The final section of the European Perspective 1973 sequence - actually recorded a couple of weeks back, but put up for download early for your delectation, as during my normal recording slot I will be grooving to the sounds of Pendragon, Pallas, RPWL and many other choice proggy acts at the Summer's End festival in rock'n'roll Lydney.
This last installment puts the spotlight on the more avant-garde side of the genre, with an 'album of the year' from Henry Cow and music from Neu!, Magma, Can, Popol Vuh and many others.
But there is still plenty here for the less far-out taste - what will the other album of the year be, 'Selling England...", or "...Topographic Oceans"?
01. Genesis - Dancing With The Moonlight Knight (08:02) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 02. Procol Harum - Grand Hotel (06:11) from Grand Hotel, 1973 03. Traffic - Evening Blue (05:13) from Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory, 1973 04. Rare Bird - Third Time Around (04:59) from Somebody's Watching, 1973 05. Henry Cow - Nirvana for Mice (04:56) from Legend, 1973 06. Henry Cow - Amygdala (06:57) from Legend, 1973 07. Henry Cow - Teenbeat Introduction (04:32) from Legend, 1973 08. Henry Cow - Teenbeat (06:47) from Legend, 1973 09. Magma - Ïma sürï Dondaï (04:29) from Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh, 1973 10. Can - Spray (08:29) from Future Days, 1973 11. Popol Vuh - Selig Sind Die Da Hungern; Selig Sind Die Da Dursten Nach Gerechtigkeit; Ja Sie Sollen Satt Werden (06:03) from Seligpreisung, 1973 12. Faust - Flashback Caruso (04:05) from The Faust Tapes, 1973 13. Neu! - Neuschnee (4:08) from Neu! 2, 1973 14. Hawkwind - Orgone Accumulator (9:59) from Space Ritual, 1973 15. Genesis - I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) (04:10) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 16. Emerson Lake & Palmer - 1st Impression - Part 1 (08:36) from Brain Salad Surgery, 1973 17. Emerson Lake & Palmer - 1st Impression - Part 2 (04:46) from Brain Salad Surgery, 1973 18. Emerson Lake & Palmer - 2nd Impression (07:07) from Brain Salad Surgery, 1973 19. Emerson Lake & Palmer - 3rd Impression (09:24) from Brain Salad Surgery, 1973 20. Genesis - Firth Of Fifth (09:34) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 21. Kraftwerk - Heimatklange (03:43) from Ralf & Florian, 1973 22. Brian Eno & Robert Fripp - Swastika Girls (18:44) from No Pussyfooting, 1973 23. Tangerine Dream - Fauni Gena (10:47) from Atem, 1973 24. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Faith Healer (07:11) from Next, 1973 25. Roxy Music - Do The Strand (04:03) from For Your Pleasure, 1973 26. Queen - Liar (06:26) from Queen, 1973 27. Roy Wood - Dear Elaine (04:09) from Boulders, 1973 28. 10cc - Rubber Bullets (05:14) from 10cc, 1973 29. Henry Cow - Extract from "With the Yellow Half-Moon and Blue Star" (03:38) from Legend, 1973 30. Henry Cow - Teenbeat Reprise (05:04) from Legend, 1973 31. Henry Cow - The Tenth Chaffinch (06:04) from Legend, 1973 32. Henry Cow - Nine Funerals of the Citizen King (05:30) from Legend, 1973 33. Genesis - More Fool Me (03:10) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 34. Genesis - The Battle Of Epping Forest (11:43) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 35. Genesis - After The Ordeal (04:14) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 36. Genesis - The Cinema Show (10:41) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 37. Genesis - Aisle Of Plenty (01:58) from Selling England By The Pound, 1973 38. Yes - Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil) (21:33) from Tales From Topographic Oceans, 1973
Back from sunny Lydney, and joined by Huw for an episode featuring old songs, middle-aged songs, and, um, new songs. New releases from Black Bonzo, Steve Thorne, Parzival's Eye and Parallel or 90 Degrees - but this week's main feature is 'A Curry With Tinyfish', the first of what I hope becomes a long series of features. Robert Ramsay and Simon Godfrey of Tinyfish talk about the history of the band, their DVD 'One Night On Fire', the eventual emergence of the next album, musical influences, the financially cautious nature of bass players and how good the curry was.
And it was a very nice curry indeed!
Those who were expecting a Summer's End feature this week will not be disappointed for long - that's coming in a couple of weeks
01. It Bites - Midnight (4:06) from Once Around The World, 1988 02. The Yellow Moon Band - Chimney (3:32) from Travels Into Several Remote Nations Of The World, 2009 03. Frost* - Welcome To Nowhere (5:32) from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 04. Electric Light Orchestra - Daybreaker (3:51) from On The Third Day, 1973 05. Soft Machine - Day's Eye (1973) from Seven, 1973 06. Golden Earring - Vanilla Queen (9:21) from Moontan, 1973 07. Golden Earring - Big Tree, Blue Sea (8:15) from Moontan, 1973 08. Golden Earring - Are You Receiving Me? (9:35) from Moontan, 1973 09. It Bites - Plastic Dreamer (4:13) from When The Lights Go Down, 2007 10. It Bites - Yellow Christian (6:30) from Once Around The World, 1988 11, David Earle Johnson with Jan Hammer - Grandma's House (4:53) from Time Is Free, 1978 12. Black Bonzo - Nest Of Vipers (4:27) from Guillotine Drama, 2009 13. Black Bonzo - Supersonic Man (8:10) from Guillotine Drama, 2009 14. A Curry With Tinyfish - Interview with Simon Godfrey and Robert Ramsay, featuring excerpts from:
* Motorville from Tinyfish, 2006 * Fly Like A Bird from Tinyfish, 2006 * The Sarcasm Never Stops from One Night On Fire, 2009 * Pagodas from One Night On Fire, 2009 * Why VHF? from Curious Things, 2009 * The Big Red Spark from One Night On Fire, 2009 * All Hands Lost from Tinyfish, 2006 * Driving All Night from Curious Things, 2009 * Ride from One Night On Fire, 2009 * Wrecking Ball from Curious Things, 2009 * Nine Months On Fire from One Night On Fire, 2009
15. Parallel or 90 Degrees - Jitters (6:24) from Jitters, 2009 16. Parallel or 90 Degrees - Threesome (4:33) from Jitters, 2009 17. Parallel or 90 Degrees - Standalone (5:48) from Jitters, 2009 18. Steve Thorne - Into The Ether (4:15) from Into The Ether, 2009 19. Steve Thorne - Granite Man (6:14) from Into The Ether, 2009 20. Steve Thorne - Black Dahlia (4:46) from Into The Ether, 2009 21. Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard (22:59) from The Underfall Yard, 2009 22. Parzival's Eye - Longings End (13:26) from Fragments, 2009 23. Parzival's Eye - Signs (4:36) from Fragments, 2009 24. Parzival's Eye - Fragments (6:07) from Fragments, 2009 25. Karmakanic - Send A Message From The Heart (19:32) from Who's The Boss In The Factory, 2009
Nothing particularly fancy about this week's show, just a selection of tunes which have the word 'black' in their title!
