In The Wake Of Poseidon. A Discussion.

SteveG wrote: moshkito wrote: SteveG wrote: ... More interesting info to ponder over. Adds a lot to the KC history. Hi, The KC film has some information on this, and Robert makes it clear that has regrets about how it happened. As for the album, I don't know ... just heard it again, and did not find it to have the importance and the creative forces that were present in the first album ... my take is, sort of, that they had already said all there was to say about the time and the place, and now ... what do we do? A half hearted return to the original appeared as the opening and closing of the album. In between? Not sure it was as important and clear.  I fell out of KC during this time, as the imports from Europe were better and more valuable all around, and were quite far and away more original and very strong. And its history ended up giving us TD, KS, Can, AD2 and many others ... whose legacy is amazing.  I returned to KC with Lark's ... when Bill Bruford joined KC ... somehow I thought that would be interesting, and it was ... massive set of albums coming up! However, by that time, I was already invested in the European scene, and in general, only PF and KC remained in my plate, as Genesis was nice, but not as adventurous and strong as Banco, Ange, PFM and the Germans for me, in those days. Fair enough. People sometimes move on.

Rarely do I see these bands mentioned on Prog Rock websites. I see reviews posted years ago...however it wouldn't appear that bands like Ange, Pulsar, PFM, Halloween, Amon Duul II are relevant to many people. Even a band like Goblin are rarely mentioned which is really sad because the 2 versions of Goblin that released new music over the last 10 years are magnificent. Instead Goblin end up performing in Philadelphia last winter in some hole in the wall book store. The band CAN are talk about more because of a CAN resurgence in younger generations...however it's unfortunate that several great German bands are dismissed as being insignificant to people's lives..
I don't understand any of this. If I had the money to sponsor a Prog festival of these bands in America...tickets would not sell. Figure that one out. I guess people are blindfolded and have crap in their ears and minds?

SteveG wrote: Jacob Schoolcraft wrote: SteveG wrote: moshkito wrote: SteveG wrote: ... More interesting info to ponder over. Adds a lot to the KC history. Hi, The KC film has some information on this, and Robert makes it clear that has regrets about how it happened. As for the album, I don't know ... just heard it again, and did not find it to have the importance and the creative forces that were present in the first album ... my take is, sort of, that they had already said all there was to say about the time and the place, and now ... what do we do? A half hearted return to the original appeared as the opening and closing of the album. In between? Not sure it was as important and clear.  I fell out of KC during this time, as the imports from Europe were better and more valuable all around, and were quite far and away more original and very strong. And its history ended up giving us TD, KS, Can, AD2 and many others ... whose legacy is amazing.  I returned to KC with Lark's ... when Bill Bruford joined KC ... somehow I thought that would be interesting, and it was ... massive set of albums coming up! However, by that time, I was already invested in the European scene, and in general, only PF and KC remained in my plate, as Genesis was nice, but not as adventurous and strong as Banco, Ange, PFM and the Germans for me, in those days. Fair enough. People sometimes move on. Rarely do I see these bands mentioned on Prog Rock websites. I see reviews posted years ago...however it wouldn't appear that bands like Ange, Pulsar, PFM, Halloween, Amon Duul II are relevant to many people. Even a band like Goblin are rarely mentioned which is really sad because the 2 versions of Goblin that released new music over the last 10 years are magnificent. Instead Goblin end up performing in Philadelphia last winter in some hole in the wall book store. The band CAN are talk about more because of a CAN resurgence in younger generations...however it's unfortunate that several great German bands are dismissed as being insignificant to people's lives.. I don't understand any of this. If I had the money to sponsor a Prog festival of these bands in America...tickets would not sell. Figure that one out. I guess people are blindfolded and have crap in their ears and minds? Try posting some German band albums here. At least Moshkito will respond.

That's true and his knowledge on European bands is much wider and informative than I...but it's strange to me how he seems like the only person on the internet responding to Popol Vuh with enthusiasm. Not to say that other people haven't acknowledged Popol Vuh..but Moshkito responds to Popol Vuh in the same light that a few of my friends did in the 70s. Why would it be any different now? Why wouldn't Americans find the German bands fascinating? If a person grew up listening to Progressive Rock in the 70s and they were to surf the internet for reaction it would seem like a dead zone. Possibly it just seems that way and it isnt...however I rarely see a youtube video on the history of Popol Vuh let alone an album ranking of their discography and that's a letdown. A couple of people have discussed Omega, Ange, and Jade Warrior on youtube..but it's mostly people discussing Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, etc... In 2024 I'm now realizing this might be true..

SteveG wrote: Catcher10 wrote: SteveG wrote: Prompted by Paul's 5 KC song thread, I've always felt that the album, while not as strong as it's predecessor, has many many positives, such the stunning title track, Keith Tippet's jazzy piano on many songs, and the fact that the band carried on after losing two key members. Your thoughts. Dang Steve!!!  Thanks for this post, I can't remember the last time I spun this record and will for sure add to the Friday night play list once my work day ends. It's not my fav KC album, but for sure it is a trippy listen.....Luv me some Cat Food. You're welcome, Jose. I've had it on heavy rotation since "rediscovering" it about a week ago.

