Review 2011-2019

A decade is over! So it is time to look back through the years and present you my favourite albums between 2011 and 2019. With Renaissance, IQ, Discipline and many more. Streaming times:

Starport Omega : Tuesday 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CET, 04:00 GMT)
Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

Next streaming dates

I won't be streaming this weekend.

Next streaming dates:
Tuesday, December 17th, 8pm PST at Starport Omega
Saturday, December 21st, 6pm PST at Starport Omega
Sunday, December 22nd, 3pm PST at Floating Islands

Prog on and see you next time!

Review 2019 part 3

This time I am presenting you my personal top 6 of the new releases of 2019 in the progressive rock world. Why top 6? Because I do not have enough time to spin excerpts of more than 6 albums. Those of you who have followed my shows closely might guess who I am playing. I was spinning them this year but not in the reviews part 1 or 2. For those who do not have a clue let me surprise you!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
Starport Omega : Tuesday 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CET, 04:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

Review 2019 part 2

It is time for part 2 of my personal review of the year. In this part and in the next I will focus on 2019 releases. This weekend with Djam Karet, Kayo Dot, Magic Pie and many more.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
Starport Omega : Tuesday 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CET, 04:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

Next streaming: Nov. 30th / Dec. 1st

Next streaming dates:
Saturday, November 30th, 6pm PST
Sunday, December 1st, 3pm PST
Tuesday, December 3rd, 8pm PST

See you next time!

Review 2019 part 1

It is time for a review of the year. I am spinning excerpts of albums which I played in the past 11 month. If you missed something this is the opportunity to catch up! In part 1 I am playing albums which have been released before 2019. Featuring Steve Hackett, Gryphon, Brand X playing Genesis, All Traps On Earth, The Windmill, and many more.
In parts 2 and 3 I will focus on 2019 releases.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
Starport Omega (test phase - different track list!): Tuesday 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CET, 04:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

Orion 2.0: Virtual Human (2019)

Orion is a French progressive rock band founded 1975, disbanded in 1980 and reformed in 2011. The first album I heard from them was 'Le Survivant' (2017) which immediately sparked my interest. After a small reforming they call themselves now Orion 2.0 and have released a new album, on which they also sing English for the first time on 5 of the 7 tracks. The music can be described as art rock with sophisticated arrangements and a jazzy touch.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
Starport Omega (test phase - different track list!): Tuesday 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CET, 04:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

No streaming due to Second Life Service issues

Sorry, there will be no streaming from me today due to Second Life Service issues:

Next streaming dates:

Starport Omega:
Tuesday, November 5th, 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CET, 04:00 GMT)

Starport Omega:
Saturday, November 9th, 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)

Floating Islands:
Sunday, November 10th, 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)

Opeth - In Cauda Venenum (2019)

'In Cauda Venenum' is the forth album since 'Heritage', where Opeth took a new direction towards king-crimsonesque style prog rock around the 'Red' era, leaving death metal and growls behind. The new release embeds clean vocals into rich textures oscillating between heavy, dark, folkloristic and floydian atmospheres.
This album is released both in English as well as in Swedish. I am presenting you the Swedish version.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 02:00 CET, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (23:00 CET, 22:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

IQ - Resistance (2019)

Resistance is futile if you listen to this music. After 'The Road of Bones' IQ released another excellent album, which kept me excited from the first to the last minute. And there are nearly 110 of those minutes!
Because of the length of this album I am presenting you the first 90 minutes this weekend and the last 20 minutes the following weekend, where I will combine it with another excellent new release.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)

New (test phase - different track list!):
Starport Omega : Tuesday 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CEST, 03:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

Next streaming: Oktober 19th/20th

I won't be streaming for the next three weekends.
Next streaming will be on Oktober 19th/20th.
Prog on and see you next time!

