Pete's Progressive Rock Pages start here

Ever since the early 1970's I have enjoyed music here are some of my reviews many of which have appeared in Audion Magazine.

   Abel Ganz Back from the Zone 
   F2 Music  
   72 min

Back from the Zone is a re-mastered compilation CD with 7 tracks covering the first three Abel Ganz’s albums and a new song amongst them and an 8 page colour booklet.  The Dangers of Strangers (Part 1) / The Unholy War / Little By Little / Dreamtime / The Dead Zone / The Pretender (2001) / Ventura (new material).  Abel Ganz have been around for nearly 20 years and were formed in 1980 by Hugh Carter (bass, 12 string, bass pedals ) and Hew Montgomery (Keyboards). Abel Ganz’s sound has strong influences by the stalwarts of the 70’s (Genesis, Pink Floyd and ELP),  but the most obvious classification would put them as being of a ‘neo-progressive rock style’ for all intended purposes.  For those that have never listened to Abel Ganz, this is a good starting point.  The 16min epic of The Dead Zone from 1982 is perhaps the ultimate in the band’s portfolio which is full of changing tempos and haunting melodically inspired repertoire.  The Danger of Strangers is also a pulsing and racy number reminiscent of the style of Grey Lady Down in parts.  The Unholy War and Little by Little are also aggressive tumultuous numbers that showed that Abel Ganz created a recognizable approach to progressive music over a long period of decades when others have fallen by the wayside. A new studio CD is promised for 2003.  

Of course there is the band’s website http://www.abelganz.org.uk/ as well to indulge yourself!

           IQ - Subterranea DVD 
              (GEPDVD9001)
          The Concert 2hr 30 min

Is this a monster Progrock extravaganza, which is the best alternative if you
can't see the band play live?  Possibly!!  No Definitively.
If there is anything that you needed to know about IQ and how the decision to
put together an ambitious project like this was made it is here for you to
experience in the making of Subterranea. There is something absolutely unique
about Subterranea LIVE that provides IQ's music at its best accompanying with
well thought out and clever projecting imagery, interspersed with Peter
Nicholas costume changes.  The DVD is divided into the main feature with the
band commentary like a fly on the wall documentary.  The complete Subterranea
set is performed (with admitted hic-cups that occurred) but is a polished performance with 5.1 Surround Sound and presented for the listener without equal.  A pity it was recorded in Tilbury Holland 4th April 1999 rather than somewhere in their homeland!   Subterranea is a long conceptual work but IQ stage performance is professional, precise and leaves one's hairs standing on the back of the neck.
My favourite tracks are Speak my Name, with sparklers lighting the concert hall
and shows the closeness of audience to band, but also because it connects with
myself personally.  Another on is King of Fools with a haunting riff that has a
sinister feel to it.  But the tour de force is The Narrow Margin, which
accumulates, in true IQ fashion with a restrained emotional crescendo that pulsate within you with outstanding visual projections.  There are also encore tracks, Human Nature and the classic The Wake that of  course traditional IQ fans will thoroughly enjoy. There is also a Photo Gallery  and Orchestral Overture included in the package.  Although this DVD is non- region specific according to GEP, it is only available in PAL format. GEP hope  to make a US format NTSC version available in due course.  So what do you do next? An order form can be downloaded from: www.gep.co.uk/iq/buycd.html

              Flamborough Head
              Defining the legacy
             (Cycl CD096) 68 min

Defining the legacy begins with tremendous keyboards producing a grandiose and lush symphonic sound accompanied by Siebe Rein Schaaf’s intense vocals that are emotionally charged. A fine guitar solo propels the song as it weaves in and out of some terrific instrumental passages with light and shade textures of the band in full flow. House of Cards runs into Garden of Dreams totaling about 20 min of progressive music, were I can hear some elements of Grey Lady Down (GLD) influence. Twin keyboard players produce some stirring symphonic pieces bringing together Hammond and Church Organ, overlapping with. Andre Cents’ fine guitar riffs.  Flamborough Head manages on this CD to explore new areas of their musical style.  For example Impulse is a heavier song (with hints of Pallas in places). Whereas, Bridge to the Promised Land has an orchestral introduction which changes into a slow moving Ballard kind of song (again resembles Grey Lady Down) with a mighty guitar solo bringing the band and orchestra playing together to good affect.  Mind Sculpture finishes the album in excellent fashion - a combination of many progressive styles from the UK as already mentioned Grey Lady Down Pendragon or if I must say it early Marillion - and not over committed to follow one musical influence.

Therefore, Defining the Legacy has improved the symphonic progressive side of the band who has developed a more matured sound with marvellous keyboard playing throughout.  This release is designed for those people who like Egdon Heath and other neo-progressive bands from the UK.