Review 2011-2018

Since 2011 I have been DJing in Second Life now. I thought it would be nice to look back through the years and present you my favourite albums of that time. With Renaissance, Transatlantic, Discipline and many more. Streaming times this weekend (December 15th/16th):

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Thank you so much for another good year! Next streaming will be on the weekend January 5th/6th 2019. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Top albums of 2018

1. Gleb Kolyadin
2. Galahad - Seas of Change
3. Seven Reizh - L'Albatros
4. The Samurai Of Prog - Archiviarum
5  Kayak - Seventeen
6. Riverside - Wasteland
7. Finally George - Life Is A Killer
8. Argos - Unidentified Dying Objects
9. Oaksenham - Upon All The Living And The Dead
10. Southern Empire - Civilisation
11. Frequency Drift - Letters To Maro
12. IO Earth - Solitude
13. ESP - 22 Layers Of Sunlight

Review 2018 part 3

This time I am presenting you my personal top 5 of the new releases of 2018 in the progressive rock world. You have read correctly: in this show I will be spinning excerpts of exactly 5 albums, not more! Those of you who followed my shows closely might maybe guess who I am playing. I was spinning them this year but not in the review part 1 or 2. For those who do not have a clue let me surprise you!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Review 2018 part 2

It is time for part 2 of my personal review of the year. In this part and in the next I will focus on 2018 releases. This weekend with The Sea Within, Southern Empire, Phideaux, IO Earth and many more.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Review 2018 part 1

It is time for a review of the year. I am spinning excerpts of albums which I played in the past 11 month. If you missed something this is the opportunity to catch up! In part 1 I am playing albums which have been released before 2018. Featuring Mike Oldfield, Camel, Magenta and many more.
In parts 2 and 3 I will focus on 2018 releases.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: November 24th/25th

Exiles is on holiday and won't be able to stream for the next three weekends.
Next streaming will be on the weekend November 24th/25th.
Prog on and see you next time!

Oaksenham - Upon All The Living And The Dead (2018)

Oaksenham is a band from Armenia, who have released two albums in 2002 and 2006. After a long pause they have this year released their third album, which is the featured album of the weekend.
It is not untypical for bands from eastern Europe to include local folk into their music, which is the case here, too. Their blend of mostly instrumental violin driven Armenian folk, rock and jazz elements form an exciting symphonic prog mix, which would certainly appeal to all who like 70's Genesis, Yes, Camel and Renaissance.

Attention! Europe switches back to Normal Time while North America does not! Check the times below:
Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 02:00 CET, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (23:00 CET, 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Gleb Kolyadin (2018)

Gleb Kolyadin is a pianist and one half of the Russian duo Iamthemorning from Sankt Petersburg. With Iamthemorning he released three albums between 2012 and 2016. Now he has released a solo album with some guest musicians, including:
Steve Hogarth (Marillion) - vocals
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) - keyboards
Theo Travis (Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson) - flute, saxophone
Nick Beggs (Steven Wilson) - bass
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson) - drums
and many more.
It is, of course, these guest musicians that attracted me to listen to this album, and it was worth it!
The album is a mixture of modern classical piano music and rock music, which I can imagine Bach and Stravinsky, if they lived today, would also enjoy. In parts it is reminiscent of Renaissance, Keith Emerson and Patrick Moraz.
For me this release is the surprise of the year.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Uriah Heep - Living The Dream (2018)

To be honest, after their album Salisbury from 1971 and their hit single 'Lady in Black', which was very popular at least in Germany, I did not follow the career of Uriah Heep much. So I was positively surprised when I listened to their new album 'Living The Dream', which was released only this year. It is not as great as Salisbury, but it is a very solid piece of classic hard rock, with guitarist Mick Box as the last remaining original member.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Riverside - Wasteland (2018)

Riverside, a band founded in 2001 in Warsaw, Poland, has released seven albums so far. After the long time guitarist Piotr Grudzinski passed away, they decided to continue as a trio on their seventh and latest album, with several guitarists as guests. How did this change influence their music? I would say, the music became less heavy metallic and more melodic, which is good for all who love more melodic and symphonic style prog rock. With this release they went on a similar path as Opeth, and I am really surpised of the good compositional quality of the nine new songs on the album. Their creativity seem to be unbroken!

