1. EachPod

Nickie’s Niches #43: July 2025

Author
Podcast | ProgRock.com PodCasts
Published
Tue 01 Jul 2025
Episode Link
https://podcasts.progrock.com/2025/07/01/nickies-niches-43-july-2025/



































































































































































































StartArtistSongTimeAlbumYear
1 Obiymi Doschu0:28
0:02:061 Obiymi DoschuНе опускати руки (Don’t Give Up)6:08Відрада (Vidrada)2025
2 Songleikr0:31
0:08:46SongleikrRavnene3:19Godtfolk2016
0:12:04SongleikrVinda2:32Godtfolk2016
3 Vincent Carrs0:29
0:15:05Vincent Carr’s SUMICGoodbye To A Sycamore3:34Single2025
4 North Sea Radio Orchestra0:41
0:19:20North Sea Radio OrchestraAll Alice Like6:36Special Powers2025
5 Andy Aquarius0:23
0:26:19Andy AquariusHoly Glade4:19Holy Glade2025
6 Pearls Before Swine0:40
0:31:18Pearls Before SwineButterflies (Alternate Version)2:45The Wizard of Is2022
0:34:02Pearls Before SwineTranslucent Carriages (Alternate Version)3:27The Wizard of Is2022
7 Perseide0:23
0:37:53PerséideUltrasolaire4:09Passages Secrets2025
8 VARO0:23
0:42:24VaroRED ROBIN4:45The World That I knew2025
9 Raphael Weinroth-Browne0:19
0:47:29Raphael Weinroth-BrowneLifeblood8:42Single2025
10 Richard Souther0:49
0:57:00Richard SoutherThe Fire of the Spirit /O ignis Spiritus Paracliti4:27Illumination2014






  1. Vidrada

    by Obiymy Doschu







    Finally, the full release from this Ukrainian outfit, and well worth the wait. The release is a testament to the hope and beauty that can be found even in dark times and a call for perseverance in the face of grave adversity. Composer Volodymir Angafonkin’s distinctive voice is at the fore, with artful orchestration added to the adept core band. A must for fans of progressive / post-rock / contemporary classical music.







    1. Godtfolk

      by Songleikr









      Hard to find much information on this Nordic folk act, except that they recorded this in Copenhagen.They draw on Norse mythology and a very traditional sound for their offerings. It is beautifully done, on what sounds like primarily ethnic instruments and features lots of what I think of as “village” vocals. The harmonies are chill-inducing, and I love the juxtaposition of icy eeriness tempered with fiery vehemence.













    1. Goodbye To A Sycamore – A SUMIC Single

      by Vincent Carr’s SUMIC







      Multi-instrumentalist Vincent Carr pays tribute to the 200 year old Sycamore Gap tree, which was felled by two brainless idiots in 2023. Proving indefatigable, the tree has begun sprouting anew from it’s trunk. Vincent evokes the venerable age, dignity, and bearing of the tree utilizing mandolin, piano, synthesizer, electric slide guitar, and percussion, all wrapped up in 6/8 time.







      1. Special Powers

        by North Sea Radio Orchestra









        Wonderful blend of quirky and classical, tossing in some jazz in for fun, this conglomeration never disappoints. Swooping effortlessly from sublime to edgy, and delightful all through. The whimsical vocals of Chantelle Pike are the perfect foil for Craig Fortnam’s more playful pieces. I love the majestic opener and the epic closing track (including poetry by W. B. Yeats), but am choosing All Alice Like to be representative of the entirety







        1. Holy Glade

          by Andy Aquarius









          Here Andy brings meditative harp and vocal musings, inspired by the interior and exterior atmosphere of a retired church in a remote glade in the Croatian mountains. There is a sense of time travel here, of the absorption of ancient history that manifests outwardly at last, in the form of music. Truly psychedelic.







          1. The Wizard Of Is

            by Pearls Before Swine
















            Tom Rapp, the genius behind Pearls Before Swine, is a musical hero of mine in psych folk. He was a consummate writer, penning elegant poetry steeped in lysergia and delicately tossed with wistfulness, and at times, cutting humour and keen observation. He coined “constructive melancholy,” to describe his oeuvre, and it is particularly apt, as his words so often were. These are demos and alternate versions of material, culminating in live performances.







            1. The World that I knew

              by VARO









              Hailing from Dublin, VARO includes members of Lankum, and Poor Creature, and bring along many friends to round out their traditional sound. As well as lovely harmonies, you will hear fiddle, harmonium, bouzouki, organ, piano, viola, harp, whistles, cello, trombone, uilleann pipes and nyckelharpa. It’s a céilí of sorts.







              1. Lifeblood

                by Raphael Weinroth-Browne







                Another single from this Canadian cellist-composer, in anticipation of a full length release to come. This one evolves into a bit of a tour de force, starting with deep, mellow tones and gradually building to a fine, rocky crescendo before a cooled-down coda.


                Richard Souther “Illumination” 1996 Richard Souther is a prolific and profound multi-instrumentalist and composer. He’s had numerous placements in film, television, advertising, as well as collaborations and solo works. This is a release celebrating the music of Hildegard Von Bingen, the Benedictine abbess from 11th century Germany. Besides composing music, she was a mystic and visionary, and also practiced science and medicine. These are not strictly her music as written, but a modern reworking of the pieces presented, with both medieval and contemporary elements. The instrumentals are also stunning, but I am choosing to present one of the tracks with vocals, as it is more indicative of what you will be hearing from the entire release. Favourite Track: The Fire of the Spirit /O ignis Spiritus Paracliti (Voice) (4:44)










































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