Last week Feedback_File launched an excellent thread in which he set about creating a playlist of favourite Prog Ballads. He didn’t make life easy for himself: he allowed only one song per artist. It resulted in an excellent 34 song playlist.
Slightly to my surprise, I really enjoyed the music people were posting. Prog? Moi? Surely some mistake? But then I just looked at the playlist and the penny dropped.
Family, Soft Machine, Caravan, Pink Floyd, Yes, Roy Harper, Traffic, King Crimson, The Nice, Genesis, Jack Bruce, Curved Air, Matching Mole, Kevin Ayers and the Whole World, Focus, Bonzo Dog Band, Hatfield and the North, Stackridge, Procol Harum., Pete Brown and Piblokto, Robert Wyatt….
That’s a list of the musicians who provided the soundtrack for my teenage and early adult years. I hadn’t listened to for years but suddenly I was once again enjoying all that music.
So why did I and the gorgeous Progtalina bust up? Why did she not become the mother of my sprogs? Why, when I left the UK to work abroad in 1979, was my suitcase full of scruffy punk singles and not a prog album in sight!
I’ll put those questions on hold for the moment, as right now I want to relaunch the Good Ship Progtastic and head for the Land of Grey and Pink.
And I’d like you to contribute by telling us about your favourite prog ballads.
Slightly different rules.
There is no limit to the number of songs you can have by a particular artist. I want to find out, for example, about all those Marillion and Rush tracks that you are so keen about.
We are not confining ourselves to any particular period. You can go back in time to artists who you feel had a progressive perspective before the P word was coined and up to 2022 and even beyond.
We will not be staying in the UK. I am very keen to hear about the world of International Prog. Even looking back to Prog in its Pomp, Italian band, Premiata Forneri Marconi (PFM) were playing Reading and making some big waves. Nowadays, from Norway to Argentina, there are young bands, inspired by the combos I listed above, who are making some fine music.
I want to kick this off with Jaume Vilaseca, a Catalan jazz pianist, who has rebooted Genesis songs in a jazz style. Witty, ingenious, inspiring: it reminds me of the Soft Machine in their heyday.
Progtalina! Darling, I was wrong. Now I’ve come back for you.
Snog me! Prog me! Hog me! Dog me! Rock me!
But this time, sweetheart, let’s pass on that vacation to the Tobleronic Oceans. That’s where everything all started to go so horribly wrong.
Kaisfatdad says
Here are the excellent PFM.
In the UK in the 1970s.
In Japan in 2002.
Excellent!
Twang says
First band I ever saw. Supported by Widowmaker who I much preferred. Utterly bonkers!
Kaisfatdad says
That magnificent Argentinian, Juana Molina, is in a class of her own. I’m going to stick my neck out and file her under P for Prog.
And going back in time, fellow Argentinians, Arco Iris.
Here’s that song again in 2017 sung by Gustavo Santoalla who wrote it.
Magnifico!!
hubert rawlinson says
Ange. French prog.
I saw them 73 at Reading.
In one of the introductions the singer said “You can see through your bowels” I think he may have used an early example of Google translate.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Cemetery of the Harlequins! My first non-UK prog album. Marvellous.
hubert rawlinson says
Et moi!
thecheshirecat says
Oh now look hear KFD, you catch me just as I am about to walk up to the station to catch my train to the airport and sunny Spain. You always do this to me!
Suffice to say that there is plenty of Breton prog. Let’s start with the whole sweeping 2 CD spread of Alain Stivell’s Tir na Nog – ‘A Celtic Symphony’ no less. How prog is that?
Kaisfatdad says
Bon voyage @thecheshirecat! Enjoy that Spanish sunshine!
Have no fear. This thread will still be chundling along here when you return.
Here’s some Spanish prog from Triana to keep you busy in the meantime.
Have we any Steve Hackett fans here? He visits Stockholm every few years and always seems to sell out. Looking at Spotify, I see that he is revisiting the Genesis songbook quite a lot. That will certainly help him sell tickets,
fentonsteve says
The recent Steven Wilson compilation shows the ‘progressive’ tag is both deep and wide. Much like the answer to the question “What separates Punk from Post-Punk?” is “Keyboards”.
Gang of Four, The Specials, New Order, The The. Are they really prog? Or is it just SW’s faves bunged together on a compilation?
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/intrigue-steven-wilson-presents-progressive-sounds-in-uk-alternative-music-1979-89/
fitterstoke says
“Progressive Sounds In UK Alternative Music 1979-89” – so not Prog, as such, but the adventurous end of Alternative music.
Mind you, Alternative has become as clichéd a label as Prog over the years – and about as useful. Alternative to what, exactly?
Vulpes Vulpes says
Ed Sheeran.
fitterstoke says
Yes, yes – Ed Sheeran, very good – but he wasn’t born until after the 79 – 89 bracket chosen by the sainted Wilson…so my question still stands.
I wonder if they were supposed to be alternative to prog? That would give SW a dilemma…
Vulpes Vulpes says
The Flying Pickets.
Rigid Digit says
Their close harmony acapella version of Tales from Topographic Oceans was an artistic triumph
fitterstoke says
I’d buy that for a dollar…
Uncle Wheaty says
I’ll send you a link!
fitterstoke says
Huzzah!
