Things Inside: Discovering Will Sergeant

On By Dr NickIn progressive rock music

If you are of a certain age, you will probably be most familiar with Will Sergeant as guitarist and founder member of Liverpool legends Echo & The Bunnymen. Their classic album Ocean Rain became a particular favourite of mine during my student days in the mid 80s and I still consider it one of the best releases of that period.

But Will has not limited his musical horizons to the Bunnymen; he has worked on other projects over the past couple of years and discovering them has been one of 2013’s unexpected pleasures for me.

Back in January, Will and fellow Bunnyman Les Pattinson formed a new band called Poltergeist and announced a PledgeMusic campaign to fund production of their debut album. That album, entitled Your Mind Is A Box (Let Us Fill It With Wonder), appeared as a download for pledgers in March and had a worldwide release in June.  According to Will,

We create a form of rock music with its toes paddling in the progressive ocean foam of the sixties and seventies and its head in the bone dry air of the present day.

Your Mind Is A Box is a splendid slice of instrumental prog/post-rock that deserves a place in my Best Of 2013 list, being denied that right solely due only to the incredible strength and depth of this year’s album releases. Fans of The Fierce & The Dead and their ilk should definitely give this a listen.

In September, Will launched another PledgeMusic campaign, this time for a new album from occasional project Glide. This resulted in the release of Assemblage One & Two at the start of November. Glide is a quite different beast to Poltergeist, drawing inspiration from the 1970s electronica of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Will describes the project thus:

It is an unashamed self indulgent venture. I see nothing wrong with being self indulgent. In my view all art of any worth is built on self indulgence. From the first stroke of a brush, word of literature, note of an instrument or strike of the chisel against the cold stone or wood. The only person that a true artist should be aiming to please should be himself. If you start worrying about what the people may say about the work it is immediately compromised and is a dead duck. So I walk alone once more through electronic landscape for only one reason: I like it there.

Well I like it too, Will: as a devoted fan of early to mid-period TD, I like it very much indeed! The two tracks from Assemblage – clocking in at truly proggy lengths of 19:34 and 22:28, respectively – are hypnotic and utterly absorbing, evoking the spirit of this genre’s German pioneers superbly.

Last week I was privileged to attend a play-through of Assemblage One & Two by Will, in the planetarium at Liverpool’s World Museum. The computer-projected visuals of planets, stars and galaxies were the perfect mind-expanding accompaniment to the music. Will had a small merch desk at the event, so I took a punt on a CD of his from 2012, called Things Inside – and I am so glad I did!

Things Inside – available as a CD or as a download – is another instrumental album, but one quite different in tone from the work produced by the Poltergeist and Glide projects. For one thing, it is almost entirely acoustic. Instruments used include acoustic guitars, ukulele, melodica, vibraphone, hammered dulcimer, celeste, auto harp, Schoenhut toy piano, acoustic bass, flute, french horn and wind chimes! I’ve only listened to it a couple of times, but I’m already loving it.

It’s wonderful when an artist known for one particular style of music reveals a hidden side, a more broad-ranging creativity than you were expecting. Here’s hoping there is more to come from ‘Sergeant Fuzz’ in 2014!

Brian’s List

On By brianwatson1487In progressive rock musicLeave a comment

This year I have been particularly impressed with records by:
The Tangent x 2
The Fierce and the Dead
Haken
von Hertzen Brothers
Spock’s Beard
KingBathmat
The Flowerkings
Manning
Moon Safari
Thumpermonkey
Glass Hammer
Steven Wilson
Fractal Mirror
Big Big Train
Tom Slatter
Mike Kershaw

And I’m pleased to say that I did art for three of the above releases. Which is nice.

