I bloody loved the BBC’s Prog Proms. That’s something I would never thought I would find myself saying.
It is unashamedly uplifting, spiritual music that remains completely pompous, especially with all the power of the mighty BBC Symphony Orchestra behind it.
There was still an emotional element there in the song choice and the complexity in which the orchestra organised each song selection.
I’m undergoing something of my own summer of prog right now. I had to bite the bullet and just dive in at a random junction. Prog is so utterly bonkers that there is no easy path in which to safely navigate your entry point. Just pick some prog and bloody play it.
There was only one place however for the BBC Prog Proms to start: ELP’s Fanfare for the Common Man was the bombastic opener that the concert needed. It was only at the end of the track that I realised that Carl Palmer was the rather youthful dude who was holding it all together behind the drum kit.
The Genesis Wardrobe song is another track that has been daintily enlivening my summer of prog in recent weeks. It was a joy to hear this, even with Guy Garvey taking the vocals, a voice that I’ve never really warmed to.
Northern Lights then followed. This was a little too folky for my liking but it was delicately done with Jane Weaver hitting all the right high notes.
I’m not sure that Nights in White Satin is strictly a prog song. I loved Soft Machine’s slight jazz detour; Tubular Bells of course which was a cliché that had to be included.
The highlight for me was Van der Graaf Generator and Refugees. This is completely new to me. I knew nothing of the band apart from the name. Up stepped the old boy Peter Hammill to deliver what was a highly emotional and very timely performance.
Oh yeah - I wasn’t expecting Gruff from the Super Furries to out himself as a prog-believer.
So that was the BBC Proms. There’s always been a prog element to my music, etc. I reckon I was born a decade too late.
SHOUT OUT to the Cool as Fuck prog dude who was conducting the orchestra.