This was an absolutely pleasant surprise! Our friends at áMARXE have published a Swedish band called Actionfredag who keep the spirit of the Canterbury Sound alive in the modern age. The rhythms are tight, time changes about, and the production is punchy. This is a good day to be a prog-head.
Of all the scenes I’ve always felt was neglected in prog, it was the Canterbury scene. That sub-genre which gave us Soft Machine, Caravan, National Health, Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers is of course big with specialist fans, but as the years have passed, it seems fewer and fewer listeners are hearing that wonderful sound. Thankfully, there is Amoeba Split, a Canterbury-inspired band who hail from my ancient paternal homeland of Galicia in Northern Spain.
The band mix jazz fusion and progressive rock expertly, and the sound is so authentic that I had to remember the release date of this album (originally pressed in 2020). What really makes this album a keeper is the brass arrangements, which remind me of bands like National Health. Amazing.
Thanks to Rafa Dorado of áMARXE Records who advised me to listen to this. I’m indebted to him for the experience.
Bigg Hogg are a Scottish progressive rock band who remind me of old Canterbury Bands like Caravan and Soft Machine. Really mellow and charming prog.