In part 2 of the European Perspective review of 1971 we look at the more acoustic side of the music released during the year, together with more 'pop' oriented progressive music. There's also some pretty straight-down-the-line material from Genesis and Pink Floyd...
01. Focus - Hocus Pocus (6:41) from Moving Waves, 1971 02. Van Der Graaf Generator - Lemmings (11:38) from Pawn Hearts, 1971 03. Peter Hammill - Sunshine (4:00) from Fools Mate, 1971 04. Lindisfarne - Meet Me On The Corner (2:39) from Fog On The Tyne, 1971 05. Mr. Fox - The Gipsy (12:54) from The Gipsy, 1971 06. Fairport Convention - The Journeyman's Grace (4:34) from Angel Delight, 1971 07. Sandy Denny - Late November (4:28) from The North Star Grassman & The Ravens, 1971 08. Strawbs - Witchwood (3:25) from From The Witchwood, 1971 09. Steeleye Span - Cold, Haily, Windy Night (4:36) from Please To See The King, 1971 10. Pentangle - Will The Circle Be Unbroken (4:08) from Reflection, 1971 11. The Incredible String Band - Red Hair (2:05) from Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air, 1971 12. Jade Warrior - Windweaver (3:42) from Jade Warrior, 1971 13. Roy Harper - The Same Old Rock (12:24) from Stormcock, 1971 14. Caravan - Winter Wine (7:36) from In The Land Of Grey And Pink, 1971 15. Kevin Ayres - Stars (3:32) from Whatevershebringswesing, 1971 16. Egg - Contrasong (4:25) from The Polite Force, 1971 17. Gong - And You Tried So Hard (4:39) from Cambembert Electrique, 1971 18. Marsupilami - Prelude To The Arena (5:21) from Arena, 1971 19. Gracious - Blue Skies And Alibies (4:58) from This is...Gracious!, 1971 20. Supersister - A Girl Named You (10:10) from To The Highest Bigger, 1971 21. David Bowie - Life On Mars? (3:53) from Hunky Dory, 1971 22. Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture (5:37) from Electric Light Orchestra, 1971 23. The Moody Blues - Nice To Be Here (4:23) from Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, 1971 24. Family - Spanish Tide (5:02) from Fearless, 1971 25. T. Rex - Jeepster (4:12) from Electric Warrior, 1971 26. Procol Harum - Memorial Drive (3:44) from Broken Barricades, 1971 27. King Crimson - Sailor's Tale (7:33) from Islands, 1971 28. Yes - South Side Of The Sky (8:08) from Fragile, 1971 29. Genesis - The Fountain Of Salmacis (8:01) from Nursery Cryme 30. Pink Floyd - Echoes (23:21) from Meddle, 1971
Two weeks of Jury service - with another week to come - is addling my brain, so this week features a more or less random assortment of proggy goodies. New music from Riverside, old music from Tudor Lodge and Cressida, a live set from IQ, and choice cuts from Manning's 'Songs From The Bilston House'.
01. Manning - Understudy (8:13) from Songs From The Bilston House, 2007 02. Pure Reason Revolution - Les Malheurs (5:02) from Amor Vincit Omnia, 2009 03. Frost* - Dear Dead Days (6:31) from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 04. Tudor Lodge - Help Me Find Myself (4:21) from Tudor Lodge, 1971 05. Tudor Lodge - I See A Man (3:01) from Tudor Lodge, 1971 06. Tudor Lodge - The Lady's Changing Home (4:38) from Tudor Lodge, 1971 07. Tudor Lodge - Kew Gardens (2:18) from Tudor Lodge, 1971 08. Nic Jones - Farewell To The Gold (5:18) from Penguin Eggs, 1980 09. Riverside - Hyperactive (5:46) from Anno Domini High Definition, 2009 10. Riverside - Egoist Hedonist (8:57) from Anno Domini High Definition, 2009 11. Riverside - Hybrid Times (11:54) from Anno Domini High Definition, 2009 12. IQ - You Never Will (5:16) from Live In Holland 2007, 2009 13. IQ - The Magic Roundabout (9:27) from Live In Holland 2007, 2009 14. IQ - Guiding Light (10:49) from Live In Holland 2007, 2009 15. Cressida - To Play Your Little Game (3:18) from Cressida, 1970 16. Cressida - Winter Is Coming Again (4:44) from Cressida, 1970 17. Cressida - Time For Bed (2:21) from Cressida, 1970 18. Cressida - Cressida (4:00) from Cressida, 1970 19. Manning - Lost In Play (7:05) from Songs From The Bilston House, 2007 20. Manning - Antares (7:11) from Songs From The Bilston House, 2007 21. Manning - Icarus And Me (5:53) from Songs From The Bilston House, 2007 22. Strawberry Fields - Flow (7:31) from Rivers Gone Dry, 2009 23. Chimpan A - Are You With Me (9:15) from Chimpan A, 2006 24. The Wishing Tree - Fly (4:41) from Ostara, 2009 25. The Wishing Tree - Kingfisher (4:17) from Ostara, 2009 26. DeeExpus Project - Half Way Home (17:11) from Half Way Home, 2008
From two episodes for 1971 to the first of three installments for 1972! This show showcases one of the three EP albums of the year for '72 - Yes' 'Close To The Edge' - together with the heavier and lighter ends of the progressive spectrum.
