The Unknown Beauty Of The 80's Vol. 145

[Rissan]

Progressive Rock from around the world

After three thematic Volumes on British Progressive Rock of the eighties it is time to cover a Volume with progressive rock from around the world. This first compilation covers bands from Australia, Japan, America, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Aragon was an Australian band from Melbourne active since 1986. In 1998, after releasing five albums in the same line-up, they disbanded to reform in 2004 as a threesome. Since then, the band is on an hiatus again, although a teaser of new music popped up in June 2015. Some of the members formed Elysian Sea.

Barrock was an Italian symphonic and baroque progressive rock band active from 1985 to 2000. During the three album period they devolved from pure progressive rock to progressive pop.

Pageant, formed in 1981, was a Japanese progressive rock band active during the eighties. The band made their debut on the Japanse progressive rock compilation “Progressive Battle” in 1985. During the nineties the French label Musea got a license to release albums of the Made In Japan label in Europe, which resulted in a hugh interest in Japanes Progressive Rock. Despite the European interest in the nineties the band did not reform.

Gerard was a Japanese progressive rock band formed in 1983 by keyboard player Toshio Egawa (ex Novela). They went in hiatus from 1985 to 1991 and returned with an album because of the French interest in Japanese progressive rock. They toured Europe in the late nineties, and I saw them perform during the sixth Planet Pul festival in Uden. The band recorded several albums in the 21st century, but in 2018 Toshio Egawa called it a day and is now focusing on playing in a Rainbow coverband besides being involved in reunion gigs of Novela and Sheherazade.

Eris Pluvia is an Italian progressive rock band from Genoa which released their first demo in 1990. After an album in 1991, several members left to form Ancient Veil, and the band disbanded. Around 2009 the band reformed and since then have released three other albums.

Isilders Bane is from Halmstad, Sweden and was founded in 1976. Since 1984 they have released albums on a regular base and worked with other artists like Steve Hogarth (Marillion) and Peter Hamill.

Rousseau was a German progressive rock band formed in 1977, which released three albums in the eighties, and a reform album in 2002.

Airspeed was an Italian progressive rock band active from 1983 to 1988. Posthumously an album was released in 2012.

For Absent Friends is a Dutch progressive rock band founded in 1987. After a self released single in 1988 and a cd mini album in 1990 they signed to SI Music and released four albums through the nineties. In 2001 they returned with a new singer and released another two albums over a period of five years. Due to the death of their bass player René Bacchus they called it a day around 2010, although they released posthumously a live album in 2018 of a 2009 concert.

Arrakeen were a French progressive rock band active in the late eighties and early nineties. They became well-known in the scene when Steve Rothery (Marillion) performed with them on the song Folle Marie at the Zenith in Paris. After a demo and two albums they called it a day around 1993.

Egdon Heath were a Dutch progressive rock band which formed in 1981 in Friesland, the north of the Netherlands. After several demo tapes they released their first album in 1987, signed to SI Music in the early nineties, where they released two albums. After the bankruptcy of SI Music they continued to record and release one more studio album. A rarities album and a live double album, recorded on their farewell concert, followed, after which they called it a day in 1999. Some members went on and, with a new drummer and vocalist, formed the band Seven Day Hunt, which released an album in 2008.

Deyss were a Swiss progressive band formed in 1976 but mostly active in the late eighties and early nineties. They released two albums and a compilation picture disc. Posthumously in 2000 an album with material from 1978 / 1979 was released.

Robert Berry is an American progressive rock multi instrumentalist artists, who debuted solo in 1984. He was and is active in a lot of bands like Hush, Ambrosia, Fourth Street, Alliance, The December People, All 4 and The Schelptones. Best known for replacing Greg Lake In ELP, which changed the name to 3. In 2018 3 returned as 3.2 presenting material which Berry and Emerson had written and recorded in the period before Emerson’s death in March 2016.

Eye Desire was an Australian progressive rock band active in the late eighties which released only one self-titled album. Keyboard player Aron Scharfegger has released ten albums since 2007 under the creative moniker Arnioe (Arn.Ioe or Arn10e).

Nexus Erratic was a Swiss progressive rock band active during the early eighties. First known as Nexus, the band added Erratic to their name after discovering there were more bands with the same name. They released just one album in 1983.

Odyssice is a Dutch progressive rock band founded in 1986. Their debut cassette Track One got airplay on the Dutch radio. Due to musical difference they disbanded around 1990, to reform in 1996. Since then the band has released three studio albums and a live album. Since 2013 it is quite quiet around Odyssice.

The tracks:

01. Aragon - For Your Eyes (4:53)
02. Barrock - The Witch (5:07)
03. Pageant - Echo (5:54)
04. Gerard - Lasting Memory (5:14)
05. Eris Pluvia - Pushing Together (4:48)
06. Isilders Bane - The Second Step (3:08)
07. Rousseau - Breakfast At Tiffany's (4:21)
08. Airspeed - Far Away Screams (4:01)
09. For Absent Friends - Changing Seasons (4:22)
10. Arrakeen - Folle Marie (6:44)
11. Egdon Heath - Pyromania (5:37)
12. Deyss - Take Yourself Back (7:52)
13. Robert Berry - Between The Lies (4:39)
14. Eye Desire - Relying On Time (2:55)
15. Nexus Erratic - Winter (4:07)
16. Odyssice - Losing Her (6:03)

The link: https://mega.nz/file/okJEFRhJ#UHBpdCWsq ... Y9tFzRFVdc

Enjoy.

[AJWAVE]

Interesting track list. The most interesting prog scene is from Italy. They always adored british bands since the movement started.
Robert Berry did cool things with "3" and even Nerotrend. But his covers versions are not my cup of tea. His "Roundabout" (Yes) and Watcher of the skies (Genesis) cover versions are horrible in my opinion.

[Fred80s]

Thanks for these great prog tracks. Keep up the great work Rissan!

[maccafan076]

I don't know any of these bands. I'm looking forward to listening. Thanks Rissan