Posts Tagged Prog
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March 27, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Vangelis: Nocturne – The Piano Album
Vangelis Nocturne: The Piano Album Decca The best textural work in music springs from – or works in support of – great melodies. Greek composer Vangelis has been at the forefront of great textural synth work with his incredible soundtracks (Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire, 1492: Conquest of Paradise) and non-soundtrack work too. But for every indelible melody – and we need […]Archive
June 23, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 70: Throbbing Gristle – “D.o.A: The Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle”
I might like the idea of Throbbing Gristle as much – or more – as the actual music. Pioneering industrial group, as much an actual piece of art, a concept, as a ‘band’. That said I’ve enjoyed their 20 Jazz Funk Greats a great deal. And yet I haven’t dipped much more of a toe […]Archive
May 4, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
We Need To Not Talk About Muse (Again)
I’d rather not talk about Muse – it’s far more interesting than, say, talking about Muse. But there was a handful of requests for a review of the new album back then in 2015. Then I was told I had to justify feeling that way…vitriol, I was told, was not insight. Fairplay. Here goes: If […]Archive
April 28, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 55: Tangerine Dream – “Phaedra”
I had never really listened to Tangerine Dream and I don’t know why. I mean, beyond the fact that there’s nearly 200 albums across 50 years or whatever; hard to know where to start. Well, get this, I started, just recently, with a movie soundtrack from the 1980s – a completely random thing, just some […]Archive
April 11, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 50: Hawkwind – “Space Ritual”
“Not this band – they’re always on. CRAP!” “What about some Hawkwind or Marillion!?!” That’s my reference point. For Hawkind. (And I guess Marillion). I’ve never – knowingly – bumped into either band since hearing about them on that episode of The Young Ones. I hold The Young Ones as dear to my heart as my […]Archive
May 17, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Comet Is Coming: Death To The Planet (ep)
The Comet Is Coming Death To The Planet (ep) The Leaf Label Following on from an earlier EP and full length album, British jazz-prog-dance trio The Comet It Coming returns to hit it right out of the park with this brand new four-track, 25-minute space-jam exploration EP.Archive
April 16, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth has died. He was 70. A great guitarist and composer and if he wasn’t your favourite guitar player there’s every chance that many of your favourite guitarists looked to Holdsworth or took something from his sound and approach. A wizard. A hero to the shredders, a guy who took jazz in new directions […]Archive
March 4, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 574
Robert Wyatt, Rock Bottom (1974) So nice – I bought it twice! By which I mean I already have this 2-for-1 (Rock Bottom and Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard) and then I decided I had to have the album on its own, as it was originally released. I got onto Robert Wyatt and this album […]Archive
March 2, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Nudge: Dark Arts
The Nudge Dark Arts Keen For A Nudge LTD. This is album number two for Wellington trio The Nudge. I’ve admired this band’s musicianship – all great players individually, and collectively – without ever being hugely connected to/engaged with their music. By that I mean I never actually heard the debut album but I was […]Archive
January 15, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 592
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Best of Emerson Lake & Palmer (1980) Less to do with the news of Keith Emerson and Greg Lake dying last year (though in both cases sad news, sure) and more to do with me being won over when I spot the LP-versions of old favourite CDs or tapes from […]Archive
December 10, 2016 by Simon Sweetman