Neo-Prog Appreciation! ...
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123897
Printed Date: November 28 2024 at 00:51
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Neo-Prog Appreciation! ...
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Subject: Neo-Prog Appreciation! ...
Date Posted: August 27 2020 at 11:22
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I was just searching for a neo-prog appreciation thread, and I was appalled to find there wasn't one! This could be a problem with my machine and there is a neo-prog thread - if so could admins please close this one - but if not, I'd personally love to hear some recommendations for post-80s neo-prog, which is why I went looking for a neo-prog thread in the first place, I'm not too knowledgeable on it. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Replies:
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: August 27 2020 at 12:29
| Sanguine Hum, Frost*, The Psychedelic Ensemble, Sylvan, and Lifesigns come to mind. |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: August 27 2020 at 13:00
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Here is a link to the top 100 NEO prog albums released since 1990 according to PA reviews. You can adjust the search however you see fit. %3ca%20href=" rel="nofollow - https://www.progarchives.com/top-prog-albums.asp?ssubgenres=18&syears=2020&syears=2019&syears=2018&syears=2017&syears=2016&syears=2015&syears=2014&syears=2013&syears=2012&syears=2011&syears=2010&syears=2009&syears=2008&syears=2007&syears=2006&syears=2005&syears=2004&syears=2003&syears=2002&syears=2001&syears=2000&syears=1999&syears=1998&syears=1997&syears=1996&syears=1995&syears=1994&syears=1993&syears=1992&syears=1991&syears=1990&scountries=&sminratings=0&smaxratings=0&sminavgratings=0&smaxresults=100&x=76&y=13#list "> https://www.progarchives.com/top-prog-albums.asp?ssubgenres=18&syears=2020&syears=2019&syears=2018&syears=2017&syears=2016&syears=2015&syears=2014&syears=2013&syears=2012&syears=2011&syears=2010&syears=2009&syears=2008&syears=2007&syears=2006&syears=2005&syears=2004&syears=2003&syears=2002&syears=2001&syears=2000&syears=1999&syears=1998&syears=1997&syears=1996&syears=1995&syears=1994&syears=1993&syears=1992&syears=1991&syears=1990&scountries=&sminratings=0&smaxratings=0&sminavgratings=0&smaxresults=100&x=76&y=13#list" rel="nofollow - https://www.progarchives.com/top-prog-albums.asp?ssubgenres=18&syears=2020&syears=2019&syears=2018&syears=2017&syears=2016&syears=2015&syears=2014&syears=2013&syears=2012&syears=2011&syears=2010&syears=2009&syears=2008&syears=2007&syears=2006&syears=2005&syears=2004&syears=2003&syears=2002&syears=2001&syears=2000&syears=1999&syears=1998&syears=1997&syears=1996&syears=1995&syears=1994&syears=1993&syears=1992&syears=1991&syears=1990&scountries=&sminratings=0&smaxratings=0&sminavgratings=0&smaxresults=100&x=76&y=13#list ------------- 
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Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: August 27 2020 at 13:50
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There was this thread from last year: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=120651" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=120651 Bands from this genre that I find interesting include: IQ, Magenta, Arena, Comedy of Errors, Airbag, Darwin's Radio, Pallas, Flamborough Head, Introitus, The Watch, RPWL, Monarch Trail, Agents of Mercy, Majestic, The Far Meadow, Red Sand, Credo, Huis, Argos, Little Atlas, East, Apple Pie, Salem Hill, Galleon, InVertigo, Mindgames. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: August 28 2020 at 01:49
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I have to give a mention for Pendragon here - especially for their latest album Love Over Fear (best prog album of 2020 so far). |
Posted By: Deadwing
Date Posted: August 28 2020 at 02:21
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I second the recommendation for Pendragon - Love Over Fear :) |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 28 2020 at 02:21
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I don’t listen to much Neo-Prog, but I did like The Watch (as already mentioned by ProgArdvaark). You might like the Vacuum album and others (I only know Vacuum). Also Citizen Cain’s Somewhere but Yesterday might be up your alley (very much in the Genesis vein, some would say too much, as is the Watch in the Genesis vein,, and well, quite a lot of Neo-Prog methinks). And while it is no longer included in Neo-Prog, it used to be, Discipline is very good. I like Unfolded Like Staircase. Here is a Citizen Cain track, and I know you like Genesis Duke, but this more reminiscent of Gabriel era. Other people will likely do better with their suggestions. My favourite of those I mentioned is Discipline, but like I said, it was moved out of Neo-Prog. I think the debut by Discipline is the most Neo-Proggy album by the band . ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 28 2020 at 04:58
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Thanks, all these posts are very helpful. I'm glad to see a lot of IQ fans about. As for Love over Fear, I'm planning to get it, but I'm not exactly counting on it as I think I planned to get it in June and forgot all about it. 
