In a fitting twist of musical fate, Madrid Spain based Ángel Ontalva has injected new life into the ancient progressive rock sound. In the spirit of the great 1970's Spanish instrumental prog-rock guitarist Gualberto Garcia, the 2024 album by Ángel, called Persian Courtyard, finds him in the studio with some fine musicians supporting his guitar and mellotron visions. His music is all-instrumental and combines a Spanish flair to the progressive rock tapestry.

It's quite interesting to hear newer artists featuring the fabled Mellotron keyboard sound made famous 60 years ago by the original Moody Blues founder Mike Pinder, who sadly passed away at age 82 just this past April of 2024. Later bands inspired by his introduction of the mellotron to the rock world, such as King Crimson YES and Genesis, took Pinder’s defining keyboard inovations to even more success.

In the spirit of the first King Crimson band and early period 2000’s on albums by Steve Hackett, Ángel’s guitar, keys and mellotron sounds are vividly supported by drummer Avelino Saavedra and viola player Anna Saavedra. The CD, released on the artist’s self-owned octoberXart Records, is well-designed and worth appreciating for its wondrous sound and production.