This book is a large format full colour size guide to prog rock past and present. Most of the bands featured in the book the diehard aficionado will know and love but there are sections on Kraut rock, the Canterbury scene, Italian prog and prog folk.

The book is well written and has a wealth of information on all bands included. Each bands history and recorded output is discussed and reviewed as well as an interesting piece on the roots and beginnings of each genre.

There is a section on American bands Kansas and Styx which I personally consider to be AOR rather than prog. This being said, both bands have produced some good music. The same applies to a section on rush who I think became a really good all round rock band rather than a prog band.

Genesis, King Crimson and Pink Floyd each have two sections, Gabriel and post Gabriel, Waters and post Waters and the 70s and the 80s/90s Crimson. These I feel could have been discussed in a single section and space been given to other bands.

There are a few errors in the naming of album covers which are shown at the foot of each page. In one section Porcupine Tree’s albums are named but Pink Floyd’s album artwork is shown. In the second article on Genesis, albums are incorrectly named and Voyage Of The Acolyte by Steve Hackett is named Invisible Touch. (Confusing to new comers to prog? Not arf)

These errors aside the book is well worth a read. The qualities of the pictures are good. Articles about IQ, Gentle Giant, and The Alan arsons Project are most welcome but why no Van der Graff Generator?

Paperback: 246 pages, full colour throughout.

Publisher: Backbeat books; original edition (1^st December 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0879309911

ISBN-13: 978-0879309916

G W Goodbluff.