Divine Attribution (SETI, 2005)

...And now something for those among you loving atmospheric, melodic prog. SETI is an international project aimed to find radio signals coming from intelligent extra-terrestrial forms of life. But since 2005 it is also an interesting chilean prog band. Founded by multi-instrumentalist Claudio Momberg and Others members of Subterra (see elsewhere in this blog). This song comes from their debut album "Life Signs" and has a strong spacey and floydian influence, but also an easy-going melodic pattern in the neo-prog style.

This album also includes an excellent five parts suite.

Some beautiful keyboard and guitar solos perfectly top the cake. The SF theme adds a somehow arcane taste to the song, but it never deviates the band's sound toward math-rock landscapes. There is a warm and dreamy soul behind those radio telescopes...

Distances (The Pyramidis Project, 2015)

The electronic side of prog is too often underrated or even neglected by fan sites and reviewers, and that's too bad if only one remembers the essential contributions to our genre provided by such artists as Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk and so on. That said, Austrian band The Pyramidis Project is one of the most interesting projects out there when it comes to elecronic prog. This track is the perfect gate into their world for prog fans. "Distances" is taken from the album "Emotional Distances" and actually the CD title says it all, as electronic keyboards and space rock effects perfectly match with genuine (and strong) emotions.

"Emotional Distances" was the second CD by TPP.

If you're convinced that electronic devices are but stiff things, this track will change your mind. Mario Buchinger, the mind behind The Pyramidis Project, knows how to mix different soundscapes and musical influences, so that his tracks are never flat nor hazy. Take "Distances" for example: beautiful melodies flow along with diversified samples and a stingy musical research. Oldest fans (like me) will find echoes of Alan Parsons, Floydian hints and even early Genesis moods. Please note that such a rich blend leads to a highly original atmosphere, and never to a derivative sound. It's challenging and unpredictable... that's why I call it prog!