The European Perspective

[AmazingWilf]

Welcome to the first part of The European Perspective's answer to John Peel's 'Festive Fifty', featuring the albums of 2012 as voted for by you, the listeners!

As is our tradition, Ken Foster joins me in reviewing numbers fifty to twenty-six in the poll, together with a few festive treats thrown in for good measure.

Ken, Wife of Wilf, Huw and I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Do listen in next weekend for the second part of the poll results, including our Number One Album of 2012.1. Somewhere - The Twelve Days Of Progmas (4:47) from http://somewhere.nu/, 2010
2. 2011 Medley featuring Steven Wilson, Opeth, The Tangent, Sean Filkins, Matt Stevens, Wobber, Manning and Sky Architect
2. Hostsonaten - Prologue (07:00) from The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, Chapter One, 2012
3. Pendragon - This Green and Pleasant Land (12:29) from Out Of Order Comes Chaos, 2012
4. Hawkwind - The Prophecy (04:12) from Onward, 2012
5. Halo - Intrinsic Frustration (05:01) from Nights and Days, 2012
6. Headspace - Die With A Bullet (08:25) from I Am Anonymous, 2012
7. Steven Wilson - No part of me (06:04) from Catalogue, Preserve, Amass, 2012
8. Silhouette - When Snow's Falling Down (07:10) from Across The Rubicon, 2012
9. Delusion Squared - Faith Mission (06:39) from Delusion Squared II, 2012
10. Katatonia - Ambitions (05:07) from Dead End Kings, 2012
11. Mostly Autumn - King of the Valley (04:35) from The Ghost Moon Orchestra, 2012
12. Muse - Survival (04:17) from The 2nd Law, 2012
13. Sylvan - The Words You Hide, Part 4 (05:05) from Sceneries, 2012
14. Coalition - Changes (9:10) from Return to Forever, 2012
15. Frequency Drift - Parted (07:45) from Laid to Rest, 2012
16. Galahad - Singularity (07:30) from Battle Scars, 2012
17. Citizen Cain - Lost In Lonely Ghosts (13:42) from Skies Darken, 2012
18. Magenta - Revolutions Medley (20:56) from Live: On Our Way To Who Knows Where, 2012
19. North Atlantic Oscillation - Empire Waste (05:45) from Fog Electric, 2012
20. Alan Reed - The Real Me (05:54) from First In A Field Of One, 2012
21. The Reasoning - Otherworld (04:46) from Adventures In Neverland, 2012
22. Moon Safari - A Kid Called Panic (14:35) from The Gettysburg Address, 2012
23. Storm Corrosion - Lock Howl (06:10) from Storm Corrosion, 2012
24. Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Battle of Evermore (05:28) from Lost in the New Real, 2012
25. Threshold - Colophon (06:01) from March Of Progress, 2012
26. The Fierce And The Dead - On VHS (04:53) from On VHS, 2012
27. Galahad - Guardian Angel (10:32) from Beyond The Realms Of Euphoria, 2012
28. Orchestre Celesti - Aspiration (6:10) from http://orchestrecelesti.aurovine.com/, 2012

[AmazingWilf]

This is it, ladies and gentlemen - the last European Perspective of the year, and time to reveal the twenty-five albums that you, the listeners, consider the best progressive rock records of 2012. Who'll be at the top of the chart? Marillion, perhaps, with their back-in-form release, Sounds That Can't Be Made? Big Big Train's splendid English Electric Part 1? Maybe Steven Wilson will make it two years in a row with his live album, Get All You Deserve? Or perhaps it'll be Anglagard's return to the fray, Viljans Öga?

You'll have to tune in to find out....once again I'm joined by Ken Foster to discuss the results as they emerge!

