Any new prog out there ?

[simon]

Hey, wondering if anyone out there can give me some sound advice? Although I love listening to my collection of 70's albums and bootlegs for Genesis , Hackett, Rush etc, I can't help thinking that there must be some new bands out there that are recreating such rich music but with a modern twist. Some of the newer so called 'prog' bands, I find are fairly gritty and heavy, and seem to have forgotten the benefits of the 12 string or the keyboards.
Anyone got any recommendations?

[David Raphael]

I don't like the so-called modern prog bands that much. I agree that they're often too heavy. And I don't find them that original.

I actually consider bands who fall under the post-rock banner with their 20+ min tracks with building 'movements' to be more like modern prog that I like.

You might want to try out bands like God Speed You Black Emperor!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7itTG4yICQ

and Tortoise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdblc_OMAA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6JVS9H8ktA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yrD8AjI0CM

[vinnybagadonutz]

I felt that way a couple of years ago, then discovered the great Swedish prog group The Flower Kings. I'd say they are my favorite band now. Unifaun really stays true to the "Genesis" sound. Agents of Mercy is a great new band formed by Flower Kings guitarist Roine Stolt and Unifaun singer Nad Sylvan. A great older Swedish band is Anglagard, They were around in the early 90's and put out two outstanding albums. I think Sweden is where it's at for continuing the geniune prog sound!

[simon]

Thanks for info, had a listen to Flower Kings and also found link to fellow Swedish progsters Moon Safari, who seemed very pleasing to the ear on first play!

[Richard Gorman]

Prog is coming back in from the cold. As well as God Speed You Black Emperor! there's Silver Mountain Zion and Sigur Ros. Of course Muse and Radiohead, Flaming Lips in the more acceptable 'mainstream' section. Bands like Big Elf, Black Mountain and Tuung show clear rock/folk rock prog influences. I would recommend a browse of Cuneiform Records catalogue for interesting artrists Hamster Theatre, Birdsong of the Mesozoic especially if experimental music grabs your ears. Morglbl are highly recommended if your tastes run in a 'fusion'/jazzy direction as are Jaga Jazist (Now just 'Jazzist' I think). Cakeflap and Whimwise have made promising debut recordings. Porcupine Tree do a fine line bleak rock/prog riffs and atmospheres. You're right about the lack of acoustic texturing in this style of music though so they might not be your thing. You could also try ECM records and artists like Ralph Towner and Pat Metheny who can evoke a broad pastoral feel, although they hop around a bit so as always you might want to check a review or to to see if it's your favourite flavour. Lots more but that's an 'off the top of the head' selection. And of course Hackett, Gong and, most successsfully to my ears, Van Der Graaf Generator are still with us. Happy days are here again.

[David Raphael]

Just a quick add to the ECM list. Of the classic 1970's groups I always found the Eberhard Weber solo albums to be most proggy.

[Laura/JaneCool]

I highly recommend Porcupine Tree. Sure, they have some heavy riffs in their music, but they also have beautiful harmonies, atmospheric compositions, emotional lyrics and superb musicianship all around.

I have recently been introduced to The Flower Kings, and I like them very much - mainly their instrumental pieces.

You may also enjoy Willowglass - very whimsical instrumental compositions reminiscent of older Genesis, especially "Hackettesque" I find.

[Tim O'Keeffe]

I would also recommend Porcupine Tree. Also check out Marillion who continue to make amazing music...a whole 20 years after fish left :)

[simon]

Thanks for the recommendations, I have lookd into the Flower Kings and like their sound, have also discovered fellow swedish progsters Moon Safari, who are well worth checking out . Always been a big fan of Marillion, used to see them right back in the early days, and had some sweaty nights at the Marquee !! ( now that was a good venue), and still like what they are up to now.
Good to see that some bands are keeping on the prog tradition

[Leon Alvarado]

I'll put forward my cause:
http://www.leonplaysmusic.com

Some Genesis songs, some original songs. My favourite progressive era was the seventies. Being primarily a drummer, I found percussive sounds to be of most interest. The first time I heard a drum machine was on Brian Eno's Another Green World. I suppose that is where Phil Collins picked up from since he worked with Eno on that and other albums. I guess to get to my point, for the most part my album is very seventies in sound. The main difference has to do with the use of the Roland drum machine combined with other drums and more complex drum machines. In some of the album I was trying to convey a bit of the sound from Genesis' DUKE album. However, if you like the Wind and Wuthering album, you may like my song titled "Of Wind & Sorrow". It is perhaps the most "Genesis" sounding of my compositions. The piece has a lot of the ARP synth sound combined with a rich choir sound and even some bits of tubular bells. It is very atmospheric and has a fullness in the sound that I find with the Genesis or Yes recordings from the seventies. Ironically the most "modernised" song in my album is my rendition of "Hairless Heart". I did this deliberately and you can read details on that within the album's web page. In all I am proud of the album and I feel it would make a great addition to any progressive rock collection. My intentions were always to put out a quality product in the most professional way that I could do. Before finishing the product I found myself talking with Nick Davis who led me to Tony Cousins (who besides doing the bulk of the re-mastering for the Genesis box sets also did some of the mastering on my album).

Making an album with Genesis songs can be a very polarising idea. I have had some very good responses from well-known musicians like John Goodsall (Brand X), Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa) and even Steve Hackett himself who through his comments has in part validated my efforts. However, there is always a faction of fans that feel that I have somehow trespassed on sacred grounds and will not give the record even a listen. Some people feel that I have made this album just to ride on Genesis coat tails in making money. The truth couldn't even be further from such ideas. The reality of it is that making an independent record with one's own money and effort is quite the project. I would be more than thrilled if I ever see my original investment back. Without the power of a record label behind it, an album is just something that musicians put out because they love music and want to share it with people. It is not an investment people do to "get rich quick" (at least if you are a smart investor anyway). My only means of advertising has been my word and the word of others through forums such as this (plus the occasional facebook or myspace ad). Even with that, I have been lucky to have the album reviewed in Italy's DUSK magazine as well as making an appearance in Tokyo for a record signing session (Japan has been the best selling country so far). My hope is for fans of progressive music to give it a listen leaving any preconceived ideas behind. It is a collection of songs that includes some great Genesis songs (done with some original twists) and some new progressive pieces of music done more or less in the style of Genesis (but still very original on their own).

Lastly, I have to say that I have found some very friendly people on these forums from which I have in many occasions engage in conversation with. It feels great to find a place that is like a home where everyone has something very much in common with each other. Go to my website and look for the sound snippets to listen to the music. Perhaps you may like the fact that it is not gritty and has lots of keyboards.