But I’ve been truly excited by an artiste I first heard on Cliff Pearson’s radio show, an American chap by the name of Bryan Scary. A solo performer he also has a band, The Shredding Tears. The name of his debut solo album, confusingly. Flight of the Knife is four years old or so now but I believe it is an art/rock classic that should grace the CD shelves of any self-respecting music fan. He released Daffy’s Elixir last year and to be fair that is almost as good.
If you are after a recent sonic touchstone then I’d have to say the general vibe reminds me of Mega Moon by Moon Safari. It has an operatic, bombastic, vaudevillian quality to it that I find utterly compelling. More melodies than you can shake an incredibly melodic stick at. And superbly crafted pop/rock songs. I would recommend his entire catalogue to everyone but especially those of you who dig ELO, Queen, Genesis, Sparks, Rocky Horror, A.C.T.
Discovering Bryan Scary is my highlight of 2013 in fact.

I’m not the-list-kind-of-guy but…

On By Tobbe JansonIn 2013, Progarchy, progressive rock music2 Comments

…nevertheless I have done my homework and now will present my list of the best albums from this absolutely fantastic year of prog! 🙂 I mean 2012 and 2013 have been excellent years both of them but 2013 has been special. I think we can agree on that even though our personal lists may differ a bit. Not to be spoiling too much, but the number one was a no-brainer really, but then it was extremely hard to distinguish between albums 2 to 6. These are five albums that actually can interchange their positions depending on what kind of day it is for me. 🙂 This is how it all ended up today at least. So off we go!

10. Camelias Garden – You Have A Chance

You Have A Chance

Lovely debut album by this Italian band. Folky prog a bit in the vein of Harmonium.

9. Spock’s Beard – Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep

sb

Well, who would have thought that my favourite SB-album would be the one without both Neal and Nick? But so it is!

8. Haken – The Mountain

haken1

Rawk’n’rawl and some real quirkiness in a fine mix! Will always remember sitting in Mr Ian Greatorex’s listening room with high end stereo equipment, giving this a first listen…with a Big Big Beer in my hand.

7. Lifesigns – Lifesigns

Lifesigns CD (2)

After feeling it was a bit “meh” to start with this lush album has grown and grown. Some really beautiful songs here!

6. The Tangent – Le Sacre du Travail

tangent 2013 cover

Mr Andy Tillison’s magnum opus to date! Greatness! And with Gavin on drums and Jonas on bass, what can possibly go wrong?

5. Cosmograf – The Man Left In Space

cosmograf

Superb album by Robin Armstrong’s brainchild, comsograf! It’s one of those you just have to listen to from beginning to end totally undisturbed. 

4. Moon Safari – Himlabacken Vol. 1

Himlabacken Vol. 1

I can’t resist this band’s music! It always makes me so very happy and warm inside! Lovely peeps in the band as well!

3. The Flower Kings – Desolation Rose

"Pure Flower Kings, pure prog and Kingly epic."

Best TFK album since Space Revolver I dare say. So glad they’re back and sounding so fresch and on their toes again!

2. Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused To Sing

Raven That Refused to Sing

What can I say? It’s a gorgeous album!

1. Big Big Train – English Electric: Full Power

Progarchy Best Packaging, 2013: Big Big Train, English Electric Full Power.

Well, nobody’s probably really surprised about this being my number one of 2013. 😀 It’s a stunner and will be for many years to come! It’s the best album of any genre for me this year. Without competition.

So…that’s it folks. Outside my list of Top 10 you can find some that are very fine albums and would have made any Top 10 from any other year before 2012. Vienna Circle – Silhouette Moon, Days Between Stations – In Extremis, Johannes Luley – Tales From The Sheepfather’s Grove and Shinebacks fine album Rise Up Forgotten, Return Destroyed (added 20130103) are examples of albums bubbling just beneath position number 10. Then we find albums that I haven’t found the time, motivation or curiousness to listen to more than very casually at the best. Riverside, Airbag, Fish, Nemo, Maschine etc are among those bands or artists that I haven’t given proper attention as of yet.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year everyone!

