The shape of prog to come

[Dodie]

My (less than) tuppence worth - I've never thought Prog was about time signatures, virtuosity, moogs, mellotrons, hobbits, etc. I've always loved a lot of Prog (not absolutely all, but a heck of lot) because it has drama, emotion and musical lyricism that one doesn't really find in pop/rock genres all that often. I reckon "Prog" or "Prog-tinged" music is essentially expressive rock. Whether it innovates or not isn't really the point. Whether its Gentle Giant, Camel or Porcupine Tree, its strongest qualities tend to be associated with evoking feeling or musical story-telling.

Incidentally, not sure I see completely eye to eye with JJJ about how classical musicians approach performing (lack of improvisation, etc). Particularly in baroque music (both opera/vocal and instrumental/orchestral) it is certain that some degree of spontaneity and embellishment within stylistic parameters occurred "back in the day" (i.e. from the 1680s right through to the 1790s). Obviously we're not talking free-form jazz improv here, but a lot of "classical" music thrives when its played by musicians who understand its peculiar juxtaposition of disciplined taste and expressive freedom. Perfect example - Mozart improvised the big solo cadenzas at the end of his piano concertos, and these weren't written down. Some pianists rely on editorial / reconstructed / premeditated cadenzas nowadays, but some really clever devils (like Robert Levin) actually improvise them. Likewise, singers who perform in baroque operas should (and sometimes really do) improvise embellishments to their part when music is repeated.

Cheers

David

[The Cosmic Lawnmower]

I always remember a quote Andy Tillison of The Tangent made from the stage of ProgSfest in 04, it went something like "you know when people go on about prog disappearing up it's own arse........... well I always thought that was the best bit!"

Well said Sir!


The start of the previous post just reminded me of that for some reason.

[Mordwin]

Interesting discussion...

I've always (well, after I started listening seriously anyway - I had some friends with eclectic tastes which helped, from Rush and Tull to Captain Beafheart, Gong and Hawkwind) liked music that was different. I think that's the real key - progressive music is anything that dares to think outside the box (in it's given musical epoch anyway).

And musicianship is also important (and that doesn't mean extremes of technicallity, that's an element, but hardly the whole enchilada), which may explain all the musicians here (of which I am not one, damn you talented people! ).

That Tom brought up dance music was interesting to me, as once I heard the sort of stuff going on in the underground scene in the late 90s, I was struck by how it often managed to transcend the limits of the format and felt more progressive as anything else going on at the time.

As to where all the many and varied strands of the modern (and not so modern) musical adventure that is progressive will take us next... I've no idea, but lets just hope it continues to inspire and surprise

[tomskerous]

That Tom brought up dance music was interesting to me

I'm glad one person thought so. ;-)

If you like Snowman, try any of:
Plaid - Itsu: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VDDnuZAL9ps
Plaid - Eyen: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VU5eR6OJNUc
Plaid - Scope: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3pm7NzeOsBQ
or in their exploratory soundscape mode as The Black Dog: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yVfTxkhXSJg

If you like the funny break in BLM:
Autechre - Gantz Graf: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nfwD05XA2YQ

If you like Michael Nyman/Drum Machines/Steve Reich:
Spooky - Stereo: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tHSMG5jB-uE
(Just magic, total magic)
Spooky - Little Bullet: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hk7wL1_0Xyo - you could dance to it if truly determined...

And of course the filtered majesty of Boards of Canada - they even have proglike song titles:
Davyan Cowboy (it's got guitars in it) - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_lEsLcGB7Vo
Chromakey Dreamcoat - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aIjy1G_JWXY
An Eagle in Your Mind- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xf66Lmrqk00


and please, remember to give these as long as you would a prog track to settle in.