01. Yes - Siberian Khatru (8:55) from Close to the Edge, 1972 02. Curved Air - Marie Antoinette (6:17) from Phantasmagoria, 1972 03. Pink Floyd - Free Four (4:12) from Obscured By Clouds, 1972 04. Black Sabbath - Snowblind (5:33) from Vol. 4. 1972 05. Uriah Heep - The Wizard (3:00) from Demons And Wizards, 1972 06. Wishbone Ash - The King Will Come (7:05) from Argus, 1972 07. Budgie - Hot As A Docker's Armpit (5:53) from Squawk, 1972 08. Deep Purple - Highway Star (6:44) from Made In Japan, 1972 09. Deep Purple - Child In Time (12:11) from Made In Japan, 1972 10. Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water (7:17) from Made In Japan, 1972 11. Yes - Close To The Edge (18:40) from Close To The Edge, 1972 12. Al Stewart - You Don't Even Know Me (4:00) from Orange, 1972 13. Strawbs - Benedictus (4:26) from Grave New World, 1972 14. Mellow Candle - Reverend Sisters (4:21) from Swaddling Songs, 1972 15. Sandy Denny - It Suits Me Well (5:02) from Sandy Denny, 1972 16. Cat Stevens - 18th Avenue (Kanasas City Nightmare) (4:19) from Catch Bull At Four, 1972 17. Lindisfarne - All Fall Down (3:48) from Dingley Dell, 1972 18. Lindisfarne - Court In The Act (3:18) from Dingley Dell, 1972 19. Lindisfarne - Dingley Dell (6:19) from Dingley Dell, 1972 20. Incredible String Band - Sunday Song (7:28) from Earthspan, 1972 21. Greenslade - sundance (8:44) from Greenslade, 1972 22. Jonesy - Ricochet (4:59) from No Alternative, 1972 23. Rare Bird - Epic Forest (9:11) from Epic Forest, 1972 24. Hawkwind - Brainstorm (11:35) from Doremi Fasol Latido, 1972 25. Yes - And You And I (10:09) from Close To The Edge, 1972
In this episode of The European Perspective I interview Darran Charles and Jason Marsh from the new Welsh progressive rock group Godsticks, as well as playing extracts from their debut EP, released last year. The lads and I discussed matters musical from songwriting, Zappa and the difficulty of getting gigs in in the UK to the ideal number of tracks on an album, Rufus Wainwright and a definition of progressive rock, which I feel is worth quoting here:
"Rock-based music featuring harmonic and rhythmic complexity, strong musicianship, unpredictability, and use of stylistic elements from other genres" - Darran Charles, 2009
The remainder of the show is the usual mix you've come to expect from a mind as sick as mine - 'old' in the guise of Van Der Graaf Generator, 'new' from the quite-possibly-no-longer-in-existence Spektrum, and loads more besides.
01. Magenta - Gluttony (12:07) from Seven, 2004 02. King Crimson - Frame By Frame (5:09) from Discipline, 1981 03. It Bites - Memory Of Water (4:49) from The Tall Ships, 2008 04. Thieves' Kitchen - Escape (13:36) from Argot, 2001 05. The Black Noodle Project - Resistance (6:04) from Eleonore, 2008 06. The Syn - Some Time Some Way (7:58) from Syndestructible, 2005
07. Interview with Darran Charles and Jason Marsh from Godsticks (43:00), featuring excerpts from: - Not The Face - Only When Provoked - Puppy Gardener - Venial - Clinical
08. Drama - A Start (6:52) from Stigmata Of Change, 2005 09. Different Strings - Beyond Infinity (10:24) from ...It's Only The Beginning, 2007 10. Peter Hammill - The Mercy (6:21) from Thin Air, 2009 11. A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers (23:12) from Pawn Hearts, 1971 12. Spektrum - Now (9:24) from Spektrum, 2003 13. Spektrum - Perpetuum Mobile (6:01) from Spektrum, 2003 14. Spektrum - The Quest (5:17) from Spektrum, 2003 15. The Tangent - A Gap In The Night (18:28) from The World That We Drive Through, 2004
"Dad is safely locked into the attic. Run - Huropean Perspective!"
