THE YEAR IN PROG

As the November Prog drops on my doormat, it’s time to reflect on what has, in my view, been a bumper year for music. I’m sure readers will all have their favourites and that 2017 will be looked back on as a year full of wonderful music.

Where to start? Well, January provided the album of the year. I may be in the minority here, and there were some close contenders, but Pain Of Salvation’s In The Passing Light Of Day was simply stunning, terminating with the emotionally charged title track. If any reader hasn’t heard this yet, where have you been?

From this point, the music kept coming, with some wonderful surprises on the way (try PFM or Acqua Fragile).

Big Big Train released two albums!

Ian James Stewart released Articana. Barock Project continued their climb to success with Detachment. Anathema’s

The Optimist was followed by Daniel Cavanagh’s solo album – which is better? Mariusz Duda put out a fifth Lunatic Soul album, and arguably the best so far.

And then, as the year closes, the Von Hertzen Brothers produce a stunner in War is Over, coupled with terrific live performances. The Riverside gigs in May had me close to tears.

These are just my personal highlights, and they’re diverse in themselves. It just goes to show how safe and secure the genre of prog is, and what incredibly talented musicians are out there. Your magazine should take a lot of credit for the promotion of so many artists, many of whom I would never have heard of without Prog.

Roll on 2018 – if it’s half as good as 2017 for music, we’re in for a treat.

Martin Molloy

Don’t forget to cast your votes in our 2017

Readers’ Poll on page 53! – Dep Ed