Category Archives: Prog Rock
RICK WAKEMAN-1973-1977, THE GLORY YEARS.
RICK WAKEMAN-1973-1977, THE GLORY YEARS. In January 1973, Rick Wakeman released his sophomore album The Six Wives Of Henry VIII. It was a groundbreaking album, one that would forever change prog rock. The Six Wives Of Henry VIII was the album that legitimised synths in prog rock. This was a game-changer. Following the success of …
BLACK MOON CIRCLE-THE STUDIO JAMS VOLUME 2.
BLACK MOON CIRCLE-THE STUDIO JAMS VOLUME 2. Nowadays, not many bands announce that they intend to release a trilogy of albums over the next couple of years. However, that’s exactly what Trondheim based psychedelic space rock band Black Moon Circle did in mid-2015. They announced their intention to release three albums of studio jams. The …
JOHN MILES-MORE THAN MUSIC.
JOHN MILES-MORE THAN MUSIC. Forty years ago in 1976, John Miles released his most successful single Music. Since then, every time John Miles’ name comes up in conversation, Music is mentioned. That must be frustrating for the English singer-songwriter. That must be frustrating for John Miles, who released ten albums between 1976 and 1999. This is …
PAUL MARCANO AND LIGHTDREAMS-10,001 DREAMS.
PAUL MARCANO AND LIGHTDREAMS-10,001 DREAMS. In 1981, British Columbian band LightDreams released debut album Islands In Space. It was a captivating psychedelic sci-fi odyssey where LightDreams explored cosmic ideology. Normally, an album like Islands In Space would’ve found favour with fans of psychedelia and progressive rockers who embraced cerebral, innovative and epic albums. Alas, that …
EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER 2016 REISSUES.
EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER 2016 REISSUES. The seventies was a golden age for rock music. Especially progressive rock. One of the giants of British progressive rock were Emerson, Lake and Palmer. They were formed in 1970, and went on to enjoy commercial success and critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. That was the case …
EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER-BRAIN SALAD SURGERY.
EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER-BRAIN SALAD SURGERY. When the time came for Emerson, Lake and Palmer to record their fourth album, Brain Salad Surgery, the trio were determined to record an album that they could replicate live. That hadn’t been the case with their their three previous albums. Something had to change, they realised. So, Brain Salad Surgery, which will …
BUSHMAN’S REVENGE-JAZZ, FRITT ETTER HUKOMMELSEN.
BUSHMAN’S REVENGE-JAZZ, FRITT ETTER HUKOMMELSEN. After spending twelve years touring and recording, the three members of Bushman’s Revenge decided to take a much needed break. The gruelling and relentless schedule of the last few years had taken its toll. All that was needed was some time off, and a newly refreshed and revitalised Bushman’s Revenge …
VENEZUELA 70-COSMIC VISIONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH-VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 70S.
VENEZUELA 70-COSMIC VISIONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH-VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 70S. Over the last twenty years, the compilation market has been totally transformed. Nowadays, the compilation market is bigger, with many more labels regularly releasing compilations. A turning point was the mid to late nineties, when many small, independent labels began to release …
TONY BANK-LIFE AFTER GENESIS.
TONY BANK-LIFE AFTER GENESIS. All too often, Tony Banks has been referred to as “the keyboard player from Genesis.” This is doing the sixty-seven year old a huge disservice. Tony Banks is a multi-instrumentalist, whose just as comfortable playing guitar as his playing piano, Hammond organ, synths or Mellotron. Seamlessly, Tony Banks could switch between …
EMERSON. LAKE AND PALMER-THE EARLY YEARS 1970-1973.
EMERSON. LAKE AND PALMER-THE EARLY YEARS 1970-1973. The Emerson, Lake and Palmer story began back in in 1970. That was when Keith Emerson and Greg Lake first met at the Filimore West, in San Francisco. Both of them were at a musical crossroads. Keith was a member of The Nice, while Greg Lake was a member …
IAN GILLAN-THE GILLAN BAND AND GILLAN YEARS.
IAN GILLAN-THE GILLAN BAND AND GILLAN YEARS. From the late sixties, right through to the seventies, fusion was one of the most popular musical genres. Fusion was popular on both sides of the Atlantic. However, by the late seventies record buyers were tiring of the fusion of jazz and rock. So were some musicians. This included …
HEDVIG MOLLESTAD TRIO-EVIL IN OSLO.
HEDVIG MOLLESTAD TRIO-EVIL IN OSLO. Most groups choose to release just one new album at a time. That’s most groups. However, the Hedvig Mollestad Trio aren’t most groups. Instead, they’re musical trailblazers, who push musical boundaries, and in the process, create inventive and innovative genre-melting music. That’s been the case since the Hedvig Mollestad Trio were …
MACARTHUR-MACARTHUR.
MACARTHUR-MACARTHUR. Having completed a tour of duty with the United States Marine Corp, Ben MacArthur returned home to Sagina, Michigan in 1977. When Ben returned home, jobs were few and far between, and it looked as if a recession was about to hit the rustbelt. It was hardly the welcome home he had envisaged. The …
CAUSA SUI-RETURN TO SKY.
CAUSA SUI-RETURN TO SKY. Nowadays, not many groups manage to release eleven albums in eleven years. Instead, they spend two or three years ‘perfecting’ their future Magnus Opus. It’s changed days indeed. Back in the early seventies, bands were often contracted to release two album each year. Groups like Yes rose to the challenge, and …
MIKE OLDFIELD-DISCOVERY-VINYL EDITION.
MIKE OLDFIELD-DISCOVERY-VINYL EDITION. By June 1984, thirty-one year old Mike Oldfield prepared to release the ninth album of his career, Discovery which was recently reissued by on vinyl by UMC. This was the followup to 1983s Crises, which was Mike Oldfield’s most successful album of recent years. Crises was certified platinum in Germany and Sweden; and …
MIKE OLDFIELD-DISCOVERY.
MIKE OLDFIELD-DISCOVERY. By June 1984, thirty-one year old Mike Oldfield prepared to release the ninth album of his career, Discovery. This was the followup to 1983s Crises, which was Mike Oldfield’s most successful album of recent years. Crises was certified platinum in Germany and Sweden; and gold in Britain, France and Holland. This surpassed the …
IKARUS-IKARUS.
IKARUS-IKARUS. In Greek mythology, Icarus, the son of the master craftsman Daedalus, who created the Labyrinth, met a tragic ending. Icarus and Daedalus were desperate to escape from Crete. So Daedalus constructed wings made of feathers and wax. As Icarus prepared to make his escape, Daedalus warned his son of complacency and hubris. Icarus shouldn’t …
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