Danny Bonte

Art Rock Show – Uomini Di Sabbia (Week 31)

Nathan is terug met een derde album, met als titel Uomini di Sabbia (Zandmannen). Afkomstig uit Savona (Italië) en geleid door Piergiorgio Abba (keyboards, akoestische gitaar) en Bruno Lugaro (zang) blijft de band trouw aan hun roots van de Italiaanse prog.

Jan Buddenberg van DPRP.net: “Joining the composing duo of Abba and Lugaro, one now finds Giulio Smeraglivolo (guitars) and Luca Grosso (drums, except on Delerio Oniroco). Bass parts are now shared almost evenly between guests Fabio Zunino and Dino Cerruti. With Fabio Sanfilippo (drums) and Mauro Brunzu (bass) returning on the aforementioned Delerio Oniroco, this new album’s line up is complete.

The loosely bound theme on Uomini di Sabbia involves “the human being, his weaknesses and inability to contrast abuses”, with the longest suite on the album being specifically themed upon Big Brother and Utopian freedom.… Read more...

Art Rock Show – Daedalus (Week 30)

Daal wordt gevormd door percussionist Davide Guidoni en toetsenist Alfio Costa. Ze zijn beiden ervaren muzikanten in de Italiaanse Prog rock scene – Guidoni is een drummer die heeft gewerkt met Taproban, The Far Side, Gallant Farm, Nuova Era en andere. Costa (Tilion, Prowlers, Colossus project, Dark Session) speelt keyboards – meestal vintage, en ook wat softsynths.

Prog Archives review: “These are seasoned pros, extremely confident in taking their time in elaborating a classy work of the highest order, so it comes as no surprise that the opus is bookended by the “Journey Through the Spiral Mind Parts 1 and 2″, nearly 22 minutes in scope, with a 14-minute opener and an 8-minute closer.

Sweeping atmospherics and shimmering cymbals introduce Alfio’s unadorned piano motif, soon to be united with a similar crisp guitar line, a fretless bass loop and a deliberate expansion into mysterious realms, alternating the initial serene simplicity with rising crescendos of power streaks, an upward vortex of sound that is breathtaking.… Read more...

Rock On! Wednesday, 27 July – Mike Oldfield, Vangelis, Renaissance, Sky & Magma

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Wednesday September 15th. Dan’s pick of the week: Mike Oldfield (Ommadawn), Vangelis (Albedo 0.39), Renaissance (Prologue), Sky (Sky) & Magma (Hhaï).

Ommadawn is het derde album van Mike Oldfield. Een prachtig, grotendeels instrumentaal opus dat net als voorgangers Tubular Bells en Hergest Ridge bestaat uit een briljante mengeling van klassiek, folk en rock. Allerlei muzikale thema`s dwarrelen om de luisteraar heen.

Prog Archives review: “This truly beautiful piece of work is among Mike Oldfield’s finest. The opening section is enchanting and flows perfectly. Just like this artist’s other albums, there’s a fabulous mixture of sounds coming from a variety of instruments, including the organ, flute, bells and pipes.

It’s the best album for its structure and relaxing moods throughout.… Read more...

Art Rock Show – Ghost Story (Week 29)

De Zweedse progressieve rockband Salva heeft onlangs hun nieuwste album, Ghost Story, uitgebracht op Rob Reed’s White Knight Records. De band werd opgericht in 2003 in Göteborg en heeft al zes albums uitgebracht. Componist Per Malmberg beschrijft als een eenvoudig verhaal van een verlegen, introverte jongen die op jonge leeftijd een overweldigende passie voor muziek ontdekt.

Leo Trimming van The Progressive Aspect: “Salva develop this story as an imaginative vehicle to interweave an engaging mix of progressive rock, hard rock, pop and even hints of folk.

Ghost Story commences with an impressive trio of pieces which exemplify the fine song writing skills of main man Per Malmberg. These three compositions introduce us to a young man awakening to the enchantment of music, then his discovery of the joys of a piano, and then the fateful first gig with his band.… Read more...