This gives me a good idea of what to look for, thanks. Slightly disappointing Subterranea (IQ) only just the top 20, but you can't have everything!
I've already heard of Discipline, but never actually heard them. They seem very neo prog to me, where were they moved to? All I can say about Citizen Cain is that, yes, it is up my alley, and yes, sounds exactly like Genesis, but there's nothing wrong with that! I used to say neo prog replaced Genesis for old Genesis fans in the 80s when they got annoyed with new, pop Genesis. Mind you, Citizen Cane, though their sound is similar to Genesis, you can tell clearly from that song was composed by different people as it is structured in a different way, I think, that Genesis would have done. Anyway, thanks all for posts. I'd also liked to ask whether so called new prog bands are included in the neo prog section, or is it just considered by collaborators to be a collection of different unrelated sounds? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
rushfan4 wrote:Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: August 28 2020 at 14:35
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^ Thanks for the response, FC. Discipline was moved to Symphonic Prog, and Symphonic Prog is very related to Neo-Prog anyway (some called it the new wave of Symphonic Prog). I have only heard Discipline'e early work, and of course it's common for bands to take different directions. That track I posted from the debut is I think commonly described as from an album of the Neo-Prog style -- more so than later albums I think. But I expect that they all have a Neo-Prog relation and classification, at least here, is not an exact science. Good band, I think, whatever you call the music. By the way, I don't mind clones if I think they do it well and I like what they are influenced by. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: August 28 2020 at 15:06
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Discipline are a local band that I have been fortunate enough to see live a couple of times. I got to meet Matthew Parmenter and Mathew Kennedy after one of their shows. They were nice guys. We talk a little a bit about prog and they mentioned being fans of VDGG and Magma. -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 02:37
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I tend to get a bit stuck on IQ but enjoy some Arena, Marillion, Comedy Of Errors, Magenta, Alkozaur , Also Eden, The Far Meadow ,Legend and Altavia. Magenta's last 3 albums probably make them my favourite Neo band just at the moment although I never really think of them as 'Neo' for some reason.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 04:56
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Thanks, Logan. Another post-80s neo band - the Modern Rock Ensemble, that I discovered on the discog section. I've seen a couple of threads on them. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 08:58
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I listen to quite a bit of this neo-prog genre or at least artists that are labeled that here (God I hate genre tags...) Some really great music that has come from these bands over the past 20+yrs. Marillion IQ Arena Magenta Mystery Galleon Pendragon Discipline -------------   
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 09:39
^Just remembered, no one has answered this question - or has no one have any thoughts on it at all? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 09:47
| Discipline are under symphonic prog here on PA. |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 09:55
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^That wasn't my question. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 09:58
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Neo-prog is like NWOBHM, a new wave of bands, inspired by 70s prog, especially Genesis, Pink Floyd, Camel, even VDGG (Twlfth Night, Marillion), think symphonic prog with an 80s twist, if that makes sense. New prog bands can mean a lot of things - crossover, post rock, progressive metal, etc.
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 10:00
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My understanding from a conversation with a former collab is that the main difference between symphonic prog and Neo prog is the use of mellotrons and moogs or string instruments in Symph versus the use of modern keyboards and computers to generate a similar sound in Neo. Neo also tends to have a more metal sound than traditional symph prog. -------------
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 10:59
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Are you asking why all new prog bands aren't put in neo but are put in the sub genre suitable for their style music be it folk prog, avant, zeuhl, eclectic etc. ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 11:03
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^Yes. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 11:04
Thanks, good post.
 ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 11:19
Haha, so let's just call everything music, Blues, Rap, Hip Hop and add it all to the site as its all just music. Everything was new once so Elvis, The Beatles, BB King from a 1940s perspective are Neo. The point of categorization is to help people searching for new music. Someone looking for new bands influenced by Henry Cow and Univers Zero aren't helped by grouping those bands in on huge category of Neo with IQ, Dream Theater, Flower Kings, etc. ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 11:30
| My guess would be most on here don't like it. I personally like a lot of what I have heard since I tend to like that basic symph prog sound and neo bands were typically influenced by that. I am not so big into it when it sounds too derivative though. I've heard bands that sound like they are deliberately trying to sound like Marillion or whoever and that just rubs me the wrong way. If it's done intentionally they might be forgiven but I don't know how often that's the case. |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 11:58
Thanks a lot.
