Prog's Tracks Of The Week

Here’s some music that various members of the Prog team have been grooving to this week…

EDITOR – JERRY EWING

Bruce Soord – Familiar Patterns

The only thing familiar about this is the consistency of Soord’s delightful music. An aching melancholy delivered over a warm, comforting melody, the man is a genuine treasure. Steven Wilson, watch your step!

DEPUTY EDITOR – HANNAH MAY KILROY

Horisont – Bad News

Looking and sounding like they’ve come straight out of a time machine from the 70s, these Swedes’ nostalgia-tinged grooves are a psychedelic delight, as showcased by this track from their new album.

ART EDITOR – RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER

Casualties Of Cool – Deathscope

Devin Towsend’s Casualties Of Cool has been released worldwide from its original limited release in 2014 and issued with a Live At The Union Chapel DVD, so what better time to return to the stripped back American roots album he did with vocalist Ché Aimee. The whole album has a luxurious vocal feel to it coupled with country picking’ and bluesy beats of his Strat played through a battered fender amp. This ain’t no Seasick Steve tribute, but an atmospherically beguiling Southern gothic masterclass full of sultry rhythms and sonic experimentation as this track attests.

NEWS EDITOR – NATASHA SCHARF

BirdPen – Into The Blacklight

I really enjoyed catching Archive’s Dave Pen and Mike Bird play in London last week and rumour has it, they’re about to start work on the follow-up to the brilliant In The Company Of Imaginary Friends. Among the set’s highlights was this great little tune, which got my feet tapping. It’s even got a touch of Archive about it!

LIVES EDITOR – MALCOLM DOME

Dream Theater – The Gift Of Music

The first taste from new album The Astonishing and it is… well, astonishing. It has the sweep of a movie soundtrack, yet also has an intense melody and some breathtaking instrumentation. And James LaBrie provides sparkling vocals. Bodes well for the album in 2016.

LIMELIGHT BAND

Octopie – I Am The Walrus

These Finnish lads create a whimsical world with their Gentle Giant-influenced sounds.

Hannah May Kilroy

Hannah May Kilroy has been writing about music professionally for over a decade, covering everything from extreme metal to country. She was deputy editor at Prog magazine for over five years, and previously worked on the editorial teams at Terrorizer and Kerrang!. She currently works as the production editor for The Art Newspaper, and also writes for the Guardian, Classic Rock and Metal Hammer.