| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Aether | Kings & Knights | Visions | 1999 | Softmusic(?) (self-produced) |
|
Aether is a new Brazilian band. The music is in the mold of the best
Camel material circa 1976-1981, and they play it just as well (if not
better). Other groups that I am reminded of are Asia Minor and the
Hungarian band East. The album is entirely instrumental save one song.
This is an excellent album and should appeal to a wide range of
progressive music fans.
Aether Home Page Aether | |||||
| 2 | Ektroverde | Taitaja | Arpeggio | 1999 | Bad Vugum Records |
|
I am not entirely sure how to describe this music, so, here is a quip
from their web-site "Ektroverde is a band that plays music. In their music
the only rule is some fuzzy, unwritten and unfair law of sound and rhythm.
Their live sound is a mixture between airy krautish dub and analogue fx
wizardry. Ektroverde`s music is mainly improvised." I believe that this
band has members in common with the band Circle, who are reportedly in
a similar style. This is an enjoyable album of laid back grooves and
spacey improvising, ala Ozrics, Korai Orom, or the Estonian band Fragile.
Ektroverde | |||||
| 3 | Mike Keneally | Click | Nonkertompf | 1999 | Ewowax Recordings |
| "Nonkertompf is a different sort of album from Keneally's previous discs. This one is all instrumental (Mike plays all the instruments) and more experimental. If you've heard Hat or Boil That Dust Speck, imagine an album of nothing but the little instrumental linking tracks. The music covers a lot of ground - everything from guitar fests to piano concertos to symphonic TV show soundtrack pieces to Bitches Brew style jazz fusion. And that's just scratching the surface. "Click" is probably the most accessible track on the disc but still goes off on odd tangents here and there." - Bob Eichler Mike Keneally | |||||
| 4 | In the Labyrinth | Lop Nor (The Wandering Lake) | Walking on Clouds | 1999 | Record Heaven |
|
The music of In the Labyrinth is all composed by Peter Lindahl. Guest
musicians include Hakan Almkvist, from Ensemble Nimbus, who plays some
sitar, bass, and some awesome electric guitar. I found the first ITL
album _The Garden of Mysteries_ mildly interesting, but, this album is a
vast improvement. This Swedish band has a strong Eastern music sound
mixed with progressive and psychedelic. Somewhat melanncholy.
inthelabyrinth@hotmail.com | |||||
| 5 | Xang | The Prediction | Destiny of a Dream | 1999 | Galileo Records/Rock Symphony |
|
"Xang is a new instrumental prog band from France,
with guitar, keys, bass and drums. They have a very
modern and aggressive sound, with some great playing.
An excellent debut." - Alan Mallery
The Official Xang Website | |||||
| 6 | Kromlech | desterrado en el desquicio | La Soledad de las Sombras | 1999 | self-produced |
|
A new band from Mexico City that was one of the nice surprises at the
Baja Prog Festival this year. Their performance was 1 very long musical
suite about 1 hour long. The music is entirely instrumental and covering
a wide range of tempos and moods. A very nice first effort by a group
that has great potential. I was often reminded of some Argentinian and
Brazilian prog bands, though, they say they have not heard any of those
bands, yet.
Kromlech Rock Progressivo kromlech@sistec.com.mx | |||||