Pulsar - "Pollen" [1975]

Artist: Pulsar

Title: Pollen
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: France
Release date: 1975

Track List:

1. Pulsar
2. Apaisement
3. Puzzle / Omen
4. Le Cheval de Syllogie
5. Pollen

And one more classic progressive/space rock release that may appeal to those who liked "Martian Chronicles" by Solaris. Listen to the whole album on youtube:

P.S. If you want to have "Pollen" on your HD as MP3, just use Google blogs search - I'm sure it was already posted in a lot of blogs.

Hidria Spacefolk - "Symetria" [2007]

Artist: Hidria Spacefolk

Title: Symetria
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: Finland
Release date: 2007

Track List:

1. Symetria
2. Futur Ixiom
3. 322
4. Flora/Fauna
5. Radien
6. Sine

This Finnish band is often recommended to those who want something more in the vein of "Martian Chronicles" by Solaris. However, I think they're closer to bands like Ozric Tentacles in terms of sound, although the melancholic and "cosmic" feel is definitely present in their music too. They're also compared with such Hungarian bands as Korai Öröm and ColorStar, but I don't like both of said bands (or maybe I should give their albums one more listen?..) Can't say "Symetria" is a masterpiece (compared to "Martian Chronicles"), but it's certainly very good.

Solaris - "Marsbéli Krónikák (The Martian Chronicles)" [1984]

Artist: Solaris

Title: Marsbéli Krónikák
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: Hungary
Release date: 1984

Track List:

1. The Martian Chronicles I
2. The Martian Chronicles II-III
3. The Martian Chronicles IV-VI
4. M'ars Poetica
5. If The Fog Ascends
6. Apokalypse
7. Prelude In E Minor
8. Undefeatable
9. Solaris
10. The Planet Of Orchids (Bonus Track)
11. The Yellow Circle (Bonus Track)

It'd be very hard for me to write a proper review of this album, because it's one of my all-time favourites, and definitely included in my personal top-5. In short, "Marsbéli Krónikák" present everything what I love Hungarian prog-rock for: catchy and beautiful melodies, atmosphere of bright sadness, excellent musicianship, analog synthesizers from the 80s, and the influence from sci-fi classics like Ray Bradbury and his "Martian Chronicles". Even though the album is entirely instrumental, it accurately reflects the mood of "Martian Chronicles" and a lot of other "hard" science fiction of the 20th century. That probably what The Martians would listen to, if they were born half a century later :) I should also note that Solaris is progressive rock, but not avant-prog; so it's sophisticated enough, but isn't hard for listening at all. A true masterpiece, perfect example of good Eastern European prog-rock sound.

Download

After Crying - "Megalázottak és Megszomorítottak" [1992]

Artist: After Crying

Title: Megalázottak és Megszomorítottak
Genre: Avant-Prog
Country: Hungary
Release date: 1992

Track List:

1. A gadarai megszállott
2. A kis hős
3. Noktürn
4. Megalázottak és megszomorítottak
5. Végül

After Crying are probably the most well-known Hungarian avant-prog band, often considered to be the best RIO-influenced band in their country. Personally I heard only two albums out of their considerably big discography, and here's my favourite one. I think the album cover says all about the music - the atmosphere it creates is as quiet and melancholic as winter forest at night. Don't know how to express it better...

Download

Vágtázó Halottkémek - "Semmi Kapuin Dörömbölve" [1992]

Artist: Vágtázó Halottkémek

Title: Semmi Kapuin Dörömbölve
Label: Alternative Tentacles
Genre: Folk Rock, Avant-Prog
Country: Hungary
Release date: 1992

Track List:

1. Hunok csatája
2. Aláírhatatlan történelem
3. Az én lőrései
4. Feltámadt kép
5. Ősvilág
6. Álmodom
7. Botrányos probléma
8. Örökkévalóság
9. Halló, mindenség! II.
10. Nincs más megoldás

Vágtázó Halottkémek aka VHK, formed in Budapest in 1975, were one of the most unique and innovative Hungarian progressive rock bands. There's a lot of bands in Hungary whose music is inspired by Hungarian (and Uralic/Altaic in general) mythology and epos, but VHK really stand out even among them, being a very dedicated concept band.

