CATEGORIES

Richard Morrison

Today's musicians shouldn't be afraid to take on political causes

With a cherry on top

Despite its ostensibly festive sounds, Brahms's Fourth Symphony presents a vortex of despair, writes Tom Service. Perfect, then, for the Christmas season!

A King of King's

Boris Ord was music director at King's College, Cambridge from 1929 to 1957, but his contribution is often overlooked. It's about time we gave him the recognition he deserves, writes Andrew Green

Bernard Herrmann

This complex and irascible man was plagued by frustration, but remains one of cinema's most iconic musical voices, says Michael Beek

Singing Lessons

As the Choir of King's College, Cambridge celebrates the 95th anniversary of its Nine Lessons and Carols broadcasts, Amanda Holloway meets music director Daniel Hyde

Empire Reborn

It's been five years since Southern Empire's critically acclaimed Civilisation was released and now the Australian five-piece are back with Another World. Keyboard player Sean Timms and new singer Shaun Holton reveal what was going on behind the scenes, and why the current line-up are looking forward to a vibrant future.

CHILDREN OF THE STONES

Heavy music is often associated with industrial clamour. Green Lung, however, are imbuing sturdy rock with folk and fairy tales from the English countryside on their third album, This Heathen Land. In the process, they want to emulate the prog-inspired ambition of 70s icons Deep Purple and Rainbow. Prog catches up with guitarist Scott Black and vocalist Tom Templar to find out more.

MISSION Critical

When Gong's founder Daevid Allen died in 2015, many of the veteran act's fans assumed they were gone for good - but the truth is that the Kavus Torabi-led Gong are better than ever, just as Allen knew they would be. 'He always loved to throw a grenade into situations!' says Torabi, beckoning us into the caverns of the mind.

Acoustic Solace

Lonely hotel rooms, deathbed reflections and the undeniable lure of strings have all fed into the making of the third solo album from The Pineapple Thief's driving force, Bruce Soord. He takes Prog inside the creative process that spawned Luminescence, taking care not to let his brain explode in the process.

Winds Of Change

From the personal lyrics to the focus on the acoustic guitar, Peter Jones has gone back to basics with his latest Tiger Moth Tales album, The Turning Of The World. But as the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist tells Prog, it's an album that he needed to write.

Time Passages

Cornwall-based symphonic proggers The Emerald Dawn explore the idea of time, both sonically and lyrically, on In Time, their latest album. Prog catches up with band founders Ally Carter and Tree Stewart at their Kernow hilltop base to find out more about the complex ideas and themes behind the new work.

TALK TO ME LIKE HUMANS DO

On the follow-up to 2020's more traditional Folkesange, Myrkur's Amalie Bruun has created an experimental album of contrasts that takes the listener on a journey through motherhood and bereavement. Bruun tells Prog about the healing power of Spine and the life changes that inspired it.

THE PROG INTERVIEW - EDGAR BROUGHTON

Every month we get inside the mind of one of the biggest names in music. This issue it’s Edgar Broughton. Leader of his titular band, Broughton’s musical career began in earnest in the late 1960s when The Edgar Broughton Blues Band swapped blues for the emerging psychedelic sounds of the age, setting them on a more progressive path than first intended. Although the band’s initial phase came to an end in the early 80s, the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist has released a handful of solo albums, including his latest, Break The Dark, which sees him reuniting with members of the EBB’s alumni. Here, he discusses his former band’s heyday, making a “Sunday afternoon” album, and reveals why he thinks politics has a place in music.

NICK FLETCHER

The jazz rock guitarist and John Hackett Band member discusses his classical influences and the threads of mysticism that run through his work.

Lucky For Some

By his own admission, when Fish originally released 13th Star in 2007, his life was a mess. Broke, directionless and dumped just before his wedding, the Scottish singer-songwriter was close to rock-bottom but had turned his frustration and grief into an album that contains some of his finest solo material. To coincide with the record's deluxe reissue, Fish looks back on the turmoil that inspired it.

Tales From The Bar

Magenta's lead singer Christina Booth is back with a new solo album, Bar Stool Prophet. Emotional and uplifting, haunting and lyrical, the album's 10 tracks explore themes ranging from politics, war and religion to ageing, life and death. Prog catches up with Booth to discover more about the inspiration behind her latest music.

MOVING THROUGH SOME Changes - How 90125 Saved Yes

The short-lived Drama era in 1980 was almost the death of Yes. Yet three years later, the heroes of British progressive rock had been completely reinvented with massive worldwide success. In 90125 they had their biggest-selling album and a worldwide hit single. On the record's 40th anniversary, we look back on how a new band without a deal became an 80s success story.

The first spin

A pioneering venture by the Gramophone and Typewriter company in 1906 produced the first recording of Handel's Messiah, Simon Heighes takes a listen to the original 25 shellac-disc set

Marking time

Johann Nepomuk Maelzel invented weird and wonderful devices, but none were more successful than the metronome

Arias of achievement

Glyndebourne Academy has been offering guidance to young singers who might not otherwise get the chance, as Tom Stewart finds out...

DECEMBER 1944: Glenn Miller goes missing over the English Channel

'In The Mood', 'Moonlight Serenade', 'Chattanooga Choo Choo'. The titles are familiar, the tunes indelible, and as the early rumblings of World War II emerged in Europe they catapulted Glenn Miller and his Orchestra to heady levels of celebrity in his native US.

The power of redemption

Poulenc hoped his religious music might atone for personal sins, but the compassion of his works served as a lesson for the church

Richard Morrison

Today, the term 'diva' is a long way removed from its glowing origins

AVOICE for the ages

As we celebrate the centenary of legendary soprano Maria Callas, Ashutosh Khandekar explains why she has remained such a powerful influence on successive generations of fans and singers

Rising in the East

When Zubin Mehta made his recent debut with the Symphony Orchestra of India, it marked a coming of age for an ensemble still in its teens. Owen Mortimer reports on its upcoming UK tour and ground-breaking training for young musicians

Kirill Karabits

After over a decade at the helm, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's hugely popular chief conductor explains to Rebecca Franks what he has planned for his final season

THE CROSSROADS Lorne Lofsky's Harmonics

This month John Wheatcroft looks at the incredible natural and false harmonic techniques of this Canadian jazz virtuoso, with help from British guitarist Nigel Price.

PHILIP SAYCE Six Hot Blues Licks!

Welsh-born Canadian blues master Philip Sayce took time out of his busy schedule to record us six, red-hot Texas-style licks, with Jon Bishop as your guide.

MITCH DALTON

The studio guitarist's guide to happiness and personal fulfilment, as related by our resident session ace. This month: What Was It Like In The Olden Days, Grandad?

VIDEO MASTERCLASS Nuno Bettencourt

In this special video feature  takes a deep dive into one of the most iconic rock players of all time.