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Best instrumental prog albums you've ever heard
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Moyan View Drop Down
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Gilbert Artman is a French multi-instrumentalist and composer who actually created this incredibly eclectic collection of psychedelic sounds on a 1975 experimental rock album entitled "I'm Around About Midnight." Artman plays tenor saxophone, vibes, drums, percussion, grand piano, and Hammond organ on this album. Two of his guests on the record, Antoine Duvernet and Alain Audat, are performing on synthesisers, alto and tenor saxophones, and flutes. Richard Pinhas of the band Heldon plays guitar, and his guitar playing is quite exciting here. This is a very good record, very French, very nice.
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richardh View Drop Down
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Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

One that came out only just recently is Zombi - Direct Inject. So impressed I purchased it on vinyl and had a listen earlier today. They are a 2 piece USA band that have been around for 20 years. Their sound is heavily influenced by John Carpernter's film soundtrack music but others have compared them a little to Rush and Goblin. Personally I am hearing Gary Numan's 1979 releases Replicas (as Tubeway Army) and The Pleasure Principle in what they do. There is a lot of that vintage Polymoog sound but I also love the drums, the guy plays 'in the pocket' and is a very crisp player indeed. A lovely little gem of an album and already a favourite of mine for this year (just what is it with bands beginning with the letter Z Smile)


Direct Inject is already in Zombi's top three releases, at least for me. I can't stop spinning it. They've perfected the conveyance of the Goblin vibe yet deftly avoid the pastiche pitfall. "Sessuale I & II" are pieces composed twenty years ago, but unreleased till now (unveiled on the last tour). "So Mote It Be" and "Insurmountable Odds" should make the current iteration of Tangerine Dream envious.

Did you hear their 2021 EP Liquid Crystal?


I've only just discovered them thanks to it coming up as a recommendation on my streaming service.

I had a listen to that video on my laptop but would need to hear it on my proper hi-fi system to get a better idea. Nice stuff though. I will definitely delve further into their back catalogue. Cheers for the info Thumbs Up
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Moyan View Drop Down
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Points: 1219 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Moyan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 13 2024 at 11:15
Daevid Allen's Gong's spacey psychedelia was removed under Pierre Moerlen's direction. Instead, the framework was created for proggy jazz-rock with lots of percussion. Along with his brother, Benoît, Pierre was helped by three other percussionists. Indeed, vibraphone, marimbas, glockenspiel, congas, and who knows what else are some fantastic percussions that are definitely worth listening to.
Additionally, after spending a brief time with the Soft Machine, Allan Holdsworth performs as a guest on "Gazeuse!" where he really makes an effort to play very melodic. Holdsworth fantastically shares the melodic guitar duties with Didier Malherbe's sax. Surely one of Holdsworth's finest studio recordings from the 1970s is on "Gazeuse!".
Francis Moze, a former Magma bassist, completed the line-up so well.
Not only the absence of vocals but also a unique aspect of this "Gong" incarnation is the near total lack of keyboards; bassist Moze only adds some electric piano in the brief "Mireille" ballad-like track that is composed by him. However, you never miss the keyboards since the vast array of percussion instruments ensures a lively yet rich sound.   
"Gazeuse!" (1976) is without a doubt one of the proggiest jazz-rock records from the golden era. Amazing record that sounds fantastic even now.
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verslibre View Drop Down
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Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

One that came out only just recently is Zombi - Direct Inject. So impressed I purchased it on vinyl and had a listen earlier today. They are a 2 piece USA band that have been around for 20 years. Their sound is heavily influenced by John Carpernter's film soundtrack music but others have compared them a little to Rush and Goblin. Personally I am hearing Gary Numan's 1979 releases Replicas (as Tubeway Army) and The Pleasure Principle in what they do. There is a lot of that vintage Polymoog sound but I also love the drums, the guy plays 'in the pocket' and is a very crisp player indeed. A lovely little gem of an album and already a favourite of mine for this year (just what is it with bands beginning with the letter Z Smile)


Direct Inject is already in Zombi's top three releases, at least for me. I can't stop spinning it. They've perfected the conveyance of the Goblin vibe yet deftly avoid the pastiche pitfall. "Sessuale I & II" are pieces composed twenty years ago, but unreleased till now (unveiled on the last tour). "So Mote It Be" and "Insurmountable Odds" should make the current iteration of Tangerine Dream envious.

Did you hear their 2021 EP Liquid Crystal?
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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 28029 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 12 2024 at 16:31
One that came out only just recently is Zombi - Direct Inject. So impressed I purchased it on vinyl and had a listen earlier today. They are a 2 piece USA band that have been around for 20 years. Their sound is heavily influenced by John Carpernter's film soundtrack music but others have compared them a little to Rush and Goblin. Personally I am hearing Gary Numan's 1979 releases Replicas (as Tubeway Army) and The Pleasure Principle in what they do. There is a lot of that vintage Polymoog sound but I also love the drums, the guy plays 'in the pocket' and is a very crisp player indeed. A lovely little gem of an album and already a favourite of mine for this year (just what is it with bands beginning with the letter Z Smile)
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Moyan View Drop Down
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The innovative output of the Czech progressive rock band Modrý efekt's (English: "The Blue Effect") cooperation with its fellow countrymen from the avant-jazz ensemble Jazz Q Praha is the purely instrumental album "Coniunctio". Released all the way back in 1970, "Coniunctio" is a classic example of early avant-prog because of its style. It's truly amazing that these two bands were able to create something so early in the history of progressive music that is absolutely crazy and enigmatic. And it sounds fresh even today. 
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Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

^The Way Up has some wordless vocals, so maybe not an instrumental album?

