Friday13th: Progday the 13th - Discovery M5

Friday13th 10.13.17	Happy Friday the 13th, my fellow proggers!
TwigTW 10.13.17	Happy prog day . . . Sputnik seems to be working again.
Jethro42 10.13.17	Happy 13th! Watch out where you put your feet, guys! Good day especially for you, Friday :)...Island looks intriguing. Will be progging asap. Happy prog day!
bnelso55 10.13.17	Yay prog day! I'm going to jump right in. The descriptions for these have piqued my interest.
TwigTW 10.13.17	It's definitely a grower Jethro... interested to hear what you think.
bgillesp 10.14.17	Happy Friday 13
wham49 10.14.17	I've watched most of the originals this week, F13-2 is one of the better slasher movies made. Dude in the wheelchair gets a machete to the face, classic kill scene
Divaman 10.14.17	Oh, hey, we're back. That's good news.
Divaman 10.14.17	For my fellow Jethro Tull fans, I saw Martin Barre and his band live this past Thursday night. Here's a list that gives the flavor of the event. If he comes to your town, I highly recommend seeing him. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?memberid=1085169&listid=177648
Divaman 10.14.17	Looking forward to getting started with this week's treats. As a keyboard lover (who particularly loves piano), this looks like it could be an especially good week.
Jethro42 10.14.17	Cheers Twig!
Jethro42 10.14.17	@Diva, did Barre include a flautist for the show?
Divaman 10.14.17	Nope. Just himself plus a singer/guitarist, bass player and drummer. It was a very guitar-centric show.
CusmanX1 10.15.17	Probably the most balanced match till this point. I already knew A Fury Of Glass, and now that I'm listening Pictures I could say that I'm really undecided.
Divaman 10.15.17	I agree, Cusman. After my first listen, for the first time, I'm not really leaning one way or the other. This is going to be tough.
Jethro42 10.15.17	Pictures is so hostile, even when they don't try to, it's always under tension. They rarely stay in one place long. They present complex, unpredictable song arrangements, and one would have the impression that something terrible is going to happen in every turns. Band is as eerie as Univers Zero (check out Heatwave), and as much under pressure as Miriodor, two RIO/Avant-prog bands. Pictures is original, anxious and uncompromising. It's well done prog with proficient musicians, but it's difficult to breathe in there.
Divaman 10.15.17	All I know is that I'm usually ready to vote by Monday. But after two listens of each, I can tell it's going to take a little longer this time.
Jethro42 10.16.17	A Fury of Glass highlights the singer who is as theatrical as Peter Hammill. Both vocals are very similar at times, but still more similarities reside in the vocals of The Waterboys. Speaking of them, A Fury of Glass is close to a folk rock album with both that piano leading the way and elsewhere the acoustic guitar, imposing the rhythm and supporting the words of the singer. Album is better than I thought initially.
Friday13th 10.16.17	Yeah, I'm gonna have to jam each at least once more to decide.
e210013 10.16.17	Sorry guys, but as I said, I was offline all weekend. Good happy Friday 13th week and nice prog work for all of us.
e210013 10.16.17	It's nice to know that Martin Barre is "alive and kicking", yet. Thanks for the information Diva. You're a lucky guy.
e210013 10.16.17	From what I could read, till now, these must be to very interesting and strange proposals. So, let's see both.
Sabrutin 10.16.17	I really liked Pictures on first listen. Very atmospheric. A forgotten classic perhaps
e210013 10.16.17	I think you're right, Sabrutin. But I must listen to it more times to have a final opinion.
TwigTW 10.16.17	"Hostile," I like that description! . . . I think of this as organized chaos. No matter how many times I listen to it, things do not fall neatly into place. It always sounds chaotic and unpredictable. There is the occasional recognizable melodic hook, or repeated vocal, But that only lasts for a moment. They give a brief reprieve, but then it is time to dive into the whirlwind once more...
TwigTW 10.16.17	...And A Fury Of Glass has a lot of 'noodling' too, but it is full of hooks and melodies. It's a good round for comparing and contrasting albums.
