How could I miss this album when it was released last year? This is actually an album that has it all, great songs and melodies, excellent musicians, great vocals, splendid production, good lyrics and an absolutely loving cover by no one else than Roger Dean. This American act is heavily centred around former Cathedral keyboardist Todd Braverman. The album has a total of ten compositions and seven of them lie in or around the ten-minute mark. Their influences seems to be many, Yes, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and maybe even eighties bands like Pallas, IQ and Marillion. The lead vocals are taken care off by Goose and Ian Goldman and they both sing really great. The album is to good to be true and therefore I choose to not say anymore. Ad Infinitum is so great that I even have to change my top list for 1998. Please, please, please buy the album!!! (review by Stefan Polzer)

Canada often comes up with interesting and extremely skilful and professional bands, and that my friends is also the case with Agent Cooper's self-titled debut album. The four-piece gives us an interesting blend of styles that they have blended together and really created something original. Here we have heavier power-pop á la Live as well as lighter power-pop á la Matchbox 20. And like true Canadians they also have added a touch of lighter prog á la Saga and heavier prog á la Rush. I also sense some Beatles in the melodies, and the harmonies remind a little of what often could be heard in American progressive rock bands in the seventies. I sure have mentioned a bunch of great bands here, but believe me when I say that Agent Cooper with their distinctive sound are just as great as any of those, and I am pretty sure of that Agent Cooper will be up there and challenge the big ones. I'm also certain that they will produce even better albums in the future. So whatever you do, don't miss this extraordinary band. (review by Stefan Polzer)

What an amazing album. This five piece has created a crossover between light prog / symph music (replaces the expression “Neo-Prog”) and soft pomp / AOR. They have a very clean sound with great vocals and choirs. There are elements of Flower Kings, Mad Tea Party and a softer version of A.C.T. It's all very recognisable, but at the same time they have their unique musical style. I really like this album a lot and will definitely keep an eye on them in the future. Buy the album and fall in love.
(review by Olov Andersson)

Second album from this talented keyboardplayer from Argentina. As on his debut "Pasaje a la revelacion" we get fine symphonic rock with influences from masters Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Vito Litale. Most of the album is instrumental but here and there nicely interrupted by short parts of nice and mellow vocals. If you are into keyboard based symphrock with all the usual ingredients (lots of moogs, organs, etc) then I do not hesitate to recommend a try on this one.
(review by Hansi Cross)

From my own hometown Borlänge comes one of Sweden's most well known progressive acts today. They started as a trio under the name of King Edward and played nothing but King Crimson covers. However, cellist and singer Ann-Sofi Dahlberg saw them at their only concert, they joined forces and Anekdoten was born. So far three studio records have been made and this, their third is up to date their best. Musically there's no doubt that King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator must be their strongest influences but they do have a style of their own. It's like they have continued where their influences stopped in the 70's. With lots of Fripp-ish guitar playing from Nicklas Berg and mellotrons made by Ann-Sofi and Nicklas they really do sound like they still we're in the 70's. Drummer Peter Nordins and bass player/singer Jan-Erik Liljeström plays tightly together and the band feels like a real unit. "From within" is one of my favourite albums made by Swedes all times and I don't think I can recommend this album enough. But to you who's deep down in some kind of depression maybe shouldn't let this album get anywhere near your stereo since Anekdoten really likes to play in very dark moods at times. But I like it…and I'm not depressed, yet.
(review Göran Johnsson)

In times when progmetal acts tend to sound quite the same this extremely nice debut album enters the scene. Here we got real heavy guitars playing some not that common licks twisting and turning very nicely around the very fine keyboardwork on top of a tight bass and drum unit. We also get no less than 2 well singing and interesting female vocalists with a cool attitude and also doing some very fine harmony vocalising from time to time. Compositions are both interesting and well put together. Arrangements and production are definitely to my liking on most part of the album. It has some dips towards the end but most of it is really no less than excellent. A debut that is almost a classic that I surely will play a lot while looking forward to the follow-up that most likely can be a true classic.
(review by Hansi Cross)

Atmospheric gothrock with influences from Dead Can Dance and The Cure in a modern outfit, with traces of, for instance, Nine Inch Nails thrown in. Layers of melancholic keyboard sounds blended with heavy (almost) metal guitars and 80's sounding bass is perfectly backing up the beautiful voice of Medeah. Atmosphere here is overall quite dark but there's no growling monster voices or anything like that here. It is beautiful in a kind of sad and melancholic way. It also gets quite pompous at times. Very strong it is.

This is the polish version (which I personally think is a bit more interesting) but if you believe you would have a hard time with lyrics sung in Polish there's also an English version available.

I've been interested in this act quite a while but there's not been that easy to get hold of their albums and when I finally got it in my CD player I must say that I really love this and if you enjoy dark and atmospheric rock I strongly recommend this one.
(review by Hansi Cross)

Here we have well played and well composed melodic progrock with strong vocals and skilled musicians that should strongly appeal to fans of Sylvan, Knight Area, and perhaps Arena. This band plays from the heart. A very nice high quality album!
(review by Hansi Cross)

If you were wondering about what Tony Banks has been up to since the last Genesis album, here's a brand new album from our hero. For the first time he has entered the field of classical music and he has written 7 pieces and the recorded them together with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mike Dixon. The result is a beautiful, romantic and warm album with lots of his trademark sense for melody and suspense. This first effort in the classical field is a modern masterpiece and a must for his old fans as well as the classical listeners.
(review by Olov Andersson)

The CD-cover looks dull but don't let that fool you. This CD contains happy, complex, instrumental prog-music. Very varied compositions, sometimes leaning towards classical music and it's an excellent performance from these italian musicians. If you're into good instrumental prog/symph, this will be one of your best purchases this year.
(review by Olov Andersson)

I want to make you all aware of Blue Shift and their brilliant album "Not The Future I Ordered". Their main influences is without doubt British acts like Yes and Genesis, but they perform their songs in a more typical American way like for instance Spock's Beard, Glass Hammer and Crucible. Maybe not as well produced as those three, but just as good and Blue Shift will definitely attract those who are in to any of those bands just mentioned. Vocalist Stewart Meredith has a voice that really reminds of Jon Anderson. He has exactly the same voice as Nikki Squire (ex-wife of Chris Squire) who once sang in the group Esquire.
(review by Stefan Polzer)

After 20 years of pop and "half hearted" records the legend David Bowie is back with an album that leave you with a smile on your face. In my opinion that hasn't happened since 1980's "Scary monsters" even if there are some good moments on his pop records from the 80's. My strongest impression is that Bowie has grown up. His voice sounds very mature and gives a very confident impression. Most of the songs have a nice relaxed feeling and Bowie uses a lot of background sounds to keep the listener interested during the whole album. This time he has also once again worked with his long time friend Tony Visconti and that really make it's mark on the whole production. Of course he's not as experimental as he was on his "German period" but still that's the period that comes closest to mind. Bowie has found himself again and it feels like he's very aware of what he's doing instead of moving in different directions like I think he has done on some of his latest albums. When the first track on the album, "Sunday", fades out, I know you really want to hear the rest of it.
(review by Göran Johnsson)

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