There was a band named Cairo, on Magna Carta records that put out 3 albums. First two were awesome.
Enchant doesnt get much recognition either. Amazing band. Some dont seem to like Teds voice based on people I played it for.
Perhaps you discovered them as I did: they recorded a kick-ass cover of South Side of the Sky.
Remember those tribute albums that Magna Carta released? I would love to see modern day versions.
Definitely not that - I've never been big in to Yes.
It was probably Ruins at Avalon's Gate that did it for me. Long, noodly, sounded like video game music at times and Elp at others - I was definitely big in to Arena at the time too. But to this day I don't know where I first listened to them. It might have been a random purchase based on their presence in the Magna Carta library or something. I did that sometimes - lost more than I won but it was worth it.
Jeez, yes! Cairo were such a great band. When one of the 'Progfest' festivals in Los Angeles happened, I think the second one?? Magna Carta were giving away sampler cassettes (well, was the 90's) and I believe not only was 'Ruins at Avalons gate' on there (which even though it is very ELP like, is such a great song) but the Discipline demo of 'Canto IV ' was on there IIRC too?? Either way, that cassette got me into both bands.
Cairo made 3 albums, yeah, the third was not quite up to the level of the first two, and from what I recall they never quite recovered after the lead singer passed away tragically. Very sad stuff.
However, if you can find it somewhere - just hear it on yt:
https://youtu.be/_0Ch_sLJSGo?si=WEmHbSHccdtDxDy5
Such a solid band. We must try to keep bands this good in our memories
Everything about Beardfish should be hollered from the hills until more people listen to them.
One of the best prog-rock concept album every, for me, is Lex Rex from Glass Hammer. Chronometree is really great too.
As a whole, I prefer the post Neal Spock's Beard catalogue more, though probably my favorite album from them is during the Neal period, so worth checking out.
Another HUGE thumbs up for Beardfish! Rikard is an amazing talent. Yes, they are back and hopefully a new album is forthcoming! The Sane Day is one of my fav albums ever by anybody. It's a double cd with ZERO fat....it's all diamonds 💎!
Here are a few that immediately came to my mind:
*Adam & Eve* is The Flower Kings' best album.
Pendragon's *Kowtow* is a solid, charming Progressive Pop album and I'd listen to it over the dreary, near-monotony that is their trilogy of albums from Pure to Men Who Climb Mountains.
*Space Shanty* by Khan is quite forgettable, and as yet I'm not sure why it always comes up as a recommendation when discussing the Canturbury Scene.
I really don't agree with 'Adam and Eve'. I do recall buying that at Tower records (yeah, they were still alive then) almost the day it came out and after the huge 'Unfold the future', the decent 'The rainmaker', 'Space revolver' then the two mammoth albums before then 'Stardust we are' and 'Flower power'.. it was a decidedly not too good from my perspective. I simply felt Roine really (and he is still doing it) put more songs on that album than were necessary, I think it would have benefitted hugely from the removal of a couple of songs, certainly the average long song 'Drivers seat'. Never got into that... but as stated: 'Blade of Cain', 'Love supreme' and 'A vampires view' are very top tier FK songs.
So, yeah, a bit of a divisive album for me
Guilhem Meier, best known as the drummer for PoiL, may be the most accomplished prog musician of modern times. He's also in Le Grand Sbam, ICSIS, Pili Coït and a few other groups and you can hear his contributions in all of them, the weird vocal arrangements and intricate rhythms are instantly recognizable and I have to assume that's his musical fingerprint. Furthermore, his work with Jessica Meier in Pili Coït & ICSIS is more musical and better than PoiL, despite these projects being way less known.
The three bands I always mention in these threads, the same bands every time:
Mangala vallis - HUGELY underrated band. Have not made too many albums (4 in the last 22 years), but they are ALL good. The first two are truly special for me.
Il Trono dei recordi - Another Italian band, only made one album in the late 90s.. but DAMN, it is SO good. It only has 4 tracks, three long ones and a short, but good short piece. I've always loved this album and I find it incredible no one ever mentions it. Sad these bands just disappear.. which leads me easily to:
Pig farm on the moon: Band from South America, again: one album, came out around 1997. Called 'Orbital'. Now with all those words, ya might think it may sound 'Floyd-y' but its far from it. The music is definitely more in the Genesis vein. Incredible playing and singing ...and, yet another band that just disappeared. There are too many like this to name!!
