Prog is not a four letter word. OK, I guess that’s a four letter word, but it’s not bad. I think the average music fan’s aversion to progressive rock stems from the perception that it means endless guitar solos, half-hour percussion pieces, and high-pitched operatic vocals dealing with sci-fi or vaguely New Age themes. Let’s face it, some of the older practitioners of the form didn’t help anything. Think Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Think of Yes with his “Tales from the Topographical Ocean.” Even think of Rush with some of the concept pieces of him.
It gets to be a bit much. I mean, after the side songs, you get to a certain point where you just want the clarity of, say, Under the Boardwalk or, God forbid, Rockin’ Robin.
Regardless, putting those notions aside and taking a look at some of the modern purveyors of progressive rock, we found something truly remarkable. They’ve absorbed the lessons of their prog parents, but they’ve filtered through twenty-five years of underground music and come up with something wonderful.
One of the best bands that exploit these fields is the Earthling Society of England. They have left the lighter side of Prog behind and instead draw inspiration from such complex noise mongers as Magma, Van Der Graff Generator and King Crimson. Their previous album “Albion” was announced by rock outsider Julian Cope on his Head Heritage website. The album was a real powerhouse. On their new album, “Plastic Jesus and the Third Eye Blind,” they dug even deeper and found a winner.
Musically, they are dead. This is not your father’s Prog.
Loud, dense, and sometimes a bit “dubby,” this is head music, meant to be played loud and long. The two extended pieces, Kosmik Suite No. 1 and No. 2 have something for everyone, both musically and lyrically.
Speaking of lyrics, this album is packed with them. Appropriately though, vocalist Fred Laird uses his voice more musically than didactically, and the messages get lost in a very interesting, but fuzzy tonality. However, the album comes with a lyric booklet and it looks like the Earthling Society guys have quite a bit to say. From an outright rejection of organized religion (Plastic Jesus) to ferocious condemnation of government/corporate destruction of nature (Kosmik Suite No. 2), Earthling Society isn’t afraid to draw lines in the sand and take sides. One of the most powerful elements of these statements is how they seem to come from a mystical or mythological area. The Earthling Society has drunk deeply into the pagan heritage of its native Britain, and in doing so, its complaints take on added authority and visionary truth.
“Plastic Jesus and the Third Eye Blind” is an unusual and challenging listen. The depth of the themes and lyrical content are a welcome departure from the typical and everyday. The excellent musicianship and creative song structures reveal a complex and layered work that rewards repeat listens. A truly unique band and an incendiary work of art.
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