JAN SCHELHAAS – GHOSTS OF EDEN –  ELEPHANT

To any fan of British progressive rock, keyboard player Jan Schelhaas needs little introduction given that he has played with both Caravan (twice, and with whom he is still playing) and Camel, as well as numerous other sessions. Here we have a remastered reissue of his 2018 solo album with three additional tracks. There is not much information out there about the album, so while I know Doug Boyle (guitar) and Jimmy Hastings (sax) are both involved, I cannot find any other information, so it is quite possible that the rest is undertaken by Jan, including the vocals.

It is hard to imagine that this is a recent album, as this has far more in common with the laid-back Seventies sound of sanitised rock which, although it does have some similarities with The Moody Blues at times, has little with which I would normally associate progressive rock. This is straightforward relaxing middle of the road soft rock which is gentle, never threatening, and consequently it is something which I cannot really see me often returning to as in many ways it is just too sickly sweet. That he is an excellent keyboard player and pianist is never in doubt, but this is not for me.
6/10 Kev Rowland

KAPREKAR’S CONSTANT – – ALL YOU WISH YOURSELF – TALKING ELEPHANT

Here we have a two-track digital single from one of the best new prog bands around, Kaprekar’s Constant, with all proceeds going to the charity Crisis. While the title cut is a new song, the second “Call It A Memory” was their debut single back in 2017. Their mix of folk and prog, with complex arrangements and layerings, have made Kaprekar’s Constant a great many friends, and their debut ‘Fate Outsmarts Desire’ is simply stunning (to my shame I still haven’t played the follow-up, ‘Depth of Field’, but it is on my list, honest!). These two songs remind me just why I love that album so much, as while the arrangements are huge and complicated there is also a simplicity contained with which make them such a delight. One can certainly see why David Jackson is so involved, and his use of various saxes, flutes, and whistles breaks through to provide an edge while the twin vocals of Bill Jefferson and Dorie Jackson are sublime and comforting. This single should become a new Christmas classic, and by buying it not only will you have an incredible musical experience but you will be helping those less fortunate as well.

10/10 Kev Rowland

20 Essential Albums of 2018 by Kev Rowland

No. 1
Yagull – Yuna
Self-released
December 2, 2018
https://yagull-moonjune.bandcamp.com/track/yuna-2

No. 2
Galahad – Seas of Change

Self-released
January 22, 2018
https://galahad1.bandcamp.com/album/seas-of-change

No. 3
Michael – Alan Taylor Avalonia (The Sonnets of Guinevere)

Melodic Revolution Records
June 29, 2018
https://michael-alantaylor.bandcamp.com

No.4
Bomber Goggles – Gyreland
Melodic Revolution Records
March 21, 2018
https://bombergoggles.bandcamp.com

No. 5.
Tiger Moth Tales – Story Tellers Part Two
Self-releasedTalking Elephant
October 18, 2018
https://tigermothtales.bandcamp.com/album/story-tellers-part-two

No. 6
Ashley Hutchings – Paradise And Thorns
Talking Elephant
November 9, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Thorns-ASHLEY-HUTCHINGS/dp/B07GJFQ2CV

No. 7
Soft Machine – Hidden Details
Dyad
September 14, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Details-Soft-Machine/dp/B07F9G2JQX

No. 8
3.2 – The Rules Have Changed
Frontiers Music SRL
August 10, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Have-Changed-3-2/dp/B07D5R6GFK

No. 9 
Dream Aria – The Other Side
February 24, 2018
Self-released
https://dreamaria.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-other-side-cd

No. 10
Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear – Live in the Studio
Self-released
September 16th. 2018
http://www.iona.uk.com/albums/detail/id/36/live-in-the-studio

No. 11
Xavi Reija – The Sound Of The Earth
MoonJune Records
January 18, 2019
https://xavireija-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/the-sound-of-the-earth-hd

No. 12
Mystery – Lies
and Butterflies
Unicorn Digital 
Released July 14, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Butterflies-Mystery/dp/B07F7R8L1Q

No. 13
Damanek – In Flight

Giant Electric Pea
October 12, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Damanek/dp/B07GWJW463

No.14
Dwiki Dharmawan – Rumah Batu
MoonJune Records
May 15, 2018
https://dwikidharmawan-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/rumah-batu-hd

No. 15
Dialeto – Live with David Cross
Chromatic Music
June 4, 2018
https://dialeto.bandcamp.com/album/live-with-david-cross

No. 16
Mayan – Dhyana
September 21, 2018
Nuclear Blast
https://www.amazon.com/Dhyana-MaYaN/dp/B07GRRH5HC

No. 17
Carpe Noctem – Vitrun
Aural Music
October 5, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Vitrun-Carpe-Noctem/dp/B07GGRJWQZ

No.18
Ovrfwrd – Blurring the Lines (a democracy manifest ) ( 2018)
Sel-released
September 29, 2018
https://ovrfwrd.bandcamp.com/album/blurring-the-lines-a-democracy-manifest-2018 

No. 19
The C Sides Project – 10 Days
Self-released
October 26, 2018
https://csides1.bandcamp.com/album/10-days

No. 20
Ten Jinn – Ziggy Blackstar (A Tribute To David
Melodic Revolution Records
October 5, 2018
https://tenjinn.bandcamp.com/album/ziggy-blackstar-a-tribute-to-david-bowie