Hello All,
First of all, the New Stuff. I got 5 new CD's, most of them rather 
disappointing. Here goes:
- King Crimson: _THRAK_ (1995): Gosh. Now there's a side of ProgRock I didn't 
know. I wish it had stayed that way. Booklet: don't like the cover. Do like 
the (strange) tracklist, the (weird) lyrics and the (crazy) way they are 
printed. Let's have a listen, then. Hmm, interesting. This could evolve into 
something really good... Nope, not that way. Maybe it's just a bad song. 
Let's wait. Nope. Nope. Nope... _I'm a dinosaur_, the best track on the disc, 
is what I would consider the worst track a good band can make, without making 
a laugh of themselves. Conclusion: I really don't know what you guys see in 
KC. I mean, to me it sounds like Kurt Cobain trying to imitate Freddy Mercury 
(oops). Perhaps the early King Crimson was better? Like, good? Sorry.
- Eric Woolfson (Alan Parsons Project): _Freudiana_: definitely the score of 
a musical. If my music partner made a CD like this, and in fact thought it 
was good, I would go solo too. There are some better parts (The beginning: 
_The Nirvana Principle_ and _Freudiana_, and at the end _No One Can Love You 
Better Than Me_.) Not what I would expect after hearing most of the albums 
before (except for _Eye In The Sky_ and _Pyramid_) and after (both of Alan's 
solo CDs). Next!
- Tangerine Dream: _Ricochet_: Ah, finally something that's worth listening 
to again! I never thought TD would be so minimalistic, after hearing 
descriptions ('very much like Pink Floyd') but afterwards I can agree that 
they DO sound like (early) PF: _Set The Controls_ and _Saucerful of Secrets_ 
come to mind. Also very Jarre-sounding soundscapes (hmmm, recorded in 1975 in 
France and UK, same year as _Oxygene_. I wonder which one was first, and if 
JMJ was at the concert).
- Mike Oldfield: _Tubular Bells ][_: Very, verry funny. The best self-parody 
I have ever heard of. Using the same instruments, rhythms, scenery, theme's, 
chords, parts and ideas, Oldfield creates a completely new album. I love 
is!
- The Nits: _Hjuvi_: now, I don't know if the Nits are ProgRock. It's a very 
strange category of music. They're Dutch, so I don't suppose many of you know 
them. Difficult to describe: a mix between French Chansons (Jacques Brel - 
but the Nits sing in English) and Progressive Orchestral music? Anyway, Hjuvi 
is plain Orchestral music, not interesting apart from some of the concepts: 
the opening number on the live version is called 'Silence - solo for 
conductor'. Now there's something I have never heard of before. Other Nits 
CD's are _Urk_ (180 minutes live, best one yet), _Ting_ (with a lot of good 
songs too) and _Nest_ (a greatest hits collection of poor sound quality).
Next (yes, this is getting a long message, I know): _Ozric Tentacles_ in 
concert. I would really like to go (because they are reported to 'sound like 
Marillion'), but I don't know anything about their music. They're not in the 
library, so I'll have to buy one. Suggestions?
Also _Gong_ in concert (next day, same place). I don't know anything about 
Gong. Are they ProgRock? How do they sound? Should I go?
Met vriendelijke groeten,                | Fidonet: 2:292/867.5     |
Steven                                   | svim@urania.knooppunt.be |
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