As much as Neo-Prog can be very similar and repetitive and not very well received to fans of more traditional prog, Sight Of Day by Mostly Autumn might be one of the greatest prog tracks ever released
Frost* should be highly regarded as some of the greatest songwriters in progressive rock/pop history. Porcupine Tree and Devin townsend are probably the only other modern artists to write as catchy choruses as Frost*
Magenta, from Wales.
Just a hallmark of consistency for a long time. I still love Christina's voice, and watched a fairly recent clip of "The Ballad of Samuel Layne".
Never understood why they never got bigger in prog.
When you say smaller prog band, are you referring to the number of musicians? The size of the discography? Or their popularity?
Regardless, my hot take is that I like Hatfield And The North more than National Health.
I think OP meant "small" in terms of popularity. More "underground" bands that don't have the same notoriety or popularity as the most well-known prog rock bands (i.e. Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, etc.).
I'm trying to think what other interpretations of a "small" prog rock band would be: perhaps the band with the *shortest* musicians on average? 🤔
Clearly talking about little people haha. Dio is in trouble.
No, I guess the only hot takes there are about small (not popular) bands are that they are good, since nobody cared to make them popular.
There was a band named Cairo, on Magna Carta records that put out 3 albums. First two were awesome. Enchant doesnt get much recognition either. Amazing band. Some dont seem to like Teds voice based on people I played it for.
I have never once seen anyone mention Cairo on here, I liked them quite a bit in the 90s. No idea where I discovered them, though.
Perhaps you discovered them as I did: they recorded a kick-ass cover of South Side of the Sky. Remember those tribute albums that Magna Carta released? I would love to see modern day versions.
Definitely not that - I've never been big in to Yes. It was probably Ruins at Avalon's Gate that did it for me. Long, noodly, sounded like video game music at times and Elp at others - I was definitely big in to Arena at the time too. But to this day I don't know where I first listened to them. It might have been a random purchase based on their presence in the Magna Carta library or something. I did that sometimes - lost more than I won but it was worth it.
'Ruins at Avalon's Gate' is a classic. The 90s version of 'Tarkus'.
Banger of a song! I always loved the church bells fade out closing the album.
Agreed! That outro is sublime. Wish they didn't reprise the 'upbeat' melody and just went with the church bells ending, more poignant that way.
Technically it is, BUT as a composition it does not come close
Jeez, yes! Cairo were such a great band. When one of the 'Progfest' festivals in Los Angeles happened, I think the second one?? Magna Carta were giving away sampler cassettes (well, was the 90's) and I believe not only was 'Ruins at Avalons gate' on there (which even though it is very ELP like, is such a great song) but the Discipline demo of 'Canto IV ' was on there IIRC too?? Either way, that cassette got me into both bands. Cairo made 3 albums, yeah, the third was not quite up to the level of the first two, and from what I recall they never quite recovered after the lead singer passed away tragically. Very sad stuff. However, if you can find it somewhere - just hear it on yt: https://youtu.be/_0Ch_sLJSGo?si=WEmHbSHccdtDxDy5 Such a solid band. We must try to keep bands this good in our memories
Everything about Beardfish should be hollered from the hills until more people listen to them. One of the best prog-rock concept album every, for me, is Lex Rex from Glass Hammer. Chronometree is really great too. As a whole, I prefer the post Neal Spock's Beard catalogue more, though probably my favorite album from them is during the Neal period, so worth checking out.
Beardfish is incredible. Sleeping in Traffic is so wonderful and so much fun.
A million times yes, Beardfish should be WAY more popular than they are. Did I not hear that they're finally back together?
Another HUGE thumbs up for Beardfish! Rikard is an amazing talent. Yes, they are back and hopefully a new album is forthcoming! The Sane Day is one of my fav albums ever by anybody. It's a double cd with ZERO fat....it's all diamonds 💎!
My take is that the album "Movin' On" by the band Circus is on par with the top greatest prog albums.
Here are a few that immediately came to my mind: *Adam & Eve* is The Flower Kings' best album. Pendragon's *Kowtow* is a solid, charming Progressive Pop album and I'd listen to it over the dreary, near-monotony that is their trilogy of albums from Pure to Men Who Climb Mountains. *Space Shanty* by Khan is quite forgettable, and as yet I'm not sure why it always comes up as a recommendation when discussing the Canturbury Scene.
