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.

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.

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!

Between Air And Water (Sykofant, 2024)

"Sykofant" is the self titled debut album of a Norwergian band I immediately appreciated for their perfect balance between classic and innovative prog rock. "Between Air And Water" is their leading single and also a beautiful way to get into their musical world. On first listen, one falls in love with Emil Moen's and Per Semb's guitars, undoubtedly two skilled and sensitive performers reminding me the early Pink Floyd's mood and Wishbone Ash's double guitar work, all with a modern, eclectic twist. 

Sycofant's debut album cover art.

Then a more careful listening unfolds the stunning work provided by the rythm section, namely drummer Melvin Treider and bass player Sindre Haugen. Not only they supply an accurate but never repetitive background, but they also prepare the amazing tempo changes giving to the track an even more progressive texture. Please note that prog rock acts without keyboards are not so common and it's always a daring job, but Sykofant perfectly worked it out!