When I discovered this site, I'd never heard of "symphonic" prog, for example. It looked to me like the larger, older sub genres had been given names like "symphonic" or "eclectic" prog long after their major bands (e.g Genesis, Yes, KC ect.) had been making music. Please correct me if I'm wrong. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 12:14
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In the Seventies, prog was hardly ever called "progressive rock". In Italy it was called "pop", and I also remember definitions like "symphonic rock" and "baroque rock". As to the "neo" label, it is not an invention of this site: it has been used in the specialized press for a while, and you can find it mentioned in Edward Macan's book "Rocking the Classics", published in 1997 (so way before this site came into being.
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Posted By: Greenmist
Date Posted: August 29 2020 at 15:02
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I really like Arena, up until the Peppers Ghost album, they aint so good on that album and beyond it. I also like the odd song from IQ and Pendragon. The Nolan and Wakeman albums are good too. Ive tried to get into Marrilion too, but all attempts there have failed so far.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 30 2020 at 02:50
Thanks. I don't remember this (though I did know about neo prog), but then I didn't used to be into prog, so please, eveyone refer to me as an ignoramus. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 30 2020 at 02:52
What Marillion did you get? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Greenmist
Date Posted: August 30 2020 at 04:40
I didnt get any of their albums, ive tried listening to songs of theirs on places like youtube, and on the progressive archives site when you could stream songs on there, and apart from Kayleigh, not one of their songs i got into. Dont ask me which songs i streamed and from what albums, cause i dont remember now.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 31 2020 at 00:45
prog was definitely called 'progressive rock' in the seventies
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 31 2020 at 02:58
Well, that's what I thought. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: August 31 2020 at 03:11
Kayleigh was a bit of a one-off song for Marillion... and, if you get the early rough mix of it as I have, the album version actually sounds a lot different and a lot less proggy. There's a theory that Marillion's record company put pressure on them to make Kayleigh much more like a pop song. So if you only like Kayleigh out of what you heard, Marillion's probably not your thing... and neither, probably, is the rough mix of Kayleigh!  A question directed towards the Marillion fans of PA: Who here is agreed that Blind Curve is the best ever Marillion song? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Greenmist
Date Posted: September 01 2020 at 03:27
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I know that Kayleigh was Marillions one off attempt at a mainstream rock song, but it did very well, it got to number 2 in the UK top 40 (back when the UK top 40 actually had relevency to song writing talent) . Ive tried giving Marillion quite a fair amount of chances to impress me with their neo prog rock material, and it just hasent done much for me. Early Arena albums were Marillion influenced, you can certainly hear that in songs like Out of the Wilderness, Valley of the Kings, and Medusa, but their better. To me they are like a Marillion that got it right. I watched this youtube video last night, and the guy who made it obviously agrees with you, as he put Blind Curve at number 1. That songs more like it, to be fair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu85IYJ4z6o" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu85IYJ4z6o
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 01 2020 at 03:46
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^Yes, Blind Curve give a lot of Genesis songs a run for their money (that's a big compliment from me). Arena is band I ought to get more into, thanks for making me notice that. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 01 2020 at 04:05
Arena shares more things with Pendragon (they share one of the songwriters in Clive Nolan) than Marillion (which has distanced from neo-prog if you ask me starting with Brave/Afraid of Sunlight).
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 01 2020 at 05:19
What about Marbles? Would you say that's a neo album? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 01 2020 at 05:25
I would not say it is.
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Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 06:51
No. But it is a quality song! But The Great Escape tops it, as do This Strange Engine, The Invisible Man, Sugar Mice and quite a few others (IMHO) |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 07:03
Ok, then. Blind Curve has been my favourite Marillion song since I bought Misplaced Childhood, it's one of those things that don't change, with me at least. Perhaps I should be more open minded. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 08:06
| I'm not crazy about most British neo prog with the exception of a few albums here or there, like "Believe" by PENDRAGON and "The Visitor" by ARENA, but Polish neo prog - well that is another story. COLLAGE, SATELLITE, BELIEVE, MR GIL (all 4 of those groups are related) and ALBION are all excellent IMO, and MILLENIUM is pretty good too. I am also a big fan of the Swiss group CLEPSYDRA, not to be confused with an Italian group of the same name. |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 11:01
Thanks, Mr Levine. I personally don't know any Polish (or any non-English) neo bands, thanks for including them here.  By the way, I, despite frequently forgetting about it, have finally bought Pendragon's Love over Fear. It sounds great, I strongly recommend it to any who hasn't got it yet.
