Friday13th: Progday Discovery M3

Friday13th 09.29.17	Mellotrons and violins...who could want more?
Jethro42 09.29.17	I was 100% sure you would match up mine with Quarteto 1111. I know both of them very well. I already know which is my favorite. So for me, it's gonna be... (suspens)...
Divaman 09.29.17	Happy Prog Day, everyone.
SCREAM! 09.29.17	"This is perhaps the best prog album ever made in Portugal in the early 70's." How much competition did it have though? ;) Looking forward to hearing both of these!
Friday13th 09.29.17	^ haha yeah, I can guarantee it will become my #1 Portuguese prog album...considering I haven't heard any others. I have heard a few Greek prog albums. Aphrodite's Child obviously.
TwigTW 09.29.17	I'm familiar with Quarteto 1111 from e21's reviews, great album. Looking forward to Mother Turtle, sounds like it's great too.
Friday13th 09.29.17	Here's a good Portuguese Prog checklist: http://www.progarchives.com/Bands-country.asp?country=163 Jose Cid is fairly well-known, but I haven't checked him out yet.
TwigTW 09.29.17	You have now Friday. I believe he's in Quarteto 1111.
e210013 09.29.17	Ok, guys, here are my thoughts. I'm not familiar with Greek prog albums except Aphrodite's Child and Vangelis, obviously. I'm perfectly sure that the most of you aren't familiarized with Portuguese prog albums, too. From what I know, the album o Quarteto 1111 is a symphonic prog album, one of the best keyboard driven album, a must for all mellotron lovers. The album of Mother Turtle is much more heaviest and I suspect that it's more guitar driven. So, here we have also the classic era against the new prog and keyboards against guitars. Anyway, it will be a nice journey, I'm sure. About my "knight", and I think it's fair that I say something about it, the best words to describe it can be seeing on my review about it and on the comments between me and the other members. I think they're the best testimony of it. And above all, I hope that this time many of you spend some of your time reading my review. Both albums aren't too big, Diva, but mine is much better. It's one of the shortest albums ever made, ah,ah,ah,... One last thing. I'm much more comfortable that almost of you are in this week. I only need to listen to one album. Good work guys and vote well.
wham49 09.29.17	ok, finally 2 that I do not know, should be interesting
Jethro42 09.29.17	@e21, the first album of Mother Turtle is more heavy for sure, but not Mother Turtle II. It's more like a neo prog album centered around keyboards at the forefront, enhanced with sax and violin still more than guitars.
e210013 09.29.17	Thanks, Jethro. It must be an interesting proposal, I hope.
Divaman 09.29.17	Portuguese prog vs. Greek prog: I'm loving it. And after a first listen of each, I can see that this won't be an easy choice.
MrSirLordGentleman 10.01.17	"How much competition did it have though? ;)" tbh honest 10000 Anos by Jose Cid is also a masterpiece Onde Quando's first half is really one of the best things ever
Friday13th 10.01.17	Well, we lost the better half of progday to another sputnik blackout. Got to listen to both, though. Fantastic stuff! This is gonna be tough.
Divaman 10.01.17	I agree, Friday. After two listens of each, I'm leaning one way, but it's slight -- my mind could still change.
CusmanX1 10.01.17	Well, I already know Quarteto 1111 and I love that album. Plus this summer I went to Lisbon and I fell in love with the city and Portugal in general. I'm really curious about the second one, anyway
bgillesp 10.01.17	Stupid crash meant I couldn't remember which albums to check yesterday. Oh well, I'll check them today
Divaman 10.01.17	I know. When I saw the site slowing down, I was able to get on one last time to copy the links into an email before the site crashed completely.
