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Topic: A Swiss Roll of HonourPosted By: Psychedelic Paul
Subject: A Swiss Roll of Honour
Date Posted: July 16 2022 at 08:28
Coming soon..... Are you ready to do a thing called the Krododil Rock? If so, you're just in time for Tea, as I'll be taking a wander down a Swiss Country Lane and giving a warm Welcome to some of the very best of classic Swiss prog, running all the way through the alphabet from Alpha to Omega. Many of these rare Swiss bands were as ephemeral as a proverbial Dragonfly, having cast their Magic Spell by releasing just one amazing album and then presumably retiring to their desert Island in the sun. There's also a whole plethora of classic Symphonic Prog to look forward to - featuring time signatures as complex and accurate as a Swiss clock - as well as some dazzling keyboard pizzazz from Mr. Patrick Moraz! It's time now for me to Exit stage left before I go completely cuckoo (although it's probably too late for that already).
Featured Swiss Artists
01. Agamemnon (Psychedelic/Space Rock)
02. Alpha to Omega (Eclectic Prog)
03. Blue Motion (Symphonic Prog)
04. Brainticket (Krautrock)
05. Circus (Eclectic Prog)
06. Country Lane (Heavy Prog)
07. Deaf (Krautrock)
08. Docmec (Symphonic Prog)
09. Dragonfly (Symphonic Prog)
10. Dude Durst (Krautrock)
11. Eloiteron (Symphonic Prog)
12. Elysium (Crossover Prog)
13. Ertlif (Psychedelc/Space Rock)
14. Exit (Symphonic Prog)
15. Flame Dream (Symphonic Prog)
16. Sergius Golowin (Krautrock)
17. Kay Hoffman (Prog Folk)
18. Island (Eclectic Prog)
19. Kashmir (Progressive Electronic)
20. Kedama (Crossover Prog)
21. Kjol (Jazz Rock/Fusion)
22. Krokodil (Krautrock)
23. Lost Peace (Jazz Rock/Fusion)
24. Magic Spell (Symphonic Prog)
25. Mainhorse (Symphonic Prog)
26. McChurch Soundroom (Krautrock)
27. Monseigneur (Prog Folk)
28. Patrick Moraz (Crossover Prog)
29. Nautilus (Symphonic Prog)
30. Pacific Sound (Krautrock)
31. Plamp (Eclectic Prog)
32. Pyranha (Jazz Rock/Fusion)
33. The Shiver (Proto Prog)
34. Sicher (Symphonic Prog)
35. Spartacus (Symphonic Prog)
36. Tea (Heavy Prog)
37. Toad (Heavy Prog)
38. Trocarn (Prog Folk)
39. Andreas Vollenweider (Crossover Prog)
40. Welcome (Symphonic Prog)
Replies: Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: July 16 2022 at 08:35
^^ very good Paul..
you know, given your tastes, I think you'll love Clepsydra (Neo-Prog); their albums 'Fears' and 'Alone' are well worth checking out.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2022 at 08:47
Jared wrote:
^^ very good Paul..
you know, given your tastes, I think you'll love Clepsydra (Neo-Prog); their albums 'Fears' and 'Alone' are well worth checking out.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll be reminded now of the band Clepsydra every time I see the famous Water Clock in the Victoria Centre, Nottingham.
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: July 16 2022 at 08:51
Welcome is one of my favorite bands of all time.
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: July 16 2022 at 09:14
^Interesting list, Paul.
Whenever I think of Swiss progressive music artists, drummer/percussionist Peter Giger comes to mind, who was a member of European jazz/rock-krautrock band Dzyan. So, I guess Dzyan were one part Swiss. They are in my top 5 groups of all time. Giger was also in 70s jazz rock group Giger Lenz Marron, who were also brilliant, but under the radar for most. GLM are also one of my favorites.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2022 at 09:21
Hrychu wrote:
Welcome is one of my favorite bands of all time.
You're Welcome. They're one of my favourite bands too. Unfortunately, It'll be a long time before I reach Welcome on the A-Z Swiss roll call, but just in case you don't want to wait that long, they're featured on my Prog Line blog too.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 16 2022 at 09:31
presdoug wrote:
^Interesting list, Paul.
Whenever I think of Swiss progressive music artists, drummer/percussionist Peter Giger comes to mind, who was a member of European jazz/rock-krautrock band Dzyan. So, I guess Dzyan were one part Swiss. They are in my top 5 groups of all time. Giger was also in 70s jazz rock group Giger Lenz Marron, who were also brilliant, but under the radar for most. GLM are also one of my favorites.
Thanks. I had no idea there were quite so many classic-era Swiss prog bands around until I started listing them all here. I thought I'd do well to scrape together a dozen or so, but it turned out there's over a dozen Swiss bands just in the Symphonic Prog genre alone. In fact, there's enough music listed there to keep me busy until the cuckoo clock strikes midnight at the end of 2022.
Posted By: TheH
Date Posted: July 18 2022 at 08:58
Island and Circus are worldclass bands and not to be missed :-)
Some other very good ones but not up to their level...
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 18 2022 at 09:12
TheH wrote:
Island and Circus are worldclass bands and not to be missed :-)
Some other very good ones but not up to their level...
II'm looking forward to hearing them all, starting next month, and I'm glad you mentioned Island because I just found a place for them in the intro.
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: July 18 2022 at 11:18
Galaad is cool !
------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 18 2022 at 15:37
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
36. Joel Vandroogenbroek (What a great Dutch name!)
Joel is actually Brussels and is/wasthe mindmaster of Brainticket
TheH wrote:
Island and Circus are worldclass bands and not to be missed :-)
Some other very good ones but not up to their level...
That's about my take on it
(BTW, Blue Motion is the continuation of Circus, but defintely more ELP-Symph like).
.
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 18 2022 at 15:51
tszirmay wrote:
Galaad is cool !
I'll check them out, although I've only included prog bands in my Swiss roll call from the classic era of the late 1960's thru' to the early 80's, meaning my list of 38 bands has more holes it than a Swiss cheese.
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: October 16 2022 at 14:55
Swiss albums I've found so far to be fond of are:
Agamemnon (CH) - Agamemnon, Part I&II(1981)
Celtic Frost (CH) - “Into The Pandemonium” (1987)
Shora (CH) - Malval(2006)
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
Posted By: mellotronwave
Date Posted: October 16 2022 at 15:02
Circus/Welcome/Island are of my best CDs + Clepsydra and its side project Shakary ( a double CD called Ayla) and Dragonfly are decent neo prog band
Posted By: mellotronwave
Date Posted: October 16 2022 at 15:04
Some Moraz works like 'the story of I ( Charisma label) or with Bill Bruford are Ok Don't forget Refugee ( one LP on Charisma) Refugee = Nice minus Emerson plus Moraz = excellent symphonic prog imo
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: October 16 2022 at 15:10
My favorite Swiss album from last year was Gnohgnuhgnlus - Thomisme.
