What truly is progressive music? Each month BraveWords will aim to dissect that answer with a thorough overview of the current musical climate that is the prog world. Old and new, borrowed and blue. A musical community without borders. So watch for a steady and spaced-out array of features, current news and a buyer's guide checklist to enhance the forward-thinking musical mind. So, welcome to BraveWords' monthly column appropriately titled, Between A Rock In A Prog Place. 

In this month's column, Derek Moore, the founding member and singer/bassist of Nektar, discusses a variety of topics, including the group's news LP, Mission To Mars, Iron Maiden's Nektar cover from way back when, and the current state of prog.

How would you compare Mission To Mars to earlier Nektar albums?

I think that Mission To Mars is a natural step forward in our musical journey. This album reverts to our rock roots, while still having a prog feel. This one I feel will cross over. '"’ll Let You In" is already being played by Christian radio stations for example, while "Mission To Mars" is all over the college stations and doing well.

Which songs on the new album would you say retain the classic Nektar sound/approach the most?

The most prog is "One Day Hi One Day Lo'"which is all enveloping, although I love them all. You have 4 songs that go together to make a complete sound - the different songs. The time goes by fast when you listen to the album, and you want to play it again.

Was the early ‘70s the golden age of prog?

I think the beginning of prog started with the Beatles and Moody Blues - with melody and brilliant musical roots. Perfect time for Nektar to step up with our version. It has been a great journey away from pop music.

What was the trickiest song Nektar has offered throughout the years?

There are many tricky songs with Nektar, including "Recycled" and "Marvelous Moses.'" The most melodic being "Remember The Future." Mission To Mars has some great melodic qualities with power driving through the entire album.

What are your thoughts concerning Iron Maiden’s cover of "King Of Twilight"?

I like Iron Maiden's version, I am flattered as were we all. Steve Harris is a great fan of the band, and he has been to see us. They actually looked at other pieces, including "Nelly the Elephant." Great guys, we would love to tour with them.

Who are some modern day prog artists you fancy?

Steve Hackett, Alan Parsons, Big Big Train, Marillion, Gryphon, Fripp, Saga, Dream Theater, Dave Bainbridge and Lifesigns, Fernando Perdomo to name a few. Nektar was one of the first to play prog before it was really popular. It is wonderful that it continues to push on through even though prog is not represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Although we were recently inducted 2020 into the St. Louis Classic Rock Hall of Fame as an outside influence, which shows it is at least peeking through.

Is prog alive and well in 2024?

There will always be prog in its various forms, it is a type of music that never gets old.

Between A Rock And A Prog Place News Blast

Jethro Tull will be issuing an expanded and remixed edition of 2003's The Jethro Tull Christmas Album via InsideOutMusic on December 6, for which a trailer can be explored below. FROST* has issued the third single from their Life In The Wires album, entitled “Idiot Box,” which can be viewed right on over here.

Canadian proggers the Wring have a new guitar videofor their track “Blur,” off their new album Nemesis. And Dutch symphonic metallists Epica have unveiled what is being described as a "spine-chilling music video" for the track “The Ghost in Me (Danse Macabre)”…be prepared to be spooked!

Devin Townsend recently released his latest album, the intriguingly titled PowerNerd, for which a video for the track “Knuckledragger” has been filmed and viewable below. The Nashville-based Empire Springs recently issued their third single and video from their forthcoming LP, Attrition, simply entitled 'Hollow'.

Prog rockers Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius supposedly spent six years making their sixth album, Impostor!, and you can inspect the video clip for the tune to see if the wait was worth it. And lastly, cult Swedish proggers Beardfish have issued a brand new LP, Songs for Beating Hearts, and a new clip for the standout track, 'Torrential Downpour.'

November 2024 New Albums

Nov. 1:
Beardfish- Songs for Beating Hearts 
Todd Rundgren- Arena (expanded reissue)

Nov. 8:
Crippled Black Phoenix- The Wolf Changes Its Fur But Not Its Nature
Hawkwind- Doremi Fasol Latido (box set)
Neal Morse & the Resonance- No Hil for a Climber 
Rick Wakeman- Yessonata (CD edition)

Nov. 15:
Iron Maiden- Powerslave (40th anniversary zoetrope picture-disc vinyl reissue)

Nov. 22:
Can- Can Live in Keele 1977
Opeth- The Last Will and Testament 

Nov. 29
Days Between Stations- Perpetual Motion Machines (Music for a Film) 
John Wetton- Concentus: The John Wetton Live Collection Volume 1 (box set)

Classic Clip

As mentioned earlier, Iron Maiden was bold enough to cover the 1972 Nektar classic "King Of Twilight" as the b-side for their 1984 single, "Aces High." Want to compare Maiden's version to the original? Enjoy the two clips below…