The Flaming Mudcats - Get Loose

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2018
Time: 37:53
Size: 86,9 MB
Label: Mudcat Music
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Moving to the Country - 3:46
 2. Rooster Blues - 2:47
 3. Why Why - 3:37
 4. Cut Me Loose - 2:41
 5. Missed My Chance - 2:48
 6. Trying to Get Ahead - 3:33
 7. Getaway - 3:28
 8. Hey Margarita - 2:47
 9. Show Me Some Love - 3:45
10. Sneakin'  Around - 3:45
11. Welcome to My Blues - 2:25
12. Cry No More - 2:25

After a long hiatus, The Flaming Mudcats return with the new Album, ‘Cut Loose’, reflecting their eclectic influences and styles as they celebrate their tenth year together. ‘Cut Loose’ evolved following the addition and influence of Californian bass play Johnny Yu, heralding in a new era as the band continues to seek and revitalise their take on the blues. A stomping collection of mostly originals, across a wide range of roots music styles, song about life’s experiences familiar to anyone… loving, living, splitting and paying bills … themes that are timeless and universal. There’s even a couple of covers sprinkled into the mix for good measure to, because hell, they’re just damn great songs. The Flaming Mudcats continue to perform locally and internationally. Never straying far away from their grounding in the blues, good-time Rhythm and Blues and Rock’n’Roll. So sit back, crank it up and get ready to have some fun!

Cut Loose

Chilliwack - Look In, Look Out

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 1984
Time: 36:45
Size: 84,2 MB
Label: Solid Gold Records
Styles: Rock/Soft Rock/AOR
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. Got You On My Mind - 3:34
 2. Don't Shoot Me Down - 4:17
 3. Who's Winnin' - 4:37
 4. I'm Comin' To You - 4:46
 5. Gettin' Better - 3:43
 6. Run With Me - 3:30
 7. Are You Really Gonna Walk Out - 3:59
 8. Don't Stop - 4:00
 9. Dream Of You - 4:15

Generally better known for their late 70's AOR albums, this group was one of the earliest Canadian prog groups since they were directly descending from the 60's group THE COLLECTORS which had released a mind-blowing debut album and an confirming second effort, before changing their name to CHILLIWACK, their hometown's name in British Columbia. Both albums are included in the proto-prog section of the database. As the group had encountered some success in the late 60's (both as an album but also a single's band), the group felt they had to modernize their name, image and contracts. But in the essence the group remained quasi-intact and given the changing of the times, their first album under their new name became a bit looser and less structured. The music became more dreamy and sometimes involving long improvisation (but never becoming a jam band), bordering on the psychedelic prog with Claire Lawrence's saxes and flutes giving loving caresses to your eardrums.
Gradually, as the key members will float away and leave the ship, the sound (which had a distinct west coast touch) shifted more and more towards typical late 70's AOR with a slight country rock touch. The group will end its career in the early 80's in the general indifference after a string of unremarkable (from our point of view) string of albums. The band went on to become Headpins with a huge ard rock sound.
So what will interest progheads in Chilliwack are the first few albums that are definitively wilder and looser, but still as worthy as their superb Collectors album (couldn't resist that one ;-).

Look In, Look Out

Tiger Moth Tales - Story Tellers-Part Two

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2018
Time: 47:45
Size: 113,7 MB
Label: White Knight Records
Styles: Progressive Rock/Neo-Prog
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Best Friends - 3:14
 2. Kai's Journey - 4:37
 3. Toad of Toad Hall - 3:40
 4. Hundred Acre Wood - 3:16
 5. Eternity - 4:36
 6. The Boy Who Cried Wolf - 6:44
 7. Three Little Pigs - 6:33
 8. The Palace - 8:44
 9. Match Girl - 3:48
10. Best Friends Reprise - 2:28

Although for Pete Jones 2018 was largely dominated by his participation as a singer, keyboardist and saxophonist on the tour of progressive rock legend Camel, he still found the time and space to work on new songs for Tiger Moth Tales. This results in the album Storyteller Part Two, in which Jones returns to composing music based on stories from some of his favorite youth authors, this time including Hans Christian Andersen and A.A. Milne.
Storyteller Part Two has become a diverse album that shows a varied palette of styles. There are several compositions about The Snow Queen and Jones has managed to tie his old vocal partner Emma Friend for a few duets. On the one hand, we are confronted with the colourism interpretations of Monty Python as in The Three Pigs and The Boy Who Cried Wolf (the latter is a musical adaptation on a fable of the Greek poet Aesop, known for his stories in which animals behave like humans), on the other hand he delivers on pastoral progressive reads rock songs in the style of Genesis and Big Big Train, with opening songs Best Friends and Kai's Journey the listener immediately withdraw the atmosphere of the album.
Toad or Toad Hall and Hundred Acre Wood show that Jones knows how to fascinate the listener with clever songwriting and amazing musical dexterity. The instrumental The Palace is a highlight on the album. Jones pays homage to Steve Hackett, the guitarist he sees as his source of inspiration. The result is an astonishing result of progressive extremes, which make the listener enjoy the musical talent of Pete Jones.