------------- ---------- 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: dr wu23
Date Posted: October 16 2022 at 15:29
mellotronwave wrote:
Circus/Welcome/Island are of my best CDs + Clepsydra and its side project Shakary ( a double CD called Ayla) and Dragonfly are decent neo prog band
Circus is one of my favorite less known bands especially Movin On
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: October 16 2022 at 17:39
Glad to see Island and Kedama being mentioned along with some of those Swiss Krautrock bands. These five beat the rest on your list. My strange tastes.
The Evpatoria Report Equus
Monkey3
Sonar
Drum Circus
I'm so impressed with some of these instrumental albums out of Switzerland. Drum Circus is old school the rest fairly modern.
------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 19 2022 at 03:08
David_D wrote:
Swiss albums I've found so far to be fond of are:
Agamemnon (CH) - Agamemnon, Part I&II(1981)
Celtic Frost (CH) - “Into The Pandemonium” (1987)
Shora (CH) - Malval(2006)
Thanks David. Agamemnon's one and only Space Rock album will be the first album I feature here, just as soon as I get around to listening to it.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 19 2022 at 03:10
mellotronwave wrote:
Some Moraz world like 'the story of I ( Charisma label) or with Bill Bruford are Ok Don't forget Refugee ( one LP on Charisma) Refugee = Nice minus Emerson plus Moraz = excellent symphonic prog imo
Refugee are coming up early next year on my Prog Britannia playlists.
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: October 19 2022 at 06:29
I second John's recommendation of the Math Rock band SONAR--or it's offshoot, the solo projects of founder/leader STEPHAN THELEN. 2018's release Vortex is particularly outstanding--due in part to the collaboration of guitarist David Torn.
Also, a recent find of mine is the wonderful chamber-jazz rock band IKARUS. Their release from this year, Plasma,seems destined for my Top 10 at year's end.
I'm also quite fond of electric harpist ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER--especially the albums on which genius multi-instrumentalist Pedro Haldemann contributes.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 20 2022 at 05:46
I just need two more Swiss prog bands from the classic 1970's/early 80's era to make a Top 40 playlist.
Psychedelic Swiss Rolls
^ I'd Love to have added Ikarus to the Swiss Roll of Honour - until I discovered they're a German band.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 20 2022 at 06:18
^ Addendum: I just discovered the superb Jazz-Rock band Pyranha on YouTube, so that just leaves one more class Swiss prog band remaining before I get my teeth into the Top 40 playlist. Have I finally bitten off more than I can chew? Only Time Will Tell.
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: October 20 2022 at 23:19
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Coming soon..... Are you ready to do a thing called the Krododil Rock? If so, you're just in time for Tea, as I'll be taking a wander down a Swiss Country Lane and giving a warm Welcome to some of the very best of classic Swiss prog, running all the way through the alphabet from Alpha to Omega. Many of these rare Swiss bands were as ephemeral as a proverbial Dragonfly, having cast their Magic Spell by releasing just one amazing album and then presumably retiring to their desert Island in the sun. There's also a whole plethora of classic Symphonic Prog to look forward to - featuring time signatures as complex and accurate as a Swiss clock - as well as some dazzling keyboard pizzazz from Mr. Patrick Moraz! It's time now for me to Exit stage left before I go completely cuckoo (although it's probably too late for that already).
Featured Swiss Artists
01. Agamemnon (Psychedelic/Space Rock)
02. Alpha to Omega (Eclectic Prog)
03. Blue Motion (Symphonic Prog)
04. Brainticket (Krautrock)
05. Circus (Eclectic Prog)
06. Country Lane (Heavy Prog)
07. Docmec (Symphonic Prog)
08. Dragonfly (Symphonic Prog)
09. Dude Durst (Krautrock)
10. Eloiteron (Symphonic Prog)
11. Elysium (Crossover Prog)
12. Ertlif (Psychedelc/Space Rock)
13. Exit (Symphonic Prog)
14. Flame Dream (Symphonic Prog)
15. Sergius Golowin (Krautrock)
16. Kay Hoffman (Prog Folk)
17. Island (Eclectic Prog)
18. Kashmir (Progressive Electronic)
19. Kedama (Crossover Prog)
20. Kjol (Jazz Rock/Fusion)
21. Krokodil (Krautrock)
22. Lost Peace (Jazz Rock/Fusion)
23. Magic Spell (Symphonic Prog)
24. Mainhorse (Symphonic Prog)
25. McChurch Soundroom (Krautrock)
26. Monseigneur (Prog Folk)
27. Patrick Moraz (Crossover Prog)
28. Nautilus (Symphonic Prog)
29. Pacific Sound (Krautrock)
30. Plamp (Eclectic Prog)
31. Pyranha (Jazz Rock/Fusion)
32. The Shiver (Proto Prog)
33. Sicher (Symphonic Prog)
34. Spartacus (Symphonic Prog)
35. Tea (Heavy Prog)
36. Trocarn (Prog Folk)
37. Joel Vandroogenbroek (What a great Dutch name!)
38. Andreas Vollenweider (Crossover Prog)
39. Welcome (Symphonic Prog)
Argh it’s. Embarrassing times again as. I’ve never even heard of any of these bands before. So I’m guessing that. I’ll be busy checking out the Swiss Rolls oh. Thanks for the list of bands Paul
------------- 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: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 20 2022 at 23:44
^ You're Welcome, and don't worry, because they're all new to me too, apart from Brainticket & Welcome.
I just need to find that elusive 40th artist now to complete my Top 40 Swiss Roll of Honour.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 21 2022 at 02:04
Update: I just discovered the Swiss Heavy Prog band *Toad* today (thanks to Google), thereby completing my Top 40 playlist, which calls for a celebratory drum roll from Ginger Baker's Air Force with their song "Toady".
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: October 21 2022 at 06:21
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Update: I just discovered the Swiss Heavy Prog band *Toad* today (thanks to Google), thereby completing my Top 40 playlist, which calls for a celebratory drum roll from Ginger Baker's Air Force with their song "Toady".
I don’t know this band also.
------------- 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: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 21 2022 at 06:26
^ I'd vaguely heard of Toad before, but I didn't know they were Swiss - until toaday that is.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 21 2022 at 08:01
Now that the Top 40 list is complete, I'm on a roll (a Swiss roll) and ready to rock & roll with the first band on the A-Z list.....