Oh, and Happy New Year, everyone!1. Manning - Margaret Montgomery (04:50) from Akoustik, 2012

2. Mogador - Hardships (10:03) from Absinthe Tales Of Romantic Visions, 2012
3. Syd Arthur - Dorothy (04:23) from On An On, 2012
4. Moon Safari - Lover`s End Pt. III (Skelleftea Serenade) (24:21:00) from Lover`s End Pt. III (Skelleftea Serenade), 2012

5. Ian Anderson - Banker Bets, Banker Wins (04:28) from Thick as a Brick 2: Whatever Happened to Gerald Bostock?, 2012
6. The Enid - Leviticus (06:03) from Invicta, 2012
7. The Pineapple Thief - Last Man Standing (05:12) from All the Wars, 2012

8. Panic Room - Song for Tomorrow (06:13) from Skin, 2012
9. Motorpsycho and Ståle Storløkken - Into the Gyre (10:22) from The Death Defying Unicorn, 2012
10. Kaipa - Treasure-House (07:35) from Vittjar, 2012

11. Steven Wilson - Luminol (12:19) from Get All You Deserve, 2012
12. Beardfish - He Already Lives in You (06:39) from The Void, 2012
13. Gazpacho - Black Lily (04:58) from March Of Ghosts, 2012

14. Riversea - Still Home (05:43) from Out Of An Ancient World, 2012
15. RPWL - The Road of Creation (the Creator) (06:27) from Beyond Man and Time, 2012
16. The Flower Kings - Fireghosts (05:50) from Banks Of Eden, 2012

17. It Bites - Cartoon Graveyard (05:03) from Map Of The Past, 2012
18. Anathema - Lightning Song (05:23) from Weather Systems, 2012
19. Steve Hackett - Entangled (06:35) from Genesis Revisited II, 2012

20. Marillion - Pour My Love (06:02) from Sounds That Can’t Be Made, 2012
21. Anglagard - Sorgmantel (12:06) from Viljars Oga, 2012

22. Kompendium - Alone (05:07) from Beneath The Waves, 2012
23. Corvus Stone - Iron Pillows (05:19) from Corvus Stone, 2012
24. Nine Stones Close - The Weight (09:52) from One Eye On The Sunrise, 2012

25. Big Big Train - Uncle Jack (03:49) from English Electric Part 1, 2012
26. Big Big Train - Upton Heath (5:39) from English Electric Part 1, 2012
27. Big Big Train - Hedgerow (08:52) from English Electric Part 1, 2012

[AmazingWilf]

Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to the first European Perspective of 2013!

To see in the new year, here's a roundup of my favourite albums from 2012 - chosen without heed to fashion, geography or personal safety - as well as other titles chosen by my good friend and co-presenter Chris 'Progcat' Doe. Those of you who remember the ITV classic Out Of Town will probably recall some of that vibe when listening to this episode, as Chris and I meander our way through some really good progressive rock tunes without due care and attention.1. Anglagard - Ur Vilande (15:47) from Viljars Oga, 2012

New prog/Post prog?
2. The Fierce And The Dead - 666...6 (04:43) from On VHS, 2012
3. Knifeworld - Clairvoyant Fortnight (05:28) from Clairvoyant Fortnight, 2012
4. Magma - Ohst (04:53) from Felicite Thosz, 2012

5. Kotebel - Lento Cantabile (07:18) from Concerto for Piano and Electric Ensemble, 2011

Chris’ Faves I
6. DeeExpus - King of Number 33 II - Accession (07:39) from King of Number 33, 2011
7. Barock Project - Inside My Dreamer's Eyes (Part. 1) (04:54) from Coffee in Neukolln, 2012
8. The Flower Kings - Numbers (extract) (09:55) from Banks Of Eden, 2012
9. Beardfish - Seventeen Again (07:42) from The Void, 2012

10. Alphataurus - Valigie Di Terra (10:35) from AttosecondO, 2012

The Italian Perspective
11. Mangala Vallis - Easy Empire (07:13) from Microsolco, 2012
12. Mogador - Prometheus (14:29) from Absinthe Tales Of Romantic Visions, 2012
13. L'Estate di San Martino - Hallucigenia (05:36) from Talsete di Marsantino, 2012

14. I And Thou - Speak (12:17) from Speak, 2012

The American Connection
15. 3RDegree - Televised (06:52) from The Long Division, 2012
16. John Galgano - Real Life Is Meeting (Part 2) (04:29) from Real Life Is Meeting, 2012
17. Mike Keneally - You Kill Me (05:18) from Wing Beat Fantastic, 2012

