Thanks for the info, though I'm sorry to hear it. Yes, I have the Repertoire issues, which are actually pretty good. Always looking for better, though...
There is a recent SHM-SACD of Octopus that came out in Japan that is supposed to be pretty great. Stupidly expensive. You can research it over on the Steve Hoffman snakepit/forum. Personally I'll stick with my old UK Vertigo vinyl for now.
Got acquainted with Prog-Rock in a big way thanks to Ron Party. This album by the group Änglagård ... is a must for any Prog-Rock fan
I have several of the 35th anniversary of the Gentle Giants albums and they are to me OK... sounically .. Marvelous musically .. These albums are very ..musical.. regardless of the system
I would be interested in recommendation from you guys and gals on the better re-editions here .. CD and / or HD downloads preferred ... Sorry Vinyl lovers ...
The 35th anniversary GG reissues are atrocious. My understanding is that Derek Shulman took existing CDs and just did some minor EQ and jacked up the levels. They have already been replaced by newer versions that sound better...but are still not as good as they could be. The best re-editions available at the moment are Steven Wilson's remixing/reimagining of the King Crimson catalog. So far I think he's done a spectacular job. Lizard has been given a new lease on life.
If you enjoy Anglagard check out the three releases by Wobbler. They are essential retro-prog!
You are taxing my brain cells! I have so much music flowing through here that sometimes its hard to remember it all. Here is what I do remember about Odyssice - Dutch instrumental band very much influenced by Camel. The Dutch like a particular style of progressive rock - very melodic and symphonic. They commonly refer to it as "symfo". Think of bands like Kayak and Earth And Fire. Odyssice fits into that vein. Its very nicely done but at the end of the day they more or less get in line with a load of other Dutch bands doing something similar. Good but not exceptional. Xang I don't remember well so I reviewed my comments from the website. I do recall liking their first album a little bit better than their second. They remind me a bit of another French band Minimum Vital - fiery guitar work combining a fusion bent with some metallic crunch all mixed together with symphonic keyboards. Not mindblowing but generally tasty stuff.
To answer two comments at one time: the new Wobbler album "Rites Of Dawn" sounds more like classic Yes than the new Yes album. Buy that one instead. Its brilliant.
Will do. Thanks Ken. You're spot on re Odyssice: very much in the Camel school of prog rock. Been listening to Hypnos 69 all week. I'm on my 5th listen right now and it just gets better and better.
John, you're right. I've been giving these 2 gems a lot of play lately:
Wobbler is a symphonic prog rock band out of Norway. Issued in 2009, this is their second release. Absolutely brilliant. Stacks up favorably with the best prog rock ever.
Then there is the 2011 release by Anathema, an atmospheric prog rock band from Liverpool:
Just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous music. Oh, did I forget to mention this music is gorgeous?
Where do you find these gems? I admit I haven't visited any of my prog sites in a bit, and money is tight so I haven't been able to indulge either, but I miss exploring the new sounds.
Check out a California based band called Mars Hollow. They do the retro-prog thing pretty well. The new White Willow album is spectacular (great sound as well). Wobbler's keyboardist is also a member of White Willow. Plenty of Italian bands to check out: Il Tempio Delle Clessidre and Hostsonaten are good examples.
Of course the essential albums are the two from Sweden's Anglagard - "Hybris" and "Epilog". They are back together and working on a new album.
If you want to go really old school check out "Symphonic Pictures" from Schicke Fuhrs Frohling. It was originally released in 1975 on the Brain label from Germany. Years ago we reissued their 3 albums on a 2 CD set, with Bob Katz handling mastering from the original tapes. That version is long out of print but they have now been reissued individually by Esoteric Records from the UK. "Symphonic Pictures" is a Mellotron and Mini-Moog laced masterpiece. One of the greatest progressive rock albums of all time.