Kayo Dot - Blasphemy (2019)

Kayo Dot is a New York based avant-garde prog rock band, active since 2003. They have released nine studio albums so far. Their music can be described as heavy experimental and dark, somewhere between Maudlin of the Well and the more heavier sounds of King Crimson.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)

New (test phase - different track list!):
Starport Omega : Tuesday 20:00 PST (Wednesday 05:00 CEST, 03:00 GMT)

My streaming URL

The Skys - Automatic Minds (2019)

Lithuania was a country still missing on my prog map, now not any longer. The Skys was formed in 1995 in this country and was ever since regarded as part of the Lithuanian music scene. They have released four studio albums so far and this weekend I am presenting you the latest release: Automatic Minds (2019). The music can be described as sophisticated art prog rock with male and female vocals, also featuring notably guest musicians like Snowy White (Thin Lizzy, Pink Floyd etc.) and Rob Townsend (Steve Hackett).

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

T - Solipsystemology (2019)

T is a project by German multi-instrumentalist Thomas Thielen. He has now released his 7th album "Solipsystemology", where he obviously sings and plays all instruments himself. The vocals have a certain resemblance to David Bowie. The music can be described as modern symphonic prog with leanings toward ambient music, with references ranging from Marillion (Hogarth era), Porcupine Tree to Gazpacho.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Seven Steps To The Green Door - The Lie (2019)

This weekend's featured album is the new release of the German band Seven Steps To The Green Door: The Lie (2019). It is a concept album around the topic of religious fanaticism. The music is a blend of modern prog rock with a few heavy edges.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Djam Karet - A Sky Full Of Stars For A Roof (2019)

Djam Karet is an instrumental progressive rock band founded 1984 in California, USA. Since then, they have released an album nearly every year. Their latest release "A Sky Full Of Stars For A Roof" is this weekend's featured album. The music can be described as a blend of psych rock, space rock, ambient and adventurous sound clusters, with influences ranging from Ozric Tentacles to King Crimson.
The band's name is an old spelling of an Indonesian word (pronounced by English speakers as 'jum car-RAT) that translates loosely as "elastic time".

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Magma - Zess (2019)

The featured album of this weekend is the new release of Magma: Zess - Le jour du neant (2019). Together with The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra the French ensemble have recorded an ambitious piece of classical and jazz influenced bombast rock with vocal choirs in their self developed Kobaian language, like always in their previous albums. Surprisingly, this recording for the first time also includes longer passages in real French.

Also on the program will be recent recordings of UPF, Cheeto's Magazine, Mad Fellaz, IZZ and Iamthemorning.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Cheeto's Magazine - Amazingous (2019)

Cheeto's Magazine is a band from Barcelona, Spain. They have released now their third album, "Amazingous". The album consists of excellent sophisticated compositions of cheerful, bright sounding, colourful music, as colourful as the album cover. Glam rock and AOR, Styx-like passages blend together with the complexity of Yes arrangements. This is one of the albums I really did not expect that I would like it that much. Simply amazing(ous)!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: August 10th/11th

No streaming this weekend, sorry!
Next streaming will be on the weekend August 10th/11th.
See you next time!

United Progressive Fraternity - Planetary Overload Part 1 (2019)

After Australian prog band Unitopia split up, two new bands arose from the ashes: United Progressive Fraternity and Southern Empire.
Four years after their debut United Progressive Fraternity now released a new and second album. Singer Mark Trueack seems to be the only constant member between the two albums, though similar contributors like Steve Unruh (violin) Marek Arnold (sax) and guest Steve Hackett (guitar) can be found on both albums. The current release has even more guest musicians than the previous one, like Jon Davison (vocals), Lisa Wetton (vocals), Hasse Fröberg (vocals), Nick Magnus (keyboards) and Jerry Marotta (drums), to name just a few. In concept and appearance it resembles a bit The Samurai of Prog, where also a few core players are accompanied by a legion of guest musicians.
The music I would describe as a modern style symphonic prog. The titles are themed around environmental pollution and other conflicts in the world.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Brighteye Brison - V (2019)