18. Kompendium - Reunion (05:46) from Beneath The Waves, 2012

Second Time Around
19. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick Part 1 (extract) (11:20) from Thick As A Brick (2012 remix), 2012
20. Mike Oldfield - QE2/QE2 Finale (07:39) from QE2 (Deluxe Edition), 2012
21. The Big Red Muffler - Seven Minutes Plus Of Silence (07:41) from Albums That Can't Be Played, 2012

22. Manning - Antares (05:30) from Akoustik, 2012

Prolk Perspectives
23. Seth Lakeman - The Sender (04:25) from Tales From the Barrel House, 2012
24. The Albion Band - Thieves Song (04:31) from The Vice Of The People, 2012
25. Kate Rusby - The Lark (05:51) from 20, 2012

26. Glass Hammer - Where Sorrows Died and Came No More (06:32) from Perilous, 2012

Chris’ Faves II
27. Lalle Larsson's Weaveworld - Rainbow's Gold (06:26) from Nightscapes, 2012
28. Docker's Guild - Darwin's Tears (08:12) from The Mystic Technocracy - Season 1:The Age Of Ignorance, 2012
29. Devin Townsend Project - Angel (06:01) from Epicloud, 2012

30. Syd Arthur - Ode To The Summer (04:08) from On An On, 2012

Keeping It Live
31. Led Zeppelin - Trampled Under Foot (Live) (06:19) from Celebration Day, 2012
32. Steven Wilson - Harmony Korine (05:07) from Get All You Deserve, 2012
33. Moon Safari - Dance Across The Ocean (08:49) from The Gettysburg Address, 2012

34. Big Big Train - A Boy In Darkness (08:03) from English Electric Part 1, 2012

35. Echolyn - The Cardinal and I (07:20) from Echolyn, 2012

[AmazingWilf]

A very untypical European Perspective this time! I'm joined by Spoffo for a show to celebrate his sixteenth birthday, with lots of music - not all of it prog! - from the year of his birth, 1997.

So join us for a lot of fun and some great music...1. Godsticks - Borderstomp Part 1 - Death To Tuesday (05:06) from The Envisage Conundrum, 2012
2. Comedy Of Errors - Carousel (09:58) from Disobey, 2011
3. The Fierce & The Dead - Daddies Little Helper (04:20) from If It Carries On Like This We Are Moving To Morecambe, 2011
4. Karnataka - Your World (07:48) from The Gathering Light, 2010
5. Yugen - Cloudscape (10:40) from Mirrors, 2013
6. Roz Vitalis - Touching Upon The Mystery (08:59) from Patience Of Hope, 2012
7. Thumpermonkey - Defecit (06:28) from Sleep Furiously, 2012
8. zerothehero - Electric Sheep (06:08) from Nowhere, 2012
9. Sanguine Hum - Earth Song with One Sugar (06:33) from Live in America, 2012
10. La Maschera Di Cera - The Deepest Chasm (05:45) from The Gates Of Tomorrow, 2013
11. Le Orme - Sospesi nell'incredibile (08:42) from Felona e Sorona, 1973
12. Le Orme - Felona (01:58) from Felona e Sorona, 1973
13. Le Orme - La solitudine di chi protegge il mondo (01:58) from Felona e Sorona, 1973
14. Le Orme - L'equillibrio (03:46) from Felona e Sorona, 1973
15. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony (05:58) from Urban Hymns, 1997
16. The Dandy Warhols - Every Day Should Be A Holiday (04:02) from Come Down, 1997
17. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping (04:39) from Tubthumper, 1997
18. The Flower Kings - Church of Your Heart (09:11) from Stardust We Are, 1997
19. IQ - Sleepless Incidental (06:23) from Subterranea, 1997
20. Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways (12:41) from Coma Divine, 1997
21. Sinkadus - Manuel (11:10) from Aurum Nostrum, 1997
22. Spock's Beard - In The Mouth Of Madness (04:45) from The Kindness Of Strangers, 1997
23. Big Big Train - Albion Perfide (10:27) from English Boy Wonders, 1997
24. Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins - Potato (03:57) from Sluggo!, 1997
25. Radiohead - Paranoid Android (06:23) from OK Computer, 1997
26. Show of Hands - Longdog (02:46) from Dark Fields, 1998
27. Blur - Song 2 (02:01) from Blur, 1997
28. Paul Weller - Peacock Suit (03:12) from Heavy Soul, 1997
29. Foo Fighters - Everlong (04:11) from The Colour And The Shape, 1997

