What album are you listening tonight?

[thumb5]

Opeth "Pale Communion" (Qobuz)

Just discovering this band, continuing in the prog/metal direction - any advice on which of their albums I should listen to will be gratefully received.

[Bruno]

Opeth "Pale Communion" (Qobuz)

Just discovering this band, continuing in the prog/metal direction - any advice on which of their albums I should listen to will be gratefully received.

Hi thumb5.

You could give a try to Watershed in the same vein as Pale Communion or in a different mood to Damnation which is not metal at all but produced by Steven Wilson.

By the Way, if you lile metal with a pinch of prog did you try the album "Blood" by O.S.I (Jim Mateos, Mike Portnoy, Kevin Moore), or "Disconnected" and "FWX" by Fates Warning. Mickael Akerfeldt (Opeth) and Steven Wilson played on the first O.S.I.

Any advice in return ?

[thumb5]

Thanks for the suggestions, Bruno, I'll have a listen.

I expect you're already familiar with most of the bands I listen to in that general area (most of which I've already posted about in this thread): Riverside, Porcupine Tree, Tool, ...

For something a bit different you might enjoy Lodestar or Senser, both a kind of amalgam of rap and metal. Not sure whether you can find their best work on Qobuz: I like Lodestar's one and only (eponymous) album very much, and both "Stacked Up" and "How To Do Battle" by Senser.

[Bruno]

Thanks for the suggestions, Bruno, I'll have a listen.

I expect you're already familiar with most of the bands I listen to in that general area (most of which I've already posted about in this thread): Riverside, Porcupine Tree, Tool, ...

For something a bit different you might enjoy Lodestar or Senser, both a kind of amalgam of rap and metal.  Not sure whether you can find their best work on Qobuz: I like Lodestar's one and only (eponymous) album very much, and both "Stacked Up" and "How To Do Battle" by Senser.

I've just realised that I forgot to mention Haken (the Mountain and Affinity) : outstanding musicians with great background. And if we talk prog metal, Change Of Season by Dream Theater is a must have.
Riverside is next on my playlist thanks to you : What album should I listen first ?

[thumb5]

...
I've just realised that I forgot to mention Haken (the Mountain and Affinity) : outstanding musicians with great background. And if we talk prog metal, Change Of Season by Dream Theater is a must have.
Riverside is next on my playlist thanks to you : What album should I listen first ?

Great, thanks again Bruno, I love listening to stuff I've never heard of!

As far as Riverside goes, I'd suggest trying "Out Of Myself" and "Second Life Syndrome" first of all.  Actually my favourite album of theirs is currently "Love, Fear and the Time Machine"; it's a little more mellow and more musically rounded (I think) than some of their earlier albums - more prog than metal, if you prefer.  By the way if you enjoy their albums you should also try some Lunatic Soul which is their bassist, Mariusz Duda's, solo project.  His album "Walking on a Flashlight Beam" was how I discovered Riverside in the first place.

[Hifi_swlon]

   

For the electronic crew - Global underground: after hours.

I've collected quite a few over the years but not recently.

This has got to be up there with the best. An absolute treat!

The only dampener is having to keep the volume down low at the moment!

(There's a Tidal sampler)

[thumb5]

Following hifi_swlon's post above, I feel almost obliged to say "...and now for something completely different!"

Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, Antony Michaelson (of Musical Fidelity fame).

A really lovely chamber music recording - not sure whether it is/was ever widely available, as I recall getting this directly from Musical Fidelity by mail order (or some such arragement). Around 1999-2000, Michaelson also recorded several other clarinet pieces by Brahms, Mozart, Weber and Bärmann, all of which are beautifully played and recorded.

[Axel]

Following hifi_swlon's post above, I feel almost obliged to say "...and now for something completely different!"

Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, Antony Michaelson (of Musical Fidelity fame).

A really lovely chamber music recording - not sure whether it is/was ever widely available, as I recall getting this directly from Musical Fidelity by mail order (or some such arragement).  Around 1999-2000, Michaelson also recorded several other clarinet pieces by Brahms, Mozart, Weber and Bärmann, all of which are beautifully played and recorded.

I used to have a Musical Fidelity kW550amp and DM25 DAC and transport. I have met Anthony on a couple of occasions and have the Brahms that you mention, the Mozart and the Weber. AFAIK the albums were originally only available through the MF site, although I see that the Mozart/Brahms is now available as one CD via Amazon.

[Bruno]

The Similitude Of A Dream by The Neal Morse Band : this is a piece of prog-rock worth the listening in its entirety. Picking a song just to have a glimpse wouldn't be a good idea.

A lot of references are involved and give the impression to travel on a train. You walk from coach to coach while the train keeps rolling to its destination and you happen to meet Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, Marillion, Queen, The Beatles, The Who, Kansas, Genesis, Yes, George Harrison, Led Zeppelin.. you name it. A stream of influences but no plagiarism.

Eventhough one might take exception to the story itself - and after all nobody have to share Roger Waters political views to enjoy Amused To Death -, this concept album might become a reference for all prog-rock fans. The producer did a very decent job and the sq isn't pretty organic ; however it can't compare to Hand Cannot Erase : let's wait for the 10th anniversary remix by Steven Wilson !

I hope my neighbors will appreciate too...

[thumb5]

Melanie De Biasio "Blackened Cities" (Qobuz)