Jethro42 10.16.17	Yes, you nailed it. Album is an organized chaos, but sometimes it's downright dissonant. From the start, at any moment, I even expected to hear some metal passages. A lot is going on, and it's quite demanding. It often sounds like a collage of ideas. I wish they were more melodic like song ''Pictures'' where the vocal lines help to put things all together. My fave song has to be ''Zero'', probably the most ''normal'' one. It also contains the scariest part (right after ''Introduction'' oc) where we have the interplay, the building of the bass and the organ...It gets me everytime. Both albums are enticing for different reasons. Let see my preference...
Jethro42 10.16.17	By the way, I am aware that it was not Island's intention to be melodic in the first place, and they excell in the kind of chaos they experiment. They can do so much with only a few instruments. Their music speaks to me in a good measure. I feel that Fury of Glass would have been better if it was only vocals accompanied by piano to some extent, but it's just me.
Divaman 10.17.17	I'm finding that I'm not crazy about either of these albums. They each have their good points, but neither is really my cup of tea. I think i know which way I'm leaning now, but I need at least one more listen of each before I'm ready to vote.
TheIntruder 10.17.17	It seems I am the first to vote this time. Great. Two nice albums. One is really strange and original. Innovative at time, perhaps. My vote goes to that album, Pictures. A forgotten jewel.
Friday13th 10.17.17	0-1
bgillesp 10.17.17	Been a busy week but I should be able to get my opinions and a vote down tonight.
Friday13th 10.17.17	I'm voting Island too. It is very dark and unpredictable, but I like the rhythms and harmonies. As harmonically complicated as Gentle Giant at times, but throws in a variety of influences from VDGG, ELP, Frank Zappa, various RIO and Zeuhl bands, etc. La Rossa was good. Like a Neo-prog VDGG/ELP, and sometimes there were some great rhythmic piano lines. It just never mesmerized me. 0-2
Divaman 10.17.17	I'll vote for La Rossa. I like the piano and organ at many points during the album, especially during pieces like "To the Life". Not thrilled when it gets really weird, as in "This Unbreakable," but on the whole, I found it less irritating than the Island album. I liked little pieces of "Island", like the weird opening noises, and the point during "Pictures" when it sounds like renaissance music. But this one was just too harsh and atonal, especially about midway through the last track, when it sounded like a bizarro-world version of ELP's "Tarkus". I listened to these two albums five times apiece, and I found that I liked them less the more often I listened.
Divaman 10.17.17	I DO like the artwork on that Islands album, though.
Friday13th 10.17.17	1-2
TwigTW 10.17.17	Yeah, that's a nice cover. Like Friday said, it's by H.R. Giger. It's not the only connection to Alien. I read that the short (30 second) vocal intro to the album resembles the Alien soundtrack and was included to honor it. Edit: ...and apparently La Rossa is named after a song from VDGG's Still Life album.
TwigTW 10.17.17	Island made me think of Tarkus too, Diva.
Divaman 10.17.17	Interesting. Now that you mention it, yeah, I can hear how that intro on the Islands album sounds sort of like the Alien soundtrack.
Papa Universe 10.17.17	La Rossa gets my vote
TwigTW 10.17.17	I like the way A Fury Of Glass finishes better than it starts. The boogie-woogie piano in Cozy Chute annoys me, but I love Chimera Chill. Overall, I’d say it’s a nice example of classic era prog (even if it missed the 70s by a couple of years). I like the madness of Pictures. Do I need 100 albums like this--no, but I’m glad this one exists. It’s challenging, but I discover something new every time I listen. It’s an outstanding ride. I love it! I’m confused as to whether we vote in our own rounds or not, but if we do... I vote for Pictures.
Divaman 10.17.17	If I understand Friday's rules correctly, yes, we can vote in our own rounds.
Jethro42 10.17.17	Since day one, I think the drummer of La Rossa doesn't have a good dynamic with his instrument. His performances are samey, and I guess he's not comfortable. He seems to be nervous, not relax. That's the main reason why I said that I would prefer seeing the singer in duo with the pianist, or surrounded by acoustic instruments and doing folk rock instead of prog. It's my two cents. ''Glassleaves'' is my favorite of A Fury of Glass. I tried hard to like the album more, but my vote goes to Island. It's a beast to tame, it's scary and cahotic, but it's organized chaos. Musicians' interplay are clever, and I'm sure band would have been good at making metal music to an extent. Any kind of music except normal music. My vote goes to Island.
