Wicked Flame (Believe, 2024)

During the years, the Polish neo-prog band Collage (see elsewhere in this blog) produced a large family of side projects, including this Believe, the brain child of bassist Mirek Gil. The melodic style of his former band is preserved in the atmospheric passages of this track taken from the album "The Wyrding Way", but you'll also find in it harder edges and even a vaguely folk side. There are some many things I like in "Wicked Flame" and maybe Satomi's way to merge his violin into the band's sound hit me first. 

This is the seventh studio album by Believe.

It's somewhere between a classical orchestra instrument and a bohemian fiddle. And what about Jinian Wilde's voice? Both sweet and harsh and always hearty, a good new addiction to the band. Of course all the players are top notch and they know how to change the song's mood with simple and effective switches. Last but not least, the musical themes are very, very good and even catchy, a perfect base for variations, weavings and solos. Believe me: more than 11 minutes of pleasure.

El Cortejo de un Día Amarillo (Bubu, 1978)

 Bubu were (and still are, a a completely different line-up) one of the most intriguing bands coming from the vibrant Argentinian prog scene. Their music is always surprising, unpredictable and intricated. This two parts suite comes from their 1978 album titled "Anabelas" and fills the entire A-side of the original LP. Its nearly 20 minutes are divided in two sections: i) Danza de las Atlántides and ii) Locomotora Blues. It really is a tricky experience even for the prog-oriented ears, including dissonant passages and a great deal of instruments: there are 8 official members in the band, a guest pianist and a five members choir. 

"Anabelas" is the only album of Bubu's original line-up.

Rather incredibly, each and every musician has its own space in the track's plot, where guitars, violin, flute, sax, drums & assorted percussions, piano, bass and the choir follow each other, perform beautiful solos and perfecly melt into this fluid, rather jazzy and avantgarde piece of music. Beyond the anarchist façade of "El Cortejo" lies a strong, keenly built structure following the best eclectic prog tradition. So don't be afraid and dive into this suite: you'll surely find something you like!

Wake up The Child (Red Sand, 2024)

By browsing this site's past reviews you'll find several tracks by Red Sand, an excellent neo-prog band from Québec, Canada. Their 2024 album titled "Pain't Box" is another beautiful collection of melodic, hypnotic songs. This "Wake up The Child", for example, offers everything a prog fan could dream of: a well written theme, inspiring variations, sensitive vocals (Michel Renaud recemtly joined the band and is a valuable addition)  and of course Simon Caron's dreamy guitar solos. 

Red Sand surely know how to paint musical landscapes...

Perry Angelillo's impeccable drums and Simon's keyboard atmospheric work wrap up this song with good taste and heartwarming colours. This warm, soft and hearty feeling is the trademark of a band I will ever recommend to my prog fellows.

Qui d'autre que l'autre (Lazuli, 2023)

 Lazuli, a French prog rock band whose first album was released back in 1999, wrote and performed excellent music, including many complex and unpredictable songs (even if they don't like long tracks), but - will they excuse me? - I'm definitely in love with this song: an intense, fascinating ballad. It comes from their 2023 album simply titled "11". 

This is the 10th studio album, but there was also an acoustic

collection of previous released songs, so they're right: that's 11!

The crescendo plot starts with a deep, even sensual tone and grows up and up until a rather floydian guitar solo that's simply perfect. The musical theme is beautiful, sharp and catchy (no, this is not a deadly sin) and Dominique Leonetti's vocal rendition comes like a kick inside the guts of the listener. As usual with them, this is more an inner trip than a song and I like to explore my own soul following such a brilliant guiding star.

Wychmore Hill Suite (Anthony Phillips, 2024)

We all know Ant Phillips lives in a musical world of his own, a very charming one. This track comes from his 2024 "The Golden Hour" album, twelfth installment of the "Private Parts and Pieces" series, an archival project begun in 1978. This 19 minutes suite for classical and 12 string guitars was recorded around 1989 and IMHO is the brightest gem of "The Golden Hour": varied, well balanced, full of beautiful themes and built up on a coherent, dynamic pattern. One wonders why such a beauty had to wait a release for more than 35 years. 

Ant Phillips took himself this beautiful cover photo.

Its four movements ( I. Country Mile - II. Ring of Steel - III. Peaceful Land - IV. Jack The Lad ) each feature two or three recurring themes and alternate fast and calm moments, so they're never boring and conjure up folk, gypsy, pastoral and classical roots, sounding fully English the way only Phillips can do. A parting note about the title: a Wychmore Hill doesn't exist, Ant was inspired by Northern London's Winchmore Hill: he switched to a sharper and almost medieval sound.

Pigmenti (Celeste, 2024)

Celeste doesn't need any introduction: Ciro Perrino's brainchild has its own place in Italian prog scene and since their reunion back in 2019 they never abandoned their melodic, fairy, charming sound. That said, some of the songs in "Echi di un futuro passato" 2024 album (meaning Past Future's Echoes) open up to some exciting new landscapes. That's the case with the opening track "Pigmenti" (Pigments),where Maestro Perrino and his friends successfully merge the band's traditional melodies with jazz-rock passages. 

Degrassi and Mazzeo created this stunning cover art.

Sure, Perrino isn't new at such a taste: he was part of one of the most underrated Italian fusion bands, namely Il Sistema, between 1969 and 1971, but he never dared to import those sounds into Celeste's music. He dares here and that's a very big and welcome surprise! You'll find the same theme going through different treatments: the opening jazz arrangement, a melodic rendition and even an orchestral, symphonic version followed by guitar, sax and keyboard solos! Well done... and beautiful. Not to mention the sweet  sung section and the perfect performances of each musician. Once more, thank you Celeste for being there!

Earth Hymn (Manfred Mann's Earth Band, 1974)

Manfred Mann and his Earth Band are among the most underrated acts in rock (and prog rock) history. Nevertheless, they released awesome albums and evergreen tracks, like this "Earth Hymn", part of "The Good Earth" album (1974). This is a Chris Slade and Manfred Mann's song, a majestic ballad including some stunning guitar solos and beautiful lyrics about the musical and spiritual sound of our planet. 

Did you know the first copies of this album entitled the purchasers

over one square foot or real earth in Wales?

The ecological inspiration of the album grows into a metaphysical approach in "Earth Hymn", even if nothing here sounds like tricky of sophisticated. On the contrary, you'll find a fluid, natural hymn suspended between psychedelia and prog, peace and strength. Even if the sung theme is simple and catchy, the arrangement is an ever changing one, full of beautiful surprises. In a word, a highly original and enjoyable piece of (progressive) music.