Brighteye Brison is a symphonic prog band founded in 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden. Two members of the band, keyboardist Linus Kåse and drummer Erik Hammarström, are also working with Swedish band Änglagård. Certain similarities in their music can also be found. The brand new and fifth album of Brighteye Brison is simply called 'V' and consists of three epic tracks. Musically it is rooted in Genesis-style classic symphonic prog which borders with modern prog, neo-prog and AOR.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Mad Fellaz III (2019)

Mad Fellaz is initially an experimental band formed in Bassano del Grappa, Italy, in 2010. They have now released their third album. The music is an energetic mix of classic prog, canterbury style, metal, jazz and fusion music, including constant use of flute and other wind instruments, with influences ranging from King Crimson and Gentle Giant to newer bands like Opeth and Porcupine Tree.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

IZZ - Don't Panic (2019)

Don't panic, IZZ is back! Four years after their superb album 'Everlasting Instant' the New York based band IZZ have returned with another great release. The music is symphonic prog with male and female voices and strongly Yes influenced melodic textures. When the album progresses more and more crimsonesque harmonics chime in, as well as keyboards that could be from Emerson or Wakeman. The titles seem to be loosely based on 'The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Big Big Train - Grand Tour (2019)

This weekend I am playing the new album of the UK-based band Big Big Train. In continuation of the albums English Electric, Folklore and Grimspound, this album is again a nice work of symphonic prog with a nod towards 70's Genesis without sounding derivative, with excellent compositions, the typical melodic vocals, as well as lush strings and brass arrangements. This time Big Big Train takes us to a historical grand tour to continental Europe from ancient Rome to space travel. I especially enjoyed the three nearly 15-minute epics on this recording. This might be probably their best studio album so far, and is for me also a candidate for best album of the year!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

The Samurai Of Prog - Toki No Kaze (Winds of Time) (2019)

The Samurai Of Prog is a Finland-based multinational band consisting of the core trio Marco Bernard (bass), Steve Unruh (violin, flute, guitars, vocals) and Kimmo Pörsti (drums), who are always supported by a huge amount of additional guest musicians.

Their seventh studio album Toki no Kaze, which means Winds of Time in Japanese, is inspired by Japanese anime film maker Hayao Miyazaki. I don't know this film maker nor his films. The only thing I can say is that this album is again a masterpiece of symphonic prog, with its playful compositions, pastoral sounds and lush orchestration of keyboards, guitars, drums, violins, flute and wind instruments. One song is sung by Japanese singer and keyboardist Yuko Tomiyama, two other songs by Elisa Montaldo, who is known for her work with 'Il Tempio delle Clessidre'.
Nearly all their previous albums were among my yearly top 10, and I think this album will be no exception. It's again a candidate for best album of the year!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: June 15th/16th

I cannot stream for the next two weekends for various reasons.
Next streaming will be on June 15th/16th.
See you next time and prog on!

The many faces of Genesis (2015)

Sometimes, when I am in a foreign city, I stroll around the local CD shops to see what they have on the shelves. On one of those occasions, I remember it was in fnac in Paris last year, I found a CD collection called 'The many faces of Genesis', a compilation made in Mexico. It contains rarities and side projects of Genesis on 2 CDs plus 'The Jonathan King Sessions' on CD 3. This weekend I will present a 90 minute selection of CD 1 and 2. So you are going to hear Genesis songs interpreted by other artists, like The Flower Kings, Brand X, John Wetton and Patrick Moraz, as well as not so known side projects by current or former Genesis members, such as Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Anthony Philips, Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

online again!

Last weekend my computer broke down, so I could not stream. The problem has been fixed, so I am back online again!
This weekend I am repeating the show from last weekend.

