Borknagar, Origin

Norway, 2006.
Borknagar are best known for playing black metal, but this album, Origin, is entirely acoustic and folk. Possibly one of the prettiest albums I've heard.

Playlist:

1. earth imagery
2. grains
3. oceans rise
4. signs
5. white
6. cynosure
7. human nature
8. acclimation
9. the spirit of nature

Link.

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Blackfield, Blackfield (II)

England/Israel, 2007.
The second album by Blackfield, a bit more sophisticated and melodic than their previous work.

Playlist:

1. once
2. 1,000 people
3. miss you
4. christenings
5. this killer
6. epidemic
7. my gift of silence
8. some day
9. where is my love?
10. end of the world

Link.

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Blackfield, Blackfield

England/Israel, 2004.
Blackfield is a collaboration between the israeli singer/songwriter Aviv Geffen and Porcupine Tree's frontman Steven Wilson. The result is a mellow rock album.

Playlist:

1. open mind
2. blackfield
3. glow
4. scars
5. lullaby
6. pain
7. summer
8. cloudy now
9. the hole in me
10. hello

Link.

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Ulver, Perdition City

Norway, 2000.
Ulver's first attempt at a complete electronic ambient record. Despite being a significant departure from their previous works, this record secured their place as one of avantgarde's most interesting bands.

Playlist:

1. lost in moments
2. porn piece or the scars of cold kisses
3. hallways of always
4. tomorrow never knows
5. future sound of music
6. we are the dead
7. dead city centres
8. catalept
9. nowhere/catastrophe

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Ulver, Shadows Of The Sun

Norway, released in 2007.
This album is ambient, atmospheric, ethereal, melancholic and experimental, but mostly beautiful.

Playlist:

1. EOS
2. all the love
3. like music
4. vigil
5. shadows of the sun
6. let the children go
7. solitude
8. funebrae
9. what happened?

Link.

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Riverside, Rapid Eye Movement

Poland, 2007.
A bit more acoustic than the previous works, but still progressive and conceptual.

Playlist:

1. beyond the eyelids
2. rainbow box
3. 02 panic room
4. schizophrenic prayer
5. parasomnia
6. through the other side
7. embryonic
8. cybernetic pillow
9. ultimate trip

Link.

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Riverside, Second Life Syndrome

Poland, 2005.
The second concept album by Riverside, slightly more influenced by progressive metal.

Playlist:

1. after
2. volte-face
3. conceiving you
4. second life syndrome
5. artificial smile
6. I turned you down
7. reality dream III
8. dance with the shadow
9. before

Link.

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Riverside, Out Of Myself

Poland, 2004.
Progressive rock/metal for the lovers of Porcupine Tree, Pain of Salvation and Pink Floyd.

Playlist:

1. the same river
2. out of myself
3. I believe
4. reality dream
5. loose heart
6. reality dream II
7. in two minds
8. the curtain falls
9. OK

Link.

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Rishloo, Eidolon

United States, released in 2007.
Alternative/progressive rock, very much like Tool.

Playlist:

1. prosag
2. freaks & animals
3. el empe
4. pandora
5. my favourite things
6. alchemy alice
7. to tame the temporal shrew
8. weeble wobble
9. eidolon alpha
10. omega
11. in pill form
12. zdzislaw
13. disco biscuit
14. shades

Link.

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Porcupine Tree, Deadwing

England, released in 2005.
Amazing progressive rock, with influences of post-rock, metal and ambient.

Playlist:

1. deadwing
2. shallow
3. lazarus
4. halo
5. arriving somewhere but not here
6. mellotron scratch
7. open car
8. the start of something beautiful
9. glass arm shattering
10. half light (bonus track)

Link.

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Porcupine Tree, In Absentia

England, released in 2002.
Unique progressive rock.

Playlist:

1. blackest eyes
2. trains
3. lips of ashes
4. the sound of muzak
5. gravity eyelids
6. wedding nails
7. prodigal
8. .3
9. the creator has a mastertape
10. heartattack in a layby
11. strip the soul
12. collapse the light into earth

Link.

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Pure Reason Revolution, The Dark Third

England, released in 2006.
Great progressive space rock, reminiscent of Pink Floyd.

Playlist:

1. aeropause
2. goshen's remains
3. apprentice of the universe
4. the bright ambassadors of morning
5. nimos & tambos
6. voices in winter/in the realms of the divine
7. bullitts dominae
8. the twyncyn/trembling willows
9. he tried to show them magic/ambassadors return

Link.

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