When I get my classic prog fix, I don’t tend to venture as far back as the ’60s, simply because it was a nebulous time for the genre and progressive music hadn’t evolved into all of its trappings that I…
View More High Tide – The Complete Liberty Recordings
For me, having begun to explore progressive music from around 1975, John Wetton is one of a much-loved group of artists who I have listened to and followed for close to 50 years now. In my case, it started with…
View More John Wetton – An Extraordinary Life (8CD Boxset)
I became a fan of progressive rock in 2008… wait, I’ve said that before haven’t I? When I was reviewing Keith Emerson’s mammoth 20CD Variations set, I wondered what made Emerson so special when his long-time bandmate Greg Lake died…
View More Greg Lake – Magical
I became a fan of progressive rock in 2008, with my introduction to Dream Theater, which seemed to have everything I was looking for in a musical group: long songs, odd time signatures, virtuoso playing and great songwriting. I listened…
View More Keith Emerson – Variations (20CD Boxset)
The final outing from Stackridge – in the ’70s, at least – feels very much like the black sheep of the family, the ugly duckling that’s destined to become a beautiful swan. It’s by no means the worst of Stackridge’s…
View More Stackridge – Mr. Mick
The first time I encountered solo Marc Almond was the song My Hand Over My Heart on the 1991 Pride compilation Get Out. I was completely enthralled by such a perfect ’90s pop tune and would play it for anyone…
View More Marc Almond – Tenement Symphony (6CD/DVD Limited Edition Box Set)
Virgin Grounds, the ‘new’ album by Ton Scherpenzeel, best known for his work with Kayak, is an enhanced reissue of an instrumental album originally composed for a Dutch television series, Conquer the Arctic (1991). At the time, it was released…
View More Ton Scherpenzeel – Virgin Grounds
After the delayed release of The Man in the Bowler Hat in 1974, Stackridge imploded from their lack of success, with most of the group either leaving or getting fired. It’s a miracle that any of the band remained and…
View More Stackridge – Extravaganza
This is where I began my Stackridge journey. On the first listen, I didn’t think much and presumed that this was another bland AOR band, but how wrong I was. Certain tracks on this album were utter growers and I…
View More Stackridge – The Man in the Bowler Hat
If Stackridge’s self-titled debut introduced the record-buying public to the band’s whimsical nature and penchant for playing in a myriad of different styles, then Friendliness sought to expand their sound and refine their performances. The quality of the songs here…
View More Stackridge – Friendliness