Gryphon - ReInvention (2018)

Gryphon is a band from the UK formed by classical trained musicians. In their music they combine English folk, baroque and renaissance inspired elements with rock music to their version of symphonic progressive rock, featuring cumhorns and recorders. They have released five albums between 1973 and 1977, after which they disbanded. After 41 years they have finally released a new album named 'ReInvention', which is a worthy successor of their masterpiece 'Red Queen to Gryphon Three', a truly reinvention of themselves!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Chris Squire - Fish Out Of Water (1975)

I love lists, so this time I made a list of my favourite top 5 bass players. There is no surprise that Chris Squire, co-founder and long time bass player of Yes, is one of them. A not very well known fact seems to be that Chris Squire also recorded a superb solo album in 1975, featuring Patrick Moraz on keyboards, Bill Bruford on drums and Mel Collins on saxophone, among others. With this line-up it might as well be a kind of crossover between Yes and King Crimson without guitars, and, honestly, it actually sounds like it. This weekend I am spinning the album in its entirety, plus a few tracks featuring my other favourite bass players. Let me surprise you, who they are!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Orion - Le Survivant (2017)

Orion is a band from France which was founded in the mid 70's, then disbanded in the early 80's and reformed in 2013. This weekend I am spinning their most recent release Le Survivant from 2017. They play melodious progressive rock with excellent sophisticated compositions throughout.
Also on the playlist: United Progressive Fraternity, Thieves' Kitchen, Final Conflict, IZZ.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CEST, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CEST, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: April 28th/29th

Next streaming will be on the weekend April 28th/29th.
Happy Easter everyone!

Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)

"Jesus Christ Superstar" (1970) is a progressive rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. With Ian Gillan as Jesus and Murray Head as Judas. This weekend I am spinning this double album in its entirety.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

ESP - Three (2019), Quarterstorm - Presentation (2004)

This weekend I am presenting two EPs: the brand new album of ESP, and an EP of Czech band Quarterstorm.
ESP started as a project by Tony Lowe (guitars, vocals) and Mark Brzezicki (drums), who released its debut In 2016. In 2018 followed their second album. Now ESP is back with their third release. Recommended to all who love Genesis, The Alan Parsons Project and Barclay James Harvest.
Quarterstorm is a band from the Czeck Republic. They have only released one EP in 2004. Their music is light jazz influenced prog, with influences ranging from early King Crimson to Renaissance.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Lost Trident Sessions (1973/1999)

In June 1973 John McLaughlin (guitar), Jan Hammer (keyboards), Jerry Goodman (violin), Rick Laird (bass) and Billy Cobham (drums) went into the studio to record what was meant to be the third album of Mahavishnu Orchestra after 'The Inner Mounting Flame' and 'Birds of Fire'. Unfortunately tensions went high and the album was not released. In an interview 1977 John McLaughlin said he wished that the album would be released one day, because "it's a great album." Fortunately the record company released it in 1999. I am presenting you the album in its entirety. Also on the program this weekend: Steve Hackett, A Kew's Tag, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh and Colosseum.

Note: North America switched to Daylight Saving Time, while Europe stays in the old time!
Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 02:00 CET, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Sunday 23:00 CET, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings (1979)

'Spectral Mornings'is the third solo album of formerly Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. I am presenting the album in its entirety. After that I am spinning tracks by other artists with remarkable guitar contributions.

Note: North America switched to Daylight Saving Time, while Europe stays in the old time!
Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 02:00 CET, 01:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Sunday 23:00 CET, Sunday 22:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Next streaming: March 16th/17th

Next streaming will be on the weekend March 16th/17th.
Prog on and see you next time!

Steve Hackett - Voyage of the Acolyte (1975)

Steve Hackett was the guitarist of Genesis between 1971-1976.
In his long career with 26 solo albums, of which several are excellent and essential listenings, still his first solo album 'Voyage of the Acolyte' is regarded as his best. It features Sally Oldfield, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins among others. Listening to this masterpiece you might understand, what the contribution of Steve Hackett to Genesis was, and what Genesis was lacking, after he left the band.
This weekend I am presenting the album in its entirety.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Seven Reizh - L'Albatros (2018)

Seven Reizh is a duo founded in 1999 in Bretagne, France. On their albums they are accompanied by many guest musicians, giving the recordings an orchestral sound. This weekend I am presenting their latest and forth release 'L'Albatros'. They blend Celtic rock and Arabic sounds to melodious cinematic musical landscapes, featuring unusual instruments, such as bagpipes, duduk, harps and others.
This album is excellent and after another couple of listens I might consider adding it even to my top 10 of 2018!

