Scandinavian Progressive Rock CDs

A.C.T. - Today’s Report ($14.99) 

InsideOut has reissued the CDs of A.C.T., Sweden’s best kept secret. A.C.T. may no longer really be much of a secret in Europe. They play symphonic progressive with the addition of strong pop songwriting along the lines of Queen, Kayak, Saga, and ELO. They marry English-style progressive and pop extremely well, with a lush, dense sound and plenty of complexity to go with a knack for catchy melodies. These 2006/2007 editions of Silence (2006, 64-minutes), Last Epic (2003, 67-minutes), Imaginary Friends (2001, 63-minutes), and Today’s Report (1999, 62-minutes) all have bonus audio and/or video tracks and expanded booklets.

Ageness - Rituals ($14.99)

Ageness is a symphonic neo-progressive band from Finland with English vocals, sounding very English. Their primary influence is undoubtedly Genesis, though they add elements of Marillion, IQ, and Rush. If you count the 1983 album by Scarab, the predecessor to Ageness, then the band made four albums, of which Rituals (1995) is the 3rd.

Jimmy Ågren - Close Enough for Jazz ($11.99)

Guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Ågren’s 2003 solo album is here because he is a member of The Mats/Morgan Band, and the album features Morgan on drums. Despite the title, it is an album of blues-rock, though done in a somewhat novel fashion.

Ampera - A Vulcanized Mingle ($14.99) 

No, we can’t make sense of the title either. Maybe it’s something a software translator came up with. Ampera is a Norwegian progressive rock band and this is their 2007 debut. They are both instrumentally and alphabetically close to Anekdoten, a mix of King Crimson (Starless) and a more modern guitar style, overlaid with Mellotron strings and some Minimoog. They have a female vocalist (singing in English) with a cold, somewhat dispassionate style that is more often associated with alternative than progressive. It’s this juxtaposition that makes Ampera unique.

Anekdoten - Gravity ($15.99)

Anekdoten - From Within ($15.99) 

Anekdoten - Nucleus ($15.99)  

Anekdoten emerged in the early 1990’s, displaying a great deal of King Crimson influence (circa Red) and relying heavily on Mellotron strings, their trademark style featuring dynamics shifts between somber and violent passages, between fragile beauty and harsh dissonance. Along with fellow Swedes Anglagard, they were one of the most respected progressive rock bands of the 1990’s. This is the 2004 remastered edition of their 2nd album Nucleus (1995), which features a 6:41 bonus track and an expanded booklet.

From Within followed in 1999. Gravity (2003) is their fourth studio album, but there isn’t so much Crimson apparent on this one, as it is generally mellower, more melodic and more psychedelic than past albums. The cello and the abrupt shifts in dynamics are gone, but the Mellotron is still everywhere, and the vocals are improved. The formula of the early Anekdoten albums had been exhausted and so it’s good to see the band change things a bit rather than pursue a sonic dead-end.

Beardfish - Sleeping in Traffic: Part One ($14.99) 

Beardfish - The Sane Day (2CD, $24.99) 

Beardfish - Från en plats du ej kan se ($17.99) 

We didn’t think anyone made records like this anymore. Beardfish is an outstanding Swedish progressive band blending many 1970’s prog styles. There are elements of Swedish 70’s bands (Trettioåriga Kriget, Bo Hansson, Made in Sweden, Kaipa), the great Dutch bands Supersister and Focus, Gentle Giant, the Canterbury Bands, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, and much more. And yet there are contemporary elements too. There’s so much good stuff here, it’s hard to know where to begin when attempting to describe it all. Sleeping in Traffic: Part One (2007, 66-minutes) is their third.

The double-CD The Sane Day (2005) is their second. This is the 2007 edition on Progress Records. Read reviews here. Från en plats du ej kan se (From a place you cannot see) is their 2003 debut. This is the 2007 remastered edition on Progress Records, which includes two bonus tracks and an expanded booklet.

Black Bonzo - Sound of the Apocalypse ($13.99) 

Black Bonzo is a Swedish retro-prog band whose sound is locked into 1972 or thereabouts. Their 2004 debut had a lot of hard rock influence, e.g., Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Queen. But Sound of the Apocalypse (2007, digipack) is almost purely a progressive rock album. Rather than the King Crimson style (and sometimes forced dynamic shifts) of Anglagard or Anekdoten, Black Bonzo are more melodic, influenced by Jethro Tull (Thick as a Brick-era) and Yes, among others. In fact, the result is close to The Flower Kings when TFK are going for the sound of that era. The keyboards are dominated by Hammond, with Mellotron and piano in support, and just a little synth. Good stuff!

Tomas Bodin - I Am ($14.99) 

Tomas Bodin - Sonic Boulevard ($13.99) 

Flower Kings’ keyboardist Tomas Bodin has made one great album after another. I Am (2005) is his 5th CD (if you count the album he made under the name Swedish Family), but his first to really feature vocals. I Am is an ambitious 63-minute progressive rock opera in three acts. Along with bandmates Jonas Reingold on bass and Flower Kings drummer Marcus Liliequist, Bodin enlisted the help of guitarist Jocke JJ Marsh of the Glenn Hughes Band and vocalists Anders Jansson, Pernilla Bodin, and Helene Schönning. There is a lot of tremendous proggy instrumental work here. There is hard rock riffing and aggressive vocals alongside Bodin’s more familiar Flower Kings and Kaipa styles, and a noticeable influence of Pink Floyd’s The Wall. If there is any justice, this should be the album that gives Bodin sales figures on the level of The Flower Kings albums.

Sonic Boulevard (2003, digipack) is his 3rd CD, with the other Flower Kings and several other musicians helping out. This is a very satisfying, mostly-instrumental symphonic progressive album. Relative to The Flower Kings, Bodin has the freedom here to do some more peaceful and classically-inspired pieces, and there is much more of a Swedish flavor that comes through, reminding one more of 1970’s Kaipa than The Flower Kings. At the same time, Bodin is able to use drum loops and other modern accoutrements here and there, so the music is both more retro and more modern than his parent band.

Brighteye Brison - Believers & Deceivers ($17.99) 

Brighteye Brison - Stories ($15.99) 

Brighteye Brison is a melodic Swedish symphonic progressive band that you can file alongside The Flower Kings, Carptree, Twin Age, Ageness, Spektrum, and Magic Pie. Following a 2001 demo EP and a 2003 debut CD (out-of-print), Stories (2006) has much better production and every aspect of the music is improved. Their primary influences are 1970’s Genesis and Yes, a little Beatles and possibly Kayak, and they use only vintage analog keyboards. One of their signature sounds is their harmony vocals, something of a lost art in modern rock, progressive or otherwise. This really is an outstanding sympho-prog album. Their melodic sense is excellent and their overall sound unique enough that this should have great appeal to a large segment of the prog rock audience. Read reviews here.

