Is Prog a bunch of self indulgent nonsense

[kimangelis]

Listened to Riverside but not Anathema... Thanks, I'll give it a whirl.

As for genre definitions being tricky, I don't agree. Bands and artists might morph from one genre to the next. But the genre remains, only the bands change, or people's perception of them.

[Fretless]

As for genre definitions being tricky, I don't agree. Bands and artists might morph from one genre to the next. But the genre remains, only the bands change, or people's perception of them.

Well said, I'd agree with you on that.

Anathema developed from a skull-crunching doom-metal outfit into an ethereal, power-bliss sound that just has to be heard. A couple of albums ago the Cavanagh brothers added female vocalist Lee Douglas to the line-up and her passionate and angelic voice gives an otherworldly edge to the music that few other acts in modern rock can equal.

Here is a taster: 'Springfield' from the forthcoming album 'The Optimist'.
https://youtu.be/8y1ROzCUpbU

The last outing, 2014's 'Distant Satellites' is just astounding.
Anathema - The Lost Song ( parts 1,2,3)

[kimangelis]

I'm ahead of you. Just bought two albums including your recommendation. New album out soon. Thanks for the tip Fretless.

[antonio66]

I had never heard of Anathema before you mentioned them a short while ago Fretless, but this most recent link has got me more interested and your link also led me to this which I think is amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i6Go3uZ-S4
Thanks.

[kimangelis]

I agree... Phenomenal stuff !

[CN211276]

As for genre definitions being tricky, I don't agree. Bands and artists might morph from one genre to the next. But the genre remains, only the bands change, or people's perception of them.

Well said, I'd agree with you on that.

Anathema developed from a skull-crunching doom-metal outfit into an ethereal, power-bliss sound that just has to be heard. A couple of albums ago the Cavanagh brothers added female vocalist Lee Douglas to the line-up and her passionate and angelic voice gives an otherworldly edge to the music that few other acts in modern rock can equal.

Here is a taster: 'Springfield' from the forthcoming album 'The Optimist'.
https://youtu.be/8y1ROzCUpbU

The last outing, 2014's 'Distant Satellites' is just astounding.
Anathema - The Lost Song ( parts 1,2,3)

I gave this album a play and liked it. Had not heard of the band previously. The two parts are very different, the first being light prog and the second doom metal. Added them to my favourites on Tidal and will investigate more of their material.

[Simon Hickie]

For a spot of Belgian 70's prog, try Machiavel's 'Mechanical Moonbeams' from 1978. Think a bit of Yes meeting a chunk of Supertramp with a sprinkling of Pink Floyd and Genesis thrown in.

For a little more contemporary, try Astra's 'The Wierding'. Not the best recording quality though.

Again, some might like Ayreon's 'Universal Migrator Parts 1 & 2' for something contemporary.

Finally from 2013 we have Haken's 'The Mountain'.

And yes some prog can be rather self indulgent. But give me that over jazz anytime.

[Fretless]

A slice of Prog that isn't self-indulgent nonsense ...

Australian group Caligula's Horse with the track 'Firelight' from the album 'Bloom'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNIP5LPuLHo

Sold melodic rock which is fairly similar to fellow-antipodeans Karnivool.
Will be ordering 'Bloom' - interested to hear the rest.





As for Anathema - those interested should check out the 'Eternity' (1996) album

where they made a conscious move from Black Metal into melodic territory clearly influenced by Pink Floyd. Then the following release 'Alternative 4'

is more experimental and ambient - sounding a bit like Radiohead in places, as does 2003's 'A Natural Disaster' where increasing use of electronics is made and the guitars are getting gradually less crunchy.
The first really Prog album was 2010's 'We're Here Because We're Here'

where the voice of Lee Douglas is added to the group. A hypnotic and uplifting record, this is where Anathema finally hit their stride and became the band they had long been trying to become.

1994's 'Pentecost III' EP reveals something gestating in the early Anathema sound; the search for beauty in a desolate swamp.
Anathema - We, the gods
I've been following them since this came out - sometimes you feel the potential in a group and keep buying the records in the hope that one day they will let us all see what they a capable of. Luckily, Anathema have got there.

[Fretless]

King Crimson news from the Burning Shed site:



King Crimson's Heroes EP was recorded live on the band’s European tour of 2016.

The title track sees Robert Fripp reprise the unforgettable guitar role he created for the original David Bowie studio recording in the same city in 1977 (particularly poignant in the year of Bowie's death).

The EP also features a ten minute recording of Easy Money, an edited (song section) version of Starless, a 'radio edit' of Heroes, and a recording of the three drummers' showpiece The Hell Hounds of Krim.

All are previously unreleased live recordings.

---------

'King Crimson performed Heroes at the Admiralspalast in Berlin as a celebration, a remembrancing and an homage. The concert was thirty-nine years and one month after the original sessions at the Hansa Tonstudio overlooking the Berlin Wall. This is released in the Fortieth Anniversary year.'

Robert Fripp, Wednesday 22nd. February, 2017; DGM HQ, Wiltshire, England.

---------

Pre-order for June 2nd release.

[Fretless]

Why didn't somebody warn me ..... ?

Sometimes an album comes out of nowhere, unexpected, and just totally blows you away. This is what 'The Mountain' from UK proggers Haken has done to me.
Stunning.



The opening lulls you into a sense of serenity with delicate piano and sensitive vocals until the band blasts in with power and a take-no-prisoners attitude. Think of a cross between IQ and Dream Theater playing classic Yes. But there's more - not only are this lot incredibly technically accomplished muso's but they can also sing - seriously, the best multi-voiced outfit since Yes or (closer) Gentle Giant; Haken can also recreate the Baroque choral polyphony that the Shulman brothers copyrighted back in the 70's to amazing effect.

Here is a hilarious (to me) video of the track 'Cockroach King':
HAKEN - Cockroach King - (Single Version)

It's not just a display of virtuosity - there are great songs in there with attention-grabbing arrangements and sudden shifts between jazz, math-rock, classical, ambient, you name it...
Checking out some live clips they can easily reproduce the material live and I've spotted 6-string basses and 8-string guitars being used. No standard instrumentation here.

Bizarre, bizarre, bizarre ... and great !!!