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[Bupie]

Their second album is something special. They have taken a big leap forward.

I agree.

And 2015 will bring great albums too: e.g. Toto, DeeExpus, Sylvan, Subsignal .

Looking forward to these two indeed !

JF Kansas - Vinyl Confessions

NP Kansas - Audio-Visions 

[PH]

I agree.

Flying Colors reminds me a lot of Transatlantic on this album. Actually, I think I like this album better than "Kaleidoscope" which was released earlier this year...

Fun fact about Transatlantic: "The name of the band was originally planned to be "Second Nature", but was changed to Transatlantic on suggestion by the cover artist Per Nordin."
source: Wikipedia


NP: Threshold - "For The Journey" (again)

[Teunis]

Anathema - Alternative 4

[PH]

What a coincidence Teunis. At the moment I'm listening to:

Anathema - "Distant Satellites"

Which is alright (actually, it's more than 'alright'), but didn't make such an impact on me as "Weather Systems" did. That album was a huge impact and opened my eyes to Anathema.

[PH]

That album was a huge impact and opened my eyes to Anathema.

Now that I think of it. The first ever album I heard by Anathema was "Falling Deeper". Nevertheless "Weather Systems" was still a huge impact and remains my favourite.


JP:
Big Big Train - "English Electric, Part One"

NP:
Big Big Train - "English Electric, Part Two"

[erik]

David Bowie:  Outside  and  Earthling

Very experimental and original

Any other Bowie fans here ?

- Nicky

Yep, here's another one. I have "The Platinum Collection" (3cd), Hours, Heathen, Reality, Reality Tour Live, Next Day and am familiar with Earthling and Outside. Great stuff. Heathen is my favourite of the later works, before that I don't really know the albums except for the tracks that are on "Platinum Collection". He has quite a serious discography indeed.

On topic: np Mystery - The World Is A Game

bp: Fish - A Feast Of Consequences

[Bupie]

NP Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

One of my "never gets airplay" famous prog albums. Giving it another try ...

Edit : I think that even if it was the only song left on Earth, I still would not like Shallow  There are nice songs though (Lazarus, Arriving ...) but Deadwing will never become a favorite of mine, I am afraid ...

[Bupie]

NP Work Of Art - Artwork

[Teunis]

Now that I think of it. The first ever album I heard by Anathema was "Falling Deeper". Nevertheless "Weather Systems" was still a huge impact and remains my favourite.

Mine was 'We're Here Because We're Here. Although I still love it, I find 'Weather Systems' a tiny bit better.

Today:
Knight Area - Hyperdrive
Gazpacho - Demon
Pendragon - Men Who Climb Mountains

np: The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia

[Teunis]

Opeth - Pale Communion

[PH]

NP Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

One of my "never gets airplay" famous prog albums. Giving it another try ...

Edit : I think that even if it was the only song left on Earth, I still would not like Shallow  There are nice songs though (Lazarus, Arriving ...) but Deadwing will never become a favorite of mine, I am afraid ...

"Deadwing" is one of my absolute favourite prog albums. It's in my top five of 2005. "Octavarium", "Pepper's Ghost", "?" and "Picture" are the other four.
I like the brutalness of Shallow. The instrumental middle bit where it goes crazy (and with the unintelligible vocals) is an adrenaline moment for me. But I agree that Arriving Somewhere But Not Here is probably the best track on the album.

Wow... how opinions differ...


NP: Gazpacho - "March Of Ghosts"

This album is really nice. I think I would recommend this album to anyone who doesn't know Gazpacho. It's the easiest to get into I guess. Nice melodies that actually go somewhere. Gazpacho is a very difficult band to get into anyway. I do recognise the quality in their recent "Demon" album, but I need more time with that one.

[maddox]

Marillion ~ Grendel

[PH]

Gazpacho - "Demon"

Ok, some very nice bits here and there. The bonus track is pretty. Can't see this being my number one this year though. Most of the songs are just too long I guess. Some nice moments and clever ideas but spread out over a long dull track. They do the shorter songs really well.
And "Night" was so much better. I was really mesmerized by that one. And it had long songs too. So I dunno what it is. From what I've heard "Tick Tock" was also better (is that remastered edition still going to be released?) and "March Of Ghosts", well, I just told you. Really like that one.

Teunis, how do you rate the Gazpacho albums? I know you're pretty fond of "Tick Tock" and I remember you saying "Demon" was pretty high on your 2014 releases?

I always forget that they've released three albums before "Night". It's their breakthrough album ofcourse. But "Bravo" has some nice moments as well!

