Back catalogue: Progressive Rock

Review: Chicago's Live at 55 sees the legendary band celebrating over five decades of music with a performance full of energy and nostalgia. Featuring a mix of classic hits and deeper cuts, the set is a celebration of their enduring legacy. The performance builds with brass-heavy anthems like '25 or 6 to 4' and the smooth 'If You Leave Me Now', proving their ability to mix rock, jazz, and pop seamlessly. With guest appearances adding a fresh layer to the familiar sound, the album captures the essence of Chicago's rich musical history, while continuing to demonstrate their dynamic stage presence.

Review: The third volume in the Future Sounds Of Kraut series delves deeper into the experimental realms of krautrock, blending its hypnotic rhythms with modern sensibilities. On this release, Fred und Luna lead the charge with their distinctive sound, drawing from the genre's rich history while infusing it with fresh, forward-thinking elements. The album's varied tracks are a journey through intricate loops, motorik beats and atmospheric textures, offering a dynamic exploration of electronic and psychedelic landscapes. A collection that pays homage to Krautrock's pioneers while shaping its own space in the genre, this release is a must-listen for both old and new fans alike.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


The third volume in the Future Sounds Of Kraut series delves deeper into the experimental realms of krautrock, blending its hypnotic rhythms with modern sensibilities. On this release, Fred und Luna lead the charge with their distinctive sound, drawing from the genre's rich history while infusing it with fresh, forward-thinking elements. The album's varied tracks are a journey through intricate loops, motorik beats and atmospheric textures, offering a dynamic exploration of electronic and psychedelic landscapes. A collection that pays homage to Krautrock's pioneers while shaping its own space in the genre, this release is a must-listen for both old and new fans alike.

Review: The good folks at Compost have put together a second volume of their Future Sounds of Kraut compilation and once again it is packed with exciting new takes on the age-old genres. Compiler Fred Und Luna features a couple of times including with the celestial synth charms and light electronic rhythms of 'Monotonikum' and elsewhere tried and tested talents such as Thomas Fehlmann with his widescreen cinematic cut' 'Permanent Touch' and minimal favourite Roman Flugel with his delightfully melodic and innocent 'Rules' bring plenty of class the adventurous and accomplished double album. There is plenty to get stuck into here for those who like their sounds sleek, atmospheric and star gazing.

Review: The fourth studio album by English hard rockers Jethro Tull, Aqualung married a turning point in the career of the band, prepping them for a more major radio-friendly future that would see them become mainstays of the touring circuit and rank among the finest live acts of the time. It would also quickly become the group's most successful release, commercially speaking, producing two standout singles in 'Hymn 43' and 'Locomotive Breath'. With such a storied history, anyone going anywhere near Tull's masterpiece wants to tread carefully. Or throw themselves full pelt into the chaos and beauty of the record by inviting a load of stoner rock acts to do their best/worst/most imaginative on the original material and come up with something new. Magnetic Eye opted to do just that with Redux, and it hits hard.

Review: The limited edition double album Weird Scenes From The Hangout presents an exhilarating journey through psychedelic and freakbeat anthems that were the heartbeat of Liverpool's renowned mid-'80s club night, The Hangout. Released on striking Neon Pink and Transparent Curacao vinyl, this 2 x LP compilation curated by Richard Norris (The Grid, Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve) captures the vibrant essence of his club's eclectic soundscape. The album features a carefully selected roster of tracks from iconic acts like The Velvet Underground, Can, Captain Beefheart, The Seeds and The Left Banke, reflecting the diverse and energetic vibe that Norris fostered at The Hangout. This special compilation brings together floor fillers and dancefloor anthems that defined the psychedelic scene during the 1967-1982 period, meticulously licensed to recreate the magic of Norris's celebrated club nights. The Hangout, launched in autumn 1984 at Liverpool's Krackers club, was a haven for psychedelic enthusiasts and dance music aficionados alike. With its pulsating beats and psychedelic visuals, the club became a hub for revelry, featuring guest performances from bands such as Zodiac Mindwarp and The Cardiacs. Norris's vision was simple yet profound: to curate a dance experience that embraced both obscure and popular tracks, ensuring that every tune ignited the dancefloor. This reissue not only revives the spirit of The Hangout but also celebrates the enduring impact of its eclectic playlist. With remastered sound and original artwork, this compilation is a treasure trove for fans of psychedelic and freakbeat music, showcasing a pivotal era in Liverpool's vibrant club culture.

Review: Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs of Saint Etienne fame are the diggers behind this new rock assemblage which pays tribute to mid-afternoon set times at lesser-known festivals from years gone (well, the 70s) such as Deeply Vale, Bickershaw, Krumlin, Weeley, and Plumpton. They were just as important to those who attended as the more celebrated likes of Glasto' and this collection shows the sounds were just as good, too. The sounds - from big names liek Deep Purple, Hawkwind and Alan Parker & Alan Hawkshaw to lesser known acts like Jonesy, will appeal to hippies and bikers alike with big riffs, funky drumming and some psyched-out sounds.

