Friday13th: Summer of Prog Discovery M3

Friday13th 06.12.18	Voting ends next monday.
Jethro42 06.12.18	Listening to Sammal atm. Sounds great and really different from Mostly Autumn which are folk prog more in the vein of Strawbs. Sammal have such an opponent in Mostly Autumn.
SCREAM! 06.12.18	Really enjoying the guitar heavy psych leanings of Sammal
Divaman 06.12.18	Friday, you surprised me again. Thought you were going to pit Mostly Autumn in a past-and-present pairing of British folk prog bands against The Strawbs. I'm completely unfamiliar with Sammal, so this will be interesting.
wham49 06.12.18	I am like, so f'ing excited
Papa Universe 06.12.18	Might get on this today.
e210013 06.12.18	I'm very curious about both albums.
TwigTW 06.12.18	I've listened to both of these before, interesting match-up.
hansoloshotfirst 06.12.18	Did I pick the right album? Let's find out... ( I initially planned to submit Tusmørke- Ført Bak Lyset or Hinsides)
Papa Universe 06.12.18	alright, I will listen to Tusmorke too
TwigTW 06.12.18	"Tusmorke is a psychedelic folk-rock group influenced by migratory birds and Mesozoic reptiles, hallucinations and hypnagogia" . . . That sounds great!
Jethro42 06.12.18	Fort Bak Lyset would have been a very good choice.
e210013 06.13.18	I didn't know nothing about Sammall. But I know very well the career of Mostly Autumn, despite I didn't check yet their last album. So, I think we are in presence of two very distinstive prog proposals. I continue listenig both albums, and it seems to me that both have its own arguments. So, let's see it in the end.
Papa Universe 06.13.18	I vote for Tusmørke- Ført Bak Lyset. (De Reiser Fra Oss and Spurvehauken are top notch tracks) but if I have to choose from the two in the toruney, I'll have to go for Mostly Autumn.
e210013 06.13.18	I'm a bit confused about what you said. You vote on an album because you love two tracks but you prefer the other, as a whole? Is this what you think? Am I right?
Papa Universe 06.13.18	Tusmorke isn't in the competition, hansoloshotfirst wanted to put it as his recommendation, put changed it to Sammal. I would have voted for it, had it been in the competition, but alas. Therefore my vote goes to one of the ones I actually can vote for, which is Mostly Autumn.
e210013 06.13.18	Ah, ok. Sorry. You're right. Now I understand. I never checked Tusmorke. But it seems can be a great album. I need to check it, when I have some free time.
Jethro42 06.13.18	Yeah Tusmorke - Fort Bak Lyset is probably a 4.5 for me, after 2 listens.
e210013 06.13.18	Definitely, it seems I need to check this guys.
Jethro42 06.13.18	It's folk prog like Sammal, but more accessible, more melodic and catchy. They have cool arrangements laden with flute and keyboards, mainly organ. No electric guitar and they don't even need it. Vocals are great and harmonious.
e210013 06.13.18	Thanks for the information, bro. No electric guitars? Interesting stuff, probably.
SharkTooth 06.13.18	I'm really enjoying the Sammal album from the get-go, its production gives it a real garage-rock vibe which is something you don't expect from a prog album
hansoloshotfirst 06.13.18	uff... Mostly Autumn isn't exactly my cup of tea so far. Some songs like "Once Around the Sun" work for me but the majority don't work for me. Will give it at least one more spin though.
Jethro42 06.13.18	Mostly Autumn are certainly less inspired since their former singer Heather Findlay left the band. Songs were written by her and Josh, the guitarist. Now they tend to do ballads mixed with light and short rocker songs. In their heydays (up until Heart Full Of Sky), they explored a Floydian atmosphere with guitar sounding like David Gilmour vs Steve Rothery. It was soft folk prog mixed with a minimum of Celtic music. They have a lot to enjoy in their early days. They ruled in their style.
Jethro42 06.13.18	I find Sammal lack depth and identity, and it's like if they do it on purpose not to be profound. They could do better with their talent (except the drummer who is pretty limited) Songwriting is good but not that great. I give 3.5 for some good ideas scattered throughout the album. Sight of Day is far from being their best album, but it's probably the more consistent out of their last 4 efforts. Heather Findlay had a much better and a more mature voice then the new female singer who forces too much to reach higher notes imo. But we have to live with her. I give 4 to the album. While not perfect, I enjoy most of its songs. So count me in for Mostly Autumn.
hansoloshotfirst 06.13.18	yeah, listenend to some songs of "For All We Shared" and "The Spirit Of Autumn Past" and I definitely dig them much more.
