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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Yagull

Kai

Review by Gary Hill

This might not be progressive rock. It’s more stripped back and mellower than that. Surely, though, it is progressive music. It’s also the kind of thing that will appeal more to prog fans than mainstream rockers. However you label it, though, this is a great mellow instrumental album.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2015  Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
North

Pretty piano starts this and holds it for a time. Eventually acoustic guitar joins, and they begin to weave melody together. Although the arrangement and treatment are completely different, the melody here reminds of me of an Alan Parsons song somehow at times.

Dark
A bit more energetic, this has both more rock and more jazz built into it. It’s still got plenty of style and cool melodies. At times I’m reminded of acts ranging from The Doors to Pink Floyd and California Guitar Trio.
Heiwa
I really love the powerful melodies on this. It’s still mellow and understated, but also very potent. It makes me think of California Guitar Trio quite a bit, really.
Blossom

With piano dominating, this is more in line with a jazz trio kind of sound. It has a lot of energy and really moves. It turns more toward the rock end of things as it continues. With a number of shifts and changes, this really does wander between more mellow rock and jazz stylings.

Mio
Spanish guitar is added to the mix. Yet, this is still very much a mellow rock song in a lot of ways. Sure, it reflects world music, too, but somehow I’m almost reminded of a sedate version of Metallica at times on this thing. It moves to classical music later, though, when the piano takes command. The guitar brings it back to the world music territory for the closing movement.
Wishing Well
Definitely a mellow rocker, this is classy stuff. It has some jazz and some CGT in the mix. World music shows up here, too.
Burn
A very energetic and bouncy little number, this packed with both jazz and rock, but includes some folk music, too.
Sound of M
A slower moving cut, there is a lot of jazz trio sound built into this. It has some folk music in the mix, too, though. It’s melodic and quite satisfying in terms of the melodies.
Z-Parrow
There is a lot of world music, and specifically Celtic, sound in this. It’s quite folk oriented to me.
Kai
Piano leads this out and holds it in a very classical mode. It’s approaching the two minute mark before the guitar joins. The basic premise remains unchanged, but that guitar helps to spin the musical tale.
Omniprism
Piano leads the way here, too. Guitar brings it into a more folk rock kind of style before the one minute mark. As this develops, it explores some great melodic and rhythmic territory. It’s very much a jazz turned folk rock kind of thing. There are some more purely progressive rock oriented sections later in the piece.
Oyasumi
This short and gentle piece almost feels like Christmas music to me. It’s a satisfying closer.
 
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