Mariusz Duda began his extraordinary musical journey back in the late nineteen nineties, as a member of bands such as Xanadu before, in 2001, joining the band with which he’s become better known for fronting, atmospheric progmeisters Riverside. The band were started by Piotr Grudzinski (guitar), Piotr Kozieradzki (Drums) and Jacek Melnicki (keyboard), and the..
RIVERSIDE – Lost ‘n’ Found: Live In Tilburg (InsideOut)
Previously only available as a limited edition fan club release, and as a bonus disc on the reissue of Anno Domini, High Definition, Live in Tilburg features Polish progmeisters Riverside giving an outstanding performance on their 2015 'Towards the Blue Horizon' tour, which this reviewer was fortunate enough to see. There was always going to..
LUNATIC SOUL – Through Shaded Woods (Kscope)
Lunatic Soul is the side project of Mariusz Duda, bassman and vocalist with Riverside, who’ve established themselves as one of the most important and highly regarded prog bands in the genre, and with this he’s able to go into areas and explore ideas, themes and concepts Riverside aren’t able to. As he says, 'one band..
PURE REASON REVOLUTION – The Dark Third: Reissue (InsideOut)
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..