Great prog without guitars
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=101538
Printed Date: April 28 2024 at 14:54
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Great prog without guitars
Posted By: tricksiebzehn
Subject: Great prog without guitars
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 12:18
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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 ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/tricksiebzehn" rel="nofollow">  |
Replies:
Posted By: friso
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 12:34
| Supersister :) |
Posted By: tricksiebzehn
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 12:41
Wow, thanks. Sounds really promising (now playing the live album). ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/tricksiebzehn" rel="nofollow"> |
friso wrote:Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 13:14
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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). ------------- Magma America Great Make Again |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 13:20
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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... and this gem... ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 13:22
A whole lotta Krautrock!  ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: tricksiebzehn
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 13:50
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!
Thanks, will check it later.
I heard a lot of Krautrock, any favorite? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/tricksiebzehn" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 13:51
| Refugee |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date 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 |
Posted By: LearsFool
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 14:07
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Quatermass, big time. -------------  
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Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 14:15
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Greenslade Rare Bird Solution All rarely used guitar and all are brilliant at times. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 14:16
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A lot of Progressive Electronic. Berlin School for example. ------------- Curiosity killed a cat, Schroedinger only half. My poor home recorded stuff at https://yellingxoanon.bandcamp.com |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 14:33
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Triade Still Life Aardvark
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Posted By: tricksiebzehn
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:00
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
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! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/tricksiebzehn" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:51
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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.
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Posted By: cstack3
Date 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. |
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:54
Aargh! There's no such thing as great Prog without guitars. 
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 15:59
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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. |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 16:23
Posted By: Smurph
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 16:32
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My favorite non guitar album i think This album was their first without guitar and it did not disappoint. ------------- http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://pseudosentai.bandcamp.com/ wtf |
Posted By: MFP
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 16:38
| Egg |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 16:47
Plastic Acid Band from Vancouver. Cello, drums, piano and voice.. Sadly rejected for PA  but it still to be a great prog (without guitars) to these ears  http://theplasticacidband.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://theplasticacidband.bandcamp.com/ (name your price)  Favourite track: 7/8 Revolution |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 16:56
No tricksiebzehn, unfortunately I don't have a last.fm profile, but looking forward to, thanks for sharing yours, will check it out. Yeah ELP (as well as The Nice) managed quite well this matter, but I don't know Trace, is it from Netherlands? I don't know where I read once something about this band, and forgot to look for their discography. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 17:52
FM not EM Good call on the Island, Egg and that Koenji album...those are ones I should have remembered. ------------- Magma America Great Make Again |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 20:20
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Found this old thread.... http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58527" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58527 The ones I thought of have been named but Yak is another recent one. I really like this album but no one ever mentions them. Kind of a cross between Pulsar, ELP, and TD. http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=20233" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=20233  ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 21:37
| So, no one's mentioned Rick Wakeman yet? Of course he should be checked out, specially 6 Wives, Journey, Arthur, and Criminal Record too. I guess Iamthemorning would be a good choice to check out from the new bands. |
Posted By: freudiana
Date Posted: March 01 2015 at 23:11
| Try the RIO/Avant Prog band Far Corner |
Posted By: The-time-is-now
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 00:52
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From Yes, Magnification. No keys but an orchestra. The result is really good. And a recent discovery, Syymphony of light by Renaissance. You reneed to listen to that!! -------------  One of my best achievements in life was to find this picture :D |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 01:27
Wives does have some lead guitar although not a lot admittedly. I couldn't remember how much of those other albums feature guitar if at all. The band I suggested Refugee did a complete symphonic keyboard lead album with no guitar. Lee Jackson never played any lead guitar unlike Greg Lake in ELP who did occasionally use it.
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Posted By: TeleStrat
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 01:51
 Eclectic Prog band Esperanto from 1975. Two violins and a cello but no guitar. XLNT cover of Eleanor Rigby.
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Posted By: Komandant Shamal
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 03:02
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Krunkelstiltskin from Amherst, Massachusetts, just cleared for PA.
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fkrunkelstiltskin.bandcamp.com%2Falbum%2Finto-the-aurifice&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGDDADtk8x8wadKipka-025kaDBag" rel="nofollow - http://krunkelstiltskin. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 08:55
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Hi, Weird ... !!! I never really thought that a guitar was mandatory to make it progressive, as any instrument can perform that function well enough, but it is the listeners that do not see or understand that, and they are too comfy with a top ten rock music design to be able to listen to something without a guitar ... or a friend of mine that heard Ozric Tentacles for the 1st time 15 years ago, and 6 minutes into it, he goes ... "where's the lyrics?" ... and he never listened to it again! It was kinda funny, when even something like "String Driven Thing" had a song about a band without a drummer! Creativity is what makes it "progressive". Not anything else. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 09:00
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Evolver
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 09:01
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UK: Danger Money ------------- Trust me. I know what I'm doing. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 11:34
This. As Tony says, they did use guitars rarely, but they also had two keyboarderists... ------------- What? |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 11:55
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Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 12:29
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http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5095" rel="nofollow - Back Door |
Posted By: tricksiebzehn
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 16:57
Ancestor's Tale: I like it, but the lyrics. Would be better without vocals for me. But will check this band out later. Alec K. Redfearn and the Eyesores: Sounds ok, but the singer is not my cup of tea. Also, this is a bit to far from prog to me. But thanks anyways.
