Body-The Body Album (1981)

Body was an interesting British progressive rock band formed in the early 1970s. However, it wasn't until 1981 that they released their only album, "The Body Album". This album is now acclaimed as an impressive and essential work within neo-progressive rock, space rock, and late psychedelic sounds. Hailing from Liverpool, the band consisted of brothers Gary and Tony Allison (drums and guitars respectively, as well as vocals), bassist Ronny Nelson, and keyboardist John Bleasdale. In the early 1980s, the group traveled to London to try their luck in search of a record deal, but after some frustrating results, they decided to self-finance their debut album. On this single album, the references to the more psychedelic sounds of Pink Floyd and the long, spacey explorations reminiscent of Hawkwind are more than evident, but framed within a very defined synth-pop sound, making them one of the seminal bands of the so-called Neo-Progressive movement, alongside Twelfth Night. The 15-minute progressive and spacey suite "Andromeda" is the standout track, while the shorter "Cheater", "Lights Out", and "Brave New World" are more commercially oriented, with a musical structure somewhere between Neo-Progressive and Symphonic Rock and electronic elements akin to the synth-pop of the era.