Non-UK European Prog
 

Ok, I'm a massive fan of non-US, non-UK prog bands. Primarily bands in the RIO fold of things. I love Kraut, I love chamber, I love Zuehl. Complex music with light hints of avant-garde, classical acoustic instrumentation, electronics w/o the repetitive "thump thump thump" hammer on nail drum machine, operatic vocals, fusion elements, dark themes, and lyrics that are either non-sense, I don't understand.

For this reason, I have a particular love of middle European prog. I feel that by, and large, it is far more intriguing than more mainstream progressive rock bands like Yes, Rush, or Genesis. That's why, I'm wondering what all is out there still for me to explore?

Right now, I'm looking at anything from Stormy Six to Arcuturs to Neu! I know threads have been made for a lot of particular regions(IE. Swedish prog thread, etc). But, I feel with the similarities between the bands in the genre, there's no way there shouldn't be a more cumulative thread.

Just listened to Lard Free on an obscure mention somehow randomly sparked in my brain from an obscure thread months ago by either Tore, or Dankstra, or somebody, I even forget.

Anybody else have any favourite Italian, Swedish, French, Belgian, Czechoslovakian, German prog bands they'd like to share?

Univers Zero
Art Zoyd
Present
Can
Neu!
Arcturus
Ulver
Samla Mammas Manna
Plastic People Of the Universe
Magma
Dun
Gong
Dodheimsgard
Blut Aus Nord
Dirty Granny Tales(maybe, another thing I discovered from random explorations on these forums)
Zu

Note: I consider a lot of black metal acts,, and other things sort of in the same vein when exploring the concept. I think anything outside the box suggesting is good. I know a few I listed may only be loosely prog, or be closer to avant-garde(which in a lot of the ways is the same thing), but I feel all sort of integrate the proper middle-European vibe in which integrates elements of the traditional folk musics, and avant-garde to make for a distinctly European sound.

pandoras. box (yes spelt that way- Germany)
Flied Egg (Japan)
Heldon (France)
Gatto Marge (Italy)
Sieges Even (Germany)
Baris Manco (Turkey)

just a few that I like.

Yeah I mentioned them in the "Last album you..." thread or "Albums you're digging", can't remember. I also sent it to Rezz, I think, in the trading thread some time ago. He seems to like it. I've only listened to their s/t album and it's a great mix of French avan-prog and kraut-rock. I have to check more from them. Apparently their three albums are quite different from each other.

Ever since I've heard Art Zoyd, I've been on a hunt for more European avant-prog, especially French. I have to finally listen to Univers Zero, which you recommended. I don't know what I'm waiting for as I really loved that one track you posted in another thread. So, it's great you opened this thread. I will certainly use it for recommendations and to post my own findings.

Speaking of which, here's another French band I listened to these past few months, but only their first album. I like to give it time before I move on to other albums. I think I also mentioned it somewhere, but here it is again:
Etron Fou Leloublan - Batelages (1977)
Skaligojurah, I think you're gonna love this one if you haven't heard it already, so here's a taste of opening track:
L'amulette et le petit rabbin

Also, there's this Swiss band Débile Menthol from the late 70s and 80s, connected to RIO movement. I listened to Émile au jardin patrologique (1981/2). Here's the song from it, Spacio-Cib

Another French band, ZNR, a duo, I think, with Hector Zazou and the other one (can't remember his name). Avant-prog, chamber music and cheesy synths, how can one not want to hear it. So, I listened to Barricade 3 (1976), very strange album, but interesting indeed. Two songs as an illustration:
Seynète
Armistice couronne de feuillages

Ame Son, French psychedelic, progressive band from late 60s, early 70s, with a jazz influence, similar to Gong in a way. I think they had only one proper album, which is the one I listened, Catalyse (1970)
Seventh Time Key
ps: this band was on the famous Nurse With Wound list...

So that's it for now. I don't want to post kraut bands, cause there's already a big thread in the avant-garde forum and almost every band is mentioned there.


I know a lot of European bands that are experimental and even jazzy, but more in the post-punk, industrial, or electro vein, but that doesn't belong in this thread. I can't connect them with prog by any stretch of imagination.

I agree completely with this. Mainstream progressive is that mainly as I guess they had big record companies and lots of promotion behind them. Doesn't mean there can't be lesser known stuff (whether in English or not) which is just as good and arguably in some cases better, and which might actually increase the audience for progressive if people actually explored and discovered them. Italian progressive such as Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's 'Io Sono Nato Libero' for example.

I'm currently downloading a torrent called Rock Progressivo Italiano that seems like it will be full of goodies. Lots of mini John Petrucci's running round over there it seems...

NO. But the Southwest-European (a.k.a. Iberian) prog is good too. :) I don't know where to begin. Perhaps with some examples of the best-known local specialty: Andalusian rock (that is, flamenco + prog rock).

Triana (1974-1983): En el lago ("At the Lake", 1974). Medina Azahara (since 1979): Paseando por la mezquita ("Walking in the Mosque", 1980).

Anglagard(Sweden)
Kingston Wall(Finland)
Riverside(Poland)
Wigwam(Finland)
Focus(Netherlands)
Nektar(Germany)
Novalis(Germany)
Eloy(Germany)
Triumvirat(Germany)
Embryo(Germany)
Indukti(Poland)
Anekdoten(Sweden)
Trettioariga Kriget(Sweden)
Omega(Hungary)
Finch(Netherlands)
Secret Oyster(Denmark)
Beardfish(Sweden)

There is alot of stuff out there from Europe from "the golden age of prog" to 2011. This list should keep you busy for awhile.:beer:

That would be Gatto Marte

Metamorphosis "Papillons" is a good one (fusionprog) from Spain which is lesser known.

[QUOTE=dankrsta;1044429]Etron Fou Leloublan - Batelages (1977)
Skaligojurah, I think you're gonna love this one





I would not recommend this.
I had the origional lp and traded it off quickly.

Found it to be sparse. RIO only works for me when its THICK. Lots going on. Variety of instruments.

Blame the twats that posted the download. Doesn't matter anyhow. It is crap.