thoroughly expanded and renewed its personnel, songwriting and discography, plus some Genesis support by the likes of Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett. As a jaw-dropping result, their new album, Why The See Is Salt, can easily be classified as perfect prog, yet still maintaining the distinctive The Gift sound. From classic piano, to fierce bass, terrific riffing and impressive vocals, the intelligent lyrics and melodies will touch your progressive soul and make you play these songs over and over again. How strong can prog be? Highly recommended!
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist website
5: THROES OF DAWN - Our Voices Shall Remain
Selected by: Andy Read
Country: Finland
Sub-genre: Dark progressive rock with gothic overtones
Description: I must have caught this band at the start of their two-decade musical journey. Then they were a folky Black Metal band and I never knocked on their door again. However thanks to my good friends over at The Prog Metal Zone, I now know they have morphed into an excellent atmospheric rock band with gothic and post rock stylings. I can not bring myself to call this metal, as its gently-building tensions have far more in common with Pink Floyd, Anathema and (modern) Katatonia, than Opeth. Add to that some lovely clean (all-clean!) vocals and some Gimour-esque soloing, and this album should appeal to all fans of dark, progressive music. Try the track below and keep going!
Listen to it now: Full album on Spotify
More Information: Artist website6: SHOKRAN - Exodus
Selected by: Dario Albrecht
Country: Russia
Sub-genre: Epic melodic Deathcore
Description: Shokran hail from Russia and their branch of prog metal is in equal parts fierce deathcore, as it is epic and melodic. They remind me of Slice the Cake, though with more parts indulging in soaring melodies and neo-classical shredding. Thematically, their second album Exodus is settled in ancient Egypt, telling the story of the seven plagues that led the Pharaoh to release the enslaved people of Israel. Highly recommended to those who like their prog metal epic and brutal, in equal quantities.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist website7: TEMPANO - Nowhere Now Here
Selected by: Guille Palladino
Country: Venezuela
Sub-genre: Symphonic progressive rock
Description: Almost ending 2016 with a big surprise sees the return, after a six-year hiatus, of Tempano, the most important progressive rock band from Venezuela, again with their original line-up consisting of Pedro Castillo (guitar and lead vocals), Giuglio Della Noce (keyboards), Miguel A. Echevarreneta (bass) and Gerardo Ubieda (drums). This is an album with a more mature and contemporary approach, in which the band mixes elements from British and Italian progressive rock, with their trademark soundscape of keyboards and classical music arrangements, into a true masterpiece. Influences from Pink Floyd, Yes and Steven Wilson are present, among others. One of the best releases of this year so far. Strongly recommended.
Listen to it now: Full album on Spotify
More Information: Artist website