There was a time in the late 80ies that I was getting a wee bit tired of modern prog.
Then came along Änglagård.
I prefer Hybris just abit over this one but both are classics.
There was a time in the late 80ies that I was getting a wee bit tired of modern prog.
Then came along Änglagård.
I prefer Hybris just abit over this one but both are classics.
Absolutely intentional, IMHO
Actually, I happen to really like the vocals (the translated lyrics are allright too) of Hybris... Itdoes help the facrt that they are not overly present, but add plenty of Angla's sense of melancholy and drama
AAMOF, I think that Epilog is missing some vocals, because it doesn't have the same excitement as its predecessor
I understand why you'd say that, and in some ways, I'd tend to agree that they are over-rated, but hardly the most over-rated...
Just out off Sweden I can think of at least two more over-rated bands than them (TFK, Landberk)
And while I don't agree with your songwriting/jam critic, yes, they were the first"retro-prog" band (along with Landberk)
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
I like this one a lot - but I cant play it very often. There is a specific sound with it - a special once-in-a-while vibe if you will. Maybe it's the heavy mellotron?
Another band I've tried to like and it just doesn't happen. I suppose I am more of a symphonic prog fan. I find this too harsh and jerky for my tastes. I can understand why another poster compared it to King Crimson.
I like the cover though!
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Anglagard's best and most coherent work. If you need to own just one Anglagard record, this is it (though all of them are gems, including the new one).
Ian Beabout
Mixing and mastering engineer. See ya at ProgDay !
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.co...m/bakers-dozen
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.co...-and-holland-3
colouratura.bandcamp.com
Ian Beabout
Mixing and mastering engineer. See ya at ProgDay !
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.co...m/bakers-dozen
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.co...-and-holland-3
colouratura.bandcamp.com
I wouldn't go that far, but I do think it's easily on a par with them. Hybris was revolutionary when it came out, too many of the bands of the 80s were either second-rate Marillion clones or glorified new-age acts. When I heard Hybris I thought, "Finally, a band that gets it!" I suppose that's why I find so few of the prog big names of the 90s and beyond that followed in their wake so unsatisfying; I prefer not to have my prog diluted by other genres I don't really care for (AOR, metal, "alternative").
Confirmed Bachelors: the dramedy hit of 1883...
well, not PFM or Banco for me... but perhaps equal to Camel in degree of greatness IMO
but yeah... if Anglagard arent Symph style Prog, are they Canterbury? Fusion? Zeuhl? Spacerock? Avant? Metal?... I think they are squarely in the Symph style... unless of course we start giving each band their own genre like the Techno/Dance crowd do with those acts
Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?
Maybe Anglagard are symphonic prog for people who don't like symphonic prog? I was personally never really a fan of the whole symphonic style (Yes were never my thing), but I've always thought Anglagard were pretty darn awesome.
Ian Beabout
Mixing and mastering engineer. See ya at ProgDay !
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.co...m/bakers-dozen
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.co...-and-holland-3
colouratura.bandcamp.com
I'd like to say how much I enjoy Anglagard's poor cousin, Anekdoten. Their early styles remind me of each other. I actually prefer Anekdoten for there longer and more varied musical catalog. Not taking way from the brilliance of Anglagard. I've had the joy of seeing Anglagard live (wish I could say the same thing as Anekdoten).
Hopefully I won't seem too contrarian (or obsequious, in this particular case) in arguing that the best (or, perhaps more reasonably put, my favorite) "traditional" prog album to come out of the '90s was Ignis Fatuus (with Landberk's Swedish-language debut coming in second, followed by Epilog)--but I tend to place a very high value on emotive songcraft (rather than instrumental or even compositional virtuosity) when it comes to "traditional" prog. If Epilog were to have included moments like "The Withering of the Boughs," "Ingenting," or "Snowfall," (not to mention all three), then it would be a different story for me. That said, it is indeed one of the better prog albums of the decade.
While Anglagard is normally classified as symphonic prog, I can see why someone who defines the latter in terms of Yes, Genesis, ELP, PFM, etc. might hear them differently. I notice that Prog Archives defines bands like King Crimson and Gentle Giant as "Eclectic Prog," and I can see categorizing Anglagard that way, if for no other reason than what Snowsnow describes as their "jerky" (which I take to mean "jarring" and "angular") rhythmic quality. Obviously, these classifications have a lot of overlap, and the band's mellotron washes and flute melodies are almost pastoral--still, there is at least as much GG as Genesis in their overall sound, so I can see the distinction on some level. Even their much-discussed "linear" compositional technique (where one theme switches to the next without usually returning) could be seen as separating them somewhat from most "symphonic prog" acts.
I really love Hybris and Epilog - these guys are fantastic!
Cheers for helping me out! You have said it in a far more succinct way than I originally did and I know prog definitions are always dangerous on here. But I do think of symphonic prog as bands such as Genesis and Yes (Eclipse from And You and I - being a good example of what encapsulates symphonic prog to me) This band and king Crimson are (using your better descriptions) far too angular and jarring and lack the sweeping, melodic, majestic touch that most of the 'Big 5' possess. IMHO!
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
Änglagård's declared (and musically stressed, I'd say) main influences were KC, Genesis, Yes, ELP, JTull and PFM, along with second-tier bands such as Shylock (France), Schicke-Führs-Fröhling (Germany) and Cathedral (US). Apart from the fact that the band tried quite purposefully to adhere to the ideal of being "progressive" (which most "big six"-followers somehow don't), there wasn't very much about them deterring from the path of "classic" "prog". And it hardly makes for a "different genre" once the music appears jarring or angular - progressive rock music used to be an experimental approach.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Maybe another offshoot genre of prog then - "Angular and Jarring prog."
Def: "This type of progressive rock is strictly for the elitist consumer who pretends to like the more awkward sounding prog. The listener fakes enjoyment but secretly cant wait till the album finishes before sticking Fragile/Foxtrot on"
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
Correct Nogbadthebad - you got me!
Bookmarks