New Music from 2010

We at the International Prog Rock Show buy a lot of new music. 2010 is fast becoming another 2009, that is to say a bumper crop year for prog. Already we've had great concerts in the first half of the year, with many more to come.

Since we've had many interviews in the past few weeks, we didn't get the chance to play a lot of what we got in the new year... well here was our chance! New music by Anathema, Porcupine Tree, and The Windmill, among others. The radio show is available for download (Link no longer available) and the playlist is as follows:

1. Herculean, by Khatsaturjan (Disconcerto Grosso, Finland, 2010) - NEW
2. A Simple Mistake, by Anathema (We're Here Because We're Here, UK, 2010) - NEW
3. In the Mirror of Dreams, by Gall (Anonym, Poland, 2010) - NEW
4. Reflections of a Dying World, by Disperse (Journey Through the Hidden Gardens, Poland, 2010) - NEW
5. Cryptomnesia, by El Grupo de Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Cryptomnesia, Puerto Rico, 2009)
6. Fear of a Blank Planet (Live), by Porcupine Tree (Anesthetize, UK, 2010) - NEW
7. Cheating the Polygraph (Live), by Porcupine Tree (Anesthetize, UK, 2010) - NEW
8. A Gathering of Crows, by Dead Heroes Club (A Time of Shadow Ireland 2009)
9. A Day in a Hero's Life, by The Windmill (To Be Continued..., Norway, 2010) - NEW
10. Breathe In, Breath Out, by RPWL (Acoustic) (The Gentle Art of Music, Germany, 2010) - NEW
11. Celestial Elixir, by Haken (Aquarius, UK, 2010) - NEW
12. Lines on the Horizon, by Argos (Circles, Germany, 2010) - NEW
13. Don't Ask Me, by Division By Zero (Independent Harmony, Poland, 2010) - NEW
14. The Very Last Number, by Areknamés (In Case of Loss, Italy, 2010) - NEW

Hope you enjoy the show, and -as always - encourage the artists you like by purchasing their music!!

Frank

Mindgames on the International Prog Rock Show

Last Friday I had the pleasure of talking to Bart Schram, lead signer of the Belgian prog band Mindgames. Formed in 1997, the band has three albums under their belt and plan a fourth one in the not too distant future. Their latest, MMX, came out in January of this year, and I named it my album of the month.
Over the course of the interview, done through Skype, you'll find out about the band's early days, the inspiration for some of the songs, and much more.

Last Sunday's show was entirely dedicated to Mindgames and Bart Schram's interview. You will hear great music and a very likeable man. I would like to thank Bart for the interview, which he did at midnight in Belgium.

During the interview I mispoke twice. Once when Bart mentioned Musea Records (I couldn't understand the name). I do know about Musea Records, though not about most of their artists. The second time is when I mention Hamadryad; I was thinking about Galahad!
The playlist was as follows:

1. Factory of Illness, by Mindgames (International Daylight, 2003)
2. An Approach to Mankind, by Mindgames (International Daylight, 2003)
3. Selling the Moon, by Mindgames (International Daylight, 2003)
4. The Statue, by Mindgames (Actors in a Play, 2006)
5. Sagittarius, by Mindgames (Actors in a Play, 2006)
6. The Benefit of Anxiety, by Mindgames (Actors in a Play, 2006)
7. Dramatis Persona, by Mindgames (Actors in a Play, 2006)
8. The Source, by Mindgames (MMX, 2010)
9. Destination Sky, by Mindgames (MMX, 2010)
10. The Pendulum, by Mindgames (MMX, 2010)
11. In My Humble Opinion..., by Mindgames (MMX, 2010)
12. Travels, by Mindgames (MMX, 2010)

I hope you discovered a great band, and if you like their music, go to their website and buy their CDs, there's even more to like on them.

Frank

X Marks the Spock ('s Beard)

Yesterday's radio show (from Sunday May 30th) is now available for download. We had the pleasure to receive as guests three of the four members of Spock's Beard. The occasion is the launch of their new CD entitled X (that is Ten in roman numerals) which, coincidentaly, is their tenth studio effort. We spoke to Alan Morse, guitarist and one of the founders of the band, Ryo Okumoto, keyboardist and comedian (you'll understand when you hear the interview), and Dave Meros, bassist extraordinaire!! The interviews turned out to me a lot of fun, and Rick, ever the trooper, went on with the show even though he had a roaring tooth ache - What wouldn't we do to bring you the best prog on the digital internets !! We'd like to thank Sonya "Spock's Babe" Kukcinovich for all the hard work making these interviews happen.

On a side note, feel free to be a follower of this blog, or by sending a comment. We'd like to know what you think of the show.

