Some of my readers may know me by my real name – Raffaella Berry, formerly associated with two well-known progressive rock sites, but now happily launched on a ‘solo’ career as a reviewer of all kinds of progressive music, from classic prog to anything else that might fall under that umbrella.
Even though my approach to music is an impressionistic one (I am not a practicing musician, and never have been), I have always been an avid listener, and can claim to have a good knowledge of many musical genres. In the past few years I have made a reputation for myself as a fair- and open-minded reviewer – someone who will always show respect to musicians, no matter how much she might dislike an album.
Each and every one of my reviews is a labour of love, written after having carefully listened to the material, as well as having done extensive research on the artists involved. Therefore, I hope that anyone who reads my reviews will find them useful as a guide for their musical explorations, and that the artists about whose work I have written will see their vision reflected in my words.
Hi! I’m and indie recording artist, and I’d like to submit my latest album to your site for a review.
My music is edgy, political prog rock. An unusual niche to occupy – and pull off convincingly. I’d be happy to hear your feedback!
Here is my latest album america’d, released Dec 4 this year:
http://bensommer.com/content/america039d-1
The full MP3 download:
http://bensommer.com/music/bensommer_americad.zip
My biography: http://bensommer.com/bio
My e-press kit: http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=293703
Thank!
[…] About June 2010 5 […]
Hi – just following up with you Ms. Mistress! Have you had a chance to listen to my music – and if so do you like it enough to feature it?
Thanks!
~Ben Sommer
Hello Ben, sorry for not having responded to you earlier, but I have been back on US soil for only a week, and it took me a while to recover from the 10-hour flight and general change of climate and atmosphere. I’ll make sure to listen to your music ASAP, and tell you at least my impressions.
No worries! Let me know if you need anything – CD mailed to you etc.
Best
~Ben
ITALY progregwalker@sprynet.com This guy sells lots of prog.
AKROASIS – I RACCONTI DEL MARE $18 Instrumental progressive folk rock. Kind of reminds me of Celeste but with a Celtic edge to it. Gorgeous stuff!
AREA – THE ESSENTIAL BOX SET COLLECTION (ARBEIT MACHT FREI, CAUTION RADIATION AREA, CRAC!, ARE(A)ZIONE, MALEDETTI, EVENT ‘76) (6 CD BOX SET + BOOK + PHOTO CARD) $80
BREZNEV FAN CLUB – L’ONDA VERTEBRATA: LOST + FOUND VOL. 1 (+ 2 BONUS TRACKS) (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $20 Fantastic mix of prog, jazz, classical and RIO http://www.myspace.com/roccolomonaco
CONQUEROR – SPRAZZI DI LUCE (EP) $12 http://www.myspace.com/conqueror1
COURT – FROST OF WATERMELON $16 After two years of trying I finally scored copies of this great prog album http://www.myspace.com/courtband
DELIRIUM – DOLCE ACQUA (REMASTERED) (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $20 70’s prog classics http://www.myspace.com/deliriumitaly
– LO SCEMO E IL VILLAGGIO (REMASTERED) (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $20
EUTHYMIA – L’ULTIMA ILLUSIONE $18 Amazing concept symph/prog with male/female vocals and loads of keyboards. A masterpiece! http://www.myspace.com/progettoeuthymia
EXPOSURENSEMBLE – GRUNT 223 (DELUXE CARDBOARD PACKAGE) $20 Instrumental prog/jazz with a free-floating, dreamy feel. Fantastic! http://exposurensemble.blogspot.com/
MASCHERA DI CERA, LA – SAME (REMASTERED + 4 BONUS TRACKS) (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $20 New issue! http://www.myspace.com/mascheradicera
NEW TROLLS – ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES (SENZA ORARIO SENZA BANDIERA/SAME/CONCERTO GROSSO PER I/ALDEBARAN/F.S.) (5 CD MINI LP SLEEVE BOX SET) $38