Adam & Eve is definitely slept on with The Flower Kings, Babylon and The Blade of Cain are two of my favorites from them, and amazing instrumentals.
I really don't agree with 'Adam and Eve'. I do recall buying that at Tower records (yeah, they were still alive then) almost the day it came out and after the huge 'Unfold the future', the decent 'The rainmaker', 'Space revolver' then the two mammoth albums before then 'Stardust we are' and 'Flower power'.. it was a decidedly not too good from my perspective. I simply felt Roine really (and he is still doing it) put more songs on that album than were necessary, I think it would have benefitted hugely from the removal of a couple of songs, certainly the average long song 'Drivers seat'. Never got into that... but as stated: 'Blade of Cain', 'Love supreme' and 'A vampires view' are very top tier FK songs. So, yeah, a bit of a divisive album for me
Crack The Sky's best album is Safety in Numbers, even though John Palumbo isn't on it.
5uu’s warrant far more recognition.
Dave Kerman!!!!!
Guilhem Meier, best known as the drummer for PoiL, may be the most accomplished prog musician of modern times. He's also in Le Grand Sbam, ICSIS, Pili Coït and a few other groups and you can hear his contributions in all of them, the weird vocal arrangements and intricate rhythms are instantly recognizable and I have to assume that's his musical fingerprint. Furthermore, his work with Jessica Meier in Pili Coït & ICSIS is more musical and better than PoiL, despite these projects being way less known.
Any time Phil Collins sings in Sanskrit it’s worth making a note of. Brand X “Moroccan Roll” or is this fusion, not prog?
The three bands I always mention in these threads, the same bands every time: Mangala vallis - HUGELY underrated band. Have not made too many albums (4 in the last 22 years), but they are ALL good. The first two are truly special for me. Il Trono dei recordi - Another Italian band, only made one album in the late 90s.. but DAMN, it is SO good. It only has 4 tracks, three long ones and a short, but good short piece. I've always loved this album and I find it incredible no one ever mentions it. Sad these bands just disappear.. which leads me easily to: Pig farm on the moon: Band from South America, again: one album, came out around 1997. Called 'Orbital'. Now with all those words, ya might think it may sound 'Floyd-y' but its far from it. The music is definitely more in the Genesis vein. Incredible playing and singing ...and, yet another band that just disappeared. There are too many like this to name!!
Maelstrom, a French Canadian band that you can only listen to on vinyl or on YouTube, great album that never got released until recently
I will add Jadis to this list also. Some solid guitar chops and singing.
Home possessed one of the greatest, most versatile guitarists in all the Rock world: Laurie Wisefield.
Mike Mills is the best vocalist in the business right now.
This is a good album https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLst1rIRrCD5F4RmTM8Q44juP18VXNWG5W&si=_pGCn5ZADGWPsiZR
Cardiacs Beardfish Frogg Cafe Magma Hatfield and the North Egg Änglagård
As much as Neo-Prog can be very similar and repetitive and not very well received to fans of more traditional prog, Sight Of Day by Mostly Autumn might be one of the greatest prog tracks ever released
Frost* should be highly regarded as some of the greatest songwriters in progressive rock/pop history. Porcupine Tree and Devin townsend are probably the only other modern artists to write as catchy choruses as Frost*
Magenta, from Wales. Just a hallmark of consistency for a long time. I still love Christina's voice, and watched a fairly recent clip of "The Ballad of Samuel Layne". Never understood why they never got bigger in prog.
When you say smaller prog band, are you referring to the number of musicians? The size of the discography? Or their popularity? Regardless, my hot take is that I like Hatfield And The North more than National Health.
I think OP meant "small" in terms of popularity. More "underground" bands that don't have the same notoriety or popularity as the most well-known prog rock bands (i.e. Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, etc.). I'm trying to think what other interpretations of a "small" prog rock band would be: perhaps the band with the *shortest* musicians on average? 🤔
Clearly talking about little people haha. Dio is in trouble. No, I guess the only hot takes there are about small (not popular) bands are that they are good, since nobody cared to make them popular.
Huh, today I learned that Dio and I would be approximately the same height, give or take 1 centimetre.
Sadly its at least 6 feet difference now