Prog & Roll's Top-10 song list is uploaded as a podcast (radio season 2016-2017)

Hello all!
  After a long Summer break, it is almost time for the new radio season to kick in. But before that,
I thought of sharing with you the show that was including the Top-10 song list of the previous season. The really interesting thing is that, the list was built month after month, by our listeners and not by us.
  As some of you know already, during the last season we were playing the "Grade the Song" game with our audience, and at the end of each month, we were having the "Song of the Month" contest. There, we were playing the 3-4 songs that gathered the highest average rating during the month, and our listeners were grading them once more, but in a more serious manner so to say. And finally, the song with the highest average rating was announced as The Song of the Month.
  Now, knowing that Prog & Roll was on air for 10 months, you can understand where this Top-10 list came from. (1 song for each month X 10 months).    
  So, at the end of July, we had the final show of the season, where we presented the Top-10 list to our listeners. They did deserve it after all!
 And now, a few days before Prog & Roll's new season, I decided to upload on our page on Mixcloud that show, for you to listen and enjoy!
 Have in mind that I uploaded the 3 (out of 4) parts of the show, which are the ones where we presented the Top-10 list.
Also, you should know that the broadcast is in English and Greek.
 If you visit our page on Mixcloud you can listen to some other shows that are uploaded there as well, if you are interested of course.
Just click on this link: https://www.mixcloud.com/ProgandRoll/prog-rolls-top-10-song-list-for-the-radio-season-2016-2017/
 I hope you will like it!
Thank you!

DRIFTING SUN: Twilight (2017). A review...

  Twilight is the brand new album by Drifting Sun, that was released a few days ago, on September 1st, 2017. It is the band’s 5^th studio album, and I dare say that, it is their best work so far. 
  I was lucky enough to have the digital version in my hands, almost 2 weeks before the album’s official release, and I listened to it lots of times. I am not going to present the album song by song here, but I will try to give you the general “picture”.

   Twilight is Drifting Sun’s 3^rd studio release in the last 3 years. (And as I wrote above, the 5^th overall). After a long break, Pat Sanders reformed the band and released Trip the Life Fantastic in 2015 that was their first album of the new period, followed by Safe Asylum, one year later.

If you are interested to read my reviews on those albums, you can find them here: 

Trip the Life Fantastic

Safe Asylum

  In comparison with the two previous albums, Twilight is better in every aspect. Further than the top notch musicianship, there is a great improvement when it comes to the compositions. Twilight is not as dark as Safe Asylum, or so “easy going” like Trip the Life Fantastic.

  Here, the compositions became better and more complicated, without becoming boring or tiring for the listener. The band kept its unique sound, which is driven by the wonderful – once more – keyboards of Pat Sanders. Also, Mathieu Spaeter’s performance on guitar is really good, and it is adding many points to the final outcome! (Mathieu Spaeter is the band’s new guitar player, who came as a replacement of Dan Storey).

  When I listened to the album for the first 1-2 times, I realized that was a good one, definitely better than the previous ones, but that was it. But with every new listen, I was discovering more and more things I loved in it. And believe it or not, finally I was listening to it almost 2-3 times a day. For that reason, I strongly recommend that you pay some extra attention to it and you will be rewarded.

Now that I know the album really well, I can say that I love almost every moment in it, starting with the opening song, which is one of my most beloved ones.

  Speaking of beloved songs, here’s my list: Twilight, Wings of Hope, Soldiers and Remedy.

Because I like all the songs in this album, I usually put it in my CD player, I press “play” and I am listening to it without a break; which is something very important for me.

  If you know Drifting Sun, have in mind that this is their best work so far, so do not hesitate to go and buy Twilight. If you don’t know them so well, this a very good starting point. If you know them, but you don’t like them, well, there’s nothing I can do about that, can I?

In my opinion this is one of the best releases of 2017, so far at least.

    Congratulations, this is an excellent job!

                            Highly Recommended!

                My rating would be 4.5 out of 5.0 stars

In case you are interested, here’s a couple of links to the band’s official site and Bandcamp page, where you can order and/or download Twilight.

http://www.driftingsun.co.uk/ 

https://driftingsun.bandcamp.com/ 

If you want to listen to a sample from the album, just click on the following YT links:

DRIFTING SUN: Twilight 

DRIFTING SUN: Remedy

MACHINES DREAM: Black Science (2017)

  I discovered Machines Dream recently and I was very surprised by the quality of their music. They are Canadians, and their discography consists of 4 albums so far.

In 2017 the band released their latest work, named as Black Science, which can be found in digital or physical (CD) version.

     Black Science is dark; dark and wonderful…

  The lyrics of the album are focused on the 20^th Century, and especially to the  2 great wars; WW1 and WW2. As for heir sound, is solid, powerful, heavy and dark. (I will probably use the word 'dark' a lot in this piece).

The strong Pink Floyd influences (among other bands) can be found everywhere, but that is not a problem at all.

