Pikapika TeArt - Moonberry (2010 Russia) [AvantProg] @320

PikaPika Teart is an absolute novelty for RIO fans. Explicitly following the tradition of great groups from the ’70, such as Henry Cow, these guys from Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, are proposing an original blend of acoustic and electric sounds, rock features and structured note-by-note written music. For AltrOck is an occasion to release a really interesting band coming from an «exotic» area of the world, unless forgotten, or forced to silence; for Pikapika, the chance to come out of Siberia and instantly go «into the world». Significantly, their music matches a modern musical language and the traditional music of their region, following the teachings of Russian masters like Stravinskij and Schostakovich: a good way to preserve local treasures and global visibility.

Influences: Henry Cow, Rational Diet, Stravinskij, Schostakovich, Anekdoten, King Crimson.


01 - Slavyanskaya 1
02 - Shifting Sands of Time
03 - Endless Chant of the Sliding Bridge in the Declining Day Twilight
04 - Rekrutskaya
05 - Slavyanskaya 3
06 - Project X
07 - For Glass
08 - Svadebnaya
09 - Slavyanskaya 5
10 - ProeMen. Glare of Sunlight
11 - Moonberry
12 - Plyasovaya
13 - Slavyanskaya Prazdnichnaya


Bulatov Maxim: Bass
Nikitin Roman: Guitar
Bushev Pavel: Guitar
Kryazhev Evgeniy: Drums
Amelkov Sergey: Clarinet, Bass clarinet
Bulatova Marina: Vocal
Guests:
Shapovalova Nastya: Violin (1,2,6,9,10)
Ziborova Olga: Viola (3,5,7,11,13)

Peter Banks - Two Sides Of Peter Banks (1973 England) 2010 Remaster SHM-CD [ProgRock] @320

Talk about an eclectic album! Ex-Yes and Flash guitarzan Peter Banks really spilled his beans here, putting together a VERY original album with his mates from Flash (no Yes members invited, ah, such bitterness!!!) and a few choice guests: the fuzzy bass of John Wetton, the rythmic gymnastics of "Uncle" Phil Collins (back in the days when he was a gloriously talented drummer) and, last but not least, the unique guitar styles of Steve Hackett and Focus' Jan Akkerman (back in the days when he was a gloriously talented guitarist). With all this supremo talent, Banks sort of takes a back seat. "The White House Vale", "Knights" and mostly the full tilt improvised gem/jam "Stop That"are the highlights here, giving the guests a chance and a platform to let down their fairly long hair and just rip! Yeah, this is not your "perfect prog produced to perfection master opus" but it has a charm that has stood the test of time and still ellicits smiles, cheers and the occasional goose bumps. 

In many ways, the album's black, white and grey cover really sets the mood as this is no technicolor masterpiece! It's raw, slutty, dirty, visceral, angry, moody and My, my, that Akkerman could certainly play a mean guitar! Perhaps not a classic but definitely a showpiece for some inspired playing and a rare glimpse into Banks' rather odd career.


1. Visions Of The King (1:23)
2. The White House Vale (7:13)
- a. On The Hill
- b. Lord Of The Dragon
3. Knights (6:14)
- a. The Falcon
- b. The Bear
4. Battles (1:38)
5. Knights (Reprise) (2:11)
6. Last Eclipse (2:25)
7. Beyond The Loneliest Sea (3:06)
8. Stop That! (13:47)
9. Get Out Of My Fridge (3:20)


Peter Banks: electric and acoustic guitar, ARP, Minimoog, and Fender piano
Jan Akkerman: electric guitar (1,4,6,8,9), acoustic guitar (7)
Ray Bennett: bass guitar (3-5,8,9)
Phil Collins: drums (4,5,8,9)
Steve Hackett: electric guitar (5)
Mike Hough: drums (3)
John Whetton: bass guitar (5)

Flash - Out Of Our Hands (1973 England) 2010 Remaster SHM-CD [ProgRock] @320

What do chess and an interstellar messenger of peace have in common? Nothing, I'd venture, but it didn't stop Ray Bennett from laboring on this stellar concept album all the same. Like any FLASH album, the comparisons to early YES are invited and no doubt appreciated. There are plenty of moments here that'll transport you to strange new places, provided you're willing to put in the same amount of effort you did on "Tales of Topographic Oceans".