Diddley Farquar says
Alternative always used to mean alternative to the usual chart fare and the mainstream.
moseleymoles says
Theory: after the punk explosion around 1980/81 was ‘peak indie’ when mainstream acts and indie acts were furthest apart – think Crass, early Fall, Dead Kennedys, Exploited, Theatre of Hate, early Cocteaus, Throbbing Gristle etc. Occasionally of course they gatecrashed the charts with a single or two, but it was a parallel world. This gap steadily narrowed until..in an Animal Farm style around Coldplay they looked from mainstream to indie to mainstream but could no longer tell which was which.
Moose the Mooche says
In 1981 I think The Fall were already on their fourth record label.
Diddley Farquar says
The alternative becomes the mainstream but a new alternative comes along. I suppose it used to be called the underground. Young people full of ideas and energy believing in the new and experimental even though nothing is new but it’s their time. Good luck to them.
Diddley Farquar says
I agree. I think the 80s were a time where the alternative 80s was filled with riches and great things whereas the mainstream/chart music 80s was another world, a mostly underwhelming/uninspiring one, with exceptions natch.
Kaisfatdad says
SW’s favourites bunged together! And nothing wrong with that!
These labels exist to help us find our way around a record shop,YT , Spotify or whatever and should be taken with a large pinch of salt.
Here is the Norwegian band, Meer, who I believe have been mentioned here on the AW.
Sophisticated arrangement, strong tune, charismatic vocalist: I’m keen to hear more.
On the basis of these clips, I suspect they would be rather decent live.
While trying to remember their name, I stumbled across this site dedicated to modern prog.
https://theprogspace.com/whats-hot/
Lots of new releases by artists I’ve never heard of. The genre seems to be in very good health.
Here’s a review of Meer’s first album on the Prog Archives site.
https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/meer-playing-house/
Twang says
Porky Tree are clearly non more prog.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Gratifying to see that Mr. Wilson clearly understands the distinction between ‘Prog Rock’ in the dull-as-ditchwater-lets-widdle-and-solo sense and progressive music in the ‘trys to push the envelope in some way’ sense; exactly how it was originally set out in the 1970s – see the old Harvest label (explicitly created to put out ‘progressive music’) inner sleeve artists for clues:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_Records
Now, about that’Ys’ album….
fitterstoke says
Interestingly, there’s been some previous criticism on this very site when some members (me included) tried to split that particular hair…
Kaisfatdad says
What an interesting label Harvest was! Lots of fine progressive artists.
Thanks for your comment on progressive vs prog, Vulpes. It’s definitely the former that I am interested in. But how many of these guitar widdlers are there? And haven’t most of them moved over to prog-metal or plain metal where there’s a potentially bigger audience?
If we use the SW/Harvest definition of progressive music, then quite a few AW favourites fit in rather comfortably. But I suppose most artists choose a label to describe themselves that will attract the largest audience and prog tends to be rather niche. Out of curiosity, I just checked which label that very progressive band Sigur Ros choose to describe themselves. Post Rock.
Let’s go back to 1970 and some classic Swedish progressive music. Bo Hansson’s gorgeous album of music inspired by Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Try this (video is pants, but this is a first class little track):
fentonsteve says
The most “Post-punk” band of Post-punk, Wire, were on Harvest. Does that make them prog?
To be honest, genres just make my brain hurt, and I strip the ‘genre’ tag from my Flac files.
Kaisfatdad says
I agree with you, fentonsteve. But just as the libraries have the Dewey system to organise the books on their shelves
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Decimal_Classification
some sort of system is needed to put music in an easy to find place.
Well I never! There is a Dewey system for music too.
http://libnet.lib.umt.edu/intranet/knowledgebase/bms/bms-manual/catalogingmetadata/classification-call-numbers/common-dewey-numbers?destination=node/1427
Diddley Farquar says
Truth is chaos but we must pretend there is order. Wasn’t that a prog song title?
fitterstoke says
Nahh – sounds more like a Gang of Four song title…mind you, Mr Wilson says they are progressive…now my head hurts.
fitterstoke says
I believe some of the inkies described 154 as a prog album…
…I suppose that might explain why it remains one of my all-time favourites…
Kaisfatdad says
Wonderful! I was not expecting Wire to turn up on this prog thread,
but am delighted they did.
A band truly dedicated to pushing the envelope!
I saw them at Roskilde quite a few years back.
Even further back, I saw Jazza Jazzist from Norway there in the Danish mud and was bowled over.
Here they are again, playing the same song to a crowd of damp but delighted, anoraked Japanese fans at Fuji Rock.
What a magnificent performance! If that is not progressive music, I don’t know what is!
Moose the Mooche says
The Ys Album? Hers is no disgrace…
fitterstoke says
It’s pants!
Kaisfatdad says
But Joanna is very prog.
And surprisingly cute. I would never ever have thought that someone who plays the harp and sings like Minnie Mouse could have been a hottie. She is!
Utterly bonkers but very charismatic.
fitterstoke says
“Y”s? Pants? Never mind…
…I’m guessing nobody wears string vests anymore either…
…anyone remember UFO?
dwightstrut says
Favourite prog ballads?
Well, since we’re in Nerdland I make no apologies for pointing out that a ballad is supposed to tell a story rather than, as the belief is out in Civvyland, just being “a bit soppy”.
With this in mind, my choice is the B-side of Blows Against The Empire by Paul Kantner & The Jefferson Starship. Given the musicians involved, this would normally considered psychedelic rather than prog but consider:
Preposterously silly storyline — check.
