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Joined: July 01 2015
Location: Out East
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Points: 6777
Topic: Mythological Prog Posted: March 18 2017 at 10:49
The title more or less says it all. I'm looking for prog that is either directly influenced by, or alludes to, mythology. The only examples I can think of off the top of my head are some Genesis (Fountain of Salmacis and The Cinema Show), Rush's Hemispheres, King Crimson's In the Wake of Poseidon, and ELP's The Three Fates.
Suggestions don't have to be "classic" prog; I'm open to any era, subgenre, country, etc., just so long as there are clear references to mythology in the lyrics and/or music.
I'm mainly interested in prog that takes inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman mythology, but I have no problem with suggestions that deal with myth from other cultures, as well. Non-prog suggestions are also fine; as long as it's myth-based music, I'm interested in your recommendations.
when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents
Aphrodite's Child 666 alludes to Greek mythology quite a lot and it has a kind of a Dionysian atmosphere to it. Musically, I feel there is a very strong mythological spirit in Osanna's Palepoli and, if I'm not mistaken, the lyrics also alude to these themes. A more obvious choice from the Italian scene would be my personal favorite RPI album - Melos by Cervello. Musically speaking, both of these albums are somewhat related, having a distinct Mediterranean sound to them.
Edited by ALotOfBottle - March 18 2017 at 11:22
Categories strain, crack and sometimes break, under their burden - step out of the space provided.
Joined: December 30 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 5106
Posted: March 18 2017 at 13:14
Check out heavy/avant prog band The Red Masque, particularly their last album Mythalogue, a large part of which is taken up by what I think can be termed a song cycle based on Greek myth - I am thinking of the sequential tracks Sirens and Snakes / The Dark Salt Sea / The Curse / The Minotaur / The Labyrinth / Song for Icarus / The Ruins of the Palace of Minos. There is also a bonus live version of Polyphemus, a track from their previous album.
I think it's an excellent album, but judge for yourself, here's a sample:
Joined: April 02 2016
Location: Greece
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Points: 170
Posted: March 18 2017 at 14:25
2dogs wrote:
Watchmaker wrote:
Greek mythology:
Eloy - Ocean
Would it be pedantic of me to say Plato was actually not a beautiful young maiden ?
I'm not sure what you are implying but, if I am not mistaken, its content is mythological. It is not about Plato's life, but about the city of Atlantis, which did not exist.
Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 8844
Posted: March 18 2017 at 16:02
Dave Cousins of Strawbs has certainly made some mythological references in his work, going back tio the second album Dragonfly with "The Vision of the Lady of the Lake" and the 2008 album with "Through Aphrodite's Eyes".
Joined: April 27 2004
Location: Peru
Status: Offline
Points: 19535
Posted: March 18 2017 at 17:42
ALotOfBottle wrote:
Aphrodite's Child 666 alludes to Greek mythology quite a lot and it has a kind of a Dionysian atmosphere to it. Musically, I feel there is a very strong mythological spirit in Osanna's Palepoli and, if I'm not mistaken, the lyrics also alude to these themes. A more obvious choice from the Italian scene would be my personal favorite RPI album - Melos by Cervello. Musically speaking, both of these albums are somewhat related, having a distinct Mediterranean sound to them.
Not precisely, 666 is the most faithful recording of the Bible Book of Revelation according to Saint John.
Joined: December 03 2011
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 705
Posted: March 19 2017 at 00:14
Watchmaker wrote:
2dogs wrote:
Watchmaker wrote:
Greek mythology:
Eloy - Ocean
Would it be pedantic of me to say Plato was actually not a beautiful young maiden ?
I'm not sure what you are implying but, if I am not mistaken, its content is mythological. It is not about Plato's life, but about the city of Atlantis, which did not exist.
Yes true and the album is well worth a listen, it was just a bit of the lyrics that made me laugh. And the title of the last track .
"There is nothing new except what has been forgotten" - Marie Antoinette
Joined: December 03 2011
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 705
Posted: March 19 2017 at 00:21
How about Pierre Henry's Le voile d'orphee (the veil of Orpheus)?
It begins with a very atmospheric descent into the underworld although the people wandering about down there shouting in what is presumably ancient Greek perhaps goes on a bit too long.
"There is nothing new except what has been forgotten" - Marie Antoinette
Aphrodite's Child 666 alludes to Greek mythology quite a lot and it has a kind of a Dionysian atmosphere to it. Musically, I feel there is a very strong mythological spirit in Osanna's Palepoli and, if I'm not mistaken, the lyrics also alude to these themes. A more obvious choice from the Italian scene would be my personal favorite RPI album - Melos by Cervello. Musically speaking, both of these albums are somewhat related, having a distinct Mediterranean sound to them.
Not precisely, 666 is the most faithful recording of the Bible Book of Revelation according to Saint John.
Ha! Now I indeed seem to recall there was some controversy when 666 was rerleased about their interpretation of the Bible, I think. Thanks for correcting that mistake.
Categories strain, crack and sometimes break, under their burden - step out of the space provided.
Joined: April 27 2004
Location: Peru
Status: Offline
Points: 19535
Posted: March 19 2017 at 10:22
ALotOfBottle wrote:
Ha! Now I indeed seem to recall there was some controversy when 666 was rerleased about their interpretation of the Bible, I think. Thanks for correcting that mistake.
It was quite funny, they seem to commit sabotage against their own album
1.- They made a red cover with a huge 666 on the top and very small letters that said "Based in the book of Revelations of Saint John"
2.- They declared "This album was conceived under the influence of Sahlep"
All the fundamentalists attacked them saying that Sahlep was a Turkish demon or a new variety of Marihuana that could dope a bear in 5 seconds
The truth is that Sahlep is a Turkish hot beverage
3.- Of cpourse the song ∞ didn't helped, because the multi talented Irene Papas moans and screams for 5 minutes as if she was in an orgasm.
The label didn't took the risk and passed the album to the adventurpus face of Mercury label called Vertigo, but only 2 years later, after the group disbanded
Joined: February 09 2017
Location: Fort Erie
Status: Offline
Points: 501
Posted: March 19 2017 at 10:57
A band that time forgot. Octopus from Germany had two great art rock albums back in the mid seventies. Don't even think that they ever made it on to CD. Great female vocals. This is a track from the 1978 LP An Ocean Of Rocks titled The Survivor of Atlantis. Surprised to even find it on Youtube. I have a vinyl copy along with A Boat of Thoughts on the Sky label. They arrived a bit too late for the glory years of Prog in the early seventies.
Joined: June 20 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 7946
Posted: March 19 2017 at 17:43
Harder to find than one would think. Two songs that come to mind are:
Jade Warrior - Three-Horned Dragon King (Released) Nektar - Away From Asgard (Magic is a Child)
In the case of Nektar, they were no longer Prog by that album.
A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now)
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