TEE "The Earth Explorer"

TEE is a five piece flute front progressive rock band from Tokyo, Japan. Their so-called 'European' sound is unique considering their far-east origin. The imaginative tunes with complex ensembles and rhythms will definitely catch the attention of prog lovers all over the world. Their sound will remind you bands like Camel, King Crimson, Asia Minor or even Frank Zappa on some parts. The band was formed in 2004 when... more

Kevin BARTLETT

You may not know his name but you have definitely heard his music more than once or twice in your life. Maybe on HBO, or on MTV, or on VH1, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel. Doesn't ring the bell? How about American Idol Rewind, or Dr. 90210? We had interviewed Kevin Bartlett a couple of years ago when his second solo album GLOW IN THE DARK was released. Bartlett has been quiet since that time but but he has been secretly brewing new projects. A few months ago he had put a new song...more

Peter Hammill, founding member of Van Der Graaf Generator, released his 28th solo album " nearly 3 months ago. He recently got back home from a short tour covering North America, Canada and Italy. In the 70's when bands like...more

FRIGHT PIG Barque At The Lune *** REVERSAL OF GRAVITY Scuba Gear ***

ASTRALASIA / CLUSTER OF WAVES

Astralasia is one of the originators of the genre progressive / tribal / acid house. Cluster Of Waves is the band’s most recent release that came out a few months ago. The band currently has 7 members: SWORDFISH (producer,drums, programming); BUAKU (bass); RACHEL MILLER (lead vocals); STEVIE B (sax/percussion); GILES BOULTON (voice/dub vocal); PETER PRACOWNIK (guitar); PHEEBS flute, voice, vocals); PAUL CHOUSMER (guest keyboards)

The album has a nice blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. The sound they achieve with this mixture is unique compared to other bands in this arena. And here is why: Although they use electronic elements in their music, the acoustic presence takes the listener to a more primitive, almost like, polytheist kind of time frame. The atmosphere is quite meditative and shamanic. This is where their tribal house side shows. “Deadly Virtue” is a good example to this with the sounds of the tribal drums and flute. It starts slowly but you quickly realize there will be something more and then it suddenly takes off to a jungle like beat and you almost find yourself running through the big trees. Then it goes back to the quiet beginning and ends that way. “Searching” is a total meditation song. But it is not like quiet transcendantal meditation we are talking about here, it is more like a shamanic thing where you do these repetitive movements until you don’t realize you are doing it because you are lost in the rhythm, and a voice keeps saying “searching for our souls”. Acoustic guitar and saxophone bring the song to an ambient ending. This is one of the best songs on the CD.

“Ashra Rising” is more electronic compared to the other ones. Echoes and space ship kind of sounds give a mysterious feeling to the listener. Especially the rising spacecraft sound fading in at the end is pretty impressive. Every single detail and sound are very well thought and planned here. “Oh Israel” starts with Phoebe Thomasson’s vocals. They become indistinct with each second and slowly fade out, leading the song to a more electronic, house atmosphere. “Peace and Love” is another piece in this direction, and then comes “Cluster of Waves at the Devilles Bridge” with the violin intro and keyboards. It has a very new age / ambient type of structure. As it progresses it takes you to the depths of the sea, and you feel like floating. I recommend you to hear this one with headphones on, it is really weird, in a good sense.

“Lost on a Horizon” sounds like Mike Oldfield only with more trance elements added to it. The bass starts dominating along with the repetitive keyboard and drum sounds. “Til Morning Comes” starts with soft flute and acoustic guitar. Percussions slowly take part and the song then reaches to a Jan Garbarek-ish ending with Stevie B’s saxophone. Astralasia, if you have not yet discovered their music, is one of the most interesting bands out there, even if you think the house/trance music is not for you, this is a band that will change your mind about it, because you never knew it could be preformed this way. You just have to hear it…..

Visit the band's website at: www.astralasia.co.uk

HANDE BURDG