PROGCAST - Episode 1

Download MP3 here.

Show Notes:
Anderson/Wakeman tour is back on.
The Flower Kings at the "Bass&Drum 2006" event in Stockholm
Fragile Original Master Recording
Bill Bruford on the North American drum tour.
Boz Burrell 1946 - 2006
Ladies of The Road - Free MP3 in tribute of Boz

Reviews:
Samlas Mammas Manna - Klossa Knapitatet
Steve Hillage - L

Debate:
How do you define Progressive Rock?



Update: This link should work now. We're working out the final kinks but should have this show available in iTunes and as an RSS feed in the next few days. Also work is underway for episode 2 which should be out this weekend.


Enjoy!

Video: Steve Hillage - All Too Much

A hint to the next album review.

REVIEW: Samlas Mammas Manna - Klossa Knapitatet

If you’re at all familiar with the television program Star Trek: The Next Generation, then you would know of the story of Data. Data is a young ambitious android with dreams of become more human. One of the obstacles in his path to become more human is his inability to laugh. You see my friends, robots don’t have a sense of humour. What is more human than being able to laugh at others misfortunes? His human friends attempt to lend a helping hand by trying to teach Data what is funny. Week after week they would show him funny clips and tell him various jokes. The problem is that the rest of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation were not very funny. This, I think, is probably the main reason Data never laughed.

Now, consider for an instance if Data happened to have in his collection a record or two by the Swedish band Samla Mammas Manna? This would have made his dreams of laughing so much more feasible. This is a very funny band. The album currently under review, Klossa Knapitatet is an amazing blend of Swedish folk music, jazz fusion and a wacky sense of humour. These guys are so much fun to listen to.

From the first track to last this is a very fun listening experience. Since Swedish is not a language I at all know I’m not going to name any track by name. I don’t really have to actually. Most of the songs flow into each other so it’s a complete listening experience.

Now you may be asking, “but Paul, if you don’t understand a word of Swedish, then how are you so certain of the comedic value of this record?” That’s a valid question my friends, and one that warrants explaining. You see, these songs are all, for the most part anyway, entirely instrumental. That means that it’s in the arrangement and composition that these guys will tickle your funny bone. That’s no easy task but it’s pulled off with the sheer silliness of the performances.

Featuring loads of accordions, bicycle bells and other strange sounding novelty items, as well as the occasional wordless vocal in a very silly falsetto, the things you hear on this album will surely make you giggle. I’m not trying to take away from the quality of the music here. Perhaps the most outstanding thing about this album is the fantastic musicianship and the absurdly complex compositions. Music of that quality, so it seems, can be quite funny. It’s serious music presented in a silly way.

In the futuristic world of Star Trek, it seems that this Swedish band has been forgotten through the sands of time. Thankfully the show is nothing but a fictitious estimate of what the future may have in store. Don’t let it be true. Pick up a copy of Klossa Knapitatet today and help all the androids of the future laugh. Because even robots deserve to have a sense of humour, don’t you think?

7/10

Blog and Podcast update

Good news fellow Prog Rockers. Mr. C0ops and I have just finished recording and mixing the test pilot episode of the "Progressive Rock ProgCast". We had a few technical issues and it ended up being a little longer then we want it to be in the end so we're not going to release it to the public.

We're just working out some final touches on planning the first real episode and we should be recording it during the absurd hours of this upcoming Tuesday night. I'm going to spend this weekend working on an updated logo and finding a cheap webhosting service for the podcast. What this means is the first episode shall be ready to download before the end of next week.

I'm also going to be setting up an email address so you can send us any questions/comments/complaints etc... That should be done by this weekend.

I have a busy weekend ahead of me. Don't forget to keep checking back so you can be the first to hear the show.

The Musical Box

Short documentary on The Musical box, the Genesis tribute band.



Currently on tour. Check out http://www.themusicalbox.net/ for more info.

More Mostly Autumn.

I know I just posted a video of them, but I'm pretty addicted to the whole english folky sound right now so you'll have to BEAR with me. (That might be a pun, but I don't think they have bears in england.)

Great Rush interview website.

Love Rush? Me too! Check out this website.

Rush Interviews
(Click 'Rush Radio Specials')

How dare I be so Beautiful?/Willow Farm

We now present the first in home made Prog videos. This is one of my favorites. This guy does this section of Supper's Ready justice with just an acoustic guitar and his entertaining face. Fantastic!

Pip Pyle - 4 April 1950 - 28 August 2006

The sad passing of a Prog Legend