Latest articles by Mike Barnes
Initially active for only three years, they secured their reputation with a series of impressively pogressive releases that, it’s said, popularised the entire genre
Hawkwind return with There Is No Space For Us, another impressive blend of familiar elements and stylistic surprises in what’s effectively a sister album to Stories From Time And Space
Vocalist with a one-off voice talked writing hits, co-founding Streetwalkers, going solo and overseeing the emotional reunion as he marked the launch of his most recent album
The recently-released live record from 2023 shows how much has changed in 50 years, as John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest look forward to the “progtastic” double album they’ve nearly finished
They’re unmistakably American, but their lead visionary names Henry Cow, Soft Machine, Gentle Giant and Van der Graaf Generator among his motivators, and explains why his band is definitely not punk
80-minute work from 2009 – of which just a fraction was used in a movie soundtrack – was rescued from his vault following his 2022 death
The self-proclaimed second-loudest drummer in Birmingham recalls his time with The Move, Black Sabbath and more – and he wants you to know he hasn’t retired
The prog supergroup were at their creative peak when they created the 1973 epic that took the world by storm, despite the apparent hordes of critics
Pye Hastings, Davy O’List and others recall the company that aimed for an audience of “groovy people” and backed The Moody Blues, Caravan, The Move, Camel, Procol Harum and others
Procol Harum singer’s first-ever song was one of the biggest hits imaginable, but he enjoyed many more career highs with and without the band that made his name
Former Yes singer thinks his voice didn’t cross over to pop as well as Phil Collins’ did - but it’s strong enough on this 1988 title
2007 live set by the West Country’s finest returns in 2CD/DVD package
Second full-length album from melodic prog supergroup is far wider-ranging than the members’ CVs might imply
With a pre-King Crimson John Wetton on bass and a clutch of idiosyncratic songs with busy arrangements, the 1972 release cemented Roger Chapman and co’s position as one of the most influential bands of the era
The 1973 release steered a new line-up into uncharted waters, resulting in a work that could only have been made by a band who were “prepared to jump off the cliff”
Ram's influence on second-generation Beatles fans-turned-musicians cannot be underestimated
It’s taken him nearly 50 years to return to the concept album format, but his semi-fictional musical memoir proves it was a wise move to wait – it’s his best solo record so far
Jazz rocker explores modes, plaintive tones and mysticism on his album, featuring old bandmate Dave Bainbridge
1971's Once Again album. only the band's second album, saw Oldham's prog quartet Barclay James Harvest working with an orchestra to striking effect
Semi-biographical time-travel story The Circus And The Nightwhale echoes the intentions (but not the music) of Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper
They were forced into an untimely demise after just three years. But the unique bond of two synth geniuses left a catalogue that justifies their reputation as a “thinking man’s band”
Lessons learned from Frank Zappa and always-on personal connections mean they avoid the pitfalls that can kill jam band performances
Chris Wright operated a business model that was more like a balancing act, with jail as the penalty for toppling - but Procol Harum, Trevor Rabin, Gentle Giant and others benefited from the approach
The multi-genre drummer spent over two decades with the band – but insists it was surprisingly easy to leave when the time came
The “brothers in keyboards” had plans for a show together, a tour with Jon Lord and perhaps even an album before tragedy made it all impossible
