Interactive Poll #-50 Lesser Known Prog

1.     1.  richardh:  I loved this so much, I bought both of his solo works available at Bandcamp.

Francis Lickerish “Brides of the Wind”  Stately at the start, definitely conjures up images of a procession.  Tension builds and the feeling becomes a trifle ominous.  Very orchestral, with soaring lead guitar and swirling strings.  Drums and full band kick in, lush and regal, this.  A Celtic feel to the piece, now.  Angelic female vocals enter the procession, with a lead and also chorus.  Very mystical, and good chills here.  Exquisite.  Soft horns add to the majesty.  Electric guitars come along to the fore, sounds like such a lovely visual could accompany this, as in a film.  A heavier feel comes along, still in a marching sort of mode, maybe this is where the knights and archers march along.  It all rolls back for a bit with flutes and horns, another exalted portion, swelling and rising, gradually.  Another quiet section emerges, with deep horns keeping the beat and electric guitar, that, after strings punctuate the piece, becomes very pointed and the angels return.  Gosh, just gorgeous.  14 minutes flew by.  Ends with a grand flourish. 

2.   tigerfeet:  I liked this one over #3, but they did fight a little with each other.  Also, your other potential choice would have been a contender, and been in this spot as well.

Amorphous Androgynous “The world is full of plankton”  Gotta love a song with that title!  😊  Whirlies and synth start this one out.  Nice electric lead emerges with skirrrrrrs and some wongly keys.  Liking the underwater feel, indeed there may be some ocean/bird sounds in there.  Flutes come along and a couple of harder edged guitar chords, mixed back.  Indeed the watery effect continues as the vocals come in, very psych feel to this.  Dreamy feeling of drowning to it, fine, fine stuff!  The music whirdles out and morning birds enter, with the vocals coming back in and the washy sound continues and the song ends. 

ALSO IF YOU’D CHOSEN: Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound “The Slumbering Ones," would have vied to be in the Top 3

3.       someone_else:  This one made the Top 3, as I love delicacy, long and slow building, atmospheric pieces of music.  Alejandro Matos “El Infierno de los Buenos”  Lone electric piano and a male singer, singing in Spanish opens the piece.  Electric guitar joins in, slowly building the musical tension.  3 ½ minutes in, drums are added, fairly far back in a marching beat.  Synths and bass layer in at about 5 minutes.  I quite enjoy the slow build and pacing of this, he is obviously patient with his presentation, which I find refreshing.  Now electric guitar is back, in a very impassioned, yet also precisely measured way.  Now, heavy keyboards are creating a very marching sort of feel, with a lovely embellishment from the electric guitar.  A bit of an instrumental break with organ and washing synths, creating an almost mystical atmosphere.  He sings here in a different kind of voice, sort of almost like a dark whispery (without actually whispering, if that makes any sense), there is more of a feeling of malevolence here.  The synths come back to the fore, as the sense of foreboding is heightened.  Now down to just spare acoustic piano notes, with bass and drums way back.  The piano conveys a sense of madness, to my mind, as it is sinister and a bit discordant.  Heavy electric guitar comes back.  The vocal feels as if the singer is coming to terms with how far he’s come on this journey.  The song slows after the crescendo, with organ swells slowly fading.

Honourable Mentions:

progaardvark:  Artús “Faust”   This one warred with the Matos piece for third place for me.  I went for the more classical over the more ethnic this time.

Greg:  William Sheller “Hare Krishna," ALSO IF YOU’D CHOSEN: Perry Leopold “The Journey, things might have played out differently for me. 

Lorenzo:  Claudio Rocchi “Volo Magico N. 1” 

Christian: .O.rang “Mind on Pleasure” ALSO IF YOU’D CHOSEN: Tristeza “Halo Heads”  , things might have played out differently for me. 

George:  Onségen Ensemble “Think Neither Good Nor Evil”  

Mirakaze: Louis De Mieulle “Discoteak” 

Kees:  Frutería Toñi “ traspié”  ALSO IF YOU’D CHOSEN:  Stephan Thelen “Road Movie” , things might have played out differently for me. 

Ronstein:  Advent “Ramblin’ Sailor”  

Moshkito:  Roy Harper “Nineteen Forty-Eightish” 

dr wu23:  Jonesy “Ricochet”  

If They'd Chosen Differently, would have potentially been in different contention:

Cristi:  Bucium - Frunză verde foi mărunte - cu Dora Gaitanovici (Miorița)  

Mike:  Fovea Hex “Every Evening” 

I prophesy disaster:  Daddy Cool “Make Your Stash” 

JD and SuperMetro:  Both of you made great contributions, those just didn't quite hit the same chords with me.

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