Friday13th 10.18.17	2-4
bgillesp 10.18.17	The triangle solo early in Pictures is almost an exact prototype for the triangle solo on the last track of At The Mountains of Madness by Electric Masada
bgillesp 10.18.17	I think I'm gonna have to give my vote to Island this round. It was a close one this time, but its got a bit more going for it I think.
Friday13th 10.18.17	2-5
e210013 10.18.17	I never heard nothing about La Rossa, but I read many things about Island, praising their album. So, I was curious about the first one and very curious about the second one. Here is what I think about both. La Rossa - A Fury Of Glass: "A Fury Of Glass" is a very eclectic album with music influenced by Van Der Graff Generator, Yes, Gentle Giant and above all, Emerson Lake & Palmer, as well classical music. The name of the band, La Rossa, wasn't certainly a coincidence. The influences of Yes, or if you prefer, the influences of Rick Wakeman are very clear, especially on the first track. I can see also influences of Triumvirat, which isn't strange. The vocals, sometimes reminds me Eloy, due to the German accent. In general the tracks aren't very long. The short pieces contain nice piano parts and the long pieces have some really great and intricate, instrumental parts. The great highlight on the album is "Faces We Move", which is a great track. These guys deserve certainly some praise for putting up a competitive prog album in 1983. So, I rated it with a 4.0. Island - Pictures: "Pictures" is an album influenced by many and varied music styles, such as Canterbury scene, jazz rock/fusion and RIO Avant/Prog. This is also an album deeply influenced for some of the best and most charismatic prog bands of the 70's. The main influence is from Van Der Graaf Generator. If we take a look to the line up of the band we can clearly see it. They are also four and they have no guitars and bass. They have saxes and flutes and the keyboardist also plays bass pedals. The influences of Gentle Giant are pretty obvious, especially in terms of vocals. The King Crimson influences are evident, especially due to their album "Islands". Perhaps the name of the band wasn't a coincidence. We can also see influences from Emerson, Lake & Palmer on the keyboards. However, we can't say that "Pictures" is a clone of those bands. The band was able to have a very own and original identity. This is an album with long tracks and without weak points. I must confess that I was blown away with "Pictures". It surpasses all my expectations. I listened to the album four times and it never ceased to impresses me and grows in me with the auditions. This is almost a perfect album, a real forgotten and hidden jewel that needs to be discovered. It's a pity that they have made only this album. So, I rated it with a 4.5. P.S. Finally, one more thing: The cover of the album was made by the Swiss artist Giger. He made the cover for "Brain Salad Surgery" and was the man who made all the sceneries from "Alien". I love this cover. It was perfect for this album. So, for all I wrote before, my vote goes to "Pictures".
Friday13th 10.18.17	2-6
bnelso55 10.18.17	Here’s one for La Rossa. Not an easy decision as “Pictures” is brilliant. I think “A Fury of Glass” just appeals more to my sensibilities at this point in time. Killer match-up!
Friday13th 10.18.17	3-6
Mythodea 10.19.17	La Rossa's pianist is superb, I can hear the guy playing all day. Compositionally wise, it's a wild ride, too. I have mixed feelings for the vocals, which sound a bit off at times. It took me ages to find the whole album (used a Youtube Proxy site to find it), and it's definitely a nice gem, the walking bass on The Unbreakable is just spot on. An album I could certainly listen all day. It will probably get better in time. Pictures on the other hand, is an album which caught my attention from the beginning, Zero being a great song and saxophone bits hitting hard, but I tend to lose interest towards the end. Great atmosphere and production but sometimes it feels too familiar for its own good. My vote goes to La Rossa.
Friday13th 10.19.17	Intruder: #2 Friday: #2 Divaman: #1 Universe: #1 Twig: #2 Jethro: #2 bgillesp: #2 e21: #2 bnelso: #1 Mythodea: #1 4-6
Friday13th 10.19.17	Outcome is still fair game, and we need votes from Gentleman, SCREAM, Fripper, Sabrutin, Spaceman, wham, and Cusman.
Sabrutin 10.19.17	It's a tough decision. La Rossa can feel samey but it's always enjoyable and I love how drenched it is with piano. I also dig the singer's eccentricity. However Pictures is really entertaining, a lot of fun. Also it hits me in the right place with its brand of disquieting atmosphere
Mythodea 10.19.17	Dunno, didn't find it so disquieting, maybe the first two minutes.