01. Pure Reason Revolution - Les Malheurs (5:02) from Amor vincit Omnia, 2009 02. The Tangent - GPS Culture (10:06) from A Place In The Queue, 2006 03. Frost* - Toys (3:03) from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 04. Mr. So & So - Flying Triangles (5:03) from Sugarstealer, 2009 05. Mr. So & So - New Year's Day (3:14) from Sugarstealer, 2009 06. Mr. So & So - Thursdays Are Blue (4:50) from Sugarstealer, 2009 07. Mr. So & So - Dandelions Amongst The Violets (0:33) from Sugarstealer, 2009 08. Mr. So & So - Honey Jar (6:13) from Sugarstealer, 2009 09. Magenta - Children Of The Sun (19:00) from Revolutions, 2001 10. It Bites - Oh My God (5:47) from The Tall Ships, 2008 11. It Bites - Ghosts (4:45) from The Tall Ships, 2008 12. It Bites - The Wind That Shakes The Barley (8:11) from The Tall Ships, 2008 13. Pure Reason Revolution - Victorious Cupid (3:39) from Amor vincit Omnia, 2009 14. The Tangent - A Crisis In Midlife (7:13) from Not As Good As The Book, 2008 15. The Tangent - The World That We Drive Through (12:57) from The World That We Drive Through, 2004 16. The Tangent - Not As Good As The Book (8:54) from Not As Good As The Book, 2008 17. Frost* - Dear Dead Days (6:50) from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 18. Frost* - Black Light Machine (10:06)) from Milliontown, 2006 19. Ezra - A Little Bit More (5:31) from Songs From Pennsylvania, 2006 20. Ezra - Lazy (6:46) from Songs From Pennsylvania, 2006 21. Show Of Hands - Columbus (Didn't Find America) (5:13) from Roots: The Best Of Show Of Hands, 2007 22. Show of Hands - The Galway Farmer (5:42) from Roots: The Best Of Show Of Hands, 2007 23. Show of Hands - Tall Ships (5:56) from Show of Hands, 2000 24. Show of Hands - Roots (4:09) from Roots: The Best Of Show Of Hands, 2007 25. Little Johnny England - Widdecombe Fair (5:18) from Mercs And Cherokees, 2002 26. Manning - A Road Less Travelled (10:34) from Number Ten, 2009 27. Manning - Another Lazy Sunday (5:25) from Number Ten, 2009 28. Manning - The House On The Hill (15:51) from Number Ten, 2009
After my sojourn in the attic last week, I'm back with more 'Dadrock', this time in the guise of part 2 of the European Perspective retrospecitve look at the year of 1972. Another 'album of the year', this time Jethro Tull's 'Thick As A Brick', together with some folky stuff, and a selection of more poppy material, with the promise of a more bizarre set of material for part 3 in a couple of weeks' time.
01. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick Part 1 (22:40) from Thick As A Brick, 1972 02. Aphrodite's Child - Alamont (4:23) from 666, 1972 03. Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Conquista Della Posizione Eretta (8:41) from Darwin, 1972 04. Le Orme - una Dolcezza Nuova (5:31) from Uomo Di Pezza, 1972 05. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico (5:24) from Per Un Amico, 1972 06. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Il Banchetto (8:40) from Per Un Amico, 1972 07. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Geranio (8:04) from Per Un Amico, 1972 08. Caravan - The Love In Your Eye (12:34) from Waterloo Lily, 1972 09. Lal & Mike Waterson - Bright Phoebus (2:53) from Bright Phoebus, 1972 10. Steeleye Span - General Taylor (3:30) from Ten Man Mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again, 1972 11. Steeleye Span - Skewball (3:30) from Ten Man Mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again, 1972 12. Alan Stivell - Jan Morrison Reel (4:08) from Renaissance De La Harpe Celtique, 1972 13. Barclay James Harvest - Summer Soldier (10:23) from Baby James Harvest, 1972 14. Rick Wakeman - Catherine Of Aragon (3:44) from Six Wives Of Henry VIII, 1972 15. Rick Wakeman - Anne Boleyn 'The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended' (6:32) from Six Wives Of Henry VIII, 1972 16. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Miles Beyond (Miles Davis) (4:37) from Birds Of Fire, 1972 17. Nektar - A Tab In The Ocean (16:43) from A Tab In The Ocean, 1972 18. Roxy Music - Ladytron (4:26) from Roxy Music, 1972 19. David Bowie - Suffragette City (3:25) from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, 1972 20. The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice (3:44) from Exile On Main St., 1972 21. T-Rex - Telegram Sam (3:45) from The Slider, 1972 22. Slade - Goodbuy T'Jane (3:32) from Slayed?, 1972 23. Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes (3:32) from All The Young Dudes, 1972 24. Rod Stewart - You Wear It Well (4:25) from Never A Dull Moment, 1972 25. Focus - Sylvia (3:31) from Focus III, 1972 26. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick Part 2 (21:10) from Thick As A Brick, 1972
In this week's show I'm asking everyone who's listening to drop me a line by email to wilf@thedividingline.com - not for simple ego-stroking, but because I'm keen to find out how many people are listening to the show! Write and tell me you're there, but also what you like about The European Perspective (and maybe what you don't like), and anything you'd like to hear that's not there at the moment. I look forward to hearing from you!
