Pendragon Appreciation Thread

rushfan4 wrote: Too much hate for neo prog amongst the current batch of collabs.  Personally, I hadn't written a review for quite some time, before the review that I wrote on a whim earlier this week.

That hate is beyond me, Scott. The importance of the bands who emerged from the wreckage of classic prog in the 80's should never be underestimated, ever.

Of course, I am speaking to the converted here!

lazland wrote: rushfan4 wrote: Too much hate for neo prog amongst the current batch of collabs.  Personally, I hadn't written a review for quite some time, before the review that I wrote on a whim earlier this week. That hate is beyond me, Scott. The importance of the bands who emerged from the wreckage of classic prog in the 80's should never be underestimated, ever. Of course, I am speaking to the converted here!

Is hate quite the right word ? I know there are plenty here who cannot stand a lot of Neo and seemingly in particular the likes of Marillion, IQ and Pendragon but saying it is hate seems a tad harsh. So often these days one hears the word "hater" used to describe anyone who takes an opposing line. That's simply wrong and achieves nothing other than to reduce the impact of the word itself.

For me, not that they or their fans care, the jury is still out on Pendragon. I liked them the first time I heard them and can happily sit through those albums that I know, even their very early stuff. Surely no one could suggest that Nick Barker (embarassing typo excised) Barrett is anything other than a very gifted guitarist and a competent composer nor that the band's recordings lack anything in richness or depth of sound but still for me there is something missing and I suspect, particularly with the early albums, that something is in the quality of NB's voice. It's certainly not a bad voice but for mine lacks a bit of character although one has to admit it has improved with age. What we hear e.g. on Pure and Passion is somewhat different to Masquerade Overture, hardly surprising given the time difference.

Still and all, you have to admire, at least to some extent, a band that has managed to survive for all these years and seems to be keeping heads above water.


Edited by t d wombat - September 21 2015 at 16:31

Wilcey wrote: Yeah.... Nick Barker..... I'm guessing you mean Barrett?

   ..... and you'd be quite correct of course. My whoops .... damn ekybraod has a mind of its own alternatively I'm a blithering incompetent. Your choice.    


Edited by t d wombat - September 21 2015 at 17:02

RoeDent wrote: I bought Passion recently. My first album of theirs of the recent era, and I can hear the difference immediately. Guitars are certainly more dominant here than the keyboard-dominated earlier albums. Also, some near-growls from Barrett put this in borderline prog-metal territory. Feeding Frenzy has an incredible energy to it, and that unexpected "We are in control now" before the 2nd verse of that section is humorous, in a good way. My highlight, however, is definitely the 13-minute This Green and Pleasant Land. A soaring, anthemic chorus and that incredible instrumental coda with its virtuoso drumming.

Not to mention, in This Green & Pleasant Land, the finest set of lyrics I have heard in the 21st century. Sheer classic track from an album brimming with class.

Pendragon album number 4 purchased last week, Men Who Climb Mountains. Just listened for a 2nd time, and it's a good one. I enjoy how the songs seem to be matched in pairs (with the exception of For When the Zombies Come), and I particularly love the chords at the end of Beautiful Soul, which reappear (and are used more prominently) in the closing track, Netherworld.

Tom Ozric wrote: I just bought the vinyl issue of 'The World'. Had it on cassette since I bought it in Malaysia (Johor Baru) just across lthe causeway from Singapore back in 1993. I've wished for this on vinyl since. Got it the other day. Finally - a truly superb album..........

I had it on last night. Classy album.

the first album I had is The Jewel...

^ Please, PLEASE go for Not Of This World. One of the most MAGICAL (for want of a better word) and deeply soulful escapades a Neo band could offer. Apart from a slightly goofy 'Give it To Me' section, the album is beyond flawless..............

The Window Of Life is also AMAZING !! I don't know how Nick and the boys do it, but there's something really special with Pendragon.
Magenta, with the beautiful Christina Booth, is another OUTSTANDING band worth checking out. I can't stress how much their music means to me.