Believers & Deceivers (2008, 68-minutes) is not only Brighteye Brison’s best album yet, this album alone could be used to show why the Swedish progressive scene is the strongest in the world now. Their sound is pure classic symphonic prog with a solid melodic foundation. The commonality with The Flower Kings, Moon Safari, Maze of Time, etc. is immediately obvious, and yet all these Swedish bands have a distinct sound. On Believers & Deceivers, Yes is the major influence, and whether early Kayak is an influence or not, some of the music certainly has that style. The Genesis and Gentle Giant passages are easy to spot. Brighteye Brison have two keyboardists, and both stick to vintage keyboards. Three band members sing, and the Yes-like ensemble vocals are a big part of their sound. That is one thing the current crop of Swedish and Norwegian prog bands embrace while the rest of the world seems to have forgotten how. An essential CD.

Brother Ape - Shangri-la ($15.99) 

Brother Ape - On the Other Side ($8.99)    SALE!

On their debut On the Other Side (2005), Swedish band Brother Ape is a quartet (guitars/vocals, keys, bass, drums). The band describes themselves as a unique blend of progressive rock and fusion and mentions Weather Report and Brand X. The truth? Brother Ape is a mainstream progressive rock band with excellent vocals in English. They are somewhere between Saga/Rush and Genesis/Yes, but don’t take that too literally as Brother Ape doesn’t sound much like any of those bands, except for the title track that ends this album. This 8-minute track is the highlight, a wonderful slice of Yes and Genesis-inspired euphoria. Interestingly, this track was recorded ten years earlier than the others and excavated from the vault for this CD. Are there any others like this in there? As for the fusion, in a few spots they integrate chord changes and sounds that derive from 1970’s fusion bands. It’s a great idea that they execute well, but it’s really a minor aspect of their sound, and at no point are they actually playing jazz-rock. But who cares. Brother Ape is another great Swedish prog band that doesn’t sound like any of the other Swedish prog bands. The Windows Media icon above links directly to a single .asf file that contains excerpts from all of the songs on the album. Read reviews here.

Brother Ape is a trio on their 2nd album Shangri-la (2006, 58-minutes), and yet it is a significantly stronger album and continues the steady stream of great progressive rock coming out of Sweden. There actually is a small amount of music here that could qualify as jazz-rock (and there is now fretless bass), but as on their debut, there is a jazz-rock flavor to some of the other instrumental work that is very refreshing and that sets Brother Ape apart from most other contemporary prog bands. Peter Dahlstrom, who sang 70% of the songs on the first album, has deserted and guitarist Stefan Damicolas has taken over lead vocals on all tracks. He’s a very good singer whose voice actually creates a proggier feel, as the frequently soft vocals (lead and harmony) give the music a solid 1970’s flavor. And most of the influences heard here are 70’s prog bands, including the pastoral side of Genesis, yet the music is not consciously retro as with a band such as Anglagard. This album is likely to give those who grew up with the original progressive rock bands a warm feeling that doesn’t happen with many contemporary bands. Here is an mp3 of the complete track New Shangri-la and videos of Tweakhead and New Shangri-la. Read reviews here.

The Carpet Knights - Lost and So Strange Is My Mind ($15.99)   

This 2005 release on Record Heaven’s Transubstans label is consistent with the label’s focus on bands with a retro and often psychedelic progressive sound and a 1970’s production aesthetic. This Swedish band could be likened to Anekdoten minus the cello and Mellotron. Except on the 11-minute final track, they use no keyboards but they do use flute on occasion. After Anekdoten, one might mention a similarity to early Jethro Tull in spots. Because the two guitarists wisely avoid over-distorted metal tones and typical lead guitar wankery (had to make up a word just now), the music flows beautifully and seduces the listener with its generally melancholic mood.

Carptree - Insekt ($14.99) 

Carptree - Man Made Machine ($14.99) 

Carptree - Superhero ($17.99) 

Carptree - same ($16.99) 

This Swedish band’s 2003 2nd CD Superhero (61-minutes) is a symphonic progressive masterpiece. The core of the band is Carl Westholm on keyboards and singer Niclas Flinck, while seven other musicians in the “No Future Orchestra” handle guitars, bass, drums, and backing vocals. Carptree’s lineage may be Genesis and Peter Gabriel (though one song, the excellent Host vs. Graft, has a chorus straight out of the Pendragon songbook), but unlike other Swedish bands that may spring to mind, Carptree are not retro and in fact get high marks for inventiveness and all-around cleverness. The old Genesis melodrama is here, and every song is just a little bit quirky, which only increases Carptree’s appeal. Westholm generally plays in the classically-inspired styles of Tony Banks or Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak), and his arrangements and orchestrations are superb. Niclas Flinck’s vocals sometimes suggest Max Werner (Kayak). We thought this level of songwriting, melodic sensibility, and emotional impact had all but disappeared from progressive rock. Carptree’s 2001 self-titled first CD (57-minutes) leans a bit more toward progressive-pop than Superhero, but the potential that is fully realized on Superhero is very evident. So start with any of their other CDs and you’ll probably come back for their 1st CD as well.

Man Made Machine (2005) continues Carptree’s trend of making each CD darker, heavier, and more powerful than the last. Flinck’s singing style now sounds more like Fish. This is a stunning symphonic progressive album, more serious sounding than their previous albums, full of the old Genesis grandeur but not really retro sounding, at least not when compared to Swedish bands such as Anglagard or Anekdoten. But if you married the power of those two bands with the vocals and melodic sense of Galleon, Cross, or Twin Age (keeping this within Sweden for the moment), you’d have something like Man Made Machine, the best of both worlds.

And now with their fourth CD Insekt (2007), Carptree have put it all together and cement their position in the first echelon of active symphonic progressive bands. In addition to the elements and influences on previous albums, there are some female backing vocals, and the final song is very Roger Waters / Pink Floyd influenced. It’s a testament to the Swedish progressive scene that, even though there are quite a few bands today, and progressive rock is a mature style, the bands all have distinct styles. Read reviews here.

Cross - Playgrounds ($8.99)    SALE!

Cross - Secrets remastered ($17.99)

Cross - Visionary Fools ($15.99)

Cross - Gaze ($11.99)    SALE!

