Viva Prog Rock

[Shawn]

I posted this elsewhere, but I think many fans of prog might enjoy this new collaboration between Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth). It surely doesn't sound like anything else currently out there.

That's so many kinds of weird, I don't even know where to start. You're certainly right about the sound being unique. And the video. Wow. It reminded me at times of a movie soundtrack. At others, I expected that an appearance by Salad Fingers was imminent. To say this is interesting would be something of an understatement.

The album benefits from being listened to all the way through. Each song has a very distinctive character yet they fit so nicely together as an actual "album" that it works like an extended 47 minute piece of music. I've been playing this album obsessively this week and it just keeps getting better with each successive listen.

[Shawn]

Been listening to a couple albums by Peter Banks' "Flash" and it's good stuff! Fans of the first couple Yes albums should really enjoy these. You can kind of tell he was flipping the proverbial bird to his former band on these records.

[Aggie87]

Picked up a Hawkwind comp recently, and dig what's on it.

I'd like to check them out further - any recommendations on where to start?

Edited August 15, 2012 by Aggie87

[Shawn]

The only Hawkwind albums I'm familiar with are the ones with Lemmy Kilmister; Doremi Fasol Latido (1972), Hall Of The Mountain Grill (1974) and Warrior On The Edge Of Time (1975). There is also the live album Space Ritual (1973).

Of those three albums "Hall Of The Mountain Grill" is the strongest (imho). It's interesting to note that Lemmy took a few of his songs with him and re-recorded them with Motorhead. "The Watcher" , "Lost Johnny" and the song "Motorhead".

Edited August 15, 2012 by Shawn

[Aggie87]

Thanks Shawn. I'll put those on my list to check out.

The song "Motorhead" is on this comp, it's a trip. I was only familiar with the Motorhead version before.

[Matthew]

The only Hawkwind albums I'm familiar with are the ones with Lemmy Kilmister; Doremi Fasol Latido (1972), Hall Of The Mountain Grill (1974) and Warrior On The Edge Of Time (1975). There is also the live album Space Ritual (1973).

Of those three albums "Hall Of The Mountain Grill" is the strongest (imho). It's interesting to note that Lemmy took a few of his songs with him and re-recorded them with Motorhead. "The Watcher" , "Lost Johnny" and the song "Motorhead".

Only one I can recommend is Space Ritual, all their other albums, I'm

[BFrank]

GOT to be Space Ritual. Not that I know it, but I know OF it.

I vaguely remember seeing them in '74. I was working at the college radio station in Santa Barbara and for some reason we got tickets to see them in Santa Monica. Not only were the tickets free, but they supplied a free bus ride to the show (about 100 miles away). The whole experience was surreal ... and I wasn't tripping - REALLY!

[Shawn]

I recommend people check out Beardfish. Excellent "retro-prog" band from Sweden that captures the sound of the early 70s bands without forsaking more modern influences in arrangement/composition. They have released 7 excellent albums so far and continue to improve/expand their sound.

Here's an instrumental from their latest album "The Void".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej1DmJTbXK8

[BFrank]

I hear

I recommend people check out Beardfish. Excellent "retro-prog" band from Sweden that captures the sound of the early 70s bands without forsaking more modern influences in arrangement/composition. They have released 7 excellent albums so far and continue to improve/expand their sound.

Here's an instrumental from their latest album "The Void".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej1DmJTbXK8[/media]

I hear strains of Focus in there, too. Must be a Scandinavian thing.

Thanks for the heads-up!

[Shawn]

There is also a good bit of Gentle Giant, Nektar, Camel in their sound, along with hints of Zappa here and there. Great stuff.

I'd recommend starting with either of the "Sleeping In Traffic" albums (2 volumes) or "Mammoth".

[BFrank]

A friend just forwarded this to me. Don't know anything about them, but I like the tune. It's very PT-esque.

[Aggie87]

Video clip from the Producers, a group comprised of Trevor Horn & Lol Creme and others. Medley of Yes' Fly From Here Part II, Soon, and Owner of a Lonely Heart.

Horn obviously had a hand in both Fly from Here (originally Buggles work that is on their 2nd album) and Owner (as producer), but Soon was before his time with the band.

[A Lark Ascending]

"I don't believe it!"

I liked this bit.

One night the former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett was woken by the sound of his TV falling off its arm and crashing to the floor. Jokes followed about stars in their 60s now being too old to trash their hotel rooms.