Thanks, some nice moog sound in here.
Thanks, some really cool tracks and some medicore stuff. Definitly not bad, but also not great.
Greenslade: I know this band and I love the hammond solos greenslade did for colosseum, but I just feel he doesn't perform at that level here. It's quite good, BUT: The vocals are... cruel. Another band that would be so much better without vocals. Sorry, they ruin it for me. Although "Sundance" is a really great track which I definitely listen to from time to time. Rare Bird: Just heard the some tracks from "Sympathy", but it turned out that this album is just compilation. Was medicore in my opinion, but maybe "As your mind flies by" is better? Solution: Great catch, many thanks! Seems like I missed a lot of good dutch stuff.
Triade: Wow, rare to hear a cello (or double bass?) in progressive rock with some nice hammond parts. Really like it, thanks! Still Life: Hm, not the kind of music that amazes me, maybe not progressive or eclectic enough for me. Aadvark: Know them before, but same as for Still Life. So far. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/tricksiebzehn" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 22:03
I think he had guitars on most of his prog albums (I'm almost sure he has guitars on Wives, Journey, and Arthur), but the music is definitley keyboard driven, and the guitar is used as an extra instrument. Criminal Record has just about no guitars. I think it actually doesn't have any at all. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: March 02 2015 at 22:05
Actually, Renaissance might just as well qualify... at least the early classic albums. They do have guitars, but mainly acoustic simple guitars... the music is mainly suported by Annies voice, Tout's keyboards, and the orchestrations. |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 00:35
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http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1696" rel="nofollow - Weather Report |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 01:14
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Another modern but oft overlooked RPI band is Three Monks Their two albums are both beauties although mainly feature pipe organ with very little synth and no electronic organ at all Also the Jap bands Gerard and Ars Nova are worth checking out. From the latter I would go with Android Domino. That album has grown on me a lot recently. |
Posted By: tricksiebzehn
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 11:10
Right, Trace is a prog act from Netherlands, at least the keyboarder is from Ekseption as far as I know. I would say they are a trio like ELP, playing music like Ekseption. The Track "Gaillarde" from album "Trace" is really good. I remebered just now that Univers Zero make pretty good prog without/little use of guitars as far as I know, but just listened to "Uzed" until now. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/tricksiebzehn" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 13:35
Yeah.. I can dig and understand the thoughts on Redfearn.. it is out there. Not for everyone  However do check deeper into the Ut Gret album... was on many best of year lists. Even topping some, it did both Raffs and mine. A fantastic album, and the vocal tracks are the exception rather than the rule with the group. They are an instrumental group that had a guest vocalist on that paricular album and for only half the album. I love them.. and especially her voice.. but if you don't dig.. still do check the band out. I do think the whole of that album is now on Bandcamp for listening. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 18:01
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http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=13018" rel="nofollow - Jon Hassell & Brian Eno |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 18:40
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Voice of Eye - Vespers ------------- |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 18:48
Wow! Very beautiful music indeed, one more band for sure that I guess will be very pleased when dig into them. And right on, really felt there classical influences too (somewhat in the mood of Bach and Mozart), particularly the begining of this song somehow reminded me of it, returning to it again in the really stunning final part, great music. Been reading about Ekseption, very interesting band to check out too. I'm suspecting you already know the swedish Par Lindh Project, very beautiful music, strong classical influences there too, and such a catchy rocking melodies, though almost no guitars at all, well so far I have only the album "Gothic Impressions" and love the whole album, now looking forward to the rest of his discography, listened to "Sky Door" (album Time Mirror) and loved it too. Interesting to point out that Par Lindh plays just 1 minute of electric guitar in "The Cathedral", and I guess that's all about guitar playing in Gothic Impressions.
Right on, other hit on the spot, many thanks for your suggestions! Although UZ is far commented here in PA, I never gave priority to it, but after listening to this superbly interesting track it made up my mind, and if I'm not wrong I felt some chamber music influences, somehow most amazed me at my first listen so far, is that an electric violin which begins a stunning crescendo melody at the third min.? just amazing! Exciting the whole music indeed. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: Daniele Spadavecchia
Date Posted: March 03 2015 at 23:14
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Le Orme, on all albums before Smogmagica when they eventually added Tolo Marton. Lots of Hammond sounds and piano. On those early albums, like Felona e Sorona or Uomo Di Pezza, the bass player Aldo Tagliapietra would play accompaniment on acoustic guitar on quiet songs, but the keyboards are so prominent, that you will like them a lot. |