Victorian Ghost Stories In Prog?
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=90572
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Topic: Victorian Ghost Stories In Prog?
Posted By: The Whistler
Subject: Victorian Ghost Stories In Prog?
Date Posted: November 12 2012 at 20:19
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At my local library (Santa Monica actually, but who's counting?), there's a big old rack out the front that holds a lot of what are formally known as "discards;" that is, books that the library has found too moldy to either let out or sell, but hasn't quite the heart to torch just yet, so they offer them gratis to whoever finds their fancy among those particular reams of paper. Ahem. I took a look, and took a book, called Victorian Ghost Stories. It was a collection of lesser-knowns, an effort to bring to public attention some stuff that wasn't written by Dickens or James or Collins or Doyle or any of the other heavies whose names I've run out of. But it got me thinking, as so many things unfortunately do... I am a fan of 19th century tales of terror, and I was wondering if anyone knew about some progger songs that have been inspired by that set of stories. I know that "Infant Kiss" by Kate Bush is connected to "Turn Of The Screw," and Radiohead's "Bodysnatchers" and Genesis's "Musical Box" are both related to Victorian unnervings. And, if we're feeling like crossing the Atlantic, Alan Parsons has that whole album of Poe send ups. What am I missing? Seems like there oughta be a few more. Proggers are, by nature, a fairly literate lot when it comes to making music, and the siren call of Anglo fingers writing long, complex stories full of big words and atmosphere seems like it would be a natural influence. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Replies:
Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: November 12 2012 at 20:31
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I share your love for those types of stories. I can't think of anything off the top of my head other than what you just mentioned, but I would bet someone has done a song based on one of Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales, many of which are quite spooky. (if someone hasn't, they should.)
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Posted By: dunwich
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 00:09
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As a lover of Poe and Lovecraft, here are some bands that *may* sate your need.The Italian band Edgar Allan Poe: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=91" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=91 - no idea whether the lyrics are related though as I don't speak the language. The Residents have always had a great knack for storytelling, but they tend to be reasonably hit and miss. Check out 1974's Not Available (a rather cryptic concept album), 1981's Mark of the Mole - and if you like that the entire Mole Trilogy, 1988's God in Three Persons (the peak of their storytelling). After that, there's plenty more to delve into! |
Posted By: dunwich
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 00:10
| Eep, must've read your post incorrectly. For more specifically "tales of terror", go for God in three Persons and The Residents later work as opposed to others mentioned which are more just interesting complex tales. |
Posted By: VanVanVan
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 00:34
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Edenbridge did a song called "The Canterville Ghost" after Wilde's story of the same name.
EDIT: Though I suppose that ghost story is more comedic than terrifying... ------------- "The meaning of life is to give life meaning."-Arjen Lucassen |
Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 01:12
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Peter Hammill's 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.
------------- This night wounds time. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 03:30
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During the 60s Victorian and Edwardian nostalgia was all the rage so many of the British psychedelic bands drew on that as influence - Bowie, The Beatles, Floyd, Soft Machine (ie Kevin Ayres) etc. all have elements of victoriana in their lyrics. I think Sinfield draws on victorian gothic horror in his lyrics and I've oft wondered whether Moonchild wasn't in someway influenced by this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moonchild.gif" rel="nofollow">
 ... Iron Maiden and Fields of The Nephilim also, though the "horror" in those is more evident.
And of course Gentle Giant did Alucard. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Jbird
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 08:23
I was thinking of that song before I read your post  I can't think of any others, really.....Crimson Glory's 'Masque Of The Red Death', Nightwish's 'Ghost Love Score'.....
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VanVanVan wrote:Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 12:02
Hi,
I was thinking that The Pearl, The Oyster Redux, and the Carnal Fun of the Cremorne ... would have a lot more material of interest to rock bands ... but we will have to stick with Waterloo Lily!
   ------------- 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: progbethyname
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 12:57
 ALAN PARSONS PROJECT. 'The fall of the house of Usher' from Tales of mystery and imagination. Egar Alan poe. Genius ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 13:04
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------------- What? |
Posted By: progbethyname
Date Posted: November 13 2012 at 13:23
 ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 14 2012 at 14:51
I have not heard this yet ... and of all TD albums, Tyger, was one of the ones I cared for the least ... somehow those poems did not make it into the music as well, I thought.