Agamemnon was a hero of Greek mythology in the Trojan Wars and Agamemnon the band are one-time heroes of Swiss prog, having released just one amazing album in 1981 and then just as quickly disappeared - presumably to go and fight a war somewhere. Agamemnon have sometimes been compared to the German bands Minotaurus and Epidaurus, but this band are no prog dinosaurs! No, this is wonderful, melodic Symphonic Prog at its best (although bizarrely, they're categorised as Psychedelic/Space Rock here on PA). Anyway, I hope you enjoy the album, even though the production quality isn't brilliant, hence it's "only" a 4-star rating instead of the full five stars.
Posted By: mellotronwave
Date Posted: October 21 2022 at 11:39
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
mellotronwave wrote:
Some Moraz world like 'the story of I ( Charisma label) or with Bill Bruford are Ok Don't forget Refugee ( one LP on Charisma) Refugee = Nice minus Emerson plus Moraz = excellent symphonic prog imo
Refugee are coming up early next year on my Prog Britannia playlists.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 21 2022 at 13:01
^ I've just moved Refugee forward onto my current PB playlist, so they'll be coming up Someday soon.
REFUGEE were a short-lived Symphonic Prog threesome from London. You could be forgiven for thinking Phil Collins was a member of Refugee, because the man in the middle on their one and only self-titled album cover from 1974 bears a striking resemblance to the Genesis drummer. There's no mistaking Swiss keyboard player Patrick Moraz on the right of the album cover though. He was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Keith Emerson, who was otherwise engaged with the Prog- Rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer at the time. The other two members of Refugee besides Patrick Moraz were both ex-members of The Nice:- Lee Jackson on bass, electric cello, electric guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar and lead vocals, and Brian Davison on drums and percussion, where "percussion" meant virtually anything the versatile drummer could lay his hands on, including tympani, various gongs, Tibetan temple bells, African drums, kabassa (whatever that is!?) and broken glass! Patrick Moraz wasn't exactly slacking in the keyboards department either with this very impressive array of keyboard instruments at his disposal:- Mini- moog, AKS synthesiser, piano, electric piano, clavinet, organ, pipe organ, marimbaphone, alpine horn, electronic slinky, mellotron, and occasional vocals too! Patrick Moraz would of course go on to be a member of YES and a "days of future passed" member of The Moody Blues. Who could forget the famous music trial of the century!? The sole Refugee album was recorded in 1974 at ART Studios in Geneva in Patrick Moraz' native Switzerland, so he would have felt right at home there, whereas the two English members of the band, Lee Jackson and Brian Davison were temporary "refugees".
The title of the imperious 5-minute-long opening number "Papillon" can have several meanings:- Either a black butterfly; a symbolic breaking free of societal restraints and restrictions; or even a toy breed of dog with large butterfly-like ears! One thing's for sure though, the "Papillon" on this album is no delicate butterfly. No, this is an aggressive and impressive Pictures at an Exhibition-style display of powerful keyboard prog in the best tradition of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. There's no shortage of classically-inspired, lightning-speed keyboard runs to be heard from Patrick Moraz in this tremendous instrumental album opener, which also features a storming salvo of machine-gun-like drumming from Brian Davison. Yes, it looks like we could be in for quite a treat here with this gloriously pompous one-off album of unashamedly exhibitionistic Symphonic Prog. On the second song "Someday", We get to hear the emotionally-wrought (and some might say "over-blown") vocals of Lee Jackson for the first time, which also features another incredible keyboard performance from Patrick Moraz before he went on to join YES for their "Relayer" album in late 1974. "Someday" is one of those grand magisterial prog epics that gathers in pace and intensity as it progresses, so it could be described as the true definition of Progressive Rock. If "Papillon" represented a symbolic breaking-free, then "Someday" continues the theme of liberation with the powerful message contained within these lyrics:- "Someday, I'll go away, Pack my bag, Get on a plane, I'll fly up through my cloud, I'll smash right through, Right into the sun." ..... This is the kind of powerfully uplifting feel-good prog that'll leave you flying high on a wave of joyous and exhilarating emotion. If you haven't quite reached seventh prog heaven yet, then the third piece of music might help get you there, because next up is the awesome 17-minute-long, "Grand Canyon" suite, the first of two epic suites on the album. This magnificent five-part magnum opus is every bit as grandiose and spectacular as the song title implies. Be prepared to be stunned by this brilliant landscape of dazzling musical colours. The outstanding "Grand Canyon" suite represents the musical equivalent of the real Grand Canyon bathed in rich golden colours at sunset.
The title of the Side Two opener "Ritt Mickley" is a humorous reference to the strong Swiss accent of Patrick Moraz when he pronounces "rhythmically". It's another 6-minute-long demonstration of ELP-style keyboard prog at it's absolute best, so you can expect another dazzling display of keyboard histrionics from Mr Moraz & Co. The final piece of music on the album is the second of the two epic suites. It's a thunderous 18-minute-long masterpiece titled "Credo". The majestic music is divided into eight movements of stunning symphonic splendour and delight, which just HAS to be heard to be believed. This is incredible!
You can't fail to be over-awed by this stunning display of ELP-style keyboard prog. This outstanding one-off album has a treasured place in the hallowed halls of ProgArchives. Refugee might not be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but they truly deserve to be included with full honours and flags flying with this very impressive powerhouse debut!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 22 2022 at 01:17
One amazing album and one amazing life - courtesy of Prog Line - in a Swiss rock opera that's so rare it's not even listed in the A-Z directory of ProgArchves.
1976: Alpha to Omega - A Life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0qs1n0n7lQ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0qs1n0n7lQ
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 23 2022 at 01:17
When Swiss band Circus were in the process of breakin' up and Movin' On, they changed their name to Bliue Motion and released this one-off album of monumental Symphonic Prog.
