Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:06:25 — 350.7MB)

This week’s episode of The European Perspective is a sort of ‘listening party’ for the release of the new album by English proggers Tinyfish, entitled the Big Red Spark. Three years in the making this partly conceptual record cuts completely new ground for the band, and also for the genre in general, incorporating the Tinyfish brand of modern progressive rock with Robert Ramsay’s innovative use of narrative elements in both song lyrics and spoken word, and is most certainly one of the key releases of the year.

I’ve been lucky enough to have the collaboration of all of the members of the band, and particularly Simon Godfrey and Robert Ramsay, who effectively co-present this show with me. First there’s a review of the Tinyfish catalogue to date, with the tracks selected by the members of the band’s internet forum, The Fishtank. Then we examine some of the influences though a compilation of songs selected by each band member as being either influential on them as musicians, or on the Big Red Spark album itself. Finally we present the new album in its entirety, with insights from Rob and Simon on its production and content. There’s also a couple of surprises along the way!

The Big Red Spark is released on 13th September and can be pre-ordered here directly from the band’s website.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:53:27 — 335.9MB)

A veritable cornucopia of new music in this week’s show, as Spoffo and I bring you new releases from Dec Burke, Christina and Demians, to name but three. Counterbalancing this we have a selection from the recent re-releases of PFM’s three English-language albums from the seventies, and some of the very best of Twelfth Night, from their classic Fact And Fiction album.

Oh yes, and loads more great music, as you’ve come to expect from The European Perspective!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:57:29 — 271.8MB)

After last week’s snapshot of the largely British ‘proto-prog’ of the years 1966-68, a more modern cosmopolitan theme this week, with music from Germany (Eloy and Subsignal), the Netherlands (Kayak), Sweden (Makajodama) and Norway (Magic Pie) as well as the usual sprinkling of UK-based progressive music, including more from Konchordat and a selection from The Imagined Village’s excellent new album ‘Empire & Love’.

Continuing in the theme of ‘lost albums’ of the seventies, there’s also a sizeable chunk of Home’s 1973 album ‘The Alchemist’.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:46:41 — 259.5MB)

As a precursor to re-starting the ‘history’ series within The European Perspective, this week’s show, entitled ‘Before The Crimson King’, is brought courtesy of guest editor Phil Bradshaw. Phil has chosen a selection of music which represents what was happening in the years 1966-68, leading up to the release of ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’, perhaps the first progressive rock album proper, in 1969.

Thanks to Phil for his work in putting together this playlist – any faults are entirely due to the delivery of the material, and therefore mine!