| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Envision | South Side of the Sky | A Classic Yes Tribute | 1999 | private CDR |
|
Envision does a remarkable job of sounding like Yes.
The first time that I listened to this CD, I played it in the
car and after about 20 minutes, I forgot that I was listening
to Envision and not actually listening to Yes. Homepage: Envision Envision is playing at the Friday night pre-ProgDay show. | |||||
| 2 | After the Fall | Escaping Gravity | In a Safe Place | 1997 | Private |
|
A symphonic trio from Connecticut.
"The music is a combination of
neo-prog song styles with some influences
from ELP and other seventies prog
influences. The musicianship is very sharp.
After The Fall has created a sound
that is very American and combines
many types of prog and fusion groves.
The end result is an album presented
in a prog manner with many other
influences. There is plenty of
improvisation but never at the
expense of the composition. Drummer
Rich Kornacki skillfully and
effortlessly leads the band through
many rhythmic changes. This is a disc
for eclectic tastes." - M & M Music
After the Fall is also playing at the Friday night pre-ProgDay show. homepage: After the Fall | |||||
| 3 | Tribe of Cro | Where Science and Magic Meet (& 2 veg) | Hydroculture | 1998 | U.F. Cro Records |
|
"This second release from the English/Belgium 6 piece band features pumping riff driven
jam rock, laced with psychedelic effects, spacerock 'flights' and tracks that range from
one minute to over ten minutes. Tribe Of Cro feature no less than three guitarists plus
bass, drums, keyboards and samples, lute, bagpipes, darabuca & vocals. This band is
definitely at the forefront of the reviving Space/Jam Rock Movement that is regaining
old & new fans alike with the advent of such festivals as "Strange Daze" in the USA and
the healthy 'underground' scene in Europe." - Cranium Music
homepage: Tribe of Cro | |||||
| 4 | Apocalypse | Notredame | Perto do Amanhecer | 1995 | Musea |
|
"Brasilian symphonic of the highest class. Beautiful and romantic as latin music often is.
Very strong vocals, clever musicians and varied arrangements. Some influences of Marillion
can be heard." - The Missing Piece
homepage: Apocalypse | |||||
| 5 | Thinking Plague | This Weird Wind | In Extremis | 1998 | Cuneiform |
|
One of the best releases of 1998.
Hear what Chris Cutler has to say: "After 9 years, a new collection of (mainly) Mike Johnson pieces of fiendish complexity, impeccably performed and mixed. Personnel changes: Susanne Lews' signature voice replaced by Deborah Perry. Bob Drakes bass largely replaced by Dave Willey and his place at the drums by the maestro Dave Kerman. It's sure that Americans now do what used to be the "progressive" thing better than anybody else. in fact forming a kind of family (highly distinctive similarities between U Totem, 5uu's, and Plague are easy to spot - and not just because of shared musicians but also through compositional, harmonic and melodic affinities. Which is interesting I think, and going somewhere). Mike Johnson is an inventive and painstaking composer and there are sections and moments here which are sublime. As well as things which - for me - could do with crueller pruning (some instrumental prodigality, general prolixity and occasional lapses of taste). But I criticise only because this is a Rolls Royce of a band which sets a standard hard to match and they deserve to be taken seriously." homepage: Thinking Plague Website Cuneiform Records | Thinking Plague | |||||