Neo-progressive rock
Encyclopedia
Neo-progressive rock is a sub-genre
of progressive rock
, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today.
Neo-progressive rock is characterized by deeply emotional content, often delivered via dramatic lyrics
and a generous use of imagery and theatricality on-stage. The music is mostly the product of careful composition
, relying less heavily on improvised
jamming. The subgenre relies very much on clean, melodic & emotional electric guitar
solos
, combined with keyboards
. The main musical influences on the neo-prog genre are Genesis
, Yes
, Camel
, and Pink Floyd
.
Early neo-prog was marked by sophisticated lyrics
and often dark themes. While the accessibility of neo-prog by the mainstream is debatable, the form did generally seem more radio-friendly, with shorter tracks, than earlier progressive rock. Nonetheless, neo-prog never achieved the heights of popular success that bands like Pink Floyd
did.
The early notable neo-prog albums included Fact and Fiction
(1982) by Twelfth Night
, Script for a Jester's Tear
(1983) by Marillion
, The Wake (1985) by IQ
, and The Sentinel (1984) by Pallas
.
In the book "The Progressive Rock Files", author Jerry Lucky dedicates a chapter on Neo-progressive rock with the title "A Neo Beginning!", stating that this sub-genre "surfaced in late 1981, bearing testimony to the lasting values of this musical form" of progressive rock, but distinguishing it from this main genre by going on to say that "Sure the sound was a bit different ... a little more bite, a little more eighties".
Later in the same book, Jerry Lucky suggested that this sub-genre of Progressive Rock peaked in the mid-1980s: "As 1984 dawned all of the British neo-progressive rock bands release material. Marillion
's second Fugazi
, Pallas
' The Sentinel, Pendragon
's Fly High Fall Far, Twelfth Night
's Art and Illusion
, Solstice's Silent Dance, Quasar
's Fire in the Sky and plenty of others including records from Haze
Ce'st La Vie, Craft
, Mach One
Lost For Words
, BJH Victims of Circumstance, The Enid
The Spell, and others".
Marillion is almost certainly the most popular neo-prog band, peaking in popularity with their albums Misplaced Childhood
(1985) and Clutching at Straws
(1987). Following this peak, neo-prog declined as a mainstream genre, although these three pioneering bands are still active , and several newer groups have worked in the same space in the 1990s and 2000s.
By some fans of progressive rock
, neo-prog is criticised for lacking originality compared to other progressive rock
- even by such artists as Robert John Godfrey
of The Enid
, whose own band has sometimes been promoted by neo-prog fans.
Despite criticisms, neo-prog still draws a significant fan base and albums are consistently released. One of the biggest labels for neo prog is InsideOut Music
. According to the Progressive Archives website, the most popular neo prog artists are Marillion, IQ, Arena and Pendragon. News about neo progressive rock bands is given regularly on The Dutch Progressive Rock website.
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today.
Neo-progressive rock is characterized by deeply emotional content, often delivered via dramatic lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
and a generous use of imagery and theatricality on-stage. The music is mostly the product of careful composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
, relying less heavily on improvised
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
jamming. The subgenre relies very much on clean, melodic & emotional electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
solos
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
, combined with keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. The main musical influences on the neo-prog genre are Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Camel
Camel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
, and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
.
Early neo-prog was marked by sophisticated lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
and often dark themes. While the accessibility of neo-prog by the mainstream is debatable, the form did generally seem more radio-friendly, with shorter tracks, than earlier progressive rock. Nonetheless, neo-prog never achieved the heights of popular success that bands like Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
did.
The early notable neo-prog albums included Fact and Fiction
Fact and Fiction
Fact and Fiction is a studio album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1982.-Details:Recorded during down-time at Revolution Studios, Cheadle Hulme, Fact and Fiction was engineered by Stuart Rickering, Johnny Gluck, and Pablo, and produced by Twelfth Night and Andy MacPherson...
(1982) by Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night (band)
Twelfth Night are an English neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007.-Formation:The seeds of Twelfth Night were sown when guitarist Andy Revell and drummer Brian Devoil joined forces on 23 February 1978 to win a talent competition at Reading University. The road crew included Geoff...
, Script for a Jester's Tear
Script for a Jester's Tear
Script for a Jester's Tear is the first album by the neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released in 1983. It reached number seven on the UK album chart and stayed on the chart for 31 weeks, the second longest chart residency of a Marillion album....
