Soul Cages - Craft

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 1999
Time: 47:23
Size: 108,6 MB
Label: Massacre Records (MASS CD 213)
Styles: Progressive Metal
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. Pressure - 5:37
 2. A Part Of Me - 6:17
 3. Falling - 7:24
 4. Piano - 2:17
 5. The Light Of Day - 4:56
 6. Imprisoned - 6:25
 7. Force Of A Dream - 4:57
 8. Result Of Convenience - 3:51
 9. Before (For Bert) - 5:35

SOUL CAGES is another vivid proof that Germany can produce very inspired and innovative progressive metal. Often not given the proper attention, this band from Hemer, formed in 1990, walks on the paved path of two of the greatest and most influential (although not too famous) prog metal bands in Germany; Sieges Even and Mekong Delta. The band's music, contrary to other German bands of that time e.g. Blind Guardian, Vanden Plas has not evolved from a power metal background to progressive forms: it was 'born' progressive...
I believe the fact that they have signed a contract with Massacre Records did not help them to get the recognition they deserved; often acknowledged as a metal and/or underground band. To my knowledge, the only two countries that have musically 'accepted' them are Germany and Greece. To some extent, their limited recognition is understandable due to the eclectic nature of their sound. A major contributor to this element is the characteristic German accent in the (almost eccentric) male vocals which can sometimes prevent the listeners from appreciating the music.
The second component of this eclectic character is the unusual nature of the melodies; unconventional melodies that are often dressed with beautiful, atmospheric female vocals and bizarre arrangements and harmonies. Riff-wise, the listener can hear several similarities with guitar sounds in Queensryche's (A Part of Me) and Fates Warning's (Imprisoned) late 80's releases; however, the outcome does not resemble directly to these bands and remains quite unique in nature. It is interesting to refer to those female vocals again which time and again generate a gothic, doom feeling (The Light of Day), relatively uncommon in this genre.
In addition to the previous, here you can find some technically challenging prog metal with peculiar time signatures (Result of Convenience, Pressure) that reminds of early Sieges Even and Watchtower. Although all these aspects can be successfully employed to describe CRAFT's musical directions, the main outcome remains an alloy of melodic - in its own way - prog metal. This is evident throughout the album and mostly in tracks like Falling (reminds me of brilliant Shadow Gallery melodies) which is the highlight. The inclusion of Piano and Before balances out the more technical elements of this release with simple, though deep, melodies.
I can not decide if CRAFT is musically at the same level as the band's debut but to my ears is still approaching the term 'masterpiece' and it is highly recommended to prog fans who want to challenge themselves and get out of their comfort zone.

Craft

Riversea - The Tide

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2018
Time: 55:58
Size: 129,2 MB
Label: Self Released
Styles: Progressive Rock/Neo-Prog
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. The Tide - 5:53
 2. Shine - 4:56
 3. Blasphemy - 5:36
 4. Your Last Day - 5:17
 5. Drowning in Vertigo - 4:43
 6. Strange Land - 5:44
 7. The Design - 4:15
 8. Fallout Warning - 4:34
 9. Goodbye My Friend - 5:09
10. To Those that are Left Behind - 2:09
11. Uprising - 6:37
12. The Tide Reprise - 0:59

