This Mexican band have two very big hurdles to overcome. Firstly, they are the Mexican Cast, and not the UK Cast. I don’t think I’ve yet talked about this band without having to explain that it’s not the Cast people think I’m talking about. Secondly, those who have actually heard of the Mexican band have [&hellip

Don’t you just love it when artists take notes that don’t belong in a key and create passing dissonance? I like drums, gritty guitar, distorted bass, quiet bits with piano, soft harmonised backing vocals against a building riff. I like tension from pentatonic escalations… Heavy music is cathartic. Done well, it is a visceral safety [&hellip

BOING! That’s the sound of my jaw hitting the floor. Actually, it’s more of a clunk. But ‘Boing!’ is appropriate because that’s the name of the record label responsible for this jaw-dropping release. If you hear a more astonishing instrumental album this year I won’t just eat my hat, I will poach my trousers and [&hellip

This is my last “review” because, as I know I’ve said, I’ve never enjoyed writing them. To me, music is about exploring for yourself and not letting people tell you what is good and what is shit. Additionally, bands,labels and … Continue reading →

“Hello, and welcome to the rest of your life”, the opening line from our narrator, a child-like English voice whose name may or may not be Alice, introducing us to Day and Age, the latest recording from Frost*, and their first full-length effort in five years. I won’t reveal what else Alice has to say, [&hellip

So, Altitude, album number three from Lifesigns, and this one seems important somehow. A new line-up, no chance of touring to promote it, and their staunch refusal to give their art away on streaming platforms all make this a critical release for the band. The good news is that it’s a fabulous album which, if [&hellip

Sometimes, jazz is just the tonic you need. We don’t often dip our toes into the purer end of this particular ocean of possibilities, but there’s no reason why we can’t, so here goes. Jazz always works best in a live setting for me, to experience the players sparking off each other and inspiring unexpected [&hellip

Latest Prog News from across the progressive music spectrum & updated throughout May 2021 05/05/2021: The Stick Men hit the UK this October Stick Men featuring Tony Levin Official, Pat Mastelotto & Markus Reuter have four UK shows (with more to come hopefully) this October… 01/10/21: Waterside Arts Centre, SALE 03/10/21: Brundenell Social Club, LEEDS [&hellip

‘Live in 2020’ – three words we won’t be reading very often. For most musicians, 2020 was the year from hell, when Covid killed touring, their most lucrative source of income now that CDs no longer make any money. A few artists managed to squeeze some dates in before the shutters came down, including instrumental [&hellip

There are some albums that REALLY need a second chance with a decent re-release, and Jon Anderson’s 1982 album Animation is one which was crying out for some love and respect, to be presented again with characteristic care and attention, as has now been done by the excellent Cherry Red label. This remastered and expanded [&hellip