Progarchives.com has always (since 2002) relied on banners ads to cover web hosting fees and all. Please consider supporting us by giving monthly PayPal donations and help keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
Joined: February 25 2015
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 24
Topic: Great prog without guitars Posted: March 01 2015 at 12:18
Hi, I'm really a fan of the hammond in prog and also don't like heavy distorted guitars which are used in new prog as good as everytime. That's why I can't get into now prog and prog after the 70' (Nuova Era would be an exception). I'm always in seach of key-driven prog bands or bands which use little/no guitars but more obscure instruments without being just folk. (I don't mean without bass guitar even if it's technical incorect to say "without guitars" then.)
Beside the well-known Groups like ELP (not a big fan, but some good stuff here), VDGG (really great), Triumvirat, Area (at list the first album), Gentle Giant and Ekseption, which prog group do you recommend? Or which is your favorite one? The listened groups above are all great in my opinion. In addition, some of my favorites: Cannabis India Nuova Era Metamorfosi Collegium Musicum Trace
Joined: October 12 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6446
Posted: March 01 2015 at 13:14
Um, Gentle Giant and Area had full time guitarists. There is also some guitar on those ELP and VDGG albums.
The first two FM albums come to mind (even though they are only 'prog related' here). Electric violin and electric mandolin take the place of the guitar. Not a lot of examples are coming to me at the moment but there is the Japanese bass 'n drums duo of Ruins and there was a keyboard/drums duo from Germany called Magma (no relation to the French band although they themselves used very little guitar as well).
Joined: February 25 2015
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 24
Posted: March 01 2015 at 13:50
zravkapt wrote:
Um, Gentle Giant and Area had full time guitarists. There is also some guitar on those ELP and VDGG albums.
The first two FM albums come to mind (even though they are only 'prog related' here). Electric violin and electric mandolin take the place of the guitar. Not a lot of examples are coming to me at the moment but there is the Japanese bass 'n drums duo of Ruins and there was a keyboard/drums duo from Germany called Magma (no relation to the French band although they themselves used very little guitar as well).
Was sure that someone would say that. I know that they had guitarists, but they are not guitar-orientated (at least in my opinion). Wrote it to just give some examples, hadn't time to double check that :(
What do you mean by "EM"? Is that the full name? Althought I'm not a huge fan of electric violin. Will check the others out, thanks!
micky wrote:
try these on for size...
two of my most favorite modern groups. .and damnit no one likes hard and heavy guitar orientated stuff more than me...
Joined: September 03 2013
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Status: Offline
Points: 1607
Posted: March 01 2015 at 14:04
Thanks for your suggestions Tricksiebzehn! Cannabis India is a great band, catchy music indeed! And I'm loving too the dynamic way the melodies flow from those beautiful keyboards sounds, great indeed. Lapis turned out to be one of my highlights so far, couldn't listen to "Beethoven's 9th" yet, how does it feel like? Because personally I didn't like the Yes version of Brahms Symphony 4 - 3rd. movement (Cans And Brahms), somewhat cheesy for me, I think they wanted more make some homage to their inspiring idols.
Recently discovered a "one album" band that have much to with what you are looking for - Cherry Five, they soon turned out to be one of my fave bands (their photo is right above my sig below). I'm pretty sure you are going to like it.
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Joined: February 25 2015
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 24
Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:00
Rick Robson wrote:
Thanks for your suggestions Tricksiebzehn! Cannabis India is a great band, catchy music indeed! And I'm loving too the dynamic way the melodies flow from those beautiful keyboards sounds, great indeed. Lapis turned out to be one of my highlights so far, couldn't listen to "Beethoven's 9th" yet, how does it feel like? Because personally I didn't like the Yes version of Brahms Symphony 4 - 3rd. movement (Cans And Brahms), somewhat cheesy for me, I think they wanted more make some homage to their inspiring idols.
Recently discovered a "one album" band that have much to with what you are looking for - Cherry Five, they soon turned out to be one of my fave bands (their photo is right above my sig below). I'm pretty sure you are going to like it.
Glad you like it :) "Beethoven's 9th" is good, but not great in my opinion. The best tracks are probably "Hand of the King" and "Lapis" which are great. Don't like the Yes version too, I think they tried to simulate an orchestra to much rahter then just taking the melody like ELP, Trace and some other did.
Cherry Five: I already know them, but it's a great band and album, excaclty what I like. Seems we have some taste in common (at least prog related), do you have a last.fm profile? Mine would be http://www.last.fm/user/tricksiebzehn
octopus-4 wrote:
A lot of Progressive Electronic. Berlin School for example.
I checked Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze and Ashra, which I like. But it's not the grenre I'm searching for, can't hear that stuff so often. But would appreciate a suggestion nevertheless!
To other: Will definitely check the suggested music, many thanks to all!
Joined: December 30 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 5111
Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:51
I suppose you know of Greenslade? [EDIT: Apologies, suggested already.]
Other than that, how do you feel about jazz rock? Because there's plenty in that genre which primarily features keyboards. For a pure Hammond B3 hit, you could check out Niacin for a start.
Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Offline
Points: 6744
Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:53
The first two Yes releases come to mind...Peter Banks's role was downplayed compared to Howe's later contributions, and the Hammond was the primary keyboard instrument. Tony Kaye's subsequent band "Badger" was also Hammond-heavy.
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24391
Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:59
Chamber prog might be an interesting area to explore for you, especially if you like classical music. Bands such as Aranis or Five-Storey Ensemble use a largely acoustic instrumentation, with strings, accordion and other unusual instruments as well as piano - and definitely no distorted electric guitars.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
This page was generated in 0.242 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
Great prog without guitars
Topic Options
friso wrote:
Cannabis India is a great band, catchy music indeed! And I'm loving too the dynamic way the melodies flow from those beautiful keyboards sounds, great indeed. Lapis turned out to be one of my highlights so far, couldn't listen to "Beethoven's 9th" yet, how does it feel like? Because personally I didn't like the Yes version of Brahms Symphony 4 - 3rd. movement (Cans And Brahms), somewhat cheesy for me, I think they wanted more make some homage to their inspiring idols.
