rec.music.progressive Frequently Asked Questions 8/8

Last-modified: Thu Jan 10 23:09:06 2008

Summary: Selective examples of recommended new progressive music today. Details recommended albums, general style and country of origin.

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A question is sometimes put thusly:

"I used to be into progressive music in the 70s and was a big Yes/Crimson/ELP/etc. fan. I've heard there is a "revival" of sorts going on. My question is, "Point me at some good contemporary progressive music"."

This is a very important and valuable question to ask as it is the basis of a developing taste. So, obviously it is also a valuable question to answer. Just the sort of thing for a FAQ. Of course, this FAQ is going to change a lot because music has an annoying habit of being regularly released. Usually at a tempo permanently one-step ahead of the trickle of pay into your bank. Anyway, this FAQ will take the form of an alphabetical listing of contemporary progressive music that it is recommend you try if you are interested in the way things currently stand. Naturally, this list cannot be exhaustive and will probably fall short of even being broadly representative but it is intended to encapsulate the core of recommended new music that people on r.m.pdiscuss. Each artist is classified by style. This is not a hard and fast classification but has been based on the guidelines in FAQ 4. Its purpose is to orient you around the common colloquialisms that pervade talk about this sort of music on the net and elsewhere. More information on these artists will also be found in the Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progresive Rock and related music. The location of this is given in FAQ 5.

There are a few major flowerings of what falls under the umbrella of progressive music today. The last few years has seen an explosion of high quality fusion/RIO from Japan, symphonic music from Sweden, rock from the USA and experimental/RIO from the UK and Europe. All are areas well worth looking into. Below, you will find recommendations for recordings from all of these areas.

Many thanks to Pete Thelen (ptlk AT netcom.com) and Steve Feigenbaum (cuneiway AT aol.com) for much help in creating this FAQ. Thanks also to Dan Barrett (barrett AT cs.umass.edu). Gentlemen all.