UK act RIVERSEA was formed by duo Marc Atkinson (vocals, guitars) and Brendan Eyre (keyoboards) as they started writing material, and through a process that took much longer than initially planned an album's worth of material slowly but surely took shape. With the aid of a multitude of musical friends and acquaintances the creative duo's material was given life and shape in bits and pieces in various studios over several years, and in 2012 the end result was released as Out Of An Ancient World, a production that has been met with generally positive acclaim since it was made available in the summer of 2012.
With some albums, I don’t have much to say about their contents, and so I may get a little stumped about how to start the review. Other albums, however, are so rich and beautiful, like some grand tapestry, that I have too many words crowding my mind.  The result is that I once again have trouble starting the review.  The latter is the case for the sophomore album from Riversea, called “The Tide” and releasing on April 23rd.  I finally decided to write what is on my heart, which is exactly what Riversea is all about: heart, mind, and soul.
The influence and importance of Riversea’s “Out of an Ancient World” in my life cannot be understated. It truly is one of my top albums ever.  I even wrote a spotlight of the deep lyrical content in that album (that spotlight was actually one reason I started TPM).  Naturally, I’ve been dying for a follow up album, and I have been following with great interest the crafting of this offering.  Yes, it has been almost six years since the debut, but “The Tide” is worth every second of that wait time.
Riversea technically consists only Marc Atkinson on vocals and Brendan Eyre on keys. However, David Clements (bass) seems to be a part of the band in some capacity now.  The album includes a huge range of guest musicians: Tony Patterson (keys and flute), Alex Cromarty (drums), Lee Abraham (guitar), Robin Armstrong (guitar), Simon Godfrey (guitar), Paul Cusick (guitar), Peter Aves (guitar), Martin Ledger (guitar), Olivia Sparnenn-Josh (backing vocals), Janine Atkinson (backing vocals), and Louise Dawson (backing vocals).  The range and diversity of the performers is truly astounding, and it gives the album a bigger and deeper feeling than the debut.
“The Tide”, like the debut, is deeply entrenched in beautiful and powerful lyrics. While the debut dealt more with a divine idea of who we truly are as humans, this album dives into a more earthly look at the human condition.  We are a truly troubled race, always spiraling towards self-destruction, and much of that comes with the name of God on our lips.  This album is an uprising against that destructive way of life, and the lyrics will affect you emotionally and spiritually.  I will certainly be reading the lyrics with great interest.
As a result of this dire look at the human condition, this album is quite somber and serious. The tone overall is worshipful and spiritual, begging us to consider what is being said.  While the album is quite sober, it is no less soothing and relaxing to hear than the debut.  It offers absolute tranquility in a way that I really haven’t heard from other artists.  That is the Riversea touch.
Marc’s voice is as effective and smooth as ever. Honestly, his perfect performance of the amazing hooks and melodies on this album gives me chills just thinking about it.  Combining his vocal chops with the serious nature of the lyrics, this album made me tear up no less than 3 or 4 times.  Marc’s voice elicits emotion from me like few others.  Between Riversea, his solo albums, and the other projects of which he has been a part, Marc’s voice has become a soothing, nostalgic presence for me.
Brendan’s keys are once again glorious and synthy. His work is like a revelation sometimes, and I absolutely love it.  Guitars from all the guests are soul-piercingly emotional, as are the backing vocals, too.  David’s bass is a fantastic addition to the Riversea sound, as it comes across as haunting and inventive in each and every song.  In fact, certain songs really rely on his bass skills to be as deep and abstract as they really are.
“The Tide”, like I said, is a bigger album that the debut. I also find that it is “proggier”, for what that’s worth.  The song structures are more diverse and abstract, and there is a good variety of elements here, from Floydian influences to pop to light electronic accents, and so on.  The musical style is progressive rock through and through, but there is plenty of musical space and melodic growth, too.
While I’d love to go over every song (which I may do in a spotlight at a later time), let me go over just my favorites. First off, the title track starts the album with a glorious fade in and plenty of warmth and nostalgia.  The single is “Shine”, and I love the edge to the guitars and the electronic accents.  “Drowning in Vertigo” has one of the most emotional choruses and guitar solos on the album, and the way it just builds and sustains is simply striking.
The album gets even stronger in the second half. “Strange Land” might be my favorite song of the year so far.  The bridge and chorus have such a tight and perfectly performed melody, and it absolutely grabs me every time.  “Fall Out Warning” is a complex song, both musically and lyrically.  It feels like the waves breaking on the rocky shore as the fallout of our human tendencies rears its head.  “Uprising” is a subdued song that feels powerful and purposeful in its tone and lyrics, but the music is subtle and led by flute.  It’s a great contrast that really accents that meaning behind the song.
“The Tide” is not just a solid album from Riversea. It is a triumph.  This offering is nothing short of stellar musically in each and every track, but it also strikes deeply into my heart and mind lyrically.  The spiritual and emotional content here grabs hold of my core, and leaves me thinking and even hopeful.  For the love of all that is holy, please buy this album.

