Danny Bonte

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...

Art Rock Show – Karmakanic – Transmutation (Week 35)

Karmakanic is een progressieve rockband uit Zweden, opgericht in 2002 door bassist Jonas Reingold (bekend van The Flower Kings). Naast Reingold hebben verschillende topmuzikanten uit de Scandinavische progscene bijgedragen, waardoor Karmakanic vaak wordt gezien als een soort “supergroep”.

Graham Thomas van TPA (The Progressive Aspect): “So what makes this album so special? Well, in the first place, Jonas Reingold’s songwriting has blossomed in terms of melody and tunefulness. The songs are laden with memorable hooks, soaring verses and lush choruses. Whether he is writing shorter snappier songs or extended epics, his attention to detail is meticulous, and the melodic sweep of the album never falters. He has been working towards this end for a few albums now, but Transmutation sees him eclipse his previous work, resulting in the best Karmakanic album yet.… Read more...

Art Rock Show – Ekzilo – Quantum Phase Transition (Week 34)

Ekzilo is een progressieve rockband uit Lorca (Murcia), Spanje, opgericht in 2019. Met wortels in onder meer flamenco, jazz, blues en rock, brengt Ekzilo een instrumentale, experimentele en sfeergerichte vorm van progrock die zich laat inspireren door 70s-iconen als Pink Floyd en Triana.

Prog Archives review: “This is a radical departure from their debut album, which featured a modern beauty created by soothing sound effects and restrained playing that produced a deep resonance, like a sleepy blend of post-rock and jazz-rock. This time, they’ve enthusiastically incorporated influences from King Crimson, Opeth, Triana, Al Di Meola, and others, producing an eclectic album that ranges from their signature Spanish guitar-driven jazz-rock/fusion to classic pump rock and even extreme metal.
The opening track, “Patibulum,” surprises with its intense band sound, raspy vocals, and lyrical progressive metal in the Riverside/Opeth vein, culminating in a Hammond organ-driven symphony.… Read more...