Back catalogue: Progressive Rock

Review: Swiss label Delta Production originally released J&F Quintet's Contrast album back in 1976. It has since become a highly collectible and rare Swiss jazz gem with mint copies going for upwards of L350. For the recording sessions, founding band members Stefan Schneller, Donat Beer and Toni Scha?dler were joined by drummers Gieri Bievi and Peter 'Huck' Hug and bassist Andri A Piorta. Their take on jazz fuses Swiss-Romansh traditions to cook up something in a sound world of its own. Sadly this was the only album the group ever recorded before going off to work on solo projects.

Review: Trading Places have blown the dust off a wondrous curio this time, bringing our attention onto the uniquely slanted acid prog psychedelia of Jade Warrior. The project came from percussionist and flautist Jon Field, who had previously worked with Mike Oldfield's producer and in cult psych outfit July, and bassist Glyn Havard. The pair might not have garnered that much attention for their work back in the day, but it was a thing of rare beauty, fusing acoustic passages with searing rock-outs and percussion from other cultures to usurp the dominance of the Western drum kit. It's a record full of surprises, and it sounds in great shape on this impeccable reissue.

Review: In 2005, Jan Jelinek "pitched" his electronica/kosmische vision to the potent collective fan by way of ten ecosystemically-informed, prepared ambient numbers. Spanning Bibio-esque reversy guitar and sloshing exotica, this one existed for an inordinate period as a digital download, in which much time elapsed until now, its 20th anniversary - at which point we hear it available again, arriving for the first time on vinyl. Modelled on the sonic prototypes of his German rock forbears, this early electronica work from Jelinek amounts to a fearsomely intricate revue, expanding on krautrock's organic textures and unremittingly restless feel.

Review: Bursting Out, Jethro Tull's debut live album sees the band at the height of their powers in 1978. This reissue on 3 pieces of vinyl revitalizes one of the most dynamic live recordings of the 70s. The album showcases the classic lineup of Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, John Evan, John Glascock, Barriemore Barlow, and David Palmer, delivering a diverse setlist that spans their prolific first decade. Recorded during their European tour, Bursting Out features powerful renditions of tracks like 'Aqualung,' 'Thick As A Brick,' and 'Locomotive Breath,' alongside deep cuts like 'No Lullaby' and 'Sweet Dream.' The energy and musicianship shine throughout, with Anderson's flute improvisations and Barlow's drum solos adding unique flair. The live versions often surpass the studio originals, offering a raw and electrifying experience. With its excellent sound quality and representative tracklist, Bursting Out shines with Jethro Tull's live talent and remains a classic of 70s rock.

Review: A selection of tracks from the Warchild sessions that didn't make it onto the original album, collected up into this add on LP that originally surfaced on the 40th anniversary CD edition of said 1974 but have never made it to vinyl until now. Usually known for his flute twitterings as much as his vocals, frontman Ian Anderson actually eschewed it in favour of alto sax around this time. "I warbled through a few choruses and riffs with the wretched thing in an album of nice and mostly brief tunes," he says of this sometimes overlooked chapter in Tull's lengthy musical history, "But looking back, the music and performances were no disappointment in hearing it all again - especially in its remixed form - and the fine musicality puts it up in the top few albums of the years with the Martin Barre, John Evan, Barrie Barlow and Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond line-up."

Review: The fourth studio album by English hard rockers Jethro Tull, Aqualung married a turning point in the career of the band, prepping them for a more major radio-friendly future that would see them become mainstays of the touring circuit and rank among the finest live acts of the time. It would also quickly become the group's most successful release, commercially speaking, producing two standout singles in 'Hymn 43' and 'Locomotive Breath'. With such a storied history, anyone going anywhere near Tull's masterpiece wants to tread carefully. Or throw themselves full pelt into the chaos and beauty of the record by inviting a load of stoner rock acts to do their best/worst/most imaginative on the original material and come up with something new. Magnetic Eye opted to do just that with Redux, and it hits hard.