1980: Blue Motion - Blue Motion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrwsdAGFKMs" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrwsdAGFKMs
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: October 24 2022 at 05:56
14 Circus Movin' On 1977
12 Circus Circus 1976
12 Circus Tearless, Fearless and Even Less 1980
12 Island Pictures 1977
12 Nimal Voix de Surface 1990
11 Bärtsch, Nik Entendre 2021
11 Bärtsch, Nik / Ronin Stoa 2006
11 Bärtsch, Nik / Ronin Awase 2018
11 Agamemnon Part 1 & 2 1981
11 Circus All Stars Live 1978
11 Debile
Menthol Emile au Jardin Patrologique 1982
11 Pyranha Pyranha 1972
11 Ikarus Mosaismic 2019
11 Toad B.U.F.O.
(Blues United Fighting Organization) 1970
10 AKKU
Quintet Molecules 2015
10 AKKU
Quintet Aeon 2017
10 Bärtsch, Nik / Mobile Ritual Groove Music 2001
10 Bärtsch, Nik / Mobile Aer 2004
10 Bärtsch, Nik / Ronin Holon 2008
10 Blue Motion Blue Motion 1980
10 Dawn Loneliness 2007
10 Galaad Premier Fevrier 1992
10 Galaad Vae Victis 1996
10 Galaad Frat3r 2019
10 Island Pyrrho (1975/1976)
10 Krokodil An Invisible World Revealed Swz 1971
10 McChurch Soundroom Delusion 1971
10 Nimal - Dis Tanz 1993
10 Toad Toad 1972
10 Toad Tomorrow
Blue 1972
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 24 2022 at 08:21
Jared wrote:
^^ very good Paul..
you know, given your tastes, I think you'll love Clepsydra (Neo-Prog); their albums 'Fears' and 'Alone' are well worth checking out.
You wouldn't believe this, but I just looked on Wikipedia for a list of Swiss Progressive Rock bands and they only had three listed:- Patrick Moraz; Toad & Yello. I could suggest they add at least another 40 Swiss prog artists to the list, including Clepsydra, who are coming up here right after Brainticket and Circus - hopefully before the water clock strikes midnight at the end of the month.
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: October 24 2022 at 08:29
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Jared wrote:
^^ very good Paul..
you know, given your tastes, I think you'll love Clepsydra (Neo-Prog); their albums 'Fears' and 'Alone' are well worth checking out.
You wouldn't believe this, but I just looked on Wikipedia for a list of Swiss Progressive Rock bands and they only had three listed:- Patrick Moraz; Toad & Yello. I could suggest they add at least another 40 Swiss prog artists to the list, including Clepsydra, who are coming up here right after Brainticket and Circus - hopefully before the water clock strikes midnight at the end of the month.
------------- 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: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 25 2022 at 03:07
Brainticket: a multi-national Space Rock band led by Belgian psychonaut Joel Vandroogenbroek. Take a heavy trip to the epicentre of your mind. It's cosmic!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 26 2022 at 04:08
Roll up, roll up, for all the fun of the Circus all stars band - the best Circus act since British Funk Rock band, Trapeze! Swiss band Circus are an Eclectic Prog band who've sometimes been compared to King Crimson and Van der Graaf Generator, although at the risk of taking an embarrassing fall from a high wire, Circus are far superior to either of those two overrated bands in my view. There, I've said it (waits for more mockery). Movin' On swiftly now before I get lynched..... If you like the Movin' On album, then try Fearless, Tearless and Even Less, which you'll hopefully like even more - not less.
1977: Circus - Movin' On - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs
1978: Circus - All Stars Band Live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs
1980: Circus - Fearless, Tearless and Even Less - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 27 2022 at 05:44
Jared wrote:
^^ very good Paul..
you know, given your tastes, I think you'll love Clepsydra (Neo-Prog); their albums 'Fears' and 'Alone' are well worth checking out.
It's time for Clepsydra, a Swiss band par excellence. If you Love this band too, then you're not Alone. Their music is as fascinating to the ears as a Hologram image is fascinating to the eyes. Clepsydra skilfully manage to bridge The Gap between Symphonic Prog and Neo Prog, so just settle back and let all of your cares and Fears melt away like More Grains of Sand as you listen to this wonderful music.
2019: Clepsydra - The Gap - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAqKXPz16tg" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAqKXPz16tg
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 28 2022 at 03:15
Take a walk down a Swiss Country Lane. You never know what you might find just below the surface. Maybe some underlying Heavy Rock.
1973: Country Lane - Substratum - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lvlngbHYRsi2Zyjh4ZS_Kvl4n1nBhdaZ8" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lvlngbHYRsi2Zyjh4ZS_Kvl4n1nBhdaZ8
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: October 28 2022 at 08:01
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Roll up, roll up, for all the fun of the Circus all stars band - the best Circus act since British Funk Rock band, Trapeze! Swiss band Circus are an Eclectic Prog band who've sometimes been compared to King Crimson and Van der Graaf Generator, although at the risk of taking an embarrassing fall from a high wire, Circus are far superior to either of those two overrated bands in my view. There, I've said it (waits for more mockery). Movin' On swiftly now before I get lynched..... If you like the Movin' On album, then try Fearless, Tearless and Even Less, which you'll hopefully like even more - not less.
1977: Circus - Movin' On - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs
1978: Circus - All Stars Band Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs
1980: Circus - Fearless, Tearless and Even Less - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g
A bit surprised you'd find FT&EL better than Movin' On... The last 2/3 of the album is indeed equal game to MO's last 2/3, but the shorter tracks are less direct (IMHO)
As for being superior to Crimson and Graaf, I don't believe bands like Circus woud've even existed without them two bands.
.
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 29 2022 at 02:13
Docmec: an obscure Swiss band that briefly appeared and disappeared as mysteriously as a UFO - last seen hovering somewhere over the Swiss Alps in 1976.
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: October 29 2022 at 02:36
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
It's time for Clepsydra, a Swiss band par excellence. If you Love this band too, then you're not Alone. Their music is as fascinating to the ears as a Hologram image is fascinating to the eyes. Clepsydra skilfully manage to bridge The Gap between Symphonic Prog and Neo Prog, so just settle back and let all of your cares and Fears melt away like More Grains of Sand as you listen to this wonderful music.
I thought you'd probably like them...
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 29 2022 at 02:53
Jared wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
It's time for Clepsydra, a Swiss band par excellence. If you Love this band too, then you're not Alone. Their music is as fascinating to the ears as a Hologram image is fascinating to the eyes. Clepsydra skilfully manage to bridge The Gap between Symphonic Prog and Neo Prog, so just settle back and let all of your cares and Fears melt away like More Grains of Sand as you listen to this wonderful music.
I thought you'd probably like them...
Thanks for the recommendation. Clepsydra were a real Swiss treat - as opposed to a Dutch treat - sounding as sweet and tasty as a Swiss roll.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 29 2022 at 06:25
Dragonfly: another Swiss band whose brief time in the spotlight was as ephemeral as a proverbial dragonfly.