The Tide

Atlantropa Project - Atlantropa Project

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2017
Time: 78:54
Size: 182,9 MB
Label: Progressive Promotion
Styles: Progressive Rock/Crossover Prog
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. A Continent Of Joy - 2:42
 2. The Great Maker - 5:53
 3. New Sky - Part I - The Plan - 3:25
 4. New Sky - Part II - The Bridge - 0:58
 5. New Sky - Part III - Atlantropa - 2:52
 6. Now Is Always Past - 1:31
 7. Time To Bid Goodbye - Part I - A Key For Peace - 3:02
 8. Time To Bid Goodbye - Part II - Unknown Waters - 1:44
 9. Time To Bid Goodbye - Part III - Last Goodbye - 2:40
10. They Want To Steal The Ocean - 6:56
11. Thinking Further Than A Generation's Life - 1:20
12. Gotta Stem The Greedy Water - 4:51
13. At The Mercy Of Progress - 1:41
14. Walk Across The Sea - 6:17
15. Mare Nostrum Dream - 3:06
16. To Understand What Uunderstanding Means - 1:06
17. When We All Speak Atlantropan - 9:00
18. It`s Time For New Dreams - 1:33
19. Dream My Dream - 6:57
20. Star Atlantropa - Part I - Look To The West - 3:05
21. Star Atlantropa - Part II - We Still Have A Lot To Learn - 5:02
22. Star Atlantropa - Part III - Shining Star - 1:44
23. Reprise - 1:13

The ambitious concept album can be hit or miss and the misses can often sink without a trace. It’s a risk because what is your passion may not necessarily be someone else’s.
Atlantropa Project is the sophisticated, creative outcome of a group of ambitious and experienced musicians to musically explore and honour a great, almost forgotten idea of humanity. German engineer Hermann Sörgel’s plan was to build a huge dam, dry the Mediterranean, obtain new land, unite Africa and Europe and create peace.
To be fair, his plan is no more difficult than the idea of this concept piece but this brilliantly creative group of like minded artists have just about pulled it off. It is a richly rewarding and immersive concept album with a dynamism rarely found these days. The songs have a creativeness and virtuosity that just about overcomes the bloated length of this release.
You cannot listen to this in any other way than in one sitting where the whole story and soundtrack comes together like those great adventure films that graced the silver screen, King Solomon’s Mines and the like, but, ultimately, for this listener, the ambition just outstrips the reality.

Atlantropa Project

Aliante - Forme Libere

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2017
Time: 46:54
Size: 108,4 MB
Label: Self Released
Styles: Progressive Rock/RPI
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Forme Libere - 0:54
 2. Kilowatt Store - 5:16
 3. Tre Di Quattro - 9:28
 4. Etnomenia - 6:17
 5. Kinesis - 5:15
 6. Coda: Marea 03 - 1:44
 7. L’ultima Balena - 8:30
 8. San Gregorio - 9:27

ALIANTE (meaning GLIDER in English) are a real surprise in Italian music. They are creative, careful, never dispersive and never excessive.They have clear ideas and the right talent to put them into practice.They know perfectly how to play with melody and with harmonious twists to create evocative and emotional enchanting music.
A new sound sensation that smells of art and cultivated music without being snobbish.Just a gliding and planing flight, calm, reflective, with a few moments of slight madness in a faster descent can fully describe (or at least give the same kind of sensations) of the music you can hear in this album of ALIANTE.
Unpretentious music that wants to open the boundaries of progressive rock to end in wide open skies, where the melody is absolute master and at the same time a travel companion of rhythms and unusual tempos.Moog, piano, organ, etc. combined with bass and drums lead us to an instrumental symphonic prog music, brand new but without forgetting the origins (Trace, Greenslade, Triumvirat, ELP).A flight made of bright and breath-taking sounds, echoes of drums with almost ethnic sounds and the cross-beat of a loud bass. This is the first work of ALIANTE, although the experiences of the three components are many and long.
Just remember that Jacopo Giusti and Alfonso Capasso were members of the group EGOBAND.The album is produced by ALIANTE and VANNUCCIO ZANELLA.

