Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews of Profiles

« Newer

Older »

Showing items 21 to 30 of 34

A Band, a Planet, a Vision —
A Short History of Gong

Cover art Gong was, and remains, one of the cornerstones of the genesis of progressive rock. Theirs is a legacy of utter originality, anarchic individuality, and atypically diverse and accomplished musicianship. Throughout the course of their extensive history, they have, in one form or another, recorded over twenty albums over the course of over twenty five years. While many fine musicians have entered and left the fold, the early focal point was clearly Daevid Allen, imported from Australia in search of the perfect vehicle to channel his Beat aspirations (he was an early associate of William Burroughs). After Allen left the band in 1974, French percussionist Pierre Moerlen assumed control of the band, as Allen and wife/collaborator Gilli Smyth went on to produce numerous projects and Gong reunions. For the purpose of brevity, this article will only cover material recorded under the Gong name. The offshoots are just too numerous to mention — certainly a testament to Gong's widespread influence across the European progressive rock scene.  » Read more
(Posted by Steve Robey 1996-08-01)

Lengthy Silence Punctuated By... —
A Profile of French TV 1996

Cover art An unlikely name for a collective of progressive musicians from Louisville, Kentucky, French TV is essentially bassist / bandleader Mike Sary and whoever he happens to be working with at any given point in time. From one album to the next, the high turnover rate in the lineup may, at first lead one to believe that French TV is more of a solo project — yet considering the time elapsed between recording of the band's four releases (nearly eight years in some cases), these are only snapshots of what has been a gradual change.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Kenso - Overview of Pre-1996 Releases

Cover art If Japan has the equivalent of a Happy the Man, Kenso is it. Their sound encompasses everything, from polished symphonic prog, to fusion, Canterbury, even touches of Japanese traditional music. The music is (with a couple of exceptions) entirely instrumental, melodically rich, highly spirited, and completely energized. They've been together since the late 70s, off and on, and the lineup has changed over time, but has always centered around guitarist Yoshihisa Shimizu. In addition to guitar, the lineup typically features dual keyboards, bass, and drums — and early on included a flautist as well.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1996-03-01)

Out of the Shadow of Magma —
The Eskaton Story

Cover art Of all the musicians and groups most influenced by Magma and zeuhl music, Eskaton may have been the most impressive of all. While beginning their careers with strong influences by Magma in both name (Eskaton Kommandkestra) and music, the Parisian group slowly and carefully forged their own view of celestial music over three albums and a single.  » Read more
(Posted by Mike McLatchey 1995-11-01)

The Zeuhl School —
The Extended Family of Magma

Cover art

When considering the legacy of Magma, which continues to this day, one must recognize the huge wake they left behind: Many of France’s best musicians were once members, or associates of members, or somehow were touched by their influence. Thus, their pervasive effect on the French jazz-rock scene cannot be understated. After Magma it would never quite be quite the same again. In this piece I will attempt to cover (albeit briefly) some of the many spin-offs, feeders, side projects, and solo works by many of Vander’s former and current associates. This overview is not intended to be exhaustive and complete – instead it is intended to establish some of the relationships between certain formations and musicians who carried the zeuhl spirit forward, and give some information regarding them.

 » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-11-01)

Once upon a Time in Linz —
The Eela Craig Story

Cover art Possibly Austria's best-known prog band (I'd be very surprised if you can name another that made more than one album), Eela Craig formed in the early 70s in Linz (about 85 miles west of Vienna). The nucleus of the band was pianist Hubert Bognermayr, bassist Gerhard Englisch, and multi-instrumentalist (flute, sax, organ, guitar) Harald Zuschrader. Over the course of the remainder of the decade, they produced four albums that are well-regarded in the progressive rock world, and (like so many bands) went on to record more pop-oriented material in the 80s and beyond.  » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-11-01)

Tending the Progressive Garden —
Carl Tafel and Terraced Garden

Cover art Terraced Garden began in early '81 as a solo project by Toronto-born multi-instrumentalist/composer Carl Tafel. Prior to this, he was one third of a band called Cardboard Brains, for whom he played bass and sang, a "demonically heavy" outfit by Tafel's own admission, that was "too far outside for any broad acceptance." He left the band in order to concentrate on writing, playing guitar and keyboards, and developing a more expanded sound. The first recordings began in 1981, but the money quickly ran out. A year later, Tafel went back into the studio, and with the help of some other musicians, finished the recordings for the first album by the end of 1982, and it was finally released in January '83.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-11-01)

A Short History of Kobaïan-Earth Relations —
Magma in the 70s

Cover art Imagine a world, many centuries into the future, when society as we know it has decayed into chaos and degradation, void of spiritual guidance. The colonization of space is well underway, and space travel has become commonplace. It is in this setting that a handful of enlightened Earth people seeking a better existence finance the construction of a private spacecraft and leave the planet in search of a new world where a new, more spiritually guided civilization can be reborn. They finally find that new home after a long and hazardous journey on the distant planet Kobaïa, where the party settles and begins anew.  » Read more
(Posted by Peter Thelen 1995-11-01)

Weaving a String of Dreams —
The Hoelderlin Story

Cover art Hoelderlin are not generally mentioned in the same breath as Grobschnitt, SFF, Novalis, Wallenstein, and the other leading lights of German symphonic rock, but they should be. Their brand of progressive music, while distinctly German, was unlike any of their aforementioned peers. Hoelderlin's style is altogether mellower and more pastoral, drawing influence from rock, jazz, folk and the music of the Romantic era. The result is a lyrical, melodic music distinct from anything else happening in Germany. Perhaps this is why the recent reissues have not received the attention they deserved thus far.  » Read more
(Posted by Mike Ohman 1995-07-01)

A Phenomenological Phishing Expedition —
A Profile of Phish 1995

Cover art The phenomenon of Phish is a bit of an enigma. Playing music that for the most part ranges from not-particularly-commercial to wildly eclectic to seriously challenging, they are selling out large venues and even setting concert attendance records across the country. But while their fanbase has grown exponentially over the decade or so of their existence, they continue to receive little more than token mention in the music press, and what mention there is often tends to be horribly misguided and misinformed. So what is it about Phish that fans find so addictive yet critics and the music community as a whole seem to find so ungraspable?  » Read more
(Posted by Rob Walker 1995-07-01)

« Newer

Older »

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.