The Nordic Prog Rock Appreciation Thread

[Prog Rock Man]

This is not prog, but it is beautiful Beatles inspired indie pop by Norwegian Martin Hagfors

 

[Prog Rock Man]

Medieval folk metal from Sweden's Fejd. Very exciting, foot tapping, happy music.

 

[logwed]

I just binged on The Flower Kings, and they're great! My only complaint thus far is that the albums are so very long. It's tough to get used to CD-length, and even double CD-length when I'm accustomed to the standard 45 minutes...

 

[Prog Rock Man]

You need to dedicate an afternoon to The Flower Kings!

Last night at The Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh I saw a Danish double bill of Slaraffenland and Efterklang. Wonderful, uplifting, beautiful music.

Afterwards the bands came out and met the audience. After the very positive reaction they got I hope they and more such bands start adding Scotland to their tours. We are a bit neglected.

Efterklang, 'Modern Drift' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0x6c...eature=related

Efterklang, 'Illiuminant' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0x6c...eature=related

Efterklang, 'Mirador' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSKIl...eature=related

Slaraffenland. 'Watch Out' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlAhS...next=1&index=6

 

[Prog Rock Man]

This is superb heavy metal/indie prog by Sweden's The Bear Quartet

Also from Sweden, psychedellic Dungen, the album is called '4'. Both are highly recommended.

 

[Prog Rock Man]

Hurrah! Spotify has an Anglagard album available, the 1996 live album Buried Alive. This is classic symphonic prog and stunning.

 

[limpidglitch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif You need to dedicate an afternoon to The Flower Kings! Last night at The Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh I saw a Danish double bill of Slaraffenland and Efterklang. Wonderful, uplifting, beautiful music. Afterwards the bands came out and met the audience. After the very positive reaction they got I hope they and more such bands start adding Scotland to their tours. We are a bit neglected. Efterklang, 'Modern Drift' YouTube - Modern Drift by Efterklang - official video Efterklang, 'Illiuminant' YouTube - Modern Drift by Efterklang - official video Efterklang, 'Mirador' YouTube - Efterklang Mirador Slaraffenland. 'Watch Out' YouTube - slaraffenland "watch out"

Have you checked out Under Byen yet?
To my ears they have always been a few heads above the other Danish bands of this post-rock/eclectica movement.

Samme Stof Som Stof is intensely beautiful.

And now for something completely different; Family Underground, free-drone from Denmark.
Or maybe Instrument Normal, drone/noise from Sweden?

…

 

[Prog Rock Man]

Presently enjoying Under Byen......

Can I recommend back the Icelandic band Mum and their album 'Sing along to songs you don't know'

 

[limpidglitch]

You can try, but I have been enjoying them since 2004

and 'Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OK' is without doubt their best album, in my opinion.
It was infact what I nominated myself as the best album of the 00's, in the thread I started on the subject.
I think they lost a bit of soul when Kristín left, but it is still good stuff.

Another a bit less known Icelandic band that's worth checking out is Slowblow. A folksy kind of electronica/art naïve.
And Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (HÖH), the godfather of it all.

 

[Prog Rock Man]

Slowblow downloading from Spotify as I type. I think Iceland should be included as honourary Scandinavians.

Presently listening to the wild electronica of The Bear Quartet's Eternity Now album.

 

[limpidglitch]

You could just change it from 'scandinavian' to 'nordic'

Presently listening to The Bear Quartet - 98, really cool.
I'm a sucker for that kind of heavy drumming, and the slight 80's tinge.

 

[logwed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hurrah! Spotify has an Anglagard album available, the 1996 live album Buried Alive. This is classic symphonic prog and stunning.

It's a great album, isn't it? Pretty well recorded for a live recording, the audience members aren't being jackasses the whole time, and they can really play... I've been in correspondence with Anna Holmgren (their flute player), and she's the one that runs this. In a matter of days, they should be done with Epilog, so I'll be able to order both albums at the same time. It's really a shame that they didn't stay together, isn't it?

 

[Prog Rock Man]

I'll will give it another listen, but there was jumping and crackling from Buried Alive as if there was a problem when it was put on the site.

Loving the Bear Quartet and now on the album 'Saturday Night'.

You are right, Nordic would have been better! EDIT - title now changed, it took me a while to find out how to do that! So now we can include Iceland and if only I can find that metal band from the Fareos again!

 

[Patu]

What a great thread. Keep them recommendations coming.

Kingston Wall was already mentioned. It's IMO the best Finnish band all time. You might want to check Von Hertzen Brothers. Their music is strongly influenced by Kingston Wall and they still keep on going. One of the best Finnish bands nowadays.

VON HERTZEN BROTHERS music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews

 

[Prog Rock Man]

Is it prog or is it not?

Now this thread has welcomed the wonderful music of Iceland and I have just found that all of Bjork's catalogue is now available on Spotify, is she prog/pop, or is that pushing it a bit? In Wikipedia she is down as electronica/avant guard/alternative rock.


Then, what do you think of Sigur Ros and their ambient/post rock?

Patu, I really like Kingston Walls first albums, but the Von Hertzen Bros did not grab me. I will give them another listen.