While I haven't heard anything of VHK been influenced by Rock In Opposition or similar movements, their music is quite hard to get into, quite comparable to most of RIO bands in this regard. Their style ranges from shamanic/psychedelic rock (this album, the most-well known release of them) to hardcore and even metal (some of their earlier releases), but the influence of Hunnic culture and pantheistic beliefs (Tengrianism?..) is always evident. Very original and sophisticated music, but definitely not for everyday listening.

Download

Samla Mammas Manna - s/t [1971]

Artist: Samla Mammas Manna

Title: Samla Mammas Manna
Genre: Avant-Prog
Country: Sweden
Release date: 1971

Track List:

1. Circus Apparatha
2. Pausus
3. Vidgat Läge
4. Släde till Satori
5. Schekina
6. Uvertyr till Snäll Häst
7. Flickan i Skogen
8. Manna Jamma
9. At-One-Ment
10. Skrik från Embassy
11. Fittravisan
12. E'Pop Tai
13. Circus Impala (bonus)
14. Lawrence in Sahara (bonus)

One more album by Samla Mammas Manna, full of silly humour, circus references, excellent musicianship, and everything else that SMM are known for. Personally I like this one and "Klossa Knapitatet" more than "Måltid" (widely perceived as their best albums), or their later works under different names ("Zamla Mammas Manna", "Von Zamla", Lars Hollmer's solo albums), characterized by somewhat more serious approach to music.

Download

Samla Mammas Manna - "Klossa Knapitatet" [1974]

Artist: Samla Mammas Manna

Title: Klossa Knapitatet
Genre: Avant-Prog
Country: Sweden
Release date: 1974

Track List:

1. Ingenting
2. Liten Dialektik
3. Sucken
4. Långt Ner I Ett Kannihål (liten tuva stjälper ofta stort lass)
5. Kom Lite Närmare
6. Musmjölkningmaskinen
7. Influenser
8. Klossa Knapitatet
9. Ramlösa Kvällar

Samla Mammas Manna were one of the 5 original RIO bands (along with Univers Zero, Henry Cow, Stormy Six, and Etron Fou Leloublan; later followed by Art Bears, Art Zoyd and Aksak Maboul), but their music is actually rather far from RIO. SMM undoubtedly were virtuous musicians, but they preferred to play much more lighthearted music strongly influenced by Canterbury scene and Swedish progg movement. Seems like they also shared the ideology behind the progg scene, as the album name,"Klossa Knapitatet", is an obvious pun on "Krossa Kapitalet" ("Smash the Capital").

Download

Miriodor - s/t [1988]

Artist: Miriodor

Title: Miriodor
Label: Cuneiform Records
Genre: Avant-Prog
Country: Canada (Quebec)
Release date: 1988

Track List:

1. Regards
2. Spirale / Spiral
3. Marche Funebre / Funeral March
4. Valence
5. Piège / Trap
6. Suspicion I
7. Insomnie Prémonitoire / Premonitory Insomnia
8. Réseau / Network
9. En Attendant Rémi / Waiting for Rémi
10. Pleine Lune / Full Moon
11. Suspicion II
12. Oriflamme
13. Convoi Nocturne / Nocturnal Procession
14. Moyen Âge / Middle Ages

Ugly album cover, but beautiful music. It's the only album by Miriodor I've heard so far, and it's quite good (I heard all their later albums are better, though). Not sure if they're comparable to 80's Art Zoyd, Univers Zero and other RIO bands (I think Miriodor are more melodic and not that overtly "avant-garde"). But just like in case with Art Zoyd, I can surely say it's music for listening at night.

Download