Ed’s Letter

Hello, and welcome to the new issue of

Bloody Well Write

Send your letters to us at: Prog, Future Publishing, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London, W2 6JR, or email prog@futurenet.com. Letters may be edited for length. We regret that we cannot reply to phone calls. For more comment and prog news and views, find us on facebook.com under Prog.

INTRO

ENSLAVED’S HEAVY NEW CONCEPT ALBUM

Limelight

POLYPHIA Liberated Texan collective mixing genres and cultures with

THE PROG INTERVIE

GORDON GILTRAP

The Musical Box

MAGMA

Take a bow

Thankfully, you can’t hear the whistling while reading

MY PROG

NICK FLETCHER

Q&A

JULIE TIPPETTS

Forever Afternoon

In 1967, a new line-up of The Moody Blues embraced their symphonic influences to create a groundbreaking album that not only pushed them in a new musical direction but also brought about the birth of progressive rock. As the lavish Days Of Future Passed turns 55, John Lodge, Justin Hayward and other key players take us on a journey into a past that has helped forge the band’s future

SPATIAL DELIVERY

He was the darling of epic ambient electro in the 70s and 80s, now Jean-Michel Jarre is continuing to push boundaries with Oxymore, his 22nd album. Prog catches up with the French sound artist to find out more about the immersive project that pays homage to musique concrète pioneer Pierre Henry, and the VR world that accompanies it.

The Sky’s The Limit

Fresh from their successful recent shows with Big Big Train, Norwegian art-rockers Dim Gray are ready to share their captivating music with the rest of the world. Prog catches up with Håkon Høiberg, Oskar Holldorff and Tom Ian Klungland to discuss their melodic second album Firmament, the joy of meeting their heroes, and the excitement of finally playing outside their home country.

Wand’rin Star

A change is as good as a rest and on his 21st studio album, Devin Townsend has decided to take a calmer and more reflective approach to his songwriting. Lightwork finds him swapping his trademark shredding for prog-pop synths and bright harmonies. Prog catches up with the prolific musician to find out more.

Full Circle

Former Mercury Prize nominees, the now-streamlined Sweet Billy Pilgrim are back with a new concept album that finds them blending their classic art-rock and pop influences with more contemporary arrangements. Multi-instrumentalists Tim Elsenburg and Jana Carpenter share the story behind Somapolis and explain how their fans helped them realise it.

For Young Moderns

At the end of the 1970s, bandleader Bill Nelson dissolved Be-Bop Deluxe and founded a new kind of band. Red Noise saw him embrace the burgeoning new wave movement – and although they released just one album, it paved the way for his solo career. With the recent release of the expanded Sound-On-Sound and its companion box set, Art/Empire/Industry, Nelson takes Prog on a trip back to the group’s creation.

Witches’ Brew

They explored the hidden lives of classic horror movie stars on 2020’s Masters Of Illusion and now Magenta have turned to cunning folk to conjure up their first orchestral album, The White Witch – ASymphonic Trilogy. Robert Reed and Christina Booth talk to Prog about old horror flicks, medieval healers and dreams of the Royal Albert Hall.

Hello, I Must Be Going…

Back in September, Norway’s Green Carnation played a very special homecoming show in the city of Kristiansand complete with a string quartet. Prog was there to catch it (sort of) and afterwards, sat down with vocalist Kjetil Nordhus and bassist Stein Roger Sordal to discuss last year’s reissue of The Acoustic Verses and the band’s blossoming plans for the future.

Scaling The Summit

As Galahad return with their first studio album in almost five years, The Last Great Adventurer, vocalist Stu Nicholson and keyboard player Dean Baker discuss the triumph of persistence over adversity.

Songs Of Isolation

Four years after their 2018 debut caught the post-rock world’s attention, VLMV are back with a more streamlined approach on follow-up Sing With Abandon. Mainman Pete Lambrou explains why he felt it was time to move away from guitars and craft more piano-based music that speaks directly to the listener.

PROG CRITICS’ CHOICE 2022

I t’s time again for the Prog magazine

CRITICS’ LISTS 2022

THE BEST THING I’VE HEARD ALL YEAR… IAN