PS. Best prog-related and most fun and interesting experience of the year: Big Big Weekend 14-15 September in Winchester and Southampton!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sIveLBgVl8

Snow Goose is no Turkey – A new Tangent Release!

On By ericbfgIn progressive rock music4 Comments

The Tangent -snow goose

The new release from the Tangent is due out on Christmas Eve….I’m going to stop there and clarify that. The newest release from the Tangent in 2013 is out on tomorrow. Yes another piece of great music from Andy Tillison is being released just before the Christmas holidays. A prolific few months from the band have given us some of the best music of the year in the form of two albums Le Sacre Du Travail and L’Etagere Du Travail.

“Music Inspired by Music Inspired by the Snow Goose” is the official title of the latest offering and this is exactly what the name suggests. A homage to one of the best prog albums of the original era by Camel.
A fantastic recent tour from a revitalised Andy Latimer has no doubt had some influence in this creative moment for Andy and the results are a delight that I’m sure even the most hardened critics will warm to.

The song starts with a familiar refrain that could have come straight out of the Camel stable, a flute based toe tapper that draws you in and literary makes you smile. As the song settles into the middle instrumental passages it offers a clever blend of the flavours of Camel but there is enough of The Tangent sound in there to convince you that you aren’t actually just listening to a blatant pastiche. Impressively everything is performed by Andy on the small set up within his house. (The dining room I think.)
A special mention goes to Sally Collyer for the camera work on the video that has been made to accompany the song and Andy’s post production editing skills combine to make a fun piece which brings out the charm of the track perfectly.

Significant proceeds from the sale of the track are going to a good causes in particular Cancer charities in honour of Andy Latimer’s return and also the expectation of a speedy recovery for Christina Booth from Magenta who is also being treated at this time.

I am hoping plenty of people read this and share it, and most of all, purchase this track on Christmas Eve. It will blow away your Christmas stress, help you with the wrapping of presents and keep you company whilst you plough your way through a bottle of Shiraz.

Well actually it probably won’t but it will remind you this has been a great year for Tangent music and progressive rock in general.

MP3 and FLAC will be available to buy from the Tangent shop at  http://thetangent.org/ and the song will be free to watch on YouTube from Tues 24th at 8pm – 20:00 GMT

The Best Prog Bands You’ve Never Heard Of (Part Five): Babylon

On By Connor MullinIn progressive rock music3 Comments

babylon

Following a busy (and triumphant) end to another college semester, I have finally returned to help bring to light those bands which would have been lost to history if not for the wondrous powers of the Internet.  There are many groups left to cover, and this Christmas week I would like to call your attention to a band called Babylon.  This Florida based quintet released one eponymous album in 1978.  It was an excellent effort, but due to lack of sales the group disbanded shortly after the album’s release.  Nevertheless it is an album worth listening to.  Babylon has been compared to Genesis, but they are more than mere copycats.  Like Genesis, Babylon found its niche in the symphonic school of prog; their sound is primarily driven by keyboards and a guitar synthesizer (no flute is present, however).  The lead singer could best be described as a blend of Peter Gabriel and Peter Hammill; his vocals are rather distinct and dramatic.  Guitarist J. David Boyko was no doubt inspired by Steve Hackett’s unique sound, and he does some fine work on the album.  The individual members are comparable in sound (and nearly in skill) to the members of Genesis, but some of the lyrics are darker.  And now to the songs:

The Mote in God’s Eye: keyboard driven piece; (somewhat) humorous lyrics sung with dramatic vocals provides an interesting contrast

Before the Fall: solid bass performance (louder than Rutherford usually played); Hackett-like guitar synth

Dreamfish: excellent keyboard intro reminiscent of some of Banks’s finest work; Hammill-like vocals; solid drumming and bass provides great rhythm section

Cathedral of the Mary Ruin: vocals sound like Fish and Gabriel; another fine keyboard and guitar synthesizer driven song