01. Lee Abraham - Black (14:27) from Black & White, 2009 02. Blackfield - Blackfield (4:07) from Blackfield, 2004 03. Argos - Nursed By Giants Part 3: Black Cat (3:38) from Argos, 2009 04. Big Big Train - Blacksmithing (3:04) from Bard, 2002 05. Blind Ego - Black Despair (6:49) from Mirror, 2007 06. Steeleye Span - Black Jack Davey (4:20) from All Around My Hat, 1975 07. Ian Anderson - In A Black Box (3:24) from Divinities: Twelve Dances With God, 1995 08. Sandy Denny - Blackwaterside (4:13) from The North Star Grassman & The Ravens, 1971 09. Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning (4:43) from Rumour and Sigh, 1991 10. Trees - Black Widow (3:24) from The Garden Of Jane Delawney, 1970 11. Steve Hackett - Man In The Long Black Coat (5:07) from Wild Orchids, 2006 12. Gentle Giant - Black Cat (3:54) from Acquiring The Taste, 1971 13. Rick Wakeman - Sir Lancelot And The Black Knight (5:21) from The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur, 1975 14. Jethro Tull - Black Satin Dancer (6:53) from Minstrel In The Gallery, 1975 15. Amorphous Androgynous - Opus Of The Black Sun (6:29) from The Peppermint Tree & Seeds, 2008 16. Tunng - Tale From Black (5:35) from This Is...Tunng: Mother's Daughter And Other Songs, 2005 17. Goldfrapp - Black Cherry (4:56) from Black Cherry, 2003 18. Radiohead - Black Star (4:07) from The Bends, 1995 19. The Flower Kings - Black And White (7:39) from Unfold The Future, 2002 20. Gazpacho - Black Widow (4:28) from Firebird, 2005 21. Frost* - Black Light Machine (10:07) from Milliontown, 2006 22. Gomez - Black Eyed Dog/Free To Run (8:51) from Out West, 2005 23. It Bites - Black December (3:51) from Once Around The World, 1988 24. Queen - The March Of The Black Queen (6:34) from Queen II, 1974 25. Haken - Black Seed (5:53) from Haken, 2008 26. Touchstone - Blacktide (5:50) from Discordant Dreams, 2008 27. King Crimson - Starless And Bible Black (9:12) from Starless And Bible Black, 1974 28. National Health - Black Hat (4:53) from Complete, 1990 29. Soft Machine - (Black) Velvet Mountain (5:10) from Land Of Cockayne, 1981 30. Renaissance - Black Flame (6:27) from Turn Of The Cards, 1974 31. No-Man - Photographs In Black And White (10:03) from Together We're Stronger, 2003 32. Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes (4:24) from In Absentia, 2002 33. Opeth - Blackwater Park (12:07) from Blackwater Park, 2006 34. Pendragon - The Black Knight (9:57) from The Jewel, 1985
Finally! It's here! Less than a month after the event itself, the European Perspective review of the 2009 Summer's End Festival!
And this time...it's mob-handed. I'm joined by prog fan extraordinaire, Chris, to play lots of songs and talk nonsense about them.
01. Steve Hackett - Ace Of Wands (5:23) from Voyage Of The Acolyte, 1975 02. Steve Hackett - The Steppes (6:04) from Defector, 1980 03. Genesis - Blood On The Rooftops (5:27) from Wind And Wuthering, 1977 04. Steve Hackett - Land Of A Thousand Autumns/Please Don't Touch/The Voice Of Necam (8:26) from Please Don't Touch, 1978 05. Godsticks - Not The Face (4:20) from Godsticks EP, 2008 06. Godsticks - Only When Provoked (4:41) from Godsticks EP, 2008 07. Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Echidna's Arf (of You) (3:53) from Roxy And Elsewhere, 1974 08. Quantum Fantay - Trip Escape (4:46) from Agapanthusterra, 2005 09. Quantum Fantay - Snowballs In Ghostlands (5:14) from Ugisiunsi, 2007 10. PO90 - Entry Level (5:23) from Jitters, 2009 11. PO90 - Unbranded (8:36) from Unbranded, 2000 12. PO90 - The Dock Of The Abyss (6:05) from Jitters, 2009 13. RPWL - Sleep (10:09) from Start The Fire, 2005 14. RPWL - Start The Fire (4:51) from Start The Fire, 2005 15. RPWL - This Is Not A Prog Song (5:35) from The RPWL Experience, 2008 16. Pallas - Beat The Drum (9:15) from Beat The Drum, 2004 17. Pallas - Executioner/Rat Racing (11:03) from The Blinding Darkness, 2003 18. IO Earth - 3rd Movement: Air (27:35) from IO Earth, 2009 19. Mr. So & So - The Overlap (6:33) from The Overlap, 1998 20. Mr. So & So - New Year's Day (3:14) from Sugarstealer, 2009 21. Mr. So & So - Thursdays Are Blue (4:50) from Sugarstealer, 2009 22. Mr. So & So - Oh Look! A Rainbow! (5:18) from Sugarstealer, 2009 23. Also Eden - Skimming Stones (6:59) from It's Kind Of You To Ask, 2008 24. Also Eden - A Widow's Eyes (12:41) from It's Kind Of You To Ask, 2008 25. Karnataka - Delicate Flame Of Desire (7:33) from Delicate Flame Of Desire, 2003 26. Karnataka - After The Rain (7:52) from Delicate Flame Of Desire, 2003 27. Pendragon - Indigo (13:43) from Pure, 2008 28. Pendragon - Comatose (17:36) from Pure, 2008 29. Pendragon - Circus (6:32) from The Jewel, 1985
Thanks to Todders from Progboys a couple of weeks back I had the opportunity to interview Daevid Allen and Steve Hillage from Gong. This interview comprises the main feature in this week's European Perspective. Gong's latest album, '2032', is one that's well worth checking out, and they're commencing a tour of the UK on 19th November supported by the Steve Hillage Band - find full details here. There's also a fabulous video clip inspired by one of the songs from the album, and produced by the Japanese producers Mood Magic, to be found here.
