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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Beledo Dreamland Mechanism Review by Gary Hill This is basically a fusion release. At Music Street Journal we generally include fusion under progressive rock. Why? Well, generally, fusion just lands on the jazz side of jazz prog. So, it’s close enough, and often appeals to the same audience. However you choose to label this, though, it’s an intriguing ride with a lot of different musical leanings and flavors. This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2016 Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review

Mechanism Although this is more or less a pure fusion piece, it has other things going on within it. I can make out bits of things like King Crimson, The Dixie Dregs and more. It’s a twisting and turning jam with some killer grooves and instrumental work.

Bye Bye Blues More of a pure fusion tune, this is another smoking hot ride. It’s perhaps a bit less dynamic than the opener was. It’s no less effective.

Marilyn's Escapade There is a lot of café style music built into this thing. Add in plenty of pure jazz and some more rocking sounds, and you’ll be on the right track for understanding this piece. I particularly like the guitar solo on this one.

Lucilla Tribal drumming leads off here. As it shifts out to the main song, this feels a lot like Al Di Meola to me. It’s a great tune with a Latin world edge mixed into the fusion.

Sudden Voyage The balance here slides a lot more toward the rock end of the spectrum. This is another killer jam, it just has a bit more of a rock and roll vibe to it.

Big Brother Calling I love the rhythmic groove on this along with the spacey fusion jamming. This gets pretty “out there” and intense. It’s one of the best cuts of the whole disc.

Mercury In Retrograde This is a bit more melodic fusion in some ways. It has some great timing changes. I love some of the intriguing percussion. The guitar soloing is particularly noteworthy, too.

Silent Assessment Although this isn’t hugely different from the rest here, it seems to exhibit more restraint. It has an emphasis on more of a constant progression with some great melodic work over the top of it.

Budjanaji This has some non-lyrical vocals. It brings a bit of a world music vibe. In a lot of ways this piece makes me think of Pat Metheny quite a bit.

Front Porch Pine This isn’t a huge change, but instead, runs along as another effective slab of killer fusion.

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