Tag: Hands

Connor’s Best of the Obscure

On By Connor MullinIn progressive rock1 Comment

Much to my shame, I have listened little to the latest offerings from the eclectic world of prog. I am currently working on changing this bad habit of mine, but I confess it has been difficult, as I still have many obscure gems to unearth (and I will continue my list soon – I promise!). Anyway, in no particular order, here are my top ten obscure prog artists (out of an ongoing list currently standing at thirty-four):

  1. Cathedral – Stained Glass Stories: the first album review I ever wrote for Progarchy just so happened to concern one of the better obscure gems I have discovered thus far, a symphonic masterpiece evocative of Yes or Genesis.
  2. Universe – Universe: psychedelia mixed with a dash of Christianity makes for a rare but beautiful bird of an album in the rich world of 1970s music.
  3. Alloy Now – Twin Sister of the Milky Way: space prog at its finest. Major Tom would have been better off if he had this album on his final journey through the heavens.
  4. Jan Dukes de Grey – Mice and Rats in the Loft: Nursery Cryme‘s obscure cousin, an album both comical and horrifying at the same time. Also, Derek Noy shreds on twelve-string guitar. Shreds.
  5. Island – Pictures: a cover designed by Giger and music blending the darkness of Van der Graaf Generator with the dexterity of Gentle Giant? These chaps certainly offer one of the more complex obscurities out there.
  6. Hands – Hands: America’s answer to Gentle Giant. But these chaps are no copy cats: they are top notch musicians who gave to the world their own idiosyncratic sound.
  7. Lift – Caverns of Your Brain: a superb effort by a group of young American musicians. Aficionados of symphonic and space prog will love this gem.
  8. Fruupp – The Prince of Heaven’s Eyes: as a chap of Irish descent, I suppose I have a soft spot for young Mud Flanagan and his adventures. And if this band were talented enough to open for Queen and King Crimson back in the day, they’re probably worth a listen or two.
  9. Touch – Touch: one of those groups that could have been a contender: Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger were fans. Alas, it was not to be. But thanks to YouTube, you can listen for free to some incredible vocals and even more impressive work on the keyboards.
  10. Circus – Circus: Mel Collins in the days before he was cool (I joke of course; Mel Collins has always been cool). But it is Mel Collins in the days before King Crimson – and his band, although not entirely original, was really good.

The Best Prog Bands You’ve Never Heard Of (Part Ten): Hands

On By Connor MullinIn progressive rock music5 Comments

hands

Alas, we have arrived at the end of this ten part series.  The final band I would like to draw your attention to hails from the great state of Texas.  They are a sextet known as Hands and they are one of the most talented bands I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.  As a matter of fact, I consider these Texan minstrels to be up there with Universe as two of the finest American prog bands (apologies to Kansas and Styx).  Their first album, released in 1977, features quite an array of instruments besides the standard guitar, bass, keys, and drums, including flute, saxophone, oboe, violin, and vitar.  This band is no doubt America’s version of Gentle Giant, although I prefer the vocals of Hands to those of their British counterparts.  Each song is a treat, and although idiosyncratic compositions are ubiquitous in the prog rock world, these guys seem to have the ability to produce a unique tune every time.  Here are just a few songs from the album that I especially enjoyed:

1. Zombieroch– the opener is a fun and rollicking instrumental straight out of the Gentle Giant catalogue.

5. Worlds Apart– the first song to feature vocals, similar to John Wetton’s soft and raspy voice; excellent performance on the keys.

6. Dreamsearch– my favorite piece; a sweeping epic with fine guitar, bass, and keyboard work; features a brief but funky clavinet riff, transitions to a wonderful bass and keys interplay, and then finally to flute and keys.

7. Left Behind– opens with Simon and Garfunkel-like acoustic guitar and piano, but eventually transitions to electric guitar before ending the same way it opened.

Hands has remained active over the years, releasing a handful of albums, their latest as recently as 2008.  I found every song on this album enjoyable to listen to, which I admit I cannot say of every prog album, even some of the most noteworthy ones. Hands deserved more attention, but unfortunately they couldn’t quite reach that level of stardom that some of their British comrades did.  I hope you will take the time to listen to their eponymous debut album. You won’t regret it.

Also, although this series has ended, I will not ignore other obscure prog rock bands, and neither should you.  The website Proggnosis is an excellent database of bands old and new, well documented and rare, good and bad.  Take some time to discover some of the hidden gems of the prog world.