Story Tellers- Part Two

Ad Astra - Surface Of Last Scattering

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2015
Time: 50:09
Size: 114,9 MB
Label: Three In One Records
Styles: Progressive Rock/Symphonic Prog
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. Surface Of Last Scattering - 11:00
 2. Lament -  6:51
 3. Cradle to Grave to Life - Grief -  9:21
 4. Cradle to Grave to Life - Recognition -  7:24
 5. Cradle to Grave to Life - Redemption -  4:35
 6. A Gift Of Peace -  1:44
 7. Pathways -  9:11

Progressive rock band Ad Astra returns with Surface of Last Scattering. Led by Doug Bowers (music), and Christopher Flynn (lyrics) the material is classic Ad Astra, with all the dreamy, melodic and cinematic elements that fans around the globe have learned to love over the years. However, this incarnation of the band mixes it up with adding elements of physics, stellar cartography and church liturgy that place this album somewhere in between the late 60's proto prog and the new generation of art rock.
Ad Astra is a progressive rock band cut from the legends of the 1970's. Bands like Yes, Ambrosia, PFM, Alan Parson's Project, Genesis, Flower Kings. We believe in growth and stretching our compositions. Each Ad Astra release is a new creation. Decidedly differing from the previous release, yet maintaining continuity of character and purpose.
Comprised of two writers Doug Bowers (keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars and lead vocals) and Christopher Flynn (6 & 12 string guitars and vocals) together with superb musicians:
Henry Jablonski (bass and vocals)
Chuck Tidwell (lead guitars)
Mitch Rall (percussion)
Create Ad Astra’s Surface of Last Scattering as a modern prog release. You'll find tasty synth layering, strong lead and harmony vocals, thought provoking lyrics, ripping lead guitars and driving bass lines within.
Surface of Last Scattering - The title track for the project is an effort to see the surface and the beyond to the truth behind the first glance. This piece combines physics, meteorology and church liturgy to find out where we finally join together as a single entity in creation.
Lament - Asks the question “How Long?”, yet doesn't leave the listener without hope. Cradle to Grave to Life - Is a triptych, a three part tour de force. From grief to recognition to renewal this tune takes you through the process of redemption.
A Gift of Peace - Doug's instrumental that beautifully that transitions into the depths of Pathways. Pathways - Originally written as an expression of grief over the loss of our fathers. Pathways tells the story coming to terms with loss. The Reverend John Shoaf provided the music and melody to the lyrics while Doug provided the definitive progressive rock statement of the song.
Surface of Last Scattering was recorded by Doug Bowers at Three in One Studios. Arranged by Us and mastered by Gene Crout at Audio Digital Studios.Photography, layout and design by Christopher Flynn at Trout Studios.

Surface Of Last Scattering

Pymlico - Directions

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2012
Time: 56:14
Size: 129,4 MB
Label: Spider House Records
Styles: Progressive Rock/Crossover Prog
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Compliments Of Sharkey -  5:00
 2. Heroes - 14:04
 3. The Little Grey Cells -  6:05
 4. R.W. -  6:21
 5. 2280 -  6:37
 6. Regulus - 18:04

