Rick Wakeman plays piano with feet

Happy Holidays

On behalf of everyone here at the Prog Rock Blog (pretty much just C0ops and myself) I'd like to wish our readers from all around the world a happy holidays.

Progressive Rock music is truly such a global phenomena. It's really one of the very few things that can actually break down global barriers and bring people together from different cultural backgrounds to really agree on a common truth: we listen to the best music in the world. And it really is in so many ways.

It's global in every sense. The bands who create this music come from all over the globe. For us listeners and fans it doesn't really matter where they come from. We can open up our ears and hear sounds that introduce us to all other cultures and religions. A quick glance at the list of artists on progarchives.com and one can see that there is not a corner of this planet that our wonderful genre doesn't include. And while the European acts tend to get the bulk of the spotlight it's not hard for any of us to listen to music from Asia or South America and get equal joy out of it.

There are few genres that advocate peace and harmony like Progressive Rock does, and I think we should all be proud of this genre that has brought us together from all over the world. I invite you all to take time over the next week and listen to an album you've never heard before. If you can make it something that is from another part of the world then your own. I'm sure you'll find that there's plenty to discover.

Once again, have an excellent last week of the year and we shall return in 2007.

Don't forget,
Keep the Prog alive!

Video: Interview with Jonas Reingold from the Flower Kings

It has been a bit of a slow news week in the world of Prog. We're going to borrow some excellent work from the great folks at Morow.com Prog Rock Radio. Check them out at www.morow.com for some excellent Prog Radio with a focus on the more modern Prog acts.

This interview is actually fantastic. Jonas is a great guy and it really gives you insight into what it's like to be a member of the Flower Kings. It runs over 20 minutes so book off some time to watch it.

Porcupine Tree's New Album release date.

This is just a rumored date as of now, but the sources are pretty reliable with these things.

PORCUPINE TREE : Le prochain album du groupe devrait sortir le 16 avril 2007.

For those of you who don't understand the French, it means that the group's next album should be out the 16th of April 2007.

It should be a Progabration. (prog-celebration)

Fripp + Lifeson + Porcupine Tree = A Fantastic 2007 in Prog!

Looks like the next Porcupine Tree album is going to be even better!

Alex Lifeson With Porcupine Tree: The new issue of "Carbon Nation", the Porcupine Tree magazine, includes the news that both Alex Lifeson and King Crimson's Robert Fripp will each be guesting on the next album by Porcupine Tree currently set for release on Atlantic Records next April. Both Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart have expressed their appreciation for the progressive rock band, and engineer/producer Paul Northfiled has also worked with both bands

From an excellent source!

Video: King Crimson - Red

Finally! Some rocking Crimson on cold December's eve.

ANNIE HASLAM IS A ‘WOMAN TRANSCENDING’. And she's tapping Steve Howe and Mike Rutherford!

Um, I could have read it wrong.

ANNIE HASLAM IS A ‘WOMAN TRANSCENDING’
Former Renaissance lead singer taps Mike Rutherford, Steve Howe, Tony Visconti, London Symphony Orchestra,other top musicians and songwriters for solo career compilation....
As a holiday treat for her loyal fans around the world, legendary rock vocalist ANNIE HASLAM has scoured the archives of more than three decades’ worth of her solo recordings to present WOMAN TRANSCENDING her first CD release in four years.

More here and here.

Excerpt from Robert Fripp's most recent online diary

There has been a terrible lack of Crimson coverage on the blog and I'm terribly sorry for this. We're waiting for the band to get back to work next year but until that happens I present to you an excerpt from Mr. Fripp's diary, as well as a link to read the rest of it. It's dated December 1st 2006. If you're like me, you'll find his writing style amusing and fascinating. Enjoy.

Listening to Soundscapes in Nagoya: Fantasia On The Scheme Of Schizoid is beginning. What’s a fantasia, then? shouts the man, now long overdue for a high colonic, who also shouted you’ve got six strings – play them! at the third G of G3 in the Royal Albert Hall (2004). Certainly dear Sir! Your slightest wish is my most emphatic command!

From the Encyclopedia Britannica…

in music, a composition free in form and inspiration, usually for an instrumental soloist… In England the fantasy or fancy for keyboard, lute, or viola had a late flowering at the time of Henry Purcell (1659–95)… Some composers have exploited the fantasia for its programmatic, or descriptive, possibilities… While appealing particularly to the romantic imagination, the fantasia served, from the beginning, also as a vehicle for instrumental elaboration of vocal music.

This Schizoid Fantasia would not be easily confused with the original Schizoid.

Read the rest here.

Acoustic Tull CD Planned

EMI is intending to release the "Best Of Acoustic Jethro Tull" in March 2007 featuring some bonus acoustic tracks recorded live in concert. That's all we know at the moment, although I'm sure you can use your imagination and guess what's going to be on it. Too bad it doesn't look like a new studio album is in the works anytime soon.

Video: David Gilmour , Richard Wright, David Bowie - Arnold Layne

In tribute to the late Syd Barret, Mr. Gilmour and Mr. Wright have recorded a special version of Arnold Lane to be released this Christmas. There will be two versions coming out, one will feature Rick on lead vocals and the other featuring (for some reason) David Bowie (the only non-prog guy that can make prog seem mild mannered and vastly non-pretentious next to his silly and over-the-top antics). All this in preparation for Dave's upcoming live DVD that should be out some time next year. Here's the video of the Bowie version of Arnold Lane for you to enjoy.

Genesis 5.1 Surround Sound Reviews.

The first ever reviews of the 5.1s are now online. While I would have liked a bit more detail the overall sentiment seems positive.

Click here to read Simon Funnell review.

New Pain of Salvation 'Scarsick'

The new Pain of Salvation album will be released through Inside Out on January 22nd 2007. It's going to be yet another vast and complex concept album by the looks of it. It's been a while since the last ambitious album "Be" and I'm really looking forward to see what direction they'll be taking this in. Head to the Pain of Salvation website for more information about the album and the upcoming tour. Here's the track listing for the album that runs just under 70 minutes.
01. Scarsick
02. Spitfall
03. Cribcaged
04. America
05. Disco Queen
06. Kingdom Of Loss
07. Mrs. Modern Mother Mary
08. Idiocracy
09. Flame To The Moth
10. Enter Rain