(1983) by Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
, The Wake (1985) by IQ
IQ (band)
IQ are a British neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981 following the dissolution of their original band The Lens...
, and The Sentinel (1984) by Pallas
Pallas (band)
Pallas are a progressive rock band based in the UK. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s...
.
In the book "The Progressive Rock Files", author Jerry Lucky dedicates a chapter on Neo-progressive rock with the title "A Neo Beginning!", stating that this sub-genre "surfaced in late 1981, bearing testimony to the lasting values of this musical form" of progressive rock, but distinguishing it from this main genre by going on to say that "Sure the sound was a bit different ... a little more bite, a little more eighties".
Later in the same book, Jerry Lucky suggested that this sub-genre of Progressive Rock peaked in the mid-1980s: "As 1984 dawned all of the British neo-progressive rock bands release material. Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
's second Fugazi
Fugazi (album)
Fugazi is the second studio album of the neo-progressive rock band Marillion. It was released in 1984 and was the first album with Ian Mosley on drums. It reached no. 5 on the UK album charts, stayed on the chart for a total of 20 weeks and contained the UK top 40 singles Punch And Judy and...
, Pallas
Pallas (band)
Pallas are a progressive rock band based in the UK. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s...
' The Sentinel, Pendragon
Pendragon (band)
Pendragon are an English neo-progressive rock band established in 1978 in Stroud, Gloucestershire as Zeus Pendragon by guitarist and vocalist Nick Barrett. The Zeus was dropped before the band started recording as the members decided it was too long to look good on a t-shirt...
's Fly High Fall Far, Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night (band)
Twelfth Night are an English neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007.-Formation:The seeds of Twelfth Night were sown when guitarist Andy Revell and drummer Brian Devoil joined forces on 23 February 1978 to win a talent competition at Reading University. The road crew included Geoff...
's Art and Illusion
Art and Illusion
Art And Illusion is a studio mini-album released by UK neo-progressive band Twelfth Night in 1984.- Details :Art And Illusion marks the first Twelfth Night release with Andy Sears....
, Solstice's Silent Dance, Quasar
Quasar (band)
Quasar was formed in 1979 by founder Keith Turner. They found themselves to be amongst a movement of British bands during the early 1980s, including Marillion, Pendragon, IQ, Twelfth Night, Solstice and Pallas, that continued in the progressive rock style created by 1970s bands such as Genesis and...
's Fire in the Sky and plenty of others including records from Haze
Haze (band)
Haze are an English progressive rock band from Sheffield, England, mainly active in England in the 1980s.Formed in 1978 by the brothers Chris McMahon , and Paul McMahon , they played their first concert at Stephen Hill Youth Club, Sheffield on 10 November that year...
Ce'st La Vie, Craft
Craft (band)
Craft was a British rock band formed by William Gilmour after leaving The Enid, together with Grant McKay Gilmour and Martin Russell of Afro Celt Sound System....
, Mach One
Mach One (band)
Mach One are a British neo-progressive rock band founded in 1980 by a group of students attending Burlington Danes High School in West London. After a series of studio demos, school gigs and lineup changes, the band attracted the attention of Keith Goodwin who represented them through...
Lost For Words
Lost For Words (Mach One)
Lost For Words by Mach One is a collection of studio sessions and demos recorded in London during 1983, and released on vinyl the same year. Despite a limited number of pressings, the album was distributed worldwide via Pinnacle Records and reviewed in Sounds by Mary Anne Hobbs and Kerrang...
, BJH Victims of Circumstance, The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
The Spell, and others".
Marillion is almost certainly the most popular neo-prog band, peaking in popularity with their albums Misplaced Childhood
Misplaced Childhood
Misplaced Childhood is the third studio album of the neo-progressive rock band Marillion. It was released in 1985 and has been their most commercially successful album, reaching number one in the and spending a total of 41 weeks on the chart, the longest chart residency of a Marillion album...
(1985) and Clutching at Straws
Clutching at Straws
Clutching at Straws is the fourth studio album by neo-progressive rock band Marillion, and is a concept album. Released in 1987, it was the last album with lead singer Fish who left the band in 1988...
(1987). Following this peak, neo-prog declined as a mainstream genre, although these three pioneering bands are still active , and several newer groups have worked in the same space in the 1990s and 2000s.