All four songs are over seven minutes in length and each is of the utmost quality.  It’s unfortunate this group never released another album, but thanks to Youtube and iTunes, you can enjoy the small masterpiece they did produce.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here is Dreamfish:

Some Cover-Artworks by Ed Unitsky

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock musicLeave a comment

Schnikees, this is incredible.  Enjoy this fabulous cover art.  Posted here with permission of Ed Unitsky.

unitsky covers

The Mountain (Best of 2013 — Part 4)

On By Time LordIn 20131 Comment

Coming in the #4 slot (in alphabetical order) on my Best of 2013 list is a band that this year really made me sit up and take notice:

Haken

This is prog metal that is so transcendent, and so obviously far above the average genre offering, that I was truly shocked by the staggering magnitude of the excellence on display in this album release.

Kind of like an awesome mountain.

Behold the majesty! How beautiful.

How spectacular!

The first track, “The Path,” pierces right to the heart with its stunningly beautiful theme. (It resurfaces in very satisfying ways later on.)

Continuing on from there, the entire album is non-stop upper-echelon prog.

I want to give a big special thanks to my Progarchy friends, for alerting me to this amazing album, by posting the hilarious “Cockroach King” video back in September.

Perhaps my favorite track is “Pareidolia“; I agree with Thaddeus Wert that this track is sheer perfection.

(But then again, “Falling Back to Earth” is totally epic; and at 11:51 it wins the battle of the prog clock.)

I am pleased to see this album make it onto so many Top Ten lists among all the progarchists. Justice! What more need I say?

Perhaps I should close with a public service announcement, by noting the correct pronunciation of the band’s name. According to the band, it rhymes with bacon. As for the meaning of the name:

There’s no meaning, really. It came from kind of alcohol-fueled gatherings between me and my friend and we thought it’d be a nice name purely from the sound of it. There’s no deep meaning behind it.

How disappointing. But there are conflicting accounts; apparently the name is “actually the name of a fictional character” they once invented.

Well, if I could give the band a piece of advice — now that they have proven themselves to be top-rank masters of prog — I would say that they need to change their story on this, pronto.

Run this past the publicist: Why not officially decide that the band name refers to model Rianne ten Haken? (After all, there is rock precedent for using models’ names for purposes of euphony; I adduce, as my prime example, Nash Kato’s inspired use of Laetitia Casta’s sonorous appellation in “Octoroon.”)

But even more importantly, there has to be an immediate and non-negotiable change in the correct pronunciation of the band’s name:

Haken.

Rhymes with rockin’.

The Overlooked and Neglected of 2012, Part II: Arrow Haze, MUSIC FACTORY

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

front_400As I mentioned at the end of November, I fear that a number of important 2012 releases will be lost to the annals of time.  As we’re already looking forward (happily) to 2014 and celebrating the year—perhaps the best year in the history of progressive rock—that was 2013, I want to consider some albums from 2012 that failed to garner as much attention as they should have.

My first such somewhat ignored classic of 2012 was North Atlantic Oscillation’s FOG ELECTRIC.  I give it—and everything Sam Healy does—my highest ratings.

Tonight, I want to continue with my second in the series, MUSIC FACTORY by Arrow Haze.

I’m not completely sure I would classify this Belgian album—quite excellent—as necessarily progressive rock in the sense that we might think of Big Big Train or The Tangent as prog.  Nor is MUSIC FACTORY moody in the way that Nosound is.  Instead, I think it’s much more classic 1980’s AOR, though with modern production and modern sensibilities.  Perhaps a good comparison might be with Neal Morse’s AOR project, Flying Colors.  Coralspin also comes to mind.  This is really progressive AOR, with lots of Trevor Rabin, Rush-era Counterparts, as well as grunge tendencies.

Most importantly, the album is diverse.  No song really sounds like any other song.  At first listen, this threw me off, as I was search for something to tie it all together.  But, don’t take this the wrong way.  This isn’t a criticism as much as it is an observation.

