Latest Reviews on Prog
“Ginger Baker stamps, thumps and whacks his personality into these numbers… he sounds a bit confused and well-lubricated, much to the evident, if a little strained, amusement of his bandmates”: Baker Gurvitz Army’s Neon Lights: The Broadcasts 1975
They own the stage in collection of five live performances which will please old campaigners and new recruits alike
“There’s bravery in their willingness to express deep, often dark emotions. The subject matter may be confounding for some… but they sound completely assured of their direction”: Caligula’s Horse return with Charcoal Grace
It’s a sombre, reflective counterpoint to 2021’s Rise Radiant, which hopefully offers the band some catharsis
“It’s no wonder the lyrics are maudlin, but despite the difficulty of its creation, it’s still worthy of celebration”: Damnation is the Opeth album that works best on vinyl
Steven Wilson remix illustrates a side of Michael Åkerfeldt’s band that’s familiar now – but was a revelation in 2003
“Hats off to the duo for bravely naming one of their most affecting ballads after a commuter town in Surrey…delivered with a conviction that’s hard to deny”: Wilson & Wakeman’s Can We Leave The Light On Longer?
Threshold and Ozzy Osbourne alumni deliver their third album of piano-led songs, exploring the nature of human connections
“A triumph of melodic prog which wears its influences on its sleeve, yet still sounds bold and entirely contemporary”: Cyan’s reinvention of Pictures From The Other Side
Not yet ratedClassic and neo-prog meets classy pop-rock in lavish upgrade of 1994 original
“Is it a strange fusion that manifests and reveals itself with repeated listens? The result is the kind of weirdness that ran through the works of HP Lovecraft”: The Witching Tale’s What Magic Is This?
Katharine Blake of Mediæval Bæbes and Michael J York Coil return with a cerebrally challenging and creepy collection that rewards the effort put into listening
“It shows how the founding five’s skills that first bewitched in the early 1970s didn’t fade in the slightest”: Pentangle’s Reunions clamshell box
Four-disc collection spans live appearances from 1982 to 2011
“This is tightrope-walking without a net… it feels a bit like having him play a solo up close and personal, and who – other than certain former members of Yes, perhaps – wouldn’t want that?” Steve Howe’s Motif Volume 2
15 years after the first instalment, the guitarist bares the bones of his writing and proves those bones are strong
“Having suffered something of an identity crisis, minor blemishes don’t stop it being their best album in decades”: Pallas’ The Messenger
The return of singer Alan Reed – who rebuffed a previous invitation – is an indicator of its quality
“It doesn’t add much to the myth of an album that deserves mythologising”: Muse’s Absolution – XX Anniversary Edition
The packaging and hardback book are impressive, but the additional music is less essential
“An underprized classic… with new mixes enhancing rather than simply fiddling with the original”: 50th anniversary version of Nektar’s Remember The Future
Fourth album features a bonkers storyline told through a single piece of music that ebbs and flows
“Do seven versions of one piece border on overkill? Resolutely and resoundingly no”: Magma’s Une Histoire De Mekanïk - 50 Years Of Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh
Anniversary box set may not be cheap, but it’s immensely satisfying
“Stately swathes of melodic guitar, stomping-goblin work-song chants, Rick Wakeman-riding-a-plesiosaur keyboard soloing:” Moon Safari’s Himlabacken Vol 2 is an epic complement to its predecessor
The level of care and attention to detail explains why it took the Swedish symphonic prog outfit 10 years to deliver their exploration of growing up
“Steve Hogarth is a revelation among an impressive, if seemingly random, array of singers”: Trevor Horn’s Echoes – Ancient & Modern
Pop and prog tracks are presented in a dreamlike state in the follow-up to his 80s collection
“For a band who previously relied on pretty riffs and delicate vocals, they’ve taken a huge risk, hurling the listener around like a malfunctioning fairground ride”: Unprocessed’s …And Everything In Between
Grit, determination and vitriol – a masterclass in how to evolve as a band
“The disc of unreleased live material truly captures the excitement of this line-up in full flight”: The Yes Album Super Deluxe Edition
Extended third LP, their first with Steve Howe, illustrates the amazing connection between musicians at the top of their game
“A vivid, three-dimensional update… they outstrip the originals’ impact by some distance”: Peter Hammill’s In A Foreign Town / Out Of Water 2023
Van der Graaf Generator frontman has little to prove – but does it anyway with his revamp of solo albums hobbled by late-80s production values
