I must say, I’m a big fan of Yes’ studio output up to and including Going For The One. After that I only seem to like the odd track here and there.

And I was a regular at their concerts up until 2004 when the […]

I got slippered and caned a few times for minor misdemeanours but nothing as horrific as your classmate. Times have moved on drastically, and for the most part for the better. Remember a games teacher at junior […]

I was indeed. A really creepy guy against whom serious allegations were made in early 2000s (after he had passed). Not sure if they ever came of anything, but anyone who inspects lined up, naked and shivering […]

Went to school with and was good friends with Max Richter (sadly lost touch decades ago). Other famous alumni: John Sessions, Russell Howard.
Went to Choristers School in Durham for a year in mid 70s. Tony Blair […]

Familiar with his Pat Metheny Group work. He was a very accomplished pianist/keyboard player – you don’t get the Metheny gig and retain it for so long without having some chops. I understand he gave up music and […]

Really? I came across both albums relatively late having plunged into early period Genesis first of all, then flailed about a bit with Duke and And Then There Were Three.

I personally view them as companions .. […]

Would very much like to see The Musical Box in costume. Experiencing the old sets and costumes must lend a certain atmosphere and authenticity to the occasion. However, I’d be amazed if they could better G2 for n […]

On the BPM issue … this has been bugging me for about 15 years or more. They seemed to drop the tempo around 2004 (the last tour with Anderson and Wakeman IIRC). Tracks like Going For The One seemed ponderous in […]

Just listened to the album on Spotify. Very enjoyable and the orchestra is a welcome addition. My only complaint, and it’s been a bug bear with me for about 10 years now: why oh why would you let Gary O’Toole (dr […]

I enjoyed the first listen. Not so much the second. Haven’t given it a third yet. I suspect as Martin Hairnet points out, it is a mood piece .. and correspondingly I haven’t felt in the mood to give it another […]

I went to see them on this tour (Birmingham NEC) and as Lando points out: they went out on a high. I very much enjoyed the string ensemble who were particularly effective on tracks like The Garden. Geddy Lee’s […]

Yes, enjoying it so far. Fiji good in first half against Aus. NZ vs SA brute force against best broken field team in the world. Scots look bereft of ideas and Ireland have recovered fully from their tonking at […]

Agree. Surely classical music has a bigger shout in terms of being the progenitor of prog?

Not a huge fan of rap and Grime is just confusing, but I suspect that might be an age thing. Drum & Bass doesn’t tickle my fancy either. But you know .. each to their own. Like more accessible forms of jazz […]

I on the other hand am a big fan of Neil Finn and consider him a master of (vocal) melodic construction. Both him and Campbell seem to have fitted into Fleetwood Mac well. Sure, they’re not a permanent fixture, […]

@Freddy Steady .. Ged Grimes, formerly of Danny Wilson and (I think) Deacon Blue has played bass with them for about 10 years .. and very good he is too! They play reasonable sized venues (Birmingham NEC/SECC […]

It’s the bones. Cannot get used to them. Spoils any enjoyment I have for kippers too 🙁

Nicely put! They’re also fab live and can operate in sheds, arenas or stadia with ease. Never boring, often life-affirming.

Don’t like ’em? Fine, listen to something else. In other news I cannot stomach mackerel.

Which is weird cos I really didn’t like Dancing In The Dark when it came out or since. But I do like Western Stars.

I’m in agreement. Am obsessing on it a wee bit just because of the orchestral arrangements and the fact that the lyrics are soulful as is the delivery. Keep getting snapshots of my long-dead grandfather who was a […]