There's a round-up of new releases in this episode, from Circulus, Touchstone, Lazuli and Stackridge, as well as a forgotten classic - Skywhale's 'The World At Mind's End' from 1977 - and a mini-celebration of the female voice in progressive rock.
01. Darwin's Radio - Erase...Rewind (9:42) from Eyes Of The World, 2006 02. A.C.T. - Puppeteers (4:13) from Silence, 2006 03. Jadis - The Beginning And The End (6:13) from More Than Meets The Eye, 2005 04. Circulus - Michael's Garden (3:11) from Thought Becomes Reality, 2009 05. Circulus - Trotto (2:17) from Thought Becomes Reality, 2009 06. Circulus - Packington's Pound (3:43) from Thought Becomes Reality, 2009 07. Gryphon - Midnight Mushrumps (19:02) from Midnight Mushrumps, 1974 08. Touchstone - Prelude/Wintercoast (12:01) from Wintercoast, 2009 09. Lazuli - Abime (6:46) from Response Incongrue A L'Ineluctable, 2009 10. Lazuli - On Nous Ment Comme On Respire (7:33) from Response Incongrue A L'Ineluctable, 2009 11. Lazuli - La Vie Par La Face Nord (5:33) from Response Incongrue A L'Ineluctable, 2009 12. Skywhale - Epicure (7:31) from The World At Mind's End, 1977 13. Skywhale - Hydralic Fever (7:22) from The Word At Mind's End, 1977 14. Skywhale - Two Budda Garage (8:03) from The Word At Mind's End, 1977 15. Big Big Train - Breathing Space/Pick Up If You're There (15:28) from The Difference Machine, 2007 16. Big Big Train - From The Wide Open Sea/Saltwater Falling On Uneven Ground (13:58) from The Difference Machine, 2007 17. Claire Hamill - Glastonbury (5:19) from Love In The Afternoon, 1988 18. Mermaid Kiss - A Different Sky (5:18) from Etarlis, 2007 19. Kaipa - A Complex Work Of Art (11:58) from Keyholder, 2003 20. Spektrum - Land Of Longing (5:40) from Spektrum, 2003 21. Stackridge - Red Squirrel (5:44) from A Victory For Common Sense, 2009 22. Stackridge - (Waiting For You And) England To Return (4:04) from A Victory For Common Sense, 2009 23. Stackridge - Long Dark River (7:18) from A Victory For Common Sense, 2009 24. It Bites - This Is England (13:35) from The Tall Ships, 2008
The final part of the European Perspective review of 1972, featuring some 'classic' progressive rock from that year - including Genesis' Foxtrot in its entirety - and a selection of electronic music and Krautrock from the likes of Tangerine Dream, Can and Faust.
Thanks to everyone who 'checked in' by emailing me after last week's episode - it was great to hear from you all! In next week's show I'll be playing some of the varied requests that you all sent in as well as a round up of some new releases in the last show before my summer holiday.
01. Genesis - Watcher Of The Skies (7:23) from Foxtrot, 1972 02. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Hoedown (3:46) from Trilogy, 1972 03. Stackridge - Syracuse The Elephant (8:47) from Friendliness, 1972 04. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Endless Enigma Part 1 (6:41) from Trilogy, 1972 05. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fugue (1:57) from Trilogy, 1972 06. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Endless Enigma Part 2 (2:05) from Trilogy, 1972 07. Amon Duul II - Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge (4:54) from Wolf City, 1972 08. Can - One More Night (5:36) from Ege Bamyasi, 1972 09. Slapp Happy - Blue Flower (5:22) from Sort of...Slapp Happy, 1972 10. Faust - So Far (6:20) from Faust so Far, 1972 11. Kraftwerk - Strom (3:49) from Kraftwerk 2, 1972 12. Neu! - Weissensee (6:46) from Neu!, 1972 13. Tangerine Dream - Birth Of Liquid Plejades (19:54) from Zeit, 1972 14. Bo Hansson - The Grey Havens (5:01) from Lord of The Rings, 1972 15. Genesis - Time Table (4:46) from Foxtrot, 1972 16. Skin Alley - A Final Coat (5:11) from Two Quid Deal, 1972 17. Supersister - Psychopath (4:00) from Pudding And Gisteren, 1972 18. Genesis - Get 'Em Out By Friday (8:35) from Foxtrot, 1972 19. Gentle Giant - Schooldays (7:36) from Three Friends, 1972 20. Jade Warrior - May Queen (5:25) from Last Autumn's Dream, 1972 21. Nick Drake - Things Behind The Sun (3:56) from Pink Moon, 1972 22. Genesis - Can-Utility And The Coastliners (5:44) from Foxtrot, 1972 23. Matching Mole - Instant Kitten (9:23) from Matching Mole, 1972 24. Khan - Driving To Amsterdam (9:23) from Space Shanty, 1972 25. Khan - Stargazers (5:33) from Space Shanty, 1972 26. Khan - Hollow Stone Escape Of The Spa (8:20) from Space Shanty, 1972 27. Genesis - Horizons (1:41) from Foxtrot, 1972 28. Genesis - Supper's Ready (23:05) from Foxtrot, 1972
Selections from new albums by Beardfish and The Treat, together with a whole bunch of requests from people who were kind enough to respond to my "hey who's listening" cry for attention a couple of weeks back!
