RPWL are one of Germany’s most acclaimed modern progressive rock bands. Formed in Freising in 1997 — and named after the initials of its four founders — they began life as a Pink Floyd cover band before developing a lush, atmospheric sound all their own. Fronted by Yogi Lang’s warm, Gilmour-esque voice and Kalle Wallner’s expressive guitar, they have spent 25 years crafting melodic, thoughtful prog. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Roses”, “Hole in the Sky”, “Sleep” and “Gentle Art of Swimming” — their most beloved ballad, the Pink Floyd-steeped opener that introduced them, a hypnotic Eastern-tinged epic, and a mesmerizing ten-minute fan favourite. The full ranking is below.

From Pink Floyd tribute to a sound of their own

RPWL began as a labour of love. Formed in the Bavarian town of Freising in 1997 as a Pink Floyd cover band — their name simply the initials of founders Rissettio, Postl, Wallner and Lang — they spent three years steeped in Floyd’s atmospheric spell before stepping out with original music. Their 2000 debut God Has Failed announced a band with a gift for melody, space and mood, and across a run of increasingly ambitious albums — many of them concept records — singer-keyboardist Yogi Lang and guitarist Kalle Wallner refined one of modern prog’s most distinctive, emotionally resonant sounds. These fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, atmosphere, that emotional pull and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Roses” (2005), their most beloved song, a gorgeous ballad featuring former Genesis singer Ray Wilson. With it: “Hole in the Sky” (2000), the Pink Floyd-steeped opener that introduced them; “Sleep” (2005), a hypnotic, Eastern-tinged epic; “Gentle Art of Swimming” (2002), a spacey, mesmerizing ten-minute fan favourite; “3 Lights” (2005), a soft ballad that blossoms into intricate prog; and “Victim of Desire” (2023), an eight-minute epic and one of their darkest, most modern statements.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Start the Fire” (2005) is a driving, atmospheric highlight; “Beyond Man and Time” (2012) is the title track of their Nietzsche-inspired concept album; “Trying to Kiss the Sun” (2002) is an Eastern-flavoured early curveball; “Welcome to the Freak Show” (2019) is a satirical, catchy standout; and “Farewell” (2000) is a moving, melodic early gem.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Light of the World” (2019) is an anthemic, U2-like meditation on materialism; “The Ugliest Man in the World” (2012) is a dramatic concept-album centrepiece; “A New Dawn” (2014) is a hopeful highlight of their liberation concept; and “Red Rose” (2023) is a deceptively pretty piano ballad with a dark heart.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with their acclaimed 2005 album World Through My Eyes, widely considered their finest, and the Pink Floyd-tinged debut God Has Failed, then explore the concept albums Beyond Man and Time and the dark, recent Crime Scene. Their interim releases and many live albums reward deeper exploration.

The players

RPWL have always been the vision of singer-keyboardist Yogi Lang and guitarist Kalle Wallner — the “L” and “W” of the name — who have steered the band for over 25 years. Lang’s clear, unaccented English and Gilmour-inspired phrasing pair beautifully with Wallner’s atmospheric, melodic guitar, also heard in his side project Blind Ego. Around them the rhythm section has evolved, with drummer Marc Turiaux a fixture since 2008 and bassist Markus Grützner the latest to join. Every lineup, though, serves those two songwriting minds.

Why they still matter

RPWL proved that the atmospheric, emotional spirit of Pink Floyd could be carried into a new century without ever becoming mere imitation. Alongside modern peers like Porcupine Tree, Riverside and fellow Germans Sylvan, they have built one of the most consistent catalogues in melodic progressive rock, pairing lush soundscapes with thoughtful, often provocative lyrics. Decades on, they remain a quiet cornerstone of the modern scene.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best RPWL albums, or place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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