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: October 29 2022 at 07:21
Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:
Nik Bartsch Ronin Schnellertollermeier Ikarus Akku Quartet Sonar Kali Trio Don Li Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp Plaistow
L'Ensemble Raye
That's a fantastic list that would do any country of any size proud!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 29 2022 at 11:30
Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:
Nik Bartsch Ronin Schnellertollermeier Ikarus Akku Quartet Sonar Kali Trio Don Li Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp Plaistow L'Ensemble Raye
I don't know any of those Swiss bands (no surprise there again), but there's a slim chance I may like them so long as they're not avant, dissonant or edgy.
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: October 29 2022 at 12:47
Mainly jazz based, often minimalist
------------- Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 30 2022 at 06:01
Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:
Mainly jazz based, often minimalist
When I first saw your list, the band Ikarus looked familiar, but it turns out I was thinking of the German Krautrock band Ikarus who released one album in 1971 and not the contemporary Swiss Zeuhl band of the same name who I hadn't previously heard of.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 30 2022 at 06:07
Sean Trane wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Roll up, roll up, for all the fun of the Circus all stars band - the best Circus act since British Funk Rock band, Trapeze! Swiss band Circus are an Eclectic Prog band who've sometimes been compared to King Crimson and Van der Graaf Generator, although at the risk of taking an embarrassing fall from a high wire, Circus are far superior to either of those two overrated bands in my view. There, I've said it (waits for more mockery). Movin' On swiftly now before I get lynched..... If you like the Movin' On album, then try Fearless, Tearless and Even Less, which you'll hopefully like even more - not less.
1977: Circus - Movin' On - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs
1978: Circus - All Stars Band Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs
1980: Circus - Fearless, Tearless and Even Less - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g
A bit surprised you'd find FT&EL better than Movin' On... The last 2/3 of the album is indeed equal game to MO's last 2/3, but the shorter tracks are less direct (IMHO)
As for being superior to Crimson and Graaf, I don't believe bands like Circus woud've even existed without them two bands.
.
It surprised me too. It's not very often a band's final album turns out to be their best album - with the rare exception of YES.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: October 31 2022 at 02:20
Hey Dude! Waas Sappening? Dude Durst is what's happening, and as you may have guessed from the album title, Dude Durst is the name of the tripped-out former drummer with Swiss Krautrock band Krokodil.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 01 2022 at 03:21
Eloiteron: a Symphonic Prog band from Zurich who released one album and then disappeared into obscurity, until now that is.
1981: Eloiteron - Lost Paradise - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtePLm5U1Jo" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtePLm5U1Jo
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 02 2022 at 03:22
Crossover Prog band Elysium appeared briefly like a ghost from the realms of the Swiss underworld with their one and only album "Fogdays" in 1981, before just as mysteriously disappearing into the fog forever, never to be seen again - not even in the afterlife.
<div ="review-text-zone"="" style="font-family: " sans", Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div style="color: rgb51, 51, 51;">REFUGEE were a short-lived Symphonic Prog threesome from London. You could be forgiven for thinking Phil Collins was a member of Refugee, because the man in the middle on their one and only self-titled album cover from 1974 bears a striking resemblance to the Genesis drummer. There's no mistaking Swiss keyboard player Patrick Moraz on the right of the album cover though. He was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Keith Emerson, who was otherwise engaged with the Prog- Rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer at the time. The other two members of Refugee besides Patrick Moraz were both ex-members of The Nice:- Lee Jackson on bass, electric cello, electric guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar and lead vocals, and Brian Davison on drums and percussion, where "percussion" meant virtually anything the versatile drummer could lay his hands on, including tympani, various gongs, Tibetan temple bells, African drums, kabassa (whatever that is!?) and broken glass! Patrick Moraz wasn't exactly slacking in the keyboards department either with this very impressive array of keyboard instruments at his disposal:- Mini- moog, AKS synthesiser, piano, electric piano, clavinet, organ, pipe organ, marimbaphone, alpine horn, electronic slinky, mellotron, and occasional vocals too! Patrick Moraz would of course go on to be a member of YES and a "days of future passed" member of The Moody Blues. Who could forget the famous music trial of the century!? The sole Refugee album was recorded in 1974 at ART Studios in Geneva in Patrick Moraz' native Switzerland, so he would have felt right at home there, whereas the two English members of the band, Lee Jackson and Brian Davison were temporary "refugees".
The title of the imperious 5-minute-long opening number "Papillon" can have several meanings:- Either a black butterfly; a symbolic breaking free of societal restraints and restrictions; or even a toy breed of dog with large butterfly-like ears! One thing's for sure though, the "Papillon" on this album is no delicate butterfly. No, this is an aggressive and impressive Pictures at an Exhibition-style display of powerful keyboard prog in the best tradition of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. There's no shortage of classically-inspired, lightning-speed keyboard runs to be heard from Patrick Moraz in this tremendous instrumental album opener, which also features a storming salvo of machine-gun-like drumming from Brian Davison. Yes, it looks like we could be in for quite a treat here with this gloriously pompous one-off album of unashamedly exhibitionistic Symphonic Prog. On the second song "Someday", We get to hear the emotionally-wrought (and some might say "over-blown") vocals of Lee Jackson for the first time, which also features another incredible keyboard performance from Patrick Moraz before he went on to join YES for their "Relayer" album in late 1974. "Someday" is one of those grand magisterial prog epics that gathers in pace and intensity as it progresses, so it could be described as the true definition of Progressive Rock. If "Papillon" represented a symbolic breaking-free, then "Someday" continues the theme of liberation with the powerful message contained within these lyrics:- "Someday, I'll go away, Pack my bag, Get on a plane, I'll fly up through my cloud, I'll smash right through, Right into the sun." ..... This is the kind of powerfully uplifting feel-good prog that'll leave you flying high on a wave of joyous and exhilarating emotion. If you haven't quite reached seventh prog heaven yet, then the third piece of music might help get you there, because next up is the awesome 17-minute-long, "Grand Canyon" suite, the first of two epic suites on the album. This magnificent five-part magnum opus is every bit as grandiose and spectacular as the song title implies. Be prepared to be stunned by this brilliant landscape of dazzling musical colours. The outstanding "Grand Canyon" suite represents the musical equivalent of the real Grand Canyon bathed in rich golden colours at sunset.
The title of the Side Two opener "Ritt Mickley" is a humorous reference to the strong Swiss accent of Patrick Moraz when he pronounces "rhythmically". It's another 6-minute-long demonstration of ELP-style keyboard prog at it's absolute best, so you can expect another dazzling display of keyboard histrionics from Mr Moraz & Co. The final piece of music on the album is the second of the two epic suites. It's a thunderous 18-minute-long masterpiece titled "Credo". The majestic music is divided into eight movements of stunning symphonic splendour and delight, which just HAS to be heard to be believed. This is incredible!