Bennett and Peter Banks in particular connect on some passages that click as well as Chris Squire and Steve Howe. It occurs to me when I listen to "Out of Our Hands" that this might be the lost YES album I've been looking for. Certainly it's closer to the mark than Steve Howe's Beginnings, In The Can or Two Sides of Peter Banks. Almost every song on here has some redeeming moment of magic, from the opening of "The Bishop" (which prefigures Gang of Four by at least a few years) to the tripping guitar lines on "Dead Ahead". Maybe I've grown used to Colin Carter's voice by now but he does seem better suited to the music this time, suggesting Jon Anderson's voice with clipped wings. Where Anderson soared, Carter is entrenched, holding steadfast in the midst of Banks' acrobatic leads and Bennett's bold bass lines.

The result is a style that produces some fine moments, including "Man of Honour", "Shadows" and delightful "Psychosync". As busy as Bennett is with writing most of the material and playing bass, his keyboard contributions are cursory, which results in some missing music. If sections feel like they need to be fleshed out on occasion, it's to be expected with FLASH. Their purpose was never to replace YES, but rather to build something different from the same foundation. Sadly, "Out of Our Hands" was their last album, and another avenue to nirvana was closed. This record (and, in fact the entire FLASH catalog) are well worth rediscovery -- the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Yesstory, in a manner of speaking.


01. Open sky (0:40)
02. None the wiser (King) (3:17)
03. Farewell number one (Pawn) (1:37)
04. Man of honnor (Knight) (4:45)
05. Dead ahead (Queen) (4:38)
06. The Bishop (4:21)
07. Psychosync (Escape) (4:50)
08. Manhattan morning (Christmas '72) (6:24)
09. Shadows (It's you) (3:20)


Peter Banks: Peter Banks / guitars, Moog & Arp synths, banjo, backing vocals
Ray Bennett: bass, piano, clavinet, Mellotron, Arp synth, accoustic guitar, banjo, backing vocals
Colin Carter: lead vocals
Micheal Hough: drums, congas, tablas

Flash - In The Can (1972 England) 2010 Remaster SHM-CD [ProgRock] @320

This second FLASH`s album was recorded as a quartet. Keyboard player Tony Kaye, who never was an official member of the band and who was only a guest on their first album, didn`t participate in this album and went to form his own band called BADGER. So, this album has a lot of guitars and very few parts on which Peter Banks plays the ARP synthesizer.

I think that it is unfair to underrate Peter Banks as a guitarist, because in this album he also shows that he is a very good guitarist with his very own style. Bassist Ray Bennett, who also was the main composer of the songs in this album, also shows that he is a very good bassist, and there are some similarities between his sytle of playing the bass with the styles of John Entwistle and Chris Squire. Singer Colin Carter is also good, and there are some very good vocals arrangements done with Banks and Bennett. Drummer Michael Hough is a more "Rocker" drummer, but he also plays some interesting things.

"Lifetime" and "Monday Morning Eyes" are, IMO, the best songs in this album. I think that FLASH deserves more respect as a band, because this album, despite the lack of a keyboard player, shows them as a very good Progressive Rock band.


01. Lifetime (10:05)
02. Monday morning eyes (5:03)
03. Black and white (12:04)
04. Stop that banging (1:50)
05. There no more (11:35)


Peter Banks: acoustic electric & Spanish guitars, Hooter, ARP synth, backing vocals
Ray Bennett: bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (2)
Colin Carter: vocals, percussion
Mike Hough: drums, percussion, cymbals, badinage

Flash - Flash (1972 England) 2010 Remaster SHM-CD [ProgRock] @320

This is an album clearly made in the shadow of that great progressive rock band Yes. However, unlike Starcastle and other such followers, Flash have a genuine excuse. The band was founded by Peter Banks and Tony Kaye, both of whom were unceremoniously ditched by Yes despite also being founder members of that esteemed group. While it's hard to dispute the fact that both Banks and Kaye were replaced by superior musicians (Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman respectively), neither deserved to be treated with such disrespect, and this album is an excellent riposte to their critics.
Flash preserves that sound of 60s Yes which somewhat ironically reached its zenith on 1971's The Yes Album. Small Beginnings in particular is an epic track which could have slipped quite comfortably onto that masterful album. It has all the hallmarks, with storming riffs (with some of Banks's best ever playing), an inventive rhythm section (bassist Ray Bennett and drummer Mike Hough), and even a nice organ solo from Kaye, while vocalist Colin Carter sounds very much like Yes frontman Jon Anderson.

