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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Aline's étoile magique éclipse // elastic Review by Gary Hill This album is much easier to listen to than it is to define or classify. I've included it under progressive rock, but clearly there is more jazz in the mix, but there is also world music, art sounds and much more. Aline Homzy is the main musician here, but she has a host of cohorts helping her create this music. As much as this sounds like it must have come from France, she resides in Toronto, Canada. Then again, that city, my personal favorite in the world, is a very worldly place. Whatever you call this music, it's compelling. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2023 Volume 5 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2023.

Track by Track Review

Caraway Violin starts this. Other instruments join after a time, and we're taken into an arrangement that combines classical music and jazz into something that transcends both. It's quire a unique musical exploration. There are definitely world music elements at play here. It gets pretty involved and powerful as it continues.

Cosmos There is a real dreamy, artsy vibe at play here. This eventually gets pretty freeform and crazed. It's an intriguing cut with quite a bit of evolution built into it.

Hanakotoba An energized violin section gives way to a drop back to mellower and rather dreamy soundscapes. There is some particularly beautiful music built into this cut. It has some real magic built into it.

Circa Herself This comes in high energy. The track works out into some of the most decidedly pure jazz stuff on the whole album. It's a killer song that grooves and shines. There is more of a freeform jazz vibe later along with world music in the mix.

Rose du ciel While this is not a huge change, the piece is unique from the rest. Vibes and violin are particularly prominent in parts of this.

Aliens are Pieces of Wind In some ways, this is one of the most melodic and mainstream pieces here. It has plenty of killer jazzy, fusion and prog built into it. It's also my favorite track on the whole disc. This just works so well.

La belle et l'abeille Bouncy and energetic, this is a fun romp. The guitar soloing on this thing is purely on fire. The whole tune just gels and grooves. It's another highlight of the set.

Mesarthim Mellower and dreamy, this gets into some pretty trippy space zones later along in its run. It even turns a little spooky in its freakiness.

Starring Space Another with a lot of groove and energy, this cut has plenty of style and charm built into it, too.

Segment Fairly freeform and decidedly jazz-oriented, this has some killer jamming. I really love the bass work on the tune, but the guitar is all class, too.

Bientôt, we will collide The only track here to include vocals (in French), this has some definite jazz stylings. The female vocals are wispy and quite pretty.

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