Proud Peasant

Proud Peasant is an Austin-based progressive rock band led by multi-instrumentalist Xander Rapstine (guitars, mandolin, ukulele, Melodica, glockenspiel, percussion).
Their debut release is Flight, a set of three fairly long instrumentals with multiple movements:
“The Prisoner” (12:28), “Awakenings” (19:34), and “The Precipice” (13:20).
These three pieces are pastoral soundscapes of sublime dreams and wicked nightmares, something that we have not heard the likes of since the 70s with Mike Oldfield, Gryphon, and the Amazing Blondel.
Flight is an ambitious undertaking for a debut album, but Xander is no stranger to music. He performed for eight years with his pop rock band The Evildoers, and then decided to explore a more rewarding style of music. In the fall of 2011 he formed Proud Peasant and began the long process of recording Flight. He made the conscious decision for this initial release to be all instrumental as he felt it necessary to first find his voice (so to speak) in this new genre. The other band members are David Hobizal (drums), Jay Allen (keyboards), and Kyle Robarge (bass). On Flight there are additional musicians playing tuba, clarinet, violin, trumpet, timpani, percussion, flute, French horn, cello, and trombone, as well as a choir singing wordlessly at various points. The music is majestic and cinematic with a definite Mike Oldfield Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn vibe. The addition of the brass imparts a Spanish accent that evokes Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti western soundtracks. Flight is an extraordinary debut release.

http://www.proudpeasant.com

Napier's Bones

Napier's Bones are a UK band that take the Classic Prog-Rock sound as a foundation and build upon it to create their own challenging and extended form of progressive rock music. Their focus is firmly on dramatic storytelling with subject matter capable of resonating with the listener today. Music that references the past but is very much of the here and now. Their primary musical influences include the great bands of some forty years ago but also span more recent trends in rock, electronica and modernist classical music. Every Napier's Bones track will take the listener on an emotional musical and lyrical journey, passing through dark and introspective territory en-route to resolution and deliverance.  

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Currently FREE download at:
http://napiersbones.bandcamp.com/releases

.sPout.

.sPout. war eine österreichische Crossover-Band aus Wolfsberg (Kärnten).

Die Band wurde 1998 vom Sänger und Gitarristen Aaron Schüssler gegründet, als er in seiner Wohnung die ersten Songs mit dem PC aufnahm. Mit den beendeten Aufnahmen konnte er sich auf die Suche nach den Musikern machen. Im Juli 2006 stieg Gitarrist und Songwriter René Juri zugunsten seines Studiums aus der Band aus, nachdem schon DJ Jookie (Mario Frajuk) im März die Band nach fünf Jahren Mitgliedschaft verlassen hatte. Unter anderem spielte die Band im Vorprogramm von Machine Head (Wien), Life of Agony (Wien), Die Happy (Rock am Bach) und den H-Blockx (Donauinselfest). Außerdem gab es bereits eigene Tourneen durch Großbritannien, Deutschland, Österreich und Italien sowie einen Auftritt auf der Popkomm 2003 in Köln und den zweiten Platz beim Yamaha Band Contest in Wien.
Das letzte Album „We’re Going Straight to Hell“ erschien am 20. April 2007 erneut auf dem bandeigenen Label ruff.tunes records (im Vertrieb von edel).
2009 verließ der Bassist Manfred Sattler die Band und wurde nach einigen Monaten durch David Schwarz ersetzt.

Im Jänner 2012 gab die Band bekannt, dass sie sich auflösen wird.

Diskografie:
This is the Answer (1998)
Matter of Fact (1999)
Do You Wanna Dance? (2001)
The Ultimate Love Connection / T.U.L.C. (2002)
SickSong special Single Edition (2003)
We Brake for Nobody (2005)
Drift special Single Edition (2005)
We’re Goin’ Straight To Hell (2007)

Nach ihrer Auflösung hat die Band ihre komplette Diskografie auf ihrer Webseite zum kostenfreien Download freigegeben.

http://www.spout.biz 

Jhimm

Jason Himm is a Connecticut based musician who writes and records in his home studio in northern New Haven county. Jason is a keyboard player and has been experimenting with recording for over 22 years and has worked professionally with many local and national acts. His influences stem from the progressive rock genre and include artists such as Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd and Genesis among others.

Space In Space

Space In Space is a solo project from Croatian musician Nikola Džaja with occasional appearance of guest musicians. It's very melancholic, atmospheric and dark with some heavier parts but mostly mellow and emotional. This is really outstanding music!

FM

FM are one of UK's most enduring and most loved melodic rock / AOR act. They have released eleven albums to date.

 
In the U.S., they are often referred to as FMUK as there exicsts a progressive rock band from Canada with the same name.

On September 8th, the band are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the release of their classic 1986 debut album "Indiscreet".
In conjunction with great reissue label Rock Candy they've assembled a Deluxe 2 CD set containing no less than 18 bonus tracks.

We have the original album plus rare BBC sessions and a live track on one CD, while the extra disc includes rarities such as singles b-sides, extended 12'' remix versions, live tracks and for the first time on CD, the rare instrumental version of "American Girls" (only appeared on a mega rare maxi-single vinyl back in 1986) special to demonstrate your skill at the mic!
This 24-bit remastering from the original source tapes sounds excellent, and these songs - needless to say - are absolutely gorgeous pure golden AOR Melodic Rock classics. A Must Have!

FM was formed in the summer of 1984 in London.
The band was originally composed of the ex-Samson pair of bassist Merv Goldsworthy and drummer Pete Jupp, the Overland brothers – vocalist/guitarist Steve and lead guitarist Chris Overland, both formerly of Wildlife, and keyboardist Philip Manchester, also known as Didge Digital.
They are currently writing and recording for their follow-up album to 2010's "Metropolis", due for release in 2012.

FM

Stolen Earth

Stolen Earth are a powerhouse of atmospheric rock.

With songs soaked in emotion, their immense sound draws from a huge musical palate. Featuring the inimitable Heidi Widdop (ex-Mostly Autumn) on lead vocals, they perform songs with rich, textured harmonies and infectious hooks and melodies.
With Barry Cassells' powerful drums and Paul Teasdale's driving bass guitar making up the dynamic rhythm section, John Sykes' keyboards provide huge soundscapes with superb precision, while Adam Dawson's soaring guitar work fuses a heady blend of emotion and musicality. In total, Stolen Earth's live show is one of majestic power, with catchy choruses and captivating melodies which will stay with you long after the show is over.
Stolen Earth formed early in 2011 from the ashes of the much-loved progressive rock band "Breathing Space", who had split at the beginning of the year. They include no fewer than four members of Breathing Space’s short-lived final incarnation, including recently joined vocalist Heidi Widdop and guitarist Adam Dawson. Only the rock-solid rhythm section of Paul Teasdale and Barry Cassells remain from the linuep of Breathing Space’s final albums.

Stolen Earth's debut album “A Far Cry From Home” is out now.

The song writing is consistently strong, and the material has a wonderfully relaxed 'flow' to it with Dawson's intelligent guitar work, while not aping Rothery or Gilmour, letting the space between the notes add to the overall ambience.
And there's a great cohesiveness about the work with keyboard player John Sykes providing light and shade in an almost Rick Wright manner.
The result is that each and every one of the nine epic tracks on "A Far Cry From Home" is a winner and it's impossible to pick a stand out.

Stolen Earth