All,

As has already been mentioned in the '24hr Session Ideas' thread, there will be a 'session' totally dedicated to Progressive Rock released from the year 2000 AD onwards ...  ;D

This will be held here on 'Stellar Attraction' on Friday 25th March @ 9:00pm.

There seems to be strong demand for this 'session'. Feel free to post any requests and suggestions to the programme here.

Dee

Just bought the new Mars Volta album 'Frances The Mute' today. Absolutely stunning. If this isn't progessive rock then I don't know what is. This is the second album from them following up 2003's 'De-loused in the Comatorium'. Anything by this band must be included in the session.

wrote on 6^th Mar, 2005 at 5:38am:

Just bought the new Mars Volta album 'Frances The Mute' today. Absolutely stunning. If this isn't progessive rock then I don't know what is. This is the second album from them following up 2003's 'De-loused in the Comatorium'. Anything by this band must be included in the session.

Absolutely !! I already have their first album 'De-Loused In The Comatorium' and will be sure to get hold of a copy of their latest release.

Consider 'Mars Volta' added.  ;D

I am looking forward to this session because I've never heard of half the newer bands mentioned on the site! I've heard bits of Radiohead, Dream Theater and Ozric Tentacles but would like to hear lots more, the rest I must leave to your excellent taste.

...m...

Marillion
Anoraknophobia 2001 (featuring 'This is the 21st Century')
Marbles 2004

Porcupine Tree
Lightbulb Sun 2000
In Absentia 2003

The Mars Volta
De-loused in the Comarorium 2003
Frances the Mute 2005 (An album to melt the brain!)

Yes
Magnification 2001 (It doesn't mean you have to play all of it!;D)

Oceansize
Effloresce 2003

Kino
Picture 2005 (Featuring members of Marillion, Porcupine Tree, It Bites, Arena http://www.kinomusic.com/)

King Crimson
The Power to Believe 2003 (i think it was 2003, could be wrong)

Radiohead
Hail to the Thief 2003

Mew
Frengers 2003

Tool
Lateralus 2001 (Heavy, but still prog. They toured with King Crimson)

Here are some other artists to consider although I haven't heard all of them:
Fish
Muse
Dream Theater
Spocks Beard
Arena
Flower Kings
Neal Morse
The Pineapple Thief (personal fav of mine!)
IQ
Ozric Tentacles
Pallas
Amplifier
Anathema
Explosions In The Sky
Sigur Ros
Riverside

Also go to the links page on this site, some of which are an excellent resource for finding prog bands old and new.

Excellent recommendations Silver. Some I already have and some I have heard but don't (yet !) have.

I'm curious to hear some post-2000 'IQ' and 'Neal Morse' ...

wrote on 9^th Mar, 2005 at 12:09am:

Yes Magnification 2001 (It doesn't mean you have to play all of it!;D)

Wanna bet ??  ::)  ;D

Just thought of 'The Beta Band' as well.

IQ's last album 'Dark Matter' from last year has had some very favourable reviews, although I haven't heard all of it myself, only one track.

I heard a couple of tracks last night from an album called ' The Gentle Art of Firewalking' (2002) by a band called 'The Dark Aether Project'. It's well worth adding some to the session. I have added it to my rapidly growing list of must buy CD's on the strength of what I've heard.
I found this so you can have a listen ;D

http://www.darkaether.net

...m...

Nice find!

Just had a listen to a couple of the clips and they sound very good.

More of a traditional sounding prog band without being progressive themselves if you know what I mean. Still good though. :)

I know what you mean.  Judging by the reviews I've found it sounds as if they are heavily influenced by King Crimson and Pink Floyd. One track was described as sounding like Yes fronted by Roger Daltery!!! Can't wait to hear that one.  ???

wrote on 9^th Mar, 2005 at 5:42pm:

Just thought of 'The Beta Band' as well.

Definitely !!

wrote on 9^th Mar, 2005 at 7:09pm:

I heard a couple of tracks last night from an album called ' The Gentle Art of Firewalking' (2002) by a band called 'The Dark Aether Project'. It's well worth adding some to the session. I have added it to my rapidly growing list of must buy CD's on the strength of what I've heard. I found this so you can have a listen ;D http://www.darkaether.net ...m...

Sounds intriguing. I will definitely check them out soon ...