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Phideaux - Infernal (2018)

Phideaux Xavier is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter from New York, USA. Since 2003 he has released an album nearly every year until 'Snowtorch' from 2011. Now, after a seven year break, he has returned with the brand new album 'Infernal', which I will be spinning this weekend. His music can be described as melodic symphonic prog with a cinematographic/theatrical touch.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Argos - Unidentified Dying Objects (2018)

Argos is a symphonic/canterbury style prog band from Germany. Formed in 2005 in Mainz, they have released five albums so far. Their music sounds like a mix of early Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator and Caravan. This weekend I am streaming their brand new album 'Unidentified Dying Objects'.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Unitopia, UPF, Southern Empire, The Samurai of Prog

Unitopa was a promising Australian band who combined sophisticated song stuctures with melodic vocals, inspired by classic prog rock but with a modern touch. After four albums they split up and formed two new bands, United Progressive Fraternity (UPF) with Unitopia members Mark Trueack,  Matt Williams, Tim Irrgang and David Hopgood, and Southern Empire with keyboardist Sean Timms.
Both spin-offs use slightly more elegiac layers and textures in their compositions with a heavier sound than Unitopia. Southern Empire is even a whiff heavier than UPF, with hints of Dream Theater.
This weekend I will start spinning Unitopa, and then we will compare the following songs:
- 'Travelling Man' by UPF with 'Crossroads' by Southern Empire
- 'Ghost Written' by The Samurai of Prog (where both Mark Trueack and Sean Timms are credited) with 'Innocent and Fortune' by Southern Empire

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Southern Empire - Civilisation (2018)

Do you remember Unitopia? It was a promising Australian band who played great melodic modern prog rock. After they split up they formed two new bands, United Progressive Fraternity (UPF) with Unitopia members Mark Trueack,  Matt Williams, Tim Irrgang and David Hopgood, and Southern Empire with keyboardist Sean Timms. Southern Empire has released two albums so far. This weekend I am spinning their latest release Civilisation. Southern Empire sounds in general a bit heavier than UPF.
If you are familiar with the music of UPF and The Samurai of Prog, where Sean Timms also participated, then you will notice some familiar tunes.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: September 8th/9th

No streaming this weekend. Next show will be on the weekend September 8th/9th.
Prog on and see you next time!

Finally George - Life is a Killer (2018)

Finally George is the brainchild of German sound artist Georg Hahn. After many years as a musician and sound producer in the Hamburg music scene he finally fulfilled his dream of creating his first solo album, inspired by bands such as Genesis, Blackfield and Supertramp. For his ambitious work he managed to assemble excellent guest musicians, like ex-Lake guitarist Erlend Krauser, and drummer Todd Sucherman, who replaced John Panozzo in the band Styx.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

ELP (bonus track 1993), Gentle Knife (debut, 2015)

This weekend I start my stream with the bonus track of Emerson, Lake & Palmer's 'Pictures at an Exhibition', which is a re-recorded studio version of the same piece from 1993.
After that I am spinning the debut album of the Norwegian band Gentle Knife from 2015. They play symphonic prog with jazzy elements.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures At An Exhibition (1971)

Three excellent musicians unite to form one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all times: Emerson, Lake & Palmer. My favourite album of them is their creative take on Pictures of an Exhibition, a classical piece of the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky. The album was recorded live, there is no studio recording of it. Until today this recording demonstrates for me the best example of great musicianship.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Gentle Knife - Clock Unwound (2017)

Gentle Knife is a 10-member-band from Norway founded in 2014. I have heard of them for the first time at the Loreley Night of the Prog, where they gave a terrific performance. After that I went to the merchandising table and bought both of their albums that they have released so far. This weekend I am streaming their second and latest album. They play symphonic prog with jazzy elements, which remind me of the jazzy parts of early King Crimson.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: August 4th/5th

No streaming from me next weekend. Next streaming will be the weekend August 4th/5th.
See you next time!

