Progressive rock
Related: art rock - music - Krautrock - Pink Floyd - progressive - psychedelic - rock
Andy Votel presents: Prog Is Not a Four Letter Word (2005) - Various Artists [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Definition
Progressive rock is a broad and convergent style of rock music and progressive music which arose in the late 1960s, reaching the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s, but continuing as a musical form to this day. Progressive rock is often closely identified with other styles of music such as experimental music, symphonic rock, art rock and progressive metal.
Progressive rock artists sought to move away from the limitations of the radio formated rock, mainly its cyclic structure, favoring a progressive one (hence the term "progressive"). Progressive rock is often wrongly percieved as complex and elaborate music, requiring a high level of musicianship from the artists, mainly because of the impression left by some of the most popular progressive bands. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock [2004]
Hawkwind
Hawkwind [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Hawkwind is a British rock music group.
Formed in the summer of 1969 as Hawkwind Zoo, they were offered a record deal by Liberty Records in November of that year and immediately shortened the band name to Hawkwind. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Brock has been the only consistent band member though multiple personnel changes. Their music began as hard-driving blues rock, but quickly added doses of psychedelic music, with prominent use of special effects and synthesizers. Their music usually deals with urban and science fiction themes (writer Michael Moorcock was a collaborator), and Hawkwind are widely seen as one of the earliest space rock groups.
Their elaborate live performances (somewhat reminiscent of Sun Ra's) quickly gathered them a cult following, partly because they were seen as a 'community' Of the People - For the People group. Their second album In Search of Space was very successful.
Hawkwind were, along with the Pink Fairies, key 'community bands' in Ladbroke Grove home of the Mountain Grill cafe. During the early 1970s Hawkwind played a number of benefit gigs along with other 'community' bands/artists including Pink Fairies and Steve Took who, as a key member of the UK Underground went on to work with a number of Hawkwind members.
Hawkwind achieved chart status with the release of the single "Silver Machine" in 1972 (Written by Dave Brock and Robert Calvert, allegedly about his bicycle. Vocals by Lemmy Kilmister). Their follow up single "Urban Guerrilla" was withdrawn after increased terrorist activity by the Provisional IRA.
Hawkwind have had a long-standing connection with many free festivals including the Stonehenge free festival that ran from 1973 until banned in 1985. Authorities moved in "with force" to stop the event that 13th year as, under ancient charter law, it would have become a public festival for all time. The spirit of these festivals has been reawakened by their last two "Hawkfest" weekends.
On October 21, 2000 the Hawkestra, a band formed by virtually all former members of Hawkwind, played a sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawkwind [Sept 2005]
Shapeshifter! (1992) Gong
Shapeshifter (1992) Gong [Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]
Gong are a progressive rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock.
They were formed in 1967, after Allen - then a member of Soft Machine - was denied entry to the United Kingdom due to a visa complication.
Between 1973 and 1974, Gong, now augmented by guitarist Steve Hillage, released their Radio Gnome Trilogy - three records that expounded upon the (previously only hinted at) Gong mythology. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong (band) [Sept 2005]
Space rock
Space rock is a style of music; the term originally referred to a group of early mostly British 1970s progressive rock and psychedelic bands like Pink Floyd and Hawkwind, though it now tends to refer to a series of late 1980s British alternative rock bands. This style is characterized by shimmering, melodic sounds, often with copious drug and science fiction references (such as pioneers Spacemen 3's legendary quotation: "taking drugs to make music to take drugs to"). --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_rock [Sept 2005]
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music is a musical genre which is not rigorously defined, and is sometimes interpreted to include everything from Flower Power music to Hard Rock and Acid Rock. However, an inner core of the genre that came to fruition in 1967 can be recognized by characteristic features such as modal melodies; esoteric lyrics often describing dreams, visions, or hallucinations; longer songs and lengthy instrumental solos; and recently invented "trippy" electronic effects such as distortion, reverb, and reversed, delayed and/or phased sounds. It is often inspired by the experience of mind-altering drugs such as cannabis, psilocybin, mescaline, and especially LSD. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_music [Sept 2005]
Psychedelic music and Gong
Alongside the progressive stream, space rock bands such as Hawkwind, Arthur Brown's Kindom Come and Gong maintained a more explicitly psychedelic course into the 1970s. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_music [Sept 2005]
Andy Votel presents: Prog Is Not a Four Letter Word (2005) - Various Artists
Track Listings
1.Pozzo Del Pichio - Merta
2.Visitors - Visitors
3.Baris Manco - Lambaya Puf De
4.Drugi Nacin - Zuti List
5.Bran - Breuddweyd
6.Breakout - Powiedzielismy Juz Wszystko
7.San Ul Lim - Frustration
8.Egg - Fugue In D Minor
9.3 Hurel - Omur Biter Yol Bitmez
10.Illes - Nem Erdekel Amit Mondsz
11.Jean Claude Vannier - Les Gardes Volent Au SecoursDu Roi
12.Embryo - Music Of Today
13.Jazz Q - Toledo.
Product Description:
Andy Votel of Twisted Nerve Records has wasted no time in following up the superb Folk Is A Four Letter Word compilation with another delve into a previously uncool musical genre- that most maligned of all, PROG!! But forget the over-compiled and by now mainstream works of Yes, ELP, Genesis, Tull, the Moodies and so forth. This, boys and girls, is Obscurity City. The prog here originates from some of the furthest flung corners of the continent - Poland (Breakout), Turkey (Baris Manco), Germany (Embryo), Italy (Pozzo Del Pichio), France (Jean Claude Vannier) and Wales (Bran) There's even a trip to darkest Filipino territory courtesy of San Ul Lim, stopping off for a Canterbury tale from Egg on the way. Most of these tracks have never been on CD before. Now here they are in a beautifully remastered form, and it's time for all who previously doubted to rediscover. Cherry Red. 2005.
See also: Andy Votel - progressive rock - rock
Green (1978) - Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage, at the time of this album, was one of the last great hippie guitar heroes, and was at the very top of his form. He had been touring with the group he assembled for this album for some time, so they were tight and knit together very well. By 1978, Hillage had lots of solo experience, with three solo albums behind him, and plenty of group experience, (most notably with Gong during their most successful period, 1973-75, composing and playing on the "Radio Gnome" trilogy of albums). He had worked with some of the best producers (Todd Rundgren and Malcolm Cecil), and some great musicians. For Green, his producer was Nick Mason, Pink Floyd's drummer and co-producer, and the quality of his work shines out. The guitars sing, the drumming is punchy, the bass infectious and funky, and the synthesisers are other worldly and spacey. Hillage's vocals are usually not his strong point, but here they are very good, while Miquette Giraudy's add an other worldliness and, it must be said, a nice feminine touch. -- Micheal O Mealoid for amazon.com
[Wild Palms (Love Guitar) is THE track, with a very balearic feel. Steve Hillage collaborated with Derrick May early nineties on the Seven series. ]
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