Prog Contest 2021: Round 1 Match 6

On we moved to Match 6, one of the stranger matchups of the tournament so far. Here were the contenders:

Hercules and Lernaean Hydra - In Other Worlds

"It's an album that bursts with creativity and musicality. It's apparent it was created by people who loved music and paid attention to detail. It's never static in one place and genre, and this fluidity is further highlighted by the numerous different singers that guest here, and the more than 80 (!) different instruments used for the end result. It wouldn't be a 70's greek prog album without numerous references to Greek folk music and of course all the lyrics are in Greek as well." - Mythodea

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mWS8vCSWMAhWCUBG8DVcCDDOji8Tln-GU

vs.

Hermann Szobel - Szobel

"Child prodigy Hermann Szobel composed and produced one album at the age of 18 before he disappeared from the music world completely. The album has a Frank Zappa vibe, with emphasis on piano (Szobel's instrument), percussion, and vibraphone. It was obscure even when it was released in the 70s, but a 2012 reissue has given us a second chance to enjoy it." - TwigTW

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2VUcwcNH6YbFCPfntYcYdG?si=iBz1ZcHoRta7TNbKOWMizg

youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWb59xaXahQpnZs7AjlHhCQ

So it was Greek folk prog vs. Austrian classical/jazz prog, with both albums hailing from 1976. I'll give a day and a half, or maybe two days, before I tell you how this one worked out and bring you up to date and into Match 7. (I'll tell you how it worked out for me -- I had to use Denise's cell phone to vote from my hospital bed. But dammit, I got my vote in!)

Prog Contest 2021: Round 1 Match 5 Results

 This contest was so tight that our host, Friday, let it go an extra couple of days to get a clean result. Here was my take:

I've been under the weather most of the week, which hasn't helped. But this wasn't a good round for me.

I always wondered about Soft Machine, as they seemed to be considered the closest contemporaries of Pink Floyd back in the '60s British psychedelic era. I even picked up their Third album a while back. However, because I tend to prioritize keeping up with new music, it's still in my listening pile somewhere. So this is really my first exposure to this classic band (although I know their personnel is entirely different now).

Unfortunately, this was a disappointment to me. It's yet another album that I hear as well played but mostly uninteresting jazz, with no vocals. There were one or two moments that got through to me - there was a bit of "Moonchild" thing going on at the 30-minute mark or so that I was into briefly. But ultimately, I don't really take any pleasure in this kind of music, no matter how good the musicianship is. And the 59+ minute length didn't help it any.

The Yolk album is definitely a weird-ass LP. There were times where it was way too deep into the Outer Limits for me, but there were at least some other parts that I took some pleasure in. It mostly has vocalizations rather than vocals, but some (though not all) were enjoyable. And it didn't hurt that it clocked in a good twenty minutes lighter than the Soft Machine album.

So my voting preference never changed throughout the three listens. I vote for Yolk.

The group was really torn on this one. The voting stayed close throughout, with some people really loving the musicianship and improvisational skills of Soft Machine and others praising the creativity and innovation of Yolk. After waiting two days to try to get all of the votes in, Friday finally called it.

Final Result: Soft Machine 9 votes, Yolk 10 votes.

Out Sick and Catch Up

 Hi Gang,

As you can see, I'm a little behind in my reporting on the prog rock contest. Part of that is because last week's Round 1 Match 5 (Soft Machine vs. Yolk) ran over because it was extremely close, and the other part is I got sick and just spent five days in the hospital.

Anyway, I'm back now, and much better. I hope to give you the skinny on how Match 5 worked out, then give you the contestants for Round 1 Match 6, and the next give you the final results for that matchup (which just finished yesterday, and for which I had to cast my vote from the hospital. And after that, I'll give you the matchup for Round 1, Match 7, which just began today.

That's the plan, anyway.

Prog Contest 2021: Round 1 Match 5

For this round, our friend Friday has chosen to match up two of the more idiosyncratic entrants. Here's what it looks like:

Soft Machine - Hidden Details

"Soft Machine's latest record is way better than you'd expect, these are experienced prog musicians doing their thing, and it feels almost effortless, even at their current age. This record is packed with some richly atmospheric jazzy tracks, and while it might not be up there with their best, it's still a very strong record that is befitting of the band and canturbury scene's name." - Sharktooth

Youtube: https://youtu.be/uGIf97m243M

vs.