Cross - Paradox (CD-EP, $7.99)

Cross - III: Changing Poison into Medicine ($11.99)

Cross - Second Movement ($11.99)

Cross - Uncovered Heart ($11.99)

Cross is a Swedish neo-progressive/neo-symphonic band with excellent English vocals and an accessible style. Playgrounds (2004) is the place to start. This album further develops the style heard on Secrets (2000, currently out-of-print) but relates even more closely to the 2003 Spektrum CD, and all the Spektrum members guest on Playgrounds. The mid-to-late 1970’s Genesis influence is present, particularly in the keyboards, and Cross’ style is now close to Galleon as well as Jadis and other melodic symphonic prog bands. Here is a 4.6 MB mp3 from Playgrounds. Read reviews here.

This is the 2008 remastered edition of Secrets, which was originally released in 2000. The music is quite similar to Jadis, maybe a bit heavier and more progressive, and a sure bet for neo-prog fans. Here is an mp3 of the track Bleeding in Silence. Read reviews here.

Visionary Fools is from 1998. Gaze was originally released in 1996 and remastered in 1999. Paradox is a 1994 CD-EP (18:13) in a digipack, containing a single track of excellent instrumental symphonic rock, using samplers and electric guitar. Changing Poison Into Medicine (1993) is their 77-minute long third CD. Uncovered Heart (1988) and Second Movement (1990) are the first two Cross CDs.

Five Fifteen - Death of a Clown ($13.99) 

Five Fifteen - Six Dimensions of the Electric Camembert ($13.99)

This Finnish band blends progressive with a 1970’s style accessible hard rock (not metal) in a unique way. You’d never know they weren’t British. While borrowing their hard rock aspects from the likes of Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, The Who, Led Zeppelin, or Jethro Tull, their vocal melodies are closer to The Beatles. You can’t help but be hooked by their majestic choruses, often over Mellotron chords; this is where the prog rock aspect of their music comes to the fore. The songwriting is excellent and their humor and enthusiasm is such that it’s really hard not to like these guys. Death of a Clown is from 2001. This is the remastered 2nd edition of ...Camembert (2000), which alters the track order and adds four bonus tracks (three studio, one live).

The Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil Ltd. Ed. (2CD, $20.99)

The Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil ($14.99)

The Sum of No Evil (75-minutes) is the 2007 The Flower Kings studio CD. Roine Stolt and company continue to champion all that is good and holy in progressive rock against the rising tide of metal, darkness, pessimism and melancholy. Seriously though, The Flower Kings seem to be hosting the original spirit of Yes now. How can Stolt be this prolific and this good? The Limited Edition comes in a digipack with a 2nd disc containing three more songs (17-minutes total) that didn’t fit on the first disc, plus two studio videos (21-minutes total). The songs on the second disc are very good.

The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel (2CD, $16.99)

The Flower Kings - Adam & Eve ($14.99)

The Flower Kings - Meet the Flower Kings (2CD, $14.99)

The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future (2CD, $16.99) 

The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future ltd. ed. (2CD, $17.99)

The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker ($7.99)     SALE!

The Flower Kings - Alive on Planet Earth (2CD, $14.99) 

The Flower Kings - Flower Power (2CD, $16.99) 

The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are (2CD, $16.99) 

The Flower Kings - Retropolis ($14.99) 

The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures ($14.99) 

Roine Stolt - Wall Street Voodoo (2CD, $16.99)

Roine Stolt - Hydrophonia ($14.99)

Check our DVD page for The Flower Kings’ DVDs. If you’ve been paying any attention to progressive rock for the past decade or more, you know that The Flower Kings have established themselves as one of the most accomplished, prolific, and popular symphonic progressive bands currently working. Their style has remained fairly consistent over the years, so newcomers can safely start with just about any album. Back in the World of Adventures (71-minutes) is from 1995, Retropolis (69-minutes) is from 1996, Stardust We Are (2CD) is from 1997, Flower Power (2CD, 142-minutes) is from 1999, The Rainmaker (70-minutes) is from 2001, and Unfold the Future (2CD) is from 2002. The limited edition of Unfold the Future has one bonus track. We’ll send the digibook edition if we have it, but this was eventually replaced with a jewel box in slipcase.

The Flower Kings’ ninth studio album Paradox Hotel (2006) is a 136-minute double-CD, officially making Roine Stolt and company the most prolific progressive rock force on earth, not to mention one of the best. It is brilliant as usual. This is the digipack edition.

Alive on Planet Earth is a 2CD recorded live in 1998 and 1999. The Flower Kings’ 2003 live double-CD Meet the Flower Kings is subtitled On Stage Playing Their Epics, and they aren’t kidding as there are only 7 tracks across the two discs. The shortest is 11:18!  Adam & Eve (2004, 78-minutes) is another great one, and you just have to marvel at how Roine Stolt and company can produce so much music of this caliber and still be involved in several side projects that are just as good!

Roine Stolt is of course the leader and guitarist of The Flower Kings and an important part of Kaipa, The Tangent, and Transatlantic. According to the press release, the double-CD Wall Street Voodoo (2005) was written in the spirit of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s rock and blues, drawing on influences such as Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Procol Harum, and The Allman Brothers Band, Steely Dan, The Beatles, and Frank Zappa. Well, it may have started out that way, but somewhere along the line it became a progressive rock album with Stolt’s recognizable style. Perhaps the main difference between this and Stolt’s other work is his guitar tone and style. The tone is “closer to clean tube amp than modern overdriven rectified” and his style is bluesier. Stolt is ably assisted by several other musicians on keys (including Mellotron), bass, drums and percussion. Neal Morse guests. 115-minutes.

Hydrophonia (1998, 68-minutes) is an instrumental album released between Stardust We Are and Flower Power. Here Roine Stolt is assisted by Jaime Salazar on drums and Ulf Wallander on soprano sax. Stolt adds some keys in addition to handling both guitar and bass. It’s on the same high level as The Flower Kings albums, with Stolt more interested in showcasing his compositional abilities than simply his guitar playing. And the guy never runs out of melodies.

The Foundation - Departure ($15.99)

Reissue of an excellent and rare 1984 Swedish melodic symphonic progressive album plus two bonus tracks. For those who know the Swedish band Tribute, this is similar. For those who don’t, The Foundation lean most heavily in the Genesis direction, but distinguish themselves through the use of Chapman Stick and occasional cello. The bonus tracks total over 21 minutes and are as good as the rest of the album.

Fruitcake - Man Overboard (2CD, $19.99)

Fruitcake - Power Structure ($10.99)  SALE!