[Bupie]

"Deadwing" is one of my absolute favourite prog albums. It's in my top five of 2005. "Octavarium", "Pepper's Ghost", "?" and "Picture" are the other four.
I like the brutalness of Shallow. The instrumental middle bit where it goes crazy (and with the unintelligible vocals) is an adrenaline moment for me. But I agree that Arriving Somewhere But Not Here is probably the best track on the album.

Wow... how opinions differ...

Indeed ... but I think that we are both tolerant enough to live with these different opinions

NP DeeExpus - King Of Number 33

It's incredible how this album has grown on me. I am almost to the point where I want to get on that bus. Bring the new album (unfortunately with a change of vocalist  ) !

[Teunis]

From what I've heard "Tick Tock" was also better (is that remastered edition still going to be released?)

Definitely, this is what Gazpacho wrote on their Facebook page on 5th October:
The cd remaster of tick tock with bonus track "independence day" should also be ready in a few weeks so as you gather, we're milking our back catalogue dry. Just kidding, as it has been unavailable for so long on cd it will be nice to know that it's back in the world.

Teunis, how do you rate the Gazpacho albums? I know you're pretty fond of "Tick Tock" and I remember you saying "Demon" was pretty high on your 2014 releases?

I always forget that they've released three albums before "Night". It's their breakthrough album ofcourse. But "Bravo" has some nice moments as well!

You are right about 'Tick Tock'; still my favourite Gazpacho album, then Night, Demon (played it a lot and still growing), March Of Ghosts and Missa Atropos. The albums before 'Night' are nice, but not so essential IMO.

jp: Moonrise - Soul's Inner Pendulum
np: Pendragon - Men Who Climb Mountains

[maddox]

Definitely, this is what Gazpacho wrote on their Facebook page on 5th October:
The cd remaster of tick tock with bonus track "independence day" should also be ready in a few weeks so as you gather, we're milking our back catalogue dry. Just kidding, as it has been unavailable for so long on cd it will be nice to know that it's back in the world.
You are right about 'Tick Tock'; still my favourite Gazpacho album, then Night, Demon (played it a lot and still growing), March Of Ghosts and Missa Atropos. The albums before 'Night' are nice, but not so essential IMO.

Splendid!

Mine was thrashed by some handsome young dude who took 'cleaning up' a little bit too seriously.

np> Enchant ~ The Great Divide

I was waiting for this.
Nice new album of Enchant.
Was it worth the wait?
Yes, and no.
No, because now that Ted is the singer in the Mighty Beard he sounds somewhat misplaced in Enchant.
Yes, because I always had a weak spot for this band.

[PH]

Indeed ... but I think that we are both tolerant enough to live with these different opinions

No!

NP DeeExpus - King Of Number 33

It's incredible how this album has grown on me. I am almost to the point where I want to get on that bus. Bring the new album (unfortunately with a change of vocalist  ) !

I still need to listen properly to this album. I don't even know why I bought it. But it seems you are pretty enthusiastic about it, so I'll definitely will give it a try.

Definitely, this is what Gazpacho wrote on their Facebook page on 5th October:
The cd remaster of tick tock with bonus track "independence day" should also be ready in a few weeks so as you gather, we're milking our back catalogue dry. Just kidding, as it has been unavailable for so long on cd it will be nice to know that it's back in the world.

Nice! I'm looking forward to giving them my money.

You are right about 'Tick Tock'; still my favourite Gazpacho album, then Night, Demon (played it a lot and still growing), March Of Ghosts and Missa Atropos.

I have to say "Demon" is indeed a grower! Liked it much better already than the last time I played it. And now I feel the urge to play it again, which is absolutely a good sign. "Missa Atropos" is the other album that I have played just once and need to revisit really soon.

The albums before 'Night' are nice, but not so essential IMO.

I agree. Not essential indeed. But from "Night" on they are a band to be reckoned with. Now that I think of it, their music is actually totally different from anything else.
It IS an interesting band.

np> Enchant ~ The Great Divide

I was waiting for this.
Nice new album of Enchant.
Was it worth the wait?
Yes, and no.
No, because now that Ted is the singer in the Mighty Beard he sounds somewhat misplaced in Enchant.
Yes, because I always had a weak spot for this band.

Can you please explain why he sounds misplaced in Enchant? I don't get it.
I'm very curious to this release, because although initially I didn't like Ted's voice that much, I came to really like it!
I'll check it out!
Have to set priorities though, because there are soooooooo many new albums coming out lately. It's hard to keep up.
I think I can name more than five albums that have been released and that I would like to have.

The new Lunatic Soul is one of them. Anyone heard that one yet?

[Bupie]

I still need to listen properly to this album. I don't even know why I bought it. But it seems you are pretty enthusiastic about it, so I'll definitely will give it a try.