Daft lyrics — check.
Weird electronic noises — check.
Excessive muso virtuosity on show — check.
Self indulgence — check, check and check again.
Here’s Have You Seen The Stars Tonight from said “suite”. It’s also a bit soppy:
Kaisfatdad says
That’s a very sweet little tune, Dwight. I haven’t heard it in years.
Quite a line up on Blows against the Empire: “a concept album featuring an ad hoc group of musicians (centered on Kantner, Grace Slick, Joey Covington, and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane; David Crosby and Graham Nash; and Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann) credited on the LP as Paul Kantner and “Jefferson Starship”,
Twang says
Excellent pass into open space wrongfooting the opposition! I submit
Great playing
8 mins long
Preposterous story and lyrics
Great album cover
Civilians won’t know it
dwightstrut says
Very nice.
(Except, isn’t the story true but the names changed?)
For those who spotted a similarity, the writing credit for the PK/JS tune is Kantner/Crosby.
Vulpes Vulpes says
If we’re going into Kantner/Cros/Slick/Freiberg territory, I have to offer this gem from the fabtastic Chrome Nun album, which has fascinated me over the years:
Feedback_File says
Definitely some prog moments on that album @Twang although I’m sure the Croz would shoot anyone who suggested such a thing. To continue the link I’m pretty sure that Yes incorporated some CSNY stylings into their early music and of course covered this Steve Stills song
Twang says
Given the state of mind Cros was in when he made it I doubt he knew what he was making, but I’m sure he’d have been very happy at the idea that it was progressive.
Feedback_File says
I appear to have inadvertently given birth to more (s)progs.
In the original thread I deliberately ignored anything post mid 70s, that wasn’t because I don’t like anything ‘new’ just that there were enough riches in the classic era.
A good friend of mine who is a Marillion fan begged me to listen to their new album ‘An Hour Before It’s Dark’ and especially the final track ‘Care’. I found the album really quite impressive and this last song in particular very moving – I felt like it was very much of its time ie now and relevant to world in which we live. Never been much of a Marillion fan before so I was quite surprised with my reaction to it. Lovely video as well
Vulpes Vulpes says
Magnificent, isn’t it? Like you, I was late to their party – always wrote them off as wannabe Genesis imitators. Luckily, I’ve been able to dispel that misapprehension these later days.
Kaisfatdad says
Before today, I knew that there was a band called Marillion but had never knowingly listened to any of their music.
But I agree with you, Feedback and Vulpes. That track was excellent.
I googled.
Marillion were “formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979. They emerged from the post-punk music scene in Britain and existed as a bridge between the styles of punk rock and classic progressive rock,[5] becoming the most commercially successful neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s.[6]”
“Despite unpopularity in the mainstream media and a consistently unfashionable status within the British music industry, Marillion have maintained a very loyal international fanbase, becoming widely acknowledged as playing a pioneering role in the development of crowdfunding and fan-funded music. They have sold over 15 million albums worldwide.” (Wikipedia)
Vincent says
I had decades of thinking Marillion were shit because of the shouty and over-verbose Scot (though there were a few good bits on “Misplaced Childhood”). Once I came down from being up my own arse and heard “Brave” and “FEAR”, I found there were 30 years of excellent Marillion albums (mostly excellent albums, anyway), and am now a proud member of the Uncool Nerd Mafia. TBH, Marillion have been more consistent in their quality than any of the early-70s symphonic giants, who all had a brief imperial phase then decades of mediocre output, albeit with good playing and concerts. The band and fans seem nice people, too. Not always the case.
robert says
They are the most wonderful live band I have seen. Steve Rothery is an exceptionally lyrical guitarist. This is, in my opinion, the better “ballad” from the most recent album…and it’s about Laughing Len.
Rigid Digit says
I went the other way – the shouty and over-verbose Scot were the main selling point to my ears, and the introduction of Steve Hogarth led to a parting of the ways for me.
There were moments on ‘Season’s End’ where you couldn’t hear the join, but later releases were not the Marillion (I thought) I wanted.
An Hour Before It’s Dark was highly recommended this year, and it deserves the plaudits.
And now I must admit my faults and discover what else my ears have been missing since the Fishy one departed
Twang says
Feedback magnificently ignored my suggestion of Stomu Yamash’ta – I’m hoping the avuncular KFD will be a little more charitable.
Kaisfatdad says
I’m very chuffed to be described as avuncular. Call me Napoleon Solo!
Stomu is very welcome here and several of his countrymen and women would fit in nicely too.
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Acid Mothers Temple. Seriously Out There, man!
AW favourites Mono with a video that seem to have been filmed in Finland
Three very different bands, all of which seem to fall under the Prog label.
Several more combos to browse through here.
http://www.prog-sphere.com/specials/20-best-japanese-prog-bands/
Vulpes Vulpes says
Acid Mothers Temple = bonkers
Over 150 albums of spaced out nutcase weirdness and psychedelic michievousness. They are also responsible for one of the few album covers I own that features full frontal nudity – there are several such delights scattered across their works.
Rigid Digit says
Steven Wilson does indeed know or thing or two about Proginess.