Fruitcake - One More Slice ($14.99)

One More Slice (1997) and Power Structure (1998) are the 4th and 5th albums respectively from this Norwegian progressive band singing in excellent English, and no major changes to their style. They write long tracks favoring an early 1970’s sound close to Genesis, dominated by organ and featuring guitar, analog synths, bass pedals, piano, flute and more. A general straightforwardness to the arrangements puts them in the neo-progressive category for most. One More Slice is now deleted, last copies.

This is the 2CD edition of Fruitcake’s latest, Man Overboard (2004). Their 7th CD, this one is their best to date, not that they’ve changed their sound all that much. They have added a flute player to what is now a seven-piece band, and there is more emphasis on instrumental content. There’s still a certain “clunkiness” to their style which is their trademark. The 2nd disc contains an excellent collection of 11 rare and unreleased tracks spanning 1988-2002 from Fruitcake, The Guardian’s Office (nearly the same band), bandleader Pal Sovik solo, and three other related bands or side projects.

The Guardian’s Office - same ($9.99)  SALE!

The Guardian’s Office is Fruitcake drummer/composer Päl Søvik’s new project, but this time he leaves the lead vocals to Tony Johannessen. After the opening hard rocker, this sounds like Fruitcake with a better singer. Like Fruitcake, the instrumentation is decidedly of 1970’s-vintage, dominated by a ‘dirty’ organ sound, bass pedals, and a dated electric guitar tone. Lots of references to early Genesis, but the arrangements are more straightforward (and it goes without saying that the songwriting is not on the same level), so call it neo-prog with 70’s instrumentation. Interesting to note that Päl Søvik was a member of Folque, who were Norway’s Fairport Convention. If you listen closely to The Guardian’s Office, you may detect some Norwegian folk melodies sneaking in.

Galleon - Engines of Creation ($17.99)

Galleon - From Land to Ocean (2CD, $24.99)

Galleon - Beyond Dreams ($15.99)   

Galleon - Mind Over Matter ($17.99)

Galleon - The All-European Hero ($15.99)

Galleon - King of Aragon ($15.99)

Galleon - Heritage and Visions ($14.99)

Galleon - Lynx ($14.99)

Galleon is a Swedish neo-progressive/neo-symphonic band whose music is derived from Genesis no doubt, and falls in the Pallas and Pendragon camps, keyboard-dominated, with strong, clear English vocals. From Land to Ocean (2003) is a 2CD set with the 2nd CD taken up entirely by the 52-minute piece The Ocean. It goes without saying that this is their most ambitious album to date, and although Galleon haven’t changed their style all that much from album to album, this one improves on all their previous albums. To extend the Pallas reference, From Land to Ocean is Galleon’s The Sentinel. (The cover concept is rather similar too.) Beyond Dreams is from 2000. This is the 2005 remastered edition of Mind Over Matter (1998). The All-European Hero is from 1996. King of Aragon (1995) is their 3rd CD; this edition was remastered in 1999. Heritage and Visions (1994) is their 2nd CD and Lynx (1992) is their first.

Galleon have had a fairly consistent style since their first album, and while Engines of Creation (2007) is not a radical departure, it is probably the biggest evolution in their sound between any two albums. It has been four years since From Land to Ocean, and in that time, they seem to have discovered a new energy. While Galleon’s core sound on Engines of Creation is still similar to Pallas, there is a new Rush-like energy, greater complexity, even a touch of fusion in a couple spots. It’s the least neo-sounding of Galleon’s CDs and shows that after 15 years, this band still may not have reached their peak. Here is an mp3 of the complete 7:04 title track.

Gazpacho - Night ($18.99) 

Gazpacho - Firebird ($18.99) 

Gazpacho - When Earth Lets Go ($18.99)

Gazpacho - Bravo ($18.99)

Norwegian band Gazpacho have allied themselves closely with Marillion. One can assume they took their name from the Marillion song and not from a love of cold soup, and the title of their first full-length album is only a vowel shift away from a well-known Marillion album. They’re on Marillion’s label and have supported Marillion on tour. Certainly their style shares a lot with Marillion from Brave on. Their music is in the serious-sounding, deliberately-paced modern progressive style that emphasizes atmosphere, texture and melody over demonstrative playing. Other bands frequently mentioned as reference points are Porcupine Tree and Radiohead.

Gazpacho used programmed drums on Bravo (2003), which doesn’t really detract much from the music. The music is spellbinding and dreamlike, with Mellotron strings used here and there and guests on violin and flute adding to the rich textures. Gazpacho added a full-time drummer beginning with their second album When Earth Lets Go (2004). Firebird followed in 2005, with Steve Rothery guesting on one track. Gazpacho made incremental improvements with each album, but Night (2007) is the consensus choice as their best album to date. The guest violinist of the previous three albums has been promoted to full member, while another guest musician adds several acoustic instruments, further broadening Gazpacho’s sound. Read lots of reviews at Prog Archives, at Ground and Sky and DPRP.

Grand Stand - Tricks of Time ($16.99) 

Grand Stand make a huge leap forward on Tricks of Time (2002), their 2nd CD. Grand Stand’s sound has moved much closer to The Flower Kings, though there are still passages directly inspired by Genesis. This album would sit comfortably alongside The Flower Kings’ CDs. Aside from one 4-minute track, the next shortest track is 9:34!  Though still heavily instrumental, this album has English-language vocals, and with the energy level and production markedly improved from their debut, this CD should boost Grand Stand’s popularity significantly. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3 from the album.

Groovector - Ultramarine ($15.99)

Ultramarine (2000) is the brilliant debut by this Finnish prog band. This one is instrumental, full of long tracks, their sound dominated by keyboards (piano, Rhodes, Hammond organ, synths) and flute, plus acoustic & electric guitars, bass and drums. There are influences of Camel (The Snow Goose), Kaipa, Focus, and early King Crimson, but the bulk of what they do is their own take on classic progressive rock. It all has a magical feel, suggestive of the Finnish forests. 64-minutes.

Hagen - Corridors of Time ($14.99) 

On this 2001 album, this Swedish band plays an excellent fusion of old folk melodies and heavy rock, their sound centered around the electric violin of Anders Rosen, seemingly played through a fuzz box to achieve a guitar-like sound. They are also notable for having Kaipa keyboardist Hans Lundin as a member. The old guys are joined by several younger musicians for a rock band that spans a couple generations of progressive rock. Think of a modern, heavier version of Kebnekaise.

