Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Dan’s pick of the week: Rush (Hemispheres), Journey (Journey), Boston (Don’t Look Back), Junipher Greene (Friendship) & Wishbone Ash (Live Dates).

Rush was een Canadese progressieve rockband, opgericht in 1968. Van 1974 tot het einde van de band in 2015 bestond de bezetting uit Geddy Lee (zang, bas en toetsen), Alex Lifeson (gitaar, zang) en Neil Peart (drums).

Sputnik Music review: “Hemispheres” continues the band’s explorations of their musical style and marks the peak of what I consider Rush’s golden era, the years between 1976 and 1981. “Hemispheres” is the second studio album of them that belongs to their second musical phase. It comprises also their fifth studio album “A Farewell To Kings” released in 1977, their seventh studio album “Permanent Waves” released in 1980 and their eighth studio album “Moving Pictures” released in 1981.

The album contains examples of Rush’s adherence to progressive rock standards including the use of epic, multi movement song structures, complex rhythms and time signatures and flexible guitar solos. The group had begun to use mini Moogs, and Pearl was also using a lot of bells and other stuff which added new colour to the band’s sound. In my humble opinion, this album has Rush’s most fully realised progressive rock sound. This is easily Rush’s finest music work. Four songs, each of them rock in their own special little way, and where each individual member is at their instrumental peak. “Hemispheres” is one of those albums that embody everything great about its constituent genre. (…)

All these things make of “Hemispheres”” as one of the best studio progressive rock albums ever.”

Wednesday, Wednesday, 8 Janary 2025 12:00 noon CET Brussels – 11 a.m. GMT London. Repeated: 16:00 & 20:00 hrs CET Brussels, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. GMT London
Ends: 12 midnight CET Brussels, 11 p.m. GMT London.