Back in the days when The European Perspective wasn't the international phenomenon it is now (May 2009) one of the show's most loyal listeners, David Pearson, suggested that I put together an episode which presented a sort of alternative Eurovision Song Contest, featuring some great progressive rock tunes from the countries featured in the competition. I can remember I got rather obsessive-compulsive about tracking down obscure prog bands from different countries, and in the end came up with this.

Listening back to it I'm struck by how crap a DJ I was then. Not that I'm really much better now, of course...but if you could do with a giggle, this might just fit the bill.

Myself, I'll be watching Eurovision tonight with a few bottles of beer and savoury snack food. It's a tradition here at TEP Towers, and one which you could do worse than follow!

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A re-run of one of the most popular episodes of the show ever, where I interview Adrian Bell about his love of progressive rock, and in particular that unique band Cardiacs.

Here's what I said when the show was first aired in November 2011:

It's doubtful that any rock band has ever polarized opinion more than the UK's Cardiacs. Starting life as Cardiac Arrest in 1977, they were a unique force in music throughout the eighties and beyond, fusing progressive rock, punk, pop and goodness knows what else into a mix that's been imitated by many since and surpassed by none.

The Cardiacs' fan base is fanatical, and there's none more so than my guest on The European Perspective this week, Adrian Bell. Adrian published his second book, Aylesbury Bolton Wolverhampton Hove: A Little Man And 101 Cardiacs Gigs, earlier this year; part memoir of years following the band, part a tribute to the people who follow them, and part recollection of what it was like to be a progressive rock fan through the eighties and nineties. In this extended show Adrian talks about the book and chooses his favourite Cardiacs songs, music by related bands, and also his favourite progressive rock music through the years.

Adrian's book - a fantastic read, highly recommended - is available on eBay by searching for Cardiacs. 

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No new European Perspective this week – hopefully back with another action-packed show next weekend – so I thought it might be nice to re-run a blast from the past.

Back in August 2010 I was lucky enough to air the premiere of Tinyfsh’s now-classic album, The Big Red Spark. In the succeeding two and a half years the band has played the album live to wide acclaim – including at RoSfest in 2011 – and although currently on hiatus from concert performances Tinyfish are still very much alive and kicking, with writing planned for the next album release.

Here’s what I said about this episode of the show back in 2010 – and I hope you all enjoy hearing it again, or maybe for the first time!

This week’s episode of The European Perspective is a sort of ‘listening party’ for the release of the new album by English proggers Tinyfish, entitled the Big Red Spark. Three years in the making this partly conceptual record cuts completely new ground for the band, and also for the genre in general, incorporating the Tinyfish brand of modern progressive rock with Robert Ramsay’s innovative use of narrative elements in both song lyrics and spoken word, and is most certainly one of the key releases of the year.

I’ve been lucky enough to have the collaboration of all of the members of the band, and particularly Simon Godfrey and Robert Ramsay, who effectively co-present this show with me. First there’s a review of the Tinyfish catalogue to date, with the tracks selected by the members of the band’s internet forum, The Fishtank. Then we examine some of the influences though a compilation of songs selected by each band member as being either influential on them as musicians, or on the Big Red Spark album itself. Finally we present the new album in its entirety, with insights from Rob and Simon on its production and content. There’s also a couple of surprises along the way!

View the playlist for this show.