The Sea Within (2018)

The Sea Within is a new album by a project of Roine Stolt, Jonas Reingold (guitars and bass of The Flower Kings), Daniel Gildenlow (vocals, Pain of Salvation), Tom Brislin (keyboards, session musician with Yes, Renaissance and Camel) and Marco Minnemann (drums, Steven Wilson, Levin Minnemann Rudess), so it can be called another supergroup of prog. The album also features some guest appearances of Jon Anderson (vocals, Yes), Casey McPherson (vocals, Flying Colors), Jordan Rudess (grand piano, Dream Theater) and Rob Townsend (saxophone, Steve Hackett).

I have just returned from the Loreley Night of the Prog, where this album was performed in its entirety. As Jonas Reingold and Daniel Gildenlow could not join the concert, they were replaced by Pete Trewavas (bass, Marillion) and Casey McPherson. What replacements! What a great performance! I hope they recorded it and release it as a live album one day. This weekend I will stream the original studio album.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL (New !!!)

Next streaming: July 21st/22nd

Next weekend I am going to the Loreley Night of the Prog, so I won't be able to stream. But don't worry, I will return from the festival with great prog material, old and new! Next show will be on the weekend July 21st/22nd. Prog on and see you next time!

King Crimson - Live in Vienna 2016 (excerpts)

Last Monday I was on the King Crimson concert in Berlin and it was a great performance, as always! There I bought the album Live in Vienna 2016, from which I will present you this weekend a 93-minutes excerpt. Featuring Robert Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk, Tony Levin, Mel Collins, Pat Mastelotto, Jeremy Stacey and Gavin Harrison.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: July 7th/8th

Next show will be on the weekend July 7th/8th.
Prog on and see you next time!

Anubis - A Tower of Silence (2011)

This weekend I am streaming one of my favourite releases of 2011: A Tower of Silence by the Australian band Anubis (not to be mixed up with other bands of the same name). They play neo-prog with a few heavy edges, playful bass lines, nice melodic vocal harmonies and a few Pink-Floyd influences. They will be playing live at this year's Loreley Night of the Prog, and their performance will be one of my personal highlights of the festival.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Frequency Drift - Letters To Maro (2018)

Frequency Drift is a band from Germany formed in 2006. Characteristic for their music are atmospheric and elegiac symphonic arrangements, a mellow female voice and the use of an electric harp. This weekend I am streaming their latest and 8th release.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

IO Earth - Solitude (2018)

IO Earth from Birmingham/UK blend several styles of rock, pop, electronics, classical, jazz and heavy rock to their own version of modern prog rock with a cinematic vibe. They have now released their 4th studio album, which I will stream in its entirety.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Magenta - We Are Legend (2017)

 'We are legend' is the most recent release of UK-based band Magenta. It is a modern symphonic prog album, well composed and written in the spirit of the 70's music of Genesis, Pink Floyd or Mike Oldfield. I am streaming the album in full at

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Unreal City - Frammenti Notturni (2017)

Italian band Unreal City have released their third album 'Frammenti Notturni', which means 'night fragments'. Indeed is this release a bit darker than their previous one. They play RPI/symphonic prog, with elaborate arrangements and outstanding musicality. I will stream the album in its entirety.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

ESP - 22 Layers of Sunlight (2018)

ESP started as a project of Tony Lowe (guitars, vocals) and Mark Brzezicki (drums). In 2016 this band surprised me with a great debut album. Now they have released their second recording. They play symphonic prog influenced by 70's Genesis/Steve Hackett and Alan Parsons Project, with nods towards Pink Floyd and some jazz rock fusion moments, which remind me of Brand X. I will stream the album in its entirety.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Kayak - Seventeen (2018)

Kayak is a Dutch band formed in 1972, disbanded in 1982 and reformed in 1999. They have now released their 17th studio album, which they called, very cunningly, "Seventeen". Actually, this is the first album I have listened to, and I regret I have never listened to them before. They play melodic prog, with strong melodies and interesting twists in their artful song compositions. Highly recommended for those who also like Supertramp, Barclay James Harvest or Alan Parsons Project. I am streaming the album in full at:

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: May 5th/6th

No streaming this weekend for various reasons, sorry. Next streaming will be the weekend May 5th/6th.
Prog on and see you next time!

