Andreas Vollenweider

[Hawksun]

I suggest adding Andreas Vollenweider's first two albums (Behind the Gardens... and Caverna Magica) to the moon. I once pitched the idea and I remember that some people were relatively favorable to the idea. I know his music has been labeled as "New age", but these two albums contain many pieces and tracks that I'm sure could please a lot of proggers (most notably the first two cuts from Behind the Gardens...). For those who do not know this artist, Andreas Vollenweider is a Swiss musician playing a modified electric concert harp (as well as a few dozens other instruments) and backed by various other musicians, mostly percussionists/drummers.

Unfortunately, I don't have any links for some quick previewings of the music in question for the moment.

So that's it. Awaiting your comments and/or counter-suggestions

--Hawksun

P.S. : Just found out I had this forum account that was idle and unused for almost two years now.

[mossy]

Amazon provides at least a bit of a snippet of songs. Both those albums were part of my collection, but were left up in Canada when we moved down here. Actually my MOTHER (who is now in her late 80's) turned me on to them back when they came out.

They're fantastic. I don't know if they'd be considered prog, or proggy enough, though.

[roger]

yeah, I like him a lot, and would second the suggestion of those two albums.

[kirk]

I've been into AV since the 80's, I say "why not?"

Hey, remember Jon Anderson practically invented newage
w/ "Olias...". Vangelis and he are likely forerunners to several
genres that intersect, branch off of PR.


K

[Hawksun]

Let's not forget that "New Age" is a label rather than a musical genre per se. In Vollenweider's case, this label was applied by the record company in order to cash in on the New Age craze of the 80's. Just clearing things up, just in case.

--Hawksun

[kirk]

Originally Posted by Hawksun

Let's not forget that "New Age" is a label rather than a musical genre per se. In Vollenweider's case, this label was applied by the record company in order to cash in on the New Age craze of the 80's. Just clearing things up, just in case.

Hey Hawksun- It's interesting...if you go to the Shoutcast home page-
http://www.shoutcast.com/directory/index.phtml, do a search on
"Newage", as compared to "New Age", the result is a different list
of stations.
Many outlets, such as Borders, now refer to it as "Lifestyles",
Comcast Music Direct calls it "Soundscapes".
They're avoiding the association w/ Newage religions, esoteric/
alternative healing practices, which has nothing to do w/ New Age,
the music genre. I was the #1 Newage artist 2003 on Mp3.com.au
(Australia), so I have to take the view that there exists the genre.

Some of the confusion stems from the grouping of the early electronic
artists, i.e. Vangelis, JMJ, into the genre, as well as ethnic music crossing
over from what properly is categorized as "World" music.
Enya's family, Clannad comes to mind. The same thing is happening
currently w/ some "Ambient" music.

Good Lord man...I just realized this could spark a "New Age, not New Age"
discussion! NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!



Kirk

[Andyyyy]

Next thing you know someone will ask the deadly question: "What is Prog?"

BTW, I too enjoy AV!

[Rick and Roll]

"What is Prog" will rival "What is Love" as the most unanswerable question

Kirk I'd rather be # 1 in Austrailia than in Andorra......

Question...

Do you all really think Clannad is World music (your opinion, not some reviewer)? I always though of them as having parallels to US musical genres, just from another country. Maybe it's just me, but the term "World" and "Ethnic" seems to assume an egotistical stance from the ugly American.

Couldn't a band like Clannad be more properly categorized than lumping it into World music?

For another interesting band and topic, Methem has started a thread....

[roger]

Clannad is great.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by roger

Clannad is great.

It's settled, a new genre!

GREAT
ROCKS
DOESN'T SUCK
SUCKS

That covers it....

[roger]

if a group is part-way in-between, do we use - or / ?

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by roger

if a group is part-way in-between, do we use - or / ?

my vote for funniest post of 2006....

[progdirjim(Admin)]

I believe I asked about adding Vollenweider a few years ago. I have most of his earlier work (through Down To Earth and/or Dancing With The Lion, early 90's or thereabouts). I like it, and will throw some of it on the station shortly. Sometimes hard to determine where to end tracks, as he segues from one piece to the next rather seamlessly...

Rick, your question about what constitutes "world music" is a good one and deserves a separate post...

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by progdirjim

I Sometimes hard to determine where to end tracks, as he segues from one piece to the next rather seamlessly...

Just cut it where you see fit, before we talk about combining them....

[Hawksun]

The first side of his first album doesn't have this problem however. As for every other sides, well you might have to group the songs in packs of three or four. If i recall, some tracks have enough of a "pause time" at the end that we won't have to group EVERY song from an album into a single long track.

-- Hawksun