Pascal's Prog Journey

Last two weeks or so I've been listening a lot to what has become my second fovourite prog band, ELP. They implement classical influence in a very very sophisticated way, which they have really developed through their albums, and that's very nice to hear! My ratings:

Edited by DDPascalDD - May 13 2016 at 08:52

DDPascalDD wrote: Last two weeks or so I've been listening a lot to what has become my second fovourite prog band, ELP. They implement classical influence in a very very sophisticated way, which they have really developed through their albums, and that's very nice to hear! My ratings: Emerson, Lake & Palmer: 9 Tarkus: 9 Trilogy: 8.5 Brain Salad Surgery: 9.5 -- Btw, BSS is now my #1 album.

Interesting you like BSS. I have been really big on ELP for many months and despite liking the album, I felt like there was something kind of unpleasant and unsettling about it. It had great moments though.

I recently got a pristine copy of Emerson, Lake & Palmer debut album and rediscovered how great of an album it is.

How did you like Pictures At An Exhibition? This was one of my favorite ELP albums.

DDPascalDD wrote: ^Haven't listened to that one actually, will try some time soon. I like BSS so much because it implements classical influence in such a good way that it's almost going further on what classical composition started. For example the 2nd impression of Karn Evil uses the form of a Sonata but they expanded the devlopment in a very interesting way, which I actually have yet to analyse more fully.

Yes, like you, I love classical influences in prog.

If we talk about progressive rock, there are actually two distinct schools of classical music influences. There is romantic and everything pre-romantic, so for example bands like ELP, Egg, King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant to name a few. At the beggining of the 20th century (or even the end of 19th) came ideas of anti-romantic classical music. So, for example Arnold Schoenberg. This would be picked up by composers such as John Cage a few decades later and would create what we know as chance music. While romantic and pre-romantic classical music relies heavily on boosting imagination, in other words sounds portraying an unambiguos scene (a forest, a castle etc.), Cage thought to himself "Hmmm.... Why can't we associate one sound, or one passage with anything that sits in out heads?". The bands that often built on ideas of post-romantici classical music were Univers Zero, Art Zoyd or even Henry Cow and Art Bears. One composer that found himself on the edge of two schools was Igor Stravinsky (although he is more on the romantic side). Anyway, I hope you will understand what I've just said.

Karn 9 Evil seems to have the influence of late romantic composers (to me).

DDPascalDD wrote: Yes, I just learned about modernistic music at school but I'm not into atonal music. I respect the part of breaking with the past and the rules but I can't enjoy the music. Never heard of chance music, but I tend to prefer romantic and pre-romantic. Is RIO also (all) based on post-romantic music? (Because you named Henry Cow, Art Zoyd etc.)

Modernistic school is obviously more difficult. It would be hard for me to say which one I like better. Romantic and pre-romantic is certainly more enjoyable. But, that's a subjective matter, forged by culture.

As to your question - no, not all RIO is based on post-romantic. One RIO band that rarely uses influences of post-romantic music with their avant-garde quality being expressed through tounge-in-cheek arrangement is a Swedish band Sammla Mammas Manna.
They produced some accessible material that you might just like!



And here is a pretty comedic tune that I like. The rhythm really reminds me of Sabre Dance by Khachaturian.

@ALotOfBottle: I quite liked the first Samla track, quite accessible indeed, but the second one was less to my liking at first spin.

I've never tried Jethro Tull, but in general the 'big 6' are Yes, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull (at least that's what I thought). But one defenitely doesn't have to agree.
Tull seems to be not too hard but has some very good albums every progger should know (at least TAAB and Aqualung).

DDPascalDD wrote: @ALotOfBottle: I quite liked the first Samla track, quite accessible indeed, but the second one was less to my liking at first spin. I could give the album a try!  @Guldbamsen: those two sound very interesting, but I think I need some time to get into it. In general my plan is to finish off the big 6 and then move on to more avant-garde stuff or anything really different that I haven't tried yet, maybe krautrock, bands like Gentle Giant, VDGG, anything.

As to avant-garde stuff, I would discourage from starting with avant-prog and RIO right away.
How about building your way up with Canterbury scene? If not, than VDGG will be the best option for you.

Hmmm... The only lists of big 6 I can find on the internet are those I mentioned...

Filling some gaps, which are all great albums. Two double albums, The Lamb from which I like some parts very much but it's very hard to listen in full if it draws to the end. But the best moments are of equal quality of Selling England. 

Agreed with both. I guess they added Through Her Eyes for the listener to "rest the ear" from all the heavier parts, it's not a bad thing, but they could've done it much better.