You can't fail to be over-awed by this stunning display of ELP-style keyboard prog. This outstanding one-off album has a treasured place in the hallowed halls of ProgArchives. Refugee might not be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but they truly deserve to be included with full honours and flags flying with this very impressive powerhouse debut!
Credo is a masterpiece indeed thx for posting
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 03 2022 at 04:29
Ertlif: a superb Psychedelic Rock band from the picture-postcard alpine town of Basel in Switzerland. Ertlif may have had a short shelf-lif in their original incarnation, but they made an amazing comeback in 2001 with their new album "Illusions". There's also a compilation of Relics from the Past to relish too, thereby ensuring that the music of Ertlif lives on forever - or at least for half a century anyway.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 06 2022 at 09:09
I'm So Glad Sean Trane told me about Galaad - the second-best Neo Prog band to emerge from Switzerland. It's just a pity all of the lyrics are sung in the band's native French, instead of English - the universal language of prog.
1992: Galaad - Premier Fevrier - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kr-5NrJ2a9YZzTEDjalkk_xGoh_wwOPYg" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kr-5NrJ2a9YZzTEDjalkk_xGoh_wwOPYg
Posted By: Progmind
Date Posted: November 06 2022 at 19:02
Hi Paul,
I recommend you Sicher, they released only one album "Sicher" (1981) they remind me in some parts to Flame Dream, delicate flute and sax parts, hammond, even cellos and strings, totally instrumental
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 07 2022 at 00:27
Progmind wrote:
Hi Paul,
I recommend you Sicher, they released only one album "Sicher" (1981) they remind me in some parts to Flame Dream, delicate flute and sax parts, hammond, even cellos and strings, totally instrumental
Thanks! Sicher are already on my Swiss playlist (at #33) on Page 1 of this blog.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 07 2022 at 06:34
1973: Sergius Golowin - Lord Krishna von Goloka - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7j4hqXD8p4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7j4hqXD8p4
Sergius Golowin (born in Prague, CZ) is surely one of the most obscure artists ever to emerge from Switzerland in this rare, one-off album of spiritual devotion.
I'm guessing the irate pilot (Robert Stack) in the clip below wouldn't enjoy this devotional Hare Krishna album at all.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 08 2022 at 01:32
Edelweiss, edelweiss, if only Swiss Prog Folk were twice as nice. Instead, it's twice as wyrd.
1985: Kay Hoffman - Floret Silva (recorded in 1978) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ott1c5bc6kw" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ott1c5bc6kw
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 09 2022 at 02:12
This spooky album with a cover by H.R. Giger is from a band who appeared briefly like a Swiss zephyr and then just as mysteriously disappeared, never to be heard from again. Pictures is a haunting album of offbeat Eclectic Prog that reaches new levels of eclecticism. It's not the kind of album I'd want to take to a desert Island, but it should appeal to fans of VDGG's legendary Pawn Hearts album.
1977: Island - Pictures - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS5XP4-gmuQ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS5XP4-gmuQ
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 10 2022 at 04:26
Kashmir: as mysteriously beautiful as the province of the same name on the Indian subcontinent, and also one of the best Swiss prog albums you've never heard of.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 12 2022 at 07:00
Kjol: a cool Jazz-Rock band for a warm Sunny Day of off-piste skiing in the Swiss Alps, but watch out for the snowfalls and snowballs.
1979; Kjol - Take It On - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfrMM4Mw8wU" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfrMM4Mw8wU
1981: Brigeen Doran's Kjol - Sunny Day
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: November 12 2022 at 07:10
... [QUOTE=Psychedelic Paul]
It's just a pity all of the lyrics are sung in the band's native French, instead of English - the universal language of prog.
I'm sad that you feel that way, Paul! I for one much prefer that a band sing in their native tongue! I find the exposure/experience much more edifying, enlightening, and genuine!
P.S. This is quite an endeavor you've undertaken! All for one country! Do you plan to offer the same attention and love to every country? It's a worthy consideration though might, I think, prove exhausting.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 12 2022 at 07:15
BrufordFreak wrote:
... [QUOTE=Psychedelic Paul]
It's just a pity all of the lyrics are sung in the band's native French, instead of English - the universal language of prog.
I'm sad that you feel that way, Paul! I for one much prefer that a band sing in their native tongue! I find the exposure/experience much more edifying, enlightening, and genuine!
You may not feel that way if you heard the Symphonic Prog of Mister Robot, where all of the lyrics are sung in their native Russian. Do Svidaniya.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 12 2022 at 07:22
BrufordFreak wrote:
P.S. This is quite an endeavor you've undertaken! All for one country! Do you plan to offer the same attention and love to every country? It's a worthy consideration though might, I think, prove exhausting.
Well, I've already covered classic Dutch Prog and classic Japanese Psych in their entirety, and next up are all of the East European artists in my Prague Archives blog, so that should keep me busy for awhile. How about an Aussie prog blog, featuring artists from a land down under, where women glow and men plunder?
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: November 13 2022 at 02:44
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
BrufordFreak wrote:
P.S. This is quite an endeavor you've undertaken! All for one country! Do you plan to offer the same attention and love to every country? It's a worthy consideration though might, I think, prove exhausting.
Well, I've already covered classic Dutch Prog and classic Japanese Psych in their entirety, and next up are all of the East European artists in my Prague Archives blog, so that should keep me busy for awhile. How about an Aussie prog blog, featuring artists from a land down under, where women glow and men plunder?
If you do one on the wallabies, make sure you invte the kiwis as well
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 13 2022 at 02:56
Sean Trane wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
BrufordFreak wrote:
P.S. This is quite an endeavor you've undertaken! All for one country! Do you plan to offer the same attention and love to every country? It's a worthy consideration though might, I think, prove exhausting.
Well, I've already covered classic Dutch Prog and classic Japanese Psych in their entirety, and next up are all of the East European artists in my Prague Archives blog, so that should keep me busy for awhile. How about an Aussie prog blog, featuring artists from a land down under, where women glow and men plunder?
If you do one on the wallabies, make sure you invte the kiwis as well
Definitely! New Zealanders and Tasmanians will both be more than welcome to join me with a six-pack 'round the barbie. G'day mate!
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: November 13 2022 at 07:15
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
BrufordFreak wrote:
... [QUOTE=Psychedelic Paul]
It's just a pity all of the lyrics are sung in the band's native French, instead of English - the universal language of prog.
I'm sad that you feel that way, Paul! I for one much prefer that a band sing in their native tongue! I find the exposure/experience much more edifying, enlightening, and genuine!
