Monday, February 29, 2016

Prog & Roll Radio Show (28/2/2016). The Complete Playlist...

Hello all!
  Last night one more Prog & Roll was online, and now I'm going to write a few things about it, together with the complete playlist. As I mentioned in the post below, last night's show was also including the 'Listener's Happy Hour', during which we play the songs that our listener's asked for.
  I think it was a really good and fun show, and we had people listening from many countries once more.
 Here you can take a look at the complete playlist:

VON HERTZEN BROTHERS: Faded Photographs / GENTLE STORM: Heart of Amsterdam / NIGHTWISH: My Walden / VANDEN PLAS: Cold Wind / ANATHEMA: Fragile Dreams / EMPTY YARD EXPERIMENT: Panaromia II / SIMPLEXITY: Luminosity / MYRATH: Get Your Freedom Back / SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE: Early Morning Mantra.
Listener's Happy Hour: PETER GABRIEL: Moribund the Burgermeister / QUEEN: Don’t Stop Me Now / ROXY MUSIC: Virginia Plain / RITCHIE KOTZEN: Cannibals / AVANTASIA: Mystery of a Blood Red Rose / DREAM THEATER: I Walk Beside you / LABYRINTH: Moonlight / DIO-MALMSTEEN: Dream On / TOOL: Vicarious / IRON MAIDEN: The Evil that Men Do / ALCEST: La ou Nais les Couleurs Nouvelles.
  I would like to thank all those who listened to last night's show, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! 
 Our next appointment is for Sunday the 6th of March, for the first show of Spring, on which we are going to have some special guests on the chatbox once more. But more details on that later on... ;-)
Thank you all!

 

Saturday, February 27, 2016

GFreedom's Juke Box No.155

Hello all! :-)
Another fine Saturday morning came, therefore it is time for me to write down my usual weekly Top-5 songlist for you.
The truth is that I listened to lots of music during the week, so it wasn't easy to pick only 5 songs for my list. Even now I'm not sure if those 5 are the best ones, but ok...
So, the song I'm recommending for this week are the following:
SIMPLEXITY: Luminosity (Click to Start - 2011)
MYRATH: Get Your Freedom Back (Legacy - 2016)
DISCIPLINE: When the Walls are Down (To Shatter all Accord - 2011)
MUSE: Stockholm Syndrome (Absolution - 2003)
JANE: Circle of Hands (Eternity - 2011)
I will conclude this post as usual, by adding the YT links for the songs in my list, so you can listen to them right away if you want to. Because I counldn't find the studio version of 'Circle of Hands' I added the link for a video taken from a live performance.
SIMPLEXITY: Luminosity
MYRATH: Get Your Freedom Back
DISCIPLINE: When the Walls are Down
MUSE: Stockholm Syndrome
JANE: Circle of Hands - Live
Enjoy the music, and have a nice and relaxing weekend!
Thank you for visiting. ;-)

PROG & ROLL presents: The Listener's Happy Hour

  I would like to inform you that on Sunday the 28th of February Prog & Roll radio show will be including the Listener's Happy Hour, during which we are going to play the songs that our listener's asked for. 
   During the last 2 weeks we are receiving e-mails from our listeners, asking for the songs that they want us to play for them, and now it's the time to do so! :-)
 Tomorrow's playlist is a jolly and upbeat one, and I believe that everybody who will tune in will have some great time with the music and the usual fun on the chatbox.
Don't forget that Prog & Roll is a live broadcast, and it starts at 20.00 (UK time).
So, if on Sunday you are in the mood for a different radio show, just click on the following link - at the time I mentioned above - in order to tune in: www.justincaseradio.com
We will be glad to "see" you at the chatbox and welcome you to our show! :-)
Thank you! 

Friday, February 26, 2016

SECTION IV: Superhuman (2015)

  [Starting this I should say that this is not a new release, but I discovered it recently. Also, because I believe that many people have no idea about this band or this album yet, I added it under the "New Releases" category].



  Superhuman is the debut album of the UK-based Neo Prog band Section IV. And what a debut it is! 70 minutes of really beautiful and melodic modern Progressive Rock, with good production and a very good sound. The band seems perfectly tuned, and their musical skills are without a question very high.

 Let’s take a closer look, shall we?  

  ‘Superhuman’ includes 9 songs, and has a running time of almost 70 minutes. Most of the songs are between 4 and 8 minutes long, with 2 exceptions: The opening and the closing song.  

  The album begins with the – almost 13 minute long - Superhuman, which is a perfect example of how modern Progressive Rock should be played; with numerous twists throughout the song, very characteristic keys, and killer guitar riffs from time to time. Some very clever and impressive sound effects render the song wholesome. Needless to say that Superhuman is one of my favorite songs here.

The next song ‘Out of the Dark’ begins with an impressive car accident, and continues with a gentle melody played in piano. The song evolves as it becomes more intense and more instruments join, but it doesn’t move far from its melodic main line.