Jethro42 06.13.18	You now get a good idea of what they were capable for. These first two albums are the most Celtic oriented. Both The Last Bright Light and Storms Over Still Waters are more proggy and are my favorite ones. Like I said, you can't go wrong up until Heart Full Of Sky.
gagnonov 06.14.18	I'll give it to Sammal, but I can't really say I enjoyed either.
Friday13th 06.14.18	1:1 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1
Papa Universe 06.14.18	Oi, I also voted for Mostly Autumn
Jethro42 06.14.18	I swallow my words about Mostly Autumn's female singer; She can sing the higher notes without a problem.
e210013 06.14.18	Yeah, Jethro. As happen with you I also prefer the variety of the vocals of Heather. I especially miss her capacity as a composer. But Olivia, Mrs. Josh (I suppose you know that she married with Josh in 2013), has an amazing vocal range in the higher notes. So, as a whole, maybe we and the band, haven't lost too much with the exchange. Besides, she has a very beautiful voice. And above all, they're two very gorgeous women. Of course, this is all a question of personal taste. Lol.
Divaman 06.14.18	My vote (unsurprisingly) is for Mostly Autumn. I liked the Sammal album, especially the title track, and the use of synthesizer throughout. However, I love Mostly Autumn's folky charm. The male singer occasionally reminds me of Roger Daltrey, and the female singer's voice is quite lovely. (I haven't heard any of their older stuff yet, so I don't miss the old singer.) And while I definitely have my favorites, there really aren't any songs on here that I don't like.
Jethro42 06.14.18	@e21 Yes I knew about their wedding. I've also read somewhere that Olivia did the backing vocals few years for the band (from 2005 to 2008), before Heather left the band. Olivia's singing is similar to Pat Benatar's I would say. @Divaman, I agree for Josh vocals vs Daltrey vocals. Speaking of this, ''Once Around The Sun'' has something similar to ''Baba O'Riley'' (''Teenage Wasteland'') into it. It's blatant to my ear, anyway.
Friday13th 06.14.18	1:3 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2
Jethro42 06.14.18	Diva and e21, check this song featuring Heather Findlay. In fact, both her and Olivia have a similar voice, but as I said, Heather surely has a more mature voice, a more confident pitching. Finally, Heather has a more emotional tone, and Olivia is really powerful but less versatile or flexible if I can say. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCprndXpuMs
Divaman 06.14.18	I was listening again earlier before my vote, and there's also an instrumental interlude on there (I forget which track it's on, but it's the first half of the album) that I suddenly realized is very similar to part of Procol Harum's "Grand Hotel".
hansoloshotfirst 06.14.18	I vote for Sammal (unsurprisingly) Mostly Autumn is too much arena plastic pomp prog for me (Don't know how to describe it better). While it's very competently done, it feels empty to me. It is beautiful in parts but also hollow and kinda phony.Will listen to more of their earlier stuff though.
e210013 06.14.18	@ Jethro I know perfectly well that track, "Shrinking Violet", a track of my favourite album of them, and I think it's yours favourite too, "The Last Bright Light". I always loved Heather's voice. I'm a great fan of her. And I know that Arjen invited her to be one of the singers of the album "The Human Equation". She participate on that album as "Love", because he his a great fan her voice, as we both are. By the way, you can check a video on You tube, of the same theme, that represents, I think, the last official apperence of Heather as a band's member on the live show "That Night In Lemington". You can see also Olivia in the back as a suport singer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1fEdwVjCqY Or you can see another live video version on You tube recorded some years before of the same track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvjOhVsIG_g This song and this album are really amazing.
Jethro42 06.14.18	@hansolo, I'm glad you found something of your interest in the earlier and more folk Mostly Autumn. @Diva, of what interlude/album are you talking about? @e21, yes i know that Heather have collaborated with Arjen. I think I've first listened to Ayreon (''The Human Equation'' was my first contact with Ayreon) because I wanted to listen to her performance. I've also heard about ''That Night in Lemington''. I'll have to check your videos, thanks. As for my fave MO album, it's surely The Last Bright Light, but Storms Over Still Water comes close second. It contains so many epic songs...I think I've listened to that one the most. Cheers, bro.
Divaman 06.15.18	The instrumental interlude about mid-way through the first track on the album, "Sight of Day", reminds me of the instrumental interlude in the song "Grand Hotel". More strings and high-blown vocal chorus is Procol, though.
