6 months in: Best/Favourite Tracks of 2014 So Far?

Swans - Oxygen

Without a doubt Jethro Tull's A Passion Play: An Extended Performance box set. Steven Wilson's 5.1 remix of APP and the complete Chateau d'Herouvelle sessions are sublime.

One of the most worthwhile boxed sets I've purchased (and there are plenty of useless Tull repackagings). It really puts into context what a great time it was for prog in 1973, what an amazing band Tull was at the time, and how the critics really f*cked up.

Thick as a brick, indeed.

richardh wrote: My favourite album of the year so far is Deluge Grander - Heliotians. Just 3 tracks but I'm not sure which one I would pick so perhaps assume all 3 for the time being

Edited by jude111 - July 08 2014 at 15:36

jude111 wrote: richardh wrote: My favourite album of the year so far is Deluge Grander - Heliotians. Just 3 tracks but I'm not sure which one I would pick so perhaps assume all 3 for the time being Listening to it now on Youtube. Quite impressive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzT5hLxMEng Reminds me a bit of Discipline and Birds and Buildings, with tons of mellotron. Now Gentle Giant. VDGG. Zappa. Cool.

Edited by richardh - July 08 2014 at 16:04

The best new piece of music I've heard this year is without a doubt Hawkmoth by Plaid.  It is a quite staggering piece with the most incredibly beautiful chord progressions.  In truth it's one of my favourite pieces of music ever.  Plaid are not here on PA (they are classed as IDM) but make truly progressive electronic music.

As far as songs on this site are concerned it's IQ's Constellations.  I still cannot believe they left that off the main disc of the new album.

Anathema — Distant Satellites
Alcest — Voix Sereines
iamthemorning — the simple story
Antemasque — Ride Like the Devil's Son

And the whole new Gazpacho and Univers Zero albums.

jude111 wrote: I created a Youtube playlist entitled "Great Prog Tracks 2013-2014." These are my favorite straight-up prog tracks I've heard these past 2 years (which isn't admittedly a lot). By "straight-up," I mean there's no zeuhl, prog electronic, metal or post-rock/math-rock or any of the other outliers. Please make suggestions. I'll also go back and have a listen to the tracks people recommended earlier. Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaEeRkV1dxmp10oj4aMUGr5A41Zcr5Rim

In my opinion, 2014 hasn't been as strong as the previous three years in terms of prog releases. However, there are some gems to be found, such as this beauty - the title-track of Ut Gret's magnificent fourth album, my personal candidate for best album of the year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnFlAFGwSLA

micky wrote: my 2014 track of the year has to be Moraine's Gnashville.  I love that album and that track is killer.  You need to get to reviewing that darling.

I definitely will, and hope the mighty Moraine will finally get invited to one of next year's fests. I really want to see them live! "The Okanogan Lobe" is my second favourite track of the year.

Raff wrote: micky wrote: my 2014 track of the year has to be Moraine's Gnashville.  I love that album and that track is killer.  You need to get to reviewing that darling. I definitely will, and hope the mighty Moraine will finally get invited to one of next year's fests. I really want to see them live! "The Okanogan Lobe" is my second favourite track of the year.

we'll gang up with Leonardo and perhaps twist a few arms if necessary...it is a skill we did hone to perfection here and hopefully get them added to next years fest lists. Shouldn't have to resort to that however, they are of the highest quality and played Nearfest, Nor-Cal, and the Orion already.