This will likely be on my Christmas basket to myself! ------------- 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: menawati
Date Posted: November 14 2012 at 17:40
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Future Kings of England did a concept album called 'Who is this who is coming' last year based on an old classic ghost story by M.R. James called 'Oh Whistle and I'll Come To You Lad'. I read the story (it's in the public domain on the web) and listened to the album and it gave me the willies  ------------- They flutter behind you your possible pasts, Some bright-eyed and crazy, some frightened and lost. |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 25 2012 at 18:36
There's also an HP Lovecraft...heh. Well snap. I have heard the Alan Parsons take, and I sorta recall the Peter Hammill, but I never heard of those chaps. Or the Tangerine Dream thing. Had no idea Poe was so prevalent amongst proggers. Thanks; this should be fun investigation/listening. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: November 25 2012 at 18:38
Oh snap! That story still gives me the shivers when I so much as think about. So simple too, in its own sort of way... ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: November 27 2012 at 17:37
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Perhaps a bit off date, but Steve Hackett's Spectral Mornings has two songs based on WW I ghost stories. (Tigermoth and Clocks - The Angel of Mons.) ------------- 
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Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: November 27 2012 at 18:40
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The Decemberists "Leslie Anne Levine", "The Chimbley Sweep" and "Eli, the Barrow Boy" are all about the right timeframe. Probably some Rasputina, Stone Angel and Loudest Whisper songs as well, although I can't think of any off the top of my head. ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: December 01 2012 at 10:48
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I think I read somewhere that Steven Wilson's new album is going to based on ghost stories. Not sure if it'll be 19th century though. I also have a love of ghost stories, particularly 19th century. I was very pleased when the BBC recently released their Ghost Stories for Christmas series (individually or box set) on DVD. these are based on the likes of Dickens and M R James, The Signalman in particular being a good interpretation. Hopefully Santa will bring me the box set - I've dropped enough hints!
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: December 01 2012 at 11:23
 ------------- What? |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: December 01 2012 at 13:46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDBDmLcMgwU" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDBDmLcMgwU
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Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 01 2012 at 15:17
I have 3 albums by Strawbs that I love dearly ... Hero and Heroine, Ghosts and Deadlines.
However, these 3 albums, are ... not quite "progressive", as much as it is more "eccentric" pop songs. Almost all the stuff that Dave Cousins does is just a song, and the compositions are almost all the same, but sounding very different, with very well done lyrics and lines.
I would not consider, this band ... "progressive" at all ... just one of those rock bands that made it bigger, because they did have some very nicely written things, most of which stood out because of Dave Cousins expressions and spoken word while singing. His voice and sarcasm, comes off as a sort of Vincent Price at times, with a tone that could be considered "scary".
I am not sure about what the terms are for this band, but should be crossover or neo prog ... os something similar that specifies that they are in the middle and nowhere at all at the same time!
But there is some neat and good material. ------------- 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: cstack3
Date Posted: December 02 2012 at 01:10
Good Heavens, man! They had John Hawken, easily one of the best prog keyboardists in history! If Jethro Tull is considered prog, Strawbs certainly should be.
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Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: December 02 2012 at 15:48
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The Musical Box?
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Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 03 2012 at 11:30
Agreed.
Simon House also fits the bill for me ... he has some magnificent work with Hawkwind, and then on his own as well.
I consider him far superior and creative than Rick Wakeman ... who may have the fame ... but just the "classic chops" and not much else!
Get a DAW and put on (let's say) Echoes ... and it shows it to you in tracks. Remove all of them except Rick Wright's ... listen to it from the start!
The best for my ears, if you do this, would be Falk U Rogner of Amon Duul 2, and Rick Wright. Next would be Richard Barbieri. After that Hawken, House would be right up there and I have to scratch my head to name more ... the guy from Djam Karet should be listed up there also.
Most of the rest are too conventional for my tastes ... you can hear it in how they "color" the music. As for it being "sexy" or "victorian", I tend to think that is a value that we expand into someone else's music, thinking or feeling, and not quite a reality. But, lyrics, sometimes make it look like the song, or piece, is connected to something or other, and like Strawbs in the album cover, it makes it look like it is connected to Ghosts ... and more than half of the album is not connected to such at all!
Also was thinking of one of the BEST ghost albums, that is more "timeless" than the Victorian thing ... kinda weird that we only associate "ghosts" with a victorian" or English story ... BRAINTICKET's "Cottonwood Hill" is fantastic, but not easy to listen to ... it's down right scary and we do not know if the girl is having an orgasm, or is trully scared ... but the one thing you do not see is ... that is a mind racing from here to your ears ... and that is very common in those kinds of situations ... and you don't need "lyrics" to SHOW you how the whole thing can unsettle your mind and scare you! The sound effects coming and going alone are great! ------------- 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: menawati
Date Posted: December 03 2012 at 23:08
Yea that certainly has quite an eerie and unsettling feel to it in parts. ------------- They flutter behind you your possible pasts, Some bright-eyed and crazy, some frightened and lost. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 08:55
Cheap Thrills for the rock music audience!
An Electric Storm in Hell ... is a lot more eerie and scary ... and timeless! ------------- 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: progbethyname
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 17:59
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The visitor by Arena? I think this can be related to many Victorian ghosts stories where a monster
/alien type creature stalks and haunts a town by taking on many forms. ------------- Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣 |