Ed’s Letter

Hello and welcome to the latest 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.

HAWKWIND LIFT OFF INTO ORBIT

IF IT’S OUT THERE, IT’S IN HERE

ECLECTIC ALBUM FROM MADDER MORTEM

“Genre-varied” record due in January ahead of European festival shows.

COLOSSEUM ANNOUNCE BOX SET AND 2024 LIVE DATES

Rarities and live material are housed with first four albums.

THE PINEAPPLE THIEF SWITCH GEARS ON UPCOMING ALBUM

An old-school approach yields dividends.

BIG BIG TRAIN BACK WITH NEW ALBUM AND LINE-UP

Singer Alberto Bravin makes his LP debut.

MIDAS FALL UNVEIL FIRST NEW ALBUM IN SIX YEARS

Cold Waves Divide Us promises to be an atmospheric treat.

THE ARISTOCRATS GO QUACKERS ON THEIR FIFTH ALBUM

Duck comes with a twist.

IHSAHN RETURNS WITH SELF-TITLED DOUBLE ALBUM

His new solo album is out in February.

KYROS ANNOUNCE FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM

Mannequin is their first with new bassist, Charlie Cawood.

FAD GADGETS

Rhodri Marsden on three of the latest must-have gizmos currently putting the prog in progress.

MATTY MAYZ

He’s busy fusing hip-hop and heavy metal for the 21st century, but the Oxymorrons drummer loves the sci-fi prog of Coheed And Cambria.

PROG IN BRIEF

Finnish prog trio Von Hertzen Brothers (right) have

CLOSURE IN MOSCOW

Outlandish Aussies overcome self-doubt to make show-stopping return.

VIRGINIA ASTLEY

FROM GARDENS WHERE WE FEEL SECURE

TRYO

Currently touring for their 35th anniversary, these Chilean proggers reveal how musical traditions infuse their music.

PROG IN BRIEF

Richard Thompson's (right) Historic Classic Concert Live In

GABRIEL KAHANE

Meet the forward-thinking singer-songwriter who juggles catchiness with complexity.

MITSUNE

Japanese folk reimagined for the 21st century with classic prog influences.

STORM DEVA

The composer-astroscientist duo that are cloudbusting in mythical, eclectic style.

MATT BERRY

Musical polymath and actor details his collaborative album with KPM and happy conversations with Jean-Michel Jarre and Keith Mansfield.

THE PROG INTERVIEW

FRANCIS DUNNERY

CALIGULA’S HORSE

Post-pandemic soul-searching replaces djent-adjacent exuberance as Aussie prog metallers deliver grown-up sixth album.

CYAN

Pictures From The Other Side TIGERMOTH RECORDS

ASTRAL MAGIC

Ad Infinitum ASTRAL MAGIC MUSIC

THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN

The Songs And Tales Of Airoea – Book 2 KARISMA

THE CURATOR

Living Space CROMERZONE.CO.UK

COLIN EDWIN & ROBERT JÜRJENDAL

The Weight Of AShadow HARD WORLD

ERLAND DAHLEN

Racoons IS IT JAZZ?

