Category Archives: Prog Rock

THE TWENTY BEST NORDIC WAVE ALBUMS OF 2015-PART 1.

THE TWENTY BEST NORDIC WAVE ALBUMS OF 2015-PART 1. For the last few years, Norway has one of the most vibrant music scenes. Gradually, groups from other parts of the Nordic region are beginning to make waves. So it makes sense to add a new category to this 2015’s best of series, the best Nordic …

Continue reading

THE TWENTY BEST NORDIC WAVE ALBUMS OF 2015-PART 2.

THE TWENTY BEST NORDIC WAVE ALBUMS OF 2015-PART 2. GORAN KAJFES SUBTROPIC ARKESTRA-THE REASON WHY VOLUME 2. For the last three decades, Goran Kajfeš has been a key figure in the Swedish music scene.There’s a reason for this. Goran Kajfeš has constantly been  releasing groundbreaking, genre-melting music. To do this, Goran has pushed musical boundaries …

Continue reading

KROKOFANT-KROKOFANT II.

KROKOFANT-KROKOFANT II. Two years ago, Krokofant were preparing to release their eponymous debut album on Rune Grammofon. It was an exciting time for the Kongsberg based trio. Krokofant were regarded as one of the rising stars of the Nordic music scene.  Great things were forecast for Krokofant, who were being described by critics as one …

Continue reading

MAGMA-KOHNZERT ZUND.

MAGMA-KOHNZERT ZUND. In 1969, Christian Vander had a vision. His vision was “humanity’s spiritual and ecological future.” What he saw worried him. So Christian Vander decided to share his vision of the future. The way he chose to do this, was through music. Christian Vander was a classically trained drummer, and in 1969, ormed what would …

Continue reading

HAWKWIND-THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING…YOUR CAPTAIN IS DEAD.

HAWKWIND-THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING…YOUR CAPTAIN IS DEAD. As the sixties drew to a close, one of the pioneers of the British space rock sound were formed in November 1969. This was Hawkwind, whose career would span six decades. During that period, Hawkwind’s lineup is best described as fluid. Over forty musicians have played a …

Continue reading

JETHRO TULL-TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TO YOUNG TO DIE!

JETHRO TULL-TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TO YOUNG TO DIE! By December 1975, Ian Anderson was only twenty-eight, and was the lead singer of one of the most successful progressive rock bands in the world, Jethro Tull. British music magazine Melody Maker went further. They asked in February 1975; “Jethro Tull–Now The World’s Biggest …

Continue reading

HOUSE OF NOT-THE WALKABOUT OF A. NEXTER NIODE- PART ONE-OFF THE PATH.

HOUSE OF NOT-THE WALKABOUT OF A. NEXTER NIODE- PART ONE-OFF THE PATH. For many music historians, the seventies was the golden age of rock. During the golden age of rock, concept albums and rock operas were commonplace. Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Yes, Genesis, The Who were responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed and …

Continue reading

FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH VINYL EDITION.

FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH VINYL EDITION. In music, the most overused word is legend. It’s a word thrown around like confetti at a Las Vegas wedding. Nowadays, every two-bit hip hopper, EDM star or Nu Soul singer is being referred to as a legend. That’s far removed from the truth. However, it’s nothing new. The overuse …

Continue reading

JETHRO TULL-TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TO YOUNG TO DIE! BOX SET

JETHRO TULL-TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TO YOUNG TO DIE! BOX SET By December 1975, Ian Anderson was only twenty-eight, and was the lead singer of one of the most successful progressive rock bands in the world, Jethro Tull. British music magazine Melody Maker went further. They asked in February 1975; “Jethro Tull–Now The …

Continue reading

KING CRIMSON-THRAK.

KING CRIMSON-THRAK. Throughout the history of King Crimson, the lineup has been in a constant state of flux. The lineup is best described as fluid, with members leaving, only to join and return at a later date. By 1995, King Crimson were onto their fifth lineup, when they recorded Thrak, which was recently released by …

Continue reading

THE ALAN PARSON’S PROJECT-THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.