In Danger’ begins with a Galahad-like synth intro, but when the guitar enters it changes totally, and comes closer to the band’s sound.

Inside’ is a melodic ballad, but it doesn’t add something to the album, and it’s followed by another impressive song named ‘So Far Away’. Nice and powerful guitar riffs, and some audio effects once more. ’So Far Away’ is connected with ‘Idwtstwt’ which I have no idea what it means. Another fast-paced and kind of powerful song. Next comes ‘Guiding Light’ which is also connected with ’Idwtswt’, and it is almost in the same style with the 2 previous songs.

Take you Down’ is a powerful song with strong guitars, many changes, and some surprisingly good effects that I really loved. (Like for example the change in 3:15, with the piano and the slow guitar solo); another favorite of mine from the album.

And we reach ‘Exile’ which can be characterized as the album’s “epic” song. With a length of almost 16 minutes, and so many twists that I lost count, is the most impressive and musically interesting song, and the best way to close the album. After listening to the album lots of times, I still can’t decide if Superhuman or Exile is the most impressive song here, so I’ll have to pick both I guess.

  So far I wrote about the compositions, the sound effects, the nice changes in the songs, the very good guitar riffs etc, but I haven’t said a word about the very talented singer. He fits perfectly in the band’s sound, and his vocal skills and overall performance is raising the band to a whole other level.

  As for the band’s influences, I’m not sure to be honest. There are some small parts that remind me of Galahad, some others that sound like IQ or Pendragon a little bit, but the overall outcome sounds rather unique.

  Concluding this, I have to say that this album is a MUST for the fans of Neo Prog scene, and for all those who can enjoy a really good & well-built Progressive Rock album.

If I had to rate it, I would give a minimum of 3.5 out of 5.0 stars
 By clicking on the following link you will be able to listen to the song 'Take You Down' in order to get a small idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17rS_VymNjM 

Monday, February 22, 2016

Prog & Roll radio show (26/2/2016). A small review & the complete playlist.

Last night one more Prog & Roll radio show was online, and once more we had some musicians as special guests on the chatbox. This time we had Chris & Andy Wade, who returned to our chatbox after some time. I remember that we had Chris Wade as guest a couple of years ago, and Andy last year. But this time they were together, and that was surely interesting. In case you aren't familiar with their names, take a look here: http://gfreedomathina.blogspot.gr/2016/02/prog-roll-radio-show-welcomes-chris.html.
 Furthermore, during the show the music community on the chatbox was expanded with the additions of Ben Bell and Mike Keshaw. 
 We had people listening from many different countries once more, such as UK, N.Ireland, Greece, Germany, France, Mexico and Egypt.
 In order to honor our special guests, we played 2 songs from their new albums, plus one extra song that the 2 brothers wrote together under the name Rexford Bedlo. Also, we had our music quiz once more, and each one of the 2 winners took as a prize all 3 cd's of Andy Wade. We would like to say a very big 'Thanks' to Andy Wade, for offering his cd's to the winners. 
The chatbox was very busy once more, and I believe that everybody enjoyed the show in general.
I would like to thank all those who listened to last night's Prog & Roll, and I hope that you had some nice time with us and our music choices.

Here you can see the complete playlist:

1st Part: JACKAL: For You / QUARTERMASS: Gemini / SPOOKY TOOTH: Better by You Better than Me / ARABS IN ASPIC: One / RIVERSIDE: I Turned You Down.
2nd Part: DODSON & FOGG: Keep Looking Ahead / ANDY WADE: Two Halfs Make a Whole / BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Darkness on the Edge of Town / MATTHEWS SOUTHERN COMFORT: Colorado Springs Erternal / TREES: Geordie / DODSON & FOGG: Old Bar. 
3rd Part: STARSAILOR: The Way Young Lovers Do (Music Quiz) / SIVERT HOYEM: Sleepwalking Man / JOSH & CO LIMITED: Land of the Gods / ANDY WADE: Only One & Only / REXFORD BEDLO: Get it Right / DONOVAN: Season of the Witch.
4th Part & Epic Song: KAIPA: World of the Void / KARNATAKA: Secrets of Angels.

Piotr Grudzinski (Riverside) Passed Away...

