Now with a title of that weight you might be expecting to be carried away or transfixed by the music contained within. Indeed, I hope that is the outcome, but what is contained herein is a short homage to one of the most fantastic children's books ever written, "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame. 

To be honest, there was not very many bands that paid homage to this story. So instead we culled together music that may well fit the theme of the story if not always the tenor. I shored it all up with some of the newer stuff just to keep you all on your toes, but I also included some of the major pieces of Wind in the Willows in hopes of communicating the story as the music allowed. 

"The Rat never answered, if indeed he heard. Rapt, transported, trembling, he was possessed in all his senses by this new divine thing that caught up his soul and swung and dandled it, a powerless but happy infant in a strong sustaining grasp"- From The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

The Piper at the Gates of Prog

• Public Symphony- Wings

Well, here we are at the turn of the season once again. This may be our 12th or 13th Christmas episode and personally, I found this one to be very meaningful. We are quite past traditional Christmas music at this point. Instead narratives of the passage from dark to light fuel the ritual fires of the Soundscape. I feel as if each tradition and ceremony we observe over the swift passages of time, mark turning points, at least for me. One of the reasons Soundscape is sometimes a challenging journey for me is that each episode grows of its own nature. Muses compete for my ear and eventually, something roughly resembling the original idea emerges. Like any other creative undertaking, this DJing thing is a matter of seeking the thing, rather than the shadows of the thing, but somewhere in the imperfections, lies the heart of our humanity. We are the broken ones seeking solace in a world of shattering illusions, and subsequent mythologies of care. We strive for something greater than ourselves. So within this journey, you may find a very clear presence of pain, and loss, amidst the magical metaphors our musicians weave. It is my sincere hope that something here meets you on your own journey back to the light. As the days again grow long, may you find peace and industry to sustain you through another year. Happy Holidays! May you be reborn for another trip around this life giving star of wonder. 

Have a Proggy Jolly Christmas

• Steve Miller Band- Winter Time

I have been a Pink Floyd Fan since I was a teenager. One auspicious day, while listening to the local rock station, "Not Now John" came on. I spent weeks trying to identify the artist/band who wrote this song. When I finally found the artist, I bought Final Cut immediately. Then, on another life changing occasion, I popped into the local Turtles while waiting to pick up my sisters. I bought The Dark Side of the Moon. I drove around listening to the album (on cassette mind you) through the backroads of east Georgia, many dark and unfamiliar places. With that soundtrack in those environs, the album scared the hell out of me. I was in love with the music but so overwhelmed by the themes and the power of the sound.

Well here we are, years later and Floyd is still my favorite band of all time. No other band has communicated my personal angst and dissatisfaction with life in quite the same way. And no band has made me happier (in that existential sort of vein that only Pink Floyd can provide). It comes as no surprise that many artists and bands have found inspiration from Pink Floyd. Whether it was the sweeping epic grandeur of their space rock journeys, or the angry tones of their political rhetoric, Floyd have sent wave after wave of musicians into the depths of the psyche and the far out reaches of the galaxy. It is with this in mind that for this episode, we allow many of those musicians to come to light for their contribution to Pink Floyd as a genre of music. 

As always, many gems fell to the floor as we were grabbing the goodies not the least of which were Airbag, and Mostly Autumn. Nevertheless, I think we were able to offer an interesting and perhaps lesser known batch of Floydian explorations. I pray that you enjoy the journey and I look forward to when we all meet again, some sunny day.

Floydian Soundscapes

• David Gilmour- 5 A.M.

