4X

Heavy Prog • United Kingdom

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4X biography
Almost unheard of (except by HAWKWIND completionists), 4X was formed in 1985 by guitarist/keyboardist Paul SINDEN, with Dave ANDERSON(ex-Hawkwind & Amon Duul II) on bass, Clive BROOKS(Groundhogs) on drums, and Dave EARNSHAW's saxophone & flute. This mini prog supergroup produced just one album, 'Ballet Dancer', before disappearing as mysteriously as they'd appeared (some have even suggested the band existed just to confound future vinyl collectors).

Stylistically, 'Ballet Dancer' is a collection of hard rock instrumentals alternating with GENESIS-style keyboards and acoustic guitar parts, and the heavy reliance on woodwinds have also drawn comparison to FOCUS, post-Eno ROXY MUSIC, and late 70s VdGG. But the band's reliance on crunchy guitar riffs and heavy bass make this a fine find for any heavy prog or classic metal fan.

- Whistler -

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4X discography

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4X top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 2 ratings

Ballet Dancer
1985

4X Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4X Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4X Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4X Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4X Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Studio Album, 1985
3.00 | 2 ratings
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Ballet Dancer
4X Heavy Prog

Review by Evolver
Special Collaborator Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams

Honestly, aside from the association with other bands on this site (Hawkwind, Amon Duul II, Groundhogs), it's hard to see this as a prog album. There are hints of prog, in the instrumentation, mostly the keyboards and flute, but this is mainly an instrumental rock album. A nice, heavy rock album, but barely prog.

The album is pleasant enough, and the band itself is good. But prog it is not. And the band's signature song, Ballet Dancer, has a melody that sound strangely like a vocal pop tune that I've heard on numerous network TV shows, when they want to convey an introspective mood - I wish I knew what that song was.

It's not bad for what it is. Good instrumental rock.

Thanks to atavachron for the artist addition. and to Snow Dog for the last updates