This will be the last episode of the EP for a couple of weeks, as my family and I will be rusting away quietly on holiday in Cornwall. How will you live without me?
Enjoy!
01. Porcupine Tree - Even Less (7:11) from Stupid Dream, 1999 02. Frost* - Wonderland (5.02) from Frost*fest, 2009 03. Demians - The Perfect Symmetry (9:19) from Building An Empire, 2008 04. Stackridge - The Day The World Stopped Turning (11:05) from A Victory For Common Sense, 2009 05. Lazuli - La Belle Noirceur Suite (11:03) from Response Icongrue A L'ineluctable 06. Beardfish - Destined Solitaire (10:53) from Destined Solitaire, 2009 07. Beardfish - Until You Comply, including Entropy (15:21) from Destined Solitaire, 2009 08. The Treat - Citizen Of The World (5:58) from Audio Verite/Deceptive Blends, 2009 09. The Treat - The Art Of Deception (3:09) from Audio Verite/Deceptive Blends, 2009 10. The Treat - Fan The Flames (5:50) from Audio Verite/Deceptive Blends, 2009 11. Paul Cusick - Scared To Dream (4:40) from Focal Point, 2009 12. Cafiene - Way Is Open (11:43) from Kalevala - A Finnish Progressive Rock Epic, 2003 13. Moon Safari - Moonwalk (8:49) from [blomljud], 2008 14. Apple Pie - Solution (7:26) from Crossroads, 2007 15. Flash - Small Beginnings (9:21) from Flash, 1972 16. Flash - Morning Haze (4:38) from Flash, 1972 17. Flash - Children Of The Universe (9:00) from Flash, 1972 18. King Crimson - Lark's Tongues In Aspic, Part IV (13:59) from The construKction Of Light, 2000 19. Greenslade - Melange (7:30) from Greenslade, 1972 20. Kate Bush - Heads We're Dancing (5:21) from The Sensual World, 1989 21. Steve Hillage - Hurdy Gurdy Man (6:34) from L, 1976 22. Quantum Fantay - Ugisiunsi (7:29) from Ugisiunsi, 2007 23. Steve Hackett - Shadow Of The Hierophant (11:43) from Voyage Of The Acolyte, 1975
All good things must come to an end, and that includes not having the European Perspective tying up your bandwidth and damaging your eardrums. Yes, I'm back with a more or less random selection of stuff, old and new, though this week mostly the latter, with new albums from Darwin's Radio, Sylvan and The Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
I'm uploading a day earlier than usual as tomorrow I'm off to Mattfest, the first House of Progression all-dayer at the Peel in Kingston-upon-Thames. It's a full line-up, with Galahad and my old friends Haze at the top of the bill, so should be a blast. A Haze feature next week, if I get my act together!
01. Mike Oldfield - Taurus I (10:17) from QE2, 1980 02. Be-Bop Deluxe - Maid In Heaven (2:26) from Futurama, 1975 03. Electric Light Orchestra - Here Is The News (3:44) from Time, 1981 04. Darwin's Radio - The Illusion Is Freedom (10:18) from Template For A Generation, 2009 05. Sylvan - Force Of Gravity (5:14) from Force Of Gravity, 2009 06. Sylvan - Follow Me (4:41) from Force Of Gravity, 2009 07. Sylvan - Isle In Me (6:02) from Force Of Gravity, 2009 08. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Babel On (6:24) from Communion, 2009 09. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Universal Stalker (4:44) from Communion, 2009 10. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - The Ego Delusion (5:05) from Communion, 2009 11. Overhead - Lost Inside (11:46) from And We're Not Here After All, 2008 12. Steve Hillage - Sea Nature (6:42) from Green, 1978 13. Steve Hillage - Ether Ships (5:07) from Green, 1978 14. Steve Hillage - Music Of The Trees (4:54) 15. The Tangent - In Darkest Dreams (20:05) from The Music That Died Alone, 2003 16. Boards Of Canada - Wildlife Analysis (1:17) from Music Has The Right To Children, 2004 17. Richard Barbieri - Drops On Mercury (7:40) from Thing Buried, 2007 18. Rain Tree Crow - Pocket Full Of Change (6:09) from Rain Tree Crow, 1991 19. David Sylvian & Robert Fripp - Jean The Birdman (4:10) from The First Day, 1993 20. William Orbit - Firebrand (6:16) from Hello Waveforms, 2006 21. The Othello Syndrome - Empty Heaven, Material Hell (6:34) from The Shadow Of Dreams, 1999 22. Mike Oldfield - Taurus II (24:45) from Five Miles Out, 1982
Fresh from having my hearing wrecked at Mattfest last weekend, this week's show contains a live set from Haze (who delivered a splendid performance at not-quite-such-ear-splitting-volume as some of the other acts), the new release from Strawbs, and a couple of tracks from Haken, a relatively new progressive metal band from London.