Forme Libere

The Dharma Bomb - Bullseye

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2004
Time: 62:57
Size: 145,3 MB
Label: Crash Media
Styles: Rock/Jam Bands
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Jericho Rocks - 3:37
 2. Old Cutler Road - 4:13
 3. Hermosa Beach, 6 AM - 2:54
 4. Trust - 2:59
 5. Bullseye - 6:16
 6. Down - 4:34
 7. No Roof But Heaven - 4:27
 8. Reluctant Superhero - 4:25
 9. Just Don't Get It - 3:26
10. Living Beside the Highway - 5:57
11. Easter Sunday - 5:12
12. Nobody's Girl - 4:18
13. Birthday Cake - 3:49
14. Surrender - 3:51
15. Goodbye - 2:50

The organic grooves of The Dharma Bomb have rocked their home state of Florida for the past few years, and with their excellent new CD Bullseye, they are poised to break out to wider acclaim. Lead singer/songwriter Todd Thompson's earthy piano and organ work complements the textured songs, whether taking center stage on the Traffic-like title track or bursting out in the exuberant piano solo on "Nobody's Girl." The Dharma Bomb's strengths lie in their most heartfelt songs, with Thompson's soulful rasp complementing his able songwriting on the plaintive "No Roof but Heaven" and standout track "Living Beside the Highway. …

Bullseye

Max Sunyer - Babel

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 1978
Time: 40:48
Size: 93,7 MB
Label: Picap
Styles: Progressive Rock/Jazz Rock Fusion
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. Autopista - 10:29
 2. D'una Manera Silenciosa -  9:52
 3. Reflexions (Sobre D'una Canco Anonima Catalana) -  5:46
 4. Les Maquinaries De L'alegria -  5:44
 5. Jo Crec -  8:54

Trust me when I include Max Sunyer's name along with the likes of Al DiMeola, Jorge Strunz, & John McLaughlin. Here is a fusion guitarist from Spain, one the held that instruments position in the little known fusion band from Spain called Iceberg. Sunyer's solo cd Babel, really reminds me of the multi-national fusion ensemble Caldera, in that there are strong leanings towards a latin feel, using percussions, flutes, saxes, acoustical and electric guitars, synths as well as the type of chordal progressions that represent the very substance of this cultural music phenomina, and Sunyers' romantic, expressive style of playing, seems to evoke the very passion of his soul. He also tears into a similar frenetic pizzicato technique used by Al DiMeola and Jorge Strunz. The fact that Sunyer is an accomplished musician in no way deters from what his true admiration of fusion music is, and that is building themes from melody, and a solid musical backdrop with which the soloists are able to release their utmost passionate expressions via their instruments.
This is most certainly a cd that is well worth tracking down if the artists mentioned are in the style of music you like, and I should mention the Iceberg cds are also excellent fusion, also present on this cd is Iceberg's fine keyboardist Josep Mas, who, like Sunyer, is able to play in the styles of the greats, Corea, Zawinul, Del Barrio, etc.
This is vintage fusion, from 1978, and from an artist that was sadly overlooked in his day, but as many readers, prog/fusion heads already know, rediscovery of these retro gems of music are seldom disappointing, and those that long for the heyday of fusion's onset will really find this music very gratifying.