The Chain - courtesy of Scott Little
30. Guilt Machine - Season Of Denial (10:22) from On This Perfect Day, 2009
31. Ayreon - Across The Rainbow Bridge (06:20) from Into The Electric Castle, 1998
32. Frameshift - The Gene Machine (05:33) from Unweaving the Rainbow, 2003

33. Dutch Uncles - Godboy (04:34) from Out of Touch in the Wild, 2013
34. Everything Everything - Torso Of The Week (04:33) from Arc, 2013
35. Villagers - The Waves (05:01) from {Awayland}, 2013
36. iamthemorning - burn (04:40) from ~, 2012
37. Argos - Cruel Symmetry (20:43) from Cruel Symmetry, 2012

[AmazingWilf]

February 4th sees the release of the new album from Welsh trio Godsticks - The Envisage Conundrum. In this episode of the show I'm joined by the three members of the band to talk about the album, their tour of Europe with the Mike Kenneally Band, and about life in general.

Elsewhere in the show there's not one but TWO chains, and a slew of superb new releases from Cosmograf, Thieves' Kitchen, KingBathmat, Lifesigns, Riverside and many others.1. IQ - The Last Human Gateway (20:21) from Tales From The Lush Attic 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition, 2013
2. Cosmograf - Aspire, Achieve (10:06) from The Man Left in Space, 2013
3. Riverside - Escalator Shrine (12:41) from Shrine of New Generation Slaves, 2013
4. Panzerpappa - Satam (07:41) from Astromalist, 2012
5. Thieves' Kitchen - A Fool's Journey (08:19) from One For Sorrow, Two For Joy, 2013
6. KingBathmat - Behind The Wall (09:16) from Truth Button, 2013
7. Lifesigns - Lighthouse (12:54) from Lifesigns, 2013

The Chain, v.1 - brought to you courtesy of Simon Thompson
8. Freedom To Glide - Rain part 1/Anywhere Else But Here/Path Of Reason (13:00) from Rain EP, 2012
9. Anathema - Lightning Song (05:23) from Weather Systems, 2012
10. Henry Fool - Heartattack (03:45) from Henry Fool, 2001

Interview with Darran, Steve and Dan from Godsticks, featuring the following tracks:
11. Godsticks - Convergence/Caught In A Bind (06:22) from The Envisage Conundrum, 2013
12. Godsticks - Submerged (04:58) from The Envisage Conundrum, 2013
13. Godsticks - Borderstomp Part 2 - Blind (05:54) from The Envisage Conundrum, 2013
14. Godsticks - Raised Concerns (05:31) from The Envisage Conundrum, 2013

15. Unitopia - The Outsider (11:50) from The Stories Of H.P. Lovecraft, 2012
16. Ciccada - The Statement (05:03) from The Stories Of H.P. Lovecraft, 2012
17. Simon Says - The Wailing Wall (10:12) from The Stories Of H.P. Lovecraft, 2012

The Chain, v.2 - brought to you courtesy of Mark Mercer
18. Mostly Autumn - Never The Rainbow (04:33) from Catch The Spirit, 2002
19. Galahad - Empires Never Last (09:07) from Empires Never Last, 2007
20. Big Big Train - Last Train (06:28) from The Underfall Yard, 2009

21. Cosmograf - The Vacuum That I Fly Through (04:50) from The Man Left in Space, 2013
22. Thieves' Kitchen - Germander Speedwell (14:33) from One For Sorrow, Two For Joy, 2013
23. KingBathmat - The End Of Evolution (09:00) from Truth Button, 2013
24. IQ - The Enemy Smacks (14:07) from Tales From The Lush Attic 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition, 2013

[AmazingWilf]

Plenty of uber-cool stuff this week, with an extended feature on Cosmograf's new album The Man Left In Space and an interview with Robin Armstrong. Robin spills the beans on how the album was made, his masterplan for corporate world domination, and dishes the dirt on the rather unsavoury eating habits of some of the guest performers on the album.