Bo Hansson - Music Inspired by Watership Down ($11.99)

1977 fourth solo album for keyboardist Bo Hansson, who was one of the pioneers of progressive rock in Sweden. This was his final album before resurfacing in 1985 with an atypical album. Hansson collaborated with guitarist Kenny Håkansson (Kebnekaise) on Music Inspired by Watership Down (released as El-Ahrairah in Sweden), which also features a number of other excellent musicians on bass, drums, and flute. It is flowing, dreamy, instrumental symphonic rock that generally has a different feel than Hansson’s previous albums, in part because he uses synthesizers instead of organ. It still has that evocative Nordic atmosphere though. This remastered edition includes an 11-minute bonus track recorded live in the studio in 2004 by Hansson and Håkansson. The 12-page booklet includes an extensive biography by Mark Powell.

Indisciplined Lucy - About the Black Eyed Girl ($15.99)

A Swedish seven-piece neo-progressive band, unique in that their sound is dominated by violin and cello, in addition to the usual guitars, keys, bass and drums. The lighter tracks on About the Black Eyed Girl (1999) sound like an extrapolation of Eleanor Rigby into progressive realms, but they also get heavier and more powerful than that. The music is vocal-heavy, with English lyrics.

In the Labyrinth - Dryad ($11.99)      SALE!

In the Labyrinth is a fairly unique band who mix Indian and Middle-Eastern motifs with symphonic rock, medieval sounds, and elements of Swedish folklore. Dryad (2002) is their 3rd. The instrumentation is diverse, to say the least: Mellotron, sitar, flutes, mandolin, violin, accordion, woodwinds, zither, assorted ethnic percussion, not to mention vocals, electric & acoustic guitars and bass. The music itself is still largely western and conventionally melodic, it’s just the instrumentation that’s unique. While the music is heavily instrumental, the warm male vocals in English and beautiful female vocals are a strong point. About the only reference that comes to mind is a more proggy Dead Can Dance. Mystical, melancholy, magical stuff that will have you transfixed.

Isildurs Bane - Mind Vol. 3: Isildurs Bane & Metamorfosi Trio ($14.99)

One of the most important and adventurous Swedish progressive bands, Isildurs Bane released their first album at the beginning of the 1980’s and haven't stopped since, though their music has continued to evolve. Mind Vol. 3: Isildurs Bane & Metamorfosi Trio (2003, 74-minutes) is a meeting between Isildurs Bane and Metamorfosi Trio, an Italian acoustic chamber ensemble who rely heavily on improvisation. The result is more of an experimental jazz album, more avant-garde and improvised that the other Isildurs Bane albums.

Kaipa - Angling Feelings ($14.99)   

The 2007 Kaipa album sees one change in the lineup, with Per Nilsson taking Roine Stolt’s place on guitar. Kaipa’s mastermind and keyboard player Hans Lundin and Per are old friends and worked together recording the Hagen album Corridors of Time several years ago. Stolt is not missed, as this CD is every bit as good as the other Kaipa CDs from this decade, and still ends up inhabiting the same territory as The Flower Kings. Brilliant 70’s-style progressive rock with fusion and folk touches. 64-minutes.

Kaipa - Mindrevolutions ($14.99) 

Kaipa - Keyholder ($13.99)

Kaipa - Notes from the Past ($13.99)

Kaipa - same ($15.99)

Kaipa was the top Swedish 1970’s symphonic prog band, featuring keyboardist Hans Lundin and guitarist Roine Stolt, later of The Flower Kings. The self-titled first album (1975) is arguably their best. Fans of The Flower Kings really must hear this album as it is the origin of The Flower Kings’ sound, yet Kaipa’s music is more purely Swedish, their symphonic rock colored by the centuries-old Swedish choral and folk music traditions. Plus Kaipa sing in Swedish on this album. Prog fans with a 1970’s orientation (and who have not limited themselves to the Anglo bands) may consider the Kaipa albums superior.

Keyboardist Hans Lundin reformed Kaipa for 2002’s Notes from the Past (79-minutes), and as reunion albums go, this could hardly be any better, as it is faithful to the original Kaipa. Keyholder (2003, 78-minutes) is the 2nd and Mindrevolutions (2005, 79-minutes) the 3rd album for the reformed Kaipa. In addition to Lundin and Stolt, the lineup is Morgan Ågren (Mats/Morgan) on drums, Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, The Tangent) on bass, and Patrik Lundström (Ritual) and Aleena Gibson on vocals. The results are very good, a mix of the Kaipa and Flower Kings styles, with lots of Hammond and Mellotron. The main difference between Kaipa and The Flower Kings is that Hans Lundin does all the writing in the current Kaipa. Mindrevolutions may be the best of the three albums from Kaipa Mk II. Aleena’s vocals are a new element of course -- she has a childish voice similar to Tracy Hitchings -- but otherwise this is very faithful to the original Kaipa, and more 70’s-oriented than The Flower Kings.

Kerrs Pink - Tidings ($15.99)

Kerrs Pink - A Journey on the Inside ($15.99)

Kerrs Pink is one of the most famous Norwegian progressive rock bands. Their music is in the early Camel vein, blending in elements of Scandinavian folklore ala Kebnekaise or early Ragnarök. They released their first and second albums in 1980 and 1981. The band was inactive for a time before resurfacing with A Journey on the Inside in 1993.

Tidings (2002) is their fifth. The band added a new lead singer and female backing vocalist (both singing in English), plus a second keyboardist. This may well be their best work. The production and playing are now completely professional, yet the music retains its freshness and sincerity. Stylistically, we are in Camel and Kaipa territory, also Genesis, Yes, and Pink Floyd, melodic and flowing symphonic rock with long tracks and ambitious arrangements, beautiful melodies, lots of keyboards, and lyrical guitar solos. Kerrs Pink are at their best when they integrate Scandinavian folk melodies -- the 8:30 Tidings from Some Distant Shore is sublime in this regard. Highly recommended.

Khatsaturjan - Aramed Forces of Simantipak ($15.99) 

This is the first official album for a Finnish quartet that excels at everything except for maybe choosing band and album names. This 2006 release is a wonderfully elaborate and inventive symphonic prog epic sung in English. The band is certainly influenced by classical music. There are lots of keyboards, some cello, and with all four members singing sophisticated choral parts, Khatsaturjan sound like the house band for a monastery of the Progressive order of monks. It’s definitely continental European; no English or American band could produce this album. It’s one of the great rock symphonies ever. 68-minutes.