Friday13th 06.15.18	2:3 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1
bgillesp 06.15.18	Probably gonna have to go with 2. Cementing with a final listen now
bgillesp 06.15.18	Actually, no, gotta go 1. 2 got worse on repeated listens for me. Unfortunately these are my 2 least favorites so far
Jethro42 06.15.18	Yes I see what you mean Diva, bro.
zakalwe 06.15.18	I’m going with Sammal. Guitar is the tits.
Friday13th 06.15.18	4:3 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1 bgillesp: 1 zakalwe: 1
SharkTooth 06.15.18	I'm thinking I'll go with 1 ftm, but need 2 listen more
Sabrutin 06.16.18	Suuliekki is solid but it doesn't get my blood pumping so to speak. The longest track is very pretty though
Jethro42 06.16.18	@hansolo; How didn't you get to choose Tusmorke - Fort Bak Lyset??? Chances are high you would have won the tourney hands down.
Sabrutin 06.16.18	mmm when I heard the t/t of Sight of Day I thought that the album would definitely blow Suuliekki out of the water. However it turns out that, as a whole, SoD feels bloated and at times even annoyingly sugary. Still, the great moments are enough to make it my favorite of the two... for now, one listen each
Jethro42 06.16.18	Yeah the few past MA albums are not the ideal phase of the band. They became ballad makers no more no less. Their classic era begins with their first album up until Heart Full Of Sky (included). They were way more proggy and folkish. Great band, trust me.
Sabrutin 06.16.18	I'll get to their stronger stuff eventually, maybe The Last Bright Light. It seems to be their biggest album and the song names intrigue me
SCREAM! 06.17.18	Going to be 1 for me. Had a good time listening to that one whereas I find 2 hard to get through each time... It seems to be lacking any real passion or energy
Jethro42 06.17.18	@Sab, The Last Bright Light is indeed their best, and a good way to start. After I'd go for Storms Over Still Water. It contains its share of lovely epic songs... After, if you're still interested, go chronologically until Heart Full Of Sky. @SCREAM, I didn't notice any kind of lacking of passion and energy. Okay, it's a ballad driven album, but I feel the compositions are mostly well done. Maybe it's because I'm used to their new style; I like the majority of the songs here. My least favorites are ''Changing Lives'' (I like its ending) and the last one that does nothing to me. If you want to taste to their heydays, try the albums I recommended to Sab.
Jethro42 06.17.18	Well wait, you're right about a certain lack of energy, scream.
TwigTW 06.17.18	This round is harder than I expected. I like both albums more than I thought at first, and they are not easily comparable (for me).
Sabrutin 06.17.18	I'm not super into any of the two this round. I'm going with 2 because it gained my interest in more places, especially the last minutes of the t/t. @Jethro: I imagine those early albums are more acoustic than SoD
Friday13th 06.18.18	5:4 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1 bgillesp: 1 zakalwe: 1 SCREAM: 1 Sabrutin: 2
Jethro42 06.18.18	@Sab Mostly Autumn are full of changes from a song to another, and yes they can be acoustic, and they can rock hard too. They're versatile enough and often offer Floydian atmospheres; Sometimes it's restrained, sometimes it's apparent especially with both the soaring guitar solos and Josh vocals a la David Gilmour. The first two albums are more Celtic and folk oriented always mixed with light or solid rock (Celtic music is found in every ''old'' albums to some extent). Finally, their classic albums are all rocking with a good dose of soft, melodic and heartfelt folk.
Friday13th 06.18.18	Yeah, this isn't an easy choice, and the albums are nothing alike. I'm gonna give the edge to Mostly Autumn because I liked the beautiful, more proggy moments the best of the two. It is terribly melodramatic and sappy in places, but I'm interested in the band. 5:5 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1 bgillesp: 1 zakalwe: 1 SCREAM: 1 Sabrutin: 2 Friday:2
bgillesp 06.18.18	Dis is close. SharkTooth kinda voted for 1 but several people are still out
Jethro42 06.18.18	I think Divaman has chosen the only Mostly Autumn album he knew. I think it's the best since Glass Shadows, but their classic albums are right before it. If only Diva consulted me before his choice. I gave Sight Of Day a 4, but it's more like a 3.7/5... I gave Passengers and a few of their classic era a 4, but they're more like 4.2/5.
Divaman 06.18.18	I actually have the last three Mostly Autumn albums, Jethro, but I just really love this one. I knew I was going to make this my entry in this contest this year before we even finished Friday's last contest last year.