Title track from the great album The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
2015s Hand. Cannot. Erase. is also worth a listen
Kaisfatdad says
As Vulpes pointed out, back in the day there were record labels that were known for having a strong roster of progressive rock acts: Harvest, Chrysalis, Virgin, Vertigo, Charisma…..
But who do the young prog musicians sign with today?
I found this list of prog labels but I fear most of them are past their glory days or are very small, local players. Nothing wrong with that of course.
https://m.famousfix.com/list/progressive-rock-record-labels
So, who are my new favourites, Meer, signed to?
Karisma, a small Norwegian label based in Bergen who specialise in prog. I must investigate a few of their other artists.
https://www.karismarecords.no/
Here, for example, are Brazilian symphonic proggers, Caravela Escalarte, who are also on Karisma.
A little more about Meer in this article. They are from the small town of Hamar, 90 minutes north of Oslo and have retained the same line up for ten years or so.
https://www.loudersound.com/features/introducing-meer-the-norwegian-pop-proggers-you-need-to-hear
Singer, Johanne Kippersund, (what a marvelous surname!) is also in a pop duo, Paper Crown. Here they are playing a session in Hamar. Very catchy.
Not prog but very agreeable!
Twang says
Possibly classic era but the mighty Dog are clearly progressive going on prog.
Tiggerlion says
I don’t regard myself as a fan of Prog (I only have 30 albums…ect…ect) but I’ve found this thread highly entertaining and an education.
Tiggerlion says
Oh. And And You And I is the most ballad-like Prog song I’ve heard. Feedback chose some Yes obscurity instead.
fitterstoke says
Seconded.
Feedback_File says
I deliberately went for something other than the obvious in most of my selections Tig although no 1 criteria was that I personally loved the song. PS I do also love And You and I
Tiggerlion says
It’s your playlist. You get to choose what’s on it.
Feedback_File says
It’s about the only thing I’m in control of in my life 😅
fitterstoke says
A bit of Neo-Canterbury – not sure it’s really a ballad, mind…
fitterstoke says
And similarly..
Kaisfatdad says
Neo-Canterbury! Now that sounds like a useful label for all the newer bands inspired by Soft Machine, Caravan, Hatfield and the North, Gong, etc.
Googling lethargically, I stumbled across this very informative 2003 interview with Kevin Ayers. (As you may know he passed away, 68 years old, in 2013.)
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/jul/04/artsfeatures
The article mentions he toured in 1995 with eccentric Liverpudlian Jazz-rock combo, The Wizards of Diddly.
https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/artist/wizards-of-twiddly
Here’s what it sounded like.
Kevin sounds on fine form.
As you wrote @Tiggerlion. We are all learning a lot on this thread. Glad to hear you are enjoying it!
Kaisfatdad says
Here’s Kevin on Spanish TV in 1988 with his frequent collaborator, Ollie Halsall. adding some splendid guitar. Recorded in Madrid, during the period he was living in Spain.
The track is from his album, Falling up (1988), which was recorded completely in Spain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falling_Up_(Kevin_Ayers_album)
Kaisfatdad says
I was quite right about Neo-Canterbury being a useful term to track down the younger musicians bearing the torch of progressive music. It led me to this article. Jim Allen really knows his stuff and writes in a way that makes me want to give these combos a listen.
https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/canterbury-prog-rock-list
There is an impressive variety. They are not all following a similar template.
The gentle Italian sounds of Conqueror are very appealing.
If listening to the tracks he provides whets your appetite, someone has done a playlist featuring many of the artists.
Jim Allen mentions Insolubilia by Ske. For further explorations, this very articulate prog site from Greece will come in handy.. Lots of background info.
fitterstoke says
As it happens, @Kaisfatdad – not only was that article where my examples above originated; but I’ve bought and/or listened to a good chunk of them since it was published…
Kaisfatdad says
I am not at all surprised @fitterstoke. A new name for me, Jim Allen is a writer I am now keen to read more of.
https://www.the-dowsers.com/author/jim-allen?d916ed16_page=6
Here is his take on Italian prog:
https://www.the-dowsers.com/the-dowser-posts/alternate-universe-italian-prog
“The party line among rock historians is that 70s progressive rock was a uniquely British phenomenon, with minor prog annexes popping up in America and elsewhere. While its true that prog found its footing in England, the idea that it was the musics only—or even main—stronghold is a patent falsehood. While there were active prog scenes all across Europe in Germany, Sweden, France, and other regions, Italy became as much of a hotbed for it as England, if not more so. As in the UK, Italian prog grew out of psychedelia, with fuzzy guitars and organ solos giving way to swooping synths and complex suites. But Italian prog had a distinct sonic fingerprint that set it apart from its British cousin.Aside from the obvious fact that most of the lyrics were in Italian, the countrys prog bands—with some important exceptions—tended toward a lush, symphonic sound that embraced classical influences and eschewed the blues modalities that popped up in the music of their British counterparts. ”
Here’s a taste
Le Orme – Ad Gloriam
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso – Moby Dick
PFM – La Carroza di Hans
Metamorfosi – Inferno
Excellent notes in Italian. @Gary can help out.