------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 11:56
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The first Abraxas album is quite good as well. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 11:59
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^I second that comment. Abraxas' debut was the first Polish album I ever bought, back in the late 1990s. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 12:21
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I've been meaning to check out Abraxas as well. Re those Polish bands I mention, most sing in English, though Collage sang in Polish in the early years and one Mr Gil album was in Polish. One of the Albion albums was also sung in Polish. One thing I love about Albion is they are a bands that happens to have a female singer, as opposed to be a #bandwithfemalesinger if you know what I mean.
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 13:30
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 15:03
totally I remember when that came out and being shocked when I heard it on the radio it was so good. Side Two of that album is very special.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 02 2020 at 15:04
I've just ordered it
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 01:02
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^Good for you! ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 01:10
Slightly ironic, really, since Albion is an old word for Britain. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 02:33
Good man, I hope you went for the 3-CD box set.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 04:32
I would have bought that if I had the money. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 04:33
Sell your Grandmother, it's worth it.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 04:43
------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 05:57
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There is more neo to discuss than Marillion, IQ, and Pendragon. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 06:13
if you had paid attention, you'd have seen they were talking about polish neo-prog just a little while ago. So no, obviously, it's not just about those 3 bands. And Marillion has become for some, a band that's cool to hate or something...
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 06:53
BTW, did you drive Psychedelic Paul away again?
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 07:04
Did I drive Paul away again? Did I drive him the first time? No, I'm not that powerful.
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 08:21
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More neo-prog that needs appreciation! |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 08:49
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^ Sylvan is great Frost is more crossover than neo-prog, but they're good.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 09:42
You're right, there is more neo than Marillion, IQ and Pendragon. I'm new to Sanguine Hum, but it sounds very good, thanks for mentioning it here. Any Pallas fans here? Oh, and since when has Cristi driven PsychedelicPaul away?  ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 09:48
it's Cristi's cat that is guilty. It has that "sleeping off my misdeeds" look about it 
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 10:23
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What, Cristi's cat drove of Paul? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 10:24
Anyway, as I asked here... any Pallas fans about here? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 10:48
I’m in the love Neo-Prog and I am a huge fan of both bands you have mentioned and I agree that Discipline’s debut is the most proggy by them ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 11:04
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^He did say the most neo proggy. I like Discipline too, now I've heard them. I'm very glad there are a lot of Neo fans here, I was worried when I couldn't find an appreciation thread for it (and, as a result, made this one.). I suppose there aren't many Pallas fans about here?  (don't know why I'm crying, I'm not a Pallas fan, that's why I asked.) ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 12:16
wait... what?!
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 03 2020 at 13:09
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Should people post reviews on neo prog here, or is it the wrong place? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 04 2020 at 11:28
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No answer for about 22 hours. Well, here's my Love over Fear review. It got some criticism because I only bought the album a day before I wrote it. To be fair, I spent the entire day listening to it (I honestly had nothing else worth doing). Review: I've just bought this album yesterday, and it surprised me - in a good way. Before hearing I thought Pendragon had had their day since the album "the Masquerade Overture". Luckily, I was wrong. But I'll get one with the review. The album gets off to an excellent start with fanfare style organs from Clive Nolan on the first track "Everything", before the guitar comes in and bursts into song. This is, in my opinion, one of the best and most important songs on the album as many of it's motifs are repeated in other songs on the album. Anyway, it's a great song and brilliant intro. "Everything" then flows into "Starfish and the Moon", a quiet, simple song featuring only piano and a soft guitar solo in the middle - and Nick Barrett's excellent vocals, of course. The quiet is undisturbed as the next song, the 8-minute opus "Truth and Lies", comes in with more of that soft guitar - do not be deceived, however, as it soon flows into an harrowing guitar solo - in my