You own it ? Play it ASAP. Don't be turned off by the heaviness of the first song (as I was at first but now I love it !) because right after that you get the wonderful Maybe September, then the clever instrumental Marty And The Magic Moose (nice title, isn't it ?), then the long eponymous epic (that takes time to sink in but is worth the effort) and, last but not least, the closer Memo.

I'm very curious to this release, because although initially I didn't like Ted's voice that much, I came to really like it!
I'll check it out!

I just ordered the two CDs edition. My advice would be to go for this one since it's just a few euros more (at least here in France) and it has some great songs from previous albums on CD 2.

NP Threshold - March Of Progress 

[PH]

You own it ? Play it ASAP. Don't be turned off by the heaviness of the first song (as I was at first but now I love it !) because right after that you get the wonderful Maybe September, then the clever instrumental Marty And The Magic Moose (nice title, isn't it ?), then the long eponymous epic (that takes time to sink in but is worth the effort) and, last but not least, the closer Memo.

Coincidentally I was just playing this. And I instantly remembered the first three songs which means that the hooks are there and were locked in my subconscious.
I don't mind the heaviness of the first track at all. I didn't even notice it was heavy.
The second song has a very slow first half, which made me skip the song when I first listened to it. But the second half is Neo-Prog of the highest order. Fantastic song indeed.
Marty And The Magic Moose is also really nice.
Really like these first three songs. After that, as you say, it needs more time to sink in. But I'll make sure to invest more into it.

I don't understand what happened to Mark Kelly in Marillion. He's really all over the place here on this album. But in Marillion he's more playing ambient soundscapes with an occasional minimalistic solo.

I just ordered the two CDs edition. My advice would be to go for this one since it's just a few euros more (at least here in France) and it has some great songs from previous albums on CD 2.

That seems like a very nice bonus.

[Bupie]

The second song has a very slow first half, which made me skip the song when I first listened to it. But the second half is Neo-Prog of the highest order. Fantastic song indeed.

I don't understand what happened to Mark Kelly in Marillion. He's really all over the place here on this album. But in Marillion he's more playing ambient soundscapes with an occasional minimalistic solo.

I read an Andy Ditchfield's interview where he specifies that he plays a lot of keyboards himself on the album -not to minimize Mark Kelly's input, though- and that it is funny how much people can go wrong when being asked what parts are Mark Kelly's or his. But I join you when you state -in other words- that the keyboards parts are more exciting here than on recent Marillion albums. I think that the last Marillion album where I really enjoyed the keyboards is This Strange Engine.

PP Threshold - Dead Reckoning
PP Threshold - Critical Mass
PP Threshold - Hypothetical
NP Threshold - Subsurface

Next on the line are Critical Energy and For The Journey. Because, yes, you noticed it, today is "Threshold's Marathon Day". As for every marathon, it can be tiring at times but in this case it also produces an above average rise of endorphins : Light And Space, Slipstream, Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams, Mission Profile, Ashes, The Hours, That's Whty We Came, etc. It sure helps to run faster 

Still don't know where For The Journey will rank at the end of the race but so far March Of Progress remains a solid leader, closely followed by Dead Reckoning. For The Journey is competing with Hypothetical and Subsurface while Critical Mass is a few meters behind. The older contenders, I don't know them 

Edit : wow, Subsurface is really good, it has left Hypothetical behind and is gaining some significant ground over Dead Reckoning. I think that by now even March In Progress' first place is not safe. Ground Control, Stop Dead, Flags And Footprints (my favorite ballad of theirs), awesome stuff !

[Teunis]

Today:
Abel Ganz - Abel Ganz
Pendragon - Men Who Climb Mountains
Toto - Absolutely Live
Threshold - For The Journey

The new Lunatic Soul is one of them. Anyone heard that one yet?

np: Lunatic Soul - Walking On A Flashlight Beam

Second time that I hear it. In the same vein as the other albums, but I'd say it's less dark. Beautiful stuff, but needs more listenings to 'land' .

[Teunis]

IQ - The Road Of Bones ( certainly in the top-3 of favourite 2014 releases)

[maddox]

Can you please explain why he sounds misplaced in Enchant? I don't get it.
I'm very curious to this release, because although initially I didn't like Ted's voice that much, I came to really like it!
I'll check it out!

For some reason he sounds better with Spock's Beard than with Enchant.
Don't know why...a gut feeling.

[Teunis]

jp: Cosmograf - Capacitor
np: Pink Floyd - Animals

[Teunis]

Today:
Knight Area - Hyperdrive
Threshold - For The Journey
Toto - Tambu

np: SymphoShop (radio)