At 13 tracks over 57 minutes, MUSIC FACTORY covers a lot of territory, especially in terms of musical styles.  The opening track, “Casino,” for example, reminds me of the poppier pieces by Oceansize with its angular guitars, Oceansize.  The fifth track, “Lost,” harkens back to early 1990s groups such as Inspiral Carpets and the Charlatans.  The ninth track, “Elly Kedward,” strikes me as what Dream Theater might sound like if it decided to cover the best of Blue Oyster Cult.

Of this first album, the standout is really track 13, “Crisis.”  This is the most Trevor Rabin-like of all the tracks, a bit heavier than anything Rabin did, but outstanding.

The leader singer has an excellent voice, again with a very AOR-like sound (reminded me of being in junior high and highs school and listening to KICT-95 rock out of Wichita, Kansas), and the lyrics are poetically rendered and, generally, very life affirming.  This is not to suggest they’re always just happy go lucky.  Instead, they appropriate criticize excesses of conformism in society, but never to the extent that, say, Neil Peart did in the early 1980s.  The only exception to this is the appropriately named “Routine,” track 12.

Arrow Haze formed in 2011, and these guys—at least from the picture on the back of the booklet—are young.  These guys are brilliant musicians, and I have no doubt that we will be hearing a lot from, by, and about them over the next decade or two.

If I could offer a suggestion—offered with age if not necessarily wisdom—I hope these guys open up the spaces they’ve created.  Right now, they’re as driven as young men normally are, though, of course, while also being endowed with exceptional musical gifts.  I hope they allow themselves to explore the music itself more, to linger in it, and to allow it to encompass them.  Right now, with Music Factory, the music is a second ahead of the band.  With a bit more time, they’ll come into sync with it.

I have no doubt they will succeed admirably and with integrity.  I’m already very much looking forward to their second release.  These guys have a solid future.

To check out Arrow Haze on their home web turf, go here.

Kids Writing Music in a Basement

On By Time LordIn ProgarchyLeave a comment

Loudwire recently caught up with John Petrucci of Dream Theater. An excerpt from their exclusive interview:

In your opinion, not just of the Grammys, but of other award shows, do you think they really matter?

There’s successes you have in your career. For me, for example, as a guitar player, as somebody in a band putting out albums, the success that we have in our field and how we’re viewed by our fans; that type of success means more than anything to us. The Grammy recognition is cool, as well, because that’s something different. Now, here is a situation where your song or album is being considered and voted on by members of the Recording Academy. It’s all professional; a wide range of professionals in the music industry. So, it could be different engineers, producers, musicians and songwriters in that pool of people who are doing the same thing that you are doing and think enough of your music that among hundreds and hundreds of submissions to pick, they say, “Hey, that song is deserving.” That has a really special meaning as well. It’s very cool, you feel a sense of honor and you’re humbled by that, from people making that kind of choice.

When you look at your history, Dream Theater are one of those bands that’s always been very critically acclaimed. For you, the Grammys is a new type of critical acclaim. Do you ever get used to the amount and of praise that Dream Theater receives?

It’s always surprising. In fact, we talk about this a lot. For example, me and John Myung, we met when we were in middle school / junior high. We were teenagers, we’ve been playing together for so long. We have so much history and the band has been through so many different things together professionally and personally. We’ve seen our families grow up together. It’s a very private thing when you have these strong relationships with these guys, you’re writing music with these guys behind closed doors.

It’s a really personal and private career that all of a sudden gets exposed in a very public way as soon as you put music out, play live and everything else. The innocence of it never goes away. We still feel like we’re the same kids writing music in a basement. [Laughs] Next thing you know, there are people out there that appreciate it and want to see it and want to get it, and in the case of the Grammys, want to recognize it. It’s all very surreal, it’s a strange feeling. You never get used to that kind of praise. It keeps us pushing to do better. You want to do better, to keep upping our game. That’s what great about choosing music as a career, you can do that.