Poil, Ikarus, The Mercury Tree, Kooba Tercu, Amogh Symphony, and Samo Šalamon

Poil – Sus (Dur et doux)

Sus is far from Poil‘s first gross indecency. However, I must say that I think it’s their best so far. The French trio has carved a name for itself by playing eccentric, off-kilter, psychedelic, and complex prog, and it’s evident as to why when you take a slight listen to their upcoming effort. Eclectic and surprising, Sus is a stellar record that belongs in any avant-prog shelf. Out on April 26.


Ikarus – Mosaismic (Iapetus)

The incredible German modern jazz group Ikarus is about to deliver a new opus with Mosaismic. The band is well-known for their dual scat singers and their general challenge of rhythmic norms and traditions. While previous albums Chronosome and Echo seemed to push forward into new and unexplored territory, Mosaismic seems to be more laid back or, at the very least, much more subtle about it. The album is still filled with odd-time signatures and plenty of polyrhythmic devices, but more focus seems to have been drawn on atmosphere, melody, and timbre. It is only a new reason to love it.


The Mercury Tree – Spidermilk

Spidermilk is the first album from The Mercury Tree as a full-blown quartet. This experimentation started with the Cryptic Tree EP with Igliashon as a guest, but the result was so mind-blowing that they ended up joining the band altogether! The entirety of Spidermilk is in 17 tones per octave, which lends a radically different sound to their music. At the moment, there’s nothing quite like The Mercury Tree, they are a brand new burgeoning branch of progressive rock.


Kooba Tercu – خروب (Kharrúb) (Hominid Sounds)

The psychedelic, noisy, progressive, post-rock band Kooba Tercu will be releasing their new album, خروب (Kharrúb), on the eleventh. Their new compositions sound quite heavily influenced by Middle-East music. Whether that turns out to be true or not, the album is a brilliant one with a powerfully driving sound behind it. You can already preview three of the seven tracks on record, and I advise you to do so because they provide a nice sample of what can be found there!


Amogh Symphony – IV (Vmbrella)

The much-awaited fourth album from India-based international group Amogh Symphony has been split in two. IV.I will be out on May 7, while IV.II will wait until the 21st to do the same. Amogh Symphony is, more than ever, a collective rather than a group. The once solo project has grown into a four-headed hydra comprising a respectable list of guest musicians. IV feels less terrifyingly avant-garde and experimental than was Vectorscan, but it’s not a regular ride either. IV is more a patchwork of genres of various musical traditions and styles coming together to form a coherent if eclectic whole. One thing to regret is the departure of drummer Jim Richman: his beats and sounds are sorely missed.


Samo Šalamon, Szilárd Mezei, and Jaka Berger – Swirling Blind Unstilled (Klopotec)

Straight into the realms of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation, guitarist Samo Šalamon, violist Szilárd Mezei, and percussionist Jaka Berger join forces on Swirling Blind Unstilled. The entire album is quite mind-boggling, featuring some of the best performances of Szilárd’s I’ve heard, and a similar brand of mastery is also observed from Samo and Jaka on their respective instruments. Swirling Blind Unstilled is disorienting and colourful, just as the title and the artwork convey, and it’s an incredible album to listen! It comes out officially on the 24th, but you can listen to the songs on Bandcamp already!

On April 9 2019, this entry was posted.

2 comments on Poil, Ikarus, The Mercury Tree, Kooba Tercu, Amogh Symphony, and Samo Šalamon

  1. […] the best creative juice from the whole region with collaborators and guests such as Ben Spees (The Mercury Tree), Nick Prol (Nick Prol & the Proletarians), and Max Mobarry (Others by No One)! So, head on to […]

  2. […] is among one of my all-time favourite bands—just check this review or this one if you need convincing. With this new album, which is set for release in March 2023, […]