Elsewhere in this week's show there's new music from Mother Black Cap, Air and Brother Ape, a set from Irish proggers Dead Heroes Club, and the first in a new series of features, 'Huw's Alphabet Of Prog'. Check it out!
01. Transatlantic - Overture/Whirlwind (9:53) from The Whirlwind, 2009 02. Tinyfish - Pagodas/Wide Awake At Midnight (11:32) from One Night On Fire, 2009 03. Mother Black Cap - Breydon Sunrise (9:16) from The English Way, 2009 04. Mother Black Cap - Child Of Our Time (7:03) from The English Way, 2009 05. Dead Heroes Club - Theatre Of The Absurd (9:17) from A Time Of Shadow, 2009 06. Dead Heroes Club - Stranger In The Looking Glass (9:47) from A Time Of Shadow, 2009
Feature - Interview with Daevid Allen and Steve Hillage from Gong, featuring excerpts from:
* City Of Self-Fascination * The Year 2032 * How To Stay Alive * The Gris Gris Girl * Pinkle Ponkle * Yoni Poem * Waccy Baccy Banker * Dance With The Pixies * Escape Control Delete * Portal
all from Gong - 2032 (2009)
07. Steve Hillage - Aftaglid (14:43) from Fish Rising, 1975 08. Air - Do The Joy (2:59) from Love 2, 2009 09. Air - Tropical Disease (6:47) from Love 2, 2009 10.Air - African Velvet (3:47) from Love 2, 2009 11. Acanthe - Someone, Somewhere (7:54) from Someone, Somewhere (2009, recorded 1974) 12. Acanthe - Objet De Cire (5:24) from Someone, Somewhere (2009, recorded 1974) 13. Acanthe - Univers Insense (4:48) from Someone, Somewhere (2009, recorded 1974)
Huw's Alphabet of Prog
A is for Ayreon 14. Ayreon - Beneath The Waves (8:26) from 01011001, 2008
B is for Big Big Train 15. Breathing Space/Pick Up If You're There (15:27) from The Difference Machine, 2007
C is for Capes 16. Knight Area - Ethereal (6:52) from Realm Of Shadows, 2009
17. Brother Ape - Welcome Future (8:22) from Turbulence, 2009 18. Brother Ape - Footprints (6:20) from Turbulence, 2009 19. Brother Ape - No More (3:54) from Turbulence, 2009 20. IQ - Leap Of Faith (7:21) from Ever, 1993 21. IQ - Came Down (5:56) from Ever, 1993 22. Transatlantic - Dancing With Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise) (12:03) from The Whirlwind, 2009
Drinking tea is only slightly less desirable than eating curry, so for this week's episode I was delighted to partake of said beverage with Dave Foster and Charlotte Evans from the British progressive rock band Mr. So & So, who provided one of the highlights of the Summer's End festival programme this year. Okay, so they were drinking tea in Manchester and I was in London...but that's not the point! We had an excellent chat, talking about Mr. So & So's excellent 2009 release 'Sugarstealer', progressive rock and music in general. Thanks to you both, guys, for such an excellent contribution to the show!
Plenty of other material to keep you all entertained in another four and a half hour epic - new albums from Steve Hackett and Nosound, a little Kino/Frost*/It Bites sequence highlighting the excellent 'Esoteric Evening..." event at the Peel last weekend (with Messrs. Mitchell and Godfrey being more than ably supported by the redoubtable Tinyfish), the next three letters in Huw's Alphabet of Prog (though strangely, without Huw!) and a preview of what is sure to be one of the highlight releases of the year - and possibly the decade - Big Big Train's 'The Underfall Yard'.