Kundalini - Asylum for Astral Travellers ($15.99) 

This 1997 CD is by an offshoot of Holy River Family Band (itself an offshoot of the band Spacious Mind), in more of a fusion direction. Mellow Records’ description: “Jazz-rock, progressive rock, psychedelic and ethnic music go into the uplifting and mind-blowing works of Kundalini from Sweden. A guitar/bass/drums trio that goes beyond this format and introduces traditional instruments from India and Tibet into their music. Reminiscent of Allan Holdsworth without the keyboards.” 71-minutes.

“Kundalini is able to transcend the usual sonic realms of the progressive rock trio, creating an exotic soundscape with the augmentation of unusual instruments... Kundalini is a supergroup in the truest sense, a creative marriage of immense talent, innovative instrumental songwriting, and a willingness to explore uncharted musical terrain through breathtaking and inspiring improvisations. One wonders how future releases can live up to, much less exceed, this most promising beginning.” [Joe Pettit, Jr., All Music Guide]

Liquid Scarlet - II ($15.99) 

Liquid Scarlet - Killer Couple Strikes Again (EP, $5.99)

Liquid Scarlet - same ($8.99)   SALE!

Another Mellotron-laden Swedish prog sensation. On their self-titled 2004 debut, Liquid Scarlet sound like a cross between Anglagard and Landberk, with influences of 1970’s King Crimson and pastoral Genesis, but also some modern influences such as Radiohead. (The band members were all in their twenties at the time of this recording.) A liquid sound indeed!  II (2005) is a logical continuation from their debut, with plenty of typical Scandinavian melancholic atmosphere a la Anekdoten or Valinor’s Tree. They have expanded their sound with accordion and string arrangements, while a couple 10-minute tracks show early King Crimson influence. It is again a very appealing set of dreamy songs that are one moment soft and intimate and the next moment majestic, and although there are influences of vintage prog, this isn’t retro but rather something fresh and contemporary. Their songwriting and melodic sense sets them apart from the other Swedish bands mentioned above. Read reviews here.

Killer Couple Strikes Again (2005) is a 25-minute, five-track CD-EP containing one song from the II album plus four previously-unreleased and highly enjoyable tracks, one of which is a tribute to Fläsket Brinner. The EP counts as only one-half CD for shipping calculations.

Magic Pie - Circus of Life ($17.99) 

Magic Pie - Motions of Desire ($17.99) 

Norway’s Magic Pie have quickly become one of the most talked-about progressive rock bands, especially after performances at both Rosfest 2006 and 2007. Motions of Desire (2004, 75-minutes) is Magic Pie’s debut; this is the 2005 remastered edition on Progress Records. This one just keeps on selling. Circus of Life (2007) is their equally good 64-minute second album. In true progressive fashion, its 46-minute title suite is divided into five parts, of which one part is further subdivided into four parts.

In addition to influences of early 1970’s progressive rock bands, Magic Pie blend in influences of early 70’s melodic and hard rock bands, in the same manner as Finnish band Five Fifteen, though Magic Pie are much proggier. With Hammond organ as Magic Pie’s weapon of choice, Deep Purple and Atomic Rooster could be two of those influences. And with four vocalists, Magic Pie have those great harmony vocals, something that has largely been lost in modern rock. A lot of what Magic Pie do will appeal to fans of The Flower Kings, Spock’s Beard, and Transatlantic. Ultimately, Magic Pie’s greatest success may be that they capture the spirit of earlier bands without copying the style of any of them, and their albums have a positive vibe that will restore the spirits of those whose hearts are in the 70’s. Read reviews of Circus of Life and Motions of Desire.

Masque - Flesh That Understands ($11.99)   SALE!

Masque - Ten Ways ($14.99)

Flesh That Understands (1992) is the debut by a Swedish neo-progressive band with excellent English vocals who also have some of the early Saga style. With some personnel changes, Ten Ways (1994) is quite different from its predecessor and difficult to categorize, a mélange of art-pop, world music, and that typical Swedish melancholy.

Maze of Time - Tales from the Maze ($15.99)

Damn if it isn’t another great symphonic prog band from Sweden. Tales from the Maze is the 2006 debut by Stockholm-based Maze of Time, and it’s full of strong melodies and that know-it-when-you-hear-it Scandinavian quality. There are influences of Genesis, Camel, Yes, Pink Floyd, Kaipa, perhaps some neo-prog, and a bit of heavy rock. Like The Flower Kings, actually. Overall the style is more soothing than jarring, a lot of that having to do with the softer vocal style and the rich, luxuriant textures. 62-minutes.

Mikromidas - Faunus ($14.99)

Here is a Norwegian band singing in Norwegian and exploring retro-prog similar to the Swedish band Landberk and, to a lesser extent, Anekdoten and Anglagard. Mikromidas use a lot of Mellotron and Hammond organ. Their arrangements lack the extreme dynamics of Anekdoten and Anglagard though. Faunus (2005) is their 2nd and is a more accomplished work than their debut. The compositions and playing here show greater maturity, and thus the emotional impact is greater.

Moon Fog Prophet - Taunting Tin Bells Through the Mammal Void ($14.99)

This is the 5th album by a nearly unclassifiable Finnish prog quartet (keys, guitar, bass, drums), though you get a sense of what they’re about just from the band and album name. Most of what they do has a surreal flavor, sometimes psychedelic, heavily instrumental but with some English-language vocals that are more often than not a tad operatic. Taunting Tin Bells (2002) is based on a musical play of the same name that the band performed a number of times with help from 15 assistants and actors. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3 from the album.

Moon Safari - Blomljud (2CD, $24.99) 

Moon Safari - A Doorway to Summer ($16.99)

This Swedish quintet debuted with one of the freshest, most likeable symphonic prog albums you’ll hear. The “summer” in A Doorway to Summer (2005) is apt as Moon Safari display none of the long-dark-winter Scandinavian melancholy and gloom. Instead they have a warm, Yes-like positivism, though their sound comes closer to England, Druid, or Sebastian Hardie. They have harmony vocals that sometimes reach Beach Boys level, and some Beatles flavoring (closer to Klaatu actually). They use all analog keyboards including Mellotron and lots of acoustic guitar. The openness of their sound and their outstanding melodic sense give the album a 1970’s feel and set Moon Safari apart from most of the other current prog bands. Tomas Bodin (keyboardist of The Flower Kings) guests and co-produced, and Moon Safari will almost certainly appeal to fans of The Flower Kings, though their style is distinct. Just five long tracks, one of which is 24-minutes long. Here is an mp3 from the track Dance Across the Ocean.

