UK Prog

After the album-tour-album cycle of Script for a Jester's Tear, Fugazi, and the subsequent Euro-only release of Real to Reel, Marillion retreated to Berlin's Hansa Ton Studios with Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey to work on their next opus. Armed with a handful of lyrics born out of a self-confessed acid trip, Fish came up with the elaborate concept for 1985's Misplaced Childhood. Touching upon his early childhood experiences and his inability to deal with a slew of bad breakups exacerbated by a never-ending series of rock star-type "indulgences," Misplaced Childhood would prove to be not only the band's most accomplished release to date, but also its most streamlined. Initial record company skepticism over the band's decision to forge ahead with a '70s-style prog rock opus split into two halves (sides one and two) quickly evaporated as Marillion delivered its two most commercial singles ever: "Kayleigh" and "Lavender." With its lush production and punchy mix, the album went on to become the band's greatest commercial triumph, especially in Europe where they would rise from theater attraction to bona fide stadium royalty.

Welcome to "Postcards", the latest mix of modern day progressive music that is issue 79 of Prog Magazine's cover disc. Plenty of recognisable names are on offer this month. There's brand new music from UK prog rockers Threshold featuring new (or rather returned) vocalist Glynn Morgan, more ebullient grooves from Amplifier's hot new platter "Trippin' With Dr Faustus" and ex-Touchstone singer Kim Seviour makes her first solo forays with "Call To Action". There's also classy new Magenta music from "We Are Legend" in the form of "Trojan", the return of US proggers Discipline and fellow US proggers Circuline, who recently made their first trip to the UK for dates with IO Earth…