You can download the show from here (Link no longer available). The playlist is as follows:

1. A Guy Named Sid, by Spock's Beard (Feel Euphoria, 2003)

** Interview with Alan Morse starts **

2. The Man Behind the Curtain, by Spock's Beard (X, 2010)

3. The Emperor's Clothes, by Spock's Beard (X, 2010)

4. On a Perfect Day, by Spock's Beard (Spock's Beard, 2006)

5. The Water / Go the Way You Go, by Spock's Beard (SB Live, 2008)

** Interview with Ryo Okumoto starts **

6. Kamikaze, by Spock's Beard (X - NEW 2010)

7. Ryo's Solo - Live, by Spock's Beard (Gluttons for Punishnent, 2005)

8. 2nd Overture, by Spock's Beard (Snow, 2002)

9. Beware of Darkness, by Spock's Beard (Beware of Darkness, 1996)

10.Godzilla vs. King Ghidaran, by Ruo Okumoto (Coming Through, 2002)

** Interview with Dave Meros starts **

11. Jaws of Heaven, by Spock's Beard (X, 2010)

12. Skeletons at the Feast - Live, by Spock's Beard (SB Live, 2008)

That's it.

I must add that the new Spock's Beard is fantastic. The best in years (at least in four years :) ). If you don't know their music, buy this one and work your way through their back catalogue, you won't regret it!

And as always, encourage the band by buying their CDs directly from their website or at your favourite retail outlet.

Interview with Galahad

For this week's radio show (May 23) we have a treat for you. We had the opportunity to meet the members of UK band Galahad, in fact we were guests of Galahad for their Terra Incognita gig in Quebec City. I'd like to thank Stu, Roy, Dean, Spencer, and Neil for their kindness and for the great music they have been doing over the years.

We had a 90 minute conversation with the members of the band, really kind of a stream of consciousness, where we talked about the music business, the joys of writing music, the best places to gig, and our wives and girlfriends. We present here, in the first hour of the show, all the relevent parts of the interviews, accompanied by some of the great music this band has given us. I apologize for the sound quality, but its the best we could do.

I also had the chance to see Stick Men here in Montreal, and had a chance to meet both Tony Levin and Michael Bernier. Rick and I saw Mystery and Hamadryad and also had a chance to talk with the members of the band during the meet and greet.

Lastly, our friend Andrew Wood (Yoooreds), saw The Resoning and The Pineapple Thief and was kind enough to send us his comments.

Here is the link (Link no longer available) for the download. The playlist for the show is:

1. Empires Never Last - Live, by Galahad (Sleepless in Phoenixville, 2010)
2. Memories of an African Twin, by Galahad (Empires Never Last, 2007)
3. Richelieu's Prayer -Live, by Galahad (Classic Rock Live '94 Remastered 2CD release, 2010)
4. Deficit, by Crisálida (Raco, 2009)
5. Soup, by Stick Men (Soup, 2010) - NEW
6. One Among the Living, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010) - NEW
7. Here and Now, by Hamadryad (Intrusion, 2010) - NEW
8. Your World, by Karnataka (The Gathering Light, 2010)
9. Diamonds and Leather, by The Reasoning (Adverse Camber, 2010) - NEW
10. Nothing at Best, by Pineapple Thief (Someone Here Is Missing, 2010) - NEW
11. Water Run, by Edensong (The Fruit Fallen, 2008)
12. Hands of the Priestess, by Steve Hackett (Live Archives '05, 2005)
13. After the Ordeal, by Steve Hackett (Live Archives '05, 2005)
14. Hairless Heart, by Steve Hackett (Live Archives '05, 2005)
15. Welcome to Your Life, by The Watch (Planet Earth?, 2010)
16. Docteur Mystere - Live, by The Watch (Live Bootleg, 2005)
17. Holy War, by Asia (Omega, 2010) - NEW

Please visit these great bands' web sites!

One Among the Living

On Sunday May 9th our guest live in the studio was Michel St-Père, leader and main composer for Canadian prog band Mystery. Having just released a new CD, Michel talked about its conception and forthcoming live gigs, as well as his work as a record producer. You can hear the whole interview and some choice tracks from the new CD here (Link no longer available). The playlist was as follows:

1. Among the Living / Wolf, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

2. Through Different Eyes, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

3. Kameleon Man, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

4. Travels to the Night, by Mystery (Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face, 2007)

5. Tempus Fugit - Live, by Yes (The Word Is Live, 2008)

6. The Falling Man, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

7. Sailing on a Wing, by Mystery (One Among the Living, 2010)

8. Sidewinder - Live, by Galahad (Sleepless in Phoenixville - 2010)

9. Neverland - Live, by Marillion (Marbles by the Sea, 2005)

10. W.B.A.T., by Motorpsycho (Heavy Metal Fruit, 2010)

11. Seven Stones, by David Myers (David Myers Plays Genesis, 2005)

12. Buying New Soul, by Porcupine Tree (Recordings, 2001)

Enjoy, and as always, encourage the artists by visiting their websites and purchasing their CDs.

Frank