elaborate counterpoint bands?

After listening to prog from various decades, I think one of the reasons I like  Gentle Giant is that they were multi-instrumentalists. That is, one guy might play  harpsichord and in the middle of the song switch to bass or clarinet or whatever. 

( As opposed to 90% of "orchestral prog" which seems to mean "rock band plus a synthesyzer playing all the non-rock parts")

 Also,  Gentle Giant had interesting counterpoint: (i.e. if there were 4 instruments playing melodies, they'd all be playing different rhythms which would fit together like jigsaw puzzle pieces).

So can anyone recommend other bands that have many layers of counterpoint, or a lot of unusual instruments?

Here's where I make this more difficult:  it's got to have DRUMS.

I've found a  fair amount of pseudo-chamber-music prog or RIO that uses classical instruments and counterpoint, but most of it lacks drums, so  I can't handle it. 

 I'm hoping someone out here knows bands that do elaborate instrumentation and counterpoint with drums.


I'm not looking for bands that just sound like Gentle Giant, though. It could sound like anything.

Thanks for reading!

Kayo Dot

Check out the band GRYPHON. I can't honestly say that their first 2 releases do not have drums all the way through...so I would go with "Red Queen to Gryphon Three"...which is a little like Gentle Giant at times and does in fact employ the skills of a drummer.

Edited by TODDLER - July 28 2012 at 20:24

Originally posted by Ambient Hurricanes Originally posted by sleeper Kayo Dot Examples?  I listen to Kayo Dot but have never noticed any actual counterpoint; maybe I'm not listening hard enough.

Gamma Knife in particular but you have to listen a bit more closely thanks to the mix. Stained Glass and Coyote, and at least parts of Blue Lambency Downward.

Starcastle does counterpoint. Perhaps not so much on the multi instrument front but they do have two guitarists. Sometimes they will be playing the same thing but with different timbres. Its really interesting if you are a  fan of the sound of electric guitar. I'm not a drum fan so I don't really know how good the drumming is but judging by the rest of the musicianship its most likley pretty good. One thing about Starcastle is that they are TIGHT in the extreme and I'm sure that can't be done without a damn good drummer.

 

Originally posted by tokyoganglion Here's where I make this more difficult:  it's got to have DRUMS.  I've found a  fair amount of pseudo-chamber-music prog or RIO that uses classical instruments and counterpoint, but most of it lacks drums, so  I can't handle it.

Yugen :D

Originally posted by tokyoganglion Seems like if the vocals went away their music would be a lot of fun

 

Ritual and Echolyn are your friends.