For whatever reason progressive rock has never established a foothold in Ireland. Just across the Irish Sea, in neighboring England, progressive rock flourished in the 1970s so much that entire “schools” of prog were born. Maybe it was the political climate of the land that kept the often fantasy-themed explorations of prog from finding roots in Ireland. While English bands such as Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer were traversing imagined landscapes and worlds, Ireland’s Rory Gallagher’s feet were planted firmly on the ground, playing meat-and-potatoes blues-rock for his country men and women. But there was a void… until now.
Posts Tagged ‘porcupine tree’
The Pineapple Thief – “Tightly Unwound”
Tightly Unwound is the seventh studio release from England’s The Pineapple Thief and their first release for Kscope/Snapper Records. Led by guitarist/singer/songwriter Bruce Soord, the quartet is rounded out by bassist John Sykes, drummer Keith Harrison and keyboardist Steve Kitch. After cultivating a following over nearly ten years, the band was encouraged by Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson to join with Kscope in order to bring their music to a wider audience. Kscope, home to other artists with “post-prog” tendencies is a perfect fit for Soord and company. Tightly Unwound is a clever amalgam of light, sometimes ornate, indie pop with lengthier pieces that build upon themselves and are obscurely structured in movements with well planned repetition of theme. This is music for which there is little comparison, but that may actually be pushing the boundaries of a developing movement.
No-Man “Schoolyard Ghosts”
No-Man’s sixth studio release, Schoolyard Ghosts, is as much a revelation for fans of No-Man’s previous work as it is for fans of the duo’s guitarist, Steven Wilson. Wilson, who started the No-Man project with vocalist Tim Bowness at more or less the same time that he began his better known group Porcupine Tree, in 1987, has been lauded as a prolific everyman, yet he reins in his prog-rock tendencies on a release that is beautifully subdued and shrouded in mist. Bowness’ voice is a haunting whisper on “Ghosts” and is best served by textures and treatments rather than cacophony. Gone are the days of No-Man’s trip-hop and indie rock past. The future consists of airy lamentation with nary a beat to push us forward.
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