TPA CD Review: echolyn - i heard you listening

echolyn - i heard you listening

You can read the full TPA Review here

...As intensely interesting as anything they have released previously but, like their last album, showing a more subtle sophistication, the older references are now absent with the corruscating imagination of As The World (one of my favourites by anyone) now developed through time into an idiosyncratic style of songwriting that is an engrossing experience. This is not prog for prog’s sake, the songs take on a unique vision based on the personalities and interactions of the players involved. i heard you listening is a great modern prog album that even towers above triumphs like echolyn’s 2012 release, the kind of collection that in a better world would be a crossover success and open the band up to a wider audience. As it is we lucky few get to bask in its glory. A long time after they originally came together echolyn are in the midst of a rich vein of form that you’d be foolish to ignore. An essential purchase for anyone who values true talent and a spankingly good song.

TPA CD Review: The Bob Lazar Story - Self-Loathing Joe EP

The Bob Lazar Story - Self-Loathing Joe EP

You can read the full TPA Review here

...So what do you get for your 20 minutes? An endearing and wildly entertaining slice of Different is what. Bookended by the tracks Harmonics and Scinomrah, the eagle-eyed amongst you will notice the cunning relationship between these two titles, again indicative of both the mind at work and how the pieces sound. The biggest mystery however, and a question that still needs answering, is why one is a second shorter than the other. Matt? This conundrum aside we’ve still got another 19 and a half minutes left, so what do we get from that? Five fully formed pieces making a tasty cake of dribbly madness, odd sounds and sparkling intricacy, all Deacon/Jago co-writes. The enigmatic cover image both nails it and strays as far away as humanly possible from giving us the full picture, which is quite a trick in itself. If I can return to the Bandcamp page for a moment where it is said:- “Self-Loathing Joe is the 5th release from The Bob Lazar Story. It sounds like two small bands having a fight on some stairs.” So there you go. Brilliant.

TPA CD Review: Karda Estra - The Seas and the Stars EP

Karda Estra - The Seas and the Stars EP

You can read the full TPA Review here

...Given the premise you’d be forgiven for expecting epic but The Seas and the Stars is certainly not all cataclysmic end of everythingness. Wileman has constructed a suite that looks at the event as a somewhat detached observer rather than someone wrapped up in the whole thing, as if watching it all happen in microcosm within the confines of a bell jar. This is unimaginable force on a finite scale with intricacy, beauty and detail taking the place of bewildering destruction. Let’s face it, the event would be a wonderful thing to watch as a spectacle if you could remove yourself from thoughts of those consumed within but Wileman has managed to imbue the scene with an emotional touch that makes the experience all the more human.

TPA CD Review: Ciro Manna - XY

Ciro Manna - XY

You can read the full TPA Review here

...Surrounding himself with quality sideman has done Ciro no harm at all on this release and having them aboard underlines the esteem with which he is held by his fellow musicians. He would certainly shine in whatever setting and this set of hard-edged pieces with jazzy elements here and there should appeal to anyone with an open mind for high quality guitar instrumentals that don’t venture down the treacherous road marked “pastiche”. The quality is undeniable and the skills on show testament to the ability of Ciro Manna, not just in his playing but in the writing too. Well worth a listen.

TPA Live Review: Big Big Train, Kings Place, London - 14th Aug 2015

Big Big Train - Kings Place, London - 14th August 2015

[Click here to read the full review at TheProgressiveAspect.net]

So there it was. A brilliant evening that exceeded expectations in many ways and was a quite extraordinary event of fun and friendship. A huge thanks to the band for managing to pull it off so spectacularly well and to the audience for making for such a wonderfully supportive atmosphere. These are songs that deserve to be heard and it was an honour to be present for their first public airing on stage. In venues such as this with the necessary attention to detail in the delivery it all works fantastically well. A superb evening.

TPA CD Review: Trey Gunn - The Waters, They Are Rising

Trey Gunn - The Waters, They Are Rising

You can read the full TPA Review here

...This is hypnotically beautiful music that you can really lose yourself in. Emotionally resonant and as deep as the flood waters it sets out to portray this is not and should never be regarded as background music, the variety of the material blending throughout with the watery theme.

19.8.2015 - A lovely comment about my review from Trey Gunn on his Facebook page:- "Fantastic review of 'The Waters, They Are Rising' recordings. Probably the best one yet. It is incredibly satisfying when someone (especially a reviewer): 1. actually eats the food 2. tastes the food 3. digests the food 4. contemplates the experience 5. revisits it again"

TPA CD Review: Umphrey's McGee - The London Session

Umphrey's McGee - The London Session

You can read the full TPA Review here

...The London Session is a very enjoyable listen that demonstrates the quality and skills to be found under the UM banner. It doesn’t venture far from highly melodic and catchy but there are flashes of anarchy and otherworldliness to be had during the longer tracks. Certainly worthy of investigation.

TPA CD Review: Godsticks - Emergence

Godsticks - Emergence

You can read the full TPA Review here

...It would be fantastic and completely justified if Emergence were to see Godsticks make a breakthrough, maybe with a slightly different audience given the added heaviness of this release. The more metallic elements will no doubt put off some listeners but that is a shame as this is not a prog metal album. It uses some of the same mindset and dynamics but with a quite breathtaking melodic capability, the heaviness and power additional colours in the palette that Godsticks use to fine effect. Personally, while metal does not have the appeal for me that it once did I thoroughly enjoy the heavy moments and Godsticks have developed it into their sound with a skill that certainly benefits their writing. It isn't all ‘smack the listener over the head as hard as possible’, the melodic delivery remaining central to what Godsticks are out to achieve. The music is not an immediately easy listen but once you acclimatise you’re in for one hell of a ride with stellar musicianship built into a captivating set of songs. Nothing short of brilliant.