NOSTRO CANTO LIBERO, IL – SAMSARA $16 Prog rock tribute to Lucio Battisti. Features Aldo Tagliapietra from Le Orme
OSANNA – PALEPOLI (REMASTERED) (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $20 New issues of prog essentials http://www.myspace.com/osannamusic
– LANSCAPE OF LIFE (REMASTERED) (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $20
PANDORA – SEMPRE E OVUNQUE OLTRE IL SOGNO (ITALIAN MINI LP SLEEVE) $18 Brilliant new album! http://www.myspace.com/pandoramusica
PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI (PFM) – AMICO FABER (CANTA DE ANDRE CD + CANTA DE ANDRE DVD + A.D. 2010 – LA BUONA NOVELLA CD) (DELUXE DIGIPACK + BOOKLET + PHOTO CARDS) $35
PROGRESSIVE ITALIA – GLI ANNI ‘70 VOL. 7 (MAURIZIO FABRIZIO – AZZURRI ORIZZONTI, FRANCESCA MESSINA – MEDIO OCCIDENTE, LATTE E MIELE – PAPILLON (ENGLISH VERSION), GINO D’ELISO – SANTI ED EROI, ERMANNO DE BIAGI – L’ALBERO DELLA PAZZIA, SARO LIOTTA – LA SEDUZIONE) (LIMITED EDITION REMASTERED 6 CD CARDBOARD SLEEVE BOX SET) $45
– GLI ANNI ‘70 VOL. 8 (GENS – SAME, MAURO PANSERI – SULLA SPIAGGIA D’INVERNO, MAURIZIO FABRIZIO – PRIMO, GIANNI BONFIGLIO – LUCI SPENTE A TESTACCIO, I NUOVI ANGELI – STASERA CLOWNS, LA STANZA DELLA MUSICA – SAME) (LIMITED EDITION REMASTERED 6 CD CARDBOARD SLEEVE BOX SET) $45
SYNDONE – MELAPESANTE $18 New album after years of silence
WATCH, THE – TIMELESS (DIGIPACK) $17 New album is here! http://www.myspace.com/thewatchmusic
Yes, Greg Walker is a huge fan of Italian prog, and last November he went to Rome for the Prog Exhibition – a 2-day event dedicated to progressive rock. By the way, we own a few of the albums listed…
I have several originals, too, but I wouldn’t want anyone stealing them off the Net!
Hi,
I was wondering if you would consider giving our band, Dead Sea Apes, a listen.
We have our new EP posted at:
http://deadseaapes.bandcamp.com/
If you like it, and would like a free download – or any other info (bio etc.), just drop us a line
Many Thanks
Brett
http://www.deadseaapes.com
Thanks a lot! I’ll gladly listen to your EP, and give you some feedback. Thanks again for stopping by!
Hi progmistress
I just found your blog today and I’m heartily impressed by your wonderful work. I’m a reviewer too (at DPRP.net) and it’s reassuring and inspiring to find such impressive, detailed writing being done to support progressive artists. Following you now 🙂
Just for the sake of interest, here’s a link to my review for Djam Karet’s Heavy Soul Sessions, if you’d like to read it 🙂
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/201107.php#djam
Cheers
Jon
Thank you very much for the kind words, Jon! I visit DPRP regularly, and always read the reviews of the albums I have reviewed myself – it’s like a sounding board for me! Therefore, I read your review of The Heavy Soul Sessions a few days ago, and found it excellent. Looking forward to reading more from you, and seeing you around!
Hox Vox is a multimedia brand (music, videoclips, graphics), started in 2008, by me, Hox (b. Gianluca Missero, in Venezia, Italy).
Influences are The Residents, Frank Zappa, Cardiacs, Mike Patton, John Zorn, Pere Ubu, Gentle Giant, Can & Les Claypool.
The music environment is RIO / progressive rock, as a container for almost any genre, often mixing many of them in a single track. I play bass (for both bass & guitar parts), keyboard & occasional vocals.
WEBSITE
http://www.missero.it/hoxvox/
BANDCAMP
http://hoxvox.bandcamp.com/
JAMENDO
http://www.jamendo.com/en/artist/Hox_Vox
YOUTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/user/hoxvoxbox
Hey,
Great article on the NF cancellation and the state of the prog festival scene. However, there are a few inaccuracies. If you’d like to chat sometime about it all, I’d be glad to do so.
Sincerely,
Chad Hutchinson
NEARfest Co-founder
Hi Raffaella!