LARGE PLANTS

The Thorn GHOST BOX

STEVE HOWE

Motif Volume 2 HOWESOUND

PALLAS

The Messenger PALLASOFFICIAL.BANDCAMP.COM

HARKE! EN CO

The Playful Maziness Of Art HARKEJAN.NL

SACHA MULLIN

Casino Wilderness Period DOG & PONY RECORDS/DIPTERID RECORDS

ORPHANED LAND

AHeaven You May Create (Live In Tel Aviv) CENTURY MEDIA

PLINI

Mirage PLINI.BANDCAMP.COM

TRIBE3

Tribe3 TRIBE3.NET

JOSEF VAN WISSEM

The Night Dwells In The Day INCUNABULUM RECORDS

DAMIAN WILSON & ADAM WAKEMAN

Can We Leave The Light On Longer? BLACKLAKE RECORDS

CAMEL

Air Born: The MCA &Decca Years 1973-1984 UNIVERSAL

10CC

20 Years: 1972-1992 DEMON

ARABS IN ASPIC

Reissues KARISMA

KEVIN AYERS

Joy Of AToy ESOTERIC

BAKER GURVITZ ARMY

Neon Nights: The Broadcasts 1975 ESOTERIC

JETHRO TULL

War Child II PARLOPHONE

NO-MAN

House Keeping: The OLI Years /Swagger ONE LITTLE INDEPENDENT/BURNING SHED

BE-BOP DELUXE

Hot Valves ESOTERIC

CARAVAN

If I Could Do It All Over Again I’d Do It All Over You/ Cunning Stunts DECCA/UMC

FAMILY

Bandstand ESOTERIC

STEVE HACKETT

To Watch The Storms/Wild Orchids INSIDEOUTMUSIC

PINK FLOYD

Atom Heart Mother (Special Edition) PINK FLOYD RECORDS

HEAD CONTROL SYSTEM

Murder Nature KSCOPE

PENTANGLE

Reunions – Live &BBC Sessions 1982-2011 CHERRY RED

OPETH

Damnation MUSIC FOR NATIONS

ANTHONY PHILLIPS

Slow Dance ESOTERIC

STEELEYE SPAN

The Green Man Collection PARK RECORDS

JOHN WETTON

An Extraordinary Life SPIRIT OF UNICORN MUSIC

GEDDY LEE

My Effin’ Life HARPER

PETER TUFFREY

British Guitarists 1952 – 1972 Electric Pioneers GREAT NORTHERN BOOKS

THE ZOMBIES

The Zombies: Hung Up On ADream UTOPIA DISTRIBUTION

PORCUPINE TREE

Closure/Continuation Live MUSIC FOR NATIONS

MARILLION

Pete Trewavas makes himself at home. Definitely better

TANGERINE DREAM

VENUE THE LONDON PALLADIUM, LONDON DATE 08/11/2023 The

IAM THE MANIC WHALE

VENUE THE CAMDEN CLUB, LONDON DATE 06/11/2023 SUPPORT

ELDER

VENUE GORILLA, MANCHESTER DATE 12/11/2023 M uch like

ANIMALS AS LEADERS

VENUE O2 RITZ, MANCHESTER DATE 01/11/2023 It’s been

GONG/OZRIC TENTACLES

Kavus Torabi dares you to try to dance

PROTEST THE HERO

VENUE UNDERGROUND ARTS, PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA DATE 12/11/2023

LINDISFARNE

VENUE OLD FIRE STATION, CARLISLE DATE 30/11/2023 Introducing

TESSERACT

VENUE THE ORPHEUM, TAMPA, FL, USA DATE 11/11/2023

JAZZ SABBATH

VENUE HOXTON HALL, LONDON DATE 30/11/2023 Almost seven

MONG TONG

VENUE THE SHACKLEWELL ARMS, LONDON DATE 13/11/2023 SUPPORT

DAMNATION FESTIVAL

Enslaved unleashing their inner beasts. VENUE BEC ARENA,

LAIBACH

VENUE O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE, LONDON DATE 08/11/2023

MY PROG

JON DAVISON (YES)

Once In A Lifetime

By the early 80s, much of the British music press had turned their backs on prog, dismissing it as old-fashioned and out of touch with the youth of the day. But in the UK’s shires a grassroots scene was beginning to grow, spearheaded by Marillion, whose successful debut album Script For A Jester’s Tear paved the way for a sound inspired by the 70s classics but infused with modern pop hooks and poetic lyrics. Members of Pendragon, Pallas, IQ, Solstice and more share the story behind the rise (and fall) of a movement that would set prog on a new path.

THE UNSEEN GREG LAKE

On the back of the recently released Magical box set covering Greg Lake’s career outside of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Prog brings you a selection of previously unseen photos from the Lake archives, which show off a very different side to the rock superstar.

Never Say Never

It seemed like an impossible dream, but Moon Safari’s highly anticipated follow-up to Himlabacken Vol. 1 is finally out. And what an album it is. Prog catches up with vocalist/guitarist Petter Sandström and bassist Johan Westerlund to find out why it took them so long to create a slice of pure prog heaven.

Wish You Were Here

A decade in the making, the debut album from Tarja Turunen’s Outlanders project is the perfect antidote to these chaotic times. Featuring guest appearances from a host of celebrated musicians, including Mike Oldfield, Trevor Rabin and Steve Rothery, it showcases a very different side to the Finnish soprano who’s better known for her dramatic progressive metal and classical recordings. She shares the story behind Outlanders and the Alan Parsons album that inspired it.

Days Of Future Passed

Fifty-one years ago, Germany-based Nektar finally made headway in their native UK with fourth album Remember The Future. The conceptual piece explored prescient themes of the environment and looking after the planet against a sci-fiinspired backdrop. Long-serving bassist Derek ‘Mo’ Moore recalls the story of the recently reissued record that was way ahead of its time.

Sonic Dystopia

For his solo career, Riverside’s Mariusz Duda wanted to create something as distinct from his day job as possible. He talks to Prog about returning to his first musical love, being creatively selfish, and embracing electronic music on AFR AI D.

The Truth Is Out There

Almost a decade in the making, Earthside’s second album, Let The Truth Speak, finds the band in fine form. Yet the story of its creation and subsequent release has been peppered not just with world events, but personal battles. Singer/guitarist Jamie van Dyck and drummer Ben Shanbrom discuss how they rose to the challenges of creating a bold and healing cinematic sound that defies all expectation.

Back To The Future

In 2021, Magenta’s Rob Reed relaunched his old band, Cyan, with a new line-up and a polished reimagining of For King And Country. They’ve now teamed up again to tackle Pictures From The Other Side. Reed and vocalist Peter Jones tell Prog about bringing a new lease of life to old material and why there’s more to come.

SECOND BASE

Despite pursuing multiple projects already, three prog luminaries have concluded they’re simply not busy enough. As D’Virgilio, Morse &Jennings press the button on their cunningly titled Sophomore, Prog catches up with two-thirds of the group to find out how they’re packing everything in and whether they’re likely to make it a hat-trick of albums.

PROG

CRITICS’ CHOICE 2023

CRITICS’ LISTS 2023

JERRY EWING (Editor) 1 VOYAGER Fearless In Love