The Samurai Of Prog - Archiviarum (2018)

The Samurai of Prog is a Finland-based multinational band consisting of the core trio Marco Bernard (bass), Steve Unruh (violin, flute, guitars, vocals) and Kimmo Pörsti (drums), who are always supported by a huge amount of additional guest musicians. Since 2011 they have released high quality symphonic prog albums, and their latest and sixt album, Archiviarum, is no exception to it. It consists of rarities and special recordings, and I am streaming it in its entirety.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 02:00 BST)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 23:00 BST)
My streaming URL

It is spring time!

This weekend I am spinning Deep Purple's April, Echolyn's Mei, and other tracks with spring or flowers in the title.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT
My streaming URL

Next streaming: April 14th/15th

No streaming for this and the next weekend for various reasons.
Next streaming will be on the weekend April 14th/15th.
I wish you all a Happy Easter, and see you next time!

Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)

This weekend I am streaming "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1970), a rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. With Ian Gillan as Jesus and Murray Head as Judas.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT
My streaming URL

It's time again!

North America has already DST, while Europe has not, so time is still out of joint! Therefore, this weekend I continue with the theme: Time!

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 2 am CET, 1 am UTC)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (Sunday 11 pm CET, 10 pm UTC)
My streaming URL

Time!

Twice a year a time chaos occurs, when North America switches to summer time two weeks earlier, and switches back to normal time one week later than Europe. During these times people from both regions are regularly confused about what time it is. This weekend it is that time again! The following night North America switches to summer time (and Europe does not)! Therefore I am playing a theme for you: Time!

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 2 am UTC)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (for Europeans: one hour earlier than usual, i.e. 10 pm UTC)
My streaming URL

Galahad - Seas of Change (2018)

Galahad was formed in the UK in 1985 and started playing half covers from Genesis, Led Zeppelin and others. Over the years they have released now 12 studio albums with own material. This weekend I am streaming their brand new album 'Seas of Change'. They play neo-prog which can be compared with Marillion, IQ, Pendragon and Pallas.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 2 am UTC)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (11 pm UTC)
My streaming URL

Earth and Fire - Song Of The Marching Children (1971)

Earth and Fire is a female fronted band from the Netherlands. Active between 1970-1989 they have released nine studio albums so far. This weekend I am streaming the album which is assumed to be one of the best in Dutch prog rock history. Before and after that I am spinning songs from other bands featuring remarkable women.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 2 am UTC)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (11 pm UTC)
My streaming URL

Women in Prog

Inspired by a thread about women in prog on progarchives.com I am streaming this weekend some of the bands from my collection featuring remarkable women. With Anekdoten, Anathema, Paatos, IO Earth and many more.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 2 am UTC)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (11 pm UTC)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: February 17th/181h

No streaming for various reasons for the next three weekends. Next streaming will be on the weekend February 17th/18th. See calendar below. Prog on and see you next time!

Camel - The Snow Goose (2013)

In preparation of the forthcoming concert of Camel at the Loreley Night of the Prog I am spinning this week 'The Snow Goose' (2013 Version). This is not a re-release, but a re-recording of the legendary piece of the 70's, with the current line-up of Camel.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 2 am UTC)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (11 pm UTC)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: January 20th/21st

No streaming this weekend, sorry for short notice. Next streaming will be on the weekend January 20th/21st. See you next time!

Exiles Lavender

Mike Oldfield - Return to Ommadawn (2017)

Last year Mike Oldfield released a sequel to Ommadawn, which does not copy the original but is written in the same spirit. It contains a lot of guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis and so on, with a clear Celtic vibe. I will present it in full at

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 2 am UTC)
Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (11 pm UTC)
My streaming URL