Despite the Swedish title, the double-CD Blomljud (2008) is again sung entirely in English. The title apparently translates to “sound of flowers”, and so the CD title again gives a clue to the music. Or maybe it’s an oblique reference to The Flower Kings. The style is a continuation of the first CD, but those wonderful harmony vocals are even more striking here, reminiscent of Queen, Yes, The Beach Boys, and Fireballet (2nd album). It’s almost a lost art these days. The first disc has the lighter, vocal-heavy material, while the second disc tends to have the more energetic material, as if the first disc was warming the listener up for the second. It is all symphonic prog close to Yes with some Genesis influence, the latter felt particularly in the pastoral passages. Its sunny optimism is again in stark contrast to the prevailing mood of darkness, cynicism and metal in today’s music.

Mr Brown - Mellan tre Ögon ($15.99) 

This privately-released 1977 album (only 1000 copies of the LP were pressed) is one that has deserved a CD reissue for a long time, and it finally has one in 2006. It’s a melodic symphonic prog album with lyrics in both English and Swedish, and although instrumental content dominates, the vocals are quite nice, especially the one track with female harmony vocals. It is sometimes reminiscent of the lighter side of Pink Floyd or Eloy, dreamy and spacey, but many of the tracks are dominated by piano, which gives the music a different feel. Hammond, string synth, and ARP synth also feature, alongside acoustic & electric guitars, flute, sax, bass and drums. (Several reviewers and the Record Heaven label itself mention Mellotron. It’s a string synth!) There are elements of Focus and Camel here, but it resembles Fruupp and loads of other obscure 1970’s continental European symphonic bands more. Must be that string synth and the general politeness. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3, nearly all of the album’s first track.

The New Grove Project - Brill ($16.99) 

The New Grove Project is a Swedish progressive rock band centered on Ingemar Hjertqvist. They recorded demos in 1983-84 and their first real CD Fool’s Journey in 1996, which included Roine Stolt, Pär Lindh, and Jode Leigh (ex-England, as in Garden Shed). Brill (2005) is their best work to date, again featuring Pär Lindh and Jode Leigh (who contributed one song), also Hasse Bruniusson (Samla Mammas Manna, The Flower Kings) and several others. The music is melodic symphonic progressive with a wealth of ideas and a good variety of instrumentation, vaguely in The Flower Kings vein. The only thing that keeps this from being on the same level as The Flower Kings are the vocals, which are passable but nothing to write home about. But there is a lot of instrumental content, and with all these great musicians involved, this is a gem that should not be overlooked. 62-minutes, finishing with the 24-minute title track.

Opus Est - Opus II ($15.99)

Opus Est - Opus I ($11.99)   SALE!

Opus I is the CD reissue of a little-known record from 1983, one that we anxiously awaited. Opus Est could be considered the Swedish IQ. Given that Opus Est were contemporaneous with IQ, one has to wonder whether they had heard IQ. More likely both bands were inspired by Genesis and ended up in the same general area. In any event, Opus I can stand comfortably alongside or just a notch below Tales from the Lush Attic, though Opus I is not as dark as IQ can be. Singer Håkan Nilsson delivers the English lyrics in a voice with a quality similar to a young Peter Hammill. Three excellent bonus tracks (nearly 20-minutes) have been added.

Opus II is their second album, not released until the end of 2006. It’s comprised of a four-part suite composed between 1979-80, recorded partly in 1979 and partly in 2004. There are four more songs composed and recorded between 1983-84, bringing the CD length up to 74-minutes. This album sounds very much like the logical successor to Opus I, and the singer’s voice and certain signature keyboard sounds give Opus Est a clear identity. This album is more refined and sophisticated though, suggesting Genesis and IQ but standing on its own. Hopefully this is the beginning of the second career of Opus Est.

Øresund Space Collective - same ($15.99)   

This is the debut album from a Danish/Swedish/American project, the members all located in the Øresund region that connects Sweden and Denmark (now that there’s a bridge there). This is 70-minutes of cosmic space rock built upon jams, with similarities to Quarkspace’s Spacefolds series, Ozric Tentacles, Korai Öröm, and Hidria Spacefolk. Not the raw Hawkwind variety, this is primarily the chill-out style of space rock, with lots of swirling and twittering synths, trippy guitars, and pulsing rhythms. This is supposed to be a limited pressing of 500 hand-numbered copies, and our copies have numbers like 507 of 500, 508 of 500, etc. Draw your own conclusions about the perils of playing hours and hours of space rock. Note the first mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3, a 7-minute excerpt from the 2nd track of the album.

Orne - The Conjuration by the Fire ($16.99) 

The debut CD by Finnish band Orne, The Conjuration by the Fire, was recorded in 2005 and released in 2006 by the Italian Black Widow label. In keeping with most of Black Widow’s releases, this CD has a somber, occult, psychedelic progressive sound straight out of the British early 1970’s scene. There is some early Van der Graaf Generator influence. However, the music is more proto-progressive, that is, it is not as developed as many of the influences listed by the band (e.g., early Genesis, King Crimson). But it is not particularly heavy, and the flute and Hammond organ make for a refined sound that it is often quite beautiful in a dark, melancholy way. It feels like a dark prog ritual.

Overhead - Metaepitome ($15.99)   

Alongside contributions to the Kalevala project as well as Mellow Records’ Finnish progressive rock tribute, this Finnish quintet has released two CDs, of which Metaepitome (2005) is the 2nd and stronger of the two. Overhead’s brand of symphonic progressive is original and seductive. They tend toward long tracks with plenty of instrumental content that often emphasizes 1970’s sounds and styles. Something about the lead vocals (which are in English) makes the band sound contemporary, and there is some heavy guitar as is de rigueur today, though thankfully their music is a long way from metal. For references, one might mention Pink Floyd, Eloy, Kaipa, and Jethro Tull (on the few occasions when flute is used). The highlights are the two long suites that open and close the album, the title track (19:40) and especially Dawn (16:22) with its majestic harmony vocals and generally spacey character.

Paatos - Silence of Another Kind ($14.99) 

Paatos - Timeloss ($13.99) 

This is the InsideOut release of Timeloss, the 2002 first album by this Swedish band formed by the founders of Landberk and picking up where Landberk left off. This reissue has a new booklet, extended from 8 to 16 pages, plus a bonus video featuring the album track Hypnotique as a Quicktime file. Silence of Another Kind (2006) is their 3rd, on which they have a female singer with a beautiful voice who also plays cello. While the music is at its core a kind of modern rock, the sound is dominated by Mellotron strings, violin and viola, making for a moody symphonic modern prog with soaring vocals. Whatever it is, it works, and it should appeal to fans of The Gathering in their non-metal phase.