You may not feel that way if you heard the Symphonic Prog of Mister Robot, where all of the lyrics are sung in their native Russian. Do Svidaniya.
I have to admit that Russian does not sound as nice of a fit for the prog lexicon as some other languages, but cut Alexei some slack! He is a serious, up-and-coming artist. I watch him and his output with serious interest (and hope)!
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: November 14 2022 at 01:58
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Definitely! New Zealanders and Tasmanians will both be more than welcome to join me with a six-pack 'round the barbie. G'day mate!
you'll have to find a better (read bad) play on words for title to open that blog
------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 14 2022 at 02:44
Sean Trane wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Definitely! New Zealanders and Tasmanians will both be more than welcome to join me with a six-pack 'round the barbie. G'day mate!
you'll have to find a better (read bad) play on words for title to open that blog
How about The Wizards of Aussie Prog for a snappy blog title?
And on the subject of snappy titles, Are You Ready for Krokodil: a Swiss Krautrock outfit that you can really get your teeth into.
1971: Krokodil - An Invisible World Revealed - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lsKuxmba5cOlFtaUD3haGEBxWte7Nv57A" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lsKuxmba5cOlFtaUD3haGEBxWte7Nv57A
1972: Krokodil - Getting Up for the Morning - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l5CFpCscpbiFnSE5D-kEdUzcX4VhkyHP0" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l5CFpCscpbiFnSE5D-kEdUzcX4VhkyHP0
2007: Krokodil - Are You Ready for Krokodil - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mDs6rXjeK2eGXwEUzuz0PxBscd7N_Q2-I" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mDs6rXjeK2eGXwEUzuz0PxBscd7N_Q2-I
2014: Krokodil - The First Recordings - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_laU66if-I4sWoZo0lnVvCkxGWZUBLnST4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_laU66if-I4sWoZo0lnVvCkxGWZUBLnST4
2020: Krokodil - An Invisible World Returns
2021: Krokodil - Another Time
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 15 2022 at 00:36
Berne, baby Berne! Are you ready for some funky Jazz-Rock, courtesy of Lost Peace, a lost and found one-album band from Berne in Switzerland?
1977: Lost Peace - Lost Peace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9SXkG5AfVc" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9SXkG5AfVc
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 16 2022 at 01:46
1975: MAGIC SPELL - Is There Anywhere a Gas Station? (Symphonic Prog • Switzerland) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpZWmccEP00" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpZWmccEP00
This outstanding Symphonic Prog album definitely cast its magical spell on me. It's firing on all cylinders with a full tank of gas!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 17 2022 at 01:50
Mainhorse aren't exactly a household name, even in their native Switzerland, but if there's one main thing they'll be remembered for, it's the first band to feature keyboard wizard Patrick Moraz.
Jeepers Creepers! It's another rare psychedelic treasure unearthed from the Swiss underground, just like the creepy melting skull on the album cover. Don't have nightmares.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 19 2022 at 02:34
Monseigneur: a Swiss Prog Folk band that's as obscure as a black dog at night in a coalhouse.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 20 2022 at 02:16
Sean Trane wrote:
Joel is actually Brussels and is/was the mindmaster of Brainticket
Thanks for letting me know. I've now replaced Belgian Joel Vandroogenbroek in the Swiss Roll playlist with an obscure Krautrock band called Deaf with their one and only album "Alpha", which sounds like it was recorded in someone's garage, so I'm guessing that's where the term "Garage Rock" originated from.
Coming up next...... the keyboard pizzazz of Mr. Patrick Moraz!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 22 2022 at 10:40
Swiss keyboard wizard Patrick Moraz certainly knows his way around the keys, having begun with his first band Mainhorse in 1969 and then forming the band Refugee with two "refugees" from The Nice in 1974. In that same year, he played on the YES Relayer album as a replacement for Rick Wakeman, who went on to even greater things with the launch of his spectacular solo career. Patrick Moraz' solo career began in 1976 with his acclaimed "Story of I" album, but he also found the time to join the Moody Blues in 1978 through to 1991. Whether he was ever a full-time member of the Moody Blues or a hired hand would take a court case to decide. In "The Music Trial of the Century" (21 parts long and still on YouTube) Moraz was offered $400,000 to settle out of court, but decided to pursue the case through the courts anyway and was eventually awarded $77,000 in compensation from the defendants. There' a moral to that story somewhere.
1976: Patrick Moraz - The Story of I - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nZupj_nPr8lDbOn5lLKpoMqkFRn1ZOwI4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nZupj_nPr8lDbOn5lLKpoMqkFRn1ZOwI4
1977: Patrick Moraz - Out in the Sun - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kHeP8nypTBzJLcA3BpyGzhan9xDKOWf1Q" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kHeP8nypTBzJLcA3BpyGzhan9xDKOWf1Q
1978: Patrick Moraz - Patrick Moraz - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k2wIgldVBFE8qq5o8s9gtM9udjyFgRVP4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k2wIgldVBFE8qq5o8s9gtM9udjyFgRVP4
1983: Moraz-Bruford - Music for Piano & Drums - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n0-aR66J326b3MqtYStrV6eg0POOpWiFM" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n0-aR66J326b3MqtYStrV6eg0POOpWiFM
1984: Patrick Moraz - Future Memories II - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrfCCkhCfls" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrfCCkhCfls
1994: Patrick Moraz - Windows of Time - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7PXjduI9tD4kS2bvtDNrsHojYrEsCOnI" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7PXjduI9tD4kS2bvtDNrsHojYrEsCOnI
2000: Patrick Moraz - Resonance
2003: Patrick Moraz - ESP
2009: Patrick Moraz - Change of Space
2009: Moraz-Bruford - Live in Tokyo 1985 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kn8Id4YBT5L-O2HkftoqhFTk74FIPDTXE" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kn8Id4YBT5L-O2HkftoqhFTk74FIPDTXE
Some of Patrick Moraz' costumes in the above concert are as extravagantly colourful as the Swiss Guards below, who don't appear to know the meaning of the word "camouflage".
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 23 2022 at 04:29
Following on from Patrick Moraz - probably the best-known Swiss prog artist of all time - we're back to plumbing the depths of obscure Swiss bands again for the short-lived Symphonic Prog band, Nautilus - not to be confused with a German band of the same name.