Yolk - Solar

"Incredible fluid layering of sounds with a tricked-out, almost krautrock approach to rhythm. Playful vocals and vibrant atmosphere, whole thing sounds like a wonky prog forest. And they keep it tight, under 40 minutes long, praise be." - porcupinetheater

Bandcamp: https://yolkmusic.bandcamp.com/album/solar

So you have the most recent effort by an elder statesman of the British music scene vs. a French avant-garde band from Dunkirk. I can't wait!

Prog Contest 2021: Round 1 Match 4 Results

This was another round that was pretty tight until the end.

Here's what I had to say:

I've already stated most of my thoughts about he Alas LP. The album annoys me in parts where it gets harsh or very jazzy. It also entertains me in parts where the band enters the ELP-Tarkus zone, or in those quiet parts with the gentle male harmonies and tasteful, quiet synth. It's not totally in my prog sweet spot, but it successfully hits some of the buttons.

On the other hand, I just can't seem to click with the Seru Giran LP. It doesn't have a lot of negatives (except perhaps for having too many high-pitch/fasletto vocals for my taste.) But it also isn't doing anything much FOR me. The musicianship is definitely good, but after three listens, I just haven't gotten interested in the songwriting. (If it moves onto the next round, I'll give it another listen then, as always, and maybe it will start to make more sense to me then.)

So do I go for the one with the higher positives AND the higher negatives, or go for the one that just kind of hangs there for me? In this case I choose passion, both positive and negative. My vote is for Alas.

Of course, it had to happen eventually, and this was the round where the majority was against me. Alas was close for most of the voting process, but it was always a vote or two behind.

Final Result: Alas 7 votes, Seru Giran 11 votes.

Prog Contest 2021: Round 1 Match 4

 So this round, our friend Friday has given a contest between two prog bands from Argentina. Here are the details:

Alas - Alas

"Lovely album from the Argentinian outfit Alas, released in 1976. Brings to mind ELP and Return to Forever, but with a distinct twist." - normaloctagon

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZfbKolVHgak

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4lXzFUScvOee8H8eUj6xSy

vs.

Serú Girán - La Grassa de las Capitales

"One of the many projects by Charly Garcia, one of the biggest names in latin rock. La Grasa de las Capitales is a slow, bluesy prog album with what feels to me like a very nocturnal and urban vibe. Also a lot of jazz fusion into it, and your classic argentinian vocals!" - MrSirLordGentleman

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm6Qzilw5Cs&ab_channel=Ser%C3%BAGir%C3%A1n

I don't know anything about either of these bands. However, I can tell you MrSirLordGentleman, who recommended the second LP, is the only contestant who has ever won the Prog Contest twice. So I'll be watching (and listening to) this round with special interest.

Prog Contest 2021: Round 1 Match 3 Results

 This round was pretty tight, until it wasn't. 

Here was my vote:

You could probably see which direction I was moving in on this one. After the first listen, I had mixed feelings on both albums. However, after the second one, my feelings started to take shape.

For the Syzygy, I liked a lot of their synth work. However, overall, I liked them best in their "smaller" moments, on tracks like "Circadian Rhythm" and "Beggar's Tale". On many of the longer tracks, they built up compositions which, while fairly complex, weren't necessarily pleasant for me to listen to. Of their longer tracks, I liked "Dreams" the best. As for the vocals, while I was glad they had some, and their singer was certainly competent, I again found him more effective on the shorter, quieter tracks.

As for the Pendragon album, the fist time through, while I liked their overall sound, I wasn't convinced they offered much in the way of songwriting. By the second listen, though, many (though not all) of their songs, began to resonate with me, and this held through during the third listen as well. I also liked a lot of their grand guitar work.

In the end, I had a small but distinct preference for the Pendragon LP, and my vote goes to that one.

Surprisingly (and somewhat frighteningly), for the third round in a row, the majority was with me, only this time by a slimmer margin. 

Final Result: Syzygy 8 votes, Pendragon 11 votes.