Syracuse The Elephant (Stackridge, 1972)

Stackridge are such a perfectly British-sounding band that their name and music are always been next to a National secret for UK prog lovers. This band came from the west England (around Bristol and Bath) and developed a beautiful folk-rooted kind of prog with a Beatles hint and a good deal of humour. This track comes from the band's second album titled "Friendliness" and is a splendid example of their musical approach to prog. A beautiful sung theme, some acoustic solos, mainly violin and flute flowing on a Mellotron and piano carpet ar but a few of its charms.

"Friendliness" was re-issued in 2006 with four bonus tracks.

The somewhat surprising tempo and mood changes are another essential feature of "Syracuse The Elephant", ranging from English folk to exotic dances. These disparate musical elements are strictly linked to the Beatles-oriented sung sections about a homesick elephant captured and dressed to perform in live shows and movies. We follow his successful career from Bristol to Hollywood and are reminded of the animal's nostalgy for his homeland's veldt. A real jewel, IMHO.

Utopia (Todd Rundgren's Utopia, 1974)

Todd Rundgren is a highly underrated composer, IMHO. His eclectic approach to music surely didn't help him, but allowed his songs to keep their charm intact during many decades. This track - a virtual three movements suite - is the most known piece de resistance of Utopia, the band Rundgren founded in 1973 to empower a pop oriented solo career he had begun in 1970. However essential for the band's history, "Utopia" (also known as "Utopia Theme") was never recorded in studio and its live version - at the Fox Theater in Atlant, November 8th 1973 - filled the first side of Utopia's debut album. 

...And I even like this puzzling cover art!

As I said before, we can (very) roughly divide this epic into three parts, the first one offering a highly dynamic jazzy prog, the second one exploring the operatic and pompous side of pop-rock with a beautiful, catching sung theme and finally the third one stromgly rooted into the symphonic rock ground. Manifold and unpredictable as it it, "Utopia" still is a coherent piece of music, as if the same scene was described from three different points of view. I know many critics dislike this track and label it as pretentious and showy, but I hope you'll forgive me if I say I'm always moved by it. And all in all, this is why I like prog.

The Guide (Ken's Novel, 1999)

Here you are a Belgian band dealing with neo-prog sounds with a highly dynamic twist. "The Guide" is the title track of Ken's Novel's debut abulm and also its opener (or Chapter 1, following the literary presentation of this CD's tracks). There are good themes, simple and effective melodies in an upbeat main structure that some beautiful atmosferic passages enrich on the emotional side. Bernard Piette's keyboards provide a perfect background  and also some thrilling energy throughout the song. 

Denis Bulon is responsible for this imposing artwork.

Eric Vanderbemden's  guitar graces this song with lively and sometimes heavy riffs, while Patrick Muermans not only sings it very well, but also sets up a creative drumming interwined to Geoffrey Leontiev's drizzling bass. I do like the rich mixture of sounds and words in "The Guide" and its good balance between polished neo-prog and good old progressive rock.

Sepia And White (Abel Ganz, 2020)

The readers of my blog already know I like Abel Ganz very much. The first reason of this is that these Scottish musicians always improve and their music sounds richer and more interesting each time they release a new album. 2020's "The Life Of The Honey Bee and Other Moments Of Clarity" is another turning point in such a progress. This song, the longest one from the album (virtually a suite), is possibly the brightest gem of a brilliant collection. It displays charming arrangements, many time changes and beautiful melodies. 

A splendid cover art, isn't it?

The (electric) piano adds here and there a moving touch, while David King offers a beautiful guitar solo, Mick MacFarlane sings putting all his soul in each and every word from beautiful lyrics about passing time and new horizons. Of course, the keyboards duo provide the usual amount of magic and the rythm section keeps it up. This is exactly that kind of song I recommend to those who distrust neo-prog bands. They usually change their mind.

Eins (Polis, 2011)

What a magical atmosphere! German band Polis has a very rich mood palette ranging from heavy rock to romantic tracks. This is a good example of the latter. Mostly instrumental, the song explores the most spiritual quiet realms, then offers an unpredictable finale where Christian Roscher's vocals and Sascha Bormann's drums come in to give their biting touch. As usual with them, Polis like vintage instruments and are inspired both by English prog masters and by German krautrockers, so that each song of theirs has its own flavour, even if they keep a recognizable dark and deep approach to songwriting. 

"Eins" was Polis debut album in 2011.

Then I always like bands singing in their native tongue, something reminding me how universal good music and good prog rock are. Finally, the band's eclectic attitude and the way they dig into the darkest side of life could make of them the latest incarnation of the most original bands from the past, the likes of Uriah Heep or Popol Vuh. Well, at least, let's hope so!

Tears And Pavan (Strawbs, 1973)

Strawbs were surely underrated during their early career, but Dave Cousins' band reached stunning creative peaks since their very first works and they never lost it. This track comes from "Bursting at The Seams", Strawbs' sixth album and it's the deepest and maybe most interesting one in this 1973 LP. The band's folk roots perfectly meet  progressive and classic elements following their wide, unpredictable arrangement concept. In fact, "Tears And Pavan" is divided into two parts (namely "Tears" and "Pavan") and it starts like a folk ballad, earthly sung by Cousins with the usual acoustic background. 

One of my favourite LPs by Strawbs, not one of my favourite cover arts...

But just when you think that's all the track has to say, here come the instrumental part and a Greek flavour you'd never expected there, followed by a Medieval touch. A good keyboard work (mellotron and harpsichord) graces this mini-suite and of course the melody is gorgeous and so well sung that even if you could find the arrangement a little too baroque, this track always keeps a high emotional power. Each time I listen to it, I feel like a traveler going across time, space and inner realms.

Isolation (Jonny Ong, 2020)

It is a pleasure I'll never give up to put into this blog not only straight-prog songs but also open minded tracks like this one coming from Singapore born and London based multi-instrumentalist Jonny Ong. Sometimes such an unusual approach to music is quintessentially prog as Jonny Ong knows no boundaries when it comes to musical genres and moods. "Isolation" includes sad and claustrophobic passages and also sudden melodic openings, suggesting other worlds and brighter skies. Released durng the Covid-19 virus lockdown, those moods were even more widely shared, but they surely belong to every human's wealth of experience.

"Isolation" was released via Sound Portal Studios.

It is a fascinating, spiritual journey where Eastern and Western influences walk side by side, exalting each other. The clever choice of instruments our musician makes is another highlight of "Isolation" and I especially like the handpan, whose celestial sound is simply perfect in this track, setting up a beautiful contrast with the acid bakground. That's why I dare say (relying on Mr. Ong's kind understanding) that where emotions spring from music, there will certainly be prog.