Nektar - A Tab In The Ocean (1972)

Nektar is another unique progressive band which can hardly be compared to any band. The songs here are varied. Lightly distorted organ is omnipresent. The epic 16 minutes "Tab in the Ocean" is made of aggressive symphonic keyboards and electric guitar full of distortion, near metal sometimes! "Waves" has mellow bits with pure electric guitar sounds. "King of Twilight" has some aggressive guitar parts, and there is a unique repetitive fast single note keyboards pattern a la Genesis "Watcher of the skies". The bass is delightful and the singer's voice is good.

Nektar est un autre groupe progressif unique qui peut difficilement être comparé à n'importe quel groupe. Les chansons ici sont variées. L'organe légèrement déformé est omniprésent. L'épopée de 16 minutes "Tab in the Ocean" est faite de claviers symphoniques agressifs et d'une guitare électrique pleine de distorsion, proche du métal parfois! "Waves" a des morceaux doux avec des sons de guitare électrique pure. "King of Twilight" a des parties de guitare agressives, et il y a un clavier unique à répétition rapide et unique à la Genesis "Watcher of the skies". La basse est délicieuse et la voix du chanteur est bonne.

Tracks :

1. A Tab In The Ocean (16:53) 

2. Desolation Valley / Waves (8:13) 

3. Crying In The Dark (6:29) 

4. King Of Twilight (4:22)  :

5. A Tab In The Ocean (16:04) 

6. Desolation Valley / Waves (8:33) 

7. Crying In The Dark (5:14) 

8. King Of Twilight (4:05) 

Line-Up :

Roye Albrighton : guitars, lead vocals

Alan "Taff" Freeman : keyboards, Mellotron, backing vocals

Derek "Mo" Moore : bass, backing vocals

Ron Howden : drums, percussion, backing vocals

Enjoy Music :

Nektar - A Tab In The Ocean (LP)

1972

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970)

Well it's a stunning debut album, characterized by some unforgettable tracks as well as tepid or annoying episodes in the same time..."Lucky Man" as a ballad was a famous hit single, but it's totally out of contest, in comparison for example to the splendid "The Barbarian" or the Fugue inside "Knife Edge" ...instead the mini-suite "Three Fates" is a controversial idea by EMERSON alone and it's not always inspiring from the point of view of its composition, even though his skill is excellent !

Eh bien, c'est un album époustouflant, caractérisé par des morceaux inoubliables et des épisodes tièdes ou agaçants dans le même temps ... "Lucky Man" en tant que ballade était un single à succès, mais il est totalement hors compétition, comparé par exemple à la splendide "The Barbarian" ou à la fugue à l'intérieur de "Knife Edge" ... même si la mini-suite "Three Fates" est une idée controversée d'Emerson et si elle n'est pas toujours inspirante du point de vue de sa composition. son habileté n'en est pas moins est excellente !

Tracks :

1. The Barbarian (4:32)

2. Take A Pebble (12:37)

3. Knife-Edge (With Extended Outro) (5:38)

4. Promenade (1:30)

5. The Three Fates: Atropos (Piano Trio) (3:12)

6. Rave Up (5:03)

7. Drum Solo (3:02)

8. Lucky Man (4:40)

9. Take A Pebble (Alternate Version) (3:40)

10. Knife-Edge (Alternate Version) (4:19)

11. Lucky Man (First Greg Lake Solo Version) (3:03)

12. Lucky Man (Alternate Version) (4:41)

Line-Up :

Greg Lake / vocals, bass, electric & acoustic guitars

Keith Emerson / Hammond organ, piano, clavinet, Royal Festival Hall pipe organ, modular Moog

Carl Palmer / drums, percussion

Enjoy Music :

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (LP)

1970

Starcastle - Fountains Of Lights (1977)

Starcastle's second album veers slightly from Yes to a more Kansas-ey sound but this is very relative. Like so many US prog band after Leftoverture was released and became a major seller, these guys couldn't help but adapting their soundscapes slightly, but they didn't reneg their Yes influences in doing so.

Le deuxième album de Starcastle passe légèrement de Yes à un son plus Kansas mais c'est très relatif. Comme beaucoup de groupes de prog US après la sortie de Leftoverture et est devenu un grand vendeur, ces gars-là n'ont pas pu s'empêcher d'adapter légèrement leurs paysages sonores, mais ils n'ont pas renié leurs influences Yes.

Tracks : 

1. Fountains (10:22) 

2. Dawning Of The Day (3:43) 

3. Silver Winds (4:54) 

4. True To The Light (6:25) 

5. Portraits (5:02) 

6. Diamond Song (Deep Is The Light) (5:35)

Line-Up :

Terry Luttrell : lead vocals

Matthew Stewart : electric & slide guitars, electric sitar, vocals

Stephen Hagler : guitar, piano, electric piano, vocals

Herb Schildt : synthesizer, organ, electric piano, Oberheim sequencer

Gary Strater : bass, Moog pedals, clavinet, vocals

Stephen Tassler : drums, percussion, vocals

Enjoy Music :

Starcastle - Fountains Of Lights (LP)

1977

Willowglass - Book of Hours (2008)

Willowglass's second album (actually Andrew Marshall, a talented multi-instrumentalist) is a sharp and tangy adventure into retro-prog. His swirling mellotron and crisp guitar takes you back to the 1970s, whether you want to go there or not. The sounds are pastoral and very pleasant, reminiscent of Camel.

Le deuxième album de Willowglass (en fait Andrew Marshall, un multi-instrumentiste talentueux) est une aventure pointue et piquante dans le rog. Son mellotron tourbillonnant et sa guitare vive vous ramènent aux années 1970, que vous vouliez y aller ou non. Les sons sont pastoraux et très agréables, rappelant Camel.

Tracks :

1 Argamasilla 11:04

2 Willowglass 4:02

3 The Maythorne Cross 10:39

4 Book Of Hours 7:13

5      The Labyrinth (16:50)

I) Prelude

II) The Journey

III) Don Quixote Rides Again

IV) Nature's Cathedral

V) Knight Of The White Moon

VI) The Spiral

Line-Up :

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Classical Guitar, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Pedalboard, Flute, Drums, Percussion – Andrew Marshall

Drums, Percussion – Dave Brightman

Enjoy Music :

Willowglass - Book of Hours (LP)

2008