Divaman 10.01.17	OK, been up early listening this morning, and although it's still early in the week, I'm ready to vote. I vote for Quarteto 1111. Just tons of stuff I love in this album. Yes, the mellotron definitely reminds me of The Moody Blues, but also of the way it's used in early King Crimson. I also feel like I heard traces of Pink Floyd, a little bit of Cream's "White Room", a smidgen of Renaissance's "Carpet of the Sun", and early during the first movement, something that sounded like a prog rock version of Elton John's "Friends". The vocals were jarring to me -- e, you can tell me if I'm wrong on this, but I felt like Jose Cid's vocal style is a little influenced by the very emotional "fado" tradition (but maybe I'm completely not understanding fado -- you know what they say, that a fool with a little knowledge is a dangerous thing). Anyway, unusual vocals for prog rock, but not bad. Overall, very good album. Mother Turtle also had some stuff that I loved. I loved the album's opening and closing vocal flourishes, and there was some particularly enjoyable sax in "Walpurgi Flame" and "The Art of Ending a Revolution". The way "Harvest Moon" began reminded me of King Crimson in their "Lizard" period. But while I liked the album overall, there was just a little too much jazz fusion for my taste, which tipped the scales in favor of Quarteto 1111. Two good ones, though.
TwigTW 10.01.17	Note to self... copy new prog challenge albums quickly, before the site shuts down for days!
Jethro42 10.01.17	I suspect that Marillion knew that album of Quarteto 1111. There is a segment very similar to Marillion's song Grendel, written 10 years later.
MrSirLordGentleman 10.01.17	Mother Turtle has some excellent moments specially because of the sax But at others it just feels like your typical contemporary prog. I feel like it lacks some identity sometimes. Still having tons of fun with it
Friday13th 10.01.17	I really liked "Harvest Moon."
e210013 10.02.17	Thanks for the addition of such a complete list of Portuguese prog rock albums, Friday 13th. I know some of them and some of them are really great. I intend to review some of them here, especially those of the 70's. I mean, Petrus Castrus, Tantra, Banda Do Casaco e Ananga Ranga, to join to Quarteto 1111 and José Cid, already reviewed by me. I even can tell you that my two next reviews, in this month, will be about the two albums of Petrus Castrus. So, if you want, all of you are invited to participate on the comments about them. So, you can know better the prog in my country in those days.
Mythodea 10.02.17	I must've listened to Quarteto 1111 in the past, because I copied the url and the video was marked as seen... Anyway, great prog album, e210013!
e210013 10.02.17	Thanks Mythodea. I must confess that I had not time enough to listen to yours. But don't worried, I'm going to do that, and I must confess that I've high expectations about it, from what I've read till now.
Mythodea 10.02.17	Yeah, no worries, e21. I do believe both albums are great and I'm glad I don't have to vote this time. I've got little to no clue about Portugese Prog rock and I think Quarteto 1111 is a great intro.
e210013 10.02.17	I think the same man. I'll tell you something later when I have a final opinion about Mother Turtle's album.
Jethro42 10.02.17	Mother Turtle II have good ideas, but not enough exploited. They don't have many hooks. It's like if they had not enough material and they stretched it with spacey interludes, ambitious solos of each instruments and it kind of sounds bland and samey overall. Long songs are not enough developed despite their lenght. For these reasons, band reminds me of Big Big Train. I dig that band, but they're also slow in their songs progression and they leave us on our appetite. Quarteto 1111 can be considered like a classic album of the 70s, and is an instant delight with its intensity, melodies, emotions and mellotron bursts. Arrangements are well done, and it's a good journey from start to finish. My only gripe is the drums that sound too high in the mix, and they're also a bit amateurish (the drums, not the band). Album is also a bit short. My vote goes to Quarteto 1111.
