Music From Time And Space Vol. 60

SPIDERGAWD - No Man's Land (3:52)
Album: III (2016)
Label/Distribution: Crispin Glover/Stickman/Soulfood
www.spidergawd.no

Spidergawd were more than just a motor psycho side project from the beginning, even though half of the quartet consists of Norwegian Trondheim motor psycho members (Bent Saether on bass and Kenneth Kapstad on drums). Spidergawd are a vehicle in their own right, as in the furious "No Man's Land".

GREENLEAF - Howl (5:25)
Album: Rise Above The Meadow (2016)
Label/Distribution: Napalm/Universal
www.napalmrecords.com

After 16 years of band/project history, the former side project in the Dozerunstkreis has long since become an independent force. Whether violent and heavy or even a bit more playful, as in the sampler track, the Swedes prove that on their sixth longplayer the Swedes have never been so impressive.

MAGNUM - Crazy Old Mothers (5:40)
Album: Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies (2016)
Label/Distribution: Steamhammer/SPV
www.magnumonline.co.uk

The fantasy cover by Rodney Matthews could indicate that the Middle English quintet Magnum has kept everything the same. But that's only part of the truth. As the sampler track proves, they don't reinvent themselves but still write essential epic-melodic rock songs.

KULA SHAKER - Infinite Sun (4:26)
Album: K 2.0 (2016)
Label/Distribution: Strangefolk/ADA/Warner
www.kulashaker.co.uk

The comeback album of the British band astonishes with a mixture of wonderful melodies, 60s vibe, diversity and a good deal of experimentation. The India friends around bandleader Crispian Mills are definitely on the right track again, as the opener "Infinite Sun" proves.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA - Funky 15 (5:07)
Album: Via Zammata' (2016)
Label/Distribution: Megaforce/Soulfood
www.dweezilzappaworld.com

DWEEZIL ZAPPA presents itself on "Via Zammata'" as a master of many styles. From hard rock parodies and power pop to orchestral experiments, there's plenty to discover here. The theme of "Funky 15" evokes memories of "Peaches En Regalia", one of the most famous titles of Dweezil's famous father Frank.

LAZULI - Le Lierre (5:47)
Album: Nos Âmes Saoules (2016)
Label/Distribution: Lazuli Music/Just For Kicks
www.lazuli-music.com

Looking away is not an alternative. That's why the French ethno proggers LAZULI have recorded their most political album to date with "Nos Âmes Saoules", on which they unequivocally present their pacifist and liberal world view. "Le Lierre" is a blazing plea to become active oneself.

FREQUENCY DRIFT - Treasured (8:23)
Album: Last (2016)
Label/Distribution: Gentle Art Of Music/Soulfood
www.gentleartofmusic.com

The folk- and classically inspired art rock of the Bayreuth sextet FREQUENCY DRIFT has become even more mysterious due to the vocal lines of the new front woman Melanie Mau as well as the increased use of harp and unusual keyboard sounds. "Last" is an excellent magical dream trip.

HUXLEY WOULD APPROVE - Flowers (9:16)
Album: Grave New World - Part One (2016)
Label/Distribution: huxleywouldapprove.com/Just For Kicks
www.huxleywouldapprove.com

We're walking around like smombies. Prog/Artrock have always adopted great concepts, often utopias critical of the future. Now this German/Canadian group, named after one of the great science fiction authors, is doing the same. Music is played in the spirit of Roger Waters. Big head movie.

JOE VOLK - Bampfylde Moore Carew (5:29)
Album: Happenings And Killings (2016)
Label/Distribution: Glitterhouse/Indigo
www.joevolk.co.uk

The ex-Crippled Black Phoenix singer transports his enigmatic lyrics - at the opener the lyrics circle around an English vagabond who lived in the 18th century - by means of soft acoustic guitar sounds. These are carefully supplemented by samples or a harmonium and in one case even by an entire orchestra.

HORIZONTAL ASCENSION - The Shadowlands (14:57)
Album: Horizontal Ascension (2016)
Label/Distribution: Mindmovie Music Service/mindmovie.org
www.mindmovie.org

The combination of prog, targeted rock and metal ingredients and jazz is becoming more and more trend-setting. In this respect, the masterminds of Mindmovie and Marquette make music of the future. A merger of the 21st century. Crazy sounds go together with sophisticated vocal arrangements. Several longtracks enchant with many hooks.