Reviews and Quotes
Prog Archives entry and reviews:
https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=12586
"My thoughts: The album has a lot of what I would call cinematic music. Several themes are interesting. The Infinite starts with a four minute single-worthy piece- imho- then after a cinematic break, goes into a bluesy feel before a vocal-led mantra and walking ending. At 1:00, the Progbient starts a Gentle Giant-like progression and expounds into a nice jam, also single-worthy imho. Initiate Protocol 7 has a good build-up with electric piano and guitar prominent. Signal Transactions reminds of King Crimson Frippertronics at the start- the band comes in with well-thought progressions and syncopation before a cinematic ending. Silence From the Storm is an epic track, mostly in 6/8 with a slight detour halfway through. The Last Words of Dutch Schultz is a keyboard-based pastiche, veering into jazz improv. Terminus features fretless bass and pivots from prominently city jazz to an eastern feel towards the end. Silence From the Storm (HOI Mix) is a bit more dramatic, with an anthemic build. I am certainly enjoying it! Thank you!"
- Dennis G Time Machine (progrock.com listener)
"After first listen I was thinking it was a bit chaotic, but I got into it after the second listening. The third listening was pure joy! Very nice playing, and it sounds like you have got your ideas from all over the world. Good work, sure hope people will give it more than one short listen. Not sure I can think of any similar sounding artist, but some of it makes me think about an old obscure almost forgotten Norwegian artist named Alf Emil Eik After first listen I was thinking it was a bit chaotic, but I got into it after the second listening. The third listening was pure joy! Very nice playing, and it sounds like you have got your ideas from all over the world. Good work, sure hope people will give it more than one short listen. Not sure I can think of any similar sounding artist, but some of it makes me think about an old obscure almost forgotten Norwegian artist named Alf Emil Eik. it was released in 1979. Very different style, but I get some of the same feeling sometimes when listening to your album. Great album, you should be proud of it!"
- Oyvind Sand
"I received this CD in the mail yesterday (I also won a download from Mike Jobborn!). I'm on my third listen already. It's a great album, as I could tell from the two free tracks on Bandcamp. It makes me want to see it performed live so I can see who's playing what parts, because the band members are nearly all multi-instrumentalists, so there are multiple guitars, Warr guitars, and keyboards. The recording is rather dense, so it's going to take a few more listens to get to know the album. A lot of the guitar sounds like prime Robert Fripp lead guitar, so fans of that sound will definitely want this. Mellotron is listed for a few tracks - not sure I've picked it out, but there are lots of very nice synth sounds and other keyboard sounds, leads and more ambient use too.
This is Album of the Year-level material, IMO. I love it!"
- JKL2000 (Progressive Ears forum)
“Please listen to this album more than once! There is so much going on here that only by repeated listening can you truly appreciate the sheer magnificence of this music. The sonic tapestries that the band manage to produce are amazing and musicianship is through the roof! It is hard to believe that this was all constructed remotely and the band have never all met together in person - it sounds so cohesive and well integrated.
So do yourself a favour and set aside an hour or so on at least a couple of occasions to give this wonderful album a deep listen. You won’t regret it.”
- Colin Powell (A Multitude of One, Nova Cascade)
“My thoughts on listening to this great album: A seven track album plus a bonus track. A nice collaboration by Mike Jobborn, Suzi James, Gayle Ellett, and Mark Cook.
Track 1 - Infinite Names is a 11 minute 58 sec of nice flowing guitars and synths and mellotron, well put together, the instruments blend seamlessly into a sea of soundscapes with nice choir vocals.
Track 2 – The Progbient has a more Jazzy setting laying down a great ambient tune, a happy track.
Track 3 – Initiate Protocol 7, a more darker atmospheric number lovely open soundscape on this one.
Track 4 – to track 8 continue the album keeping up the excellent soundstage throughout this album.
To sum up this is a great effort by the musicians involved and is a great listen, you will not be disappointed.” - Phil Jee (House of Prog)
"What I have heard of your album so far sounds fkn amazing. Totally unique. Can't say it sounds like anyone cause it does not” - Chris Gill (Band Of Rain)
“Really cool! Great atmospheres and cool riffs. At times reminded me of Pink Floyd or Gentle Giant. Fun Prog! Congrats! Really impressed.”
- Dave Kerzner ('Sound of Contact', 'Dave Kerzner Band', 'In Continuum')
“A progressive experimental collection of music that has thrown out the formula book to give way to free form moods, mental atmospheres and innovative sound design. Definitely something to enjoy in its entirety . Digging it!”
- Simon Collins (‘Sound Of Contact’, ‘eMOLECULE’)
“Wow - I love it. Very impressed. Great moods, great progressive grooves, awesome guitar, gritty keys, solid bass, very cool stuff!”
- Matt Dorsey (‘Sound Of Contact’, ‘In Continuum’, ‘Dave Kerzner Band’)
“T.A.P’s 'Paradigm' is a compelling return to the roots of prog with a 7 superb tracks waxing musical tapestries infused with jazz fusion and rock. At times it made me think of the supergroup UK or something from Bill Bruford's 'Masterstrokes'. It is an exciting listen filled with interwoven melodies, rhythms and musical themes.”
- Kelly Nordstrom (‘Sound Of Contact’, ‘eMOLECULE’)
“...an absolute blast... guitar technique and tone to die for throughout, some really inventive arrangements with prog, ambient, hints of jazz fusion, blues, even a bit of carnival haha. Fab keys and orchestration, some very inventive percussion - lots of room for the music to move and groove but never descends into indulgence. It's well outside my usual comfort zone but when everyone brings their A Game like that and creates the right moods and can move seamlessly through those kind of arrangements it's a winner. Production is really good. Delicious basslines. Silence From The Storm! Yum”
- Charlie Bramald (‘Ghost of the Machine’)
"Very spacey and old school but right up my alley!”
- Alan Baillargeon - NewEARS Prog Show
“If one changes the perspective from a supporter right into an actor; the result might be: brilliant! Mike Jobborn and the debut of his latest project, T.A.P, demonstrates this perfectly. An instrumental album to be listened to in many different occasions. You can take a walk with it, or do hot Indian cooking or just lay down on your sofa and listen! Not easy to keep excitement up with an instrumental album, but Mike did it here with Paradigms. Silence From The Storm is the definite proggy highlight of the album (well, for me it is), additionally we have slightly jazzy parts and psych moments on the album as well. Suzi James adds her wonderful guitar skills in the right moments, famous Mark Cook (Herd Of Instinct) shoots Warr guitar tunes as well; excellent! Gayle Ellett (Djam Karet), Paul Sears (Daevid Allen, Steve Hillage) and Bill Bachman (Herd Of Instinct) on drums make this project A Band!
If you like the instrumental corner of the PROG universe, you‘ll love Paradigms.
A neat piece of work!”
- Larne Peters - ProgAlley.eu
Finally got round to listening to entire album ..and revisited a few tracks…very slick and sophisticated throughout..sorta fusion/Prog world music melting pot…love the build up of various layers and then the intermittent removal/replacement of same. Fine playing throughout..particularly liked the bass(fret less?) on Terminus. Favourite tracks were Signal Transaction and Track 6. Loved the outro of Signal Transaction with the Frippian guitar..very atmospheric. Nice outro for Terminus too.
Final track seemed to have a slightly harder edge??…in a good way!!…well done to all.
- Robert Ancell (prog lover and friend)
“There’s a lot of good shit on this album. Buy it!”
- Chuck Simons (DJ ‘Game of Prog’, ProgRock.com)