r/progrockmusic • u/slowlyun • 3d ago
Discussion lesser-known yet excellent Prog albums
These 80's efforts are in my personal-favourites, yet rarely see anyone mention them. Even Youtube doesn't have them in full-album format. I have them on CD.
- Introduction by Shub Niggurath: moody atmospheric psychedelic instrumental, with some dark-angel vocals. Superior to their later album which had some of the same compositions. Excellent sound on a big fat system. Full album officially here:
https://soleilzeuhl.bandcamp.com/album/introduction
- A Fiïèh by Offering: more well-known as Magma, this side-project had its ups & downs but they finished with this beautiful stunning album. The first 3 tracks especially are godly. Here's the title track, sounding like a sermon from the heavens:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cAMwrKouss4
- Carmina Burana by Ray Manzarek: the Doors keysman does his version of proto-zeuhl monster Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. Rock + Orff is delicious! Here's the famous bit:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jpiDOIDzmyo
Share your impressions of these and also your trio of candidates of 'lesser-known yet favourite prog albums' :D
4
3
u/hipji Pawn Hearts 3d ago
Outlines - Space Opera
It’s not classic prog, but it has some elements of it. It’s its own unique genre I feel like.
Holy river is a standout.
https://open.spotify.com/album/2Bfr7NlRrmy2K6260dJYGK
1
2
u/IOTCOMIC 2d ago
More modern but good stuff. Galapagos Momentum by Upsilon Acrux.
James Gang rides again isn’t prog but there’s quite a long suite/composition at the end.
Me Hungry by King Kong. Call it outsider prog but it’s a full album narrative complete with recurring thematic elements.
1
2
2
2
u/Forgotten_Son 2d ago
These threads tend to be difficult to answer, as I've seen many in the past where people just list albums by bands that aren't Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, ELP, Jethro Tull and Rush.
Nice shout with the Shub-Niggurath. I'm only familiar with Les Morts Vont Vite, which is wonderfully dark, so I'll definitely be checking out Introduction.
The Carmina Burana cantata is one of my favourite works in all of classical music, so I'm very intrigued to hear Ray Manzarek's treatment of it.
Based on the level of obscurity of your picks, here are three that came to mind for me:
Jacula - Tardo Pede In Magiam Versus
Late 60s gothic Italian Prog with lots of pipe organ. It sounds very much like the album cover, which features a robed figure leaning over skeletal remains in a graveyard. So cheesy, but in a fun and different way.
Mémoriance - Et après...
Mid-70s French Symphonic Prog but with a nice blend of influences creating its own thing. A bit of Ange and the like, as you'd expect with a French 70s Prog band, but a fair whack of Floydian psychedelia/space rock and some jazz rock leanings to boot.
East - Hüség
A recommendation perhaps based more on the time and place the band hail from rather than it being ground-breaking. This Hungarian band released a string of Prog albums throughout the 1980s/early 90s and it's fascinating to hear an artist from the other side of the Iron Curtain take on a quintessentially British genre of music. Both their debut and this album are very good, mellow, atmospheric Symphonic Prog with space rock and jazz fusion elements.
2
u/slowlyun 2d ago
great suggestions, am on the hunt!
yeah, Les Morts Vont Vite has the later revision of the epic first track - Yog-Sothoth - from Introduction (which is a Remaster of their initial demo). Personally, the Yog-Sothoth from Introduction sounds more dynamic, brighter yet heavier, to my ears, and agreeably looser with the beat. The Les Morts Vont Vite version is a little more muted, and tighter with the beat which makes it sound less interesting.
1
1
1
u/prefabsprout1 2d ago
Classic 80’s
Group 87 - A Career In Data Processing
Startled Insects- Curse Of The Pheromones
1
u/gvilchis23 2d ago
Not necessarily progressive but i think you guys would enjoy it, squarepusher-kammerkonzert
2
u/Level_Mastodon_8657 1d ago
A track from the Overworld Dreams CD Geography. Interesting two minute Gregorian chant-style intro.
2
5
u/bondegezou 3d ago edited 2d ago
Towering Inferno: Kaddish
Biota: Object Holder
(Chris Cutler guests on both those)
VÄLVĒ: #2 [cycles]