“MI SI GELA IL SANGUE PENSANDO AL NOSTRO INFERNO”
“E’ il ’73, l’anno d’oro del progressive italiano, quando esce “Inferno”, dei Metamorfosi, e si tratta né più né meno di uno dei capolavori dell’intero decennio. C’è tutto, dal gruppo che passa dalle radici beat al mondo del progressive, all’entrata del cantante “decisivo” (Enrico Olivieri), al destino agrodolce, comune a troppe band italiane, di una vita durata soli due album, alla copertina, fantastica, a cura della Gamma Film di Roberto Gavioli (su un disegno del pittore Adelchi), trovata per caso nei magazzini della Vedette, la loro casa discografica, pensata e poi dimenticata per un altro progetto musicale. ”
Biglietto per L’inferno – Confessione
British prog bands were going down a storm in Italy and the British musicians were well aware of their counterparts on the Italian prog scene.
“When Emerson, Lake & Palmer toured Italy, Greg Lake took notice of the band (PFM) and signed them to ELP’s own new label, Manticore Records.”
Here’s a very extensive piece on the excellent PFM.
https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/italian-progressive-rock-part-one-pfm/
It’s one of several articles this guy, Rich Isaacs, has written on Italian prog.
To conclude, here’s an Italian prog band that all the cinephiles here will know, due to their work on Dario Argento’s soundtracks: Goblin.
http://www.italianprog.com/a_goblin.htm
Scandal!!
Why isn’t Suspiria on the BFI’s list of the 100 Greatest Films Ever? They’ve got room for that Bergman chap!
Vulpes Vulpes says
Don’t forget South America – lots of great prog bands there too.
Kaisfatdad says
While you were polishing your Prog Ballad playlist to perfection @Feedback_File, I was scavenging and gathering together all the also-rans and leftovers so that I could listen to them at my leisure.
Which is what I am doing right now.
Just listened to May I by Kevin Ayers. What a gem of naive, timeless perfection! It still brings me a smile in 2022.
And Firth of Fifth is another I have not heard for a good 30 years. A cracker!
So here are the Leftovers. Lots of room left for any further suggestions! Keep ’em coming!
fitterstoke says
Have you heard the French version, KFD? Fits Kevin’s voice like a glove – and the backing slightly tweaked…I love it!
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks @fitterstoke. That made my morning. As you say: a perfect fit. Not many who could pull off translating their song without it feeling uncomfortable. He was one of a kind.
And the Whole World were a remarkable band.
Mike Oldfield bass. Lol Cohill Sax. Is that David Bedford on accordion? He played keys.
And now here is our favourite polyglot being interviewed in Spanish and then performing with John Cale, Olle Halsall and Andy Summers.
A friend just posted:
A charmer indeed. I used to own the John Cale album ‘Slow Dazzle’, one of the songs in it immortalising said charms with the opening line “The bugger in the short sleeves fucked my wife”. This refers to rock musician Kevin Ayers sleeping with Cale’s wife before a concert they both performed in.
Feedback_File says
Thats mighty fine list @kaisfatdad – a bit of doubling up of mine as contrary to common belief I did listen to the suggestions and added in quite a few. I should have added 12 Hours of Sunset (now have) but could swear I couldn’t find the ‘Valentine’ album but it is there. I see you are allowing multiple tracks per artist in which case could I suggest Caravan – ‘All The Way’ ; King Crimson ‘Cadence and Cascade’ and/or ‘Islands’; ‘Galadriel’ – Barclay James Harvest and ‘Spirit of the Water’ Camel.
I love Colin Blunstone (and in particular the album ‘One Year’ ) but for me definitely not Prog – much more singer songwriter? The Zombies could maybe sneak in though – Time of the Season?
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks for all the suggestions @Feedback_File. We’ve really managed to put together a rather decent compendium of top-notch prog material. And we’re not finished yet!
I completely see your point about Colin Blunstone. He’s the singer in a prog band but his solo material doesn’t really come under that label. But I want to listen to his stuff, so I’m not going to delete him.
We could compare his career with that of Kevin Ayers.
Member of Soft Machine – Progissimo. Backed by the Whole World. Definitely rather proggy. Later solo career – charming, polyglot, babe-magnet troubadour but not really so prog.
Kevin himself is pretty consistent and has the same charm and melodic gift. But the labels don’t fit so well.
I was reading about his final album: The Unfairground. It’s supposed to be rather good.
An impressive group of musicians including Phil Manzanera and Robert Wyatt.
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=17317
Not to mention Bridget St John
Feedback_File says
@kaisfatdad – meant to nominate Mockingbird by BJH not the one I already have Galadriel! Not that anyone cares but us. I think KA was a fascinating character – probably could have made more of his career but he loved life too much. I would say some of his solo stuff was very prog eg Whatevershebringswesing ( even the title is proggy!). Blunstone for me could also have so much more with his solo career – One Year is a stone cold classic , Ennismore very good but it’s rapidly downhill from there.
thecheshirecat says
Oh I care very much! I am lurking on the Costa Blanca pondering euro and folk prog, waiting for a return to my PC.
Kaisfatdad says
You’re wrong, you see! People are interested.
I posted some of the Kevin Ayers stuff on my FB page and got several reactions from old friends.
I saw BJH at the Wheeley Festival and vividly remember Mockingbird. Sumptuously melodic. They were augmented by strings, I believe.
Here are the Enid doing a cover version with a complete orchestra using the original arrangement.