01 - Small Beginnings
02 - Morning Haze
03 - Children Of The Universe
04 - Dreams Of Heaven
05 - The Time It Takes


Peter Banks: acoustic electric & Spanish guitars, Hooter, ARP synth, backing vocals
Ray Bennett: bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (2)
Colin Carter: vocals, percussion
Mike Hough: drums, percussion, cymbals, badinage
Tony Kaye: organ, piano, ARP synth

Curved Air - Retrospective - The Anthology 1970-2009 (2CD) [ProgRock ] @320

Today they're known for giving Police drummer Stewart Copeland his start, but Curved Air emerged in the early 1970s as one of England's most distinctive prog-rock bands, led by singer Sonja Kristina, who was promoted as something of a sex symbol at the time. As heard on this career-spanning, two-disc set, their music combined classical and rock flavors, with Darryl Way's violin adding a signature sound, but there was also a bit of a Jefferson Airplane tinge to some of their work that helped set them apart from their peers.

CD1
01 - It Happened Today
02 - Screw
03 - Blind Man
04 - Hide And Seek
05 - Rob One
06 - Young Mother
07 - Back Street Luv
08 - Jumbo
09 - Puppets
10 - Piece Of Mind
11 - Whose Shoulder Are You Looking Over Anyway
12 - Melinda (More Or Less)
13 - Over And Above

CD2
14 - The Purple Speed Queen
15 - Elfin Boy
16 - Metamorphosis
17 - Easy
18 - The Dancer
19 - Dance Of Love
20 - Love Child
21 - Woman On A One Night Stand
22 - Desiree
23 - Broken Lady
24 - Marie Antoinette
25 - Vivaldi
26 - Lambent Spire
27 - Space In Between
28 - Beloved

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Gatto Marte - Gioco del Mago (Italy 2000) [AvantProg] @VBR~224

Gatto Marte are a Italian "progressive chamber quartet", who use violin, basson, piano & double bass. Their records are definitely comparable to folks like Julverne, ZNR, Jean-Philippe Goude's chamber works, etc., so if you are a fan of that style, you will want this.



01. Gioco del Mago
02. Tarantella del Gatto
03. Ladybird Dance
04. Petra
05. Il domatore di leoni
06. Fantasia e cadenza
07. Tone of innocence
08. Gun powder
09. A short story
10. Vorrei Partire
11. Tangata su nave che affonda
12. Fotogramma
13. Transeunte
14. Tango
15. Tarumba


Nino Cotone: Violin
Giuseppe Brancaccio: Bassoon
Maximilian Brooks: Piano, Vocals
Pietro Lusvardi: Contrabass
Guest Musician:
Beppe Ronzoni: Drums, Percussions

Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - Da Qui Messere Si Domina La Valle (Italy 1991) [ProgRock] @320

This album is not a compilation! The band re-recorded the first 2 albums in studio with new instruments and new arrangements. Fantastic result!
CrimsonKing

Francesco Di Giacomo writes in CD booklet that he does not like remakes and BANCO decided to re-record their two first albums because fans asked them ''to do it today''. It seems the easiest way was to play both albums live and make a record, but the band did it in studio. I guess musicians had their reasons for this.

I'm not a big fan of remakes too, but I like new versions of both albums. There are lots of new colours in familiar tunes, first of all due to Vittorio Nocenzi's excellent keyboard work. Rodolfo Maltese is more than competent guitarist, and Francesco Di Giacomo is, as usual, in good vocal form. It became a common place in prog circles to consider him an opera-trained vocalist, but I've read somewhere that he is a self-taught singer. Don't know where the truth is, but anyway he is one of the greatest rock singers of all time. The low point for me is the absence of bass guitar player on the whole record and the use of programmed drums on many tracks. But great music is great music. I love original ''BMS'' and ''Darwin!'' albums to bits, but quite often listen to these new versions.

Highly recommended, but get 1972 originals first.

"Prog Archives"

CD 1 - ''B.M.S'' 1991 version
1. In volo (2:17)
2. R.I.P. (Requiescant in pace) (9:09)
3. Passaggio (4:06)
4. Metamorfosi (13:01)
5. Il Giardino del mago (19:09)
... Passo dopo passo ...
... Chi ride e chi geme ...
... Coi capelli sciolti al vento ...
Compenetrazione
6. Traccia (2:08)

Total time 49:52

CD 2 - ''Darwin'' 1991 version
1. L'evoluzione (16:46)
2. La conquista della posizione eretta (9:59)
3. Danza dei grandi rettili (4:15)
4. Cento mani e cento occhi (6:03)
5. 750.000 anni fa ... l'amore? (7:53)
6. Miserere alla storia (6:18)
7. Ed ora io domando tempo al tempo (3:23)

