ProgressoR / Uzbekistan Progressive Rock Pages

News of Prog

February 2004 |
January |

BANDS & PERFORMERS:RECORDING COMPANIES:
1.III+ Azazello
1.III+ Taylor's Free Universe
25.II+ Elegant Simplicity
12.II+ Djam Karet
10.II+ Oxygene 8
5.II+ Rick Ray Band
25.II+ Mellow Records
21.II+ Unicorn Records
17.II+ ProgRock Records
12.II+ Musea Records


BANDS & PERFORMERS:

AZAZELLO
(Russia) / March 1, 2004

New album:

Azazello's new album "The Wings" has been released by Mellow Records.

Related Links:
>
Azazello
Mellow Records

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TAYLOR'S FREE UNIVERSE
(Denmark) / March 1, 2004

New album:

The new Taylor's Free Universe album "9 Eleven" (2 CD) has been released on Robin's Marvel of Beauty label.

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Robin Taylor

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Elegant Simplicity
(Italy) / January 5, 2004

Elegant Simplicity's "Aquatorium" out now!
We have just taken delivery this morning of the new rarities album, "Aquatorium". It looks and sounds superb. The CD has extensive liner notes for each track. Why a song wasn't used on an album, history of the song, who is playing on it etc. All sorts of stuff! The CD features 12 tracks, including the legendary 19 minute improvisation Solar Mass Music, never before released, and is a whopping 78 minutes long. The CD also includes a new recording of the bands well-received contribution to the Musea Records/Colossus Magazine Kalevala project. If this archive release breaks even, then the band will be looking at re-releasing the first seven albums! As you know, this album is in limited numbers and will not be commercially available - it can only be bought from us. It features a full colour booklet and, as a special mailing list bonus, everyone ordering a copy will receive by return email an Acrobat PDF file containing an extra 4 page lyric sheet. It is about 274kb in size. Once printed, it is designed to fit inside the existing booklet. To buy it, simply go to our website and head straight for the CD shop! Like all our other albums, it costs just F9.00 and that includes first class post and packing to anywhere in the world. If we break even and can at least cover costs with this archive release (who knows what may follow:).

Elegant Simplicity's"Anhedonia" - coming soon!
The band's forthcoming new studio album "Anhedonia" just uploaded! Listen to it! You will find about 25 minutes worth of music from there! Be sure to check it out, though not all at once, as it might cause a few problems with a web server! The band's new studio album, "Anhedonia", will be released in March/April 2004 and features 7 very dark, melodious tracks of classic progressive music. Highlight of the album is the awesome 19 minutes of Lost. The album will be available as a limited edition picture disc with a free button badge to all purchasers from the bands website! Naturally, as this is a full commercial release, promo copies will be available. Please look out for the next announcement, due in March/April.

Elegant Simplicity's two best selling and best-known albums "Palindrome" (2001) and "Architect of Light" (2002) have both sold out. They are not likely to be re-printed any time soon.

Bjorn Lynne: Those of you familiar with Bjorn's work will know what kind of music he produces (epic, fantasy-based progressive instrumental). Anyway, we (Elegant Simplicity's Proximity Records), have obtained a few copies of his two best-known CDs: "The Gods Awaken" and "Wolves of the Gods". These are now in the CD shop and are priced at F8.00 each. Get them while you can, as there are less than 10 copies of each album.

Related Links:
Elegant Simplicity

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DJAM KARET
(USA) / February 12, 2004

New releases:

NEARfest Records will be releasing Djam Karet's performance at the 2001 NEARfest on Tuesday, February 3, 2004. This release has been assembled and mixed by the band over the last 6 months of 2003 at their own studios and is a great portrait of Djam Karet live as it captures both the energy and improvisational moments of the band's infrequent live shows. The CD is available to order here NOW direct from the band for $12.99 plus shipping. Please note that our website now takes PayPal as well as MasterCard & Visa. ALL orders that are received through March 31, 2004 will be autographed by all members of the performing band. In order to accommodate the logistics of this, orders received at the DK website will begin shipping on Tuesday 2/17/04. To order, or for detailed release notes and sound samples, please visit the DK website (see below).

Unreleased Djam Karet tracks keep growing! Every month we will be posting 2 new tracks of unreleased MP3's of Djam Karet material that will be available for streaming or downloading. The second two are up now (for a total of 4) in our DK Downloads Section and full details can be found on that new section of the Djam Karet Website.

