Höstsonaten - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (chapter one) (2012)

If an Italian band (from Genoa) give themselves the Swedish name 'Höstsonaten' (after a movie by Ingmar Bergman) and then record a concept album after a poem, which is most influential in the English-spoken world: 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' (by Samuel Taylor Coleridge), then this is real cross-culturalism!

Höstsonaten was founded in 1996 by Fabio Zuffanti, the bass player of Italian prog band Finisterre. They have released eight albums so far. This weekend's featured album is their 7th. 

The music is strongly influenced by Gabriel-era Genesis, flute included, and even the vocals sounds a bit like Gabriel. But there is more: also a violin and a saxophone is added at most fitting places. The vocals sometimes reaches high-pitched screams that reminds a bit of the best times of Ian Gillan, and also a female voice is added in dialogue with the male voice, which adds to the dramatic character of the album. The composition is so well crafted and beautiful, that as a Genesis fan I sometimes regret, that Genesis did not compose this.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)

Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (00:00 CEST, 22:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

Evership - The Uncrowned King - Act 1 (2021)

Evership was founded in Nashville, USA, and is the brainchild of composer and multi-instrumentalist Shane Atkinson. In 2016 they released their first album. This weekend's featured album is their third and latest release 'The Uncrowned King.' In this symphonic and neo-prog recording influences of Kansas, Styx, Yes and Rush can be heard.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)

Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (00:00 CEST, 22:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

The Samurai of Prog - The Lady and the Lion and other Grimm Tales I (2021)

The brand new release of Finland based The Samurai of Prog is a themed album based on the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. As usual for this band the initial trio Marco Bernard (bass), Kimmo Pörsti (drums) and Steve Unruh (vocals, violins, flute, guitars) are supported by loads of guest musicians who also partly compose the tracks. Maybe most known of them is keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel of Kayak. And also as usual we will hear high quality symphonic prog.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)

Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (00:00 CEST, 22:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

The Emerald Dawn - To Touch The Sky (2021)

The Emerald Dawn was formed in 2010 in Edinburgh by Katrina "Tree" Steward and Alan "Ally" Carter, before moving to St Ives, Cornwall in South West England, where they were joined by Thomas Jackson on the drums and Jayjay Quick on bass, who later was replaced by bassist David Greenaway. They have released four albums so far. This weekend I am streaming the latest release "To Touch the Sky". The band describes themselves as a multi-instrumentalist, symphonic progressive rock group, who combine elements from classical music, jazz and rock to produce their own original sound. The name is meant to suggest an environmentalist revolution. The music is mainly instrumental with occasional vocals of Tree Steward. The well composed three pieces full of interesting musical ideas create an overall mesmerizing, contemplative atmosphere.

Starport Omega : Saturday 6 pm SLT (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)

Floating Islands : Sunday 3 pm SLT (00:00 CEST, 22:00 GMT)

My streaming URL