I'm sad to inform you that Piotr Grudzinski - former member & guitar player of the Polish band Riverside - passed away yesterday morning at the age of 40.
Nothing became known about the cause of his death, so we will have to wait in order to learn I guess.
The band posted a small message yesterday on FB, which is the following:
[In our deepest pain and disbelief we would like to inform you that our dearest friend and brother Piotr Grudzinski has passed away this morning. We kindly ask you to respect the privacy of his family and friends.]
R.I.P Piotr, you will always be remembered through your music.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

GFreedom's Juke Box No.154

After a week's break my usual Saturday 'Juke box' post is back again.
Those you are following or checking my blog from time to time know that this in my weekly Top-5 songlist.
This week my list is kind of mixed up once more, but I don't think that's a problem, right?
In case you are interested, these are my best songs for this week:
TREES: Soldiers Three (On the Shore - 1970)
SIVERT HOYEM: Sleepwalking Man (Lioness - 2016)
TRION: Silence of the Universe (Pilgrim - 2007)
MATTHEW PARMENTER: All Our Yesterdays (All Our Yesterdays - 2016)
R.J DIO / YN. MALMSTEEN: Dream On (Not the Same Old Song & Dance - 1999)
By clicking on the following links you will be able to listen to the songs in my list. The songs you don't see there are the ones I couldn't find in YT.
Enjoy the music, and have a great weekend!
Thank you! :-)
TREES: Soldiers Three
SIVERT HOYEM: Sleepwalking Man
 DIO / MALMSTEEN: Dream On

Friday, February 19, 2016

Prog & Roll radio show welcomes Chris & Andy Wade...

  I'm writing this piece in order to inform you that on this Sunday's show we will have as special guests on the chatbox Andy & Chris Wade once more.
  For those who aren't familiar with their names I should inform you that they are of course brothers, musicians, but with a totally different music style.  
  Andy Wade is following a solo career, and his discography consists of 3 studio albums so far. His music style is Rock and on many occasions it reminds the American Rock sound of artists like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty for example.
  His brother Chris, is the mastermind behind the Folk - Rock project Dodson & Fogg in which many legendary musicians of Rock and Folk-Rock music were - and still are - participating. Here's some of the names that you can see participating in Dodson & Fogg's albums: Celia Humphris (the singer of the Folk-Rock band Trees), Nik Turner (the Flute and Sax player of the legendary Hawkwind), Alison O'Donnell (the singer of the Folk band Mellow Candle), Judy Dyble (the singer of Fairport Convention & Trader Horne) and Scarlett Rivera (violin player, famous for her participation in Bob Dylan's album 'Desire'). The music style of Dodson & Fogg can be characterised as 'Acid Folk' and it reminds the sound of artists like Donovan for example.

Both musicians released their new albums in 2016, and during Sunday's show we are going to play a couple of songs from each one, whilst at the same time we will be chatting and exchanging musical opinions and ideas.
 This will be the second time that Andy & Chris will be joining our show, and judging from the previous time, it will be a very pleasant and fun show.
So, if you are in the mood for some nice Rock and Folk Rock,  join this Sunday's Prog & Roll.
Our show begins at 20.00 UK time, and you can tune in by clicking on the following link:
www.justincaseradio.com 
See you there! :-)
Thank you! 

MATTHEW PARMENTER: All Our Yesterdays (2016)



  For those who aren’t familiar with his name, I should inform you that Matthew Parmenter was the mastermind behind the American Progressive Rock band ‘Discipline’. After the band broke up, he followed a solo career, and he released 3 studio albums so far, with ‘All Our Yesterdays’ being his latest effort.
(A few days ago, we had Matthew as special guest in our radio show Prog & Roll, so I had to listen to his new album lots of times in order to prepare a small presentation).
   The album includes 10 songs and has a total running time of almost 40 minutes. Almost all the songs have a rather dark & melodic style, with the piano being the dominant instrument. As for Matthew’s influences, they surely do have a name: Peter Hammill!  In ‘All Our Yesterdays’ Matthew is playing all the instruments, with the drums being the only exception. (The album’s official release is set for the 11th of March, but you can download the album already, from the artist’s Bandcamp page). 
Visit: http://matthewparmenter.bandcamp.com  

  As I wrote above, I listened to the album lots of times, and I have to say that it really grows on you. I wasn’t so much impressed at start, but after a few listenings (at a proper hour), I really loved it! Matthew’s voice is colorful and passionate, and as the music’s slowly revealing its strength accompanies his voice perfectly.
  I remember that I was trying to pick 3 songs - (at first) - to play at the show, and I couldn’t choose. I really loved all the songs, each one for different reasons. And I still can’t decide which my favorite songs are; depends on the time of the day and my mood I guess.
But if I had to pick some, then my choice would be: Sceherazade, I Am a Shadow, All for Nothing, All Our Yesterdays and Hey for the Dance.
I have all 3 albums of Matthew Parmenter in my collection, and I have to say that this is maybe the more “mature” album he ever recorded. Maybe his devoted fans will be kind of disappointed, but I really believe that this is a brilliant album!
Here's the track list:

1. Scheherazade
2. Danse du Ventre
3. Digital
4. I Am a Shadow
5. All for Nothing
6. All Our Yesterdays
7. Stuff in the Bag
8. Inside
9. Consumption
10. Hey for the Dance


Highly Recommended, especially to the fans of Peter Hammil and Van Der Graaf Generator!
My rating would be between  3.5 – 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.