Now Playing Thread

[Teunis]

Today:
Chicago - The Heart Of Chicago (Compilation)
Frost* - Life In The Wires
Kingcrow - Hopium

The latter one is my favourite 2024 release. I'll see them live in May, looking forward to it . Klone will be the other band performing that evening, it's a double headliner show. That's why I'm now playing:

Klone - Le Grand Voyage

I'll post my top-10 favourite 2024 releases as soon as possible, but I already spoiled my no. 1 .

[Teunis]

Today:
Electric Light Orchestra - Out Of The Blue
Mystery - Delusion Rain
Muse - The 2nd Law

np: Pattern-Seeking Animals - Spooky Action At A Distance

[Teunis]

Soen - Lykaia

Eight years old today. With this album my love for this band started .

[Teunis]

Today:
Blind Ego - The Hunting Party
Arena - The Visitor
Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle
IQ - Resistance

Looking forward to the new IQ album 'Dominion', which will be released on 28th March.

[Teunis]

Today:
Knight Area - D-Day
Huis - In The Face Of The Unknown
Damian Wilson - Cosmas
Wetton/Downes - Icon II Rubicon

[Teunis]

Today:
Toto - Tambu
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Lonely Robot - A Model Life
Steve Thorne - Malice in Plunderland

np: Ghost Of The Machine - Scissorgames

[PH]

Over the past few days, I've been checking out some albums released in January. Just to get a sense of where 2025 is heading musically. Let me know if I've missed anything worth checking out!

Beriedir – "Liminal Spaces"
This reminded me of Soen, but not quite as impressive. There are also some occasional growls. The problem is that nothing really sticks. Unfortunately, I found it pretty dull. That said, I'm sure this will appeal to a certain audience. It's just not for me.

Sailor Free – "Spiritual Revolution, Part 3"
On my first listen, this didn't leave much of an impression. But on the second spin (which was today, ]actually), something clicked. Pretty cool album! It occasionally reminded me of Riverside. Maybe because the singer sounds a bit like Mariusz, but also like a mix between Ross Jennings and Kevin Gilbert. If that makes sense (which it probably doesn't).

Crypto Knight – "A Traveller's Tale"
Yeah... this is not good. Feels like someone took their hobby a little too seriously. Everything sounds uninspired. They really should have asked someone outside their close circle if this was a good idea.   

Tyler Kamen – "Third Eye Temple"
I don't know how he does it, but this guy is insanely productive, dropping multiple albums a year. Some are obviously better than others, but they all have a bit of a tongue-in-cheek vibe. His music will probably never be a personal favorite, but I'll always check out 'a new Tyler Kamen' just to see what he's up to.

Flor De Loto – "Cosmos"
Not bad, but I just can't connect to it. Could be that the Italian language plays a part in that too.

Labyrinth – "In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye"
The best thing about this band is the singer. The worst thing about this band is also the singer. He is in Mangala Vallis (their album "Voices" made my 2020 list). His vocals are all over the place, and after a while, I get tired of his voice and therefore the music. Labyrinth leans more toward Power Metal, in the vein of Rhapsody (Of Fire), which isn't really my thing. But I'm sure plenty of people will love this.

Let See Thin – "Machine Called Life"
Now this was a surprise! What a cool album! Definitely in the Neo-Prog vein, with that unmistakable Polish sound. So far, this is my favorite 2025 release (for January, at least). It reminded me of bands like Satellite, Collage, Believe, Quidam, Millennium, and the like. Check them out!

Mogwai – "The Bad Fire"
Yeah, this kind of music just isn't for me. Every song feels like the same song. It sounds good, sure, but it also sounds like every other Post-Rock (or Math-Rock, or whatever we're calling it these days) album.

Jonathan Hultén – "Eyes Of The Living Night"
Second solo album from this guy. I really liked the first one. The second one is more of the same. Not bad, but not mind-blowing either. I've only given it one listen so far, though, so I'll give it some more time.

[Teunis]

Don't know (the music of) any of the bands you mention in the previous post, but will listen two albums that made me curious: Sailor Free and Let See Thin.

pp: Subsignal - A Poetry Of Rain

np: Dream Theater - Parasomnia

Their music never clicked with me, probably a bit too heavy for my taste ...

[Teunis]

Today:
Blind Ego - Liquid
Asia (with John Payne) - Arena
Asia (with John Wetton) - Gravitas
Shadow Gallery - Carved In Stone
Perfect Beings - Perfect Beings

np: Let See Thin - Machine Called Life

I really like this kind of electronic prog. Nice melodies and I like the vocals which is very essential. Good recommendation PH, thanks!

[Teunis]

Different Light - Binary Suns Part One (Operant Condition)

[Teunis]

Today:
IQ - Ever 2018 Remix (Live)
Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
Neal Morse - Momentum

np: Pattern Seeking Animals - Friend Of All Creatures

Released today, listening on Spotify. Needs some more listenings, but it's a fine album I'd say.

[Teunis]

pp: Neal Morse Band - The Great Adventure

Now listening to Prog Non Stop #730

[Teunis]

Today:
Steve Lukather - Lukather
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
Riverside - Live ID

np: Sailor Free - Spiritual Revolution Part 3

A number of nice tracks, only a few I don't like that (yet). Good call again!

[Teunis]

pp: Subsignal - A Poetry Of Rain

I read yesterday that vocalist Arno Menses decided to leave the band. Such a shame! Glad that I saw them live last year with him. But, also curious who the new singer will be and what he will bring.

np: The Aurora Project - EVOS12

[Teunis]

Today:
Leprous - Melodies Of Atonement
Genesis - We Can't Dance
Kayak - The Best Of Kayak
Mystery - One Among The Living

np: Pattern-Seeking Animals - Friend Of All Creatures

[Teunis]

pp: Gazpacho - Fireworker

Now listening to Prog Non Stop #732

With e.g. Arena - Unexpected Dawn (from 'The Unquiet Sky').

[Teunis]

pp:
Fischer-Z - Building Bridges
Toto - Falling In Between Live
Ayreon - Ayreonauts Only
Throes Of Dawn - Our Voices Shall Remain
Muse - The Resistance

np: Ghost Of The Machine - Empires Must Fall

Released today, listening on Bandcamp. Just heard it once, but will probably buy it. Sounding great .

[Teunis]

Today:
Kingcrow - Hopium
Leprous - Melodies Of Atonement
Von Hertzen Brothers - In Murmuration
Huis - In The Face Of The Unknown
Pink Floyd - The Final Cut

np: Mostly Autumn - Seawater

Although I'm not that fond of female vocals, this is a pleasant listening. Great album I'd say.

[Teunis]

pp:
Erik Norlander - Music Machine
Riverside - Shrine Of New Generation Slaves
The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia

np: Karmakanic - Transmutation

[Teunis]

pp:
Erik Norlander - Music Machine
Riverside - Shrine Of New Generation Slaves
The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia
Silhouette - Across The Rubicon
Frost* - Day And Age
Kingcrow - Hopium
Soup - Visions
Toto - Isolation
Anathema - Judgement

np: Ghost Of The Machine - Empires Must Fall

More and more impressed by this album, wow .

[Teunis]

pp: Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 2

np: Everon - Shells