Favorite instrumental music (rock) group?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

The premier seventies group that I've always turned to is Focus. I honestly can't even think (at this moment) of any other good instrumental-based group in their league. I'll be happy to take it back if you all can name other names!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/8267/history.htm&h=290&w=398&sz=21&tbnid=5qlysKEdPDsKPM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=120&hl=en&start=3&prev=/images%3Fq%3DThijs%2BVan%2BLEER%2Bfocus%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=658

[seemunkee]

1. Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Passport, Soft Machine

I prefer instrumentals to vocals.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. Although I DO have just about every TD cd available

I don't consider them a true rock group, as they're about 99 percent synthetic. I was thinking more traditional rock and less computer. I realize that in their early "analog" days they qualified, but they've since moved beyond that genre.

As for Kraftwerk, I always thought of them as somewhat lacking in originality- to me they sound flat, like a mono copy of TD. I've never lisened to Passport or Soft Machine, and will start tracking them down.

[enigmatic]

2. Love Tractor

First record, anyway.....

http://www.lovetractormusic.com/

[aquaman]

4. Hey man!!! I was just thinking about you tonight.....

Have not talked in sooooo long. Hope all is well. I bought some great cd's today. The new Sonic Youth is great by the way.

[aquaman]

3. Easy....

Dirty Three.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. Will give 'em a try.

Thanks!

[aquaman]

7. No problem.....

If you PM me your address I will burn you the cd's free of charge of course.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. Check your PM

Many thanks! :yourock:

[aquaman]

10. Cool,

I will begin the burning tomorrow.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. One other I thought of is

The Blue Man Group.

I know their studio work is heavily layered, but have your seen their Complex Tour dvd? Pure bliss. Percussion Paradise. :evilgrin:

[Squeech]

11. More

Univers Zero comes from Belgium, they play a kind of medievalesque vampire soiree music, although it got harder and more industrial in later years. The record called Heresie will curl your short hairs. Art Zoyd (France) is similar, except they have no drummer. Zamla Mammaz Manna (Sweden) made a record called Familjesprickor (translates as "family quarrel") that could easily be considered Moving Waves' evil twin. All three of these bands were associated with a European scene called Rock In Opposition, which you should Google.

There's a lot to say about Soft Machine. First of all, they started out as a psychedelic pop group, like early Pink Floyd (who they used to gig with), but after their third record they just stopped writing songs with words and ended up in an area like electric Miles Davis. They were hugely influential, and the term "Canterbury" (where they came from; Google that too) is used to refer to Soft Machine alumni, fellow travellers, and imitators. Soft Machine Third is one of half a dozen prog records that the Rolling Stone Record Guide gave five stars to, and it deserves it (although I myself prefer Volume 2). Like Focus, they have a sense of humor, as well as depth. And if you like them, you'll love National Health!

There were a bunch of bands in the '90s that critics referred to as "post-rock." I was in one of them, Cul de Sac, and I'm immensely proud of the record I made with them, called Crashes to Light, Minutes to its Fall. (And now you can figure out my real name.) Our deliberate influences included Krautrock bands like Can and Faust, punk bands like Television and Pere Ubu, film composers like Bernard Herrmann, and intricate guitar fingerpickers like John Fahey. There were half a dozen other bands tagged with the post-rock label, although we didn't think we had all that much in common with any of the others; Tortoise was probably my favorite.

PM me if you want more information. (And I'm more articulate after coffee!)