Babel

The Blues Mystery - Soul Memories

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2018
Time: 46:36
Size: 106,8 MB
Label: PBR Records
Styles: Blues/Blues Rock
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. 25 Degress Below Zero - 3:47
 2. Sit Down - 4:13
 3. Has Humankind Lost Its Soul - 4:27
 4. I'm Afraid of the Next Blues - 3:20
 5. 8000 Miles - 3:40
 6. Time to Forgive - 4:45
 7. Reputation - 4:35
 8. Red Hot No Shot - 3:28
 9. High Level Woman - 3:36
10. Risking Love Again - 3:51
11. Keep on Working - 3:01
12. Look out Mama - 3:48

Blues-Rock with a touch of funk and soul. Digging in the blues, inspiring lyrics, female backing vocals and electric guitar solos.
The song BACK TO THE DIRTY TOWN today is a worldwide classic of the fans of blues and Blues Rock. On countless playlists, on YouTube, on Spotify and radio stations this song is heard by tens of thousands of people daily. The Blues Mystery live have been titled as “the blues that makes you happy”. With their unique own style, they've mainly been playing festivals and clubs in Switzerland, Germany and France. Influenced by greats like Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters or James Brown, they compose very song oriented as for example Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top or the Rolling Stones do, they’re not stuck to the 12 bar Blues.
They've released their first album THE BLUES MYSTERY in 2013, the second one called DIESEL ROCK in 2015. Since end of 2017 they’ve launched THE BLUES MYSTERY TV, giving dynamics to their YouTube channel, the first show launched was “Walter’s Blues & Rock Talk”.
New album SOUL MEMORIES
Their third album, released on April 13, 2018, was announced with the provocative single and video clip HAS HUMANKIND LOST ITS SOUL? The Blues Mystery recorded during one whole year, the key to capture intensely and intimately Willy Matt’s voice better than ever before. The instruments sound purer than on the first two albums, and the new element of female backing vocals gives a soulful touch to their typical style. Several songs groove with a funky upbeat touch and encouraging messages, well mixed with melancholic blues tunes carrying heavy lyrics.

Soul Memories

Anglesee - Stories

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2018
Time: 43:18
Size: 100,4 MB
Label: Self Released
Styles: Progressive Rock/Crossover Prog
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Water - 7:30
 2. All That I Want - 5:48
 3. Dance On The Waves - 5:58
 4. No One's Home - 5:12
 5. Final Parting - 5:37
 6. Growing Tall - 7:08
 7. Where I Belong - 6:02

The songs on this album are about the less pleasant parts of life.  From youth homelessness in Where I Belong, deforestation in Growing Tall, gaming addiction in No One's Home to losing a loved one in All That I Want.
These songs don't preach they just tell a story and the rest is up to you.

Stories

Defunkt - Thermonuclear Sweat

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 1982
Time: 40:04
Size: 92,3 MB
Label: Hannibal
Styles: JRF
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. Illusion - 5:35
 2. I Tried To Live Alone - 5:09
 3. Cocktail Hour (Blue Bossa) - 3:27
 4. Ooh Baby - 6:04
 5. Avoid The Funk - 4:28
 6. Big Bird (Au Private) - 2:09
 7. For The Love Of Money - 5:57
 8. Believing In Love - 7:13

Musicians:
Bass - Kim Clarke
Drums - Kenny Martin
Guitar - Kelvyn Bell , Richard Martin (3) (tracks: A1, B4) , Vernon Reid (tracks: A2 to B3)
Saxophone - Dave Hubbard
Trombone, Lead Vocals - Joseph Bowie
Trumpet - John Mulkerin
Vocals - Clarice Taylor

