Music
Prog
The Remains Of The Day
After a seven-year gap, Canadian occult rockers Blood Ceremony are back with The Old Ways Remain. Inspired by 70s soundtracks, folk and women’s literature, its 10 tracks of esoteric goodness are definitely worth the wait. Vocalist, organist and flutist Alia O’Brien discusses the benefits of recording local, her teenage passion for Jethro Tull and her new-found joy for foraging.
5 min |
Issue 140
Prog
Alive And Amplified
It’s been six years since Trippin’ With Dr Faustus, and Amplifier have returned with mini-album, Hologram. But behind the scenes, everything’s changed – or has it? Even as the band wrestle with the monster they’re building for their full-length follow-up, mainman Sel Balamir tells Prog how the spirit of Amplifier remains constant through line-up changes, moving studios, and discovering fresh ways of making music.
7 min |
Issue 140
Prog
NOT SO FRAGILE AFTER ALL
As Yes achieve their quickest turnaround between studio album projects for more than half a century, Prog holds up a mirror to the soul of the seemingly unstoppable progressive giants as they consider their immediate – and long-term – future with Mirror To The Sky.
10+ min |
Issue 140
Prog
Whatever happened to the teenage dream?
Following on from 2021’s acclaimed Aphelion, Leprous frontman Einar Solberg has dipped a toe into solo waters on his debut, 16. The accidental concept album finds him flexing his collaborative muscles with some familiar names as he revisits the life-changing events of his formative years that eventually led to him becoming a musician.
6 min |
Issue 140
Prog
GOLDEN BELLS
In early 1973, a 19-year-old musician from south-east England was on the cusp of mega-stardom as he prepared to release his debut solo album. Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells was unlike anything else at the time and went on to transform the former folk artist into a multi-platinum-selling global sensation. In an exclusive interview for Prog, Oldfield celebrates the groundbreaking ambient record’s 50th anniversary reissue with the story of its creation and the sequels it inspired.
10+ min |
Issue 140
Prog
IN MEMORY OF RAY SHULMAN
He was the youngest of Gentle Giant’s three brothers and was regarded as the glue that held the band’s incredible music together. Bassist and violin player Ray Shulman’s influence can be heard all over the group’s best-known work, which includes The Power And The Glory, Free Hand and Octopus. His death at the age of 73, has left behind an impressive legacy for aspiring artists who prefer their music to have a more adventurous streak.
6 min |
Issue 140
Prog
Q&A DAVID PATON
Pilot bassist and The Alan Parsons Project member reminisces about working with Kate Bush, Rick Wakeman’s unusual ice-breakers, and that time one of his songs was used to advertise a diabetes drug.
4 min |
Issue 140
Prog
THE PINEAPPLE THIEF BROUGHT TO BOOK!
Due in June, a lavish eight-disc ‘book set’ will chart the early days of Bruce Soord’s melancholic progressive rock group, with plenty of bonus material fleshing out their story.
2 min |
Issue 140
Prog
JETHRO TULL
Ian Anderson draws on Viking mythology on the follow-up to The Zealot Gene - but no one's living in the past on Tull's 23rd album.
3 min |
Issue 139
Prog
Walking The Plank
After almost nine years of musical silence, Todmorden's finest instrumental trio are sailing back over the horizon with a brilliant new album. Where have Plank been? How can a dog tune a guitar? What role does Barry Manilow play in their music? And how many time signature changes are too many? These questions and more are answered as David Rowe talks to Prog about their triumphant return.
5 min |
Issue 139
Prog
Fantasy Island
Forget getting together in the country, Silver Moth met up at a remote studio on the Isle Of Lewis for their debut album, Black Bay. Members of the new ethereal post-rock collective, which include Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, speak about stepping into the unknown to create some outstanding art.
5 min |
Issue 139
Prog
Carry On Constantly
Despite a steady flow of classic live releases, Hawkwind have always kept looking forwards and, with the release of their 35th studio album, they're now more aware than ever that The Future Never Waits. Mainman Dave Brock discusses the organic process that led to the creation of their topsy turvy concept album.
7 min |
Issue 139
Prog
The Land Before Timeland
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard have never shied away from the studio, but the psychedelic Aussies broke all records by releasing not one, not two, but five albums in 2022. Now back in the studio to work on their 24th long-player, bandleader Stu Mackenzie reveals the secrets of their impressive creativity and why he's doing it all for the fans..
5 min |
Issue 139
Prog
Hard As A Rök
After a gap of more than 20 years, Jethro Tull have returned with their second album of new material this decade. RökFlöte finds the band exploring Norse mythology with a harder edge than last year's The Zealot Gene. Prog catches up with lan Anderson to discuss Norse gods, ageing and his ambitious plan to release three studio albums in as many years.
7 min |
Issue 139
Prog
Bringing It Back
Comprising former members of IQ and Frost*, Rain have approached the challenges of creating their \"difficult\" second album with both passion and flair. But, as drummer Andy Edwards and keyboard player Rob Groucutt reveal, Radio Silence wasn't without its stressors and things could have been very different had their 2020 debut not been so well accepted...
4 min |
Issue 139
Prog
Game On!
Never meet your heroes, so the saying goes. But The Pineapple Thief's Bruce Soord has never been one to stick to the rules, so when Prog asked if he'd like to interview Alan Parsons about the new Alan Parsons Project box set for The Turn Of A Friendly Card, he leapt at the chance. Here's what happened when Bruce met Alan.
7 min |
Issue 139
Prog
RUSH THROUGH TIME
Rush fans rejoice! Crown Lands are back with their second full-length album, Fearless, and it's a treasure trove of quality musicianship, complex time signatures and sci-fi-inspired lyrics that turn the prog dial up to 11. The duo with a huge sound reveal why they've ditched their trademark blues rock in favour of carrying the torch for their Canadian musical heroes.
10+ min |
Issue 139
Prog
Message Received
When Rush released their ninth studio album, Signals - their final record with longtime producer Terry Brown - one thing was clear: they had no intention of making another Moving Pictures. As the remaining members of the band prepare to unveil the 40th anniversary reissue, we uncover the space shuttle launch and unique Chemistry that inspired the birth of their keyboard era.
10+ min |