Sabrutin 10.19.17	It's not scary but I'd definitely use words like nervous and sinister to describe it. By the way, has anyone heard the bonus track Empty Bottles (I have not)? It's ~24 minutes long and it's included in every CD edition of the album
Friday13th 10.19.17	Nah, haven't heard the bonus track. Is it good?
CusmanX1 10.20.17	My vote goes to La Rossa. I love the rough sound of their album. If you keep the time they're clearly following the tempo, but there is something, fews and almost imperceptible rythmic mistakes that make the album sounds incredibly raw and genuine.
Friday13th 10.20.17	^ nice haha, I like the positive spin on the rythmic variance. Goes to show tastes can vary dramatically. 5-6 Happy progday, y'all. We definitely need all votes this round, but I'll still post the new match anyways in a few hours. We need votes from Gentleman, SCREAM, Fripper, Sabrutin, Spaceman, and wham.
TwigTW 10.20.17	Happy Progday!
e210013 10.20.17	Yeah, happy progday. Guys, it's time to vote. I'm very curious about the next round, and this one isn't, apparently, yet decided.
wham49 10.20.17	gotta be Island
Frippertronics 10.20.17	same here, Island plus that Giger cover, man
Jethro42 10.20.17	Happy progday! Ingranaggi Della Valle is soon going to pop up, I guess.
e210013 10.20.17	I'm really very curious, after all what you wrote about it.
Jethro42 10.20.17	I could see you digging that band for sure, e21. I can add that they have something similar to Anekdoten. They make me think of Pulsar too, but less spacey; they are rocking more. I invite you to check out their debut album too. In that one, they inject a bit of well done jazz rock, with a lot of violin.
Friday13th 10.20.17	5-8 Waiting on Gentleman, SCREAM, Sabrutin, and Spaceman.
e210013 10.20.17	I'm even more enthusiastic, Jethro. As you know I love Pulsar and Anekdoten too. And as you know too, I'm a tronmaniac.
Sabrutin 10.20.17	I'm sorry Rossa, but I have to vote for Island. Pictures is probably my favorite album of the tournament so far. And I haven't heard the bonus epic yet, but the folks at progarchives say that it rules hard with a jamming feel. tl;dr: Pictures
e210013 10.20.17	I also haven't heard the bonus epic yet Sabrutin, but for what I has read it's a track with a jamming feel, really. You showed great courage as Friday 13th. Nice.
Sabrutin 10.20.17	I have to say, I wasn't a hardcore fan of La Rossa. I picked it because I do think that it's a very cool album and it deserves more love, but I didn't really take "sides" before the match started like I did in the last tournament
e210013 10.20.17	And I'm glad you did it. The album is really good and deserves more love. Personally I had never heard nothing about it. So, thanks.
Friday13th 10.20.17	5-9 haha my voting for Mathematical Mother wasn't really courage. I could see the writing on the wall haha. This one is a close match, though.
TwigTW 10.21.17	Is this round still in dispute? gastric juices... gastric juices... gastric! juices!
SCREAM! 10.21.17	Sorry for the lateness man, been a busy week here. If it isn't too late imma throw in my vote for 2 as well. 1 starts off really strong but didn't manage to hold my interest the whole way through the couple of times I listened to it. I found 2 much more interesting overall
TwigTW 10.21.17	By the way... Here is a link to the long version of Pictures that includes the bonus track you guys were talking about. The bonus track starts @ 49:00 . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVYgzHwSMKo
Friday13th 10.21.17	5-10 Alright, I think SCREAM's vote is dispositive. I'm gonna call this one for Island, and voting is over. We haven't heard from Gentleman and (especially) Spaceman in a while. You guys out there?
e210013 10.22.17	Thanks for the information Twig. I'm very curious about that track.
TwigTW 10.22.17	I like it e21. It's a bit tamer than Pictures, but very nice.
Sabrutin 10.22.17	Thanks Twig! A somewhat "relaxing" piece, I think it wouldn't have really fit if it was included in the original album instead of another track. It does very well its job of bonus content I'd say
Jethro42 10.22.17	Very nice jam, Twig! Thanks! It's true, it doesn't fit in the album, but it's easily my favorite of the bunch. Love its jam nature. Great interplay, light and moving... Really well done!
