Latest articles by James McNair
Be-Bop Deluxe’s finest hours revisited again – but the journey is always rewarding
Bill Nelson’s finest hours are revisited again in clamshell set, but the journey is always rewarding
Styx continue their prog-powered renaissance with Circling From Above
Chicago’s AOR-prog veterans return in fine fettle – although the music vastly outweighs the concept on their 18th album
“It’s been a wonderful ride”: Strawbs’ Dave Cousins and The Magic Of It All
Despite his best intentions, their 2023 album proved to be their last – and even though it involved a series of personal and business struggles, the release found the late bandleader in good humour and ready to fight another day
“Tender and free-flowing”: Jack Bruce’s Harmony Row, expanded to 4 discs
A fine revamp of one of his key post-Cream milestones, including two excellent TV concerts
“Hymnal and melancholy qualities are still to die for”: Greg Lake Live returns from 2005
His band doesn’t have the pedigree of many of his collaborators, but a future Jethro Tull guitarist and a TV show musical director prove highly capable foils in three-disc set
The meaning behind The Stranglers' controversial classic Peaches
Driven by a gritty bass riff, The Stranglers' Top 10 hit Peaches is nearly 50 years old, but it's still a must-play by today’s version of the band
“Rick Wakeman-like piano flair and an agile, crystalline voice”: Renaissance’s Running Hard
Clamshell set illustrates a wondrous purple patch of symphonic prog-folk from Annie Haslam and co
“There’s no denying its compositional prowess”: Greenslade’s Large Afternoon Expanded
Fruits of their short-lived new-millennium reunion provides nostalgia and commentary, with live tracks containing more meat and punch
Are the touching tales of Jethro Tull’s Minstrel In The Gallery really just fiction?
Ian Anderson reflects on giving Roy Harper his movie break, aggressively defending Dee Palmer from paparazzi intrusion, losing bassist Jeffrey Hammond, planning to quit touring – and the quiet couple of weeks he spent recording Tull’s masterful 1975 album
Pentangle’s The Albums: 1968-1972: a lavish celebration of folk’s first supergroup
Box set featuring their first six records is enhanced with out-takes, live tracks and solo material by Bert Jansch and John Renbourn
Neal Morse’s supergroup Cosmic Cathedral reassert their beliefs on debut album Deep Water
Former Spock’s Beard man with Chester Thompson, Phil Keaggy and Byron House offer strong virtuosic music – although preaching and genre-hopping may alienate some
Ian Anderson: Jethro Tull’s one-legged hammy past and their potential stripped-down future
Latest Jethro Tull album Curious Ruminant has Ian Anderson reflecting on his hammy stage performances of the past, working with William Shatner and Mikael Åkerfeldt, and how the band could have a back-to-basics future
“An evening in with the lava lamp beckons”: Middle Earth Club 3CD set
Middle Earth: The Soundtrack Of London’s Legendary Psychedelic Club features David Bowie, Family Brian Auger, Denny Laine, Yardbirds, Deviants, The Who and more
It’s great to have Alex Lifeson using Rush colours again on Envy Of None’s Stygian Wavz
Envy of None’s second album Stygian Wavz proves Alex Lifeson was right to work with other artists - might it make Geddy Lee consider doing the same?
When Balaam And The Angel tried to emulate ELP, it didn’t go well
Spectacular live disaster hasn’t killed guitarist Jim Morris’ passion for Pictures At An Exhibition
The prog credentials of Sufjan Stevens’ The Age Of Adz
After a long illness and the admission that his promise of writing an album about each State of the US had been a gimmick, he wobbled then reset with 2010 album that’s a prog-tinged curio
"Ahead of the art-rock curve": Bill Nelson’s Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam Deluxe Box Set
Ex-Be Bop Deluxe leader’s 1981 solo release is greatly expanded to impressive effect
Ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian ‘Robbo’ Robertson’s wild tales of Phil Lynott, Lemmy, David Bowie and more
Phil Lynott, Lemmy, Rush, Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins – former Thin Lizzy/Motörhead guitarist Brian Robertson crossed paths with them all and has the hangovers to prove it
“There are two experiences on offer here”: Curved Air’s Rarities Series box set
Six out-of-print discs span decades, with offerings for completists alongside a particularly pleasing 1972 live performance
The prog credentials of Luke Haines’ 9 1/2 Psychedelic Meditations On British Wrestling
The former Auteurs mastermind went further off-piste than ever with his 2011 album, which only runs to 30 minutes but delivers a real experience
“A showcase for wondrous mandolin and banjo… and the majesty and clarity of Maddy Prior’s voice”: Steeleye Span’s 50th anniversary edition of Now We Are Six
“A showcase for mandolin, banjo and Maddy Prior”: Steeleye Span’s Now We Are Six, 2024 edition
"I can't believe all these people are buying a single about death!": Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Lindisfarne's Lady Eleanor was written during an overnight shift in a psychiatric ward
Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Lindisfarne's Lady Eleanor was written in a psychiatric ward
Triumph were on the cusp of superstardom – then they let it all go
By the end of the 70s Triumph were living up to their name. Then came the falling-out, the split, and 20 years of toxicity before they shared a stage again
