“History tends to point to 1975 as something of a slump… worthy names prove it was another very good year”: Ring The Bells And Sing – Progressive Sounds Of 1975 box set

Ring The Bells and Sing - 1975.

There’s always high quality control on this series of year-by-year compilations, wherein a tasteful (and sizable) time capsule of the period’s progressive rock highlights is presented. Yet one might worry that, with the likes of Yes and Genesis between albums, 1975 wasn’t a vintage year.

History tends to point to the decade’s midriff as something of a slump, as emblemised by Whistle Test at its weakest. Opening with the most underpowered song of the usually alert Caravan’s career, The Show Of Our Lives from Cunning Stunts, feeds such doubt.