Symph&#111;nic Prog albums you&#039;re f&#111;nd of?

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Posted: October 04 2022 at 06:22

Amongst the most popular and highest rated on PA, modern Symphonic Prog albums are:

Wobbler (N) - From Silence to Somewhere (2017)

All Traps on Earth (S) - A Drop of Light (2018)

Moon Safari (S) - Blomljud (2008)

Jordsjø (N) - Nattfiolen (2019)

Karmakanic (S) - Who's the Boss in the Factory (2008)

Some Swedish and Norwegian bands are surely amongst the most appreciated modern ones in this sub-genre.

Edited by David_D - October 04 2022 at 07:50

quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond

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Posted: September 20 2022 at 16:12

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

I remember getting into an argument with a woman at a prog festival who insisted that Yes were not a symphonic prog band. She can disagree all she wants but yes Yes is considered symph prog.

I wasn't convinced that YES were Symphonic Prog either until I bought the YES Symphonic Live DVD. Smile

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Posted: September 20 2022 at 16:06

I remember getting into an argument with a woman at a prog festival who insisted that Yes were not a symphonic prog band. She can disagree all she wants but yes, Yes is considered symph prog.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - September 20 2022 at 16:20

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Posted: September 20 2022 at 15:28

PA's Symphonic Prog definition

Symphonic is without doubt the sub-genre that includes the most bands in Progressive Rock because for many people it's almost synonymous classic Prog, something easy to understand being that most of the classic and/or pioneer bands released music that could be included in this sub-genre, except JETHRO TULL and PINK FLOYD (who still blended some symphonic elements), even KING CRIMSON who very soon expanded their horizons to more experimental music, made their debut with a Symphonic album, "In the Court of the Crimson King" which is a cornerstone in the development of the genre.

The main characteristics of Symphonic are the ones that defined all Progressive Rock: (There's nothing 100% new under the sun) which among others are:

Mixture of elements from different genres.
Complex time signatures.
Lush keyboards.
Explorative and intelligent lyrics, in some cases close to fantasy literature, Sci Fi and even political issues.
Non commercial approach
Longer format of songs

In this specific case the main characteristic is the influence of Classical music (understood as Orchestral works created from the late Gothic to Modern Classical) using normally more complex structure than other related sub-genres like Neo Progressive (That's why sometimes the borderline that divides Symphonic from Neo is so unclear being that is based mostly in a degree of complexity rather than in an evident structural difference)..It is easy to find long keyboard solos reminiscent of Johan Sebastian Bach or melodic works that could have been written by Handel.

As in any other genre, different Symphonic bands had different approaches to Classical music, for example YES and GENESIS are mainly influenced by the Baroque and Classical periods, while EMERSON LAKE & PALMER has a predilection for post Romantic and modern authors like Mussorgsky, Rimsky Korsakov, Bartok or Ginastera, being that their sound is less melodic and more aggressive.

The peak of the genre starts in 1969 and lasts until the mid/late 70's (more precisely until the release of A Trick of the Tail), when the genre begins to blend more mainstream influences that took to the birth of Neo Progressive (a new approach for a new decade).

It is important to remember that even though the creative peak of Symphonic Progressive ended before the 80's, we can find a second birth in the 90's coming from the Scandinavian countries (specially Sweden with ANGLAGARD or PAR LINDH PROJECT) and even bands that still in the 21st Century recreate music from this period like SPOCK'S BEARD or ECHOLYN.

Before ending this short description I feel necessary to say (In order to be strictly accurate) that the term Symphonic is not 100% exact, because these bands very rarely played symphonies and was probably used because the music that influenced the genre was performed by Symphony Orchestras, but it is so widely accepted by the Progressive Rock community that would be absurd and futile for anybody to attempt a change after so much time.

Iván Melgar Morey, Peru 2006

Edited by David_D - September 20 2022 at 16:11

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Posted: September 16 2022 at 22:18

There's a lot out there both old and newer. I really liked one called earthly paradise by German band Epidaurus. That's probably one of the most underrated symph prog albums I can think of. A must for any symph fan. Imagine a cross between 70s Genesis and Camel with a bit of Renaissance thrown in because of the female vocals. Some people have complained about her singing (saying it's a bit pitchy) but I never really had much of a problem with it. It's one I had a long time ago and need to get again. I'm curious if anyone knows it. There's plenty of others I could mention but other members on here probably know about most of them.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - September 17 2022 at 12:10

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Posted: September 15 2022 at 12:09

The Yes Album, Close To The Edge

Mirage, Snow Goose, Moonmadness (Camel)

?, Sola Scriptura, Jesus Christ The Exorcist (Neal Morse)

The Grand Experiment, The Similitude Of A Dream, Innocence and Danger (Neal Morse Band)

SMPTe, Bridge Across Forever, The Whirlwind, The Absolute Universe (Transatlantic)

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Posted: September 14 2022 at 05:03

Some famous Symphonic lyrics:

Genesis - "Musical Box" (excerpt)

She's a lady, she's got time
Brush back your hair and let me get to know your face
She's a lady, she is mine
Oh, brush back your hair and let me get to know your flesh

I've been waiting here for so long
And all this time that passed me by
It doesn't seem to matter now
You stand there with your fixed expression
Casting doubt on all I have to say
Why don't you touch me, touch me
Touch me now, now, now, now, now

(from the album Nursery Cryme (1971))

Yes - "Close to the Edge" (excerpt)

A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace,

And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace,
And achieve it all with music that came quickly from afar,
Then taste the fruit of man recorded losing all against the hour
And assessing points to nowhere, leading every single one
A dewdrop can exalt us like the music of the sun,
And take away the plain in which we move,
And choose the course you're running

Down at the edge, round by the corner,
Not right away, not right away
Close to the edge, down by a river,
Not right away, not right away

(from the album Close to the Edge (1972))

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Posted: September 12 2022 at 02:07

I wrote:

"Atoll (F) - L’Araignee-mal (1975)

Cai (ESP) - Mas Alla De Nuestras Mentes Diminutas (1979)"

Grumpy, you may like these two albums, as they have long, quite jazz-rocky, not soft parts, and especially,

the second album if you can be fond of Rock Andaluz (Flamenco) as well.