01. Kino - Loser's Day Parade (9:04) from Picture, 2005 02. Kino - Letting Go (5:26) from Picture, 2005 03. It Bites - Fahrenheit (5:17) from The Tall Ships, 2008 04. It Bites - For Safekeeping (5:28) from The Tall Ships, 2008 05. Frost* - Falling Down (5:50) from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 06. Frost* - Snowman (3:55) from Milliontown, 2006 07. Flood - Winter (17:32) from Tales From The Four Seasons, 2009 08. Steve Hackett - Nomads (4:31) from Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth, 2009 09. Steve Hackett - Sleepers (8:51) from Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth, 2009 10. Steve Hackett - Ghost In The Glass (3:00) from Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth, 2009 11. Steve Hackett - Last Train To Istanbul (5:56) from Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth, 2009 12. Nosound - Fading Silently (8:29) from A Sense Of Loss, 2009 13. Nosound - My Apology (5:43) from A Sense Of Loss, 2009 14. Moongarden - Enter The Modern Hero (7:45) from A Vulgar Display Of Prog, 2009 15. Moongarden - Compression (17:12) from A Vulgar Display Of Prog, 2009
Mr. So & So interview with excerpts from
* Flying Triangles * New Year's Day * The Visitor (from Compendium, 1995) * Dandelion Amongst The Violets * Bipolar * Thursdays Are Blue * Photograph * Honey Jar * Falling * Oh! Look! A Rainbow! * (Return Of) The Gold
all from Sugarstealer, 2009, except where noted
Huw's Alphabet Of Prog
D is for Darwin's Radio 16. Darwin's Radio - The Vast Within (11:49) from Eyes Of The World, 2006
E is for Emerson, Lake & Palmer 17. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Take A Pebble (12:32) from Emerson, Lake & Palmer, 1971
F is for Frost* 18. Frost* -Pocket Sun (6:57) from Frost*Fest, 2009
19. Manning - Joshua Logan (1990-2048) (7:59) from Anser's Tree, 2006 20. Manning - Prof. Adam Logan (2001-2094) (12:00) from Anser's Tree, 2006 21. Manning - Dr. Jonathan Anser (2089- ) (7:07) from Anser's Tree, 2006 22. Big Big Train - Evening Star (4:53) from The Underfall Yard, 2009 23. Big Big Train - Master James Of St. George (6:19) from The Underfall Yard, 2009 24. Big Big Train - Victorian Brickwork (12:33) from The Underfall Yard, 2009 25. Tinyfish - All Hands Lost (12:26) from Tinyfish, 2006
This weekend sees the first anniversary of the European Perspective. It doesn't seem like five minutes, to be honest, but it was one year ago that I first put together a show for the Dividing Line. A lot has happened since then; I've seen the show grow in numbers of listeners and, I hope, in the quality of production. I have also been delighted to interview several performers and writers, and get that extra insight into the music, giving the show another dimension.
TEP is very much a child of the 21st century, and to mark that fact I asked listeners to choose the albums which they thought were the most significant since 2000, and, of course, by British or European artists. The response was overwhelming - thank you all for your emails and forum posts. Your choices have fuelled what I hope is a suitably entertaining and fun episode of the show.
Albums were chosen from across the spectrum, but opinion was very clear at the top of the 'chart', with one record being in the selection of over half of the 45 respondents. I won't spoil the surprise by saying up-front which album it is - but its popularity is extremely well-deserved!
The show is very long, even by my standards - a touch over five hours - but even that didn't allow for everyone's choices, and to make it shorter wouldn't have done you all justice.
Thank you all so much for continuing to listen to the European Perspective - keep those comments and requests coming in, I can't do this without you.
01. Moon Safari - Dance Across The Ocean (7:27) from A Doorway To Summer, 2005 02. Transatlantic - My New World (16:16) from SMTPe, 2000 03. Airbag - Feeling Less (5:05) from Identity, 2009 04. Godsticks - Only When Provoked (4:41) from Godsticks EP, 2008 05. Also Eden - Skimming Stones (6:59) from It's Kind Of You To Ask, 2008 06. Darwin's Radio - Breathe It In (11:28) from Template For A Generation, 2009 07. Marillion - Fantastic Place (6:12) from Marbles, 2006 08. Mr. So & So - Bipolar (4:39) from Sugarstealer, 2009 09. A.C.T. - Mr. Landlord, Apartment 101 (4:41) from Last Epic, 2003 10. Ayreon - Waking Dreams (6:32) from 01011001, 2008 11. Sigur Ros - Gong (5:34) from Takk..., 2005 12. Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes (4:24) from In Absentia. 2002 13. DeeExpus - Seven Nights (6:33) from Half Way Home, 2008 14. Pendragon - The Edge Of The World (8:15) from Believe, 2005 15. The Flower Kings - The Truth Will Set You Free (31:01) from Unfold The Future, 2002 16. Tinyfish - Nine Months On Fire (5:47) from Tinyfish, 2006 17. RPWL - I Watch Myself Sleeping (6:01) from The RPWL Experience, 2008 18. The Tangent - The Canterbury Sequence (12:05) from The Music That Died Alone, 2003 19. Radiohead - Pyramid Song (4:49) from Amnesiac, 2001 20. Radiohead - Nude (4:15) from In Rainbows, 2007 21. IQ - Life Support (6:28) from Frequency, 2009 22. Big Big Train - Pick Up If You're There (13:40) from The Difference Machine, 2007 23. Frost* - Experiments In Mass Appeal (7:58) from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 24. Magenta - Anger (5:13) from Seven, 2004 25. Riverside - Reality Dream (6:15) from Out Of Myself, 2004 26. The Pineapple Thief - We Subside (4:58) from Variations On A Dream, 2003 27. Pure Reason Revolution - The Bright Ambassadors Of Morning (11:56) from The Dark Third, 2006 28. It Bites - The Wind That Shakes The Barley (8:12) from The Tall Ships, 2008 29. Porcupine Tree - My Ashes (5:07) from Fear Of A Blank Planet, 2007 30. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing (9:47) from Deadwing, 2005 31. Frost* - Milliontown (26:35) from Milliontown, 2006
Never has the European Perspective sounded more like some people banging on in an incoherent fashion.
This week sees the first of a new series called 'Listener's Choice', where in my quest to do as little work as possible I get someone else to choose all the material, and then do most of the talking about it. For the first outing of the concept the vict...er, guest, is Chris 'Chopper' Doe, who so ably co-presented the EP's review of the 2009 Summer's End beanfeast. Chris talks us through an eclectic mix of material, old and new(ish), and I take on the role of the Greek chorus and keep trying to put him off.
Chris can be contacted directly at chris@thedividingline.com where he would be delighted to receive any feedback/abuse/promises of money. I can be contacted at wilf@thedividingline.com unless you're a law enforcement official, in which case it wasn't me.
