The Enemy Smacks (IQ, 1983)

One of the founding songs of the neo-prog movement, this track comes from the album "Tales from The Lush Attic" and is  full of energy and sensibility. The intro attack is a powerful image of what I call progressive rock, and Peter Nicholls' leading vocal performance is even stronger than usual. The following instrumental section has a dark mood, based on Tim Esau's and Paul Cook's rythm section. Then the music gets lighter and lighter to show a superb keyboard / guitar interplay. Next stop: the strongest contrast you can imagine, as a slow-tempo, atmospheric sung section is immediately followed by the heaviest part of the song.

IQ in 1983: a good bunch of proggers.

In short, the track goes on through different tempos and well found sounds, lining up a series of inventions and some excellent quotations (a bit of Gilmour, a bit of Wakeman...), but the moving finale seems to me the ultimate reason to love "The Enemy Smacks". Here Nicholls simply wears his inside out, then the whole band offers a full-bodied wall of sound and a perfect example of symphonic rock outro. Definitely, that's enough for me.

Immensa distesa (Le Orme, 1975)

This sweet, dreamy ballad taken by their "Smogmagica" album is unlikely to be the proggest song by Le Orme, but surely is one of their best melodies... and that's saying something! Not only the sung theme is well written, but the arrangement is simply perfect with a pinch of West Coast and Italian mandolin inside.

Le Orme in L.A. recording "Smogmagica".

The vocal performance is like silk, the keyboards and the guitar are suspended in a misty and mysterious sunset, a warm and golden soundscape, full of nostalgy and sweetness. Michi Dei Rossi's drumming is a pulsing whisper, and the lyrics are also very good, dealing with the eternal search for balance in human life. When I need a rest, "Immensa distesa" is exactly what I need.

The Island (The Decemberists, 2006)

From time to time, The Decemberists go epic and this is the case with "The Island", a three part suite included in their "The Crane Wife" album, released in 2006. Moreover, this track is one of the proggest compositions in their whole career, both for its unpredictable architecture and its vintage sounds. A slight acid vein, some good and warm riffs and the usual Colin Meloy's perfect vocal performance are likely to be the first things a prog mind will pick up in the first section, but a further exploration reveals more good reasons to love "The Island".

Another excellent cover art by Carson Ellis, Colin Meloy's wife.

Take the discreet and effective chorus and its vocal harmonies and the oh so seventies keyboard arpeggios plus acoustic guitar touches of the second section: what's that? A "Nursery Cryme" outtake? For sure, it's the greatest tribute The Decemberists ever payed to the Golden era of prog. The third and last part comes back to the folk mood and a relaxed, fresh, old fashioned ballad fills the air. The final viola touch has a medieval scent and enriches such a bare and touchy melody. Believe me, this really is a great song!

Ici, Maintenant (Nemo, 2006)

This song by Nemo comes from their "Si - Part 1" album and is one of the best examples one could find of their lively, diversified and rather aggressive kind of prog. I like this track very much, expecially because of its everchanging moods. The piano and the effective sung theme open "Ici, Maintenant" ("Here, Now" in English), then a bombastic wall of sound breaks the atmosphere and empowers the melody.

This edition included both installments of the "Si" concept.

The following steps are lined up in a very clever way: heavy prog, electronic effects, delicate piano touches, rythmic crescendos and, of course, the main theme reprises. It's a little musical jewel combining rock and melody, just the way prog should be. I can't say I love Nemo's whole production, but songs like this one, well... I adore!

Not of This World (Pendragon, 2001)

Here you are a three part suite by Pendragon, that's also the title track of their 2001 album. The first part is full of energy, an awesome instrumental intro one could put on the first page of a progressive rock handbook. Then the sung part comes in, a well found and lively melody, a hearty crescendo with an atmospheric interlude leading to the Ridi pagliaccio quotation. Clive Nolan does a great work on keyboards in the subsequent bridge, then the listener enjoys a typical Pendragon largo.

"Not of This World" was Pendragon's sixth official studio work.

The third part opens on a suspended mood and a new, calm and moody melody fills the air. Nick Barrett knows how to exploit those dreamy moments to put some feeling into his songs and, of course, to launch the final guitar solo, here doubled by vocals. That's Pendragon: you like them or you hate them, you loose yourself in their silky music or you throw away the CD. Guess what I do!

Sukuba (Jeseter, 2007)

A surprising piece of prog, if you believe me. This Czech band apparently began their career as a Yes-inspired act, but their first album surely was something else. ''Slavnost Pro Jednoho'' (meaning "Celebration for One") is a collection of crossover prog songs, somehow inspired by some East-European experimental bands, and still keeping many canons from the Golden Era Symphonic rock.

 

Jeseter came back with their sophomore work in 2012.

This "Sukuba" ("Succubus") is based on a syncopated rythm (IQ would have liked that one), then goes on through unpredictable paths, including a passionate vocal performance, a jazzy vintage section , a lysergic guitar / keyboards interplay, a pinch Church organ, a scary vocal part  and even a folkish ballad section. The '70s mood is everywhere, but you couldn't define a prevailing influence here. Jeseter have all the virtues a good prog band should have to go on. I really hope they will.

Hope (Dracma, 1996)

Dracma are a Spanish band whose second album, titled "A Fine Stormy Weather" is worth my prog friends' attention. This track, in particular, deserves some notes I'm proud to put down here. It's a fresh, rather catchy and surely diversified song. Its first section is a lively instrumental intro, then a pastoral mood comes in, with a strong (and welcome) Genesis touch. Some seconds later, here you are a delicate sung theme, a melodic and well found one. A beautiful electric guitar / keyboards interplay leading to a guitar solo finishes this gentle section.

Is it me or this tree has a familiar shape?

The following one is once again sparkling and based on a slightly jazzy mood, where a well played piano rules. Some good keyboards lead on the track and close it in the proggiest way I can imagine. Nothing unheard by human ears, of course, but everything is so pleasant and so well arranged that I usually restart the song for one more musical treat. Will you also do so? Let me know...