Forthcoming releases: Djam Karet will be self releasing a specially priced 2 CD set in honor of our 20 Year Anniversary that will be available direct from the band as well as a few independent specialty web based retailers. "No Commercial Potential" / "And Still Getting The Ladies" - Rock Improvisations From 1985 & 2002 ties together the band's roots in improvisational rock as it presents Djam Karet's now long out of print first release of live digitally mastered 8 track improvisations from 1985 on CD along with live in the studio improvisations recorded during the Night For Baku sessions in 2002. Firm release date is set for July 2004.

Solo CD's from Lux Nova Umbra Est (featuring Aaron Kenyon and Mike Henderson of DK) and Chuck Oken's Cerebral Voyage electronic music project are set for the spring of 2004.

Related Links:
Djam Karet

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OXYGENE 8
(USA) / February 10, 2004

Latest news:

Frank and Linda at Oxygene8 are very excited and pleased to announce that renowned Argentinean Chapman stick player Guillermo Cides and great Catalan drummer Gerard Mallorqui will be joining them as part of Oxygene 8's lineup for Baja Prog in Mexicali, Mexico. Oxygene 8 performs opening day March 3, 2004.

Related Links:
Oxygene 8

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RICK RAY BAND
(USA) / February 5, 2004

Related Links:
Rick Ray

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RECORDING COMPANIES:

MELLOW Records
(Italy) / February 25, 2004

Mellow Records - New releases (coming in a few days):

  • Free Wave System (Italy) - 1980/2004 - "Nonostante Tutto"
    This is te reissue of a really good jazz-rock album from 1980. For the lovers of Arti E Mestieri, Il Baricentro, etc.
  • Azazello (Russia) - 2003 - "The Wings"
    This is the 3rd album by the Russian band whose previous album was released on Musea Records in 2001. The music is Symphonic Prog-Metal at its best with distinct elements of Russian folklore. The sound quality is excellent, especially in comparison with that of their previous albums.
  • Edhels (Monaco/France) - 2003 - "Saltimbanques"
    This is, maybe, France's best contemporary Art-Rock band, and their new album is as exciting as all the others.

    Forthcoming releases (in April):

  • Contrappunto (Italy) - 2004 - "Elegie d'inverno"
  • Taproban (Italy) - 2004 - "Outside Nowhere"
  • Related Links:
    Mellow Records

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    UNICORN Records
    (Canada) / February 21, 2004

    Unicorn Records - New release:

    Upright is from the region of Montreal. The music is Jazz-Fusion that may remind you the first Spaced Out CD, and yet, the album, has a distinct Upright sound. Upright's "Opinion" will be available on Unicorn Records since March 1st 2004.

    Related Links:
    Unicorn Records

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    PROGROCK Records
    (USA) / February 17, 2004

    Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 16 February 2004 - Cryptic Vision, a Sarasota, Florida-based, original progressive rock band has been signed to Progrock Records of Southern California. Their style is accessible and unique with a strong appeal for fans of artists like Kansas, Saga, Rush and Spock's Beard. Their debut CD "Moments of Clarity" was written and performed by the nucleus of Rick Duncan and Todd Plant, who have been working together on various projects since the late 80's. The album also includes special guest violinist David Ragsdale from Kansas on a number of tracks. The music is passionate and sweeping with great vocal harmonies. Jerry George and Shawn Gordon (A&R Director and President, respectively) from ProgRock Records jumped at the chance to sign Cryptic Vision as one of their growing list of fantastic artists. "I am really digging this music. So many different styles wrapped together in an inspiring and well done package. Cryptic Vision has what it takes to get noticed in today's fast developing prog scene", said Jerry George, A&R director for the upstart label. "This was one of those few CD's I get that I liked within moments of popping it in to the player, I'm really pleased to have Cryptic Vision as part of our family", said Shawn Gordon, President of ProgRock Records. "Moments of Clarity" is the ProgRock Records debut release from Cryptic Vision. It is a milestone album for the progressive rock community, containing a unique blend of musical styles that are accessible to both the progressive rock purist and the general community of indie rock lovers. It is available for immediate order at Progrock Records.

    Related Links:
    ProgRock Records
    Cryptic Vision

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    MUSEA Records
    (France) / February 12, 2004

    Musea Records - New releases:

  • FGBG 4429: Francois Breant (France) - 1979/2004 - "Voyeur Extra-Lucide"
  • FGBG 4500: Discus (Indonesia) - 2004 - "Tot Licht"
  • Related Links:
    Musea Records

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