Santiago prog rockers Aisles have just released Upside Down, the second single off their fourth studio album Hawaii. Aisles’ guitarist and producer, Germán Vergara explains:
"Upside Down talks about a future society that has gained awareness of the tragedy that is losing the planet Earth and decides to begin again, living life in a completely different way. Emotionally it's a song about regret, but at the same time hope, happiness, and freedom.
Musically we wanted to convey the feeling of vertigo because these humans will live in cylinders that rotate on their axes generating gravity. It's a powerful song. Its energy comes mainly from the vocal performance and the piano lines to transmit the idea of change, transformation and freedom. It has one of the most original guitar solos we've ever written".
Hawaii is a two-disc concept album about human colonies established in space after the destruction of the Earth. The LP will be released on July 29, 2016 via Presagio Records on CD and digitally, while the vinyl edition will be available in November. Preorder available in various formats and bundles on Aisles official website.
Listen and download Upside Down below:
Upside Down official audio.
Upside Down on Soundcloud.
Free Upside Down MP3 download.
Check out the first of five episodes of the online documentary depicting the recording process of Hawaii: Hawaii documentary episode 1.
Hawaii tracklisting
Disc 1:
1. The Poet, Part I: Dusk
2. The Poet, Part II: New World
3. Year Zero
4. Upside Down
5. CH-7
Disc 2
1. Terra
2. Pale Blue Dot
3. Still Alive
4. Nostalgia
5. Club Hawaii
6. Falling
7. In the Probe
The band will announce the new dates for their previously postponed European tour during the next few weeks.
Aisles are:
Sebastián Vergara: lead vocals
Germán Vergara: guitar, vocals
Rodrigo Sepúlveda: guitar, vocals
Daniel Baird-Kerr: bass
Juan Pablo Gaete: keyboards
Felipe Candia: drums, percussion
Aisles on the web:
http://www.aislesproject.com
http://www.facebook.com/aislesproject
http://twitter.com/aislesproject
Legendary Jazz-Rock-Fusion band Brand X has reunited and is preparing to celebrate their reunion with a Fall 2016/Spring 2017 U.S. tour, including a headline performance at Progtoberfest in Chicago on October 21st. Also on this initial run will be shows in Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland and Boston to name a few.
Brand X are recognized as true musical pioneers, as they helped create an entire musical genre and influenced a broad spectrum of musicians and bands, from Phish to Dream Theatre. They are unrivaled in their creativity, originality and approach. Their contemporaries include bands such as Weather Report, Headhunters, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jaco Pastorious and Chick Corea, all crafting a unique blend of Jazz, Rock, and Ethic influences now widely known by fans worldwide as Fusion.
After years of rumors of a potential reunion, it is finally happening. Three of the four main members came together recently in New York, and according to sources present at the rehearsals, listening to them play was “...like traveling back in time to the legendary Livestock album – there was no question this was Brand X! Their sound was uncannily identical to the Brand X of Livestock – and that in itself speaks volumes”
The Band:
John Goodsall (Guitars): Original Brand X guitarist says, “It's a better version now. We’re all a lot more experienced – a lot more skilled… And that goes for every one of us.”
Percy Jones (Bass): Original Brand X bassist says, “This music takes us back to a certain space – which was really cool. I wasn't sure I’d ever feel that feeling again – and yet here it is!”
Kenwood Dennard (Drums): Original Brand X drummer who’s also played with Sting and Jaco Pastorious says, “When we used to play this music, it felt eternal. We used to get into a zone where it felt so deep. Now that's exactly how it felt again.”
Chris Clark (Keyboards): Formerly of John Entwistle Band (The Who), and Richie Cannata's Band (Billy Joel).
Scott Weinberger (Percussionist): Sessions with Adrian Belew, and live with The Security Project (Jerry Marotta, formerly of Peter Gabriel and Trey Gunn formerly of King Crimson)
The reunited Brand X will be performing material from their first three albums on these initial tours in October and November 2016: Unorthodox Behaviour, Moroccan Roll, and Livestock.
Brand X on the web:
https://www.facebook.com/Official-Brand-X-1715531621998359/
https://twitter.com/BrandXOffical
London-based progressive metal band Haken have just completed the European leg of their Affinitour in support of their latest release Affinity. Now they are pleased to announce the North America tour for this Fall. The tour kicks off in Chicago, IL on Aug. 30th and concludes in Portland, OR on Sept. 21st. The group will also make a stop at major US festival ProgPower in Atlanta, on Sept 10th. New Jersey Prog outfit Thank You Scientist join the group on this 17 date trek.
The band had this to say about the upcoming tour:
"After last year's success in North America, we've been eager to get back and play to our amazing fans over there and also travel to new territory in Texas, Arizona and the west coast. To make things even more exciting, we're taking one of our favourite bands out with us - Thank You Scientist. If you haven't heard these guys, you've been missing out!"