IQ-from Dark matter cd

anything porcupine tree(Recordings)-or ozric tentacles(become the other!!)

the Mars Volta

Mostly Autumn

RPWL-world through my eyes cd

Tangent -Music that Died alone cd

Glasshammer-shadowlands cd

pain of salvation -12:5 cd

Magnification

new Ian anderson?

peter Gabriel-up
liquid tension experiment 2

Agent 22

Ambient Temple of Imagination

Anubis Spire

Atomic Opera

Elders of Zion

Karda Estra

John Fiore

Mike Keneally

David Odegaard

Solaris

Sonus Umbra

Space Junk

Zoltabrane

If you're thinking about Ian Anderson's new solo releases why not try something from the recent Martin Barre album (Stage Left).

Changing the subject slightly, I have real problems getting to a computer between Friday night and Monday morning. When I do get to one I only have a limited amount of time to tune in and miss out on most of the sessions  :'(.  Would it be possible to play chunks of the sessions during the daytime in the week following the actual 24hr marathon? I would be most grateful if you could do something for us daytime listeners   :)

...m...

wrote on 13^th Mar, 2005 at 1:06am:

Agent 22 Ambient Temple of Imagination Anubis Spire Atomic Opera Elders of Zion Karda Estra John Fiore Mike Keneally David Odegaard Solaris Sonus Umbra Space Junk Zoltabrane

A lot of new names to me on that list that will hopefully be included. That was the whole point of the session in the first place.

wrote on 14^th Mar, 2005 at 7:09pm:

If you're thinking about Ian Anderson's new solo releases why not try something from the recent Martin Barre album (Stage Left). Changing the subject slightly, I have real problems getting to a computer between Friday night and Monday morning. When I do get to one I only have a limited amount of time to tune in and miss out on most of the sessions  :'(.  Would it be possible to play chunks of the sessions during the daytime in the week following the actual 24hr marathon? I would be most grateful if you could do something for us daytime listeners   :) ...m...

I'll get back to you about this one m - see what I can do to accommodate ...  ::)

Are bands like Tool and Opeth too metal to be included?

wrote on 23^rd Mar, 2005 at 9:10pm:

Are bands like Tool and Opeth too metal to be included?

Definitely not !!  ;D

Perhaps this has something to do with both of their CDs arriving today ...  ;)

Excellent!;D

Which albums did you get.

My favourite Tool albums are Lateralus and Aenima and Opeth albums are Damnation and Blackwater Park.  8)

'Lateralus' by 'Tool'

I jumped the gun on 'Opeth' - should be in my hand by tomorrow ...  ;D

So come on, spill the beans. What things have you got in store for us on this session?

so when does the session start?

wrote on 26^th Mar, 2005 at 5:38am:

so when does the session start?

Was supposed to be 9pm GMT...

DC, where are you?  ;)

In the pub?

When the Beta Band came on I thought it had started but now it's Iron Butterfly. Doh!

The ProgMaster he speak! :o

wrote on 26^th Mar, 2005 at 6:12am:

The ProgMaster he speak! :o

Yeah, I bet it was pre-recorded and he IS at the pub. All smoke and mirrors...  ;D

;D

Absolutely not Danrok.

It's 'Good Friday' and all the pubs are shut ...  ;)

Apologies for the late kick-off people ...

However, we now have lift off !!  ;D

Arena! Excellent start. ;D

wrote on 26^th Mar, 2005 at 6:25am:

Absolutely not Danrok. It's 'Good Friday' and all the pubs are shut ...  ;)

The bar at the hotel at the end of the road will be open... ;)

"Where there's a will, there's a way ..." or something like that ...  :P

the session sounds great  ;D

Marillion followed by Amplifier followed by Tool! It's like I'm listening to my own personal juke box.  8)

Aphrodites' Child
Steel Eye Span
Captain Beyond

WEll
You know you chaps in the UK have had a chance to get "Deadwing" by "Porcupine tree"  but us Blokes in the USA haven't  wont have a chance to hear it owing to the fact the CD doesnt come out until
April 26th here.
so I think we need

yes I said NEED  

to hear ALL
of it
NOW!
Cheers Mate

Deadwing isn't released untill the 28th March, but i have got the single Lazarus which is excellent.

Oh dear, what's happened to the session? ???
Just tuned in this morning and it seems to be over already, less than 12hrs in. I take it, it was not a success. What a shame :'(

is that it ? what happenned?

Good morning Yesman.

Like I just sai; tuned in this morning and the session appears to be over already. I was listening last night for about 4 hrs and it sounded fantastic to these ears. So, not sure what's going on.

People,

I hit the sack in the small hours of this morning and the session was still running.

I had my eye on both servers and unfortunately not a huge amount of people were tuning-in. Before I turned-in, I had set 'regular programming' to kick-in automatically if the bandwidth usage fell below 40 %.

