Только ты / Only You - Диалог / Dialog (1985)

Sometimes I need a very, very melodic prog song to reset my mind. And Dialog (Диалог) provide many sweet, drreamy songs I can listen to when I'm in such a mood. This song, "Только ты" (that's to say "Only You") comes from their debut album "Просто" (or "Just So") and has a strong Floydian taste. Recorded during the Soviet era, it is another good example of Russian hard-to-die and clandestine progressive movement.

Dialogue were a seven piece band when they recorded this album. 

This track was written by keyboardist and lead singer Kim Breitburg and reveals his talent as a songwriter and also his good tasted way to mix neo-prog vein and classic prog sounds. The sung theme is catchy and ethereal, the keyboard background is pleasant and, of course, the guitars add that special, Gilmour-esque touch I never despise. So, if you feel like spending some minutes in another world, please close your eyes and give Dialog a chance.

African Day (Hawk, 1971)

This long epic is a treat for my ears. Coming from South Africa, it's the most important track by Hawk, one of the many bands that didn't reach a well deserved international recognition becouse of the long period of isolation their Country went through. "African Day" is the title track and the opening song of the band's debut work and is the musical depiction of a day in the Black Continent,drawing a series of vivid scenes.

After this debut album, Hawk released a second work then disbanded.

It's a fine example of what some reviewers used to call afro-rock, or more simply folk-prog. How many good harmonies, what a beautiful flute... not to mention the ethnic rythms! This epic transforms the sun, the trees, the animals, the human beings in musical sketches, changing tempos and pleasant melodies. And what's even more surprising, the band melted a great deal of different genres and moods to create a coherent and convincing suite. Too bad they didn't have a longer career!

Le fond du ciel (La Tulipe Noire, 2002)

Despite their name and the title of this track, La Tulipe Noire isn't a French or a French speaking band. In fact, they come from Greece and they have a rather long history made of good neo-prog inspired music. This track comes from the album "Faded Leaves" and shows the band's well known ethereal keyboards and the beautiful vocals by Ima. More than this, you'll also enjoy good and vibrant guitars and many pleasant rhytmic tapestries.

"Faded Leaves" was the fourth studio album by La Tulipe Noire.

The sung theme is also good, sharp and neat as in some early IQ songs. The changes always come in due time and cleverly alternate fast and slow moments. If you're into melodic prog rock this band will definitely interest you and this song, in particular, will offer to all listeners an electric extra charge useful in a dull day and active against depressive moods.

The Tide Is Turning (Roger Waters, 1987)

Also known with its official title "The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)", this is one of my favourite tracks by Roger Waters. It has a splendid melody and an atmospheric arrangement flowing and growing like a majestic river. The complete title includes a reference to the Live Aid concerts, even if Waters' participation was turned down by the organisation.

 

"Radio KAOS" was the fourth studio album by Wayters,

including two original soundtracks.

 

This song closes the album "Radio K.A.O.S." with a somehow optimistic note, as the rest of the concept was a bleak one, originally ending with the song "Four Minutes", staging a nuclear war. Thus, "The Tide Is Turning" has a brighter mood, a sort of anthem of hope for the human race. This song was also popular as it was the final track of the celebrated "The Wall Live" performance in Berlin. The studio version is also interesting for its discreet and effective electronic effects and for its first class vocal harmonies.

Hem (Alter Echo, 1979)

There are so many one-shot bands in all Countries... and most of them left no enduring trace. But sometimes I happen to listen to a good album or a good song and then  I find out that was from a very short lived band. That's exactly the case with the Swedish act Alter Echo, whose sole self-named work has a special and refreshing grace IMHO. Take this song called "Hem" (that's to say "Home" in English). As all the songs in the album, it was released on a cassette tape in 1979, then re-recorded in 1997 for Muséa label.

This is, of course, the 1997 re-release cover art.

It's a very pleasant song, lining up acoustic moments, effective vocal harmonies and electric guitar touches. It was definitely a good idea to ask those four musicians to come back and play once more their music: their delicate and bright sound deserved a second chance! Of course, this song is so strongly rooted into the '70s ground that I retained the original cassette date instead of the CD release year. I'm sure you'll agree with me.

Sobre los rieles (Subterra, 2001)

A very good and original way to neo-prog, this one. Subterra come from Chile (and their name from IQ?) and this "Sobre los rielos" (that's to say "On The Rails"), from the album "Sombras de invierno" ("Winter Shadows"), is a good and variated song. It starts with a long, atmospheric and rather dark intro, where the theatrical vocals of Max Sanchez go on very well with the keyboards background, then the rythm rises up and an instrumental section shows how good the musicians are, lining up alternate key and guitar solos.

"Sombras de inviero" was the first official album by Subterra.

A Marillion-like bass line rules the following sung section, a dense and dynamic one, moments before the heaviest section begins with a very well done wall of sound and a beautiful largo. The final part adds the sense of wonder a prog epic needs, and once again we appreciate the singer's skills. All in all, this is no revolution, but is a very pleasant way to render the (neo) prog lesson, Midway between Ange and IQ. Good idea.

Mox (Prelude, 1979)

Prelude were a Belgian band that released a sole album titled "Voyage" in 1979, one of the most difficult years in the history of our beloved genre. That's likely why they didn't last so much and disbanded soon after this release. Guitarist Vincent Fis, however, founded a neo-prog band called Now some years later (and you'll find something by them in my blog). Back to Prelude and their opening track "Mox", I'm sure you'll perceive the naive but convincing mood of this song, musically situated between classic symphonic rock and the impending neo-prog wave.

A vintage album with a very pleasant old fashioned sound.

It's a rather long composition featuring a fluid, warm keyboard-driven sound and a good architecture. The sung themes and the instrumental parts follow one another with ease and good taste, mixing the French school (Ange and Atoll, especially) and the British one, namely Wakeman's solo albums, IMHO. A good guitar solo enriches the finale of "Mox" and also the rythm section is fully enjoyable. If you like old and forgotten albums, I bet you'll listen to this with pleasure.