Defunkt is the pairing of the first two albums by Joseph Bowie's all-star jazz-funk group, Defunkt, which included such luminaries as Vernon Reid, Kelvyn Bell, Kim Clarke, Kenny Martin, Melvin Gibbs, and others. Defunkt (1980) picked up an aesthetic first put forth by Miles in the mid-'70s, and Ornette Coleman's Prime Time in the late '70s, with the latter adding the hot-foot whomp of James Brown, the tune sparking the fire of Prince and the Downtown New York scene's outsider vision. The formula was refined and perfected in 1982 with the issue of Thermonuclear Sweat, where Bowie's trombone and vocals added more "song" to the groove: the effect was devastating. Defunkt was and is a place where vanguard jazz, hard funk, street savvy, soul, and assaultive rock & roll all blend together in a pool of sheer musical abandon and hedonistic glee. This double-disc package has been augmented with bonus tracks, no less. Disc one carries the 12" version of "Razor's Edge" and three live cuts from 1983 -- including a killer take of "In the Good Times," while disc two contains a live version of "Big Bird (Au Private)" from the same show. Put together, this collection is one of the reissues of the year, as the music vibe has not only not dated, but proven that Bowie and company were far ahead of their time.
Thermonuclear Sweat

Lomo - Painkiller

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2002
Time: 54:35
Size: 125,8 MB
Label: Hammerhead Records
Styles: Progressive Rock/Jazz-Rock Fusion
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. The Surge - 5:04
 2. Present Climate - 7:48
 3. Blind Pew - 6:34
 4. Cold March - 3:37
 5. Sharkness - 3:25
 6. Serpent Handling - 5:45
 7. Faultlines - 3:52
 8. Centrefold - 6:30
 9. Verad Praise - 5:04
10. Reprise - 6:52

The press say:
'..Their cd Painkiller is unfamiliar yet it seems like it's always there in the back of your mind. The songs have an urbane sheen perfect for a night in town and a warmth suited to relaxing at home. I can't say for sure whether Lomo plays rock for jazz fans or jazz for rock fans. Either way, the grooves are irresistible.
Nick Bensen, Free City Media, February 2003.
'Painkiller is an auspicious and potent mix of jazz and progressive rock with tango vibes.'
Humphrey Inzillo, Rolling Stone, September 2003.
'Painkiller is a crips jazz-fusion outing from British Band Lomo. On tracks too adventerous to be considered smooth, Simon Pearson's drumming is supportive and expressive. Witness his impressive, melodic cymbal work on 'Present Climate', his navigation of the funky opus 'Serpent Handling', and his attention to the pocket and textures on Faultlines.'
Robin Tolleson, Modern Drummer, November 2003.
'The sensation of quasi sorrowful solitude is almost continuously present. We imagine ourselves walking throught the streets of London, Paris, New York in the dead of the night. These compositions are the soundtrack of a tormented but nevertheless saving walk.'
Renaud Rigart, Zoopa Loop, October 2003
'Lomo emphazises silences, making them interesting, and that is their biggest achievement.'
M. Garrido, Cuadernos de Jazz, February 2003
'The paradox surfaces after listening, when we realize we are before a trio that allow themselves a vast array of musical influences. Their sound is solid despite the minimalist angle, they have a harmonic complexity suited to the trio and a timbric depth and schematic rigour that make Painkiller into an unparalelled work in the current music scene. Lomo's music moves and is addictive.'
Jaume Nadal. Margen Magazine, April 2003
'I like how they're not stuck in any easy pigeonhole, and are gushing with stylistic shape shifting while always remaining vividly direct and phisically muscular in their interplay and exchanges.'
George Parsons, Dream Magazine, September 2003

Painkiller

Moondance - North Shore Appeal

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 1977
Time: 29:44
Size: 68,6 MB
Label: Big Pink (2014)
Styles: Progressive Rock/Soft Rock
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Do the Moondance - 3:16
 2. It's Morning - 3:48
 3. My Lady - 3:00
 4. She's So Fine - 2:55
 5. We Had it All - 3:16
 6. Goodtime Baby - 2:59
 7. My Brother and I - 2:21
 8. Take Me Back - 2:44
 9. Still in my Mind - 5:22

If Crosby, Stills, and Nash were native Hawaiians with a taste for fuzzy guitars and prog-ish elements, this is probably the album they would make. Relentlessly chill and earthy, with some tasty harmonies and rhythms nestled into what are otherwise very standard folk/rock songs. This rare album is certainly worth a few listens if you find a copy.

North Shore Appeal