Pod powieką (Quidam, 1998)

No doubt among the dozens of neo-prog bands born in Poland, Quidam deserve a special place. As this "Pod powieką" (meaning "Behind The Eyes") will easily prove, their music is a rich, flowing stream, leaded by Emilia Derkowska's voice, full of good melodies and dreamy instrumental passages. This song is taken from the band's second album, ""Sny Aniolów", that's to say "Angel's Dream".

This album came two years after the band's acclaimed debut CD.

Never too sweet, but always pleasant, this song includes some well found arrangements, where the acoustic and electric instruments are cleverly mixed. Jacek Zasada's flute is a bonus reason to listen to "Pod powieką", as it perfectly fits into the fairy background. This isn't a band for fully intellectual listeners, but if you like a sensible mix of brains and heart, well, this song's for you and you could also take a go with the rest of Quidam's discography. Enjoy your trip!

Selfishness Part I (Different Strings, 2011)

Taken from the album "The Sounds of Silence- Part I: The Counterparts",this is a very interesting piece of music, coming from Malta. "Different Strings" actually are the multi-instrumentalist Chris Mallia's project, including guest musicians and vocalists. Yes, there are many, many different moods and changes in this song, but I also find in it a firm musical point of view, featuring arcane backgrounds and strong, even heavy guitar and keyboard solos in the foreground.

Chris Mallia's band released the 2d part of this concept in 2015.

 

You might recognise here and there some Golden Era models, but the final result surely is original and pleasant. The track is set up with care, lining up a series of themes and a good mix of classic rock instruments and electronic devices. The listener goes through heaven and hell, ethereal landscapes and full bodied rock 'n' roll sections. Erroll Cutajar's warm and somehow calm vocals probably aren't what you'd expect from a band named after a Rush' song, but I like them anyway. So, welcome to my blog, Different Strings!

Mad Cucumber - Part 1 / Бешеный огурец - часть 1 (Sepsis / Сепсис, 1991)

An uncompromising keyboard-free suite by a rather obscure Russian trio, this is the track I'm presenting today. Coming from an act founded by guitarist Alexis Romanov, and from their only album called "Литургия Безумия" (meaning "A Liturgy of Madness"), this could be kind of a good surprise for many of you. Filling the first side of the original LP (the B side featuring a part 2, it goes without saying), this epic is divided into five parts for a total running time of more than 22 minutes.

This is the original cover of the rare Sepsis' LP.

Not an easy listening music, if you believe me, but a unique line up of instrumental themes, all very well developed and played. The general mood is that of an acid and apparently rough prog. Actually, all listeners will find how keenly and cleverly set up this song is, and how many different, colourful landscapes such a music suggests. I was really pleased to listen to this Mad Cucumber thing some years ago (I think it was released on CD in 2000). Hope you'll be too.

Innuendo (Queen, 1991)

Steve Howe's cameo in the central section of this song isn't the only reason why it perfectly fits in a prog rock blog (IMHO, of course). I admire the way Queen set up this title track, including heavy rock riffs, wide open melodies and the rightly famous flamenco section. As usual with them, the band stuffed their song with a great deal of manifold ideas, but this is a very coherent composition, in spite of all the different colours it displays.

 

This was the last album Queen released before Mercury's death.

Brian May's guitar is on the foreground, but the entire band's sound is thick and well balanced, while Freddie Mercury's voice fly high. I read somewhere Taylor's lyrics were inspired by Led Zeppelin's Kashmir... be as it may, I especially like it as a hymn to freedom and life, one of the best I've ever listened to. We'll just keep on trying till the end of time. A good motto, my prog friends.

Twin Sunrise (Dogma, 1995)

What a beautiful track, this "Twin Sunrise" is! Just my opinion, of course, but please listen to the dynamic intro and I bet you'll decide to go on. Good idea, as this song is one of the best achievements of Brazilian act Dogma, that's responsible for two very good albums released during the '90s. The tempo changes are one of the most known features of these musicians, and so are the electronic effects, something between Jean-Michel Jarre and Rick Wright.

I like both Dogma's studio works. Unfortunately this was the last one.

All the sounds are highly suggestive and "Twin Sunrise" includes some sampled Peruvian flutes, a Gilmour-esque electric guitar, an effective drumming, a brilliant piano and so on. Most of all, this instrumental track is full of musical landscapes, but it never goes ambient, firmly keeping its prog rock mood. Even if the song lasts some 12 minutes, I hardly realize it's a long one... on the contrary, I do think it ends up too soon. Will it be the same with you?

Beyond The Clear Air (Midas, 1988)

I'm in love with Midas' debut album, a Japanese prog pearl, from which I introduce here the epic title track. It's a rather long suite (some 18 minutes) starting with a slow, evocative intro played by keys and electric violin, both essential instruments in Midas' music. The following sung section goes on the same melancholy vein, with a hint of celtic atmosphere in it. Then the giga comes in and Eigo Utoh's violin gets fast and furious. All this section is high tempo with keyboardist Eishyo Lynn on the forefront. He also rules next atmospheric long bridge, something midway between space rock and pastoral folk.

This album was re-released by Musea  in 2009 with a bonus track.

Actually these musicians made up their own kind of prog, winding and arcane, just like some old Japanese paintings. The finale includes a sweet sung passage - I also like the piano here - and a fully symphonic wall of sound, plus a coda reprise of the intro. I bet you won't regret the minutes you'll spend listening to this. Maybe you'll try the whole album then. Good idea.

A Suite for Everyman (Echolyn, 1992)

When it comes to diversity and fantasy, this US band can't be forgotten. And if you had to choose just one track to get into Echolyn's world, "A Suite for Everyman" should be your best choice. Taken from the album "Suffocating The Bloom", this epic is divided into eleven parts, each one with a mood of its own, still so well lined up that the global effect is that of a complex and coherent tapestry. There are so many good ideas in this song, so many original sounds... full melodies, ethnic rythms, dissonant harmonies, effective guitar solos, brass illuminations, synth progressions and so on.

 

"Suffocating The Bloom" was Echolyn's second studio album.

Sure, all that stuff could baffle some listeners, but Echolyn have the right amount of good taste and a strong sense of proportion, two essential gifts for such an eclectic band. Finally, this suite will convince you that those clever musicians aren't mere Gentle Giant's followers... well, that wouldn't be a shame, of course!