27th Art Rock Show: On We Sail

The Samurai of Prog zijn een Italiaans-Fins-Amerikaans retro-prog supergroep met een klein leger aan gastmuzikanten. En dat het klinkt! Review van Progarchives.com: “It’s amazing how The Samurai Of Prog have maintained such a fast-paced activity in recording, without wearing out in the artistic sense. While the double album Lost and Found (2016), based on unrealeased prog compositions of the 70’s bands mostly from North America, is actually still demanding more listening rounds — I’ve had some feelings of tiredness with that one –, the multi-national prog-Gasthaus have now released their most mature work. This is a beautiful and perfectly balanced 65-minute set of finely crafted symphonic prog. That’s right: symphonic. Don’t always trust the given sub-genre. If you’re still new to this band that originally was “only” a project for covers of well known prog classics, now is a perfect moment to jump on board.

I was unsure whether I should do some research on the key-playing composers unfamiliar to me, but I’ll leave that up to you. ‘On We Sail’ is written by Kerry Shacklett. Lyrics and vocal melodies are by TSOP’s vocalist-violinist-flautist Steve Unruh). There are classic prog elements hinting at Kansas, ELP, Yes and Genesis. Unruh (perhaps comparable to Tommy Eriksson of Ageness) is not my favourite vocalists in contemporary prog, but on this album his slightly nasal voice is not overused. ‘Elements of Life’, composed by Octavio Stampalia (Jinetes Negros), is a very dynamic, tempo-shifting track with an emphasis on instrumental power. (…)

I confess: it was today that I received this album, but I’ve been listening to it again and again already. I think this is going to be among the finest prog releases of 2017. A strong recommendation!”

Naast The Samurai of Prog met On We Sail hebben we deze week: Von Hertzen Brothers (Love Remains the Same), Iamthemorning (From the House of Arts), Gazpacho (Night), El Doom & the Born Electric (El Doom & the Born Electric), Machines Dream (Machines Dream) and Russian Circles (Russian Circles).

• Thursday/Donderdag 12.00 – 18.00 & 18.00 – 24.00
• Friday/Vrijdag 12.00 – 18.00 & 18.00 – 24.00
• Saturday / Zaterdag 12.00 – 18.00