Innovative and uncategorisable

PETER GILES

The great and good of progressive music give us a glimpse into their prog worlds. As told to Grant Moon.

Lola Salem on an organisation showing the tone-deaf, identity politics-obsessed Arts Council that a modest grant wisely placed goes a long way

In 1974, Mike Oldfield defied the critics and hit the top of the UK charts with Hergest Ridge, the ambitious follow-up to his unexpectedly successful debut Tubular Bells . To coincide with the release of the 50th-anniversary edition, the musician, his siblings and collaborators recount the story of an album created by an overwhelmed 21-year-old taking refuge near the Welsh borders.

Strawbs co-founder Dave Cousins died in July following a long illness. The singer, songwriter and guitarist enjoyed an active musical career spanning more than six decades and has been name-checked by many musicians as a key influence and inspiration. We reflect on his rich legacy and reveal plans for a number of posthumous releases, including the long-awaited new Strawbs album.

What began as a vague idea for two musicians from very different parts of the prog world to jam together has turned into an exciting electro-instrumental project. Bioscope combines the talents of Marillion’s Steve Rothery and Tangerine Dream’s Thorsten Quaeschning. The pair talk to Prog about the mutual respect they have for each other, and how they turned that into their long-gestating debut album Gentō .