Edited by David_D - September 12 2022 at 02:08

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Posted: September 11 2022 at 08:39

That may be more Symphonic Prog albums than I've imagined you being fond of, Grumpy - nice.

Edited by David_D - September 11 2022 at 08:40

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Posted: September 11 2022 at 06:51

Studio albums only

All Traps On Earth – A Drop of Light

Anglagard - Viljans Oga

Aphrodite’s Child – 666

Camel – Mirage

Discipline - Unfolded, Shatter, Captives

Echolyn – Suffocating, World, Cowboy, Mei, The End, s/t, Listening

ELP – Trilogy, BSS

Genesis – Nursery, Foxtrot, Selling, Trick, Duke

Izz – River, Darkened, Crush, Don’t Panic

Kansas – s/t, Song, Masque, Left, Point

Neal Morse - ?

Puppet Show – The Tale of Woe

Spock’s Beard – V, Snow, Nocturnes

Transatlantic – SMPTe, Bridge, Whirlwind, Absolute

Wobbler – From Silence to Somewhere

Yes – TYA, Fragile, Close, 90125, Big Generator

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Posted: September 11 2022 at 05:23

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

To complete my A-Z list, I had to bend the "rules" a little by including some artists who aren't categorised as Symphonic Prog on PA. Smile

While I can tell that I've followed strictly PA's classification, but I'm not sure that I'd consider all the albums on my list as mostly Symphonic Prog. Wink

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Posted: September 11 2022 at 04:23

David_D wrote:

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

There are simply too many albums to mention across all nationalities, so I'll just make an A-Z list of the British Symphonic Prog artists I'm really fond of. Smile

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

My international A-Z of Symphonic Prog favourites:-

It's very impressive or even outstanding, Paul, that you could make these two fond of/favourites A-Z lists. Thumbs Up

To complete my A-Z list, I had to bend the "rules" a little by including some artists who aren't categorised as Symphonic Prog on PA. Smile

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Posted: September 11 2022 at 04:14

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

There are simply too many albums to mention across all nationalities, so I'll just make an A-Z list of the British Symphonic Prog artists I'm really fond of. Smile

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

My international A-Z of Symphonic Prog favourites:-

It's very impressive or even outstanding, Paul, that you could make these two fond of/favourites A-Z lists. Thumbs Up

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Posted: September 10 2022 at 09:32

David_D wrote:

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

My international A-Z of Symphonic Prog favourites:-

..........

Aphrodite's Child (Greece)

Clearlight (France)

.......

Focus (Netherlands)

Very nice, Paul, and I'm particularly happy to see these three bands.

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Par Lindh Project (Sweden)

While, after having seen you mention this Swedish band some times lately, I'll give Gothic Impressions a listen.

I'm sure the Par Lindh Project's debut album will leave you with a good Impression, in a Gothic way. Smile

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Posted: September 10 2022 at 09:27

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

My international A-Z of Symphonic Prog favourites:-

..........

Aphrodite's Child (Greece)

Clearlight (France)

.......

Focus (Netherlands)

Very nice, Paul, and I'm particularly happy to see these three bands.

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Par Lindh Project (Sweden)

While, after having seen you mention this Swedish band some times lately, I'll give Gothic Impressions a listen.

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Posted: September 10 2022 at 09:15

My international A-Z of Symphonic Prog favourites:-

Aphrodite's Child (Greece)

Burning Candle (Germany)

Clearlight (France)

Dragonfly (Switzerland)

Earth and Fire (Netherlands)

Focus (Netherlands)

Grand Stand (Sweden)

Hands (United States)

Isidurs Bane (Sweden)

Jane (Germany)

Kayak (Netherlands)

Like Wendy (Netherlands)

Magic Spell (Switzerland)

Novalis (Germany)

Outer Limits (Japan)

Par Lindh Project (Sweden)

Quill (United States)

Relayer (United States)

Sebastian Hardie (Australia)

Trace (Netherlands)

Unitopia (Australia)

Vermillion Sands (Japan)

Welcome (Switzerland)

Zomby Woof (Germany)

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Posted: September 10 2022 at 07:34

chopper wrote:

Well this is a pretty well discussed topic here. My favourite two would be Nursery Cryme and CTTE but they have been discussed to death so probably best to focus on some less well-known ones. I would add a couple of later Renaissance ones myself.

Oh, and it's Emerson btw.

Thanks for an explanation and the correction, Chopper.

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Posted: September 10 2022 at 07:30

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

This thread has only been active two days, so it's still early days yet. I'll have a truly international A-Z list of Symphonic Prog favourites coming up soon, which won't include any British prog bands, just for a change. Smile

great, Paul Thumbs Up

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Posted: September 10 2022 at 06:56

David_D wrote:

This thread seems a bit dead so far. Smile

Well this is a pretty well discussed topic here. My favourite two would be Nursery Cryme and CTTE but they have been discussed to death so probably best to focus on some less well-known ones. I would add a couple of later Renaissance ones myself.

Oh, and it's Emerson btw.

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