Giona

Progrock: I admit I don’t follow the math/post scene much... it doesn’t really match my sounds. I tried with Mogwai some time ago, but the spark didn’t ignite... (even though I remember being struck by Young Team among their works...)

Thank you Jargon, thank you Elio! Even though I specified in the review that this is not one of the genre's firm points (i.e., not universally recognized 5-star), it reflects my tastes so perfectly (personal tastes, of course) that it deserves 5 stars from me. Just like certain works by Caravan, Camel, National Health, and other bands that I’m sure very few would grant excellence to, but, for me, they are sublime and indispensable works... What can I do? ;)

@Progrock: I see you're leaning towards more recent bands... I admit I don't have a vast knowledge when it comes to the extensive discographies of Glass Hammer and Djam Karet. I've listened to some works, but at some point, I gave up... I'll have to complete the puzzle sooner or later... By the way, how is Culture of Ascent? On Progarchives, it was getting a lot of publicity until recently… perhaps because it features Jon Anderson...

Thank you all! @Ardalo: The Muse Awakens from 2004? @Super: Why should I forgive you? By now even the rocks know that we have almost opposite preferences, even though we’re interested in more or less the same genre (or variations of it). In fact, thank goodness we have different tastes; otherwise, we’d be posting the same reviews! I’m madly in love with soft-sounding prog hybridized with Canterbury-inflected fusion, so albums like the debut of Happy are "my death," as the saying goes.. The only note I’d like to mention is that calling "Upon the Rainbow" AOR might be a bit diminishing. I really can't stand AOR.. it gives me hives.. Then if the piece actually has such references and I don’t hear them... well, better for me :p I completely agree regarding Boris.. simply genius. I happened to be listening to them last night.. @Dreamwarrior: Cautious, to say the least! The American prog bands I tolerate can be counted on one hand. Happy is a pleasant (actually happy, since we’re on the theme..) exception for me.

I totally agree that most of the atmosphere during the shows was created by the lights and anguished screams, but let it be clear, I meant stage designs where macabre and violent rituals were depicted through images, you know (maybe in the background, behind the musicians there were probably representations of disturbing scenes)... not performed on site.. That seems quite unlikely to me..

Being personally attached to prog, I prefer Dr. Z to Zior, as the latter has a more bluesy style, leaning more towards 60's sounds. However, it must be said that in terms of themes and underlying atmosphere, we are always on the cheerful and sunny side... um... especially when thinking back to the live shows that bands like Zior used to put on... disembowelments, torture, horrific deaths... to be a fan, I believe, one needed a daring spirit and, above all, a strong stomach :) By the way, going back to the album covers, even the debut of Zior is very interesting and evocative, on the same wavelength as the debut of Black Sabbath (in fact, I believe it was created by the same artist).

Beautiful review, Lewis. The album (which, as previously noted, is worth a fortune in its original edition) is a unique example of dark-prog primarily based on keyboards and hammering, obsessive rhythms that, as Super suggested, sometimes risk sliding into the predictable. Nonetheless, it is a very valid rediscovery.

Well, let's admit that the cover doesn't really entice you to listen :p

I completely agree with my friend Bartle... I am crying.

In comment N°10, I wouldn’t have written "MIGLIORE" in uppercase, but "I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW"...