Porcupine Come

THE BLACK NOODLE PROJECT is the name of a present French Progressive rock band, located in the Paris suburbs. It was first initiated in the year 2001 by guitarist and singer Jérémie GRIMA, who hired a real group shortly thereafter. And three years later, the result of their chemistry is now available to the audience, through the office of the Musea label. Deeply influenced by the works of PINK FLOYD, the music of the first album ""And Life Goes On…"" (2004) appears to be both atmospheric and dynamic, reminding a seducing modern form of Progressive rock…

Bridging prog’s lost years between the behemoths of old and new astral wanderers such as Porcupine Tree and IQ, Gizmo were deeply out of step with the times. Distilling the prog template of old into shorter, palatable songs, however, Gizmo fashioned a record that was in fact way ahead of it’s time. There are clearly New Wave touches to the likes of Those Lying Eyes and Long Gone Song, but the influence of the Canterbury scene generally, and Gentle Giant specifically, make this an album fans of both periods should savour. That the band clearly understood the limits of endless noodling is most discernable on Come The Day, on which Maurice Memmott’s able fiddle lends a welcome folkiness. Of course, Gizmo weren’t successful at the time, but this is testament that, come the tail-end of the 70s, prog was still bubbling healthily underground…

4.5 stars. Easily becoming one of my favourite Jad Warrior albums. I highly recommend this album to fans of Porcupine Tree, David Sylvian solo, Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Flower Kings, Steve Morse-era Deep Purple, Djivan Gasparyan, Dead Can Dance, Elbow, old and modern King Crimson, David Gilmour solo, later period Talk Talk, Michael Brook and Rush(yes…Rush!). Also, throw in the kitchen sink with _world musics_ and the mid-period chamber rock/ambient works of '74-'78 Jade Warrior…

Created at the dawn of the Third Millenium, Verbal Delirium is a Progressive rock band from Greece. This trio, made of Jargon (Compositions, vocals & keyboards), Nikitas Kissnas (Guitar) and Nik Michailidis (Bass), plus a cello player and a drummer. "So Close And Yet So Far Away" (2010) is collection of ten melodic songs and instrumental pieces brilliantly played and produced, somewhere between Progressive rock and hard-rock. The (English) lyrics are briillantly performed, and the music isvery dynamic, with a wide range of influences. That includes Peter Hammill, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Camel, Porcupine Tree… Verbal Delirium combines powerful and sometimes heavy guitars, intense singing, strong melodies, and symphonic keyboards, in a pleasant and promising manner…

"No One's Words" by Israeli proggers, Ephrat, is a great debut CD and gives a hopeful glimpse of more to come. Ephrat has found renowned supporters in Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), who mixed this debut album, guest vocalists Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain Of Salvation) and Petronella Nettermalm (Paatos), and delivers a colourful mix of European influences and the atmospheric tone sequences of the Middle East - the benchmark data of this group could hardly be more promising.
The Middle Eastern influence isn't something that Ephrat beat listeners over the head with, but it is present nonetheless. In contrast to the prog rock bands that were formed in the '90s or 2000s but go out of their way to emulate '60s and '70s bands, Ephrat draw inspiration from different eras…

Riverside are one of the most universally acclaimed bands on this site, with all four of their album releases to date comfortably achieving in excess of 4 stars. It is perhaps surprising then that this is the band's first DVD release, and thus the first chance most of us have had to witness them live…