Jethro42 06.18.18	Gotcha, Diva. You have a good knight in Mostly Autumn, but some ratings about it sadden me here in this round. I'd personally choose The Last Bright Light or stuff like that, but yes, you didn't approach the old MA yet...
wham49 06.18.18	mostly Autumn it is
TwigTW 06.18.18	This was a coin-toss for me. I think they're both good albums in their own way. I liked Suuliekki a little better because I prefer its thick garage-rock sound over the clean spaciness of Sight Of Day. Also, I thought Sight Of Day ran a little long... My vote goes to 1.
e210013 06.18.18	I think Diva said almost all that is important about this album on his review and Jethro said almost all that is important about this band, too. Still, I must express my feelings about this band, since there are some interest about them. Probably I'm fan # 1 of this band on this site. I have all their 12 studio albums, 7 live albums, 2 DVD's and 1 compilation. Besides this, I added all or almost all their live albums and compilations on this site. I also rated almost all those albums too. All began in 2006 when I bought the DVD "Progressive Rock Anthology". The DVD has several videos of some of the best and most important classic prog bands and two videos, as a bonus, of two "modern" prog bands, Mostly Autumn and Karnataka. By the way, I recommend strongly Karnataka. I prefer Mostly Autumn, but the music of Karnataka is very close to Mostly Autumn, maybe with even more influences of Celtic music. The track of Mostly Autumn was "Mother Nature". It was originally released on "The Last Bright Light". Sincerelly I was amazed with that video. Soon I decided to buy the three first albums of the band. So, I went to my usual supplier and I ordederd to buy those albums. But, he had their last album, at the time, "Heart Full Of Sky" and surely I bought it in that day. And it was love at the first sight, that solidified when I received those three albums. My first deception with them was "Glass Shadows", curiously the last album with their original singer Heather Findlay on board. It wasn't really a big deception (this isn't a bad album), but it was still a deception. My second deception was when I knew that Heather left the band. Olivia Sparnenn is a great singer, especially with high notes, but I still miss Heather's presence. My third deception was their following album "Go Well Diamond Heart". It's a bit better than "Glass Shadows", but still is inferior to all the others previous albums. But from here, I never had another deception. It's true that Mostly Autumn possibly lost some of their initial aurea, and above all, their main influences of Celtic music. But they remain, for me, with a very unwavering and persistent quality, without really weak points. I agree with Jethro when he says that the first 7 albums must be checked, and that "The Last Bright Light Light" is their brightest work. Still, my second preferences goes to the two first ones, rather than "Storms Over Still Water". I think the best way to check this band is to follow their albums by the cronological order. Personally, I love their debut.
e210013 06.18.18	Sammal - Suuliekki: This is a very good and nice album, a truly great surprise for me. As a debut album, I think we can say we are in presence of a very honest and intersesting proposal. But above all, I think the band has much potential to be developed. This is a band with strong influences of the psych music, indeed. We'll see it in the future. I'm very curious about the development of this band, really. Definetelly, they're prog. So, my rating is 3.5. Mostly Autumn - Sight Of Day: "Sight Of Day, may be isn't as good and innovative as their 7 first albums, but it still remains, for me, a great album of a very consistent band. I love their Floydian mood and the use of male and female voices. Besides, I love the way of Josh plays guitar. It reminds me the great guitarists of the 70's, like Gilmour and Latimer. He plays with pleasure and high feelings, without tricks, like they played in those days. So, my rating is 4.0. So, my voting goes naturally to Mostly Autumn.
e210013 06.18.18	It seems we are going to have a very close match again.
Jethro42 06.18.18	@e21, I've just listened to the last Karnataka album, and I find it too inoffensive and cheesy, too close to AOR music and it sounds all samey. Mostly Autumn is miles away stronger. It seems you have a huge collection of MA...Do you have their live Pink Floyd Revisited?
Friday13th 06.18.18	7:7 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1 bgillesp: 1 zakalwe: 1 SCREAM: 1 Sabrutin: 2 Friday:2 wham: 2 Twig: 1 e21: 2 Sharktooth: 1
Papa Universe 06.18.18	how long until you call it?
Friday13th 06.18.18	Well typically everyone begins to get their act together around now and start voting. I'm not supposed to call it before we get 9 or 10 votes for one.
TheIntruder 06.18.18	I have been very busy till now. But here I am. Both albums are very good. I like the guitar work on Sammal. The band has great potential. But I love more Mostly Autumn. I love their Floydian feel. I love its guitar style, very close to Gilmour. So, I choose Mostly Autumn.
Papa Universe 06.18.18	seeing the way this thing progresses (heh), I think this'll close at exactly one vote overlap, right before someone slow comes in with a final equalising vote for the losing team.