Compliments of Sharkey" is, if I am not mistaken, a tribute to the exalted world of E.P. Jacobs, a Euro-cartoon icon, famed for his "Adventures of Blake and Mortimer" series. Sharkey was adjutant to Colonel Olrik, the nasty fiend and nemesis to both Francis Blake of SIS and Professor Philip Mortimer. If so, putting the exhilarating pseudo sci-fi anti-hero as a platform for some rollicking prog is quite an original twist, waltz or fandango. Fittingly the mood is pulsating, grandiose and epic, a Norwegian one-man instrumental show led by Arild Broter and some family and friends. Arild is a professional live drummer (Lucifer Was), so the beat is a non-worry issue. Fun beginnings but one would never expect a stellar follow-up track and the 14 minute + "Heroes" (referring again to Blake and Mortimer?) is as fabulous as instrumental prog can get, an expedition of monumental sound where everything fits superbly, gorgeous synthesizers painting the fjord-lit night sky, interweaving melodies and evocative arrangements that span the spectrum, from idyllic pastoral beauty where the flute section seems straight out of Hostsonaten's Springsongs, to more typical guitar-led symphonics that ignite images of mellow proggers Camel, David Minasian, The Inner Road, Odyssice and Trion. The term "beautiful" sums it up quite succinctly, the lead axe crying out in utter ecstasy, uniting with a long extended synth solo that parallels the main theme, massive and hot mellotron blasts are there in abject support. Another stellar track that is on my current playlist, the classic "Heroes" will provide the listener with many happy returns, as the low-end is well served with some amazing bass playing. Simply splendid piece of music.
How do you follow up with anything remotely listenable after such joyous perfection? Well "The Little Grey Cells" has a more menacing feel, a cinematic power prog piece with a heavy space-rock feel, led by a mammoth bass glide that sets the pace convincingly. The absolute unexpected killer bullet is the steamy and sensual sax solo with a sultry, sweaty and slightly perverse sound that will knock you for a loop! Okay, so how do you follow up that one?
Two 6 minute wonders then appear out of the fjord's mist, much to our listening pleasure. On "R.W." spooky sonar bleeps, fuzzy atmospherics and a diaphanous mood will certainly veer the mood, albeit only temporarily as the ornate piano slowly carves out a melancholic reverie. Dense, almost Floydian soundscapes enter the fray, yeah that big bluesy guitar wail we all know and love, giving some much desired angst to the flow. Its more aggressive companion "2280" is more pulsating, almost like highway driving music, with sashaying rhythmic guitar caresses, bubbly synths pinging and ponging out of sight, all served by a relentless bass and drum propeller. The electric lead screeches with tons of sustain and angry desperation amid an electronic bubble bath that Rick Wright would be drooling over, up there in VCS3 heaven!
'Directions' ends with the mammoth "Regulus", an 18 minute+ affair that should blow your mind, possessing initially a rather quirky James Bond-like cinematographic feel , which then develops into a more conventional symphonic piece with electronic slants, abundant raucous snippets, tons of start and stop techniques, playful experimentation, overt directional interludes that all sort of gel well together. The rowdy bass carves nicely its way through the joyous marimba phase, the sweeping synth passages, the drenched organ sections and whatever else Aril throws in its path, be it steamy sax fury, vaporous space fluttering or dissonant insanity.
Broter has a good handle of creating memorable melodies, a necessary prerequisite for first-rate instrumental music, unless of course one is a fan of minimalistic drone electronica or RIO/Avant-garde sonic dysfunction. Fine addition to any prog collection, especially the fans looking for something off the beaten path.

Directions

Pymlico - Inspirations

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2011
Time: 65:57
Size: 152,2 MB
Label: Spider House Records
Styles: Progressive Rock/Crossover Prog
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. Aldebaran -  3:21
 2. P.I.G. -  4:42
 3. Pictures-Part I -  3:28
 4. The Website -  6:42
 5. Constantinopole -  3:06
 6. Smiert Spionam -  8:12
 7. Summer'08 -  7:08
 8. Dance Of The Kleptomaniacs -  6:49
 9. Pasadena -  4:18
10. Pictures-Part II - 11:12
11. Sirius -  6:54

Arild Broter is the man behind the Norwegian project of Pymlico, former drummer for Lucifer Was in their live performances.He started it all around the spring of 2009, when two demo tapes inspired him to work more on his own music.The next year and a half he focused on composing material for an upcoming debut, eventually released in 2011 as an auto-production under the title ''Inspirations''.Broter plays drums, guitars, bass and keyboards and he is helped by several friends, including his brother, on additional keyboard, guitar and bass parts.
So where do the inspirations come from for this Norwegian musician?The answer lies somewhere between the happier parts of THE FLOWER KINGS, the instant and deep melodies of KAIPA and the more grandiose approach of LIFE LINE PROJECT as the closest comparison to his keyboard themes.The album is all instrumental with ideas ranging from good to simply fascinating, featuring a fantastic mix and a very good production.His style swirls mostly around the lines of traditional Symphonic Rock with occasional bits from Jazz and Electronic Music, though quite modern sounding.Broter's arrangements are often more than interesting, based on lovely guitar themes and solos, powerful vintage organs and very sharp synthesizers with both melodic and virtuosic passages, always well-crafted and carefully executed.And he never forgets to pass through several different atmospheres.From intense, dramatic textures and spacey introductions to retro-inspired nostalgia and postive, easy-going tunes.
Very good stuff indeed.Excellent addition for all fans of instrumental Classic Progressive Rock and a nice listening for anyone searching for demanding music with positive vibes.Strongly recommended...

