Rock Radio Digital :: Porcupine Tree take over Rock Radio

Rock Radio Digital :: Porcupine Tree take over Rock Radio
Saturday series continues with Steven Wilson playing the tracks of his
choice - with more big names still to come.
<http://www.rockradio.co.uk/digital/rock-news/porcupine-tree-take-over-rock-radio/qp9z4tpc/>

FreeForm SpotLight 27 Oct 2010: Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog Soundtrack

To celebrate the Halloween holiday, FreeForm Spotlight brings you a special treat: excerpts from the soundtrack to Joss Wheedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog"!!

26 October 2010: Halloween & Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog

From ProgArchives: In 1989, the French symphonic-weird, highly creative HALLOWEEN released inventive and creative musical ideas and vocals with "Laz". Maybe for PULSAR, VDGG, or KC fans and for prog heads that do not believe "it was impossible to release outstanding prog in the eighties".

To celebrate the Halloween holiday, FreeForm brings you a special treat: the soundtrack to Joss Wheedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog"!!

FreeForm Spotlight 20 October 2010: Hecenia "La Coleur de Feu"

19 October 2010: Hecenia & Collegium Musicum

Founded by former Elohim members, brothers Jean-Paul Trutet and Daniel Trutet, along with Delphine Douillard, and keyboard maestro Thierry Brandet. This would prove to be mainly a Brandet venture, as the Trutets did not stay for the second album. Brandet is also the primary composer.

The name is taken from a mysterious community of ancient Jews, called the esséniens, who lived in the desert of Judea. Almost nothing was known about them until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were dislodged by the Romans, at the time of the Jewish revolution.

As you may have guessed, Keyboards reign supreme with this group. There are the usual comparisons to Genesis, Yes, and even Marillion. The most obvious influence is Rick Wakeman, but there is more. Douillard's Harp is quite unique in the realm of rock music. Classical composers, and France itself, are in the mix, thus giving a unique flavor to Hecenia.   (from ProgArchives.com)

Collegium Musicum is an art-rock band from Czechoslovakia and was established by stable member Marián Varga 1969. Prevalent in the band´s repertory are instrumental compositions, comprising re-interpretations of classical music themes (Haydn, Bartók, Stravinskij …), and original compositions bearing the first signs of artistic post-modernism (Euphony from the album Convergencie). The story of this band was published in book by musician and music reviewer Marián Jaslovský. Star formation of Collegium Musicum were Marián Varga (hammond organ, keyboards, piano), bassguitarist Fedor Frešo and drummer Dušan Hájek. Collegium Musicum played in various formations, also with guitarists Rasťo Vacho (from Blues Five), Pavel Vaňě (from Synkopy 61 and Progress Organization), František Griglák (later Fermáta) and others. In early days Collegium Musicum played with guitarist Fedor Letňan. Latňan was fired and replaced by Rasťo Wacho from Blues Five. Rasto Vacho left the band first time when he gone studied. Collegium Musicum requested Pavel Vaňě and they record first debut EP. After return of Rasťo Vacho they record debut LP “Collegium Musicum”. (from Last.FM)

No Progressive FreeForm on Oct 12 or Progressive Spotlight Oct 13

I'll be off-island during the week of Oct 11-15, elk hunting on Afognak Island; the FreeForm host that week may or may not be playing progressive music.

FreeForm Spotlight 06 Oct 2010: Jean-Pierre Alarcen

Jean-Pierre Alarcen's classic Tableaux Number 1 from 1979 will be featured on today's spotlight.In 1979, he released his second album, "Tableau No. 1". This work in three movements has more ambient (somewhat The ENIDish) and symphy qualities, but also has jazz and Zeuhlish elements. It's more in the romantic "classical" (to mix my eras in a poor turn of phrase) with melodic rock styled camp than before, but with dramatic contrast. Soft ambient music turns into jazzy guitar driven rock. Allan Holdsworth springs to mind as a possible influence on his guitar work here, as well as McLaughlin. The third movement in particular has exciting funky bass guitar-driven work. It ends with music that rather reminds me of Toto's "Dune" soundtrack.  (from ProgArchives)Alarcen, Jean-Pierre [France]
Jean Pierre Alarcen (78), Tableau (80)
Alarcen was the guitarist in the one-shot french group Sandrose. After Sandrose he had two albums: JPA and Tableau. Tableau which is very symphonic, is basically one long piece spanning both sides of the album, vaguely comparable to stuff like The Enid, but a little more low key for the most part. Jean Pierre Alarcen is a more guitar oriented album with some fusion leanings, but not overtly so, which features excellent guitarwork and some brilliant writing. Both are available together on one CD.

5 October 2010: Unwritten Pages - Noah & Jean-Pierre Alarcen

Unwritten Pages - Noah
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – 13 July 2010 – Unwritten Pages' Noah is an album born out of a passion for progressive, driving music, concept albums and 80's science-fiction films. It combines the broad musical taste of its creator Frederic Epe and the stylistic and unique musical backgrounds of each project member, reaching from rock and metal to Latin influences and more classical/score-oriented arrangements. The album features soaring guitars, fat organs and bone-breaking drums, as well as a healthy dose of retro. But most of all, it never loses its focus on unique and melody-driven song-writing. And it comes in the form of an ambitious story, told through the eyes of the vocalists and musicians. This double album features the talents of Damian Wilson (Threshold, Ayreon, Les Misérables), Karl Groom (Threshold, Shadowland), Davy Mickers (Stream of Passion, Ayreon), Alejandro Millán (Hello Madness, Stream of Passion) and many others.

Jean-Pierre Alarcen's classic Tableaux Number 1 from 1979 will be featured in the second half of tonight's show.  In 1979, he released his next album, "Tableau No. 1". This work in three movements has more ambient (somewhat The ENIDish) and symphy qualities, but also has jazz and Zeuhlish elements. It's more in the romantic "classical" (to mix my eras in a poor turn of phrase) with melodic rock styled camp than before, but with dramatic contrast. Soft ambient music turns into jazzy guitar driven rock. Allan Holdsworth springs to mind as a possible influence on his guitar work here, as well as McLaughlin. The third movement in particular has exciting funky bass guitar-driven work. It ends with music that rather reminds me of Toto's "Dune" soundtrack.  (from ProgArchives)