Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Music Lounge
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - The most musically complex prog band(s)?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedThe most musically complex prog band(s)?

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 34567 13>
Author
Message
Jabberwocky View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: December 09 2007
Location: Russian Federation
Status: Offline
Points: 29
Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2008 at 16:42
There was also an obscure Italian band Stormy Six... That was complexity for complexity's sake: Kobaian brass and strings, clear Henry Cow + Il Balletto di Bronze influences. Worth a try

Edited by Jabberwocky - March 09 2008 at 16:43
The only ****ing way out of here is through the rooftop (c) Dolph Lundgren
Back to Top
popeyethecat View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 04 2008
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 190
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 22 2008 at 17:27
Based on my experience so far, Meshuggah are definitely the most complex RHYTHMICALLY. I feel they have explored rhythm further than anyone else I have heard, but rhythm is just one aspect of music. I'm not sure who stands out in terms of other types of complexity. This is partly because my knowledge of music theory is not fantastic. If there is someone who somehow blends the rhythmic complexity of Meshuggah with melodic and harmonic complexity, then WOW. Please inform me if you know!
Back to Top
Sacred 22 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 24 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 1509
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 22 2008 at 23:49
Originally posted by magnus magnus wrote:

In my eyes, Gentle Giant are(were) the most complex prog band
 
Steve Howe said the same thing.
Back to Top
Certif1ed View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 23 2008 at 06:09
Gentle Giant, Magma, Zappa, Crimson.
 
"Radio Gnome" Gong were no sluggards either.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Back to Top
oracus View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 12 2005
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 497
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 23 2008 at 06:36
As far as prog is concerned Hella is absolutely crazy complex. Listen to those insane drum patterns. 

Back to Top
BaldFriede View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10261
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 23 2008 at 11:13
Van der Graaf Generator are a lot more complex than people usually realize. Some passages on "Pawn Hearts" (for example the "Maelstrom" part of "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers") are about the most complex I have ever heard. A specialty of VdGG is to play a slow riff and a fast riff that appear in different parts of a song at the same time in another part of it. Examples: The End of "Man-Erg", the live version of "Pioneers over c" on "Vital", the end of "Scorched Earth".


BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
Back to Top
TempusFugit View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: March 23 2008
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 19
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 24 2008 at 21:16
PFM (Chocolate Kings is one of the most complex, intense prog albums of all time)
Gentle Giant
Back to Top
BaldJean View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: May 28 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10387
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 24 2008 at 21:34
Gryphon were pretty complex too, by the way


A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta
Back to Top
metalisgood View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: April 13 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 28
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 24 2008 at 22:30
Unexpect probably...
Back to Top
Demonoid View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie
Avatar

Joined: May 10 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 50
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 27 2008 at 14:03
VDGG
Back to Top
PinkPangolin View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 26 2006
Location: Somerset (UK)
Status: Offline
Points: 213
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2008 at 18:50
I don't think it's important to be complex to sound proggy.  It just has to sound good.

Sometimes simple is beautiful - aren't Pink Floyd in this vein?
Back to Top
*frinspar* View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 27 2008
Location: Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 463
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2008 at 21:41
GG for sure.

I'd add - from the fringes or weirdness:
Secret Chiefs 3 (Bungle offshoot)
Estradasphere/Don Salsa
Ruins
Fantomas
Pain of Salvation creates some dense and complex passages
Back to Top
*frinspar* View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 27 2008
Location: Arizona
Status: Offline
Points: 463
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2008 at 21:44
Originally posted by PinkPangolin PinkPangolin wrote:

I don't think it's important to be complex to sound proggy.  It just has to sound good.

Sometimes simple is beautiful - aren't Pink Floyd in this vein?

Very true. There can be magic in properly placed silence or simplicity, too.
Back to Top
Man Overboard View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 07 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Status: Offline
Points: 3830
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2008 at 22:37
5 pages and no mention of the Flower Kings?  I know their liberal use of melody generally keeps them from springing to mind, but anyone with any background in music theory can't argue the ridiculously awesome complexity TFK love to casually bring to the table...  especially the Rainmaker album as a whole.
Back to Top
jammun View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: July 14 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3449
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2008 at 23:52
Probably Keith Jarrett on a good day.
Back to Top
Drew View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 20 2005
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 12600
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2008 at 00:08
Originally posted by Man Overboard Man Overboard wrote:

5 pages and no mention of the Flower Kings?  I know their liberal use of melody generally keeps them from springing to mind, but anyone with any background in music theory can't argue the ridiculously awesome complexity TFK love to casually bring to the table...  especially the Rainmaker album as a whole.

Clap
AGREED



Back to Top
Cthulu View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: February 29 2008
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 37
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2008 at 03:11
Maybe the topic should be redefined as 'most...intricate'?!? Either way I'll say Gentle Giant and Happy the Man.
"The Box. You opened it. We came."
Back to Top
Demonoid View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie
Avatar

Joined: May 10 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 50
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2008 at 07:50
Pain of salvation when it comes to prog. metal.
I don't know any dream theater album or any prog metal band as complex as them.(maybe Meshuggah in terms of rhythm as it might take quite a few listens to even get their whole style of music)
I'm not  talking about instruments alone.
Rarely do you come across prog. bands expressing emotions the way they do!

In terms of prog. rock-VDGG as i said b4 and ill add ELP(I can never convince ppl to listen to them)

Edited by Demonoid - June 02 2008 at 08:12
Back to Top
fusionfreak View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: August 23 2007
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 1317
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2008 at 11:05
Depeche Mode,Steve Strange,Frankie goes to Hollywood.....I'm just kidding.I would say Mahavishnu Orchestra,Magma,KC,Samla Mannas Manna,Gaa,Area,VDGG,Henry Cow.A point of view which doesn't
stand out.
I was born in the land of Mahavishnu,not so far from Kobaia.I'm looking for the world

of searchers with the help from

crimson king
Back to Top
Kurpij View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie


Joined: November 21 2006
Location: Cygnus
Status: Offline
Points: 59
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2008 at 00:00
Yes, ELP, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Van der Graaf Generator.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 34567 13>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.102 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.