Unfortunately, this happened at around 5:00am (ish) (GMT).

Personally, I was pretty excited about this session. I plan to 'give it another go' soon. The next time, with some more pro-active advertising on some of the discussion boards out there ...

In the meantime, I'm going to be adding some of the newly acquired music to the regular playlists.

Cheers for now.

Dee

Thanks for the feedback.

I definitely think it's a good idea to add some of the newer tracks to the regular playlist. I was particularly impressed by Arena.

Unfortunatley I believe the problem is what people expect of prog/progressive rock. So many people think it is only the classic bands of the seventies; Yes, Genesis, ELP etc who qualify. To many people, bands like Radiohead are an indie band, or Tool a metal band, and don't belong on this kind of station. I think it's a difficult one to call as what is supposed to be prog isn't usually progressive anymore in the true sense of the word.

Keep up the good work.

;D

wrote on 27^th Mar, 2005 at 4:32am:

Thanks for the feedback. I definitely think it's a good idea to add some of the newer tracks to the regular playlist. I was particularly impressed by Arena. Unfortunatley I believe the problem is what people expect of prog/progressive rock. So many people think it is only the classic bands of the seventies; Yes, Genesis, ELP etc who qualify. To many people, bands like Radiohead are an indie band, or Tool a metal band, and don't belong on this kind of station. I think it's a difficult one to call as what is supposed to be prog isn't usually progressive anymore in the true sense of the word. Keep up the good work. ;D

Thanks Silver - I couldn't agree more  ;D

Whilst groups such as 'Radiohead' have always distanced themselves from being placed under the 'Prog Banner' it is still undeniable that a lot of their material appeals to fans of other more 'established' acts. The same can also be said of a great deal of other 'newer' acts. 'Arena' being another excellent example.

Again, a lot of the more recent acts do have a 'heavier' edge in their music which can (I suppose) 'scare-off' some regular listeners. The notable acceptance of 'Dream Theatre' to the Prog fold - whose main 'Prog credentials' seem to be their support slot for 'Yes' on tour in the States a couple of years ago.

A large number of listeners find 'Stellar Attraction' by simply browsing through the 'Internet Radio Yellow Pages' where it is advertised as a 'Progressive Rock Radio Station'. These (first time) listeners having tuned-in last night were probably expecting the usual fodder of ELP, Yes, Pink Floyd et al, may well have tuned-out when confronted by the likes of 'Tool' and 'Pallas'.

Like I have said, this 'session' will have a re-run soon and in the meantime, future playlists will include more recent releases and contemporary 'Prog' groups.

Cheers.

Dee

- I listened for about 6 hours and fell asleep then got up about 4 hours later and tuned in /and it was Older Yes

so I have been tuning in since then on and off

I was pretty exceited myself about this one and I thought it was going great

a few small changes I might make but nothing that really would detract from the overall job you did
I guess maybe if you started from 1995 on
maybe youd get a wider mix of music too work with

My apologies that I did not listen to this 24 hour block.  While I'm open to new possibilities (and have found that Marillion is now regularly on my playlist), I still am a bit reserved about new tunes versus older ones.  I have heard some played during normal programming in the past, and found that they were mostly not matching my taste.

Baby steps though!  I'll accumulate more new bands as I listen to them on a normal basis (a 24 hour block may a bit too much for me!)

Just thought I'd give my feedback on that.  I don't know if it represents more than myself.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks!




(fodder indeed) ;)

wrote on 27^th Mar, 2005 at 2:04pm:

While I'm open to new possibilities (and have found that Marillion is now regularly on my playlist), I still am a bit reserved about new tunes versus older ones.  I have heard some played during normal programming in the past, and found that they were mostly not matching my taste. Baby steps though!  I'll accumulate more new bands as I listen to them on a normal basis (a 24 hour block may a bit too much for me!) .

On the basis of what you have said I would say you are more of a traditional prog rock fan. In which case, newer bands for you check out (and it's good to see Marillion on your own playlist) that may appeal to you would include: IQ, Spocks Beard, Arena & The Flower Kings. If you like Pink Floyd then try the Porcupine Tree album 'The Sky Moves Sideways'.

Having said all that I think we have all suffered from the "If you like this band then you'll love this band" syndrome (and often unsuccessfully) at some point, but the main thing is to keep an open mind and give things a try. We can't like everything, but there is good new music being made.