TwigTW 10.22.17	Yeah, I agree. It doesn't really fit in with Pictures, but it's very nice. Bonus tracks weren't really a thing in the 70s, so I'm wondering if it was recorded to be a part of their next (never released) album?
Sabrutin 10.22.17	Sadly Discogs says "origin unknown" about Empty Bottles. However by browsing that site I just discovered that the album was recorded in Milan, sweet
TwigTW 10.22.17	...and it has a name, "Empty Bottles." I didn't know that.
Sabrutin 10.23.17	Thanks Twig for exposing me to Pictures, I love it. I'll drop a 4.0 on it right now
Friday13th 04.13.18	Once again, it is Friday the 13th, and this time it's actually my birthday today :} For those wondering, my birthday is the reason for my username. Figured it was an opportune time to say "prog on" and give the heads up: I'll likely start another prog tourney in late May/early June.
MrSirLordGentleman 04.13.18	At first I was like "OwO what's this, a new prog tournament" but then I was like "aww" Anyway, happy birthday bro!
manosg 04.13.18	Happy birthday dude! Would love to participate on the next tourney if time allows it.
TwigTW 04.13.18	I had the same reaction as MrSirLordGentleman, lol. Happy Birthday, Friday!
Friday13th 04.13.18	Thanks guys, sorry for disappointing! Patience ;)
bgillesp 04.13.18	Smae. Happy birthday though! Looking forward to the next one!
Jethro42 04.13.18	Happy birthday Friday. I'm aware about the next prog tourney being end May debut June since you announced me that the other day. I can't wait. Annnd it's also my birthday but shhht, don't tell anyone.
Friday13th 04.13.18	No freaking way, Jethro! Well happy birthday to you too! Somehow I knew we were always connected at the hip haha
manosg 04.13.18	Talking about a coincidence! Of course, I assume that Jethro is a lot younger than Friday :) Happy bday Jethro!
Jethro42 04.13.18	Yessss Friday brother! The ''13th'' of your name always evoked me my birthday ;) Let's celebrate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erOcHXaIZhA @manosg, thank you mate! And I assume Friday could be my son lol!
TheSpaceMan 04.13.18	Happy birthday man
Jethro42 04.13.18	You mean happy birthday men :) Thanks dude!
SCREAM! 04.13.18	Aw man, I already have ideas for the next tourney too! haha Happy birthday guys!
manosg 04.13.18	"Let's celebrate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erOcHXaIZhA" I guessed the song name but missed the artist - thought it was the Kool & The Gang version haha.
Jethro42 04.13.18	Thank you SCREAM! Noooooo manos! It had to be prog!!!
e210013 04.13.18	Happy birthday, a bit late but happy birthday. Let's celebrate and wait for the next tournament. Cheers.
Jethro42 04.14.18	Thank you e21, bro!
Friday13th 05.26.18	WHO IS READY FOR A PROG TOURNEY?
TwigTW 05.26.18	Yes!
Jethro42 05.26.18	Guess who...
Friday13th 05.26.18	I'm thinking we'll start this Monday, memorial day. Get ready!
e210013 05.26.18	I hope I'm absolutely prepared for my second experience. The last and first one was absolutely memorable, indeed. I chosen already my knight. So, I'm anxious by next monday. Let's start it.
bgillesp 05.27.18	Woohoo!!
Friday13th 05.27.18	XD chyaaa booooiii
TwigTW 05.27.18	trying to remember... is it albums with 20 or less votes, or 25?
Friday13th 05.27.18	@Twig Same as last one, so the rule is "fewer than 30 votes" i.e. up to 29
bgillesp 05.27.18	Hmm, which Triana do I pick? Can we start today?
SharkTooth 05.27.18	my body is ready
Sabrutin 05.27.18	Very busy moment but 2 albums per week maybe isn't too much mmmmm
Papa Universe 05.27.18	can I throw my pick your way right now or should I wait?
Friday13th 05.27.18	@bgill love Triana, especially the debut. @Universe you can ask if something will work, but I expect you to give it to me tomorrow once the list is up.
Papa Universe 05.27.18	well, it's something under 10 or so votes and prog tagged, right? then my pick should be fine
Friday13th 05.27.18	yup should be good
Friday13th 05.28.18	Let the games begin