Prog rock

Mar 30, 2017 at 9:39 PM Post #1,202 of 5,585
I'm not sure if you are familiar with this Dutch band, Focus. I don't think they ever made an impression here in the States, but when I was living in Paris they were very well known throughout Western Europe. I had the honor of opening up for this very talented band several times - incredible musicians and very nice guys. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvHWl7Bx9kw


Dude, Hocus Pocus was a top-10 hit in the U.S.!
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 10:49 AM Post #1,205 of 5,585
Good luck getting any interest in RPI here. I tried mentioning Banco, PFM and other giants of the Italian progressive music scene with no response.

 
Banco is one of my favorites! We'll get some Italo-Prog going in here. Area, Marsupilami, Alphataurus, Battiato... It's coming.
 
For now, though, time to rep Brazil:
 
Bacamarte - Depois do Fim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTG25LdQAMY
 
Bixo da Seda - Estação Elétrica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLch2w_M2wg
 
A Cor do Som - Frutificar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfIQOVxKpQ
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 2:38 PM Post #1,206 of 5,585
   
Banco is one of my favorites! We'll get some Italo-Prog going in here. Area, Marsupilami, Alphataurus, Battiato... It's coming.
 
For now, though, time to rep Brazil:
 
Bacamarte - Depois do Fim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTG25LdQAMY
 
Bixo da Seda - Estação Elétrica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLch2w_M2wg
 
A Cor do Som - Frutificar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfIQOVxKpQ


Talk about coincidence, listened to Depois do Fim like three times yesterday evening!
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 2:53 PM Post #1,208 of 5,585
 
I'm not sure if you are familiar with this Dutch band, Focus. I don't think they ever made an impression here in the States, but when I was living in Paris they were very well known throughout Western Europe. I had the honor of opening up for this very talented band several times - incredible musicians and very nice guys. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvHWl7Bx9kw


Dude, Hocus Pocus was a top-10 hit in the U.S.!

Do you think it was the music or the yodeling that propelled it to #9. lol
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 3:29 PM Post #1,210 of 5,585
   
Banco is one of my favorites! We'll get some Italo-Prog going in here. Area, Marsupilami, Alphataurus, Battiato... It's coming.
 
For now, though, time to rep Brazil:
 
Bacamarte - Depois do Fim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTG25LdQAMY
 
Bixo da Seda - Estação Elétrica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLch2w_M2wg
 
A Cor do Som - Frutificar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfIQOVxKpQ


Tell me more about why you like Bixo Da Seda, or which tracks in particular!
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 3:33 PM Post #1,211 of 5,585
 
Talk about coincidence, listened to Depois do Fim like three times yesterday evening!

 
It really is that good!
 
  @phthora isn't that Bixo da Sedas album self-titled? I think I've heard it once or twice, but I'll have a re-listen!
Haven't heard of A Cor do Som though!

 
It is, yes. I thought I was posting a song. Oops.
 
A Cor do Som might be stretching it for prog, but I really liked it.
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 3:54 PM Post #1,212 of 5,585
@drwlf I listen to a very eclectic assortment of music, everything from 1920's blues to death metal to Mongolian folk music to harsh noise to prog anything, etc., etc.But, there are three things that I enjoy in music, regardless of genre.
 
1. Virtuosity in musicianship. I love to revel in an absolute master demonstrating his skill at an instrument, or, since that's relatively rare, just someone very good really pushing themselves with technically challenging arrangements or experimental structures.
 
2. Very traditional folk or indigenous music. I appreciate how wildly different this can be from the music I typically hear and how purely expressive and non-commercial it is.
 
3. Apathy for what is commercially viable. I love to find music that is so weird, un-hip, and disconnected from current trends that it defies genre. I don't care for attempts at campy, but I do like genuinely odd music, even when it sounds extremely dated, lame, or, just plain unapproachable.
 
So... Bixa da Seda meets each of those to a fair degree. I don't really think in terms of tracks, but what I love about that album is that I can hear that the Brazil in its instrumentation. I'll see if I can be more specific about the album once I can listen to it again.
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 4:06 PM Post #1,213 of 5,585
   
It really is that good!
 
 
It is, yes. I thought I was posting a song. Oops.
 
A Cor do Som might be stretching it for prog, but I really liked it.


Actually, enjoying A Cor do Som, first listen!
Not too certain about Bixo da Seda, I think I've encountered them before due to Bacamarte coming from the same country. I guess I'm not too impressed methinks, just not up my alley, so I'll refrain from further commenting for now, hence my question! I like reading reviews, not as they'd influence me, or have anything to do with how I feel about any albums/tracks, but I'm always fascinated why people enjoy any kind of music, the reasons behind that is.
Not too prog, or even particularly Brazil-related; but I don't think I've ever listened to as much bossa nova as I did last autumn. 6 weeks in Spain for a parental leave. The sun, patio, some drinks. Oh yeah, and the grandparents watching the kiddoes, so actually some free time every now and then! Couldn't have had a more smooth feeling, hence an initial play of some bossa nova, and it quickly became our standard patio day-time listen for the entire holiday!
Typed the above even before your generous clarification, thank you for that! How very good points, and instantly my brain went into the "let's suggest this music to this fella"-mode!
 
Mar 31, 2017 at 5:12 PM Post #1,214 of 5,585
Let's go with tonights' winding down track:
 

 
A 1977 (non-album) single by Maxophone, not too proggy, but *******it doesn't the upliftingness suit my Friday evening, with buttery warmth, what a feeling to hit the sack soon!
 
Their 1975 self-titled album is an italoprog masterpiece, everything ranging from production, melodies and the instrumentation just floats my boat. Just an unbelievably smooth, coherent and consistent album. And yeah, quite a-ways proggier than that non-album 'pop' single, but still quite accessible nonetheless. Would probably certainly be in my top 5 of albums, if anybody's interested in delving into the whole genre! I should probably do a track-by-track reviewish-post, as all the songs, even though in relatively short length, contain so many ideas, sections and elements.
Anyways, they actually released a new album in February. 42 years since their previous album. Just listened to it once whilst cooking dinner, didn't really hear too much of it. The better half complained that it sounded too "Eros Ramazotti", and no, she doesn't dig italoprog. Not like she digs Eros Ramazotti either, so it wasn't a positive comment, which I doubt it ever could be. Anyways, gotta have a spin soon, but it's highly unlikely it can reach the status of their eponymous album.
 
Apr 1, 2017 at 5:22 AM Post #1,215 of 5,585
@bavinck, you replied to me on the metal thread, remembered noticing you here as well, and searched what you had typed here before out of curiousity!
I'll just comment on your latest; really enjoyed Gösta Berlings Saga, and their newest as well, although Detta har hänt's 'Västerbron 05:30' has to be my favorite.
The guitar distortion has ear-ripping properties on the LCD-X, and you just get drowned into a proggy sludgey trance!
 

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