By some fans of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, neo-prog is criticised for lacking originality compared to other progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
- even by such artists as Robert John Godfrey
Robert John Godfrey
Robert John Godfrey is a British composer, pianist and founder member of The Enid.Born on the Leeds Castle estate in Kent, England, Godfrey was educated at Finchden Manor in Tenterden, which was described by its founder George Lyward as a "therapeutic community for adolescents", other alumni of...
of The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
, whose own band has sometimes been promoted by neo-prog fans.
Despite criticisms, neo-prog still draws a significant fan base and albums are consistently released. One of the biggest labels for neo prog is InsideOut Music
InsideOut Music
Inside Out Music is a German independent record label based in Kleve, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles music albums.-History:...
. According to the Progressive Archives website, the most popular neo prog artists are Marillion, IQ, Arena and Pendragon. News about neo progressive rock bands is given regularly on The Dutch Progressive Rock website.
Key artists
- ArenaArena (band)Arena are a British neo-progressive rock band founded in 1995 by Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer. Most of the band's lyrics are written by Nolan, though Pointer contributed lyrics to Sirens and other tracks on the first two albums....
- EnchantEnchant (band)Enchant is an American neo-progressive rock band, formed in 1989. Their music is characterized by ambitious lyrics and melodies along with harmonic experimentation.-History:...
- Final Conflict/FCFC (band)FC, originally named Final Conflict, are a British neo-progressive rock band based in Staffordshire.-Band members:Current line-up *Brian Donkin - Vocals, guitars*Andy Lawton - Vocals, guitars...
- FishFish (singer)Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
- Frost*
- GalahadGalahad (UK band)Galahad are an English Progressive rock band formed in 1985. Despite never having a major record deal, they have released 6 studio albums, 3 live albums and 3 rarities collections. Over the last 25 years they have supported the likes of Pendragon, IQ and Twelfth Night...
- IQIQ (band)IQ are a British neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981 following the dissolution of their original band The Lens...
- JadisJadisJadis is a U.K. neo-progressive rock group. They play guitar-driven rock with the use of synthesizers to add depth and atmosphere, and an emphasis on melody. They are currently signed to InsideOut Music....
- JanysiumJanysiumJanysium are a British neo-progressive rock band, founded in 1980 by two pupils from Little Ealing Middle School; Peter Matuchniak and Simon Strevens...
- LandmarqLandmarqLandmarq are a UK-based neo-progressive rock band. Since forming in 1990, they have so far released six albums, two of which were recorded live at various concerts in the UK and elsewhere in Europe....
- Mach OneMach One (band)Mach One are a British neo-progressive rock band founded in 1980 by a group of students attending Burlington Danes High School in West London. After a series of studio demos, school gigs and lineup changes, the band attracted the attention of Keith Goodwin who represented them through...
- MarillionMarillionMarillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
- MindgamesMindgamesMindgames is a progressive rock band from Belgium. The band was founded in 1997 by Eric Vandormael and Bart Schram . After a few adds in music magazines they recruit Benny Petak and Tom Truyers . For almost a year and a half the band consisted of four members...
- Clive NolanClive NolanClive Nolan is a British musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the recent development of progressive rock...
- PallasPallas (band)Pallas are a progressive rock band based in the UK. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s...
- PendragonPendragon (band)Pendragon are an English neo-progressive rock band established in 1978 in Stroud, Gloucestershire as Zeus Pendragon by guitarist and vocalist Nick Barrett. The Zeus was dropped before the band started recording as the members decided it was too long to look good on a t-shirt...
- QuasarQuasar (band)Quasar was formed in 1979 by founder Keith Turner. They found themselves to be amongst a movement of British bands during the early 1980s, including Marillion, Pendragon, IQ, Twelfth Night, Solstice and Pallas, that continued in the progressive rock style created by 1970s bands such as Genesis and...
- ShadowlandShadowland (band)Shadowland are a British neo-progressive rock band formed in the 1990s. The band's music tends towards the pop side of progressive rock, while retaining its melodic and emotional intensity....
- SylvanSylvan (band)- History :Kay Söhl, the two keyboarders Volker Söhl and Matthias Harder, founded the band Temporal Temptation in the spring of 1990. By that summer the band had already played its first gig - the first live performance of the core founding members of the band. In a way it was also Sylvan’s birth....
- Twelfth NightTwelfth Night (band)Twelfth Night are an English neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007.-Formation:The seeds of Twelfth Night were sown when guitarist Andy Revell and drummer Brian Devoil joined forces on 23 February 1978 to win a talent competition at Reading University. The road crew included Geoff...