North America Tour Dates w/Thank You Scientist
United States
Aug.30: Chicago, IL - Reggie's
Aug.31: Niagra Falls, NY - Rapid's Theater
Canada
Sept.1: Toronto, ON - Mod Club
Sept.2: Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Sept.3: Quebec City, QC - L'Imperial
United States
Sept.4: Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
Sept.6: New York, NY - Marlin Room
Sept.7: Philadelphia, PA - Founday
Sept.8: Frederick, MD - Café 611
Sept.9: Richmond, VA - Canal Club
Sept.10: Atlanta, GA - ProgPower USA
Sept.13: Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
Sept.14: San Antonio, TX - Rockbox
Sept.16: Phoenix, AZ - Joe's Grotto
Sept.17: Los Angeles, CA - Complex
Sept.20: Seattle, WA - El Corazon
Sept.21: Portland, OR - Ash Street Saloon
Affinity has been receiving great reactions from press. You can now order the album at these links:
InsideOut Music Shop: http://www.insideoutmusicshop.com/b/haken/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/affinity/
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/affinityAMAZON
Haken online:www.hakenmusic.com
www.twitter.com/Haken_Official
http://www.facebook.com/HakenOfficial
Polish prog masters Riverside are pleased to announce the release of a 5.1 mix version of their current album Love, Fear and the Time Machine. This special edition of the band's latest, much acclaimed 6th studio album will be released worldwide via the band's longtime label partner InsideOutMusic worldwide on July 22nd, 2016 as CD+DVD Digipak with slightly modified artwork with the following tracklisting:
Disc 1 / CD -"Love, Fear and the Time Machine" Album:
1. Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened By a Hat?) (05:51)
2. Under the Pillow (06:47)
3. #Addicted (04:52)
4. Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire (06:56)
5. Saturate Me (07:08)
6. Afloat (03:11)
7. Discard Your Fear (06:42)
8. Towards the Blue Horizon (08:09)
9. Time Travellers (06:41)
10. Found (The Unexpected Flaw of Searching) (04:03)
Disc 2 / DVD-AV - "Love, Fear and the Time Machine" Album:
1. Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened By a Hat?) (05:51)
2. Under the Pillow (06:47)
3. #Addicted (04:52)
4. Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire (06:56)
5. Saturate Me (07:08)
6. Afloat (03:11)
7. Discard Your Fear (06:42)
8. Towards the Blue Horizon (08:09)
9. Time Travellers (06:41)
10. Found (The Unexpected Flaw of Searching) (04:03)
"Day Session":
1. Heavenland (04:59)
2. Return (06:49)
3. Aether (08:43)
4. Machines (03:53)
5. Promise (02:43)
"Video Clips":
1. Love (Trailer) (01:38)
2. Fear (Trailer) (01:58)
3. Time Machine (Trailer) (01:07)
4. Found (Video Clip) (04:06)
The bonus DVD is a hybrid disc (DVD-AV), which has a DVD-Audio and a DVD-Video session on the same disc.
Riverside commented as follows about the upcoming release:
"We had never been in favor of releasing our albums in 5.1 until we recorded LFTM. It's our best sounding release and we thought it would be an interesting experience to hear it in a new version. And so the thoughts have materialized, Bruce Soord has done a brilliant job and I'm fairly sure you're going to like the new sound of LFTM."
As last communicated, Riverside's founding member and guitarist Piotr Grudziński tragically and unexpectedly passed away of natural causes on February 21st, 2016.
Rivertside recently issued the following comprehensive update in regards to their activities:
"In our statement we wrote that we had decided to cancel all concerts confirmed for this year and that hasn't changed, Riverside won't play any gigs this year. But we are going ahead with our other plans for 2016.
Many months ago, before Piotr died, we made a plan to release one of our albums in 5.1 in the early summer of 2016 and a compilation of our instrumental tracks in the autumn of 2016. We also have individual plans and guest appearances with other musicians. Our biography has been in the making for over two years and it will be published towards the end of this year - we just didn't expect that it would contain an additional chapter and that its character would change.
We've always been like a family, we have stuck together and always taken care of that bond both on and off the stage. We have also said many times that we have the best fans in the whole world. Our band wouldn't exist without you, without your commitment and all the emotional links that have been created between us over the years. Your reactions and support we have received from you have surpassed our most daring expectations. We'd like to thank you for that from the bottom of our hearts."
In other news, UK's Prog Magazine has announced that Riverside are nominated in two categories for this year's Progressive Music Awards. Their song "Towards the Blue Horizon" is nominated in the "Anthem" category and Riverside are nominated in the "Band/Artist Of The Year" category.
The awards are held on September 1st, 2016 and further details as well as voting options can be found here: www.progmagazine.com/awards
Previous formats of Love, Fear and the Time Machine can be ordered here:
http://smarturl.it/lfattmINOshop
Riverside online:
http://www.riversideband.pl
http://www.facebook.com/Riversidepl
http://www.instagram.com/riversideband.pl
The Neal Morse Band will be releasing a new live 2CD/DVD set and Blu-ray on August 5, 2016 titled Alive Again. Riding on the tremendous success of their breakthrough album, The Grand Experiment, The Neal Morse Band set out on a tremendously successful world tour in the spring of 2015. Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy have teamed up with Randy George, Eric Gillette, and Bill Hubauer to create one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time. Full stop.
Alive Again will be available as a DVD/2CD set and a standalone Blu-ray and shows the band at the top of their form performing for a rousing audience in The Netherlands on March 6, 2015.
Says Neal:
“The Alive Again tour and this DVD/Blu-ray is one of the finest we have ever done. In my humble opinion… It's really great! I think you all are really going to dig it. Check it out and you'll understand how amazing this band is! I love it!”
Track Listing:
CD 1
1. Alive Again Intro
2. The Call
3. Leviathan
4. The Grand Experiment
5. Harm's Way
6. Bill's Keyboard Solo
7. The Creation
8. There Is Nothing That God Can't Change
CD 2
1. Waterfall
2. Eric's Guitar Solo
3. In the Fire
4. Alive Again
5. Rejoice
6. Oh Lord, My God
7. Reunion
8. King Jesus
To purchase the The Neal Morse Band's Alive Again 2CD/DVD set or Blu-ray: www.radiantrecords.com
For more information:www.nealmorse.com/
www.facebook.com/nealmorse/