01. Gryphon-Opening Move (9:43) from Red Queen To Gryphon Three, 1974 02. Brand X - Cambodia (4:29) from Do They Hurt?, 1980 03. Kayak - Irene (4:23) from Starlight Dancer, 1977 04. Agents Of Mercy - The Fading Ghosts Of Twilight (7:29) from The Fading Ghosts of Twilight, 2009 05. Kaipa - Liquid Holes In The Sky (4:42) from Angling Feelings, 2007 06. The Flower Kings - Atomic Prince/Kaleidoscope (7:49) from Back In The World Of Adventures, 1995 07. Roine Stolt - Shipbuilding (5:51) from Hydrophonia, 1998 08. Fruupp - The Perfect Wish (9:49) from The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes, 1974 09. Gentle Giant - Think Of Me With Kindness (3:31) from Octopus, 1972 10. Haze - Seven Stones (6:11) from Cellar Replayed, 2000 (recorded 1979) 11. Roger Waters - Late Home Tonight (6:13) from Amused To Death, 1992 12. Tortoise - Glass Museum (5:27) from Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1996 13. Terry Callier - Love Theme From Spartacus (4hero Remix) (6:15) from The Remix Album, 2004 14. Terje Rydpal - Ornen (6:23) from Chaser, 1985 15. California Guitar Trio - Tubular Bells (8:09) from Echoes, 2008 16. Genesis - Time Table (4:46) from Foxtrot, 1972 17. Tony Banks - Forever Morning (5:56) from A Curious Feeling, 1979 18. Peatbog Faeries - Ramasaig (4:47) from What Men Deserve To Lose, 2007 19. Greenslade - Newsworth (3:05) from Time And Tide, 1975 20. Liquid Scarlet - Greyroom (5:24) from Liquid Scarlet, 2004 21. Satellite - Don't Go Away In Silence (7:35) from Into The Night, 2007 22. Carptree - The Man You Just Became (5:17) from Man Made Machine, 2005 23. Thirteen Senses - Do No Wrong (4:52) from The Invitation, 2004 24. Combination Head - Liquid (5:42) from Progress?, 2008 25. XTC - Chalkhills And Children (4:52) from Oranges And Lemons, 1989 26. National Health - Arriving Twice (2:22) from D.S. al Coda, 1982 27. Camel - For Today (10:40) from A Nod And A Wink, 2002 28. Pendragon - The Wishing Well (20:04) from Believe, 2005 29. Caravan - All The Way (8:50) from Blind Dog At St. Dunstan's, 1976
This fiftieth edition of The European Perspective should have been the second in the much-loved (by me, at any rate) "A Curry With..." series. Curry was indeed eaten, on this occasion with Jon Hunt, and we talked about his excellent album 'Truth & Bulls**t', and a great evening was had. However, technology let me down again, and the recording that we made is more or less unuseable. However, not to let one complete disaster overwhelm us, this episode features some choice cuts from the jh album - to hear more, then check out Jon's web site at http://www.myspace.com/jhinfo/ where you find details on how to order the album. It's well worth a listen.
I also have a virtual cup of tea and a metaphorical chocolate Hobnob in conversation with Jem Godfrey, to talk about Frost*'s 'Milliontown' album, which came top of the polls in the European Perspective 'album of the decade' survey. There's a live release from Frost* early in 2010, 'The Philadephia Experiment', which we also touch on when we're not giggling like maniacs. Prog does strange things to people...
Elsewhere in the show there's new music from The Tangent and Panic Room, old music from Quatermass and Traffic, and a clutch of requests, together with a tribute to the late Eric Woolfson of the Alan Parsons Project who passed away at the far-too-early age of 64 on 1st December. Eric, as well as being a talented keyboard player and composer, was also the voice of the Project, and sang lead vocals on many of their biggest hits.
Next week we have a very special show, featuring the new Big Big Train album, 'The Underfall Yard', which will be released on 15th December - interviews with the three core members, a BBT retrospective, a look at the music which has influenced the band's work, as well as the album itself in its entirety.
01. Alan Parsons Project - Eye In The Sky (4:36) from Eye In The Sky, 1982 02. Be-Bop Deluxe - Heavenly Homes (3:36) from Sunburst Finish, 1976 03. Be-Bop Deluxe - Ships In the Night (4:03) from Sunburst Finish, 1976 04. Traffic - The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys (11:26) from The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys, 1971 05. Quatermass - Up On The Ground (7:10) from Quatermass, 1970 06. Quatermass - Gemini (5:53) from Quatermass, 1970 07. Quatermass - Make Up Your Mind (8:43) from Quatermass, 1970 08. Hawkwind - Space Chase (3:11) from Levitation, 1980 09. Eat Static - Abduction (8:00) from Abduction, 1995 10. Oresund Space Collective - Orbital Elevator (16:12) from Good Planets Are Hard To Find, 2009 11. jh - I Wanna Spend My Summer With A Rich Girl (3:58) from Truth & Bulls**t, 2008 12. jh - Something Different (6:56) from Truth & Bulls**t, 2008 13. jh - London Lament (4:18) from Truth & Bulls**t, 2008 14. jh - Making Tea Is Freedom (17:49) from Truth & Bulls**t, 2008 15. Parallel or 90 Degrees - Unbranded (8:36) from Unbranded 16. The Tangent - Paroxetin - 20mg (7:41) from Down And Out In Paris And London, 2009 17. The Tangent - The Company Car (6:19) from Down And Out In Paris And London, 2009 18. Crimson Sky - After The Rain (3:48) from Misunderstood, 2009 19. Crimson Sky - A Sleep That Burns (10:10) from Misunderstood, 2009 20. The Pineapple Thief - We Love You (8:46) from Little Man, 2006 21. The Pineapple Thief - I Will Light Up Your Eyes (3:40) from 12 Stories Down, 2004 22. The Pineapple Thief - Too Much To Lose (15:13) from Tightly Unwound, 2008 23. Frost* - The Forget You Song (2:26) from Frost*Fest, 2009 24. Frost* - Hyperventilate (7.31) from Milliontown, 2006 25. Tinyfish - All Of The People, All Of The Time (1:22) from Tinyfish, 2006 26. Tinyfish - Build Your Own Enemy (5:16) from Tinyfish, 2006 27. Magenta - Wonderous Stories (3:48) from the single, 2009 28. Within Temptation - All I Need (5:18) from An Acoustic Night At The Theatre, 2009 29. Panic Room - Freedom To Breathe (5:33) from Satellite, 2009 30. Panic Room - The Fall (6:17) from Satellite, 2009 31. Panic Room - Dark Star (5:11) from Satellite, 2009 32. The Tangent - Where Are They Now? (19:13) from Down And Out In Paris And London, 2009
Big Big Train are a progressive rock band from the South of England. They were formed in 1990 by guitarist and bassist respectively, Greg Spawton and Andy Poole, and in the twenty years since starting out they've released five albums, as well as, most recently, a substantial musical makeover of their 1997 album English Boy Wonders, which was released last year. On 15th December Big Big Train will release their sixth album, The Underfall Yard.