Next week..1973!
01. The Tangent - Forsaken Cathedrals (4:53) from A Place In The Queue, 2006 02. Stackridge - Syracuse The Elephant (8:48) from Friendliness, 1972 03. Tinyfish - The June Jar (3:21) from Curious Things, 2009 04. Frost* - Toys (3:06) from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 05. Darwin's Radio - Age Of Broken Reason (13:36) from Template For A Generation, 2009 06. The Beatles - A Day In The Life (5:34) from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967 07. Haken - Black Seed (5:53) from Haken, 2008 08. Haken - Snow (13:12) from Haken, 2008 09. Strawbs - Revenge (Can Be So Sweet) (5:18) from Dancing To The Devil's Beat, 2009 10. Strawbs - Beneath The Angry Sky (4:29) from Dancing To The Devil's Beat, 2009 11. Strawbs - Copenhagen (4:46) from Dancing To The Devil's Beat, 2009 12. Trees - Sally Free And Easy (10:08) from The Garden of Jane Delawney, 1970 13. Summer Indoors - Universal State Of Mind (8:17) from Songs In The Key Of H, 1995 14. A Casual Affair - Whisper In The Wind (4:53) from the single (date unknown) 15. Final Conflict - Solitude (7:41) from Simple, 2006 16. Galahad - Sidewinder (11:04) from Empires Never Last, 2007 17. Haze - Autumn (5:26) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 18. Haze - 4 Real (2:50) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 19. Haze - See Her Face (4:50) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 20. Haze - Portrait (3:47) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 21. Haze - The Vice (7:30) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 22. Haze - Ophelia (7:19) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 23. Haze - Unto The Dawn (6:56) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 24. Haze - In The Light (3:49) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 25. Haze - The Night (6:56) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 26. Haze - Seven Stones (7:47) from 30th Anniversary Shows, 2008 27. Haze - Mountain (9:37) from 20th Anniversary Show, 1998
1973 was something of an annus mirabilis for rock music, and for progressive rock in particular with many albums released that year which have become real classics in the genre. Selecting material for this series of retrospectives was, therefore, more difficult than ever.
This is the first of three long shows (each one four hours plus) and features two of my favourite six albums from the year in their entirety, with the others appearing in subsequent programmes, together with an eclectic mix of other progressive music from the UK and Europe. I hope you enjoy this little (!) selection of music, and that for many of you it takes you on a welcome trip down memory lane!
01. Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells Part 1 (25:36) from Tubular Bells, 1973 02. Kevin Ayers - Shouting in a Bucket Blues (03:48) from Bananamour, 1973 03. Camel - Never Let Go (06:25) from Camel, 1973 04. Gentle Giant - Experience (07:50) from In A Glass House, 1973 05. Jethro Tull - A Passion Play Part 1 (21:36) from A Passion Play, 1973 06. Pink Floyd - Speak To Me/Breathe (04:00) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 07. Pink Floyd - On The Run (03:32) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 08. Pink Floyd - Time (07:06) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 09. Pink Floyd - The Great Gig In The Sky (04:44) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 10. Deep Purple - Woman From Tokyo (05:51) from Who Do We Think We Are, 1973 11. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (05:45) from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973 12. Eloy - Inside (06:38) from Inside, 1973 13. Wishbone Ash - Doctor (05:53) from Wishbone Four, 1973 14. Budgie - Breadfan (06:10) from Never Turn Your Back On A Friend, 1973 15. Budgie - Parents (10:25) from Never Turn Your Back On A Friend, 1973 16. Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song (07:39) from House of the Holy, 1973 17. Kayak - Hope For A Life (06:49) from See See the Sun, 1973 18. Kraan - Wintrup (05:21) from Wintrup, 1973 19. Supersister - Dareios the Emperor (04:50) from Iskander, 1973 20. The Who - The Real Me (03:20) from Quadrophenia, 1973 21. The Who - The Dirty Jobs (04:28) from Quadrophenia, 1973 22. The Who - 05:15 (04:59) from Quadrophenia, 1973 23. Peter Hammill - Easy To Slip Away (05:18) from Chameleon In The Shadow Of Night, 1973 24. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds Of Fire (05:43) from Birds of Fire, 1973 25. Gong - Other Side Of The Sky (7:38) from Angel's Egg, 1973 26. Gong - Sold To The Highest Buddha (4:28) from Angel's Egg, 1973 27. Kingdom Come - Come Alive (08:46) from Journey, 1973 28. Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells Part 2 (23:20) from Tubular Bells, 1973 29. Pink Floyd - Money (06:32) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 30. Pink Floyd - Us And Them (07:40) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 31. Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like (03:25) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 32. Pink Floyd - Brain Damage (03:50) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973 33. Pink Floyd - Eclipse (02:04) from The Dark Side Of The Moon, 1973