opinion, the best on the album. As the harsh, storminess of "Truth and Lies" fades away, a mandolin comes in, signifying the begin of "360 Degrees". After the first verse, the drums enter with bombast pronouncing a happy violin melody. The entire song is inspired by the sea, which would make sense as Nick Barrett is curently living in Cornwall. In fact, the entire album seems sea-orientated - even the cover. As "360 Degrees" fades away, in comes "Soul and the Sea" - probably the most musically varied track. It begins, like "Truth and Lies", with a soft guitar. Soon the violin comes in and then the drums, followed by somewhat whispered vocals; until all of a sudden it breaks down into a short piano motif. Then, thunderous guitar and drums enter, the vocals now loud and clear, until it fades out with an acoustic guitar. After "Soul and the Sea" ends, "Eternal Light" begins with a soft but soon loud guitar. After the first lyrics, a motif from "Everything" comes in - and after that, more lyrics, an instrumental section, then yet more lyrics, then the end. I've barely described it there - it is as varied and complex as "Soul and the Sea" - but "Soul and the Sea" gets the most complex prize, as it is much shorter. Then - "Water" - another long song at seven minutes long. It begin only with a soft, sad guitar, but continues to build up and up as the song goes on, with a great, harsh guitar solo not dissimilar to "Truth and Lies". The album continues with "Whirlwind", a fairly short piano song, that fades into the longest track - "Who Really Are We" - that begins with a thunderous guitar riff, which descends into an acoustic passage with drums, but then breaks down - and builds up again with that thunderous guitar riff with added solo. The final lyrics come in, and then... "Afraid of Everything", the final track. It enters with a fairly soft guitar, builds up, then swirls out with a beautiful synth solo. A brilliant outro to a brilliant album. So, to sum up... I didn't want to have my first album review to be five stars for some reason, but here I am forced to. It has both the two requirements I consider for a five star album: 1. The songs are all great. In the words of Special Collaborator chopper, "not a duff track in sight". 2. It works brilliantly as an album. It flows well from song to song, and many songs share motifs. So... five stars. What do you think? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 06 2020 at 09:38
I think you've summed it up very nicely, an excellent review. The album is an easy 5 stars for me as well. The next thing for you is, if you have the cash, to get the 3 CD box set where you get the acoustic and instrumental versions of the album. The acoustic version in particular is wonderful as well.
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Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: September 06 2020 at 10:37
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Try Drifting Sun , a stunning band that has great albums .
------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 06 2020 at 11:12
I'm gonna check them out. edit: rather... meh
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Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: September 06 2020 at 14:46
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Pallas I’ve got a 2/3 albums of which I haven’t listened to in ages and the last time i played an album it was Dreams Of Men ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 07 2020 at 09:58
Thanks chopper, I liked your review too.
------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 08 2020 at 00:04
that's a great album , the only thing by Pallas that's really hit me.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 08 2020 at 10:29
I'll listen to that album, then. I'm new to Pallas. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 08 2020 at 10:40
I dislike their second album, I don't recommend it, but other than that, you can listen to anything else.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 09 2020 at 14:48
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^Thanks, Cristi. A sudden thought; what band (that is neither Pendragon nor IQ, of any other old band) is the leading neo prog band today/in recent years? ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 09 2020 at 15:03
| ^The ones I mentioned earlier in this thread. |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 09:44
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So... Frost, Sylvan, Sanguine Hum and the Psychedelic Ensemble? I understand Sylvan are quite famous. Psychedelic Ensemble come up as "hidden or obscure gems" on the neo prog discography page, though. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 09:54
| Satellite, Collage, Quidam, Jadis, Solstice, Galahad, Galleon, Twelftth Night (originators), Nemo, Cromwell, Ziff |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 10:06
I'll add (and already mentioned before) Believe, Mr Gil, Albion, Millenium, and Clepsydra (the Swiss group)
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Posted By: A Crimson Mellotron
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 14:37
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Frost*!!! Just Frost*... |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 15:38
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------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 16:14
