OMS

What I've been listening to over the last couple of days. Unlike the iPod generation with their song-based playlists, I'm a still luddite who listens to albums all the way through

After Crying - De Profundis
Prog-rock sung entirely in Hungarian. There's as much violin and brass as guitar, resulting in something closer to orchestral chamber music that to rock'n'roll. Hauntingly beautiful in places, and quite unlike anything else in my record collection.

Ayreon - The Human Equation
Multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen's most recent rock opera concept album, featuring (as usual) a whole host of guest performers. This one has Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep fame, and vocals by Mostly Autumn's Heather Findlay, Dream Theater's James Labrie, and Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt, among others. Like a lot of Ayreon's work, it's a bit patchy, but best bits shine.

Renaissance - Novella
I picked up this album because I've heard it said that Mostly Autumn sounded like them. I have no idea whether or not it's one of their best or not, it was the only album of theirs I could find. I'm afraid I have never really been able to get into this one. I'd be interested to hear from Renaissance fans who might either confirm that Renaissance are not for me, or point me towards other more accessible albums of theirs.

King Crimson - The Power to Believe
KC's most recent work, a good listen even if parts of it are a something of a retread of parts of Larks Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black given a modern production job.

Savatage - Dead Winter Dead
Savatage are another band into pomp-metal rock operas. The plot is about a love story during the Bosnian war. The music is pretty good power metal with classical flourishes, especially the multi-part counterpoint harmonies in the middle section of 'One Child', something I've never heard any other metal band attempt.

Rainbow - Long Live Rock and Roll
Third and (possibly) weakest of the three Rainbow albums with Ronnie Dio. By now Blackmore was moving in the more commercial direction that ultimately let to Dio's replacement by pop singer Graham Bonnet. This album suffers from a couple of filler tracks, and too much lazy and lacklustre guitar playing. Still, the dark epic Gates of Babylon makes up for it. The medieval style "Rainbow Eyes" gives an early foretaste of what Blackmore would be doing a decade and a half later.

Posted by TimHall at September 25, 2005 02:20 PM | TrackBack

Comments

I've no idea why anyone would suggest a similarity between Renaissance and Mostly Autumn. You've got yer female vocals and it's not indie, but there the similarity ends.

I'm a great fan of Renaissance and have seen them many times, but I can't think of a more representative album to suggest - it's down to your tastes and Renaissance might not be for you. Personally I've always like the 'Live at Carnegie Hall' set as it captures what I'd see onstage in their heyday - 'Mother Russia' being perhaps their 'Smoke on the Water' :-)

On the other hand a couple of the later 70s albums (Song For All Seasons and Azure D'Or) have a Genesis sound as far as production values go (not music!) as David Henshell produced. It's got that delicate, soft effect typified by And Then There Were Three and Duke.

Really, Renaissance aren't a progtastic band in the Captain Hobbit and the Mellotrons sense, only in a thinking person's music sense.

At least it's not Coldplay ;-)

Posted by: Steve Jones on September 26, 2005 10:50 AM

Thanks, Steve. I'll look out of the live album. Presumably "Mother Russia" isn't the same song that The Sisters of Mercy played.

Captain Hobbit and the Mellotrons: I'd forgotten them. Live at the Cat and Mangle is a classic!

Posted by: Tim Hall on September 26, 2005 01:13 PM

No, not the Sisters of Mercy song. :-)

Thinking about it, Renaissance are more classical tinged than prog, more piano than Moog Simplifier. I'm playing the live album at this very moment.

BTW, Renaissance's Annie Haslam appears on that Yes covers album, Tales From Yesterday.

Posted by: Steve Jones on September 26, 2005 09:51 PM

Somehow, I didn't think it was :)

Posted by: Tim Hall on September 26, 2005 10:05 PM

I have several After Crying releases. I agree with your comments, but I also really like their use of piano.

With Ayreon I prefer the cheesy Into The Electric Castle to The Human Equation.

I've got the King Crimson, too. I spin it occasionally hoping it'll click. No luck so far.

In my opinion the best releases in this genre this year come from Porcupine Tree and Echolyn.

Posted by: John Gilliland on September 28, 2005 07:21 PM

Electric Castle! "Welcome to the cranial vistas of psychogenesis" indeed. The fact that it's got Fish on it is a point in it's favour.

Porcupine Tree's "Deadwing" is indeed a great album; Echolyn are one of those bands I keep meaning to check out, and have never got round tuit.

Sounds like you're having the same problem with King Crimson as I am with Renaissance.

Posted by: Tim Hall on September 29, 2005 11:47 PM

Talking of Renaissance again, I've just noticed Annie Haslam does the vocals on "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" from Steve Howe's "Portraits of Bob Dylan" album.