Friday13th 10.02.17	Divaman: #1 Jethro #1 2-0
bgillesp 10.03.17	Jethro said it pretty perfectly although my opinion of the Quarteto album is a bit higher. I'm gonna give it more listens to settle my thoughts but it is for sure better than MT to me. I vote #1
bgillesp 10.03.17	Yeah, the drums bring it down a bit but I really dig Quarteto. I think I understated that above because it's probably my favorite discovery from this thing so far
Friday13th 10.03.17	3-0
MrSirLordGentleman 10.03.17	I'll go with Quarteto too
Friday13th 10.03.17	The choice is very narrow. Quarteto has some great mellotron parts and epic singing. It reminds me most of PFM but a bit more dramatic. I felt like there wasn't enough variety for a 30 minute track, though. I wish I understood the lyrics, since that might be the missing piece. Mother Turtle impressed me most with the the intro and "Harvest Moon", which is an eclectic prog tour de force with a strong Gentle Giant and King Crimson vibe along with modern bands like anekdoten and Seven Impale. Like some have said, it kind of starts losing it's identity from there, going into parts sounding like "Us and Them" and ending with a song sounding more like the Flower Kings than anything. I'm voting Mother Turtle. 4:1
MrSirLordGentleman 10.03.17	no one's gonna comment on how impressive are the vocals on Quarteto?
e210013 10.03.17	My opinion is a bit suspicious but I think they're great, especially because of the passionate vocals that contrast between the mellow parts and the heavy or bombastic moments. Apart it, the lyrics are great too. The poem "Cantamos Pessoas Vivas" was wrote by a contemporaneous Portuguese poet, José Jorge Letria. So, the qualty is undeniable. What do you think, SirLord?
MrSirLordGentleman 10.03.17	I really like it Feels pretty honest in its lyrics, and Cid voice really helps them to feel authentic and sung from the heart It's not like the lyrics are complex or anything like that. Quite the opposite I'd say, but you can see the honesty in them
e210013 10.03.17	I agree. They're simple words about ordinary people, and above all, the life. They celebrate the life.
Papa Universe 10.03.17	Quarteto needs a remaster. Mother Turtle needs to step up its pace and songwriting. Vote is for Quarteto 1111.
Sabrutin 10.03.17	The first half of Mother Turtle's II is pretty sweet so far, I expected to like it less. However it'll have a hard time beating Quarteto's album, I remember it to be great EDIT: aah it seems things are getting slower on the second half of II
Friday13th 10.03.17	5:1
Jethro42 10.03.17	I agree with all you said about Harvest Moon, Friday. My favorite part is that saxophone riff accompanied by that simple piano note imposing the rhythm. It sounds like Seven Impale indeed. Excellent song! The sax is a good addition to the album. I also love the violin, especially in ''Walpurgi Flame'', song from which I could live without its first 5 minutes, a good one otherwise.
TheIntruder 10.04.17	I agree with almost all was said about both albums. I choose number 1, the album of Quarteto. Quarteto 4.5 and Mother Turtle 4.0.
Friday13th 10.04.17	6:1
TwigTW 10.04.17	You know that feeling... when you're 2-3 minutes into an album and you're all excited because you think you might love it... Listening to Mother Turtle for the first time and having that feeling... But I'm leery because you all seem to agree that the beginning is the best part.
Jethro42 10.04.17	For some reason, except for ''Harvest Moon'' which is an instant win, it takes time before really appreciating the songs. ''Walpurgi Flame'' has its moments, but it's lacking of meat. ''The Art of Ending a Revolution'' is also lacking of depth. Not many hooks in there, so you need several listens before ''getting'' them all. For me, in any case.
Mythodea 10.04.17	Mother Turtle's album has two faces. For some, it's meaty, for others, it's fatty. In any case, it seems that I lost to an opponent I appreciate and really liked, so there's really no loss here ;)
TwigTW 10.04.17	finished my first listen and I think you're right. Harvest Moon is great... not sure how I feel about the World Trade Center Tv audio in The Tower, but I'll sort it out with more listens.
Divaman 10.04.17	I actually liked the WTC stuff.
Friday13th 10.04.17	Reminded me of "The Great Debate" by DT, except tasteful haha
TwigTW 10.04.17	I found it riveting--so much so that I stopped listening to the music, lol. I think after another listen, or two, it will all come together for me . . . I've never heard "The Great Debate." I'll check it out if it's on Spotify.