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Just joining this thread, but I've become quite focused on Neo Prog over the last year, so my recommendations are going to be rather specific: Three from the 1980s that I think should not be missed: Mr. Sirius - Barren Dream (1987) Galadriel - Muttered Promises from an Ageless Pond (1988) Solstice - The Silent Dance (1984) Ones that are absolutely essential to my collection: Edison's Children - The Final Breath Before November (2013) Mystery - The World Is a Game (2012) Mystery - Delusion Rain (2015) Tony Patterson - Equations of Meaning (2016) Nine Stones Close - One Eye on the Sunrise (2012) The Psychedelic Ensemble - Dream of the Magic Jongleur (2011) Airbag - The Greatest Show on Earth (2013) Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere (2017) Wobbler - Rites at Dawn (2011) Violeta de Outono - Volume 7 (2007) Magenta - Seven (2004) Moth Vellum - Moth Vellum (2007) Collage - Moonshine (1994) Mr. Gil - Skellig (2010) United Progressive Fraternity - Planetary Overload, Part 1 - Loss (2019) Ellesmere - II (2019) Unitopia - The Garden (2008) Galasphere 347 - Galashpere 347 (2018) Flower Kings - Flower Power (1999) Moogarden - Songs from the Lighthouse (2008) Karfagen - Echoes from Within the Dragons Island (2019) Vitral - Entre as Estrelas (2017) Flicker - How Much Are You Willing to Forget? (2013) Mantra Vega - The Illusion's Reckoning (2016) Silhouette - The World Is Flat and Other Alternative Facts (2017) SIIILK - Endless Mystery (2017) I and Thou - Speak (2012) Cirrus Bay - The Search for Joy (2014) Knight Area - Under a New Sign (2007) The Flower Kings - Space Revolver (2000) The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are (1997) The Psychedelic Ensemble - The Sunstone (2015) The Psychedelic Ensemble - Mother's Rhymes (2019) The Psychedelic Ensemble - the Tale of the Golden King (2013) Thence - We Are Left With a Song (2016) Clepsydra - Alone (2001) Quidam - Quidam (1996) Sanhedrin - Ever After (2011) Satellite - A Street Between Sunrise and Sunset (2003) Collage - Basnie (1990) Albion - Wabiåc Cienie (2005) Magenta - Metamorphosis (2008) Quidam - Alone Together (2007) If that list isn't enough, I could provide others that I consider "fringe Neo Prog" like Believe, Mother Turtle, Big Big Train, Sylvan, Aisles, Emperor Norton, Canturbe, Cast, Soup, and The Ghosts of Jupiter. Good luck! ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 16:41
| ^Cool list. Wobbler and The Flower Kings aren't neo-prog. Are the others? |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 10 2020 at 16:42
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 11 2020 at 10:55
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Yeah, great list - the Flower Kings aren't neo are they? Anyway, I'm glad to see a lot of neo from recent years in your list! As I might perhaps possibly said before, we maybe on the verge of a new wave of prog!!! Sorry, I just feel I haven't said it quite right. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 12 2020 at 03:45
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A thought that just occurred: why is the Psychedelic Ensemble so named? They sound much more neo to me. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 23:55
| I do like the latest Pendragon release. Anyone noticed the connection between The Waterboys Whole of The Moon and the track 360 degrees? Uncanny! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 22 2020 at 02:31
Good point, it's the fiddle!
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 22 2020 at 14:21
It's a great album, the only one that really rivals Virus by Haken this year. My favourite track is Truth and Lies. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Paulo V
Date Posted: September 25 2020 at 11:41
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IQ is a good start also Pallas, Marillion is already a classic, Pendragon has its moments, Arena came later but it is a band to consider! ------------- Always taking the point with the dawn patrol fraternity... |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 25 2020 at 11:47
Well, it's the second person I've had to welcome to PA today! Those are all classic bands, even the fairly new (by neo stardards) Arena. Glad to see another neo fan here, there are too few. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Paulo V
Date Posted: September 25 2020 at 11:49
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Thank you for the welcoming, finaly i had the nerve to enter on this forum!! ------------- Always taking the point with the dawn patrol fraternity... |
Posted By: Paulo V
Date Posted: September 25 2020 at 11:51
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https://youtu.be/yBArsCY_dVI ------------- Always taking the point with the dawn patrol fraternity... |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: September 25 2020 at 13:39
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An assist on the above post. -------------
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: September 25 2020 at 19:06
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Elephants of Scotland are another band labeled as Neo that I really like. -------------
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Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: September 25 2020 at 21:38
That's a great list Drew......Edisons Children, Nine Stones and Airbag are big favs of mine. -------------
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 26 2020 at 04:15
^And the Psychedelic Ensemble for me. Only thing is, Wobbler is not neo, and neither, I think, are the Flower Kings. Neo has become a far more diverse genre these days, it's much more difficult to classify it. For instance, when I first heard Sanguine Hum, I thought they were post progressive. However, they're classed as neo here and that's what everyone calls them (neo). Is it because post prog is a dying genre, but was in the 80s about the same time as neo broke through, so it's become part of neo prog now? Or is this a load of claptrap?
------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Paulo V
Date Posted: September 26 2020 at 04:21
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Thank You!! ------------- Always taking the point with the dawn patrol fraternity... |