Danny Bonte

Rock On! Wednesday, 17 September 2025 – Magma, Zao, Gong, Laurent Thibault, Weidorje & Archaia

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Dan’s pick of the week: Magma (Mëkanïk Dëstruktïw Kömmandöh), Zao (Z=7l), Gong (Radio Gnome Invisible Vol. 3 – You), Laurent Thibault (Mais on Ne Peut Pas Rêver Tout Le Temps), Weidorje (Weidorje) & Archaia (Archaia).

Magma is een Franse progressieve-rockband die in 1969 opgericht werd door Christian Vander, drummer en zanger van de groep. De band werd twee jaar na de dood van jazz-saxofonist John Coltrane, voor wie Vander een grote bewondering had, gesticht. Diens invloed is dan ook goed te merken in de muziek van Magma.

JazzMusic Archives (JMA) review: Mëkanïk Dëstruktïw Kömmandöh apparently tells the tale of a Kobaian prophet named Nebehr Gudahtt, who warms the human race that they are destroying their planet and have to change their naughty ways.… Read more...

Art Rock Show – Great Wide Nothing – A Shout Into the Void (Week 37)

Het Britse combo Nova Cascade werd eind 2010 opgericht als een ambient/progressieve rockproject door Dave Hilborne (synthesizers, zang), Dave Fick (bas), Charlie Bramald (fluit), Alessio Projetti (gitaar) en Heather Lesile (viool). Hun eerste album “Above All Else” werd uitgebracht in september 2018. Box Man is helaas de laatste plaat voor deze groep.

Prog Archives review: “They created an interesting debut with “The View From Olympus,” which has been described as a legitimate evolution of ’90s neo-prog, combining band arrangements based on vintage organs and synthesizers influenced by ’70s art/prog rock with clear vocals and melodies characteristic of Neal Morse-style American progressive hard rock, creating an impressive depth and scale that’s hard to believe comes from a trio arrangement.

Following the two-disc conceptual masterpiece of their debut album, “Hymns For Hungry Spirits,” which was a more modern and technical take on their debut style, this fourth album, their first label release, marks a turning point where they’ve shed the blockbuster-oriented tendencies of their previous albums and instead packed each song tightly while retaining their strengths, such as catchy melodies and brilliant keyboard work.… Read more...

Art Rock Show – Nova Cascade – Box Man (Week 36)

De Britse combo Nova Cascade werd eind 2010 opgericht als een ambient/progressieve rockproject door Dave Hilborne (synthesizers, zang), Dave Fick (bas), Charlie Bramald (fluit), Alessio Projetti (gitaar) en Heather Lesile (viool). Hun eerste album “Above All Else” werd uitgebracht in september 2018. Box Man is helaas de laatste plaat voor deze groep.

The Progressive Aspect (TPA): “The stunning opening track, The Choice, which clocks in at an epic 28 minutes, explores the consequences of one man’s decision to change his life by following an enigmatic signal and embarking on a mysterious quest. Musically its form consists of contrasting episodes, with little thematic continuity or development, but it is unified by an overarching narrative; in Dave’s words, “the moral of the tale is that we are all looking for something in one form or another, but with that comes many different consequences.… Read more...

Rock On! Wednesday, 3 September 2025 – PFM, Quella Vecchia Locanda, Area, Fabrizio De André, Alphataurus & Le Orme

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Dan’s pick of the week: PFM (Photos of Ghosts), Quella Vecchia Locanda (Il Tempo Della Gioia), Area (Maledetti), Fabrizio De André (Storia Di Un Impiegato), Alphataurus (Alphataurus) & Le Orme (In Concerto).

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) is een van de meest toonaangevende en invloedrijke progressieve rockbands uit Italië. De groep werd opgericht eind jaren zestig in Milaan en wist zich in de jaren zeventig internationaal te onderscheiden door hun virtuoze spel, rijke arrangementen en een unieke mix van rock, klassieke muziek en traditionele Italiaanse invloeden.

Zap Niles review: “Immediately afterward, the group either re-recorded or remixed some of its past material (mostly from its sophomore album) and added English lyrics, created one additional song as well (“Old Rain”), and packaged the “new” album as Photos of Ghosts, thus giving PFM more worldwide exposure through the Manticore distribution channels.… Read more...