And as if that's not enough to draw you in, new albums from Richard Thompson, The Custodian, Guapo, Francis Lickerish and Verbal Delirium as well as TWO chains. How good can it get?!?1. Marillion - Grendel (Fair Deal Studios Version) (19:10) from Script For A Jester's Tear, 1983
2. Richard Thompson - Good Things Happen To Bad People (05:22) from Electric, 2013
3. The Custodian - The Sun Is God (07:16) from Necessary Wasted Time, 2013
4. Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn (Mike Oldfield & York Remix) (10:15) from Tubular Beats, 2013
5. Grendel - Illusions (11:55) from The Helpless, 2008
6. Silhouette - Grendel Memories (05:42) from Across The Rubicon, 2012
7. Fairewell - Wild Meadow / I've Been Locked Away (11:25) from Poor, Poor Grendel, 2011
8. Francis Lickerish - Brides Of The Wind (14:16) from Far and Forgot - From The Lost Lands, 2012
9. Guapo - Tremors From The Future (11:16) from History Of The Visitation, 2013

The Chain, this week brought to you courtesy of Graham Meigh
10. Porcupine Tree - Heartattack In A Lay By (04:16) from In Absentia, 2002
11. Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - 160 BPM (06:42) from Angels & Demons, 2009
12. Jack Wall - A Heartbeat Away (01:47) from Myst III Exile (Original Game Soundtrack), 2001

Interview with Robin Armstrong of Cosmograf, featuring excerpts from the band's latest album, The Man Left In Space, 2013

13. KingBathmat - Book Of Faces (07:06) from Truth Button, 2013
14. Godsticks - Submerged (04:58) from The Envisage Conundrum, 2013
15. Sanguine Hum - Derision (06:13) from Live in America, 2012

Simon's Chain!
16. Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath (04:41) from Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Special Edition, 1971
17. Paatos - Into The Flames (04:47) from V, 2012
18. Airbag - Light Them All Up (03:01) from All Rights Removed, 2011

19. Airbag - Homesick I-III (17:22) from All Rights Removed, 2011
20. Pymlico - Heroes (14:01) from Directions, 2012
21. Verbal Delirium - The Losing Game (08:55) from From the Small Hours of Weakness, 2013
22. Ciccada - An Endless Sea (05:28) from A Child In The Mirror, 2010
23. Kerygmatic Project - There's No Ground For Complain (07:48) from Greek Stars Gallery, 2012
24. Thieves' Kitchen - Of Sparks And Spires (12:50) from One For Sorrow, Two For Joy, 2013

[AmazingWilf]

This week we feature two new releases which will almost certainly feature highly in the end-of-year poll, and rightly so - Big Big Train's English Electric Part Two, and The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) from Mr. Prog himself, Steven Wilson.

We also have the usual double-chain (including a rather mystifying one from Simon T.), an American sequence, and some 'classic' prog from Yes and Steve Hackett (though not together!).1. Yes - The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) (20:26) from Tales From Topographic Oceans, 1973
2. Big Big Train - East Coast Racer (15:43) from English Electric Part Two, 2013
3. Steven Wilson - The Holy Drinker (10:14) from The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories), 2013
4. Tom Slatter - The Time Traveller Suite 1: What We Say Three Times Is True (08:38) from Three Rows of Teeth, 2013

The Chain, courtesy of Mark Mercer
5. Radiohead - Airbag (04:44) from OK Computer, 1997
6. Camel - Airborn (05:03) from Moonmadness, 2009
7. Be-Bop Deluxe - Life In The Air Age (04:06) from Radioland - BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert, 1994

8. Spock's Beard - A Treasure Abandoned (08:54) from Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep, 2013
9. Syzygy - Darkfield (11:35) from A Glorious Disturbance, 2013
10. Neal Morse - Question Mark Suite (The Temple of the Living God, Another World, Entrance, Inside His Presence) (20:59) from Live Momentum, 2013
11. Steven Wilson - The Watchmaker (11:42) from The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories), 2013
12. Atoms For Peace - Ingenue (04:31) from Amok, 2013
13. Big Big Train - Worked Out (07:31) from English Electric Part Two, 2013
14. Steve Hackett - Hoping Love Will Last (04:23) from Please Don't Touch, 1978
15. Steve Hackett - Land Of A Thousand Autumns (01:38) from Please Don't Touch, 1978
16. Steve Hackett - Please Don't Touch (03:39) from Please Don't Touch, 1978
17. Steve Hackett - The Voice Of Necam (03:11) from Please Don't Touch, 1978
18. Steve Hackett - Icarus Ascending (06:27) from Please Don't Touch, 1978

