Peak-era symphonic prog by Happy The Man, a Virginia/Washington DC-based group who once featured keyboardist Kit Watkins, who shines in this album.
Symphonic Prog
[Music] Camel – I Can See Your House From Here
Camel were one of the greatest progressive rock bands of the 1970s, easily ranking with bands like Yes and Genesis. It’s high time they got their fair due.
[Music] Crisalida – Violeta Gris
Chilean progressive rock band Crisalida perform a song in honor of folk singer and visual artist Violeta Parra.
[Music Sample] Cuneiform Turns 30: The Albums of 2014
Washington D.C.-based Cuneiform Records has been publishing influential avant-prog rock music for three decades now. Steve Feigenbaum, the label’s owner, should be commended for bringing such groups like Univers Zero, Daniel Denis, Richard Pinhas and Happy Family to American consumers.
This compilation covers 30 years of great releases, and is available as a ‘name-your-price’ download, courtesy of Bandcamp.
Rustichelli & Bordini – Opera Prima [1973]
Paolo Rustichelli and Carlo Bordini were two musicians from Italy who formed a progressive rock group out of the ashes of a band called Cammello Buck. Truly operatic in a sense, with powerful keyboard work. A treasure of Italian prog!
[Music] Steve Hogarth & Richard Barbieri – Your Beautiful Face
Richard Barbieri never disappoints. From his work in Japan to all of the wonderful projects he’s worked on since, he’s shown to be a thoroughly underrated synth player. There’s always hope he’ll reach a bigger audience.
The surprise here, for me, is Steve Hogarth. I’m not a huge fan of Marillion (at least since old singer Fish left the band in the late ’80s), but really, Hogarth’s voice sounds like a perfect compliment to the electronic underpinning Barbieri provides. A lush work.
This one is dedicated to my Mari, who has given me a year of happiness.
[Music] Robert Fripp & Brian Eno – The Equatorial Stars (2004)
This is one of the few times I miss a critically important release. Robert Fripp & Brian Eno had collaborated at least twice before for full albums, but this one is a change of pace. Perfect for listening on a calm, quiet day.
A salute to my friend Valtazar Zauberquelle for posting this.
[Music] Jacula – In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum
Before I developed a love for Rock-In-Opposition bands like Art Zoyd and Univers Zero, I had a deep interest in the schlock-laden works of Antonio Bartoccetti, composer of the band Jacula. It was cheesy, silly, doom-laden music of the best sort. I wonder whatever happened to him?
[Music] Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells (Live at Montreux 1981)
Tubular Bells, performed by Mike Oldfield and his band, is a masterpiece of progressive rock. Here is it in a live context.
[Music] Iconoclasta – Suite Mexicana Part 1 : Mestizaje
Mexico is known for great garage rock bands, avant-prog, and neo-prog bands. But my favorite is the symphonic prog band, Iconoclasta. This piece comes from their crowning achievement of an album, Soliloquio, long out of print, unfortunately.
Much respect to my friend, Domenico D’Alessandro, for reminding me of how good an album this truly was, and what a crime it is to know that it’s still out of print.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 