Boris with Michio Kurihara, Rainbow

Japan, 2006

Boris are usually associated to doom, but this collaborative album with psychedelic guitarist Michio Kurihara is an extremely varied release, with chill-out moments intermingled with solos reminiscent of Acid Mother's Temple.

**links removed by request 05/06**

Playlist:

1 - Rafflesia
2 - Arco-Íris
3 - Narrador Da Espaçonave
4 - Minha Chuva
5 - Brilho
6 - Você Sorriu Como Uma Marca D'Água
7 - Reator Difuso
8 - Doce Nº1
9 - E, Eu Quero

**links removed by request 05/06**

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Camel, Self-titled

England, 1973.

This is Camel's debut album. Although it's profoundly underrated, this is a symphonic/art rock masterpiece that demonstrates an energy unparalleled with other Camel albums. The fifth track, Never Let Go, is simply one of the most amazing progressive rock songs ever written.

Playlist:

1. Slow Yourself Down
2. Mystic Queen
3. Six Ate
4. Separation
5. Never Let Go
6. Curiosity
7. Arubaluba

Link.

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Van Der Graaf Generator, Trisector

England, 2008.

Formed in Manchester in the year of 1967, Van Der Graaf Generator are one of most prominent progressive/art rock bands. Trisector has been released this month and will not disappoint classic rock fans.

Playlist:

1. The Hurlyburly
2. Interference Patterns
3. The Final Reel
4. Lifetime
5. Drop Dead
6. Only In A Whisper
7. All That Before
8. Over The Hill
9. (We Are) Not Here

Link.

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James Blackshaw, The Cloud of Unknowing

UK, 2007.

James Blackshaw is a british guitarist, mostly playing 12-string acoustic guitar. This EP has some very dreamy, intricate folk compositions and displays both Blackshaw's great technique and impressive song writing skills.
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Playlist:

01 - The Cloud of Unknowing
02 - Running to the Ghost
03 - Clouds Collapse
04 - The Mirror Speaks
05 - Stained Glass Windows

Massmirror
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Hidria Spacefolk, Into The Hidria

Finland, 2001.

Hidria Spacefolk is a Finnish folk-influenced progressive/psychedelic rock band. This EP is their first release, demonstrating a space rock sound easily comparable to Kingston Wall and Ozric Tentacles.

Playlist:

1. Amos Ame
2. Kafar 1
3. Sindran Rastafan
4. Gnomen
5. Marastronaut

Link.

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Anekdoten, Vemod

Sweden, 1993.

During the last decade some great symphonic Swedish bands were responsible for the resurgence of progressive rock: Änglagård, Isildurs Bane, Landberk, Morte Macabre, Paatos and - obviously - Anekdoten. Anekdoten's music is strongly characterized by the mellotron and the cello, producing a very melodic and "traditional" progressive rock, reminding of King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator.

Playlist:

1. Karelia
2. The Old Man And The Sea
3. Where Solitude Remains
4. Thoughts In Absence
5. The Flow
6. Longing
7. Wheel
8. Sad Rain

Link.

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Klimt 1918, Undressed Momento

Italy, 2003.

This is the first full-length album by the alternative/progressive rock band Klimt 1918, produced by Novembre's Giuseppe Orlando. Many thanks to Allez who made the album available for us.

Playlist:

1. Intro
2. Pale Song
3. Parade of Adolescence
4. We Don't Need No Music
5. Undressed Momento
6. That Girl
7. Naif Watercolour
8. If Only You Could See Me Now
9. Stalingrad Theme

Link.

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Ours, Mercy (Dancing For The Death Of An Imaginary Enemy)

US, 2008.

Ours had an impressive debut album (quite) a few years back, with Jimmy Gnecco's voice drawing comparisons with the late Jeff Buckley. Despite having delivered very little since, Mercy is their third album and was produced by Rick Rubin. I'm still undecided on whether this album is too unpretentious as they seem content on churning out no thrills alt-rock, not unlike Muse or The Killers. In spite of that, vocals are spot on and the album features a lot more instrumentation than most Rubin records.