1978: Nautilus - 20,000 Miles Under the Sea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7X_tmsX6c4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7X_tmsX6c4
1980: Nautilus - Space Storm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqG1u3fdze8" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqG1u3fdze8
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 24 2022 at 05:18
Get ready to trip out to the spooky sound of Swiis Krautrock band Pacific Sound with their one and only album, "Forget Your Dream" - but don't forget your Tangerine Dream!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 25 2022 at 03:07
Can prog get any more obscure than Plamp!? A little-known Eclectic Prog band from the Swiss alpine town of Chur that no one outside of Switzerland will have heard of either. It's a good album though with the lyrics in both English and Swiss. Yodel-Ay-Hee-Hoo!
1978: Plamp - Und Uberhaupt (And at All) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XedpHBNUlz4" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XedpHBNUlz4
Chur, Switzerland
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 26 2022 at 01:43
1972: Pyranha - Pyranha
Pyranha: an obscure and jazzy Krautrock outfit that you can really get your teeth into.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 28 2022 at 03:45
Shiver me timbers, it's The Shiver, a Psychedelic Rock band who disappeared down a Swiss rabbit hole after releasing just one amazing album, until being unearthed for a CD reissue in 2004.
1969: The Shiver - Walpurgis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS6Dp1RVVwo" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS6Dp1RVVwo
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 29 2022 at 03:01
Progmind wrote:
Hi Paul,
I recommend you Sicher, they released only one album "Sicher" (1981) they remind me in some parts to Flame Dream, delicate flute and sax parts, hammond, even cellos and strings, totally instrumental
Thanks for the great recommendation! I'm delighted to say Sicher more than lived up to expectations.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 30 2022 at 08:14
Spartacus formed in the idyllic setting of Lake Bodensee on the Swiss/German border, which is not so idyllic if you're an up-and-coming prog band hoping to be discovered and your only album is a sub-standard live bootleg recording.
1972: Toad - Tomorrow Blue - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lTG4sCkH0amfCE-PjYQncHE8g0485nsvg" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lTG4sCkH0amfCE-PjYQncHE8g0485nsvg
1972: Toad - Open Fire: Live in Basel - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nW1zMAJ4T4r9cRbmWsuxuDQxV54bQLBNk" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nW1zMAJ4T4r9cRbmWsuxuDQxV54bQLBNk
2006: Toad - The Real Thing - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lg0kP01EdLn4IlYR8f8nT2snEYJ6bv2Ms" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lg0kP01EdLn4IlYR8f8nT2snEYJ6bv2Ms
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 09 2022 at 04:19
Trocarn: a charming Prog Folk band from Switzerland, so long as you don't mind all the vocals being sung in the band's native French. If you only listen to one Trocarn song, then check out the 20-minute majestic epic below from their very welcome comeback album: the imaginatively-titled, Trocarn II.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 11:44
Andreas Vollenweider: a New Age Swiss harpist whose atmospheric music has been described as evoking nature, magic and fairy tales..... Switzerland's answer to Jon Anderson then, who's also known to play the harp on occasion.
1979: Andreas Vollenweider - Eine Art Suite in XIII Teilen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqBu9Q714gg" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqBu9Q714gg
1981: Andreas Vollenweider - Behind the Gardens, Behind the Wall, Under the Tree - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUyrqiNADJv2nRuQHSFgsx2sKufqYJ3c8" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUyrqiNADJv2nRuQHSFgsx2sKufqYJ3c8
1984: Andreas Vollenweider - White Winds (Seeker's Journey) - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lIlPCjuH1JxhxcEpxCHKNNO0RR-xvKsro" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lIlPCjuH1JxhxcEpxCHKNNO0RR-xvKsro
1986: Andreas Vollenweider - Down to the Moon - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7Xgtv8FJeWD3GExHtOzjG3LW7m1zij5k" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7Xgtv8FJeWD3GExHtOzjG3LW7m1zij5k
1988: Andreas Vollenweider - Dancing with the Lion - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k8D5VhSpwit1LQ5TawCBJnIt2qOaOKKxM" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k8D5VhSpwit1LQ5TawCBJnIt2qOaOKKxM
1990: Andreas Vollenweider & Hans Vollenweider - Traumgarten - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k2APsPAt6MRosnfJHbozWZ984B1HJchYU" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k2APsPAt6MRosnfJHbozWZ984B1HJchYU
1991: Andreas Vollenweider - Book of Roses - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lAcZql_Hr1Wt6-EPMsHMr7Rs-A-mb9LhM" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lAcZql_Hr1Wt6-EPMsHMr7Rs-A-mb9LhM
1995: Andreas Vollenweider & Friends - Live in Santiago, Chile - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRz13y9I6EY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRz13y9I6EY
1997: Andreas Vollenweider - Kryptos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mYtue6N1B1wrQ0x8VEsIoTARCTPqiPqwY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mYtue6N1B1wrQ0x8VEsIoTARCTPqiPqwY
1999: Andreas Vollenweider - Cosmopoly - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mSlU2sAXcgzC7PBHK07yc3vEyVJhocnaA" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mSlU2sAXcgzC7PBHK07yc3vEyVJhocnaA
2004: Andreas Vollenweider - Vox - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mOopo2ziSfqAVt78DXwuGlZ2YSGT7piuU" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mOopo2ziSfqAVt78DXwuGlZ2YSGT7piuU
2006: Andreas Vollenweider & Friends - The Magical Journey - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhswAadCgvY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhswAadCgvY
2009: Andreas Vollenweider - Air - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUyrqiNADJv2sJOmwNcHIbg705TYuXUxJ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUyrqiNADJv2sJOmwNcHIbg705TYuXUxJ
There's just one more Swiss artist to go now before the cuckoo clock strikes midnight tomorrow, and they'll no doubt make a very Welcome addition to round off this blog.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 20 2022 at 16:19
Switzerland's answer to YES with a singer who sounds remarkably like Chris Squire!
Five months, forty artists and over one hundred albums later, that's all folks!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: January 03 2023 at 07:33
My Top 14 Swiss Prog Albums:-
1976: Alpha to Omega - A Life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0qs1n0n7lQ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0qs1n0n7lQ
1980: Circus - Fearless, Tearless and Even Less - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g
2019: Clepsydra - The Gap - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAqKXPz16tg" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAqKXPz16tg
1977: Circus - Movin' On - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJ0zOleXBs
1978: Circus - All Stars Band Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPL63ZeT2Qs
1980: Circus - Fearless, Tearless and Even Less - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mxOxS4a5tTP4K7dsKH-08jqx2AoA_k55g
1975: Magic Spell - Is There Anywhere a Gas Station? (Symphonic Prog • Switzerland) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpZWmccEP00" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpZWmccEP00
1969: The Shiver - Walpurgis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS6Dp1RVVwo" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS6Dp1RVVwo