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Love Theme

This weekend I am spinning a theme: songs about love or with love in it's title. With Genesis, Yes, Supertramp, Caravan, Steve Hackett, Flying Colors and many more.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

The Windmill - The Continuation (2013)

The Windmill is a band from Norway, who plays classic symphonic prog, influenced by the 70's output of bands like Genesis, Camel and Jethro Tull. Two weeks ago I played their latest release Tribus (2018). This weekend I am spinning their previous album The Continuation (2013). In memory of Sam Arne Nøland, marine biologist and drummer of The Windmill, who passed away September 5th 2018.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Steve Hackett - At The Edge Of Light (2019)

This weekend I am spinning the 26th solo studio album of Steve Hackett. It is amazing how productive he is. Even more amazing is the high quality of this output so late in his career. Also in his previous recent albums he had this distinct mix of symphonic prog and world music, but this time it seems he succeeded to combine these elements to really excellent compositions with exciting harmonic/melodic textures. Again featuring interesting instruments such as sitar, didgeridoo and a duduk. It might be his best release since Spectral Mornings.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Prog Rock Definition

Characteristics
Progressive Rock or Prog Rock is a sub-genre under rock music. The basis is a rock band, whose members compose and play the music. The band's instrumentation mostly and typically consist of vocals, guitars, bass, drums and keyboards.

What differentiates prog rock from other genres is mainly the approach how the songs are composed.

The songs or pieces of music are mostly built similar to classical pieces of music, which incorporate most of the following elements:

- the songs are built like scored compositions, consisting of a beginning/intro, one or more middle parts and an ending/finale
- polyphonic use of voice and instruments, vocals are treated as one instrument among others, counterpoint in the melodic textures
- extended harmony/tonality, breakup of major/minor modality, chromatic shifts, pentatonic/whole step/tritone scales, unusual chord progressions
- change of rhythm/time/tempo within the song
- extreme dynamic changes (loud and quiet passages)
- integration of additional solo instruments into the band that are not typical for rock music, such as violin, saxophone, flute, vibraphone etc.

Historical annotations
Progressive rock as a genre evolved in the United Kingdom at the end of the 60's of the 20th century. The release of the album 'In The Court Of The Crimson King' by King Crimson in the year 1969 was regarded as a ground-breaking milestone. In the first half of the 70's a climax was reached, when many mainly British bands released their most epoch-making albums like 'Foxtrot', 'Selling England By The Pound' (both Genesis) or 'Close To The Edge' (Yes). Although in general not commercially successful, this type of music influenced nevertheless many artists at that time, even within the pop scene.

The 80's, which was dominated by punk and new wave, marked the downfall of prog. The prog bands of the 70's tried to simplify their music and include more pop and hit singles. Through this step, paradoxically, some bands, like Genesis and Yes, gained more commercial success than ever before, which resulted in a wider popularity. At the same time a few new bands emerged, like Marillion, who continued the 70's style of prog, but often less experimental, using a conventional rock band line-up without exotic instruments, a more simplified song structure based around melodious guitars, lush synths and a more straighter beat. This evolution of prog is known as neo-prog.

The 90's saw a revival of prog rock, with a 'third wave' of many new bands emerging and with accompanying prog festivals evolving. The formerly British dominated prog scene became more internationally spread, with a strong scene in Scandinavia and Northern America. Through the influence of the progressive heavy rock band Rush the music became heavier in general. Despite this revival the influence of prog on the rest of the present day musical scene could be stated as marginal to non-existent. However, within a diversified musical world this genre managed, also with the help of new technical means like crowdfunding, internet streaming and online stores, to establish a niche, which is alive even today, supported by a small but steady world-wide fan base.