One of my all time favourite bands is Yes. If you take their first 5 albums you can see a band developing and experimenting and yes, progressing. But after Close to the Edge have they progressed? Answer this honestly. They continued to produce, and still do, quality music (Relayer, Going for the One, Magnification), but they don't push the boundries like they did in the early seventies. But I don't love them any less for it!

A band I can't seem to get into are Gentle Giant no matter how much of their music I hear. For some reason it just doesn't click with me. So for all of us there is good and bad music, whether it's old or new.

I've tried Spock's Beard to no success... I'll check out these other ones though.  Thanks. :)

wrote on 27^th Mar, 2005 at 5:26pm:

One of my all time favourite bands is Yes. If you take their first 5 albums you can see a band developing and experimenting and yes, progressing. But after Close to the Edge have they progressed? Answer this honestly. They continued to produce, and still do, quality music (Relayer, Going for the One, Magnification), but they don't push the boundries like they did in the early seventies. But I don't love them any less for it! .

I would say honestly that Yes progressed continually until about the time of Abwh-Talk  
but still made great music up til now
There are pieces like That That Is  or mind drive
that still were Progressive , in the prescense of
and several cuts from the ladder
I certinly take issue with the statement
especially where Relayer- Tales From Topographic oceans - and Tormato are concerned
Yes progressed to more of a Rock Sound
but still employed alot of prog features during the time Trevor Rabin was playing with them .

true enough on keys -ladder -and Mag
there are some weak songs

but the first two Yes Albums were only about Half good each
I certinly prefer Mag-the ladder-Tales- Relayer-and keys
over YES and Time and A word

I deleted the rest of your Quote because I agree totally with your opinions of the other bands

on a similar note
I never thought of Dream Theater as being a Prog Band -in fact I hate them with a passion
but I do like gentle Giant and Marrilion -Ptree and IQ

wrote on 27^th Mar, 2005 at 2:04pm:

My apologies that I did not listen to this 24 hour block.  While I'm open to new possibilities (and have found that Marillion is now regularly on my playlist), I still am a bit reserved about new tunes versus older ones.  I have heard some played during normal programming in the past, and found that they were mostly not matching my taste. Baby steps though!  I'll accumulate more new bands as I listen to them on a normal basis (a 24 hour block may a bit too much for me!) Just thought I'd give my feedback on that.  I don't know if it represents more than myself.

I certinly prefer the older music -however saying that ;I own it all so I dont really care if I hear alot of Elp or tull or whatever
because I can put the old lps or the new Cds on anytime
My interest in this marathon was to widen my musical horizons  
because I am pretty tired of "still you turn me on"
I am exceited that groups like Mars volta  and Ayreon etc are out there still trying to do prog
though I gennerally like to keep my metal and prog seperate
and prefer mellotrons to insane Arpeggos on the strat.
I still like to think that I am not so much stuck in a rut that I cant listen to something different
How else will I know if I like it

wrote on 27^th Mar, 2005 at 5:36am:

Thanks Silver - I couldn't agree more  ;D Whilst groups such as 'Radiohead' have always distanced themselves from being placed under the 'Prog Banner' it is still undeniable that a lot of their material appeals to fans of other more 'established' acts. The same can also be said of a great deal of other 'newer' acts. 'Arena' being another excellent example. Again, a lot of the more recent acts do have a 'heavier' edge in their music which can (I suppose) 'scare-off' some regular listeners. The notable acceptance of 'Dream Theatre' to the Prog fold - whose main 'Prog credentials' seem to be their support slot for 'Yes' on tour in the States a couple of years ago. A large number of listeners find 'Stellar Attraction' by simply browsing through the 'Internet Radio Yellow Pages' where it is advertised as a 'Progressive Rock Radio Station'. These (first time) listeners having tuned-in last night were probably expecting the usual fodder of ELP, Yes, Pink Floyd et al, may well have tuned-out when confronted by the likes of 'Tool' and 'Pallas'. Like I have said, this 'session' will have a re-run soon and in the meantime, future playlists will include more recent releases and contemporary 'Prog' groups. Cheers. Dee

well again I love tool alot but what they have in common with Prog bands escapes me
I cant stand Radiohead or Brian Eno or most of wakemans solo stuff -for that matter a good bit of Mike oldfield sounds the same to me .I think that others certinly disagree and so I dont mind if they are indulged as well
I can allways tune out
and come back later
I will be Glad to see this session return as I have found many new Bands/artists that I like as much as the old Porcupine Tree being my Favorite

I think a good mix of the old and new is the way to go
and your doing it well -and allways fine tuning what you do for your audience as much as your "Prog format"