Two major releases by UK artists - Muse's 'The Resistance' and Porcupine Tree's 'The Incident' both feature in this week's show, but as ever the real stars are the less well-know acts. Music from Eris Pluvia, Adventure and Illumion, and 'Old and New' featuring the re-released and re-mastered 'Seven' album from Magenta and possibly one of the silliest names in rock history, Gnidrolog. Also, a little surprise for anyone in Bakersfield, CA
Back to 1973 next week
01. Solstice - Peace (6:33) from Silent Dance, 1984 02. It Bites - Oh My God (5:48) from The Tall Ships, 2008 03. Manning - The Final Chapter (7:44) from Number Ten, 2009 04. Adventure - Beacon of Light (23:51) from Beacon of Light, 2009 05. Eris Pluvia - Pushing Together (4:49) from Rings Of Earthly Light, 1991 06. Eris Pluvia - You'll Become Rain (2:21) from Rings Of Earthly Light, 1991 07. Eris Pluvia - The Way Home (9:09) from Rings Of Earthly Light, 1991 08. Seven Steps To The Green Door - Stay Beside (6:01) from Step In 2 My World, 2008 09. Seven Steps To The Green Door - Rising Shore (6:05) from Step In 2 My World, 2008 10. Seven Steps To The Green Door - Out Of Clouds (5:07) from Step In 2 My World, 2008 11. Threshold - Elusive (6:11) from Dead Reckoning, 2007 12. Threshold - Hollow (4:02) from Dead Reckoning, 2007 13. Threshold - Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams (9:47) from Dead Reckoning, 2007 14. Porcupine Tree - Time Flies (11:41) from The Incident, 2009 15. Pink Floyd - Sheep (10:24) from Animals, 1977 16. Muse - United States Of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage) (5:48) from The Resistance, 2009 17. Muse - Exogenesis:Symphony (12:52) from The Resistance, 2009 18. Illumion - Scarlet Sin (5:25) from Hunting For Significance, 2009 19. Illumion - Chyrysanthemum (4:46) from Hunting For Significance, 2009 20. Gnidrolog - I Could Never Be A Soldier (11:37) from Lady Lake, 1972 21. Gnidrolog - Ship (6:44) from Lady Lake, 1972 22. Gnidrolog - Dog With No Collar (2:08) from Lady Lake, 1972 23. Magenta - Envy (10:01) from Seven (Special Edition), 2009 24. Magenta - Lust (12:28) from Seven (Special Edition), 2009 25. Magenta - Greed (13:57) from Seven (Special Edition), 2009 26. Magenta - Pride (14:22) from Seven (Special Edition), 2009
Another epic year review this week, with all you've come to expect from European Perspective retrospectives - huge file length, long songs, two more 'albums of the year' and some oaf wittering on about it in a seemingly disconnected fashion.
01. Caravan - Memory Lain, Hugh/Headloss (09:15) from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 1973 02. Premiata Forneria Marconi - River Of Life (07:00) from Photos Of Ghosts, 1973 03. Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Dopo...Niente E' Piu' lo Stesso (09:54) from Io Sono Nato Libero, 1973 04. Area - 240 Chilometri Da Smirne (05:15) from Arbeit Macht Frei, 1973 05. Le Orme - All'infuori Del Tempo (04:08) from Felona E Sorona, 1973 06. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra (20:33) from Zarathustra, 1973 07. Badger - Wind of Change (07:17) from One Live Badger, 1973 08. Focus - Answers? Questions! Questions? (13:50) from Focus III, 1973 09. Passport - Handmade (09:30) from Handmade, 1973 10. King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part One (13:35) from Larks' Tongues In Aspic, 1973 11. King Crimson - Book of Saturday (02:55) from Larks' Tongues In Aspic, 1973 12. King Crimson - Exiles (07:40) from Larks' Tongues In Aspic, 1973 13. Peter Sinfield - Song of the Sea Goat (06:08) from Still, 1973 14. Caravan - Hoedown (03:18) from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 1973 15. Caravan - Surprise Surprise (04:06) from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 1973 16. Gryphon - The Unquiet Grave (05:48) from Gryphon, 1973 17. Al Stewart - Nostradamus (9:46) from Past, Present and Future, 1973 18. Claire Hamill - Crying Under The Bedclothes (03:36) from October, 1973 19. Steeleye Span - Alison Gross (05:29) from Parcel Of Rogues, 1973 20. Fairport Convention - The Hexhamshire Lass (02:31) from Nine, 1973 21. Fairport Convention - Bring 'em Down (05:57) from Nine, 1973 22. Strawbs - Flying (04:53) from Bursting At The Seams, 1973 23. Renaissance - Can You Understand (09:52) from Ashes Are Burning, 1973 24. Curved Air - Two Three Two (04:14) from Air Cut, 1973 25. Atlantis - Maybe It's Useless (03:41) from Atlantis, 1973 26. Caravan - C'thlu Thlu (06:12) from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 1973 27. Caravan - The Dog the Dog He's at it Again (05:56) from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 1973 28. Caravan - Be Alright - Chance of a Lifetime (06:33) from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 1973 29. Horslips - Dearg Doom (03:06) from The Tain, 1973 30. Roy Harper - Highway Blues (06:34) from Lifemask, 1973 31. David Bowie - Time (05:14) from Aladdin Sane, 1973 32. Spirogyra - Parallel Lines Never Separate (05:05) from Bells Boots And Shambles, 1973 33. Greenslade - Chalkhill (5:28) from Bedside Manners Are Extra, 1973 34. King Crimson - Easy Money (07:52) from Larks' Tongues In Aspic, 1973 35. King Crimson - The Talking Drum (07:25) from Larks' Tongues In Aspic, 1973 36. King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part Two (07:07) from Larks' Tongues In Aspic, 1973 37. Caravan - L'Auberge du Sanglier/A Hunting We Shall Go/Pengola/Backwards/A Hunting We Shall Go (Reprise) (10:03) from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, 1973
It was often a criticism of progressive rock in the seventies that it could be rather dry, devoid of emotion, focused on the talents of the players as musicians rather than on quality of songs, or on the emotional content of the music. Rather harsh, perhaps, but not entirely without foundation! However, I don't feel that the same can be said of the current wave, and no-where is this more apparent than in the current crop of English bands. The English, as a nation, are often characterised as being unemotional or repressed - but there's nothing unemotional about the music I'm playing in this week's show. All of it is English, and all of it released this year - a fulsome helping of Tinyfish (despite my inability to hang on to my dictaphone to bring the interview we did a couple of weeks to air!), a selection from Lee Abraham's excellent 'Black & White' album, and an airing of the absolutely superb title track from Big Big Train's forthcoming record 'The Underfall Yard'.
Much more besides, inanother very long show - but as ever, I make no apologies for that - this music is every bit as significant as the new Porcupine Tree, and deserves to be heard alongside it. In any case, you'll probably download it and listen to it in bits!
This show is dedicated to all of the English musicians whose music is represented here - particularly Simon and Rob from Tinyfish, Martin Morgan from Yak and Guy Manning, who have all been so generous with their time in talking to me over the last year. Nearly all of these talented writers and performers do it for the love and not the money. Long may your muse be in the ascendent.
(No porcupines were hurt during the making of this show - whether in trees, or otherwise)
01. Tinyfish - Honey Nut Loops/Motorville (7:34) from One Night On Fire, 2009 02. Darwin's Radio - Age Of Broken Reason (13:36) from Template For A Generation, 2009 03. IQ - Life Support (6:28) from Frequency, 2009 04. Yak - Aragorn (6:54) from the compilation albumThe First Ring, 2009 05. Secret Green - Echoing Green (10:33) from To Wake The King, 2009 06. Tinyfish - Build Your own Enemy (5:14) from One Night On Fire, 2009 07. Tinyfish - Pagodas (1:09) from One Night On Fire, 2009 08. Tinyfish - Wide Awake At Midnight (10:25) from One Night On Fire, 2009 09. Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard (22:59) from the forthcoming album The Underfall Yard, 2009 10. The Tangent - Live On Air (21:42) from A Place On The Shelf, 2009 11. DeeExpus - One 8 (7:40) from Far From Home, 2009 12. DeeExpus - Pointless Child (6:25) from Far From Home, 2009 13. IQ - The Province (11:42) from Frequency, 2009 14. IQ - Closer (8:11) from Frequency, 2009 15. Tinyfish - She's All That I Want (3:03) from Curious Things, 2009 16. Tinyfish - Driving All Night (4:12) from Curious Things, 2009 17. Tinyfish - Why VHF? (8:19) from Curious Things, 2009 18. Paul Cusick - Scared To Dream (4:40) from Focal Point, 2009 19. Paul Cusick- Touch (5:41) from Focal Point, 2009 20. Manning - Valentine's Night (6:17) from Number Ten, 2009 21. Manning - A Road Less Travelled (10:34) from Number Ten, 2009 22. Stackridge - The Day The World Stopped Turning (11:05) from A Victory For Common Sense, 2009 23. Lee Abraham - The Mirror (8:26) from Black & White, 2009 24. Lee Abraham - Celebrity Status (5:21) from Black & White, 2009 25. Lee Abraham - White (23:12) from Black & White, 2009 26. Tinyfish - All Hands Lost/Tinyfish (12:35) from One Night On Fire, 2009
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