Pure Reason Revolution (PRR) are a kind-of crossover Indie / progressive rock band supposedly comparable to bands like Porcupine Tree and, more recently, Anathema; bands who’ve at least attempted to give the genre a new twist. After releasing Hammer And Anvil in 2011, PRR went their own way, but the band reunited in 2019 -..
SOLSTICE – Sia (GEP)
Solstice celebrate their fortieth anniversary in 2020 and, to commemorate the occasion, are releasing only their sixth studio album, though there have been a couple of ‘live’ albums as well to boost the numbers. They’re also marking the occasion by introducing a new vocalist, Jess Holland, who has really made her presence felt on the..
DYBLE LONGDON – Between A Breath And A Breath (English Electric Recordings)
Breath .. is a collaborative effort between Big Big Train’s David Longdon and ex-Fairport Convention and Trader Horne chanteuse Judy Dyble who happily, in recent years, emerged from what she referred to as her ‘thirty year career break’ to resume her singing career again, joining the Fairports at Cropredy for the band's thirtieth anniversary show..
MARY COUGHLAN – Life Stories (Hail Mary Records)
Alongside a certain other Mary .. O’Brien, aka Dusty Springfield !! .. Mary Coughlan is probably the most famous female Irish singer to have emerged in recent times, and she’s considered to be ‘Irish vocal royalty,’ which is some achievement considering she only began her singing career in 1994, at the age of 28! Coughlan’s..
STEVE HOWE – Love Is (BMG)
From being at the very epicentre of the Summer of Love with psych legends Tomorrow, up to giving fans some of the most epic moments in the prog genre, guitar legend Steve Howe has most definitely been there, seen it and done it .. more than once .. and his contribution and influence has been..
KANSAS – Singer Ronnie Platt gives his thoughts
Summer 2020 sees legendary US band Kansas releasing their seventeenth studio album, entitled The Absence of Presence, and it’s drenched in the sound which has made them one of the most iconic bands from the USA. You want classic rock, Prog rock and heart wrenching ballads, all played with the high quality of musicianship which..
GOLDRAY – FEEL THE CHANGE (Akashik Records)
If there’s one thing Goldray, Kenwyn House (ex-Reef) and Leah Rasmussen, cannot be accused of, it’s rushing. In existence now for around a decade, Feel the Change is only their second studio album, following on from 2017’s debut album, Rising, though part of the reason for this is Kenwyn being committed to completing projects undertaken..
MS AMY BIRKS – ALL THAT SHE IS…
I went through a divorce quite a few years ago, which was an emotionally turbulent time, and all of the emotion has fed into this new album. For Amy Birks, music has been all about a journey. In fact, it’s been a physical, creative and emotional one which has taken her from her home town..
MS AMY BIRKS – All That I Am And All That I Was (Ms Amy Birks)
When someone with a sweet, almost divine, voice sings lyrics which fairly tug at the heartstrings, but does so because the topic being sung about is based on a true situation, and not a pleasant one either, the emotions go into overdrive. Amy Birks was previously one third of the Beatrix Players, who won the..
GOLDRAY … Emerging from the Rabbit Hole again?
There’s nothing wrong with jeans and a T-shirt, and I don’t walk around in a Rick Wakeman cape all the time - but it can be a bit dull when nothing’s added to the visual" - Kenwyn House Ramblin’ Man festival 2018 .. For the first time the ‘Prog in the Park’ stage is now..