Inspirations

Il Cerchio d'Oro - Dedalo E Icaro

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2013
Time: 48:50
Size: 112,3 MB
Label: Black Widow
Styles: Progressive Rock/RPI
Art: Full

Tracks Listing:
 1. Il Mio Nome E Dedalo - 4:56
 2. Labirinto - 7:15
 3. La Promessa - 9:06
 4. L'arma Vincente - 4:15
 5. Una Nuova Realta - 7:39
 6. Oggi Volero - 4:25
 7. Il Sogno Spezzato - 6:01
 8. Ora Che Son Qui (Icaro...La Fine) - 5:09

 Il Cerchio d'Oro's roots date back to the seventies when they released some singles. After a long hiatus, the band came back to life in 2006 and in 2008 released their first full length album, Il viaggio di Colombo. In 2013 they released an excellent second work on Black Widow Records, Dedalo e Icaro, with a consolidated line up featuring veterans Franco Piccolini (organ, piano, Mellotron, synth), Giuseppe Terribile (bass, acoustic guitar, vocals), Gino Terribile (drums, gong, vocals) and Piuccio Pradal (12 string acoustic guitar, vocals) plus a new member, Bruno Govone (electric guitar). During the recording sessions they were helped by some prestigious guests such as Pino Sinnone (drums), Marin Grice (flute, sax), Giorgio "Fico" Piazza (bass), Ettore Vigo (piano), Daniele Ferro (electric guitar) and Athos Enrile (mandolin) who contributed to enrich the sound. The new work is a concept album freely based upon the myth of Daedalus and Icarus where the music and lyrics do not try to tell in an emphatic way a story that probably everyone already knows, but rather focus on the emotions and feelings of the protagonists trying to stir your imagination. Well, maybe the beautiful art work by Stefano Scagni describes the content of the album better than all my words...
The music and lyrics of the opener "Il mio nome e Dedalo" (My name is Daedalus) introduce the character of Daedalus and his challenge. We meet a proud, unscrupulous genius who is able to invent an endless array of tools and who is jealous of his secrets and of his craft. The music starts softly, then the rhythm rises following the course of a baroque vanity. At last Daedalus accepts to build a labyrinth without a way out for the king of Cnosso and the following "Labirinto" (Labyrinth) is a beautiful instrumental track that depicts this challenge trying to evoke all the difficulties of the project and of its realisation...
The long, complex "La promessa" (The promise) begins with a vocal part a cappella, then the rhythm rises and goes through many changes in mood and atmosphere and you can feel desperate rage, hope and overwhelming energy. This track depicts in music an words a man betrayed but still untamed, prisoner of his work and art. Daedalus is in the labyrinth now, there's no way out, his world has begun to fall to pieces around his head but he does not accept his destiny and he's planning an escape for him and for his beloved son. He swears that he'll find the way...
Next comes the calm, dreamy "L'arma vincente" (The winning means) that describes the feelings of Icarus. He's just an unconscious, curious boy attracted by the splendour of the sun and he's sure that his bravery will help him out... Then it's the turn of "Una nuova realta" (A new reality), a beautiful track that announces the end of the nightmare and conjures up a feeling of hope in a better future. You can dream of a breakthrough obtained defeating old taboos, soaring in the air and talking to the wind...
"Oggi volero" (I'll fly today) describes in music and words the day of the take off and the strong, fiery emotions of the departure, a dream that comes true, flying away, higher and higher, towards the sun... Then the nervous rhythm of the following "Il sogno spezzato" (The broken dream) takes you back to earth. Icarus is falling down, his ambitions are melting in the sun like his wings of wax. For Daedalus it's time for mourn and pity, his moaning will to fly for ever... Can you hear it?
The last track, "Ora che son qui (Icaro... La fine)" (Now that I'm here - The end of Icarus), describes Icarus' final lament, his last thoughts and feelings, his regrets and his pain. Now he's in the afterlife and asks just for a flower that will bring him another bit of sunlight... Can you hear him?
On the whole, I think that this is really a great album. Of course, every now and again the influence of bands such as PFM, Le Orme, New Trolls, Delirium or the Trip is apparent, but the band managed to recreate a vintage atmosphere without sounding out of date nor derivative and the final result is impressive!

Dedalo E Icaro