Space Shanty

Third album from Wobbler finds them with a new vocalist Andreas Prestmo (who is a bit of an improvement). The music is still retro-British 70s prog but its clear that the spectre of Yes presides over the album. The King Crimson and ELP tidbits that cropped up on Hinterland are for the most part gone. Instead think in terms of The Yes Album and Close To The Edge with perhaps a bit of Octopus and This Is Gracious! tossed in for fun. Beginning to end its a total blast. Highest recommendation!"Norway's kings of symphonic prog, Wobbler, arrogantly sidestep the whole debate of "prog" versus progressive. Since it's dubious whether rock has anywhere left to progress anyway, they have instead chosen simply to celebrate the rainbow-colored fireworks, the airy-fairy themes, the danger and the drama and the joy of pure music that made prog what it really was, and still can be: An exhilarating musical spectacle, a gladiator match of major chord crescendos and mini-moog glissandos.Wobbler's third album, Rites at Dawn, is a case in point. It's a no-holds-barred declaration of love to the progressive giants. It's all here - Lars Fredrik Frøislie's overblown arsenal of every analog synth known to man, played with Wakemanesque flair and Emersonian hubris. Andreas Prestmo's soaring vocals, delivering at times delicate, fragile melodies and at times joyous, triumphant multi-part harmonies that would make CSN proud. The vibrant, stinging guitar of Morten Eriksen, the - you guessed it - thundering Rickenbacker bass of Kristian Hultgren, and finally Martin Kneppen's drumming, which manages that neat and esoteric 70's trick of making even impossible time signatures swing and swagger.Rites at Dawn is a major step forward for Wobbler. As songwriters they have matured. Even though the music is as complex as ever, it flows and breathes in a whole new way, and the addition of Andreas' vocals adds a very human, and dare we say emotional, element to the songs. The album somehow pulls off being both challenging and adventurous, but at the same time accessible and downright infectious. Even though this is the kind of prog connoisseurs will stroke their beards appreciatively to, it is also prog their girlfriends will like. And you really can't ask for more than that."

THIS ONE IS HOT HOT HOT!!!!Long awaited second album from this astounding San Diego based prog/space band. Astra expertly mix progressive rock with deep space sounds - interchangeably within a song. Like their debut, there is a strong kosmische musik feel. Think in terms of Far East Family Band and Pink Floyd but when they turn on the prog rock burners you get a healthy dose of old school Genesis VDGG and Yes. Epic length tracks with sparse amounts of vocals. Tons of Mellotron and vintage analogue keyboards give us that sound we all cherish. Occasional use of flute spices everything up in the right way. If everything sounded this good in 1975 I would have never left my bedroom. I would have just had my parents slide some pizza under the door. Album of the year candidate - BUY OR DIE!

Christian Vander has been opening up the tape vaults releasing some prime (and some not so prime) Magma material. Mekanik Kommandoh is the previously unreleased original version of Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh which was rejected by their record label.

New edition of one of the most gorgeous psychedelic folk albums of all time. Comes with detailed liner notes. Fans of Trees and Fairport Convention must own this. Actually everyone must own this.

One of the great Vertigo releases and certainly one of the great folk rock albums of the 70s. Tudor Lodge was the trio of Ann Steuart, Lyndon Green, and John Stannard. They all sing and play guitar, with Ms. Steuart also playing flute. They are augmented by a number of musicians, including the great Danny Thompson on bass, Tony Coe on flute, and many others giving them a full band sound. Its a beautiful, upbeat and dreamy album focusing on the vocal harmonies of the trio which remind a bit of Peter, Paul and Mary but the music is far more developed. This new Esoteric edition comes with the usual detailed liner notes as well as one bonus track.

New album clocks in near 80 minutes. No insanely long epics and the album is probably all the better for it. About as proggy as these guys have ever gotten.