Complex Music

k_rock923 · 27th September 2007, 04:20

I'm looking for suggestions on artists that are musically complex, with intricate song structures, but mostly focused on complex musically. Think Bach or Hindemith. I played a piece once where the time changed every few measures, stuff like that, where there are a lot of different things going on at the same time. These can be either Classical or moderns, so long as the musical talent is there.

Thanks

gaekwad2 · 27th September 2007, 09:46

Song Cycle by Van Dyke Parks
Zappa
John Zorn/Naked City
Gentle Giant

I'm not sure if you want improvised music, in that case lots of Jazz would fit as well.
And for some reason I can't think of any classical composer atm.

k_rock923 · 27th September 2007, 17:46

That's sort of what I'm looking for, but not quite. Do you know of Hindemith's Symphony in B Flat? If not, how long of a clip can I send you without it being illegal?

I'm sort of looking for the 'rock' version of that. Think of a rock band that knows what a fugue is and we'll be in business. Intricate guitars == good.

fwgx · 27th September 2007, 19:30

I don't know of any of the things you've mentioned, but I am a big fan of Tool and Jimi Hendrix. Tool have awesome drumming and have done some wonderful things compositionally with long tracks. Hendrix often sounds like there's more than one person playing at once when there isn't.

NJK · 28th September 2007, 05:54

king crimson , caravan and a whole load of symphonic rock bands.

skryingbreath · 28th September 2007, 06:16

Steve Vai.

swingdjted · 2nd October 2007, 03:30

Different time sigs back and fourth - Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond (Jazz), Rush (Rock)

rwhite · 2nd October 2007, 09:10

You should definately check out Frank Zappa, as he has written some of the most complex music around. Many people think of him as some kind of 'comedy rocker', but this is just one facet of his music...he has written exceedingly complex pieces incorporating all sorts of styles...jazz, contemporary classical, you name it. Not to mention that he is IMO the best guitar player ever... I recommend the album 'Hot Rats' to begin with, but there's over 80 official releases to get your head around!

I can also recommend these artists:

Mr. Bungle
King Crimson
Pat Metheny
Miles Davis
Pink Floyd
Weather Report
Allan Holdsworth
Return to Forever
Mahavishnu Orchestra

if however, you are simply looking for classical-like music done in a rock style, try Yngwie Malmsteen. Also look up Adam Fulara on youtube, that guy does some incredible arrangements of Bach and the like, using 2 hands on his (electric) guitar, like a pianist.

swingdjted · 2nd October 2007, 23:36

Quote:

Originally posted by rwhite
Mr. Bungle

I couldn't agree with you more. Complex, crazy, chaotic, and a bunch of non-c adjectives too.

gaekwad2 · 3rd October 2007, 00:14

Compared to Patton's work with Zorn*, or FantÃ´mas it's rather tame though.

*as well as other Zorn projects like aforementioned Naked City

swingdjted · 30th October 2007, 21:42

Please eat the burning bag of dogshit I left on your doorstep.

Widdykats · 30th October 2007, 21:54

Quote:

Originally posted by swingdjted
Different time sigs back and fourth - Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond (Jazz), Rush (Rock)

Nice with the Brubeck!

Also Paul Simon(The Obvious Child) and Old Prince!

k_rock923 · 30th October 2007, 23:20

Yea. I do like Malmsteen quite a lot. That's pretty close to what I'm looking for actually. I do think that the ultimate thing would be a hard rock fugue.

Razzinno · 31st October 2007, 00:39

also, Dream Theater comes to mind.

Robster400 · 31st October 2007, 16:48

Joe Satriani, some very complex technical rock

ryan · 2nd November 2007, 06:41

Sufjan Stevens

Not hard rock, but he's got some amazing stuff.

QOAL · 2nd November 2007, 11:19

Lacuna Coil - Comalies

gaekwad2 · 2nd November 2007, 11:59

re Malmsteen, Satriani (, Vai, Dragonforce,...) I'd say shredding != complex music, but if you like it...

perhaps try What Burns Never Returns and American Don by Don Caballero, personally I found them lacking in the "music" department but they're certainly complex.

k_rock923 · 2nd November 2007, 21:51

Well, there's no doubt that Malmsteen is a shredder, but I do think that he's complex. Still haven't heard a fugue from him, though.

ryan · 3rd November 2007, 02:32

Sufjan ftw!

TheElusiveMelon · 2nd December 2007, 01:22

Quite a lot of power metal bands incorperate classical parts into their songs.

Dragonland, Dark Moor have acutally covered some parts, which is pretty fun. Angel's Cry by Angra has a great classic bridge. Rhapsody (now called Rhapsody of Fire) are pretty cool too

swingdjted · 2nd December 2007, 07:23

but are the songs complex?

k_rock923 · 20th February 2010, 00:05

Returning to this thread years later, I found that I was looking for bands like Spiral Architect.

Also, Melon, I ended up really liking Rhapsody and some related bands once I heard them.

gaekwad2 · 20th February 2010, 01:21

Quote:

Originally posted by k_rock923
Returning to this thread years later, I found that I was looking for Red by King Crimson.