You are right about Kevin’s progginess. Those Canterbury musicians were extremely English and often had a gentle sense of humour that I appreciate. That’s a side of the progressive music that I prefer to the excessive, po-faced, guitar and keyboard widdling one encounters elsewhere.
fitterstoke says
Of COURSE people are interested! Some of us, obsessively so…others spot the Prog headline and stop reading, or flip over to an automatic negative mode. Takes all sorts (allsorts)…I like liquorice cream rock, meself…
Kaisfatdad says
Vintage Soft Machine in 1969. Enjoyable interview.
Here’s the BBC version of Moon in June.
Wonderfully post-modern lyrics.
“I can still remember
The last time we played on Top Gear
And though each little song
Was less than three minutes long
Mike squeezed a solo in… somehow
And although we like our longer tunes
It seemed polite to cut them down
To little bits – they might be hits
Who gives an… after all?
Tell me how would you feel
In the place of John Peel?
You just can’t please
All of the musicians all the time.
Playing now is lovely
Here in the BBC
We’re free to play almost as long and as loud
As a jazz group, or an orchestra on Radio Three
There are dancehalls and theatres
With acoustics worse than here
Not forgetting the extra facilities
Such as the tea machine, just along the corridor
So to all our mates like Kevin,
Caravan, the old Pink Floyd
Allow me to recommend ‘Top Gear’
Despite its extraordinary name
Yes, playing, playing now is lovely
Here in the BBC
We’re free to play almost as long and as loud
As the foreign language classes… and the John Cage interview…
And the jazz groups… and the orchestras on Radio 3
fitterstoke says
If I might suggest: Amoeba Split make no bones about their Soft Machine influence – this album sounds like Third/4, with the added brass section and some Hopper-style fuzz bass thrown in…
Kaisfatdad says
I was intrigued to discover Amoeba Split were from Galicia in the north of Spain.
Their most recent project was a musical adaptation of Orwell’s Animal Farm!
https://sisons.gal/proxecto/amoeba-split/
Feedback_File says
I would also like to vouch for AS – excellent music and very much indebted to the Softs and the Canterbury sound
Kaisfatdad says
Just stumbled across a list of 50 Best Prog bands which will keep me busy for the rest of the week. I’m usually unenthusiastic about lists but this is top-notch.
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-prog-rock-bands/
Hats off to Brett Milano for such a readable, informative, enthusiastic overview.
It covers the whole history of prog, from Genesis to several modern-day revelations including Big Big Train.
Who knew that Caravan had released an album in 2022? Here’s the title track.
There’s also a broad geographic coverage: Greece, Italy, France, Sweden, USA….
And some surprises. Chick Corea and Return to Forever – Light as a feather. Jazz prog? Yes please!
The group at the top of the list don’t even like to be described as prog!
I’m definitely keen to read some more articles by Brett Milano.
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/author/brettmilanousmwriter/
Here’s his take on classic prog record sleeves. A treat!
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/stories-behind-prog-rock-album-covers/
fitterstoke says
Historically, many progressive groups rejected the label “prog” – or any other label, for that matter. More recently, Robert Fripp has allegedly refused to answer any journalist question if it included the P-word…
Kaisfatdad says
Over on FBook, my pal Nisse commented thus on that list.
“If you should limit yourself to artists who acknowledge the genre you put them in, you would be left with very restricted lists. Often it seems that the first duty for any band is to refuse to be categorized. And more so the more pretentious they are. (Whatever that has to do with prog…)
That said, I would have liked for Gryphon to be on that list!”
Anyway, I found a vintage clip of Gryphon and was delighted to see that it was uploaded by Colin Harper, The AW’s very own Renaissance Man. Author, archivist, musician, Colin has fingers in more pies than Mr Bunn the Baker
Even better, there is a grateful comment from Graeme Taylor from Gryphon, who didn’t even know the clip existed. The wonderful world of the Tube!
Kaisfatdad says
Over on Facebook I got a big thumbs up for Renaissance who came in at a very respectable No 11 on that Top 50 list. I asked for some tracks and got this answer:
“I can highly recommend Ashes Are Burning, Mother Russia, Song Of Sherezade and A Song For All Seasons as ways into their Annie Haslam era peak.”
Completely new to me. Very cinematic, very orchestral.
fitterstoke says
Not ‘arf!
Kaisfatdad says
I’m really taken aback by Renaissance. They have lyrics that actually mean something. Quite a shock after listening to Yes. And their ambitious, symphonic compositions are unlike many British prog bands, although I suspect they might find fellow spirits in French or Italian bands.
Many of the lyrics were written by the poet Betty Thatcher.
https://uneasywords.com/2018/02/19/betty-thatcher/
First she wrote for Keith Relf with the first version of the band and then was “inherited” by the Annie Haslam version.
http://www.jtl.us/nlightsweb/lib/reviews/that.htm
fitterstoke says
If you’re investigating, KFD, I’d suggest everything up to and including A Song for All Seasons – after that things get a bit ropey as they try to “modernise” their sound, sadly losing what made them unique in the first place. They recover a bit after year 2000, with Annie Haslam as the main mover and shaker, but the 70s albums are the core. They’ve been a favourite band of mine for many years now.
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks for the tips, Fitter. I will certainly be getting to know their music in the next few days. They are so different to most bands I listen to.
I saw the original version of the band, with Keith and Jane Relf, at the Roundhouse and then they just went off my radar completely. How odd.
They were seriously popular in the 70s.
Three consecutive nights at Carnegie Hall. Concert at the RAH with symphony orchestra and large choir. And some pretty good album sales too, I suspect.