This week the European Perspective is given over entirely to a celebration of this uniquely English band. Starting with a look at some of the music from the albums that the band themselves say "made Big Big Train", we then talk to Greg and Andy about the evolution and future for Big Big Train, and then to David Longdon, their new vocalist. Finally The Underfall Yard gets an airing, in its entirety, with a commentary from Messrs. Spawton and Poole which I hope you'll agree gives the listener a fabulous insight into what this excellent album - one which I feel is destined to become a classic of the genre - is all about.
Genesis - Dancing with The Moonlit Knight from Selling England By The Pound, 1973
Prefab Sprout - Jordan: The Comeback from Jordan: The Comeback, 1998
Premiata Forneria Marconi - Appena Un Po' from Per Un Amico, 1972
XTC - The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead from Nonsuch, 1992
Mew - Am I Wry] No from Frengers, 2003
Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla from Takk..., 2005
Anthony Phillips - The Geese And The Ghost fromThe Geese And The Ghost, 1977
Van Der Graaf Generator - Scorched Earth from Godbluff, 1975
Elbow - The Bones Of You from The Seldom Seen Kid, 2008
Steve Hackett - Jacuzzi from Defector, 1980
Interview with Greg Spawton and Andy Poole of Big Big Train, featuring the following:
Wind Distorted Pioneers from Goodbye To The Age Of Steam, 1994
The Shipping Forecast from English Boy Wonders (Remastered), 2008 (originally released 1997)
Fox Winter from Bard, 2002
High Tide, Last Stand from Gathering Speed, 2004
Summer's Lease from The Difference Machine, 2007
Interview with David Longdon of Big Big Train, featuring the following:
David Longdon - About Time from Wild River, 2004
Martin Orford - Ray Of Hope from The Old Road, 2008
David Longdon - In Essence from Wild River, 2004
David Longdon - Wild River from Wild River, 2004
Martin Orford - Endgame from The Old Road, 2008
David Longdon - This House from Wild River, 2004
David Longdon - On To The Headland from Wild River, 2004
The Underfall Yard, with commentary from Greg Spawton and Andy Poole:
A good old mixture of stuff this week - some of it festive, some of it not!
There'll be no European Perspective next week while Huw and I feed our faces with humongous amounts of roast potatoes and those little sausages wrapped in bacon, but we'll be back on 3rd January with our review of 2009. Be afraid, children, be VERY afraid! We're going to tell it like it is, and no mistake...
In the meantime, a very Merry Christmas to you all, and a happy and prosperous New Year. Keep those mails coming in, and hope to get out and see more of you in 2010.
01. Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells from The Christmas Album, 2003 02. Mew - She Came Home for Christmas from Frengers, 2003 03. The Othello Syndrome - All I Want For Christmas Is A TriVisualVirtualDynamicAudioIntelligentDreamSystem from The Shadow of Dreams, 1999 04. The Brimstone Solar Radiation Band - Medic from Smorgasbord, 2009 05. The Brimstone Solar Radiation Band - Godspeed Mother Earth, from Smorgasbord, 2009 06. The Brimstone Solar Radiation Band - Happy, from Smorgasbord, 2009 07. The Watersons - Here We Come A-Wassailing from Frost And Fire: A Calendar Of Ritual And Magic Songs, 1965 08. Strawbs - Christmas Cheer from The Broken Hearted Bride, 2008 09. Paul Cusick - Christmas Through Your Eyes from the single, 2009 10. Vienna Circle - White Clouds (Beginning) from White Clouds, 2009 11. Vienna Circle - First Night In Berlin from White Clouds, 2009 12. Vienna Circle - Stars Of May from White Clouds, 2009 13. Vienna Circle - The Morning Fields Of Amber Grey from White Clouds, 2009 14. Jethro Tull - Christmas Song from This Was, 1968 15. Steve Ashley with Tinder Box - Spirit Of Christmas from New Electric Muse - The Story Of Folk Into Rock, 1996 16. Bellowhead - Frog's Legs & Dragon's Teeth from Burlesque, 2006 17. Bellowhead - Trip To Bucharest/The Flight Of The Folk Mutants from Matachin, 2008 18. Genesis - Snowbound from ...And Then There Were Three, 1978 19. Genesis - Duke's Travels/Duke's End from Duke, 1980 20. Pictorial Wand - The Struggle Of Autumn Leaves from Face Of Our Fathers, 2009 21. Pictorial Wand - The Wasteland from Face Of Our Fathers, 2009 22. Frost* - Snowman (Acoustic) from Tour Sampler, 2008 23. The Albion Christmas Band - Somerset Carol from Winter Songs, 2006 24. Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo from Boxed, 1976 25. Spiers and Boden Duo - Here We Come A-Wassailing from An English Folk Christmas, 2003 26. Fairport Convention - Late November from Fairport unConventional, 2002 27. Ritual - Late In November from The Hemulic Voluntary Band, 2007 28. Ritual - A Dangerous Journey from The Hemulic Voluntary Band, 2007 29. It Bites - Black December from Once Around The World, 1988 30. Steeleye Span - Gaudete from Original Masters, 1977 31. Aquaplanage - One Star from Aquaplanage, 2008 32. The Gourishankar - Moon7 from 2nd Hands, 2007 33. The Gourishankar - ...End from 2nd Hands, 2007 34. Spektrum - Now from Spektrum, 2003 35. Chimpan A - The Secret Wish from Chimpan A, 2006 36. Bittertown - The Chase from Scenes From The Box, 2008 37. Bittertown - The Keeper from Scenes From The Box, 2008 38. Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas from Works, Vol.2, 1977 39. Karmakanic - Send A Message From The Heart from Who's The Boss In The Factory, 2008
In this, the first European Perspective of 2010, Huw and I take a whizz through our favourite albums of the past year. 2009 was by almost universal agreement an excellent year for progressive rock, and at no time was this more evident than when we chose the running order for this show - we could easily have filled fifteen hours from releases made during the year.
