VARIOUS ARTISTS: RING THE BELLS AND SING – PROGRESSIVE SOUNDS OF 1975 (Esoteric): release date 30th August, 2024; 4 x CD

I read a suggestion somewhere that 1975 might not have been as epic a year as, say, 1973 or 1974, but comparing this with the earlier ‘seventies’ compilations “Blowing Free: Underground and Progressive Sounds of 1972”, “Wind of Change – Progressive Sounds of 1973” and “Round and Round – Progressive Sounds of 1974”, all 4 x CD sets, also released on Esoteric/ Cherry Red, I would say it’s the strongest of the three.

Here are 10 reasons why: Caravan: ‘The Show of our Lives’ from “Cunning Stunts” LP; Gentle Giant’s ‘Free Hand’; Steve Hackett with ‘Shadow of the Hierophant’; Hatfield and the North’s ‘It Didn’t Matter Anyway’ from the marvellous “Rotter’s Club”; the equally marvellous ‘The Salmon Song’ from Steve Hillage’s seminal “Fish Rising” LP; some Camel from “The Snow Goose”; Soft Machine’s ‘Hazard Profile’ from “Bundles”; PFM’s ‘Harlequin’ from “Chocolate Kings”; Peter Hammill’s ‘The Institute of Mental Health Burning’, and String Driven Thing’s ‘Starving in the Tropics’.

Not all the most predictable choices but there are 37 more including Chris Squire’s ‘Lucky Seven’ (always worth another listen), and tracks by Hawkwind, Fruup, Van Der Graaf Generator’s ‘Arrow’ from “Godbluff” during their renaissance period, Steve Hillage justifiably given two slots with ‘Solar Musick Suite’.