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Last weekend I had the pleasure of eating breakfast with Matt Stevens, an old friend of The European Perspective, and one of the best-known talents on the progressive rock circuit in the UK for his one-man looping guitar show. Matt is also a founder member of The Fierce And The Dead, an instrument rock band who released their debut album – the intriguingly titled If It Carries On Like This We Are Moving To Morecambe – to great acclaim last year. The lads are about to release a new EP, On VHS, on 26th March, and in the interview Matt talks about this, about his solo work, and life and prog in general. The EP itself gets an airing in full, too.

The rest of the show is a roundup of new releases from British and European acts, something we haven’t done on TEP for a little while. These include a track from Simon Godfrey (of Tinyfish fame) and his new project, Shineback, who will release their first album later this year on the new Bad Elephant Music label.

It Bites – Map Of The Past
Shineback – Rise Up Forgotten, Return Destroyed (forthcoming)
Gazpacho - March Of Ghosts
Kotebel - Concerto For Piano And Electric Ensemble
Hipgnosis – Relusion
RPWL – Beyond Man And Time
Gandalf’s Project – Insights
The Fierce And The Dead – On VHS
Alias Eye – In-Between
Steve Hogarth & Richard Barbieri – Not The Weapon But The Hand
Landmarq – Entertaining Angels
Cross – Wake Up Call
Gavin Harrison & O5ric - The Man Who Sold Himself
InVertigo – Veritas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:15:35 — 223.9MB)

Eve wonders how she can get the internet on this apple so she can listen to The European Perspective.

I’ve had a few suggestions recently to do an episode of The European Perspective featuring female-fronted bands on the current scene. So…I’ve started compiling a playlist, but thought it might be kind of fun to get you all involved by voting for your favourite track by a progressive rock band who are on the scene at the moment, and who have at least one singer who’s a woman. Send your suggestions to wilf@thedividingline.com – I’ll put them all together and make a show out of it!

In the meantime, as I’m taking a break this weekend I’m ‘reloading’ an episode of TEP from January 2008 in which I first covered this theme, albeit featuring some bands and artists who haven’t been recording for a good long while.

Daughters of Eve, we salute you. Again…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:55:15 — 269.2MB)

Blimey, 150 shows!

What better way to celebrate this landmark than to rip off a Dividing Line colleague, Mr. Eric ‘Soundman’ Arthur (do check out his excellent show, Love Letters) by filling an episode of The European Perspective with a selection of cuts from live albums. These include two superb new concert recordings, Catalogue|Preserve|Amass from Steven Wilson, and The Gettysburg Address, which documents Moon Safari’s triumphant headline performance at last year’s RoSfest.

And as if that’s not enough, I’m also joined by the redoubtable Spoffo, who co-presents this episode with his usual style, panache, and unique brand of wit and wisdom.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support – hopefully you won’t have gone off the idea by the time I’ve made another 150!