I am really enjoying our second visit to Progsville.
Vulpes Vulpes says
@kaisfatdad Whatever you do, don’t omit the very first eponymous Renaissance album from your explorations – it’s a belter. The original vinyl (ILPS 9114) has a glorious gatefold sleeve to complete the artefactual magnificence.
Here’s a fine track that lets them stretch out a bit:
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks @Vulpes Vulpes. I will certainly give it a listen.
Rather odd though, that not a single member of that band remained when they entered their classic period with Annie Haslam.
I can’t think of any other examples of a band name continuing in this way. But I am sure there are many.
Kaisfatdad says
I am enjoying scavenging around in the Back Pages of Prog. This French list opened all kinds of doors.
http://progressiverockcentral.com/resources/progressive-rock-history/progressive-rock-in-france/
A few names I’ve encountered before and quite a few new ones.
Here for example is Cyrille Verdeaux, the man behind Clearlight.
I added tracks to my Spotify Great Prog Ballads Volume 2 playlist. Do feel free to explore! To be honest, I could be done for Trade Descriptions as I’ve meandered away from just looking for ballads. There are several longer tracks, such as the ones by Renaissance. C’est la vie!
Kaisfatdad says
No question about it. The musicians on the Canterbury scene had a strong connection with Paris and France.
Soft Machine got their first break on the Riviera and were popular in Paris and that Franco- Canterbury connection continued throughout their careers. This morning I remembered that Steve Hillade from Gong had produced and played on the early albums of the late, great Rachid Taha and had played a major role in his success.
Here they are playing together on French telly.
Rachid was a stupendous live performer. Here with Mick Jones rocking el casbah,
fentonsteve says
If you’re going to include raï music in your prog thread, simply because Steve Hillage produced it, you’re going to need a bigger net – Hillage produced loads.
Simple Minds’ Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call. Theme for Great Cities is atypically proggy, perhaps, but is my fave.
The Charlatans’ Up To Our Hips. Can’t Get Out Of Bed.
There are plenty more where they came from.
Moose the Mooche says
Didn’t he just do Sons and Fascination? I’m sure Sister FC was Peter Walsh. I do still see them very much as separate albums. White and blue.
(By “sure” I mean “not sure”)
fentonsteve says
I think Hillage did both. I could look it up, but where’s the fun in that?
I bought mine as two separate LPs, rather than the double pack, but I think of them as two halves of one double album.
Moose the Mooche says
I love SFC, it’s rougher around the edges. Charlie’s guitar is at its wildest
Kaisfatdad says
You are quite right, @fentonsteve. I was definitely off-piste when I mentioned Rachid Taha. But I thought he might not be so well-known on the AW and as he was a big fave here with all our family, I wanted to give him a mention.
That got me thinking about whether there are prog bands who sing in Arabic.
Which led me to this forum, which had some useful answers:
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17297
“Jean-Pascal Boffo – Nomades “which really can be considered ‘Arabian prog’. I’ve only listened to another Boffo CD, and, although it’s not as arabian sounding, the influences are still there, so I guess it could be part of his style.”
He’ll do nicely!
“Ozric Tentacles – sometimes have arabian tendencies. Listen to their song Mysticum Arabicola – unbelievable song. ”
“The Rock Andaluz from Spain is Arabian influenced, try the albums Recuerdos De Mi Tierra from Mezquita, El Patio from Triana, Al Andalus from Miguel Rios and En El-Hakim from Medina Azahara.”
“Not prog, but of interest:
Dhafer Youssef is a Tunisian oud (lute) player who works with Scandinavian jazz musicians. Digital Prophecy and Electric Sufi are both excellent albums, and there’s a new one due out this year.
Anouar Brahem is another oud player who records for ECM. His albums use almost exclusively acoustic instruments, and many have an Eno-esque feel.
Radio Tarifa come from southern Spain and mix Spanish and North African influences – the recently released live album Fiebre is an excellent place to start.”
The Rock Andaluz from Spain is Arabian influenced, try the albums Recuerdos De Mi Tierra from Mezquita, El Patio from Triana, Al Andalus from Miguel Rios and En El-Hakim from Medina Azahara.
Try Souad Massi. She’s a singer-songwriter from Algeria… not exactly prog but in her music she blends arabic music and European influences (especially flamenco and French music). Lyrics are in Arab but you can find the translation in the booklets…”
So very useful suggestions. Dhafer, Anouar and Souad and Radio Tarifa are old favourites.
Kaisfatdad says
Time for something unexpected: a glance into a world very different from my own. That of Soumia Ghechami, a young woman from Algeria who plays guitar in a prog band.
I stumbled across her as I Googled around to find out more about the music scene in Rachid Taha’s homeland.
In this interview, you can read about how she found the other musicians in her band.
https://www.sadplanetarium.com/interviews/2018/11/21/soumia-ghechami-combining-algerian-music-and-prog-rock
It’s a different world she lives in, but the internet helps.
“Other musicians that I deeply appreciate are Michael League from Snarky Puppy, Nick Johnston, Plini, Pat Metheny, Julian Lage, Owane, Sarah Longfield, and Yvette Young. When I feel down and don’t want to pick up my guitar, I watch their videos instead—they really inspire me.”