Hopefully some of your favourite are here - if not, then write to me and tell me what we should have been playing.
Happy New Year!
01. Manning - Ships from Number Ten 02. Agents of Mercy - A Different Sun from The Fading Ghosts of Twilight 03. Lee Abraham - The Mirror from Black And White 04. Wobbler - In Taberna from Afterglow 05. Argos - Canterbury Souls from Argos 06. Pure Reason Revolution - Victorious Cupid from Amor Vincit Omnia 07. 5Bridges - Batavian Revolt from The Thomas Tracks 08. Steve Thorne - Victims from Into The Ether 09. Mr. So & So - (Return Of) The Gold from Sugarstealer 10. Paul Cusick - Big Cars from Focal Point 11. Parzival's Eye - Longings End from Fragments 12. Darwin's Radio - The Illusion Is Freedom from Template For A Generation 13. Big Big Train - Victorian Brickwork from The Underfall Yard 14. Pendragon - Eraserhead from Concerto Maximo 15. Tinyfish - Pagodas/Wide Awake At Midnight from One Night On Fire 16. RPWL - Breathe In, Breathe Out from the RPWL Live Experience 17. DeeExpus - Half Way Home from Far From Home 18. Strawberry Fields - Flow from Rivers Gone Dry 19. Secret Green - On Merlin's Ground from To Wake The King 20. Gong - How To Stay Alive from 2032 21. Steve Hackett - Emerald And Ash from Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth 22. Transatlantic - Spinning from The Whirlwind 23. The Tangent - Perdu Dan Paris from Down And Out In Paris And London 24. IQ - The Province from Frequency 25. Manning - The House On The Hill from Number Ten 26. Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard from The Underfall Yard
This week's European Perspective features a tribute to the late Tim Hart, founder member of Steeleye Span, who died on Christmas Eve after a battle with cancer. Tim was a leading light in the rejuvenation of folk music in the late sixties and early seventies, and together with Maddy Prior formed the backbone of the band from their formation until his departure in 1982.
Whilst in a folky sort of mood, I've also selected some acoustic music from 2009, including a set from the latest Show of Hands album, 'Arrogance Ignorance and Greed'. There's also a European Perspective exclusive from Big Big Train, one of the great 'lost' progressive rock albums, England's 'Garden Shed', songs from Freefall's album 'Thrown', and the longest European Perspective epic ever, in the form of the title track from Magma's 2009 album, Emehntehtt-Re.
01. Steeleye Span - The Wife Of Usher's Well from A Parcel Of Steeleye Span, 1975 02. Tinyfish - The June Jar from Curious Things, 2009 03. Salad - Drink The Elixir from Drink Me, 1995 04. Frost* - Pocket Sun from Experiments In Mass Appeal, 2008 05. Big Big Train - Hope You Made It from the forthcoming reissue of The Difference Machine, 2007 06. England - Midnight Madness from Garden Shed, 1977 07. England - Three Piece Suite from Garden Shed, 1977 08. Konchordat - Prelude from English Ghosts, 2009 09. Konchordat - The Human Element from English Ghosts, 2009 10. Konchordat - Consequences from English Ghosts, 2009 11. Osada Vida - My Nightmare Is Scared Of Me from Uninvited Dreams, 2009 12. Freefall - Summerhouse from Thrown, 1990 13. Freefall - Letting The Secret Go from Thrown, 1990 14. Freefall - Everything Cures from Thrown, 1990 15. Freefall - Where Are All Your Heroes Now? from Thrown, 1990 16. Freefall - Goodbye Legion from Thrown, 1990 17. Camel - Freefall from Mirage, 1974 18. Genesis - Burning Rope from ...And Then There Were Three, 1978 19. Circulus - Transmuting Power from Thought Becomes Reality, 2009 20. Little Johnny England - The Plains Of Waterloo from Tournament of Shadows, 2009 21. Graham Coxon - Brave The Storm from The Spinning Top, 2009 22. Judy Dyble - Brave The Storm from Talking With Strangers, 2009 23. Ella Edmondson - The Other Side from Hold Your Horses, 2009 24. Show Of Hands - Lowlands from Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, 2009 25. Show Of Hands - Evolution from Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, 2009 26. Show Of Hands - The Napoli from Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, 2009 27. Show Of Hands - Arrogance Ignorance and Greed from Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, 2009 28. Show Of Hands - Secret World from Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, 2009 29. Show Of Hands - The Keys Of Canterbury from Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, 2009 30. Magma - Emehntehtt-Re from Emehntehtt-Re, 2009 31. England - Paraffinalea from Garden Shed, 1977 32. England - Poisoned Youth from Garden Shed, 1977 31. Steeleye Span - Montrose from Live At Last, 1978
As a precursor to re-starting the 'history' series within The European Perspective, this week's show, entitled 'Before The Crimson King', is brought courtesy of guest editor Phil Bradshaw. Phil has chosen a selection of music which represents what was happening in the years 1966-68, leading up to the release of 'In The Court Of The Crimson King', perhaps the first progressive rock album proper, in 1969.
Thanks to Phil for his work in putting together this playlist - any faults are entirely due to the delivery of the material, and therefore mine!