Chris Sargent's Perfect Album Side

• Mike Rutherford- Smallcreep Alone

Floydian Soundscapes Continued

• Bunchakeze- The Deal

One of my favorite aspects of the creative process of developing themed shows for Soundscape is the notion that our favorite music can be viewed from so many different angles. We can look at thematic content in the narratives of the music, styles of music, and even particular instruments. Perhaps one of the most important instruments to my listening experience (although I could make an argument for many) has been the keys. Whether it was synth, moog, piano or organ, keyboards have always fascinated me. It is such a versatile apparatus for building incredible soundscapes, and in the hands of a master the keyboard can take us anywhere we want to go. So this week, we pay homage to those who tickle the ivories, or in the case of some players violently abuse them. Come join us for arpegiatic walks, and dissonant delving, as we journey through the world of the keyboard. This week the keys have it.

The Keys Have It

• Muse- Piano Thing

Due to perhaps faulty planning on my part, this years Halloween episode appears to have a lot of the same music as last year. That is not to say that it does not have some new material, or that it lacks redeeming value, only to say that if you are looking for a completely new journey, you may not get what you were looking for. I enjoyed the set up and play of this show, but as you may know, finding new ways of expressing Halloween is getting harder as the years go by. Tell your favorite artists to deliver a new bevy of Halloween goodness next year ok. Anyway, here it is, have at it!

Happy Halloween- may you find that for which you seek at the thinning of the veils.

Another Halloween

• RPWL- Alone and Scared

Sometimes, the theme or direction of a show just does not gel quickly but when it does it takes a form and shape of its own. Sometimes that theme is easy to dethread from the tangle of prog rock and others just drop in unannounced and sometimes unwanted. This episode took a number of strange turns. I found myself with a pile of good music that was calling to be played, and then the theme of moving from darkness and fear into a place of joy and abandon came forth. So if there is a narrative to be found, it centers on that notion. The addition of the spacey music and journeys into the wild blue yonder are perhaps the personal carryover of joy that presented itself. We take it as it comes. Hopefully the world of the music will unfold to you in its own way. Happy journeys.

Scrambling for Light

• Adult Cinema- Asleep at the Wheel

Hi guys,

The Beatles have always been in my misocal genetics, and they also infiltrate prog on a regular basis. My son had suggested a Beatles show. Beatles are probably the one piece of music that he agrees on with Suzi and I. So the idea came up that we should do a show of Beatle Prog. We have used this theme before back when we were on The Dividing Line, but it has not come up here at Progrock. So that's the theme set of this show. You will also find a mix of newer music, and a perfect album side as well. 

If you feel you have what it takes, and you want to create  a perfect album side, drop us a line [email protected] providing us with 45 minutes of music that you have handpicked from the fields of your mind and we will accept your mighty harvest and distribute among the proggies like loaves and fishes...this metaphor just ran away, sorry. Anyway, write us.

[email protected]

@soundscapedj

Soundscape 2.73 Beatle Prog

• Karcius- Absence of Light

Beatle Prog

• The Beatles- Strawberry Fields Forever

Perfect Album Side by Scott Oliver

• OSI- Go

The Return

• Riverside- Vale of Tears

Hello there,

It's been about 1 month since this show aired. The challenge came when I found it was full of editing gaps. Well I believe I have it mostly stitched together. So here it is episode 2.72. It is a mixed bag comprised of new music, continued 2017 reminisence and opera prog- that's right opera prog. For those that are worried about this statement, fear not, it is simply some prog dipped in opera sauce. Thanks for listening.

Soundscape 2.72 Opera Prog

• Bubblemath- A Void That I Cann Depart To

Yet another journey into the best stuff from 2017. Its part 2 of a series. Had a good time, played some good music, but we still have more to come.

Further adventures spelunking 2017

• Arabs in Aspic- Syndenes Magi

Lets face it, 2017 was a phenomenal year for the music we love. In every hidden shadow underneath every rock, there is a new and talented progressive rock band waiting to bud forth and spread its message. So it should be no surprise that we had to break things up into 2 episodes. Also we won't be rating things, because how could you do such a thing. It's all great. That said, here is the first setlist.

• Kotebel- Entangled Universe

Contact us by writing to [email protected] and follow us at @SoundscapeDJ