Review: Not every live album makes the impact Vital did. Recorded at London's Marquee Club on 16th January 1978, it hit shops six months later, by which time the group had split (for the second time), making this more of a capsule of the past than was probably intended. It also turned heads for the often radical re-design of older tracks in the set list. The troupe had been known for on-stage intensity, but this tour was particularly ferocious. Captured using a 24-track mobile unit, the second of two performances in the UK capital was committed to tape, and then mixed down into Vital at Foel Studio by Guy Evans. After some serious magic was worked to clean up a sax track that suffered a technical fault, the finished product encapsulated the huge energy and atmosphere that defined the original date.

Review: For this album, Wagram France invited various artists from the jazz scene to pay tribute to the legendary band Pink Floyd by interpreting some of their most famous tunes in whatever style they see fit. All the bands biggest singles are taken on from 'Money' to 'Another Brick In The Wall' via 'Wish You Were Here' and 'Us and Them.' They all sound very different with lively keys dancing over jazzy drums on 'Money', folk style vocals from Bird On A Wire and lush harmonies and heavenly vocals from David Neerman on his version of 'Us & Them.' All in all, a fine tribute indeed.

Review: If you're going to enlist artists to cover tracks by NEU!, then you best make sure they are of the caliber we see on this track list. The legendary, iconic, and groundbreaking West German krautrock group only gave us three albums, all in quick succession (Neu! in 1972, Neu! 2 the following year, and Neu!75 in 1975), but they made a huge impact in doing so. As such their output could only be retreated with similar aplomb. A quick look on the back of the sleeve here proves someone, somewhere has heeded those words. Yann Tiersen, The National, Fink and more all line up to pay tribute to, and attempt to redirect, the original material. The results range from the rousing chorus and propellant, celebratory rock of 'After Eight' in its They Hate Change Cover form, to the sublime, lo fi folktronica of '4+1=5' by Alexis Taylor.

Review: Ambiances Ambigues shows off the breadth and depth of its talent pool with this new compilation of experimental post-rock, synth and ambient sounds. There is nothing poppy about them despite the title, and in fact in places these sounds bring to mind great composers like Ennio Morricone and John Carpenter, as well as the indie-breaks of UNCLE and plenty more references from the noise and abstract world. It's dense and intense, and a perfect go-to when you want to add something a little different to your rotation.

Review: Le Kiosque D'orphie was located first at 7 Rue Gregoire de Tours, and then 20 Rue des Tournelles, Paris. Not a label, nor a publisher, the facility would allow people to press their own vinyl, often with very short runs - say, somewhere between 50 and 500 copies - and release an album to the world. If that sounds exciting today, when where pressing plants are overloaded, wait times are huge and costs so prohibitive small batches shouldn't apply, it was similarly revelatory back then. Led by Georges Batard, a Neumann tube engraver was used to produce original acetates which were then sent off to actual production factories, a process that often appealed to provincial and experimental composers. The process of diving into this overlooked but pivotal part of French electronic and popular music history began around 2018, and continued in earnest until 23 tracks were chosen to represent the breadth of work produced and the gamut of styles and sounds. Now, here they are.

Review: Fantastic Voyage: New Sounds For The European Cannon 1977-1981 is one of the most grandiose titles for a record we have come across in a while, but we like it. Fortunately for those involved, the music on this new gatefold heavyweight double album stands up to scrutiny for lovers of sounds that collide electronic, post-rock and experimental with synth, new wave and even a touch of new age ambient. The track list is a big one with tried and tested names like Patrick Cowley, Cabaret Voltaire, the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, Peter Gabriel and more all featuring. It makes for quite the trip and a fine reminder of the magical newness of electronic music back then.

Review: Originally released in 1986 during their formative Noise Records era, Rrroooaaarrr would serve as the sophomore follow up to Canadian progressive metal legends Voivod's debut album War & Pain, whilst offering the first true glimpses into the more spacy cosmic compositional approach that would ultimately become their new sonic bedrock. While perhaps not at the level of prog wonder that has elevated 1987's Killing Technology to a much-adored fan favourite, the material on their second effort works as almost a bridge between their speed-thrash origins and the more fully realised vision their later material would harbour. While flashy and intricate, this early work is a testament to how formidable of a straight up thrash metal beast the band originally were before they would opt to distance themselves from their burgeoning peers in Metallica or Megadeth; marking the true beginning of their journey into the great unknown (also referred to as "space-prog").

Review: Originally released in 2015, Inmazes marked the debut full-length from Danish progressive metal outfit VOLA. Taking sonic influence from the Djent scene pioneered by Meshuggah and further popularised by acts such as Periphery, yet eschewing much of the metalcore aspects prevalent within the subgenre, the material draws as much from Scandinavian prog metal acts such as Opeth and Katatonia, only fitted with seven string guitar low-end grooves and chunky riffage, making for a curious combination of progressive artistry and Djentcore heft, all unified under the saccharine, almost shoegaze lilt of primary songwriter Asger Mygind's understated vocal delivery. While the band would stray further into melodic, synth-laden prog soundscapes on 2018's sophomore follow up Applause Of A Distant Crowd, this debut where is they let their Djent flag fly as high as the influences worn on their sleeves.