Friday13th 06.18.18	7:8 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1 bgillesp: 1 zakalwe: 1 SCREAM: 1 Sabrutin: 2 Friday:2 wham: 2 Twig: 1 e21: 2 Sharktooth: 1 Intruder: 2
Divaman 06.18.18	Did Sharktooth actually make his vote official?
Snowdog808 06.18.18	I know I'm late to the Prog Party, but I'll have to go with #1 on this one. I definitely thought it was the shorter but consistently sweeter listen of the two, and I enjoyed the modern, North European flavor/feel brought to Genesis and Camel-like influences, with a little bit of a toned down Uriah Heep influence thrown in there.
Friday13th 06.19.18	8:8 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1 bgillesp: 1 zakalwe: 1 SCREAM: 1 Sabrutin: 2 Friday:2 wham: 2 Twig: 1 e21: 2 Sharktooth: 1 Intruder: 2 Snowdog: 1
Frippertronics 06.19.18	aaaaaaa was out today and forgot to cast my vote, so just put down for number 2
Friday13th 06.19.18	8:9 Jethro: 2 gagnonov: 1 Universe: 2 Divaman: 2 hansolo: 1 bgillesp: 1 zakalwe: 1 SCREAM: 1 Sabrutin: 2 Friday:2 wham: 2 Twig: 1 e21: 2 Sharktooth: 1 Intruder: 2 Snowdog: 1 Fripper: 2
Friday13th 06.19.18	It really has been a close one. Smaugman is nowhere in sight, so I'm gonna go ahead and call this one for Mostly Autumn.
e210013 06.19.18	@ Jethro I Really never listened "Secrets Of Angels". So, I don't have an opinion about the album. When I mentioned Karnataka, I was talking especially about "Karnataka" and "The Storm". "The Storm" has the track "Heaven Can Wait", which is the track mentioned by me on the DVD. I think the band made two good albums and I especially love the voice of their female singer, Rachel Jones. Karnataka, in the years of those two albums, were winners of the Classic Rock Society Awards for best new band and best female vocalist. However, after the release of their third album "Delicate Flame Of Desire", the band split. Rachel had joined The Reasoning and Jonathan Edwards, Paul Davis and Gavin Griffiths had already broken away to form Panic Room with Anne-Marie Helder, who had performed backing vocals on "Delicate Flame Of Desire". Besides, Anne-Marie is a usual collaborater of Mostly Autumn since "Heart Full Of Sky". So, the sole survivor, the bassist Ian Jones resurrected Karnataka with a new line-up and released two albums, "The Gathering Light" and "Secrets Of Angels". So, as you can see we have two very distinctive bands. Almost it's the same with Renaissance. I think "The Gathering Light" is a good album, but somehow different from the other three previous albums. I really think it's a strong and ballanced album. Still, I agree with you. Karnataka is more cheesy and much less stronger than Mostly Autumn. And I mentioned that on my comment when I said that I prefer Mostly Autumn. However, to be more cheesy, doesn't mean necessarilly a bad thing. I like some cheesy things if they're well made. And I think Karnataka made some very interesting things in their intricated and turbulent life, so far. Cheers, buddy.
e210013 06.19.18	@ Jethro Sorry but I forget to answer to your other comment. "Do you have their live Pink Floyd Revisited?" Unfortunately not. I never listened to it. Still, as happen with you, I'm very curious about it, since Josh is a great Floydian fan and of Gilmour, too.
Jethro42 06.19.18	@e21, The Karnataka epic suite song ''Secrets of Angels'' has a few good passages, but the arrangements could be better. Music don't speak to me. They tried to make it grandiose, but they don't hit the target for me. It's not that much inspired, and i don't like their half baked ballads, and they have a lot of those ballads on that album. ''Heaven Can Wait'' is not bad and is close to Mostly Autumn's style, but it's far from their standards. As for Mostly Autumn's Pink Floyd Revisited, I've only heard ''Echoes'' few years ago, and it's a pretty good rendition. I't's on youtube.
Divaman 06.19.18	I'll have to check that out myself.
e210013 06.19.18	Thanks, Jethro. I'll have to check that.
e210013 06.19.18	By the way. Did you know that Liam Davison of Mostly Autumn passed away in 2017, Jethro?
Jethro42 06.19.18	To be honest, I didn't even know of his existence, I thought Bryan Josh played all the guitars. I've just seen he was there since their debut...Shame on me. I'm only familiar with Josh, Findlay, Jennings and Gordon.
Divaman 06.20.18	No, I didn't e. Weird, too, because I've been up on their web site.
e210013 06.20.18	It's a shame and weird, indeed. R.I.P., Liam.