[Rick and Roll]

Here's three CD's that didn't get much or any mention in our last two polls, but excellent nonetheless....and bridged by three songs from a fringe prog band, Mew.

K2 - "Book of the Dead" (2005)

Features the violin of Yvette Devereaux, Ryo Okomoto on keys, and the great Allan Holdsworth on guitar, reined in to a band-type format. And the vocals of Sean Guerin. A fine fine record. Thanks to our own Rogor Mortis for supplying this, the Mew, and the Ixion.

Chapter One - Infinite Voyage
Chapter Two - Mirror to the Spirits
Chapter Three - The Edge of Light
Chapter Four - Aten (Window of Appearances)
Chapter Five - Cloak of Antiquity

Lizard - Tales From Artichoke Wood (2005)

Over to Poland for another great band. A lot of nice music has been coming from there. This has been said to sound like UK, but I do not share that view 100%. The violin is dominant, in a Jobson way, but it's got crunch and melody in more abundance.

Tales From Artichoke Wood (part one)
Vincent (Impressions 1-3)
Salvador (Impressions 1-3)
Pablo (Impressions 1,2)
Tales From Artichoke Wood (part two)

Mew (selected cuts)

Circuitry of the Wolk
Small Ambulance
Apocalypso

An eight-minute break with a band with an intelligent, new-wavey sound.

Ixion - Talisman (2006)

Dutch orchestral prog-metal, it's got a bit of everything. Darker, but complex and always compelling. Another great release.


The Crimson Puppeteer (8:30), Legend (2:45), Dawn (5:08), The Raven and the Stone (7:32), Redemption (0:43), The Abyss (10:42), Non Nobis (8:23), Sea Of Cortez (10:06), Prelude (2:04), Catherine (6:24), Talisman Revisited (5:39)

Get your caulk out and fill in those cracks!