Artist
After Dinner
Country
Japan
Style
RIO
Comments
Light, airy vocals mixed with equally light music that can get surprisingly intense at times. Japanese, but not comparable to most of the other Japanese bands on this list.
Artist
Änglagård
Country
Sweden
Style
Symphonic
Recommendations
Epilog
Comments
Surprisingly underivative for a symphonic band in the 90s. highly acclaimed by even those hardened due to the degeneracy of the symphonic field in recent years.
Artist
Anekdoten
Country
Sweden
Style
Rock/Symphonic
Recommendations
vemod, Nucleus
Comments
Sound very much like Red era King Crimson. Very popular on r.m.p. Derivative but good nevertheless.
Artist
Arsnova
Country
Japan
Style
Symphonic
Recommendations
Transi
Comments
Keyboard driven instrumental female trio.
Artist
Asgard
Country
Italy
Style
Rock/Symphonic/Neo-Progressive
Recommendations
Arkana, Imago Mundi
Comments
Five piece, English vocals, Hammill/Dream Theater influence.
Artist
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Country
USA
Style
Fusion (do not be fooled by the banjo!)
Recommendations
Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
Comments
Truly unique combination of banjo, bass, harmonica, and synth drums.
Artist
Il Berlione
Country
Japan
Style
Fusion/RIO
Recommendations
Il Berlione, In 453 minutes infernal cooking
Comments
Eclectic fusion with ethnic Japanese touches. Occasional startling moments of complexity.
Artist
Biota
Country
UK/USA
Style
RIO/Experimental
Recommendations
Object Holder
Comments
Quite difficult, thick, innovative multi-instrument music with electronics
Artist
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic
Country
USA
Style
Neo-Classical
Recommendations
Fossil Record, Dancing On A'A
Artist
Cardiacs
Country
UK
Style
Rock
Recommendations
Songs for Ships and Irons
Comments
The word "quirky" was invented for them.
Artist
Collage
Country
Poland
Style
Symphonic/Neo-Progressive
Recommendations
Moonshine
Comments
Very lush and modern symphonic. English vocals.
Artist
Deus ex Machina
Country
Italy
Style
Rock/Fusion/Experimental
Recommendations
De Republica
Comments
Sound like a 1990s Area. Superb vocals.
Artist
Devil Doll
Country
Italy
Style
Symphonic
Recommendations
Sacreligium
Comments
Atmospheric gothic soundtrack collage.
Artist
Djam Karet
Country
USA
Style
Rock/Experimental
Recommendations
Suspension and Displacement, Reflections From the Firepool
Comments
They do two very different things: poweful rock and moody experimental electronics. Reflections is a mix of both.
Artist
Dr Nerve
Country
USA
Style
Rock/RIO/Experimental
Recommendations
Skin
Comments
Very complex, powerful and highly unique. Almost metal in places.
Artist
Echolyn
Country
USA
Style
Symphonic/Neo-progressive
Recommendations
As The World
Comments
Song oriented, much vocals, complex.
Artist
Garden Wall
Country
Italy
Style
Symphonic/Rock
Recommendations
Path of Dreams
Comments
Hammill influenced English vocals, metal influenced guitar.
Artist
Halloween
Country
France
Style
Rock/Symphonic
Recommendations
Merlin
Artist
Happy Family
Country
Japan
Style
Rock/Zeuhl
Recommendations
Happy Family
Comments
Quite unique zeuhl rock. Reminiscent of Magma and Tipographica. Much power.
Artist
Hecenia
Country
France
Style
Symphonic
Recommendations
Le Couleur De Feu
Comments
Very symphonic instrumental four piece, complex at times.
Artist
Iconoclasta
Country
Mexico
Style
Classic Progressive
Recommendations
De Todos Uno
Comments
Classic Italian 70's sound.
Artist
Ie Rai Shan
Country
Japan
Style
Symphonic Prog
Recommendations
Ie Rai Shan
Comments
Lush symphonic rock, female vocalist (Japanese).
Artist
Kalaban
Country
USA
Style
Rock
Recommendations
Resistance is Useless
Comments
Solid accessible progressive rock.
Artist
Keneally, Mike
Country
USA
Style
Rock/Jazz/Bizarre
Recommendations
Hat
Comments
Former Zappa guitarist plays chaotic, intelligent tunes.
Artist
Lacrymosa
Country
Japan
Style
Experimental/Rock/RIO
Recommendations
Joy of the Wrecked Ship
Comments
Unique composed instrumentals. Very challenging.
Artist
Landberk
Country
Sweden
Style
Symphonic/Rock
Recommendations
Lonely Land, One Man Tells Another
Comments
Very moody accessible 70s sound in the 90s.
Artist
Mastermind
Country
USA
Style
Rock/Symphonic
Recommendations
Brainstorm, Tragic Symphony
Comments
Powerful guitar driven progressive rock.
Artist
Mind Gallery
Country
Canada
Style
Rock
Recommendations
Guilty Until Proven Rich
Comments
Challenging but accessible progressive rock.
Artist
Minimum Vital
Country
France
Style
Progressive Rock
Recommendations
La Source, Sarabandes
Comments
Canterbury & folk influenced, very original. Some vocals.
Artist
Miriodor
Country
Canada
Style
Neo-Classical Rock/Progressive/RIO
Recomendations
Third Warning
Comments
Some similarities to Univers Zero with jazz seasoning.
Artist
Moorefield, Virgil
Country
USA
Style
Jazz Rock/RIO/Progressive
Recommendations
Distractions On The Way To The Kings Party
Comments
Multi-guitar based rock with reed & horn section.
Artist
Nurse With Wound
Country
UK
Style
Experimental
Recommendations
Thunder Perfect Mind, Rock 'n' Roll Station
Comments
Premier experimentalists. Can be very difficult and powerful.
Artist
Ozric Tentacles
Country
UK
Style
Psychedelic prog-rock
Recommendations
Arborescence, Strangeitude
Comments
Like instrumental Hillage era Gong.
Artist
Philharmonie
Country
France
Style
Rock/?
Recommendations
Les Elephants Carilloneurs, Nord
Comments
Fripp influenced guitar trio, but better compositions than C.G.T or L.O.C.G.
Artist
Phish
Country
USA
Style
Rock/Jazz/Fusion/Humor
Recommendations
Junta, A Picture of Nectar
Comments
Mixes many musical styles into an original, virtuosic whole.
Artist
Porcupine Tree
Country
UK
Style
Psychedelic Prog
Recommendations
The Sky Moves Sideways
Comments
Neo-psych with Pink Floyd touches.
Artist
Solstice
Country
UK
Style
Symphonic folk-prog
Recommendations
New Life
Comments
Similar to It's A Beautiful Day, Renaissance, female vocals.
Artist
Thinking Plague
Country
USA
Style
RIO
Recommendations
In This Life
Comments
Brilliant extended songs with unique rock twist.
Artist
Tipographica
Country
Japan
Style
Fusion/RIO
Recommendations
Tipographica
Comments
Intelligent, complex virtuosity with jazz touches. Incredible.
Artist
U Totem
Country
USA
Style
RIO - extended songs
Recommendations
U Totem
Comments
Long, eclectic extended songs. "The closest thing to Henry Cow in complexity ... world class playing & singing ... there is nothing else like this now." -Chris Cutler.
Artist
Watkins, Kit
Country
USA
Style
Ambient/Rock - very diverse
Recommendations
Holographic Tapestries
Artist
White Willow
Country
Norway
Style
Symphonic
Recommendations
Ignus Faatus
Comments
Combines symphonic progressive & folkier elements in a fresh way.
Artist
Xaal
Country
France
Style
Zeuhl/Fusion/Rock
Recommendations
On the Way, Seconde Era
Comments
Rock with fascinating zeuhl influence.
Artist
5UU's
Country
USA
Style
RIO/Rock - extended songs
Recommendations
Hunger's Teeth
Comments
Very different, original rock with much experimentalism. A highly regarded modern classic.
This FAQ is maintained by Phil Kime(Philip AT kime.org.uk). Comments, questions, and criticisms are positively always welcome. This text was taken in part from the previous versions of this FAQ, which were maintained by Scott McMahan, and Mike Borella. The FAQs were brought into being originally through the sterling efforts of Malcolm Humes. Many thanks go to all of these gentlemen for their excellent work.