PAUL MENELS'
"One For The Record"

With Paul Menel

 "Paul's Regular Roundup of What's Hot and What's Not!"

Again, sticking with the subject of SI's downfall, I've recently returned from a visit to the splendidly reconstructed Thin Ice Studio's where I was privileged to hear the pre-master play through of the new SHADOWLAND CD ‘Mad as A Hatter’. What can I say but progressive rock has finally found it's BALLS. This album has more spunk and seaman to sail the world. The track Maphisto Bridge in particular stands out 'cos of the way Karl Groom has been allowed to play all over Clive's keyboard parts! This really works though, wait till you get chance to get this one your self. It must be noted that I heard a pre­master copy that Karl mixed, I understand that Clive, at this point still had two days to change what he did not like. I say, don't turn down those guitars you bastard!

Anyway, lets get on with what I’m paid for, the CD reviews. First up we have the, much reviewed elsewhere, new album form non-other that Roine Stolt. Many of you may remember his previous work The Flower Kings, well so impressed with that title Roine has changed his name to THE FLOWER KINGS. The CD goes by the name of Back in the World of Adventures and is a well produced piece of work meeting somewhere between YES, King Crimson and any other band from the 70's yet, defiantly with a 90's edge. The title track stands out above all else on first listen because of the, oh so mellow way he sings "I'm back in the world of adventures....", great stuff. Almost like the BEATLES in places. All things to all! Get this while you still can and do your CD player a favour. Fan mail can be addressed to Foxtrot Music Ltd, Box 15070, S-750 15 Uppsala, Sweden.

Changing track a little I must tell you about my good friend and fellow SILHOBIT employee, Matthew Goodluck. Well it seeing that everyone's favorite Australian was recently expelled from a ROBERT FRIP concert. The story goes like this, Rob was playing some really complicated acoustic guitar bit, as he does, and Mat thinks to himself that he must get a photo of this to preserve the memory forever. Just as the flash goes off and Mat's congratulating himself on a job well done, Frip downs his guitar and starts hassling Mat about, why he did it. Next thing Frip's walking off stage and several mean looking people start staring giving our hero this real mean look as if he’d just turned in to the personification of all that’s evil in the world. In true Silhobbit tradition Mat legs it as fast as his legs can take him. What can I say but let's hope that the picture was worth it Mat! (look out for this photographic exclusive in next issue - ED).

Back to the reviews then. I actually received this disk some time ago but its never too late to mention something good. Although I would imagine that this is not every ones cup to tea, I did end up getting a little "in to it" as it wore. Then after some more playing I eventually came to the conclusion that I liked it! What am I talking about I hear you ask, well let me tell you that STARLESS is the name of the band and Clear Blue Water is the album. One of the things that put me off this lot to begin with was their band photo inside the cover, boy what an ugly bunch of heavy metal guys! Some of the lyrics are down right appalling as well that did not help my initial judgment. I mean ‘Wife and Two Veg’ what a crap song title. Still don't get me wrong I like this album even if it did take me about ten thousand listens before my opinions changed. You can contact this lot at Screaming Halibut, 3 Union Street, Old Town, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 3LD. These good old boys can even be electronically contacted via this new fangled internetworkting-super­interactive-highway-bus thing, by sending an email to APBI@EPSRC.AC.UK.

The bottom falling out of the SI trouser leg also means that I don't have many CD's to review this time so I'll give a little mention to something that I talked about last time. Then it was just a demo stolen from Mr. Hudson but this time I managed to get hold of a CD from those good people out in Poland. ALBION is the band and by the look's of things Albion is the CD title although the tape was called Survival Games. This is the same recordings as the tape but played in another order, of which I'm not sure that the tape order wasn't better, but their you go. We also get three new songs that are sung in polish. Don’t let that put you off though because Ania's vocals are really good, kind of All About Eve but with a polish accent. I think the accent works here though, more sexy somehow. As far as music goes you get some great guitar, very Rothery in places, nice keyboards and generally all round good music. I can not recommend this band more! The guitarist handles all contact stuff and you can reach them on the phone but, as none of you are likely to phone Poland, I'm not going to waste space here with it! The record company though, can be reached at Sick Records Europe, P.O. Box 165, 05-120 Legionowo 1, Poland. I've just seen that Malcom Parker now stocks this over at his GFT empire so get this album, believe me you'll think me for it!

Well that's not bad going for three albums is it? I've liked them all. Trust our friends over at Musea to but a stop to all that - Prog rock compilation albums are not good at the best of times, but this takes the biscuit! Some of the bands here are just awful. The albums called “Le Meilleur du Rock Progressif Europeen”, which I assume means "round up of all those crap European bands". I'm being really harsh here as NOW and their song Back To The Silence is quite good, as is MEN OF LAKE and The Perception Of The Wind. But some of the other stuff is unlistenable. One of them has such a poor Gabriel rip off, it’ll make you piss your self laughing! To say that this is crap may be a little unfair as many people like this sort of thing but I am afraid that this is not for me!

Sticking with Musea we have another of their prog compilations but this one is a bit better as we don't have any vocals so get in the way. The album “Le Meilleur du Rock Progressif Instrumental” is as the name suggests a collection of progressive instrumentals. Again, some of these songs are not quite what I would describe as music but then again some are quite good. ASIA MINOR with their Dreadful Memories starts things off well and EDHELS's October Dawns continues things in the same vain. Later on in the proceedings JEAN PASCAL BOFFO stands out with the track Carrousel but, some of the other songs tend to meander somewhat. If you like your progressive rock with a European flavor then these two albums may be for you. To contact Musea then please write to MUSEA, 68 La Incliotte 57117, Retonfey, France. Don't forget to tell them that SILHOBIT sent you, when writing to all these bands.

As far as cassettes go, this time we have two very good tapes to review. The first was given to me in exchange for an IQ flyer at a resent Astoria gig. Unbroken Spirit (or US) and their promotional demo Dressed For Dinner is not half bad at all. This Boy's Life displays the bands subtle DREAM THEATER influences. Vocalist Johnny Vaughan has a strong style that accompanies Mike Barlow's excellent guitar work. The final track on the tape Free For a While leaves me wanting for more. Unfortunately there is no contact address but I seem to remember seeing it in the latest Progressive Rock Directory by my friend Dave Robson. So, get your self a directory and write to this lot. I look forward to their debut album.

Finally, for this time, I must tell you about another tape that promises great things for the future album, it's STEVE ROTHERY's solo band CARNIVAL OF SOULS. The demo tape called The Wishing Tree contains four home recordings of songs to be included on the future album of the same name. Unfortunately I seem to have mislaid the accompanying literature that accompanies this tape so I can't tell you the name of the vocalist but, I can tell you that she is a dead ringer for Julianne Regan from ALL ABOUT EVE. Very mellow stuff here and Rothery's guitar work is superb. I know when this album comes out that most of you will get it so, all I need to say is that I for one can't wait!

Many, many thanks for reading my yak yet again, best wishes,

"Paul's column offers simply the best progressive rock album reviews bar none! Informative and humorous, I, for one, don't read no other." Steve Punt BLINDSHIT Magazine.