Pain of Salvation - Scarsick ($13.99)

The 2007 release by the popular Swedish progressive metal band.

Pictorial Wand - A Sleeper’s Awakening (2CD, $19.99)   

A Sleeper’s Awakening (2006) is the debut project of Norwegian musician Mattis Sørum. Sørum enlisted the help of a large number of musicians for this concept album. The label calls it a symphonic progressive rock album, which it is, but it could as easily be called a prog-metal album. It isn’t as metallic as the average prog-metal album, but the heavy guitar appears often enough, and even when the music isn’t overtly metallic, it is often weighed down by the typical plodding metal aesthetic and melodic/harmonic restrictions. On the positive side, there are plenty of more refined passages featuring orchestral arrangements, Mellotron, organ, flute, cello, oboe, and violin. There are beautiful female vocals from three different singers, while the main character in this concept album is male and so most of the vocals are male.

Pocketful - Sparkling ($11.99)      SALE!

Pocketful is a new Swedish band, but they are really the continuation of the band Masque, ten years on. Sparkling (2005) picks up where Masque’s final album Ten Ways left off and improves on it. Call this art-pop if you will. Within that framework, there is a lot of innovation, great writing, and attention paid to texture and feel. Pocketful includes a cover of David Sylvian’s Before the Bullfight, and there is some similarity between the two artists on the more melancholy tracks, except that Pocketful are not minimalist as David Sylvian tends to be, and they’re not nearly as depressed. Vocals in English of course, with some lovely female vocals complementing the male lead vocals. Music like this gives pop a good name!

Project: <<Name Stolen>> ($15.99)

This 2005 CD is from a new Finnish progressive band singing in English. It’s a concept album with a little narration near the beginning of the album, though ultimately the album is more instrumental than vocal. The style blends Pink Floyd with the French band Asia Minor, generally dark and melancholy as is typical for Scandinavian prog bands. It may start a bit slowly, but the album grows on you and ends up being quite a unique one. 60-minutes.

Radiomöbel - Gudang Garam ($15.99) 

This is a legitimate CD reissue of a rare 1978 privately-pressed LP of Swedish symphonic progressive rock with psychedelic and spacey aspects, mostly instrumental, with ethereal female vocals in a few spots. The music often relies on string synth pads performing slow chord progressions, something that suggests Pink Floyd, Pulsar, or maybe early Grobschnitt. That characteristic (OK, cheesy) 1970’s string synth sound (courtesy of Elka, Crumar, Logan and others) brings to mind a number of other, mostly-obscure European 70’s prog bands. Definitely recommended to fans of 1970’s symphonic prog who’ve explored beyond the first and second-tier bands, Radiomöbel can be grouped with the likes of Akasha, Autumn Breeze, and Mr Brown. Note the master tapes were lost and this CD was mastered from vinyl. The label and every other retailer we’ve seen conveniently fail to mention this, and apparently every reviewer either has tin ears or didn’t think it was important enough to mention. And though it is almost trivial to do today, the label didn’t bother with any audio restoration. That said, the surface noise is really only noticeable during the quiet at the very beginning of each side of the LP. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3, the complete 2nd track of the album.

Råg i Ryggen - same ($15.99) 

This is the CD reissue of a 1975 album, the sole release by Swedish progressive hard rock band Råg i Ryggen. There are three live bonus tracks with mediocre sound from 1975-76; one of the three songs has no corresponding studio recording. In this case, “progressive hard rock” means that much of the album is in the Uriah Heep hard-rock-with-keyboards (Hammond, Moog) style, but there is some actual progressive rock in the typical Swedish 70’s style (Blåkulla, Kaipa, Kebnekaise). Some songs are sung in English (try not to listen to the lyrics), others in Swedish. Note the master tapes were lost, so this CD was taken from a mint condition vinyl LP and digitally restored by the band’s guitarist. Of course the label makes no mention of this, nor do any retailers or reviewers we’ve come across. However, given that it was a low-budget 1970’s production to begin with, the audio quality is good and, due to the restoration, doesn’t detract. The booklet contains a band history in English, though due to an amateurish layout, it’s a chore to read. So this album certainly deserves the CD reissue, and some of the album will appeal to symphonic prog lovers, but as a whole it will appeal more to those who enjoy the likes of Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, and Wishbone Ash. Note the mp3 icon above links directly to a single mp3, the complete 4th track of the album.

Retroheads - Introspective ($14.99)

Retroheads - Retrospective ($14.99) 

Let’s be clear that this Norwegian five-piece band are retro-prog-heads, and despite the album name, Retrospective is their debut. Recorded in 2004, Retrospective may have been the best debut of 2005. The band does have a 1970’s orientation, focusing their keyboard sounds on Hammond B3, Mellotron, ARP, Minimoog, and Taurus bass pedals. But they may be selling themselves short with the “retro” tag. They aren’t as self-consciously retro as some other Scandinavian bands, and they are so inventive that there are only a few passages where another specific band comes to mind. Their influences are probably Camel, Pink Floyd, and Genesis, in that order. At times they remind us of the German band P’Cock (probably not the most helpful reference), for the way they combine spaciness with sympho-prog. Also there are similarities to RPWL. Though heavily instrumental, there are male and some female vocals in English. 67-minutes.

Retroheads’ follow-up Introspective (2006) sees changes in the band’s lineup, which now consists of three women and four men. Irishman Mike Mann takes over lead vocals, while Deborah Gurnius has joined on flute and backing vocals and Gry Anett Stordahl on keyboards. Now with an outstanding singer plus the female backing vocals, Retroheads have become stronger and probably even broadened their appeal. This album can’t help but sound different from its predecessor, but it’s just as good, and no point making the same album twice. About the only thing “retro” in Retroheads music now is the use of vintage keys, and when the sustained electric guitar is soaring over Hammond or Mellotron with these vocals and these melodies, it’s heaven. 64-minutes.

Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band ($15.99) 

This 2007 CD is the fourth studio CD for Sweden’s Ritual, who have decided to be a progressive rock band again. This is their best album, owing a large debt to Gentle Giant and a little debt to pastoral Genesis. The band have augmented their sound with bouzouki, hammer dulcimer, recorders, whistles, and nyckelharpa (the Swedish keyed fiddle), while the keyboardist limits his rig to clavinet, harmonium, grand piano and Rhodes. Ritual are never actually playing folk music, but that influence is integrated into what is a very original and adventurous sound and a brilliant progressive rock album. Note singer Patrik Lundström also sings for the reformed Kaipa, so if that voice sounds familiar...

Scarlet Thread - Va