Songs You May Have Missed #252

21 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

The Moody Blues: “The Swallow” (1999)

 

From the last studio album the Moody Blues released, excepting their very good 2003 Christmas release, December. This is an overlooked little Justin Hayward jewel, and understandably so: Strange Times is one of the weakest records of the band’s long and distinguished career.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2015/02/17/songs-you-may-have-missed-523/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/09/16/songs-you-may-have-missed-173/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/11/06/songs-you-may-have-missed-500/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2025/10/22/songs-you-may-have-missed-800/

Songs You May Have Missed #251

21 Nov 2012 2 Comments

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Lake: “Chasing Colours” (1976)

The German band Lake sounded like a combination of 70’s West Coast pop, Little River Band and Supertramp, with just a touch of British Prog.

Japanese film director Yasujiro Ozu is known for his “pillow shots”–transitional shots of scenery or random details that give the viewer a moment for reflection. Lake used what I’d call “pillow notes”, an extra bar or two of music that helped to “frame” a song. Listen for them here in the middle and end of the chorus.

It’s an interesting characteristic of this band, the presence of these little “unnecessary” notes. And it’s what I believe causes people to attribute a subtle progressive rock element to them.

Songs You May Have Missed #250

21 Nov 2012 1 Comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Citizen K: “For Citizen A” (2009)

Citizen K is Swede Klas Qvist, who mixes diverse 60’s and 70’s pop influences on his second record, on which he plays most of the instruments. Lead track “For Citizen A” is a heartrendingly fatalistic look at love and its potential for loss.

If anything we can’t foresee should blow this candle out

Please remember that I loved you for dear life

If Qvist is saying that to love is to risk the loss of something precious, he’d surely find agreement from a certain American songwriter he seems to have taken a cue from.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/07/07/songs-you-may-have-missed-442/

Songs You May Have Missed #249

21 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

ashes

Threshold: “Ashes” (2012)

Making their return five years after their previous release, veteran English prog metal band Threshold have overcome the death of lead vocalist Andrew McDermott by welcoming back his predecessor Damian Wilson. Dream Theater, Arena, Rush and Marillion are touchstones for the band’s sound, but their dedication to their own vision and songcraft raise their work above mere imitation.

March of Progress presents a taut sounding mix of propulsive guitars and insistent synths across a song cycle dealing with political and social issues against a backdrop of environmental decay–the kind of big-picture stuff that plays to the strength of a good rock band, and makes a lesser one look like they’re overreaching. As “Ashes” shows, topical rock is in good hands here.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/02/16/songs-you-may-have-missed-335/

Songs You May Have Missed #248

20 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

kihn

Greg Kihn Band: “Remember” (1978)

An unusually dexterous and deliberate arrangement in contrast to the more immediate singles Kihn is known for. The brushes on the drums are a nice touch.

Songs You May Have Missed #247

20 Nov 2012 1 Comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: , , ,

Slavyanka Men’s Chorus: “Otche Nash” (“Our Father”) (1992)

The 25-member San Francisco-based Slavyanka Men’s Chorus sings mostly in Russian, although most of them don’t speak Russian.

The rich harmonic textures and unusual tonalities of Russian sacred music can be utterly transporting, and make it a great palette cleanser from your usual. Unless of course this is what you listen to every day, in which case I’d recommend Dying Fetus or Pig Destroyer.

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