I am writing to present myself as an independent Progressive Rock musician. My name is Fernando Refay, I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina and have been playing piano/keyboards for many years, both as a classical musician and later on as a Jazz Fusion/Prog Rock artist.
I am a founding member of Prog Rock band SILION ZELF (www.myspace.com/silionzelf) and have just released my first solo album called “THE PARADOX”. It features many prog rock guest musicians from Argentina.
You can download it at
MP3 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BSGXEMGH
FLAC http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8GFTE3XX
If you wish to receive a CD copy just let me know and I’ll send it. I hope you get the chance to listen to it and if you can send any comments about it, even better!!
Looking forward to hearing from you!!
Fernando Refay
http://www.myspace.com/fernandorefay
http://www.facebook.com/fernandorefay
http://www.youtube.com/user/fernandorefay
fernandorefay@gmail.com
Thank you, Fernando! I will gladly check out your music, if you have a bit of patience… I am a bit backlogged, and that slows me down. Thank you for stopping by!
Cheers Raffaella! I’ll be looking forward to read it!
best regards
Fernando Refay
http://www.myspace.com/fernandorefay
http://www.facebook.com/fernandorefay
hi progmistress,
I just bumped into your blog and I was amazed by your reviews.
I am the singer of a young independent psychedelic prog rock band from roma, italy and I would really appreciate if you could take a while to listen to our music and get back to me with your thoughts and impressions about it…and who knows maybe we are ready to be reviewed by a prog mistress like you! we have a new concept album which has just come out and we are promoting, so that would be awesome!
this is where you can find us online:
http://www.myspace.com/seventhwill
http://souncloud.com/seventhwill
let me know if you like it and you want to listen to something more!
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration
luca§
seventh will
..a pure rock progressive psychedelic experience..
Ciao Raffaella,
non riesco più a trovarti su FB,
ti piacerebbe recensire, l’ultimo, splendido album dei Garden Wall?
Ne sto curando io il management per Lizard.
Se ti va, puoi contattarmi alla mia mail.
Felice giornata!
Claudio
Hi Raffaella, I organise the UK Electric Garden Prog Festival. I was wondering if I could send you the DVD of this years festival to have a look at? I came across your site after I heard about the cancellation of Nearfest and was interested in your comments. We are hoping to continue in 2012 with a few innovations and new ideas. Our site is http://www.electricgardenfestival.com
Many thanks
Ken
Hello Ken, thank you for dropping by! I’d be honoured to have a look at the festival DVD. I just hope you are patient, because I am a bit backed up with all the new releases that are pouring in. I’ll email you my address later!
Yes, I wasn’t expecting a review. Just whenever you get a chance to watch it. If you feel it’s worthy of review then that would be a bonus.
Ken
Raffela,
Just read your latest article on NEARfest Apocalypse. While I value your opinion and your articles are well written, I don’t think you did your homework on this one. We have been very as to why we are calling it a day. And, the reaction on PE has been nothing but positive. There is not a naysayer in the bunch. Not to mention all rhe other theeads that are going strong there The live radio announcement in Sat had servers bursting at the seams as well as the PE chat room. Then tack on all the great emails the three of us have received since. If you’d like to chat about it, feel free to email me. You may have a different opinion with all the facts in front of you.
Hello Chad, thanks for dropping by. Remember that what I wrote is based on my own perception of things, and I would never claim to be the sole owner of the truth. In any case, my husband and I are planning to sign up for the Patron Program, which means that our view of things is not as negative as you think.
Hi progmistress!
I am a Ukrainian composer and keyboardist with a first album and ready to take on the world.
My instrumental music includes elements of Neoclassic rock, New Age, Progressive Rock and Classic. One can buy it on CDbaby.com
One can download a zip file including all the mp3′s and the artwork at http://www.sendspace.com/file/wqz8ne
I hope you enjoy my music and I am looking forward to hearing your opinions about it.
My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Rybytskyy
My Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/Rybytskyy
Sincerely yours,
Sergey Rybytskyy
Hello, greetings from Italy! I run as an hobby ( i mean while working for a living ) a fledging label ( started in May 2011 ) devoted to psych/prog rock…i would like to submit you links to download releases when you have time/patience to listen, but it seems there is no email contact in this blog…mine is:
info@psychupmelodies.com
Thanks for your attention in any case, take care!