A Gadarai Megszállott (After Crying, 1992)

If ever you like experimental and classically-conceived prog, After Crying could be your band and surely you'll like this epic track, opening the 1992 album "Megalázottak És Megszomorítottak". It's an uncompromising suite, starting with a slow, long and acoustic crescendo, an instrumental, atmospheric section providing the background and the mood for the entire song. The cello and the piano drive this part, with the support of a delicate drumming. An obscure landscape rises around the listener and dark shadows seem to surround the music. No other bands sound like this. After more than 7 minutes, the vocals (in Hungarian) come in drawing a gentle and beautiful melody, with a violin underlining Péter Pejtsik's voice... something original, but not too far from Hammill's way, if you ask me.

I think this cover art is perfect for After Crying dark prog.

I really like this section, but after this, a deep, sad experimental one gets the listener's attention: it's a slow, diversified and atmospheric section, lining up sung and instrumental moments, with a cello on the foreground. It gradually changes in a somehow more dynamic section, including a rythmic piano and the oboe. Well, this is heartbreaking, IMHO. A female reciting voice introduces a strange and short bridge, where wild sounds and atmospheric chords follow one another. The final section is announced by a trumpet and has a joyful rythm for a change.... then the birds come in and the track is over. Should I say more?

Ícaro (Albatros, 2011)

This is a very well written and played progressive rock, IMHO. Albatros come from Igualada, near Barcelona and their style became more and more original during the years. Sure, there are many influences you could recognize in this "Ícaro" (Riverside, Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree among them), but also a very personal way to melt them into a unique sound, fluid and dense, rocky and melodic. The Spanish lyrics add a latin touch that Javi Fernandez knows how to emphasize and the tempo changes are also a specialty of Albatros.

Albatros are a five-piece band, the most traditional line-up of 

Progressive bands... that doesn't mean they have a predictable sound!

 

Take the long and liquid instrumental part filling most of the second half of this song: it's one of the finest jazz/space rock contaminations I've heard from a contemporary band (IMHO, once again). Good taste and a mature inspiration can do miracles, believe me. No, better than that: try Albatros yourself!

Fallen Angel (King Crimson, 1974)

Another KC pearl, this "Fallen Angel" comes from "Red", the last album by the band during the '70s. It's a diversified and rather melodic track including many weird passages that still please me today. Of course, John Wetton's vocals are perfect like some statues from Ancient Greece, but all the rest is an awesome collection of musical ideas, thick riffs, heartbreaking changes, electronic treats... should I say more?

 

The stunning trio: Bruford, Fripp & Wetton.

Oh yes, just this: no apocalyptic scenes or medieval princes here: the lyrics are about a boy convincing his younger Brother to join in the Hells Angelswith him and watching him dying in a subsequent fight. It sounds like a juvenile crime story, but it is more like poetry. Good poetry, I daresay.

Brennisteinn (Sigur Rós, 2013)

The opening track of the album "Kveikur" seems to me like metal rock compared with the average volume and tempo of most Sigur Rós songs. I like very much its inner tension, something between math-rock and a horror film soundtrack. And it also has an ejoyable sung line... well, not exactly what I happen to sing in my bathroom, but surely well written and well sung. It's a highly creative piece of music, including electronic and acoustic sounds so perfectly mixed that you couldn't tell a violin from a synth.

A suggestive frame from the official video of "Brennsteinn".

And the dark, aggressive mood of "Brennisteinn" strikes me, as I find here both sides of the band: the ethereal, spacey one and the upsetting, experimental one. More than this: I could listen to this song one hundred times and still each time I'd find something new, a hidden sound, an underlying line, a secret passage. Last but not least, I think Andrew Huang's official video perfectly captures the atmosphere of the track. Pure post-prog pleasure for your eyes and ears.

Criaturas da noite (O Terço, 1975)

O Terço recorded the album "Criaturas da Noite" in 1975 and this still can be considered their best LP. It was one of those enlightened pop albums where melodies and discreet prog elements coexisted with the special grace and the simple arrangements that single out many South-American bands. The title track is a slow, delicate ballad enriched by an orchestral bridge and effective vocal harmonies.

Of course, if you're into tricky or experimental music, please choose another post (or even another blog: I'm not a jealous guy!), but if ever you like - from time to time - an easy and not trivial song, a caressing theme and a nocturnal mood, this is the song for you. Enjoy, then.

On The Seashore (Little Tragedies, 2006)

If you read my blog now and then, you probably already know I like this Russian band (Маленькие Трагедии is their original name) and their flamboyant kind of progressive rock. This time, however, you'll find a softer side of Little Tragedies, a melodic and pleasant track taken from the album "The Sixth Sense" (originally titled "Шестое чувство") and with a touch of baroque music too. The electric guitar and harpsichord interplay has something magic.

This is the International release of the CD, labelled by Muséa.

Then, of course, the mood changes and a very modern and original rythmic work creates a well found contrast, until the previous mood comes back. Two special mentions, if you please: to the theatrical singing (it's  like Ange sung in Russian instead of French...) and to the howling guitar, a sound that actually digs into my soul. That said, my friend, "On The Seashore" is there for you!

Heat of The Moment (Asia, 1982)

A commercial, catchy, plain song. Still, a very good one. When Asia released their debut record in 1982 I confess I was somewhat disappointed, as I was expecting something more elaborate than that, but after a while I saw that this was exactly what the band wanted to do. A pop side of prog that still works and didn't get older at all. The opening riff is a good classic today and John Wetton's vocals are neat and strong.

Four '80s boys... well, more or less.

The rest is provided by the likes of Howe, Downes and Palmer. That's to say: you can write the simplest of songs, but when it comes to the players, well, you can make the difference! I still listen to "Heat of The Moment" with pleasure and I can see how difficult it is to be successful and original nonetheless.