01. Love Sculpture – Sabre Dance (11.30) from Forms & Feelings, 1970 (single 1968) Destined for Greatness 02. Barclay James Harvest – Early Morning (2:34) single, 1968 03. Barclay James Harvest – Eden Unobtainable (3:10) BBC Session, 1968 04. Genesis – Hey (2:25) from Archive 1967-1975, 1968 05. Giles, Giles & Fripp – I Talk to the Wind (3:15) from The Brondesbury Tapes, 1968 06. Jethro Tull – Beggars Farm (4:17) from This Was, 1968 07. Deep Purple – Anthem (6:31) from The Book of Taliesyn, 1968 08. Caravan – Place Of My Own (4:01) from Caravan. 1968 09. Caravan – Where But For Caravan Would I Be (9:01) from Caravan, 1968
Conceptual Murmurings 10. Nirvana – Wings of Love (3:18) from The Story of Simon Simopath 1967 11. The Small Faces – Happiness Stan (2:37) from Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake, 1968 12. The Small Faces – The Journey (4:10) from Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake, 1968 13. The Pretty Things – Balloon Burning (3:51) from S.F Sorrow, 1968 14. The Pretty Things – Death (3:05) from S.F Sorrow, 1968 15. The Pretty Things – Well of Destiny (1:45) from S.F Sorrow, 1968 16. The Who – Rael 1 (5:44) from The Who Sell Out, 1967
Albums of the Year 1967 17. Pink Floyd – Interstellar Overdrive (9:39) from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 1967 18. Procol Harum – Conquistador (2:38) from Procol Harum, 1967 19. Procol Harum – A Christmas Camel (4:48) from Procol Harum, 1967 20. Procol Harum – Repent Walpurgis (5:05) from Procol Harum, 1967
Across the Water 21. Le Orme – Oggi Verra (2:36) from Ad Gloriam. 1968 22. New Trolls – Padre O’Brien (2:47) from Senza Orario, Senza Bandiera, 1968 23. Can – Butterfly (8:20) from Delay, 1968
The Folk Connection 24. Pentangle – Pentangling (7:15) from the Pentangle, 1968 25. Pentangling – In Time (5:11) from Sweet Child , 1968 26. Fairport Convention – (4:46) The Lobster from Fairport Convention, 1967
The Classical Connection 27. Jeff Beck – Beck’s Bolero (2:54) from Truth, 1968 28. The Nice – Rondo (8:21) from The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack, 1967 29. The Nice – Dawn (5:17) from The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack, 1967 30. The Moody Blues – Nights in White Satin (7:25) from Days of Future Passed, 1967
Albums of the Year 1968 31. Family – Hey Mr Policeman (3:14) from Music in a Doll’s House, 1968 32. Family – Voyage (3:31) from Music in a Doll’s House, 1968 33. Soft Machine – Joy of a Toy (2:50) from The Soft Machine, 1968 34. Soft Machine – Why are we sleeping ? (5:33) from The Soft Machine, 1968
The Grown Ups 35. Traffic – No Time to Live (5:22) from Traffic, 1968 36. The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows (2:57) from Revolver, (1966) 37. The Beatles – Within You Without You (5:04) from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967 38. The Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever (4:10) from Magical Mystery Tour, 1967 39. Cream – Tales of Brave Ulysses (2:50) from Disraeli Gears, 1967 40. Cream – Passing the Time (4:37) from Wheels of Fire, 1968 41. Pink Floyd – Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (5:27) from A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968
42. Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade of Pale (4:07) – single, 1967
After last week's snapshot of the largely British 'proto-prog' of the years 1966-68, a more modern cosmopolitan theme this week, with music from Germany (Eloy and Subsignal), the Netherlands (Kayak), Sweden (Makajodama) and Norway (Magic Pie) as well as the usual sprinkling of UK-based progressive music, including more from Konchordat and a selection from The Imagined Village's excellent new album 'Empire & Love'.
Continuing in the theme of 'lost albums' of the seventies, there's also a sizeable chunk of Home's 1973 album 'The Alchemist'.
01. Camel - Echoes from Breathless, 1978 02. Big Big Train - Master James Of St. George from The Underfall Yard, 2009 03. King Crimson - The ConstruKction of Light from The ConstruKction of Light, 2000 04. Eloy - The Refuge from Visionary, 2009 05. Eloy - The Secret from Visionary, 2009 06. Eloy - Age Of Insanity from Visionary, 2009 07. It Bites - Old Man And The Angel from Once Around The World, 1988 08. Kayak - Turbulence from Letter from Letters From Utopia, 2009 09. Kayak - Before The Angels Fell from Letters From Utopia, 2009 10. Kayak - Letters From Utopia from Letters From Utopia, 2009 11. Yak - Aragorn from The First Ring, 2009 12. Fauns - Cunievien from The First Ring, 2009 13. Manwe - Great Spirit from The First Ring, 2009 14. Makajodama - The Train Of Thought from Makajodama, 2009 15. Makajodama - The Girls At The Marches from Makajodama, 2009 16. Makajodama - Autumn Suite from Makajodama, 2009 17. Home - Schooldays from The Alchemist, 1973 18. Home - The Old Man Dying from The Alchemist, 1973 19. Home - Time Passes By from The Alchemist, 1973 20. Home - The Old Man Calling from The Alchemist, 1973 21. Home - The Disaster from The Alchemist, 1973 22. Home - The Sun's Revenge from The Alchemist, 1973 23. The Imagined Village - My Son John from Empire & Love, 2010 24. The Imagined Village - Sweet Jane from Empire & Love, 2010 25. The Imagined village - Byker Hill from Empire & Love, 2010 26. The Imagined Village - Cum On Feel The Noize from Empire & Love, 2010 27. Subsignal - Where Angels Fear To Tread from Beautiful & Monstrous, 2009 28. Subsignal - Paradigm from Beautiful & Monstrous, 2009 29. Subsignal - The Sea from Beautiful & Monstrous, 2009 30. Konchordat - English Ghosts from English Ghosts, 2009 31. Magic Pie - Change from Motions Of Desire, 2005
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