Classic Rock And Prog Almanac

This week, Peter and Tim discussed their favourite songs about animals. Which produce the best material, vertebrates or invertebrates? Which period produces the best animal songs? What do animals mean in art? What did Kant think of animals? Who really runs the planet, humans or insects? And can you get double points if both the song and the band name make reference to animals? Find out all this and more in this week’s (sort of Christmas special) episode.

This week Tim discussed the connection or otherwise between prog and punk, with particular reference to Peter Hammill’s album Nadir’s Big Chance and Devo’s album Q. Are We Not Men? A. We Are Devo! Topics for discussion this week include: the connection between Van der Graaf Generator and Nadir’s Big Chance, Devo’s connection with the musical scene in Germany, whether punk music sounds more European or American and how each group deals with the ‘schizoid position’. Also, what’s a Moebius strip? What did Johnny Rotten think of Peter Hammill? Did George Orwell really see a hanging? And who is the mysterious figure that connects prog and punk? Find out all this and more, in this week’s episode!

This week, Shaun and Tim discussed the sixth studio album by Renaissance, Scheherazade And Other Stories. Topics discussed include: whether the album could be made today; whether Renaissance can be considered prog rock or symphonic rock; how many musical references to Rimsky-Korsakov the band include in this album (and others); whether or not the band were considered cool at the time; and how many octaves Annie Haslam can sing. Also, what’s the connection between Renaissance and Jilted John? What’s it like to go on a date with Roy Wood? What language do they speak in Cornwall? And how soon will Shaun be able to stage his hip hop version of the life of Admiral Nelson?

In this week’s episode, Shaun discusses Steve Hackett’s debut solo album Voyage Of The Acolyte. Topics covered include: the extent to which Genesis was the genesis of this material, the Christian echoes on the album, whether the final title of the LP was the optimal choice, Steve Hackett’s use of dynamics and how the cover matches up to other Kim Poor material. Also, should Steve Hackett be considered the George Harrison of Genesis? Why didn’t Shaun go and watch John Hackett playing live? Why are there both crows and owls in Shaun’s wood? What happened when Shaun met Steve Hackett? And were Shaun’s schoolfriends really able to use Tarot cards to raise the spirit of Shaun’s maths teacher’s dustman?

Hi folks! Just a little note on an imminent rebrand of the podcast!