(at least that's what you get when you take the non-shit parts of bands like Spiral Architect)

27th September 2007, 04:20	#1
k_rock923 \m/ (Forum King) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: /bin/bash Posts: 7,850	Complex Music I'm looking for suggestions on artists that are musically complex, with intricate song structures, but mostly focused on complex musically. Think Bach or Hindemith. I played a piece once where the time changed every few measures, stuff like that, where there are a lot of different things going on at the same time. These can be either Classical or moderns, so long as the musical talent is there. Thanks Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

27th September 2007, 17:46	#3
k_rock923 \m/ (Forum King) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: /bin/bash Posts: 7,850	That's sort of what I'm looking for, but not quite. Do you know of Hindemith's Symphony in B Flat? If not, how long of a clip can I send you without it being illegal? I'm sort of looking for the 'rock' version of that. Think of a rock band that knows what a fugue is and we'll be in business. Intricate guitars == good. Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

27th September 2007, 19:30	#4
fwgx Rudolf the Red. (Forum King) Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 9,314	I don't know of any of the things you've mentioned, but I am a big fan of Tool and Jimi Hendrix. Tool have awesome drumming and have done some wonderful things compositionally with long tracks. Hendrix often sounds like there's more than one person playing at once when there isn't. "We think science is interesting and if you disagree, you can fuck off."

28th September 2007, 05:54	#5
NJK FRYSK BLOED TSJOCH OP- FRISIAN Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: a real Frisian hometown Posts: 15,511	king crimson , caravan and a whole load of symphonic rock bands. Each Thursday a new show on Celtica Radio with Darkwave music. Nope, it's not a radiostation just a non stop darkwave music stream WINAMP SHOUTCAST

2nd October 2007, 03:30	#7
swingdjted DRINK BEER NOW (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern West Virginia Posts: 10,056	Different time sigs back and fourth - Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond (Jazz), Rush (Rock) Don't forget to live before you die.

27th September 2007, 09:46	#2
gaekwad2 Foorum King Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bar2000 Posts: 11,455	Song Cycle by Van Dyke Parks Zappa John Zorn/Naked City Gentle Giant I'm not sure if you want improvised music, in that case lots of Jazz would fit as well. And for some reason I can't think of any classical composer atm.

28th September 2007, 06:16	#6
skryingbreath Post initializing... Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,065	Steve Vai.

2nd October 2007, 09:10	#8
rwhite Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	You should definately check out Frank Zappa, as he has written some of the most complex music around. Many people think of him as some kind of 'comedy rocker', but this is just one facet of his music...he has written exceedingly complex pieces incorporating all sorts of styles...jazz, contemporary classical, you name it. Not to mention that he is IMO the best guitar player ever... I recommend the album 'Hot Rats' to begin with, but there's over 80 official releases to get your head around! I can also recommend these artists: Mr. Bungle King Crimson Pat Metheny Miles Davis Pink Floyd Weather Report Allan Holdsworth Return to Forever Mahavishnu Orchestra if however, you are simply looking for classical-like music done in a rock style, try Yngwie Malmsteen. Also look up Adam Fulara on youtube, that guy does some incredible arrangements of Bach and the like, using 2 hands on his (electric) guitar, like a pianist.

3rd October 2007, 00:14	#10
gaekwad2 Foorum King Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bar2000 Posts: 11,455	Compared to Patton's work with Zorn, or FantÃ´mas it's rather tame though. as well as other Zorn projects like aforementioned Naked City

30th October 2007, 21:42	#11
swingdjted DRINK BEER NOW (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern West Virginia Posts: 10,056	Please eat the burning bag of dogshit I left on your doorstep. Don't forget to live before you die.

30th October 2007, 23:20	#13
k_rock923 \m/ (Forum King) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: /bin/bash Posts: 7,850	Yea. I do like Malmsteen quite a lot. That's pretty close to what I'm looking for actually. I do think that the ultimate thing would be a hard rock fugue. Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

31st October 2007, 00:39	#14
Razzinno Piffle Producer Join Date: May 2006 Location: the secret files of my pc Posts: 2,588	also, Dream Theater comes to mind.

31st October 2007, 16:48	#15
Robster400 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 172	Joe Satriani, some very complex technical rock *Too much is never* enough...** Last.fm

2nd November 2007, 06:41	#16
ryan not fucked, not quite. (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tn Posts: 8,799	Sufjan Stevens Not hard rock, but he's got some amazing stuff.

2nd November 2007, 11:19	#17
QOAL [STILL a retard!] Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 1,168	Lacuna Coil - Comalies count! • last.fm • da • stylish • planner

2nd November 2007, 11:59	#18
gaekwad2 Foorum King Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bar2000 Posts: 11,455	re Malmsteen, Satriani (, Vai, Dragonforce,...) I'd say shredding != complex music, but if you like it... perhaps try What Burns Never Returns and American Don by Don Caballero, personally I found them lacking in the "music" department but they're certainly complex.

2nd November 2007, 21:51	#19
k_rock923 \m/ (Forum King) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: /bin/bash Posts: 7,850	Well, there's no doubt that Malmsteen is a shredder, but I do think that he's complex. Still haven't heard a fugue from him, though. Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

3rd November 2007, 02:32	#20
ryan not fucked, not quite. (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tn Posts: 8,799	Sufjan ftw!

2nd December 2007, 01:22	#21
TheElusiveMelon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, England Posts: 350	Quite a lot of power metal bands incorperate classical parts into their songs. Dragonland, Dark Moor have acutally covered some parts, which is pretty fun. Angel's Cry by Angra has a great classic bridge. Rhapsody (now called Rhapsody of Fire) are pretty cool too

2nd December 2007, 07:23	#22
swingdjted DRINK BEER NOW (Forum King) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern West Virginia Posts: 10,056	but are the songs complex? Don't forget to live before you die.

20th February 2010, 00:05	#23
k_rock923 \m/ (Forum King) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: /bin/bash Posts: 7,850	Returning to this thread years later, I found that I was looking for bands like Spiral Architect. Also, Melon, I ended up really liking Rhapsody and some related bands once I heard them. Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

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