Saturday, August 20, 2016

Jul's Progkast Radio 8 - Blog

In this podcast:

 Sumeritae (Belleza Anatomia- Intro) - Intro (Argentina)

 1) Psychedelic Sun's - Away - (Finland) .38

2 )This Winter Machine - The Man Who Never Was - (England) 6.16
3) Dragon - Ballad (Belgium) - 21.40

4) Dosch - Bodies (U.S.)- 24.25
5) Upsilon Acrux - So Thereby... and Furthermore... thus Henceforth...  (U.S.) - 32.30
6) Elegia - I'll Be Here - (Sweden) - 36.13

7) Marc Ceccotti - As if the Sea Nymphs Quired - (France) - 42.04
8) Heat - The Golden Age - (Germany) - 48.23
9) Grus Paridae - Passes By (Finland) - 57.15

10) Skyjelly - The Six is Silent (U.S.) - 1.03.10

The theme this week appears to be "bells" :)

Band Spotlight

Psychedelic Sun's - A solo project, check out Psychedelis Sun's new album (August 2016) on bandcamp -   https://psychedelicsuns.bandcamp.com/album/journey

This Winter Machine - Based in Yorkshire, England, TWM hands us some tasty Neo-Prog with thoughtful lyrics, smooth vocals, and enough instrumental segments to feed the classic Proggers as well. TWM is working on their debut album. Meanwhile, they are teasing their fans with single releases. Check out their latest release http://thiswintermachine.com/store

Dosch - Playing everything himself, Louis Dosch has some very interesting music and background. For more, check out his page on http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=256562

Elegia - Suffering years of domestic abuse, at 13 years of age, Elegia's songwriter/vocalist/guitarist, Matthias had contemplated suicide. But music would prove to be his salvation. He went on to study music and worked as a professional musician for awhile, but then quit music entirely. A decade later, he is back with Elegia and their debut album, "Anamnesis". He reveals himself in his goth metal songs, with emotional and personal lyrics

Elegia was formed in 2012. "Elegia" being latin for "Elegy" - a sad or reflective poem. Their sound is best described as symphonic prog goth metal.

Most songs are sung foremost by Karin Härefelt. As fate would have it, Karin studied scenical and classical singing at a University in Härnösand - the same town that Matthias grew up in.

Rounding out the band are Johan Gustavsson on guitar, Eric Skjuttorp on drums, and Eric's twin brother, Lars Skjuttorp on Bass. The Orchestra was composed by the band's former drummer, Jesse Lindskog, and some piano parts were performed by Robin Mattsson. 

Elegia's debut album, Anamnesis, was released online June 24, 2016. They physical CD became available as of August 15. 

Elegia's "Anamnesis" takes me back to the band Renaissance and the Angelic Powerful time bending Progressive Rock vocals of Annie Haslam. And yet, Karin Härefelt's voice seems to have a deeper stronger root to it, like Ann Wilson of Heart, or Karen Lawrence of the band 1994. This is some powerful singing in a musical world that has left the typical female rock vocalist wandering in the mire.  Add to that, the driving drums of Eric Skjuttorp, rocking guitars of Johan Gustavsson and Matthias Nyberg (not to miss the backing vocals of Matthias -he shares lead with Karin on "I'm Sorry" -  which blend nicely with Karin's), and the cutting Bass of Lars Skjuttorp. 

Overall, this is a rocking album of melodic, goth prog rock. I could just as easily hear Bruce Dickenson singing these songs, so for anyone who thinks that these don't rock because of a female vocalist... oh contrare! This is some great stuff! 
 
More info:
www.elegia.se
www.twitter.com/elegiaofficial
www.facebook.com/elegiaofficial

 Marc Ceccotti - Playing everything himself, Marc takes off in various directions with his instrumental music.  

 "Dogsled Race" from "Back on the Tundra" album -




Locations to purchase/download his music --

Google Play: minu.me/dbyo 
Heat - From Berlin, Germany, the Heat have the look and feel of 1970's Album Oriented Rock. Founded in 2010, their last album, their second, "Labyrinth", was released in 2014. They are actively gigging ---Live Dates

Live at Stoned from the Underground Festival, Erfurt-Stotternheim, Germany.

Grus Paridae - Is two artists, Petteri Kurki and Rami Turtiainen with special guest Jarno Koivunen on violins. They released a two song EP in 2014. This is some really good Neo-Prog with Classical overtones,... this isn't the first Finnish band I've played.... seems to be quite a bit of Prog eminating from Finland :D


 Thanks go to Dragon, Upsilon Acrux, Skyjelly, Summeritae and Dosch -  available through Creative Commons licenses. Thank you to all other bands for permission to include their songs on Jul's Progkast.
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