Every week, five writers from DPRP.net bring you five Mini-Prog Reviews. Each with a link to where you can listen to the album.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 29th April 2015
1: BLURRED VISION - Organized Insanity
Country: Canada
Sub-genre: Retro pop-prog
Description: There is a school of thought that there is no such thing as a bad 'review'. Informed readers can tell that one listener's poison may well be their musical banquet. So if I say that this debut album from a trio out of Canada, is way to retro-pop-prog-lite for my tastes, those of you who enjoy a bit of Barclay James Harvest, The Beatles, Alan Parsons Project or even Camel and Saga will be rushing to click on the 'Listen to it now' link below. And even though this isn't my thing, I can recognise that it is superbly created. Released this week on Cherry Red, a 10-date UK tour supporting Uriah Heep sets off on April 25th.
Listen to it now: Full album on Progstreaming
More Information: Band website
2: SINOUJ - La Fiche
Country: Spain
Sub-genre: World Jazz
Description: Sinouj is a quintet based in Spain, but comprising musicians from other areas of the Mediterranean and Africa. Their third album, La Fiche, blends the heady ethnic traditions of the Maghreb and the Middle East with elegant jazz, groovy funk and modern electronics, as well as the occasional presence of lovely female vocals. The album also features a very individual take on Radiohead’s The National Anthem.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist on FacebookListen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
3: ENTRANSIENT - Entransient
Country: USA
Sub-genre: Melodic progressive metal
Description: Some years ago I got struck by a great US band called Silent Lapse and still play their excellent music today. Now that band has split, singer and keyboardist Scott Martin and bass player Matt Schrauben have joined up with a new band Entransient for yet another highlight in the field of melodic prog metal. The whole album is here for you to enjoy. Start with Silk Tongue if you are in a hurry, and you will find yourself sitting down to hear the rest instantly!
Listen to it now: Album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist on Facebook
4: NATIVE CONSTRUCT - Quiet World
Country: USA
Sub-genre: Progressive klezmer metal
Description: This trio from Boston wildly mixes all possible musical styles into a concept about a love affair. Klezmer and classical influences meet metal, Zappa, King Crimson and the like. This album is a mixture of Stolen Babies, Diablo Swing Orchestra, Dream Theater, Haken, Maschine and Serce. One would think it's album number five of a genius band, but no, this is a mind blasting debut.
Country: Poland
Sub-genre: Doomy psychedelia
Description: A curious mix of Swans-like gothic psychedelia and Slint post-rock, with a smattering of Germanic influence. Despite the over-the-top hyperbole in the PR blurb which includes phrases like "Sharp as a migraine", "...gorged on pain to the point of delirium", this curious little album is anything but headache-inducing, and is in fact quite trippy.
Listen to it now: Full album on Bandcamp
More Information: Artist on Facebook