Music reviews

Progressive years...

Progressive rock developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s in an attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility. The term was initially applied to the music of bands such as Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Except for Jethro Tull with the opener Cross eyed Mary, these bands are not represented in this two-CD album. The first CD contains mainly classic prog bands from the 70s and the second CD concentrates on tracks that go right up to present day. Some of the younger breed of newer progressive artistes are included as well as original legends of the genre — Barclay James Harvest (Mocking bird), Van Der Graaf Generator (Darkness), Steve Hackett (Ace of wands), contemporary stars like Oceansize (Trail of fire), The Flower Kings (Monkey business) and The Tangent (A crisis in mid life).

Michael Patrao

Changing pace

This album is an affirmation that The Black Keys is serious about rock. El Camino certainly takes the band out of its comfort zone. El Camino strikes the listener with the rock-duo’s signature elements, and some clarity of tunes picked up from their other album — Rubber Factory — although several of the songs in this set are curiously fast-paced. Lonely Boy is an energetic song that you may find yourself dancing to, which could be unusual if you’re not much of a dancer or if you didn’t think dance music was the norm for The Black Keys. Little Black Submarines is proof of a change of pace. While it is a slower track, there is tons of acoustic guitar to be enjoyed. A stellar addition is Money Maker. Feisty guitar riffs and a haunting voice. A thoroughly enjoyable album — feel free to hit the ‘repeat’ button on a few numbers at least.

Soumya M Nair