Simon's chain!
19. Hedvig Mollestag Trio - Ashes (04:29) from https://soundcloud.com/hedvigmollestadtrio, 2012
20. hAND - The Neon Hero (08:48) from Breathing, 2011
21. Godsticks - In A Way That Ended Me (05:00) from The Envisage Conundrum, 2013

22. Porcupine Tree - Trains (05:56) from In Absentia, 2002
23. Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion (10:09) from Storm Corrosion, 2012
24. Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (07:57) from The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories), 2013
25. Big Big Train - The Permanent Way (08:30) from English Electric Part Two, 2013

[AmazingWilf]

Unbelievably the last Progyears show was broadcast in June 2011 - co-presented with the great Leon Camfield - so it's high time we did it again. Rather than continuing with 1977, let's jump forward thirty years to 2006, when progressive rock all kicked off again. Great music from Tinyfish, The Gift, Manning and many others, as well as the Album of the Decade as voted by European Perspective listeners, Milliontown by Frost*.

Back to normal next time, with The Chain, an album side and the best of new European progressive rock releases.1. Frost* - Hyperventilate (07:32) from Milliontown, 2006
2. Darwin's Radio - Lapse Of Sensation (08:22) from Eyes Of The World, 2006
3. Also Eden - Children of the Night (08:33) from About Time, 2006
4. Ezra - Underground (05:33) from Songs from Pennsylvania, 2006
5. A.C.T. - Out Of Ideas (04:47) from Silence, 2006
6. Brother Ape - Lunatic Kingdom (06:01) from Shangri-La, 2006
7. Maze of time - Daydreamer (06:01) from Tales from the Maze, 2006
8. The Flower Kings - Monsters & Men (21:20) from Paradox Hotel, 2006
9. La Maschera Di Cera - Doppia Immagine (07:49) from LuxAde, 2006
10. Areknamés - La Chambre (07:26) from Love Hate Round Trip, 2006
11. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Conquista (06:29) from Stati Di Immaginazione, 2006
12. The Gift - Awake and Dreaming (41:49) from Awake & Dreaming, 2006
13. Pure Reason Revolution - The Bright Ambassadors of Morning (11:56) from The Dark Third, 2006
14. Manning - Diana Horden (1900-1922) (07:47) from Ansers Tree, 2006
15. The Tangent - A Place in the Queue (25:15:00) from A Place in the Queue, 2006
16. Magenta - Moving On (06:12) from Home, 2006
17. Chimpan A - Sam's Song (06:55) from Chimpan A, 2006
18. Tinyfish - Nine Months On Fire (05:47) from Tinyfish, 2006
19. The Pineapple Thief - Run A Mile (06:43) from Little Man, 2006
20. Von Hertzen Brothers - Kiss A Wish (09:31) from Approach, 2006
21. White Willow - Splinters (08:36) from Signal To Noise, 2006
22. Sylvan - Forgotton Virtue (06:44) from Posthumous Silence, 2006
23. Lazuli - Laisse courir (05:13) from En avant doute ..., 2006
24. Yesterdays - Seven (11:48) from Holdfenykert, 2006
25. Frost* - Milliontown (26:35) from Milliontown, 2006

[AmazingWilf]

New albums from Comedy of Errors, Sanguine Hum, Von Hertzen Brothers and many more, exciting news about Camel, an album side from Grobschnitt, and a nice selection of oldies.1.Yes - Heart Of The Sunrise (11:27) from Fragile, 1971
2.Von Hertzen Brothers - World Without (07:23) from Nine Lives, 2013
3.The Bending Space - Evidence (05:48) from Are We Just Leftovers?, 2013
4.Soft Machine Legacy - Kings & Queens (06:46) from Burden Of Proof, 2013
5.Millenium - Dark Secrets (06:38) from Ego, 2013
6.Oxhuitza - Luna Di Maggio (05:39) from Oxhuitza, 2013
7.Sanguine Hum - System For Solution (08:02) from The Weight Of The World, 2013

