This is a strange patchwork type of album. It begins with some re-recordings, then is fleshed out with what the group are calling "Archive Prog", consisting of an unreleased track plus some remastered ones. The Strawbs wanted to make a case for their progressive rock credentials, which they don't feel they've been adequately acknowledged for (and they're probably right).

Product Description
This is a new CD release of prog rock material by the Strawbs.

In a review in Rolling Stone in 1974, Ken Barnes wrote: "Strawbs moved from folkier days to a lush, stately and mellotron-dominated sound, with similarities to Yes, King Crimson and the Moody Blues. They wrote more compelling songs than the former two, and possessed more lyrical/musical substance than the latter."

'Prognostic' is the album that defines Strawbs once and for all as a prog rock force to be reckoned with. The music is powerful, yet melodic. The lyrics are biting, yet sensitive.

1. Heartbreak Hill
2. Through Aphrodite's Eyes
3. Something For Nothing
4. Starting Over
5. Deep In The Darkest Night - Featuring Rick Wakeman And German Progmeister Conny Conrad

Archive Prog:
6. The River/Down By The Sea (Previously Unreleased)
7. Blue Angel (Remastered)
8. Tomorrow (Remastered)
9. Lay A Little Light On Me/Hero's Theme/Round And Round (Remastered)

Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N99V26A/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N99V26A/?tag=imwan-21

I acknowledge them as a great band, period, and if it makes Cousins happy to be thought of as a great prog band that's ok too.
Much of their best stuff has little to do with prog, especially Dave Lambert's songs.
From a recent article:

"In Strawbs history, band line-ups are significant for this now five-decade-old English band who have legendary musical incarnations. It began in the early '60s when Lonnie Donegan's '50s skiffle was all the rage and school mates Cousins and guitarist Tony Hooper began as bluegrass jug band The Gin Bottle Four which phased through the blues and switched to folk in The Strawberry Hill Boys, soon shortened to "Strawbs." After more member changes, which included the addition of keyboard player Rick Wakeman, the band's sound flourished from folk to progressive rock, and the rest is now vintage rock and roll history.

In addition to a vast and varied music catalog, the Strawbs "family" includes Wakeman, and two sons Oliver, and Adam, (who all still play with the band) John Hawken (Nashville Teens, Spooky Tooth) who played with Strawbs last year, on the same bill as Yes and The Moody Blues. Other Strawbs keyboard players include Blue Weaver, (Bee Gees, Lou Reed, Chicago) and Don Airey (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest) who succeeded Deep Purple's late keyboard player Jon Lord in 2002.

Cousins says new album "Prognostic" looks at "prog" material of Strawbs, and "different sides of the band that fans may not be aware existed" including selections from 2008's "Broken Hearted Bride" plus remasters of "Blue Angel" and "Tomorrow."

"Strawbs is very much acoustic one minute and hard heavy rock the next. It can be anything really," notes Cousins adding both Acoustic and Electric Strawbs (with keyboardist Adam Wakeman) will be busy touring Europe next year. "

As they are still very much a working band, I appreciate anything new they put out. I hope they still have in them the desire to produce new material.