SCREAM! 10.05.17	The ever constant struggle between consistency (1) vs better high points but with worse low points (2) Might need till the deadline to properly decide on this one
Divaman 10.05.17	For those who are interested, I just added a review of The Moody Blues album, "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour". Looking forward to prog day tomorrow.
bnelso55 10.05.17	The Overture/Harvest Moon combo on 2 is top-notch. So good. I like Ennui as a cooldown, too, but I find myself wishing they could retain the power and cleverness throughout the remainder of the record. There certainly are other high points, but nothing quite reaches the heights of the first 15-18 minutes, in my opinion.
bnelso55 10.05.17	Will check your review, Divaman. Thanks for the heads-up!
e210013 10.05.17	Thanks Diva for the information. I'm going to read your review soon as I can.
e210013 10.05.17	Probably I'm going to say many things already said by many of you, but still, I must say what I think about the albums, especially Mother Turtle's album, which I didn't know yet. Quarteto 1111 - Onde, Quando, Como, Porquê, Cantamos Pessoas Vivas: This is a classic album from the 70's that already stood the test of time. The album has good lyrics, made by a Portuguese poet, with lyrics that celebrates the life. It's all about the life of all human beings as a whole. Musically, it's a hymn to the use of the mellotron, which is perhaps the musical instrument that most can be associated to the prog rock music. This is one of the best examples of its use, a must for all mellotron lovers, especially for the lovers of the beggining of King Crimson. The album was made in the same vein of "Thick As A Brick" of Jethro Tull, in spirit but not in genre. It gradually becames a cult prog rock album, as happened with "10.000 Anos Depois Entre Vénus E Marte" of José Cid. It only lacks to it a remastered edition. Mother Turtle - II: The album opens nicely in a Gentle Giant's vocal style. Then they continue to the great highlight of the album. "Harvest Moon" is really a great track with also clear influences of King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator. It also reminds me Discipline, at times. This is one of the best tracks I've listened to in the last times. But unfortuntelly it doesn't last. The album gets slower and loses some quality. Especially on their lenghtiest track, "Walpurgi Flame", that it seems the band do not know where to hade to go. Sometimes it seems they became somehow lost and loses their identity. And I even don't know what are my feelings about "The Tower". But fortunatelly the things getting better with the last track. I think Mother Turtle has all the ingredients to be a great band but they need to increse the quality of their songwriting a bit more. Still, I must say that I was very impressed with this album. It's the best thing I've listened to here, besides the albums of Quarteto 1111 and 801, that I already knew and are classic albums. So, after all I said before, the natural thing to do will be to vote in the album of Quarteto 1111.
Friday13th 10.05.17	@Divaman, nice. Children's Children next? Haha that's my favorite after Days of Future Passed. 7:1
Divaman 10.05.17	Whenever I get back to the Moodies, it will probably be Seventh Sojourn. Unless I decide to take a step to the side and do Justin Hayward and John Lodge's Blue Jays, which is also possible.
Friday13th 10.05.17	Those are good too!
Frippertronics 10.05.17	will have my vote in tonight
bnelso55 10.05.17	Despite what I said earlier, I'm throwing a vote out for Mother Turtle. After further listening, I found some more to love in the album's latter half. Quarteto 1111 is an indisputable classic in my mind, but I've heard it many times before and I find that I'm currently a little more excited to have found something new with 2. What a tough round!
Friday13th 10.05.17	7:2
Sabrutin 10.05.17	I too vote for Quarteto. I really like the first half of II but at the moment I'm not really into the second half yet
Friday13th 10.05.17	8:2
TwigTW 10.05.17	This is tough. I'm liking them both very much.