Total time 54:40

Francesco Di Giacomo: lead vocals
Vittorio Nocenzi: piano, Hammond organ, minimoog, synthesizers, keyboards, drum programming, synth bass, accordion, clarinet, recorder, vocals, backing vocals
Rodolfo Maltese: electric guitar, mandolin, sitar, backing vocals
Pierluigi Calderoni: drums, percussion

Guest musicians:
Piercarlo Penta: Hammond organ, keyboards, drum programming
Tiziano Ricci: Fabrizio Faderighi
Claudio Rego: backing vocals

Synesthesia (David Martone & Navid Nikbakht) - Synesthesia (Canada/England 2000) [Fusion] @256

"Synesthesia", the album, is an acoustic instrumental project combining the guitar artistry of Navid Nikbakht and David Martone to create a unique and individual recording. Nikbakht and Martone each bring their own individual set of influences to this group, which also includes producer/percussionist Christoph Bracher. Using elements of Latin, Asian, Jazz and Rock, "Synesthesia"'s self-titled album has already found many fans worldwide. Canadian born David Martone has been heavily influenced by Classical and Progressive Rock music and has two electric instrumental projects out "Shut Up 'N Listen" and "Zone". Iranian born Nikbakht defines his music as "world fusion". Concentrating on acoustic instruments, Navid's varied musical background is apparent in all that he does. Elements of Latin, Moorish, Jazz, Gypsy as well as his native Persian music can be heard through out this project. Nikbakht and Martone met in 1992 while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston and quickly found a common platform to launch their own unique version of world music. On this project they are joined by top musicians from India, Jamaica, Germany, UK and Iran.

01 - Inquisitive Heart
02 - Shatki
03 - Conference of the Birds Part II (for A.F.)
04 - Blue
05 - Intersense
06 - Prelude in C# minor
07 - Sultan Ghalbam
08 - Abadan
09 - Voluptuous Vulcan

Navid Nikbakht: Guitars
David Martone: Guitars
B.K.Chandrashekhar: Violin
Gary Crosby: Bass
Farnoosh Behzad: Keyboards
Hossain Farjami: Vocals
Christoph Bracher: Percussions

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Le Silo - 8.8 (Japan 2004) [AvantProg] @320

Le Silo, are a 3-piece band from Japan, that play a widely influenced blend of demanding prog rock, which mostly takes the form of RIO and avant-jazz, with punk-rock stylistics, which is not only captivating, but  well played. By no means is their sound entirely original, but the musicianship is of a high quality and they do indeed have some very excellent and surprising moments too. Their punk stylistics are evident and with Miyako's links to Yoshida Tatsuya, then it is obvious they are influenced by Ruins and Koenjihyakkei and most likely Boredoms and Happy Family as well. Non-Japanese bands they are likely influenced by, include Univers Zéro, Present, French TV, Samla Mammas Manna and Miriodor. Originally starting life as Miyako (presumably named after Miyako Kanazawa), a punk orientated band; they eventually changed their style and their name to Le Silo, (some of their tracks have French titles too), presumably in honour of the French and Belgian bands that most likely influenced them. The members of the band - Yoshiharu Izutsu (guitar and voice); Michiaki Suganuma (drums and voice) and Miyako Kanizawa (piano) - released their debut album "8.8" in 2004 on the Tutinoko label in Japan. Miyako is also a member of Koenjihyakkei (keyboards and voice) alongside Ruins and Daimonji drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, who also produced "8.8".

If you enjoy the Japanese avant-prog scene and bands such as Ruins and Koenjihyakkei, you'll enjoy Le Silo. If you enjoy bands such as Univers Zero, Present, Sammla Mannas Manna, Guapo, Ahvak and Absolute Zero, you'll also likely enjoy Le Silo. Also liking zeuhl will help you with your chances of liking them also. They are definitely recommended for those who want something different to the norm.

01. Le Soleil (3.54)
02. Enormous Trees With the Holy Spirits #1 (2:23)
03. Oiseaux (9:41)
04. The Doctor's Helicopter (3:12)
05. Le Silo (6:40)
06. Numazapa (1:43)
07. On a Magic Carpet Ride (4:08)
08. The Hard Metallic Pigeon (9:35)
09. Turkish... (5.27)
10. Enormous Trees With the Holy Spirits #2 (1:56)
11. Twisting Waist (5:42)
12. Pendule de la Vie (5:41)

Le Soleil


Miyako Kanazawa: piano / Voice
Yoshiharu Izutsu: Guitar/ Voice
Michiaki Suganuma: Drums / Voice
Guest:
Tatsuya Yoshida: Voice (5 & 11)

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