  The album opens with the short intro Armistice Day, followed by Weimar, which is the album’s longest track and one of the highlights without a doubt.

After I listened to Weimar for the first time, I stopped listening to the rest of the album, and listened to it twice before deciding to continue. Yes, it's that good!

The Cannons Cry which comes next, is a more powerful tune, but also dark and heavy.

Then, Heavy Water enters, which – if I’m not mistaken - is about the efforts both sides did in order to create first the A-Bomb. Another excellent tune!

Airfield on Sunwick is the album’s 5^th song, a melancholic but lighter tune, very beautiful as well.

The 6^th track is the title song, which points out some of the worst things that humanity did during the 20^th Century, further than the 2 great wars. Another highlight here.

As I was reaching towards the end, I discovered the first song I didn’t like, which is UXB. It is not bad, but is nowhere near the previous ones.

The last song is Noise to Signal which is the second song I didn’t like so much. Again, it’s not bad, but nothing special either. (But it is better than UXB, especially during its 2^nd part).

  So, to sum up, Black Science is a really good album, not very easy to listen to, and certainly not so enjoyable or fun. It is heavy, dark, serious, melancholic, and… great!

It is a really interesting, not to say unique release.

Highly recommended, but you must consider the things I wrote above. Also, have in mind that it will take some time and a few listens in order to really appreciate it.

If you think that the things you just read sounds interesting, then go for it! You will not regret it.

                           4 solid stars from me

 If you click on the following YT link, you will be able to listen to Heavy Water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw656baIV2o 

DRIFTING SUN: Twilight (September 1st, 2017)

Hello all!
  I am writing this piece in order to inform you about the forthcoming release from the very good English Neo-Prog band Drifting Sun.

  The band's new album is Twilight, and it is going to be released on the 1st of September. It is the band's 5th studio album, which is including Mathieu Spaeter on guitars, who joined Drifitng Sun as a replacement of Dan Storey.
 I already have in my music library the digital version of Twilight, and I listen to it every day. (In the meantime, I am also waiting for the psysical copy to arrive).
  In comparison with the band's two previous albums (Trip the Life Fantastic and Safe Asylum), I really think that, this is their best work so far. It is more "mature" than Trip the Life Fantastic, and less dark than Safe Asylum. 
  I am not going to write a review here, because the album is not officially released yet. I will write one though, in the following weeks.
  So, in case you are interested, you can pre-order the album (the digital or the physical version) from many online shops, but I would recommend Drifting Sun's Bandcamp page, or their official site.
Here's a few links to take a look if you are interested: https://driftingsun.bandcamp.com/
http://www.driftingsun.co.uk/shop/
 I really believe that this band deserves more attention, and Twilight is a very good starting point.
Thank you!

BIG BIG TRAIN: The Second Brighter Star (2017)

   The Second Brighter Star is the 11^th studio album of the English Prog Rock band Big Big Train, that followed the release of their  previous album Grimspound, with only two months difference. Grimspound was released at the end April, and “Brighter Star” at the end of June.

   That was a little unexpected, and caught many people (including me), by surprise.

  As far as I understood (and read), in “Brighter Star” the band decided to include songs that were not included in their two previous albums, together with a few older songs that have been rearranged. The original versions of those songs can be found in Folklore and Grimspound.

  In the review I wrote about Folklore, I mentioned that after the release of the two excellent albums English Electric Pt.1 & 2, the band went a step back with Folklore. Grimspound that followed, was a good album, better than Folklore in my opinion, but I’m afraid I can’t say the same for this last one.

  The Second Brighter Star is not a bad album, but nothing special either. Yes, the usual melodic and melancholic style of Big Big Train is present once more, but the compositions as less inspired and less interesting. (Always in my opinion). The sound is rich, including many instruments and the production is very good, but that’s not enough I’m afraid.

  The best moments here are: The Second Bright Star (the album’s opening track), followed by the very interesting rearranged versions of London Plane and Brooklands.

  This is an album that I could recommend to the fans of Big Big Train, who I can guess that bought it alredy. As for those who are not fans of BBT, you can try it of course, but I do not recommend it. Better try English Electric Pt.1 & 2, and Grimspound.

       I’m afraid I cannot give more than 3.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Here's an event you souldn't miss... (Athens 22/9/2017)

  On Friday the 22nd of September, a special event will take place at the wonderful Herodion ancient theatre in Athens, Greece.
  The Philarmonic orchestra of Prague and the Symphonic orchestra of Athens, will present a Rock concert played in a "symphonic" way. The setlist will be including songs from very famous bands, like Queen, Led Zeppelin, Scorpions, Deep Purple and others. With them, many musicians will appear on the stage as guests, including the drummer of Frank Zappa (F. Honig), and Steve Harley, the leader of Cockney Rebel, among others.
  The ticket prices begin from 28€, which in my opinion is a very good price for this event.
So, if you are living or visiting Athens, this is something that you shouldn't miss!