The Chain, courtesy of Tom Weldon
8.Premiata Forneria Marconi - River of Life (07:00) from Photos of Ghosts, 1973
9.Strawbs - The Life Auction (06:52) from Ghosts, 1975
10.Godley & Creme - Sporting Life (07:29) from L, 1978

11.Camel - The Snow Goose, Side 1 (22:57) from A Live Record, 2002
12.Aeon Zen - Warning (06:54) from Enigma, 2013
13.Osada Vida - Those Days (05:42) from Particles, 2013
14.Haze - Over The River (05:56) from The Last Battle, 2013

Album Sides - side two of Rockpommel's Land by Grobschnitt, courtesy of Henk Smit
15.Grobschnitt - Anywhere (04:13) from Rockpommel's Land, 1977
16.Grobschnitt - Rockpommels Land (19:51) from Rockpommel's Land, 1977

17.Amplifier - Never & Always (08:34) from Echo Street, 2013
18.Sankara - Never Felt So Alive (05:27) from Guided by Degrees, 2012
19.Kingcrow - Morning Rain (06:08) from In Crescendo, 2013
20.Cardiacs - Dirty Boy (08:55) from Sing To God, 1996
21.Cardiacs - Nurses Whispering Verses (06:03) from The Seaside, 1984
22.Cardiacs - Is This The Life? (05:38) from A Little Man And A House And The Whole World Window, 1988
23.Comedy of Errors - The Cause (09:30) from Fanfare & Fantasy, 2013
24.Gordon Giltrap and Oliver Wakeman - Is This The Last Song I Write? (10:02) from Ravens & Lullabies, 2013

Simon's Chain
25.Steven Wilson - No Part Of Me (05:44) from Grace For Drowning, 2011
26.Jo Hamilton - Pick Me Up (03:25) from Gown, 2011
27.Frost* - No Me, No You (06:06) from Milliontown, 2006

28.DeeExpus - Me And My Downfall (06:50) from King Of Number 33, 2011
29.Dec Burke - December Sun (07:24) from Paradigms & Storylines, 2011
30.The Fierce & The Dead - 10x10 (04:19) from If It Carries On Like This We Are Moving To Morecambe, 2011
31.Big Big Train - Curator Of Butterflies (08:44) from English Electric Part Two, 2013

[AmazingWilf]

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!

01. Tinyfish - Motorville (2:09) from Tinyfish, 2006

Part 1 - A Tinyfish Top Ten (as voted by the members of the Fishtank)
02. Tinyfish - Sundried (1:56) from Tinyfish, 2006
03. Tinyfish - Why VHF? (8:18) from Curious Things, 2009
04. Tinyfish - Driving All Night (4:19) from One Night On Fire, 2009
05. Tinyfish - God Eat God (3:12) from Tinyfish, 2006
06. Tinyfish - All Of The People All Of The Time/Build Your Own Enemy (6:38) from Tinyfish, 2006
07. Tinyfish - Cinnamon (6:21) from One Night On Fire, 2009
08. Tinyfish - The June Jar (3:20) from Curious Things, 2009
09. Tinyfish - Fly Like A Bird (4:11) from Tinyfish, 2006
10. Tinyfish - Nine Months On Fire (6:07) from One Night On Fire, 2009
11. Tinyfish - All Hands Lost (12:35) from Tinyfish, 2006

Part 2 - Big Red Spark influences
12. Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of  The War/Horsell Common and the Heatwave (20:43) from Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, 1978
13. Black Sabbath - Junior's Eyes (6:43) from Never Say Die, 1978
14. Rush - Distant Early Warning (4:56) from Grace Under Pressure, 1984
15. Marillion - Holloway Girl (4:27) from Seasons End, 1989
16. Thin Lizzy - Don't Believe A Word (2:18) from Johnny The Fox, 1976
17. Winger - Rainbow In The Rose (5:34) from In The Heart Of The Young, 1990
18. Jeff Beck - Dirty Mind (3:50) from You Had It Coming, 2000
19. Pink Floyd - Goodbye Blue Sky (2:48) from The Wall, 1979
20. Pink Floyd - Empty Spaces (2:08) from The Wall, 1979
21. Pink Floyd - Young Lust (3:31) from The Wall, 1979
22. Tom Waits - What's He Building (3:20) from Mule Variations, 1999
23. Electric Light Orchestra - Loser Gone Wild (5:25) from Secret Messages, 1983
24. Peter Blegvad - King Strut (5:09) from King Strut & Other Stories, 1990
25. XTC - Train Running Low On Soul Coal (5:17) from The Big Express, 1984
26. The Police - Megaman (2:47) from Ghost In The Machine, 1981
27. Cardiacs - The Everso Closely Guarded Line (8:22) from On Land And In The Sea, 1989