Playlist:

1. Mercy
2. The Worst Things Beautiful
3. Ran Away To Tell The World
4. Black
5. Moth
6. Murder
7. God Only Wants You
8. Live Again
9. Willing
10. Saint
11. Lost
12. Get Up

Link (zShare).
Link (rapidshare).

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Camel, The Snow Goose

England, released in 1975.

The third album by Camel is a conceptual suite inspired by the 1940 novel of Paul Gallico, "The Snow Goose: A Story of Dunkirk". This short novella portrays a story of love and friendship during II WW. The album, however, entirely instrumental and profoundly emotional, is probably Camel's most prominent work. A progressive rock masterpiece.

Playlist:

1. The Great Marsh
2. Rhayader
3. Rhayader Goes To Town
4. Sanctuary
5. Fritha
6. The Snow Goose
7. Friendship
8. Migration
9. Rhayader Alone
10. Flight Of The Snow Goose
11. Preparation
12. Dunkirk
13. Epitaph
14. Fritha Alone
15. La Princesse Perdue
16. The Great Marsh

Link (MegaUpload).

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Agalloch, The White EP

U.S., 2008.

Agalloch are a doom/neofolk/progressive metal band from Portland, Oregon, although the best term to describe them would probably be "pagan metal". Their sound is like a strange mixture of Opeth and Sol Invictus, combining folk elements, neoclassical interludes and dark metal. This freshly released EP is essentially a complement to their acclaimed release of 2002, The Mantle.

Playlist:

1. The Isle of Summer
2. Birch Black
3. Hollow Stone
4. Pantheist
5. Birch White
6. Sowilo Rune
7. Summerisle Reprise

Link (MassMirror).

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Return to Forever, Where Have I Known You Before

United States, 1974.

While not a huge jazz fan, Return to Forever has enough crossover appeal to lure people like me in. Formed by Chick Corea (soon after he played on Miles Davis's classic Bitches Brew) and the most underrated bass player ever, Stanley Clarke, this album was recorded with a then unknown (and damn young) Al di Meola and drummer Lenny White. The resulting album is jazz fusion at it's prime with more hooks than your typical jazz band. I'd usually single out Stanley Clarke's funky bass lines but Lenny White's performance here floors me every time, with an attention to detail second to none.

1. Vulcan Worlds
2. Where Have I Loved You Before
3. The Shadow of Lo
4. Where Have I Danced with You Before
5. Beyond the Seventh Galaxy
6. Earth Juice
7. Where Have I Known You Before
8. Song to the Pharaoh Kings

Link (zShare).
Link (rapidshare).

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Gregor Samsa, 55:12

United States, 2006.

Gregor Samsa is where post-rock meets dream pop. I can't stop listening to this album at the moment. It's simply divine.

1. Makeshift Shelters
2. Even Numbers
3. What I Can Manage
4. Loud And Clear
5. These Points Balance
6. Young And Old
7. We'll Lean That Way Forever
8. Lessening

Link (MassMirror).

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Gregor Samsa, 27:36

United States, 2003.

Gregor Samsa is a post-rock/shoegaze band from Virginia, U.S. Despite being rooted in the post-rock genre, their sound is extremely distinct from all the other post-rock bands, employing dual vocals that creates a very slowcore/shoegaze mood. 27:36 is only an EP and yet it's enough to demonstrate the utmost beauty of their music.

1. Untitled 1
2. Untitled 2
3. Untitled 3

Link (MassMirror).

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Caspian, You Are The Conductor

United States, 2005.

Yes, it's Caspian again, but this time with an earlier EP. Why? Because "these four men have crafted a sound that is immediately riveting, emotionally devastating and achingly passionate, characterized by towering walls of sound, oceanic guitar work and vicious rhythmic elements." (ProgArchives)

Playlist:

1. Quovis
2. Further Up
3. Further In
4. Loft
5. For Protection
6. Last Rites

Link (MassMirror).

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