Avant-prog binge 2021

[Kcrimso]

The new year is almost upon us. Let's continue the celebration of this great music.

Currently listening Heatwave (1986) by Univers Zero. I always kind of forget how brilliant album this is. Over 20 minutes long "The Funeral Plain" must be one of the greatest epic songs of the eighties.

[JKL2000]

I'm definitely up for this - I have a lot of stuff I've never fully gotten into or listened to all of, and I'm in the mood for this music now.

One of my favorites has long been U Totem's "Strange Attractors." But there's a lot to choose from. Some of the Art Zoyd box, ditto Art Bears, Henry Cow.

[Kcrimso]

One of my favorites has long been U Totem's "Strange Attractors."

Cool album. Though I prefer their debut.

[thedunno]

I'd say both U Totem albums are pure gold.
My favorite is usually the one i played last.

[Kcrimso]

Today: Univers Zero : Rhythmix (2002)

I like these "middle period" Univers Zero albums and think that they are quite undervalued.

[NogbadTheBad]

Today: Univers Zero : Rhythmix (2002)

I like these "middle period" Univers Zero albums and think that they are quite undervalued.

Certainly undervalued as UZ haven't made an album that is less than good to great. In any other discography they'd stand out.

Last avant album was yesterday, ever exploring

[Kcrimso]

Now playing: Motor Totemist Guild – City of Mirrors (US, 1999)

Interesting but not totally convinced. Any fans?

[Kcrimso]

Now playing: Motor Totemist Guild – City of Mirrors (US, 1999)

Interesting but not totally convinced. Any fans?

Actually today this sounds quite convincing. And I haven't even opened Laphroaig bottle yet!

[Steve F.]

Actually today this sounds quite convincing. And I haven't even opened Laphroaig bottle yet!

You convinced yourself in 10 minutes? Not bad!

[Kcrimso]

You convinced yourself in 10 minutes? Not bad!

Well...this is the fifth time I am listening this album... I am quite slow learner.

[NogbadTheBad]

Now playing: Motor Totemist Guild – City of Mirrors (US, 1999)

Interesting but not totally convinced. Any fans?

Certainly a fan and usually have a grin when it comes up on shuffle.

[Kcrimso]

Now listening: Magma - K.A (FR, 2004)

A stone cold masterpiece. Still one of my favourite Magma albums. This was the album that sealed my love for Magma when it was released. 2005 "K.A -tour" was also the first time I saw Magma live. It was mind-blowing!

[Scrotum Scissor]

You convinced yourself in 10 minutes? Not bad!

He kept looking at that Laphroaig spout and was consequently taken over. I hope it's a Quarter Cask!

As for City of Mirrors, I think the first half of it is immensely impressive - with "Scarfnet" featuring Emily Hay's finest vocal performance that I've heard and "Narcotic Lollipop" possibly standing out as Grigsby's defining moment as composer/arranger for anything within the outer perimeters of rock music.

For my own part I'm listening to Perils by Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses for the first time in a number of years now. This was not only untraditional stuff for a British progressive group back then but would probably be considered untimely even today by any established international standard. I really enjoy the theatrical or even gothic circus-like allusions of both sound and aura here; too obtusely "fringe" to appeal to either post-rock or "symphonic" enthusiasts on release in 2005, particularly in England, while it stands out today as the start of a new era of openness in current UK avantgarde- and progressive rock reception. Together with Guapo's Five Suns, that is.

[Kcrimso]

He kept looking at that Laphroaig spout and was consequently taken over. I hope it's a Quarter Cask!

Nah. Regular stuff. But I honestly prefer it to Quarter Cask

[Steve F.]

^ ^ ^ ^

IIRC, those Miasma records don't tell you really who plays on them, correct? I remember being surprised that Chrome Hoof's Leo was a part of Miasma, when he mentioned that he was a member of Miasma....

[chalkpie]

I spin Miasma every Oktober usually before Halloween....always an enjoyable listen.

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ On the verge of what's definable as avant-progressive I guess, but having spun the whole of Miasma's Perils I decided to stick a bit with more of the "non-traditional" British modern stuff and play The Future Kings Of England's last two epic records, Who Is This Who Is Coming? and The Viewing Point.

Now I'm a sucker for M.R. James (who wrote the Who Is This short ghost story), but I have to say that it's a shame how the Goblin/Zombi hipster audience seemingly didn't fully take to the brilliance of The Future Kings. This is so well conceived, realized and executed that I can't really hear it being bettered. And whether or not it's eventually this-or-that type of "prog" doesn't really come into it either; it's simply just extraordinary.

[NogbadTheBad]

I adore The Future Kings Of England

[chalkpie]

I adore The Future Kings Of England

What's a good album?

[chalkpie]

I adore The Future Kings Of England

Is this the same band as The Flower Kings of Sweden?

[NogbadTheBad]

What's a good album?

I'd start with The Fate Of Old Mother Orvis

[Scrotum Scissor]

Is this the same band as The Flower Kings of Sweden?

Quarter Cask?

No, Frankster. TFKoE were (are?) an epic space/psych/post-rock combo creating large but articulate expositions of narratives in sound, mostly instrumental except for the odd bit of sung poetics in-between. Think a modern rendition of Agitation Free in a British setting and with different source material. Start with the two titles I mentioned.

And see this legendary piece of genius BBC TV, rendering M.R. James' shivering short story into an exceptionally well written tale of subconscious projection:

[Mister Triscuits]

Is this the same band as The Flower Kings of Sweden?

I keep confusing the Future Kings of England with the Future Sound of London.

[aith01]

^ I also confuse those two with Elephants of Scotland.

[Kcrimso]

I am just confused. Is it going to be my epitaph?