Moonchild is a "progressive" music label set up to help promote and release, music that falls into this very wide territory. Run by Brian Hirsch (INDEED) and Andrew Robinson (MAGUS), it's aim is simply to issue music without the restriction of the major labels. There first full release is a 11 track sampler, I know most of us don't like them, but I would say check this one out, it has some great music, and is well packaged. There web site is full of sound samples, info on the label and the bands it aims to promote ............................

E-Motive - Same ( US moonchild/Broken neesh 98)

Recently issued progressive piece, from, I have to say a label I have great respect for. This is true classic prog rock. It has all the styling of the first wave, but has a great modern feel. There is a mixing of style too, from the more jazzy section to the classical prog of Mozart Symphony #25!!. Four piece outfit from NJ; USA. They play a unique blend of progressive rock for the 90's, most of the "new" prog bands around want to either enter the "prog metal" market, or play out 70 minutes plus of neo-prog that we seam to hear far too much of. E-MOTIVE give us a mixed bag, that at least changes in sound from one track to the next. 13 tracks that clock in around 70 minutes, the first been Walking in Dreams, a classic styled prog tune with a jazzed out middle section. Next we get Schtzorythmia, instrumental prog with some roaring organ, that makes ELP sound a little tame to me. The other 5 vocal songs are all well executed, with fine playing and a strong belief in what they want to archive from this debut. If would be so easy at this point to start to run off names of bands who had come before and compare this too, but here I decided to stay away from that, if you are like myself a lover of progressive rock, then this is worth looking for, a great mix of 70's,and 90's prog together, fine tunes with a great sense of feel and urgency at time. The strength of E-MOTIVE lies in the fact that they are not scared of their own musical needs, giving us four improvised jazzy prog tunes, that would have fitted nicely onto all those truly great 70's jazz fusion LP's. The last track, and for some the most surprising is Mozart's #25, as I'm no great knowledge of Classical music, I have to say, I enjoyed the modern approach given this.

Fig Leaf - fearless (US moon 99)

Norwegian progressive band Fig Leaf are back with this new 7 track release, although from the opening "fuck you" their progressive sound was been questioned here, I thought I'd slipped my old Nirvana CD on by mistake. Paddling the first track shoots off at a 1000 miles an hour and only slowing down towards the end, I thought I was in for an hour of ragging guitars and more. Second up was This Song a little slower but still a full tempo offering and those guitar are starting to grow on me, 10 minutes in and still nowhere to hide. The following tracks do slow down to a more traditional progressive approach the final tittle track is a 36 minute epic with all the true progressive elements, moving keys layered guitars strong vocals dreamy passages that rise and fall away. On the whole an excellent piece that should appeal.

J.R.S - Wings of gold (US moon 99)

Jeff Smoots for those who want to know, is the brain behind this new 12 track progressive metal piece that I'm sure will appeal if your into the world of guitar hero's. From the opening there is no let up and it's powered guitar led songs although, vocals are very strong and hold the song together well. Jeff plays everything and does vocals, bar drums which come from David Beardsley. Some of the tracks have the vocal sound of Styx, and sound not unlike most of the progressive metal bands around today, Queensryce, Dream Theatre if these are for you then check out WINGS OF GOLD.

Jeremy - Salt on the planet (US moon 99)

An electronic astral guitar treat. This 50 minute plus instrumental piece. Synth's and guitars that move around, float in, then move away only to rise again at a later point in all of this. Spaced feeling are bought into this and there is very little time on some on the tracks to catch your breath, with up-tempo driving rhythms, I even caught myself tapping me foot. I'm sure if you like Jean Michel Jarre, TD and the likes of, this will do a lot for you.

MOONCHILD 98 - same (US moonchild 98)

11 track sampler from the following bands, one track by each, Fig Leaf-Humble poet, is an hard edged heavier prog tune. Crucible-Over the Fall, a complex 7 min prog tune, loads of keys, guitars and more. Tracks 3 & 4 are two intramental tracks one from Deluc, and one from Pruett & Dvais Group, Track 5 see's Smokin Granny in a more upbeat funky prog mood( King Crimson jumped in here). New sun give us the 9min prog opus of Cyrus Gore. There is one track each from label collaborators Indeed & Magus. Jeremy give us the excellent Earthquake. Blue shift-Rome has a feel of Yes to it, This 74 min PROG FEST is finished off with Truth of advertisement-Ponderances on things above , a really nice dreamscape piece with female vocals. If you are a fan of Progressive rock, then this has to be worth checking out, there is enough here to keep anyone into the prog scene happy. Lots of changes in style, a excellent mix of instrumental and vocal tracks. This has to be the best sampler of the year....

The Moonchild web site is worth the visit, you can find out more about the bands, and links onto the bands own sites, ordering details of the above CD and more information on the bands. Other releases worth a mention are two which contain work from Brian, the first been the 1994 release Quest for the truth, an excellent instrumental pastoral newage landscape offering with a nice dreamy atmosphere, the other release is the 1996 Indeed CD Inter-Dimensional space commander, issued on there own label, this one is a little more rock oriented with guitars,bass etc, which I'm sure will appeal to both, newage and progressive fans alike.