Most excellent it is too, although what you Cookie Monster buffs will make of it is anyone's guess! ;-)

Posted by: Steve Jones on October 8, 2005 11:52 AM


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Hauntingly beautiful in places, and quite unlike anything else in my record collection. Ayreon - The Human Equation Multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen's most recent rock opera concept album, featuring (as usual) a whole host of guest performers. This one has Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep fame, and vocals by Mostly Autumn's Heather Findlay, Dream Theater's James Labrie, and Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt, among others. Like a lot of Ayreon's work, it's a bit patchy, but best bits shine. Renaissance - Novella I picked up this album because I've heard it said that Mostly Autumn sounded like them. I have no idea whether or not it's one of their best or not, it was the only album of theirs I could find. I'm afraid I have never really been able to get into this one. I'd be interested to hear from Renaissance fans who might either confirm that Renaissance are not for me, or point me towards other more accessible albums of theirs. King Crimson - The Power to Believe KC's most recent work, a good listen even if parts of it are a something of a retread of parts of Larks Tongues in Aspic and Starless and Bible Black given a modern production job. Savatage - Dead Winter Dead Savatage are another band into pomp-metal rock operas. The plot is about a love story during the Bosnian war. The music is pretty good power metal with classical flourishes, especially the multi-part counterpoint harmonies in the middle section of 'One Child', something I've never heard any other metal band attempt. Rainbow - Long Live Rock and Roll Third and (possibly) weakest of the three Rainbow albums with Ronnie Dio. By now Blackmore was moving in the more commercial direction that ultimately let to Dio's replacement by pop singer Graham Bonnet. This album suffers from a couple of filler tracks, and too much lazy and lacklustre guitar playing. Still, the dark epic Gates of Babylon makes up for it. The medieval style "Rainbow Eyes" gives an early foretaste of what Blackmore would be doing a decade and a half later. Posted by TimHall at September 25, 2005 02:20 PM \| TrackBack Comments I've no idea why anyone would suggest a similarity between Renaissance and Mostly Autumn. You've got yer female vocals and it's not indie, but there the similarity ends. I'm a great fan of Renaissance and have seen them many times, but I can't think of a more representative album to suggest - it's down to your tastes and Renaissance might not be for you. Personally I've always like the 'Live at Carnegie Hall' set as it captures what I'd see onstage in their heyday - 'Mother Russia' being perhaps their 'Smoke on the Water' :-) On the other hand a couple of the later 70s albums (Song For All Seasons and Azure D'Or) have a Genesis sound as far as production values go (not music!) as David Henshell produced. It's got that delicate, soft effect typified by And Then There Were Three and Duke. Really, Renaissance aren't a progtastic band in the Captain Hobbit and the Mellotrons sense, only in a thinking person's music sense. At least it's not Coldplay ;-) Posted by: Steve Jones on September 26, 2005 10:50 AM Thanks, Steve. I'll look out of the live album. Presumably "Mother Russia" isn't the same song that The Sisters of Mercy played. Captain Hobbit and the Mellotrons: I'd forgotten them. Live at the Cat and Mangle is a classic! Posted by: Tim Hall on September 26, 2005 01:13 PM No, not the Sisters of Mercy song. :-) Thinking about it, Renaissance are more classical tinged than prog, more piano than Moog Simplifier. I'm playing the live album at this very moment. BTW, Renaissance's Annie Haslam appears on that Yes covers album, Tales From Yesterday. Posted by: Steve Jones on September 26, 2005 09:51 PM Somehow, I didn't think it was :) Posted by: Tim Hall on September 26, 2005 10:05 PM I have several After Crying releases. I agree with your comments, but I also really like their use of piano. With Ayreon I prefer the cheesy Into The Electric Castle to The Human Equation. I've got the King Crimson, too. I spin it occasionally hoping it'll click. No luck so far. In my opinion the best releases in this genre this year come from Porcupine Tree and Echolyn. Posted by: John Gilliland on September 28, 2005 07:21 PM Electric Castle! "Welcome to the cranial vistas of psychogenesis" indeed. The fact that it's got Fish on it is a point in it's favour. Porcupine Tree's "Deadwing" is indeed a great album; Echolyn are one of those bands I keep meaning to check out, and have never got round tuit. Sounds like you're having the same problem with King Crimson as I am with Renaissance. Posted by: Tim Hall on September 29, 2005 11:47 PM Talking of Renaissance again, I've just noticed Annie Haslam does the vocals on "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" from Steve Howe's "Portraits of Bob Dylan" album. Most excellent it is too, although what you Cookie Monster buffs will make of it is anyone's guess! ;-) Posted by: Steve Jones on October 8, 2005 11:52 AM Post a comment Name: Email Address: URL: Comments: Remember info?	Links of the day 10 Most Overrated Albums From BBC 6 Music. Coldplay! The Smiths! Oasis! Pete Knobhead Docherty! Who am I to disagree? More Ghost Reveries The Ministry of Information has another review of Opeth's new album. Everything Sounds Like Coldplay Now Mitch Benn's paean to formulaic glum rock for bedwetters is shortly to be released as a single! And there's an album and tour to follow. Scott on Railroad Earth Scott recommends some Railroad Earth MP3s. I'll have to catch this lot if they ever play live on my side of the Atlantic. Farewell, Dr Moog The man who gave the world the Mini Moog, Dr Robert Moog has died aged 71. "The sound defined progressive music as we know it," said Keith Emerson.