Progressive music is an approach to music that can be applied to several different musical genres. The dictionary meanings of the word "progressive" summarize the approach often taken by musicians working in a "progressive style": (1) moving forward; advancing. (2) proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments: progressive change. As of the early 2000s, it is most often used to describe styles of electronic dance music, but can also be applied to the styles of progressive rock and progressive metal. As a whole, progressive records tend to be less conventional than other styles of electronic music and rock.

Progressive electronic styles

Main article: Progressive electronica

In electronic dance music, the basic philosophy is to take one particular sound, then, using synthesizers and sequencers, make slight changes to that sound. When applied to a particular style, the finished product is a stylised sound that appears to progress from one state to another.

Progressive dance music is favoured by DJs that like to beatmatch their records, as it allows them to mix two tunes together with an almost seamless sound to it. As well as this, the changes and progressions in progressive dance music are relatively subtle. Unlike the obviousness of hard house or Hi-NRG, the peaks and troughs in a track tend to be less obvious. Layering different sound on top of each other and slowly bringing them in and out of the mix is a key idea behind the progressive movement. Progressive electronic styles include progressive-techno, -breaks, -trance, -house and -tribal

Progressive rock

Main entry: Progressive rock

In rock, the word usually describes music that expands traditional musical structures. Progressive rock artists often string together the songs so that the entire album will become an uninterrupted musical "journey". Each track can be divided into separate movements, all with its own place in the overarching theme of the song. Each movement occasionally has its own name, as in the title track from Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother. Progressive rock tends to be very melodic. Progressive rock's popularity peaked in the mid 1970s with bands such as Yes, Genesis and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Pioneering artists in the field of progressive rock include:

• King Crimson
• Marillion
• Procol Harum
• Genesis
• Frank Zappa
• Yes
• Rush

Progressive metal

Main entry: Progressive metal

Progressive metal emerged in the 1980s with thrash bands such as Diamond Head (Lightning to the Nations), Metallica (...And Justice For All) and Megadeth (Rust In Peace), who brought complicated guitar compositions, time changes, and longer songs to heavy metal. Since then, progressive metal has evolved through the work of artists like Opeth, Queensrÿche, Symphony X, Dream Theater, and Tool.

External links

• Somethingprog