SCREAM! 10.05.17	It think it's going to be quarteto for me as well although mother turtle was definitely no slouch. I've never given modern prog much attention and MT definitely showed me that there might have been a mistake
SCREAM! 10.05.17	Quarteto did have somewhat of an unfair advantage. Hard to get tired of a 30 min album ;)
Friday13th 10.05.17	9:2
Jethro42 10.05.17	True SCREAM, and Friday was right; There are not much variety for a 30 minute track.
SCREAM! 10.05.17	It was varied enough to keep me interested but had it gone on as long as mother turtle it might have started to run into some similar issues to that one for sure
Jethro42 10.06.17	''The Art of Ending a Revolution'' is better than I thought, but all like ''Walpurgi Flame'', it could have been a bit shorter.
TwigTW 10.06.17	I thought Quarteto 1111 had my vote at the beginning, but Mother Turtle II has really grown on me. I thought the middle of the album was a little light at first, but now that Walpurgi Flame is starting to rival Harvest Moon as my favorite track I've changed my mind. I like the theme of the album too. It is really thought provoking. I think the album is my favorite of the two, but it is a close race... My vote goes to Mother Turtle II.
Friday13th 10.06.17	9:3
Frippertronics 10.06.17	Quarteto 1111 ? yeah boooooooooooooi
Mythodea 10.06.17	I don't think I should vote, given that I already really love Mother Turtle so I can't be objective enough. Quarteto's album is wonderful, but I root more for 2. Don't wait for my vote.
Friday13th 10.06.17	Alright, well we have a few people left. I'm not gonna call it till the end of the day, but I'll put up the new one.
Divaman 10.06.17	You should still vote, Mythodea. Friday told us from the beginning that part of the rules was we are allowed to vote for our own pick, or to vote against it.
wham49 10.06.17	sorry super busy at work, my vote would not have done anything one way or the other, my bad, should open back up
Friday13th 10.06.17	Divaman: #1 Jethro: #1 Bgill: #1 Gentleman: #1 Friday: #2 Unique: #1 Intruder: #1 e21: #1 bnelso: #2 SCREAM: #1 Twig: #2 9:3
Friday13th 10.06.17	@wham you can still vote. Still waiting for you, Fripper, Sabrutin, Spaceman and Cusman. But yeah, it still wouldn't effect the outcome unless we get additional spectator votes.
Sabrutin 10.06.17	Hey you already counted me, the time you said 8:2
Mythodea 10.06.17	okay, then count me in for MT, if there's still time.
Friday13th 10.06.17	@Sabrutin my bad haha
Friday13th 10.06.17	Okay, fixed to now: Divaman: #1 Jethro: #1 Bgill: #1 Gentleman: #1 Friday: #2 Unique: #1 Intruder: #1 e21: #1 bnelso: #2 Sabrutin: #1 SCREAM: #1 Twig: #2 Mythodea: #2 9:4 Still waiting for wham, Fripper, Spaceman and Cusman
Sabrutin 10.06.17	P/
Friday13th 10.07.17	We still proggin'?
Frippertronics 10.07.17	i already voted
Friday13th 10.07.17	You call "yeah boi" a vote? haha 10:4
Friday13th 10.07.17	Alright, being as progday is almost over, I'm calling this one for Quarteto 1111, 10-4. Voting closed.
e210013 10.08.17	Yeah, the voting is closed. But I must say one more thing. I'm very glad that Mythodea have brought the album of Mother Turtle to this tournament. I became really impressed by it, despite some weaknesses in it. Still, this is a grower album on me. More I listen to it, more I like it. According to my ratings, I gave it a 4.0, for the first three rounds it's my third choice. I would have liked to see it on the next phase with Quarteto 1111 and the other albums. It's a pity that both albums couldn't passed to the next phase. Thanks Mythodea.
Friday13th 10.08.17	Yeah, both are some good stuff. Not a bad album thus far.
CusmanX1 10.09.17	Sorry guys I totally forgot. I'll try to give a full listen to II today just for curiosity, but I see my vote will not change anything. (Also I would probably have voted for Quarteto 1111)