Part 3 - The Big Red Spark
28. Tinyfish - The Sarcasm Never Stops (5:18)
29. Tinyfish - Ride (5:26)
30. Tinyfish - Eat The Ashes (3:19)
31. Tinyfish - Let's Get Invisible (4:02)
32. Tinyfish - The Loose Ends (part 1) (3:11)
33. Tinyfish - Rainland (6:54)
34. Tinyfish - A Million Differences (2:06)
35. Tinyfish - Bad Weather Road (6:21)
36. Tinyfish - I'm Not Crashing (4:37)
37. Tinyfish - Building The Machine (3:16)
38. Tinyfish - Refugee (2:24)
39. Tinyfish - The Big Red Spark (4:51)
40. Tinyfish - Weak Machine (3:28)
41. Tinyfish - Activation (0:38)
42. Tinyfish - The Final Act (inc. Rainland Reprise) (2:37)
43. Tinyfish - The Loose Ends (part 2) (2:43)
44. Tinyfish - Wide Awake At Midnight (10:21)

[AmazingWilf]

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!01. ABBA - Waterloo (2:44) from Waterloo, 1974
02. Teach-In - Ding-A-Dong (2:26) from Festival, 1975
03. Sandie Shaw - Puppet On A String (2:23) from Puppet On A String, 1967
04. Scarlet Thread - Pimeasta Pohjolasta (5:03) from Kalevala - A Finnish Progressive Rock Epic, 2003
05. Amarok - Sueno Sueros (8:43) from Mujer Luna, 2002
06. The Skys - Broken Sounds Of Truth (3:46) from Postmodern Game, 2004
07. Different Strings - All Over Again (6:53) from …It’s Only The Beginning, 2007
08. Moon Safari - Dance Across The Ocean (7:27) from A Doorway To Summer, 2005
09. Argos - The King Of Ghosts (5:11) from Argos, 2009
10. Yesterdays - Seven (11:48) from Holdfenykert, 2006
11. Don’t Mess With Texas - He Builds Houses Like Trees (4:15) from Los Dias De Junio, 2006
12. Eris Pluvia - The Way Home (9:09) from Rings Of Earthly Light, 1991
13. Blackfield - Miss U (4:13) from II, 2007
14. Forgotten Suns - Doppelganger (4:08) from Innergy, 2009
15. Rubycone - It’s All About Fashion (3:41) from Pictures For Susceptible Housewives, 2008
16. Anubis Gate - Take Me Home (5:13) from Andromeda Unchained, 2007
17. Sunchild - Line In The Sand (14:36) from The Invisible Line, 2009
18. Apple Pie - Escape (10:30) from Crossroads, 2007
19. Oaksenham - The Way Back Home (9:29) from Conquest Of The Pacific, 2006
20. Emir Hot - Stand And Fight (5:45) from Sevdah Metal, 2008 Bosnia & Herzegovina
21. The Black Noodle Project - Wave On A Soul (4:03) from Play Again, 2006
22. Aphrodite’s Child - Aegian Sea (5:23) from 666, 1972
23. Seven Day Hunt - No Plaster Saint (14:28) from File This Dream, 2008
24. It Bites - Ghosts (4:45) from The Tall Ships, 2008
25. Asia Minor - Boundless (3:12) from Between Flesh And Divine, 1980
26. Horslips - Warm Sweet Breath Of Love (3:26) from The Book Of Invasions, 1976
27. Sigur Ros - Gobbledigook (3:05) from Med Sud i Eyrum Vid Spilum Endelaust, 2008
28. Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (3:02) from the single, 2009
29. Wobbler - Rubato Industry (12:44) from Hinterland, 2005