Today:
Lonely Robot - A Model Life
The Pineapple Thief - Introducing ... (Compilation)
Neal Morse - The Restoration ~ Joseph: Part Two

np: Damian Wilson & Adam Wakeman - Can We Leave The Light On Longer?

Today I listened to:
Edward Reekers - "The Liberty Project"
Damian Wilson & Adam Wakeman - "Can We Leave The Light On Longer?"
Neal Morse - "The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One"
Neal Morse - "The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two"

I was positively surprised by Edward Reekers' new album! I will listen to it more. It has an Ayreon feel in some places, but more easy on the ears.

Also, Wilson & Wakeman's album was pleasant, but not phenomenal. But I will definitely listen again as well. Some pretty songs here and there.
I guess you are more than positive about the album Teunis?

Both Morse albums work really well in a Spotify playlist listening to it in one big two hours and twenty minutes session. I hope there will be a live version with costumes and the whole shebang.

Quote from: PH on Wed, 2024-01-17, 20:33:40Also, Wilson & Wakeman's album was pleasant, but not phenomenal. But I will definitely listen again as well. Some pretty songs here and there.
I guess you are more than positive about the album Teunis?

Heard it once and have the same feeling as you. The songs are sounding a bit the same. But maybe it'll grow .

pp:
Anathema - Distant Satellites
Neal Morse - The Restoration ~ Joseph: Part Two
Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 2

np: Moon Safari - Lover's End

Today:
Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 2
The Pineapple Thief - Dissolution
Neal Morse - Life & Times
Neal Morse - The Dreamer ~ Joseph: Part One

np: Magnum - Here Comes The Rain

Quote from: Teunis on Mon, 2024-01-22, 19:04:15Today:
np: Magnum - Here Comes The Rain

I also listened to that one, but unfortunately it didn't stick. Nothing memorable, at least for me.
I am no Magnum expert. In fact, I only know about them because of Bob Catley (through Jabberwocky, Hound Of The Baskervilles and Ayreon). I bought "Lost On The Road To Eternity" a couple of years ago. I thought that album was really good actually! But subsequent albums were a bit of a let down. (But never bad.)
Tony Clarkin, guitarist and founder of Magnum, died on the 7th of January this year. A week before the release of "Here Comes The Rain". Sad...
2024 has only just begun, so plenty of time to retry this album. Maybe it will click with me later.

Now listening to:
Emerald City Council - "Motion Carries"

Actually, not bad! Jake Livgren, nephew of Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren, is the singer. He is pretty good. I knew him from Neal Morse's albums ("Jesus Christ: The Exorcist", "The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One" and "The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two"). The drummer is Noah Hungate, son of Toto's first bass player. So, Toto + Kansas = Emerald City. Heh, clever...
It sounds a little bit like those bands, but not too much. Nice one to check out and I will definitely listen again!

Quote from: PH on Mon, 2024-01-22, 20:35:10I also listened to that one, but unfortunately it didn't stick. Nothing memorable, at least for me.
I am no Magnum expert.

QuoteI wasn't impressed either. I was listening because of an album I liked from them called 'Into The Valley Of The Moonking' (2009). But this one is much of the same.

Today:
Airbag - Identity
Huis - Despite Guardian Angels
Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 2
Mystery - Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face
Neal Morse - The Restoration ~ Joseph: Part Two

np: Kalle Wallner - Voices

Antimatter - The Judas Table

Previously played (during work):
Neal Morse - "The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One"
Neal Morse - "The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two"

Now listening to:
Emerald City Council - "Motion Carries"

I'm really starting to like this one! I've listened to it four or five times now and I keep coming back to it.
Not as good as Neal Morse, but after that, it's the best new thing I heard in January.


I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, because the new Caligula's Horse will be released then!
"Rise Radiant" was my number one album in 2020!

Will give Emerald City Council and Caligula's Horse a try .

Today:
Airbag - All Rights Removed
Huis - Neither In Heaven
Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 2
Mystery - One Among The Living
Soen - Imperial
Asia - Alpha

np: Pink Floyd - The Final Cut

Yesterday I listened to:
The Smile - "Wall Of Eyes"
The Smile - "A Light For Attracting Attention"
Caligula's Horse - "Charcoal Grace"
Haken - "Fauna"

Today I listened to:
Caligula's Horse - "Charcoal Grace"
Caligula's Horse - "Rise Radiant"
Moon Safari - "Himlabacken Vol. 2"

The new Caligula's Horse album ("Charcoal Grace") is pretty good! Don't know if it can beat "Rise Radiant", because that album is a masterpiece. Still very nice and already ordered the album.

Anyone familiar with The Smile? It's both the singer and the guitarist of Radiohead. The first album ("A Light For Attracting Attention") was interesting and had a few nice songs here and there. The new album ("Wall Of Eyes") is also interesting. But needs a lot of listens I guess. What a strange album! Actually, I don't know what to think of it.

Quote from: PH on Sat, 2024-01-27, 17:11:49Anyone familiar with The Smile? It's both the singer and the guitarist of Radiohead.

Nope, but I'm not into Radiohead either .

pp: IQ - Subterranea (classic )

np: Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace

Will play it again, but I'm afraid it is not my taste ... a bit too heavy and don't like the vocals that much. And the latter thing is pretty important .

Quote from: PH on Sat, 2024-01-27, 17:11:49Anyone familiar with The Smile? It's both the singer and the guitarist of Radiohead. The first album ("A Light For Attracting Attention") was interesting and had a few nice songs here and there. The new album ("Wall Of Eyes") is also interesting. But needs a lot of listens I guess. What a strange album! Actually, I don't know what to think of it.