No, I think that's ok. Otherwise Camel's snowgoose wouldn't qualify. In the case of wordless vocals the voice is being used as an instrument. Maybe the first example of this was scat singing.
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Points: 11603 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 12 2024 at 00:04
^The Way Up has some wordless vocals, so maybe not an instrumental album?
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Points: 3036 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Awesoreno Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 11 2024 at 22:45
^Yeah, The Way Up is so incredible. One of the most stunning albums I've ever heard (by Pat Metheny GROUP, to be specific).
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RockHound View Drop Down
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Some of my favorites are

Wakeman-Six wives
DiMeola-Casino
Fripp&Eno-No Pussyfooting 
The Sonar albums
Pat Metheny-The Way Up

Too many other great ones to name.
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Moyan View Drop Down
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Points: 1219 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Moyan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 11 2024 at 01:55
The last album by Brazilian band Som Imaginário (English: Imaginary Sound), led by extremely talented keyboard player Wagner Tiso, "A Matança do Porco" (English: "The Pig's Butchery"), an instrumental album with voices in one track but no lyrics, is arguably one of the best progressive rock records from that great country, whose heritage of its progressive music scene is often overlooked. Instead of being psychedelic like their previous records, this masterpiece from 1973 is a sort of progressive rock at its own, with both classical and jazz music influences. "A Matança do Porco" is a genuine gem that has been forgotten over time. 
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AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down
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Points: 18269 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AFlowerKingCrimson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 11 2024 at 00:52
^ I have lasts of the lasts which I don't remember being instrumental but I suppose it is. Pretty good album. I'll have to check out destiny of a dream also. The all instrumental self titled Novox album from 2005 is worth checking out also.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - April 11 2024 at 00:56
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Moyan View Drop Down
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Points: 1219 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Moyan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 10 2024 at 18:37
In 1999, French band Xang released their debut album, "Destiny of a Dream," which featured some masterfully composed, upbeat, and astonishingly melodic instrumental progressive music. "Destiny of a Dream" has a really neo-prog vibe to it, with lots of flavorful proficiency mixed in with catchy grooves and soaring guitar solos. 
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verslibre View Drop Down
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Originally posted by ProgWarrior ProgWarrior wrote:

I think the best instrumental prog albums comes from Jazz rock/fusion domain like Inner mounting flame or Spectrum by Cobham




John Abercombie — Timeless

Horacee Arnold – Tales of the Exonerated Flea

Stanley Clarke – Journey to Love

Cortex – Vol. 2

Al Di Meola – Elegant Gypsy

Al Di Meola – Electric Rendezvous

George Duke – The 1976 Keyboard Album

Jerry Goodman & Jan Hammer – Like Children

Jan Hammer – The First Seven Days

Mingo Lewis – Flight Never Ending

Lenny White – Venusian Summer

Tony Williams – The Joy of Flying
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Originally posted by Moyan Moyan wrote:

A five-piece instrumental progressive rock group from Québec, Pangée, only put out one album in 1995, entitled "Hymnemonde," which consists of three lengthy epic-instrumental tracks. Incredible guitar, bass, clarinet, and violin interaction combined with a powerful, Mellotron-filled atmosphere and intricate percussion creates beautiful, monumental compositions. 






Great stuff, Thanks
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Moyan View Drop Down
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A five-piece instrumental progressive rock group from Québec, Pangée, only put out one album in 1995, entitled "Hymnemonde," which consists of three lengthy epic-instrumental tracks. Incredible guitar, bass, clarinet, and violin interaction combined with a powerful, Mellotron-filled atmosphere and intricate percussion creates beautiful, monumental compositions. 
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The Snow Goose
“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong
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ProgWarrior View Drop Down
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I think the best instrumental prog albums comes from Jazz rock/fusion domain like Inner mounting flame or Spectrum by Cobham
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Moyan View Drop Down
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The album "R.M. Točak" is de facto the second studio album by Serbian progressive rock band Smak without singer Boris Aranđelović, as the entire band supported their guitarist Radomir "Točak" Mihailović during the recording process in order to present him as a solo artist with his own guitar-playing vision. It's entirely instrumental, high-energy, guitar-heavy progressive rock that showcases influences from traditional Serbian folk music to jazz-rock that all somehow work well together on this magnificent and unique record from 1976. Stojanović-Milanović's rhythm section is as solid as ever, while Ristovski adds some lovely Hammond chords.
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Tangerine Dream - Ricochet
Jean Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean
Electric Asturias - Fractals
GoGo Penguin - A Humdrum Star
Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene
Radio Massacre International - Emissaries
Sonar - Black Light
Special Providence - Soul Alert
“I don’t like country music, but I don’t mean to denigrate those who do. And for those who like country music, denigrate means to ‘put down.'” – Bob Newhart
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