Relationship to classical music
Because of the compositional approach prog songs often sound as if they were rock interpretations of already existent classical pieces. In some cases the bands actually played rock versions of classical music. As examples can be named Emerson Lake and Palmer's version of Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, or the various classical pieces interpreted by Ekseption. Most prog compositions, however, are self-composed, though it is common for prog artists to adopt styles or quote parts of classical music. Manfred Mann's Earth Band uses many quotations, for example a theme of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite used in the track Starbird. In the music of Genesis Bach-like chord progressions can be observed, and in the compositions of Yes the influence of late-romanticism is prevailing.

Naming
It is not clear, where the name 'Progressive Rock' is originated. The usage of the term might be traced back to the early 70's in the United Kingdom. A wide spread usage of the term occurred in the 80's, where the music journalists needed a more distinctive name for this type of music rather than the term 'art rock', which had also been widely used for all types of 'unusual' rock music.

The term 'progressive' might refer to the following:

- external form: The music progresses from conventional rock music in a way that it crosses the borders of rock towards other genres like classical music, jazz, folk or world music.
- intrinsic meaning: Within a song the music 'progresses' from theme to theme.
- time: When this type of music first appeared, it revolutionised the way, rock music can be approached and was a progressive step beyond the prevalent R&B style of rock at that time.

Typical bands of the 70's
Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Van der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant, Camel, Renaissance, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, The Alan Parsons Project, Barclay James Harvest

Typical bands of the 80's
Marillion, IQ, Pendragon, Pallas, Saga

Typical bands since the 90's until today
Porcupine Tree (UK), The Flower Kings (Sweden), Spock's Beard (USA), Dream Theater (USA), Anekdoten (Sweden), Echolyn (USA), Discipline (USA), Transatlantic (USA/UK/Sweden)

Listening examples
- ground-breaking: The Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson, 1969)
- typical: Can-utility and the Coastliners (Genesis, 1972)
- epoch-making: Close To The Edge (Yes, 1972), Supper's Ready (Genesis, 1972)
- short piece, approx. 3 min.: Happiness Is A Warm Gun (The Beatles, 1968)
- long piece, > 40 min.: Mei (Echolyn, 2002), Seas of Change (Galahad, 2018)
- suite: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Genesis, 1974)
- unusual instrumentation: Funny Ways (Gentle Giant, live 1974)
- counterpoint: Knots (Gentle Giant, 1972)
- twelve-tone technique: Only Twelve (Echolyn, 1992)

The Windmill - Tribus (2018)

The Windmill is a band from Norway. Formed in 2001 they have released their first album in 2010. This weekend I am spinning their third and latest release 'Tribus' (2018). They play classic symphonic prog.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL

Gryphon - Red Queen To Gryphon Three (1974)

Gryphon is a band from the UK formed by classical trained musicians Richard Harvey and Brian Gulland. They combine English folk, baroque and renaissance inspired elements with rock music to their version of symphonic progressive rock. They have released five albums between 1973 and 1977, after which they disbanded. They reformed in 2015. But today I am spinning their 1974 release 'Red Queen To Gryphon Three', an instrumental composition in four check movements:
- Opening Move
- Second Spasm
- Lament
- Checkmate
Featuring crumhorn, bassoon and recorder among others.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
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All Traps On Earth - A Drop Of Light (2018)

'All Traps On Earth' is a spin-off of Swedish band Anglagard. It was formed by Anglagard bassist Johan Brand and two other members of the same band. While Anglagard's music has a distinct symphonic Genesis/Hackett style sound, this new band is more adventurous in harmony/tonality and instrumentation, with a direction towards the avant/zeuhl genre, reminding of Magma and especially Universal Totem Orchestra. This weekend I am starting first with Universal Totem Orchestra from Italy. After that I am spinning the whole album of 'All Traps On Earth'.

Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
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A mixed bag of prog

I tried to sort the progressive rock music into a few subgenres, then I picked one song from each subgenre. The result is a mixed bag of prog. With Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and many more.

This weekend:
Starport Omega : Saturday 18:00 PST (Sunday 03:00 CET, 02:00 GMT)
Note: Floating Islands moved to a new location. Please check landmark!
Floating Islands : Sunday 15:00 PST (Monday 00:00 CET, Sunday 23:00 GMT)
My streaming URL