Any sign of the Euro Free Improv cruise yet?

Edited April 20, 2013 by A Lark Ascending

[Shawn]

One of my favorite albums so far this year is the new one from Polish prog-rock band "Riverside", this is from their latest album "The Shrine Of New Generation Slaves".

[Aggie87]

Interesting - SW is doing a 5.1 remix of Close to the Edge!

from Neil Wilkes (Opus Productions):

I have just been told it is okay to tell you all about this at long last - so here goes.

Featuring brand-new stereo & 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson as well as some additional bonus material and the original stereo mix in glorious high resolution, "Close to the Edge" will be released in October this year. I cannot say too much more at this point in time, but will update this thread as & when I am able to do so.
This has been a very long time in the making, but well worth the wait - the new mixes sound absolutely glorious!

Edited June 22, 2013 by Aggie87

[BFrank]

Interesting - SW is doing a 5.1 remix of Close to the Edge!

from Neil Wilkes (Opus Productions):

I have just been told it is okay to tell you all about this at long last - so here goes.

Featuring brand-new stereo & 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson as well as some additional bonus material and the original stereo mix in glorious high resolution, "Close to the Edge" will be released in October this year. I cannot say too much more at this point in time, but will update this thread as & when I am able to do so.

This has been a very long time in the making, but well worth the wait - the new mixes sound absolutely glorious!

Sounds promising.

[A Lark Ascending]

Let's hope Soft Machine 'Third' is high on his list. That one still needs some serious work done on it. He's mentioned it as a possibility.

[7/4]

Interesting - SW is doing a 5.1 remix of Close to the Edge!

from Neil Wilkes (Opus Productions):

I have just been told it is okay to tell you all about this at long last - so here goes.

Featuring brand-new stereo & 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson as well as some additional bonus material and the original stereo mix in glorious high resolution, "Close to the Edge" will be released in October this year. I cannot say too much more at this point in time, but will update this thread as & when I am able to do so.

This has been a very long time in the making, but well worth the wait - the new mixes sound absolutely glorious!

This may be the reason to finally set up the 5.1 hardware someone gave me a few years ago.

[BFrank]

Anyone listen to Tempest - early 70's Jon Hiseman band? The first album (S/T) featured Allan Holdsworth; second album (Living in Fear), Ollie Halsall.

Mark Clarke is also in the band, so it's definitely got a Colosseum sound to it, too. The first album I've listened to for years and years, but I just recently found "Living in Fear" on eMusic and like it a LOT.

Check 'em out, prog-heads!

[Jim Alfredson]

Had some fun last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5cL3FpnxJQ

[Shawn]

Very cool, Jim!

Here's my next Prog new release suggestion for members of the board. "The Mountain" by UK band Haken is easily one of my favorite records of 2013. These guys are the real deal.

Check out the madrigal vocal arrangement ala Gentle Giant on this tune...they have found the right balance of homages to the prog rock past while still sounding like themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_e4YX73Ww4

The video is hilarious as well!

[Uncle Skid]

One of my favorite albums so far this year is the new one from Polish prog-rock band "Riverside", this is from their latest album "The Shrine Of New Generation Slaves".

Been listening to that one the last few days, on your recommendation. Awesome!

Thanks, Shawn.

This is a cool thread. Rock on!

[Shawn]

One of my favorite albums so far this year is the new one from Polish prog-rock band "Riverside", this is from their latest album "The Shrine Of New Generation Slaves".

Been listening to that one the last few days, on your recommendation. Awesome!

Thanks, Shawn.

This is a cool thread. Rock on!

rockonjim.jpg

Cool! Glad you liked it. I would also recommend checking out the new Haken album "The Mountain".

[A Lark Ascending]

According to a BBC blather page:

Fidel Castro is a fan of the progressive rock band Yes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-25684040

And according to the interview with Rick Wakeman I assume this came from:

Is Fidel Castro really a fan?
Yeah! I've spent a few hours with him down in Cuba. Castro himself sent me a letter asking me to play a gig there. He's a fascinating man. And it was a real honour playing for him.

I'd have thought he's have been a Pink Floyd fan. All those pigs must bring back memories.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

According to a BBC blather page:

Fidel Castro is a fan of the progressive rock band Yes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-25684040

i wonder what his favorite album is