THE ALAN PARSON’S PROJECT-THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. Alan Parsons was just eighteen when he started work at Abbey Road Studios, in October 1967. Less that two years later, Alan Parsons received his first credit when he engineered The Beatles’ Abbey Road. It was released in September 1969, and was the …

Continue reading

MOSTER!-WHEN YOU CUT INTO THE PRESENT.

MOSTER!-WHEN YOU CUT INTO THE PRESENT. Ever since they made their debut at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 2010, Norwegian supergroup Møster!’s star has been in the ascendancy. So much so, that Møster! are now regarded as one of the biggest bands in the Nordic music scene. That’s quite a feat. Especially since Norway has …

Continue reading

ANTHONY PHILLIPS-PRIVATE PARTS AND PIECES I-IV.

ANTHONY PHILLIPS-PRIVATE PARTS AND PIECES I-IV. Many people think that the home studio is a new thing. That’s not the case. Musicians were recording music at home way DAWs and laptops began to play an important part in the recording process. Anthony Phillips is proof of that. Anthony Phillips started experimenting with a basic reel-to-reel …

Continue reading

SPOOKY TOOTH-THE ISLAND YEARS.

SPOOKY TOOTH-THE ISLAND YEARS. All too often, some bands don’t get the credit they deserve. That was the case with Spooky Tooth, who for a time, pioneered the use of twin keyboards. They lead the way. Soon, other bands were following in their wake. By then, the Spooky Tooth story was over. Spooky Tooth were only …

Continue reading

INTERVIEW WITH HANS-JOACHIM ROEDELIUS-A LIFE MAKING MUSIC.

INTERVIEW WITH HANS-JOACHIM ROEDELIUS- A LIFE MAKING MUSIC. The words pioneer and innovator are often overused. However, it is a fitting description of Hans-Joachim Roedelius. He is, without doubt, one of the most inventive and influential musicians of the past fifty years. His music has influenced several generation of musicians. And Hans-Joachim Roedelius has released more …

Continue reading

ELEPHANT9 WITH REINE FISKE-SILVER MOUNTAIN.

ELEPHANT9 WITH REINE FISKE-SILVER MOUNTAIN. For their fourth album, Silver Mountain, Elephant9 have once again joined forces with Swedish guitarist Reine Fiske. This tantalising pan-Scandinavian collaboration has resulted in a genre-melting album of rock ’n’ jazz, prog rock and psychedelia, Silver Mountain. It will be released on Rune Grammofon on 16th October 2015, and is …

Continue reading

FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH.

FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH. In music, the most overused word is legend. It’s a word thrown around like confetti at a Las Vegas wedding. Nowadays, every two-bit hip hopper, EDM star or Nu Soul singer is being referred to as a legend. That’s far removed from the truth. However, it’s nothing new. The overuse of the …

Continue reading

AUDIENCE-FRIENDS, FRIENDS, FRIEND.

Audience- Friend’s, Friend’s, Friend. In October 1969, Audience were offered the opportunity to support Led Zeppelin at the Lyceum in London. For Audience, this was the opportunity of a lifetime as Led Zeppelin had just released their eponymous debut album on 12th of January 1969. It was well on its way to selling over ten …

Continue reading

EARTH AND FIRE-TO THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE.

EARTH AND FIRE-TO THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE. Alquin, Ekseption, Finch, Focus, Golden Earring and Trace all have something in common. Just like Earth and Fire, they were some of the most successful Dutch bands of the prog rock era. Their music is still popular today among connoisseurs of progressive rock. That’s why Earth and …

Continue reading

TEN YEARS AFTER-STONEDHENGE.

TEN YEARS AFTER-STONEDHENGE. In October 1967, Ten Years After released their eponymous debut album. The album failed to make an impression on either side of the Atlantic. It was a disappointing start to Ten Years After’s recording career. Especially considering how well things had been going for Ten Years After.  Ever since they had changed …

Continue reading