New (mainly) prog blog & review site

[lazland]

As 2023 commences its journey, here in Lazland we begin the New Year as we intend to continue throughout the year by bringing you the best in music. And what better way to start the year by giving you a very detailed and wonderful interview with Stuart Nicholson, founder member and vocalist with Galahad?

Stuart's responses to my questions are so wonderfully detailed, including a great deal on the latest, superb, Galahad album The Last Great Adventurer, past Galahad highlights, side projects, and some incredibly personal recollections and his thoughts on comparisons with other bands and lazy sub-genre labels.

Stuart also provides us with some interesting comments on streaming. As ever with my interviews, I have included a large amount of music for you to listen to and enjoy. If you like what you hear, please do consider supporting the artist by buying the music.

Talking about buying, my commitment in 2023 remains that of 2022 - my website will remain absolutely advert-free and uninfluenced by major labels or other parties. On Lazland, what you see is really what you get, so please do enjoy, and thank you to everybody who continues to read and enjoy.

The interview is at https://lazland.org/interviews/stuart-nicholson-galahad

Enjoy!

[lazland]

Tonight's update is a review of a really good EP by Baris Dai, a multi-instrumentalist based in Netherlands, which I think all lovers of quality ambient instrumental progressive music will enjoy.

Also, Video of the week is a certain Mr Gabriel with some short thoughts on my part.

For the first time in a wee while, a book review, that being a fascinating history of Cosa Nostra - simply click on the Book Reviews link at the top of the homepage.

Lastly, a heavy metal related Ale of the Week. Run To The Hills!

[lazland]

It is live reviews time on Lazland tonight. There is a review of Mostly Autumn's new live album, Back In These Arms, at https://lazland.org/further-2022-rev...arms-live-2022

Also, on Friday, I went with a friend to our local theatre to see UK Pink Floyd Experience. Very good, actually, and you can see my review at https://lazland.org/beer-news-1/gig-news

Video of the Week is Mostly Autumn performing Skin of Mankind at Summer's End.

The forthcoming week will see the first review of new 2023 music. Lazland is currently grooving to Maltese prog rockers, Pyramid Suns.

[lazland]

It is the first 2023 album review tonight, and it is a review of Malta's finest, Pyramid Suns, and their very impressive full-length debut album, Reflections. The link to the review is on the Homepage at www.lazland.org

The Video of the Week is the same band, with a live recording of Dust from the same album.

In the next week, I will post my thoughts on Riverside's latest. Since the CD dropped through the door last Friday night, it has had a few listens, and I am impressed.

[lazland]

Tonight's update is a review of the new Riverside album, ID.Entity. I love it. Simply go to the homepage at www.lazland.org, and click on the button link.

I am hoping to add two more reviews this week, namely the exceptional album by Damanek, Making Shore, and a band you probably will not have heard of, US outfit Half Shell.

[lazland]

If you buy no other album this year, ensure that you purchase Making Shore by Damanek.

Review uploaded to www.lazland.org this evening - simply click on the button on the homepage to read my review of a masterpiece.

[lazland]

Tonight's update features reviews of Hayley Griffiths' two January releases, Melanie & Far From Home, contrasting albums but both very enjoyable. Simply go to www.lazland.org and click on the appropriate button link.

Video of the Week, to accompany the reviews, is Karnataka's Feels Like Home, a superb track highlighting the best of Hayley.

[lazland]

New album review uploaded tonight. American trio Half Shell with their new work The Great Truth. Modern and pretty damned good. As ever, the link is on the homepage at www.lazland.org or take yourself to Album Reviews 2023 page.

2023 has started very strongly in terms of new music.

[lazland]

Slightly later this week than usual, the new album review is Stations, the debut album by German band, Cydonia - really rather good it is, too.

Video of the Week is an old Floyd favourite if nothing else to debunk the nonsense Waters has been spouting recently.

[bobert]

Thank you for all of the effort you put into the website, a real treat for us music lovers. The reviews are excellent!

[lazland]

Thank you for all of the effort you put into the website, a real treat for us music lovers. The reviews are excellent!

Well, that's really kind of you to say so. Feedback like this really is deeply appreciated.

[lazland]

Tonight, I have uploaded a review of the incredible debut album, One Man's Grief, by Hungarian duo Deposed King. It is superb, so please do take yourselves to the homepage and click on the button link.

Video of the Week is Chinese band Ou, whose debut album I reviewed last year - damned good stuff. Hopefully, more to follow later this week if I get the time.

[lazland]

This evening, I have uploaded an interview with the incredibly talented Guy Manning, this hot on the heels of the Damanek release, Making Shore. Guy has been kind enough to go into great detail about that project and his solo work, so please do enjoy. The interview link is on the usual part of my homepage, or click here at https://lazland.org/interviews/guy-manning

In addition, there is a review of an album by some bloke who used to play with Yes, a certain Mr Richard Wakeman. In fact, although you couldn't accuse it of being a pure prog album, it is rather good and worth your time.

I had hoped to upload a couple more album reviews, namely Solstice and Klone, but an almost disastrous website glitch this evening which took about three hours to clear put paid to that. The thrill, though, is in the anticipation, and you will see these next week.

[lazland]

The first of this week's updates is a review of the new Solstice album, Light Up, a very enjoyable record. As ever, the button link on the Homepage www.lazland.org will take you there.

Forthcoming reviews of albums by Klone, Inner Prospekt, Haken, and Lazuli, will follow in the next week, or so.

Video of the Week is Triste Carnaval from Lazuli's 11, which is simply quite magnificent.

[lazland]

A double header tonight, with two reviews of new albums posted. We have for your delectation and delight Inner Prospeckt, Canvas Three, and Klone, Meanwhile.

Both are very much worthy of your attention and support, so take yourselves orf to www.lazland.org and click on the relevant buttons for fantastic new music.

[lazland]

Tonight's update is a review of the new Haken release, Fauna. Generally a very positive reception here in Lazland.

Link as usual is on the homepage, which will also take you to a veritable cornucopia of other words and music, some of which will be familiar, and also some which will be brand new.

[lazland]

This evening, I bring you a very special interview. Last year, I reviewed the Special Edition of Imaginaerium "The Rise of Medici". To coincide with the release of the album in general release, Clive Nolan, Laura Piazzai, and Anne-Claire Rallo (the partner of the late, truly great, Eric Bouillette) have undertaken an interview with my website.

The detail they have gone into regarding the new album is incredible. In addition, Clive talks about Arena, Alchemy, and other projects, whilst Laura provides lovely detail about her musical journey.

I have been very lucky to have some very talented artists agree to be interviewed for my website. I think that you will all agree that this is a very special interview and I know that you will also enjoy the music on this new album.

Simply go to https://lazland.org/interviews/imagi...neclaire-rallo

[lazland]

This week's first new album review is from French outfit, Lazuli, with Onze. I think it is marvellous. You can read my thoughts on the album at https://lazland.org/album-reviews-2023/lazuli-onze11

The Video of the Week is the opening track from the same album - it is fun and reminiscent of Beatles glories of the 1960's.

BTW, for those of you wondering why the Ale of the Week segment hasn't been updated for a wee while, there is an explanation. The landlord at my favourite local has taken a business decision which changes the regular cask ales on sale, concentrating on local brews but with less variety, excepting imminently at weekend's when we will have a regular guest ale, and it is these which will figure in this section of the website when it starts.

[PeachyTheBand]

Working through this website as we speak. Very well put together and very well written. Good work.

[lazland]

[QUOTE=PeachyTheBand;1179459]Working through this website as we speak. Very well put together and very well written. Good work.[/QUOTE

Why, thank you very much!