I really like their first album, have not heard the new one yet but will surely check it out. Like the later Radiohead and Yorke solo stuff which I am very much into it is probably an acquired taste but I like it 😁

Today:
Airbag - The Greatest Show On Earth
Huis - Abandoned
Frost* - Day And Age
Mystery - The World Is A Game
Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 2

np: Different Light - Binary Suns Part 1 (Operant Condition)

Today:
Airbag - Disconnected
Mystery - Delusion Rain
Pendragon - Love Over Fear
The Pineapple Thief - Versions Of The Truth
Blind Ego - Numb
Bjørn Riis - Coming Home (EP)

np: Emerald City Council - Motion Carries

I do hear more Kansas than Toto in the music, not bad at all .

Pink Floyd - Animals

pp: Lonely Robot - A Model Life

John Mitchell's last album is definitely my favourite Lonely Robot album .

np: This Winter Machine - The Man Who Never Was

A great album from the UK!

Today:
Genesis - Selling England By The Pound
Soen - Lotus
Neal Morse - The Dreamer ~ Joseph: Part One
Mystery - Lies And Butterflies
Airbag - A Day At The Beach

np: This Winter Machine - The Clockwork Man

appeared in my "Discover Weekly" on Spotify, on my commute to work this morning. Sensational. So fresh, when a Piano appears in Rock music.
Looked him up, and found out he's in TOTO, also! Never knew his name, shame on me....

Quote from: Peter on Tue, 2024-02-06, 09:47:22appeared in my "Discover Weekly" on Spotify, on my commute to work this morning. Sensational. So fresh, when a Piano appears in Rock music.
Looked him up, and found out he's in TOTO, also! Never knew his name, shame on me....

Shame on you indeed . From his (only) solo album 'Forgotten Toys'. A way too short, yet enjoyable album!

pp: Neal Morse - The Restoration ~ Joseph: Part Two

np: Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 1

Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Empty

Quote from: Teunis on Thu, 2024-02-08, 19:55:43Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Empty

Also listened to that one today. Twas very nice! It's the first time I listen to a Kristoffer Gildenlöw album. Do you know the others? Are they as good?

Also played Caligula's Horse again with their latest album "Charcoal Grace". An excellent follow-up to the great "Rise Radiant". The first ten minute song The World Breathes With Me is fantastic!

And I played Haken's "Fauna". Somewhat in the same ballpark.

Also tried something new:
"Plastic Death" by "Glass Beach", which to me sounds influenced by Radiohead.

Wikipedia says:

QuoteGlass Beach (stylized as glass beach) are an American indie rock band from Seattle. Their music has been described as "heavy indie rock", blending influences including punk rock, math rock, and mid-century jazz. They cite some of their musical influences as Jeff Rosenstock, They Might Be Giants, and The Brave Little Abacus.

I don't know any of those artists, although I have heard of the name 'They Might Be Giants'. A nice name I might add.
Anyway, Indie Rock apparently. Not bad, and among the better of the lesser albums I've heard on my 2024 discovery journey.

Another one I tried was "Othervoid" by Transit Method. Not too bad either. The main problem I have with this band are the vocals. Not really a great singer, and it's as if he's screaming the lyrics. There's a little bit of a punk sound in the music as well. At least, I think so, I'm no expert on punk at all...

Their website says:

QuoteThe punk-metal riffs and dueling guitars on [the song] Psychometry evoke Mutoid Man and Iron Maiden, while the vocal harmonies and trad-metal gallop of The Outside recall Mastodon and Thin Lizzy.

Well, there you go.

In the end, it might not end up in my top ten of 2024, but it definitely has it's moments!


I like discovering bands that are balancing on the edge of my favorite genre. Sometimes you come across something nice that you would never have discovered otherwise.

Quote from: PH on Thu, 2024-02-08, 21:13:29It's the first time I listen to a Kristoffer Gildenlöw album. Do you know the others? Are they as good?

'Know' is a big word. I remember listening to previous albums once or twice, but this one seems better indeed. Will listen more often for sure!

Today:
Ayreon - Actual Fantasy
Arena - The Theory Of Molecular Inheritance
Gazpacho - Demon
Leprous - Pitfalls

np: The Pineapple Thief - It Leads To This

On Spotify. Already ordered it, but not in my record shop yet. Sounding great again ...

QuoteAlso listened to that one today. Twas very nice! It's the first time I listen to a Kristoffer Gildenlöw album. Do you know the others? Are they as good?

I recently bought his previous two albums and have been enjoying them. Not prog really but really good. On my way now to see him live, together with Galahad - the latter was the main driver for going but look forward to his set as well and will pick up the new album.

Quote from: erik on Sat, 2024-02-10, 19:55:29On my way now to see him live, together with Galahad - the latter was the main driver for going but look forward to his set as well and will pick up the new album.

Have fun

pp: Moon Safari - Himlabacken - Vol. 2

np: The Pineapple Thief - It Lead To This

Thanks Teunis, it was a great evening! Really enjoyed both sets. Gildenlow played his new album and three older tracks. With three guitarists it really sounded great and the new album is playing here now.

Galahad were on fire from the start with the track Alive, with the massive synth sounds of Dean Baker setting the scene. It was great to see them after all this time and the setlist was excellent with Guardian Angel, Empires Never Last, Sleepers, The Last Great Explorer, Shadow In The Corner, This Life Could Be My Last, The Long Goodbye and Seize The Day. Underrated band IMHO that are still going strong.