A Look Back on 2014
2014 has been a great year for music. The further evolution of new bands taking inspiration from one or other of the previous psychedelic eras has resulted in more thrilling music, though there is a fine line that divides inspiration and slavish copying. I much prefer music made by those who understand the heart of the music and create something new and exhilarating. Alongside the burgeoning psychedelic scene the parallel – yet overlapping – progressive scene continues to develop further, mixing up the musical origins of prog with ideas, energy and single-mindedness of punk, folk and metal. Look no further than the invigorating and invigorated sound of Gong on their latest album ‘I See You’ for evidence of the health of prog in 2014. Set the joy that the psych and prog scenes have delivered against some of the best new albums from developing individual talents like St. Vincent and Tune-Yards and it becomes clear that music in 2014 (and on into 2015) is in a really health