Catcher10 wrote: SteveG wrote: Catcher10 wrote: SteveG wrote: Prompted by Paul's 5 KC song thread, I've always felt that the album, while not as strong as it's predecessor, has many many positives, such the stunning title track, Keith Tippet's jazzy piano on many songs, and the fact that the band carried on after losing two key members. Your thoughts. Dang Steve!!!  Thanks for this post, I can't remember the last time I spun this record and will for sure add to the Friday night play list once my work day ends. It's not my fav KC album, but for sure it is a trippy listen.....Luv me some Cat Food. You're welcome, Jose. I've had it on heavy rotation since "rediscovering" it about a week ago. Not sure I'll subscribe to the heavy rotation plan , but I'll give a very intense listen....

Never say never, Jose! 

SteveG wrote: Prompted by Paul's 5 KC song thread, I've always felt that the album, while not as strong as it's predecessor, has many many positives, such the stunning title track, Keith Tippet's jazzy piano on many songs, and the fact that the band carried on after losing two key members. Your thoughts.

Sonically though the original album is lacking and bit 'weedy' which I think is the reason I virtually never listen to it anymore. Very pretty and very important but Fripp seemed to be looking for a heavier approach maybe.

The Dark Elf wrote: SteveG wrote: Prompted by Paul's 5 KC song thread, I've always felt that the album, while not as strong as it's predecessor, has many many positives, such the stunning title track, Keith Tippet's jazzy piano on many songs, and the fact that the band carried on after losing two key members. Your thoughts. I find several songs to be too derivative of the original album. I do like the "Peace" trilogy and "Cat Food", but overall this release seems to be a lull between Itchycock and Lizard, which I consider far better albums.

No doubt that the album follows somewhat of the same template of ITCOTCK, but what annoyed me about that years ago I now find as a virtue. It's the only KC album that's in the same style as ITCOTCK, which was magnificent. I'm glad that they stretched out with Lizard and beyond, but that original style is priceless, imho.

Edited by SteveG - April 20 2024 at 04:20

moshkito wrote: Jacob Schoolcraft wrote:   ... I don't understand any of this. If I had the money to sponsor a Prog festival of these bands in America...tickets would not sell. Figure that one out. I guess people are blindfolded and have crap in their ears and minds? Hi, You can imagine how I feel since 1972 or so when I started with what is now known as "progressive". I, however, can not complaint much ... saw Nektar in their first 2 tours ... Tangerine Dream in their first 2 tours and later twice more ... Gong which I kinda travelled with and took many pictures, some of which they used for at least one poster and tour ... Hawkwind in the original Space Ritual ... Man in LA with Hawkwind (2nd time -- 1999 Party) ... Pink Floyd 4 times in 1972 at the Hollywood Bowl in their heyday of Quadraphonic Sound ... then original DSOTM and then the Anaheim Stadium with the really bad fans, and Roger getting mad ... and finally The Wall tour in LA where 714 people got busted outside before going in for getting stoned, and the cops walking around the hall during the show and taking more people out ... totally fudged and ridiculous ... yeah ... I've seen some nice things, including KC in Seattle with the 3 drummers, and my only "regret" is that I will never see PH/VdGG, and I wish I had been able to catch Vangelis. But all in all, Damo's band in a bar, was a sad affair, good but sad ... I did not feel the band was that good or knew how to improvise, beyond some chord structures and progressions ... other than that spending time with Daevid and Gilly was enough for me ... some really strong friends and shared a lot of fun stuff ... and no dope!  As for the progressive thing, I think the last 20 years has been sad, specially as some of the venues that were running progressive things got tired and died, and in 1999 Sean Ahearn took a massive loss in SF for the festival that needed twice as many folks to just break even. My thoughts are that places like PA help some, but the "fans" not posting to new bands and works, is really sad, and I guess I wish the collaborators and admins posted more on the different stuff and less on the favorite bullmerde ... but that's my thought ... and they are still doing, likely too much for no pay as it is ... but I think of is as a closed circle that won't add folks that mean it and certainly write good stuff and reviews of a lot of work ... cold day in hell they will even think about me as a person for krautrock, for example, being that I am one of the few that discusses the whole thing as an art scene instead of just some rock bands ...  I think that people in the know are not doing enough, but I don't think it fair of me to suggest they don't do enough work ... but adding a few people that make a difference i words, might help and add some value to "progressive" instead of folks not caring much and only finding a reason to not say anything. It's tough and the media, in general is not helping, but then art scenes are something that come and go ... as T. S. Eliot would say ... and few people care about the arts in America!

That's incredibly interesting! I can't imagine being around Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth that's overwhelming.