“People are also pretty religious here—it is a muslim country. It can be difficult to put yourself out here, as there are critics and haters everywhere. Last June, some of my friends organized the first edition of a metal event called MetAlgeria, and while it was a really different and cool initiative, some people took it really badly, relating it with satanism and that kind of bullshit.”
Here she is playing and singing with two friends. Simple, unsophisticated and very lovely. The song is Saudade, saudade, the Portuguese Eurovision entry, and they really do it justice.
Just as I will now do justice to the Ginormous Tobographic Prog Hamper I am about to tuck into!
Bottoms up!
Kaisfatdad says
A few odds and sods……
We’ve had little mention of Big Big Train who I’d have thought must have been the most popular modern British prog band among the denizens of the AW. No favourite tracks?
I meandered onto their FB page and found an announcement about an on-line prog radio station, Epic Prog Radio.
https://epicprogradio.com/
They are having a poll for best prog track of the year. The only artist I’d heard of was the late David Langdon from BBT.
https://epicprogradio.com/epic-of-the-year-2022/
So, there’s clearly a prog sub-culture that is alive and kicking.
This thread isn’t going to bed quite yet. That Cat from the Costas, thecheshirecat, will be sharing his thoughts with us when he returns from Spain.
Incidentally, reading about all those Italian prog bands, made me think of some of the fine foly bands on the Compagnia Nuove Indye label which could definitely be described as progressive.
https://www.cnimusic.it/
They would quite often turn up on fRoots samplers.
I know that @Gary shared my enthusiasm from Agricantus from Sicily.
Addoso Agli Scalini were another favourite.
Folk-prog? World-prog?
CNI as a label are certainly pushing the envelope.
thecheshirecat says
I am in the departure lounge at Alicante as I fingerjab my phone. I have in mind a Finnish artist for starters.
Kaisfatdad says
Wonderful! I look forward to that, Cheshire!
Of course, I had to have a sneak peek at Finnish prog.
http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=98745
Here from that article is Eero Koivistoinen.
Excellent!!
hubert rawlinson says
Opening line of your prog song?
thecheshirecat says
As far as I am concerned, prog ended before the age of mobile phones.
Anyway, this Finnish fellah toured with Mike Oldfield, and it shows, to my great delight.
Kaisfatdad says
That was a find! A new name to me.
Mike and Sally Oldfield play on the album as does the wonderful Swedish guitarist Georg Wadenius.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mathematician%27s_Air_Display
The album had many different names.
blinky 879 provides some info:
“Matemaatikon Lentonäytös” is from the album „Keesojen Lehto” released in 1977. Outside of Finland the album was also named “Skuggornas Tjuvstart” (in Sweden) „Mathematician’s Air Display” (in UK) or (when it was re-released in 1981) „The Consequences of Indecisions” or simply left untiteled.
——————————–
Pekka Pohjola – bass & keyboards
Mike Oldfield – guitars
Pierre Moerlen – drums
——————————–
Pekka supported Mike with playing bass on his first tour in 1979.
Pekka (+ 27th November 2008) and Pierre (+ 3rd May 2005) sadly passed away much to early.”
Another track for our listening pleasure.
fitterstoke says
@Kaisfatdad – You asked for BBT favourites above, but (much to my surprise) you got no takers.
Well, this is one of my favourites…
Kaisfatdad says
Mike Oldfield was a major player in the prog world back in the mid 70s. He was still working a lot with his old Whole World bandmate David Bedford.
https://www.mikeoldfield.org/1976-chart-success-highlights-busy-year
He’d moved to Througham-Slad, Gloucestershire, where Pekka’s album was recorded.
Mysterious Air Display seem to confuse many Oldford fans. How involved was he?
https://www.mikeoldfield.org/1977-mysterious-air-display
Kaisfatdad says
Classically trained, Pekka rose to fame as bassist in Finnish prog-band Wigwam.
Well worth a listen.
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pekka_Pohjola
Press the translate button to read in English.
He wrote symphonies, played jazz and pop: a real Renaissance man!
Here he is 1988.
A story from Tommy Körberg about Pekka turned down Zappa (in Swedish but you’ll get the idea).
thecheshirecat says
Oh no! We’ve slipped on to the second page and I’ve only just started!
Bellowhead were being pitched as prog folk before this last tour. I am not in agreement. They’re more of a folk big band.
I can see the potential for overlap between prog and folk: the long narratives of ballads, in the folk definition of the term; the adventurous time signatures; the instrumental explorations; the soloing and virtuosity. On the other hand, my idea of folk music is that it has to be portable, so that you can just rock up in a pub somewhere and start playing; that rather rules out mellotrons, which are such a fabulous part of prog.
If I was to choose some folk prog, and I am, it would include
and my beloved Lau
And of course, not many bands would risk covering King Crimson, but The Unthanks have.
retropath2 says
I think this is rather Tull-y. Aaron Jones and Rachel Walker
And no less than Eliza Carthy was faux-horrified by the prog description of this:
Kaisfatdad says
You do introduce us to some interesting music @retropath2.
Jones and Walker’s album celebrates trailblazing Scottish women from history.
https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/achievements-and-exploits-of-trailblazing-scottish-women-honoured-in-song-in-new-album-3889973
I don’t quite understand about “faux-horrified”. But Eliza’s album sounds like a real winner.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/29/eliza-carthy-the-restitution-queen-of-the-whirl-review-highlights-reel
Keep your recommendations a-coming!!