Jon Anderson's Tribute to the Olympics

Jon Anderson, who has collaborated with Vangelis for years, releases "Race to the End", his tribute to the 2012 London Olympics.

Devin Townsend to Release Epic & Loud New CD

After completing his epic quadrology last year with the simultaneous release of Deconstruction and Ghost, renowned multi-instrumentalist and producer Devin Townsend is ready to start the next chapter in the Devin Townsend Project's career with their new effort, Epicloud. Due out September 18th in North America and September 24th in Europe, Epicloud boasts 13 light-hearted, hook laden tracks featuring once again, guest vocal appearances by Anneke van Giersbergen. It's Epic and it's loud, it's Epicloud.

For the first taste of Epicloud, featuring the album's intro, "Effervescent!," click here:

http://youtu.be/czLehznovHc

This September, DTP and Katatonia will team-up for the "Epic Kings & Idols Tour", a co-headlining North American run featuring Paradise Lost as direct support and Stolen Babies as openers (DTP and Katatonia will alternate in headlining each show). Dates for the "Epic Kings & Idols Tour" are below, so check to see when Hevy Devy will be coming to a city near you!

"Epic Kings & Idols Tour" dates featuring Devin Townsend Project, Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Stolen Babies

Sept. 4--Seattle, WA--Studio 7
Sept. 5--Vancouver, BC--Commodore
Sept. 7--San Francisco, CA--Great American Music Hall
Sept. 8--Los Angeles, CA--El Rey Theater
Sept. 9--Phoenix, AZ--Marquee Theater
Sept. 11--Houston, TX--Warehouse Live Studio
Sept. 12--Dallas, TX--Trees
Sept. 13--Lawrence, KS--Granada
Sept. 14--Denver, CO--Summit
Sept. 16--Minneapolis, MN--Station 4
Sept. 17--Chicago, IL--Bottom Lounge
Sept. 18--Pittsburgh, PA--Mr. Smalls
Sept. 19--Toronto, ON--Opera House
Sept. 20--Montréal, QC--Café Campus
Sept. 21--Worcester, MA--Palladium
Sept. 22--Philadelphia, PA--TLA
Sept. 23--New York, NY--Irving Plaza
Sept. 24--Baltimore, MD--Rams Head Live

Glass Hammer's New Release Due in the Fall

Glass Hammer will release a new concept album, "Perilous", in the Fall of this year. The album features Fred Schendel, Steve Babb, Kamran Alan Shikoh and Jon Davison along with Randall Williams and a cameo by The Adonia String Trio. Jon finished his vocal recording before beginning rehearsals for the next Yes tour.
Here is the Teaser:

Mostly Autumn Heading for the Moon

Mostly Autumn's "The Ghost Moon Orchestra" (Special Edition), released via their own label Mostly Autumn Records, is out now. All pre-orders have now been shipped. From their website:

"Well, we are pleased to say that all pre-orders were shipped within 2 days of the CD’s arriving last week – a big, big thank you has to go out to Jean and Andy, and all who helped them – Tom and the wonderful staff at the post office especially – it’s no mean feat to pack and post all those CD’s in 2 days. Brilliant job!!
Again, thank you to everyone who has ordered this Special Edition – your support is invaluable and we hope you are enjoying it."

The Special Limited Edition version (2000 copies), priced at £20 + P&P, can be purchased here.
The tracklist is as follows:

CD 1:1. Unquiet Tears (5:27)
2. Drops Of The Sun (3:37)
3. The Devil And The Orchestra (3:54)
4. The Ghost Moon Orchestra (7:01)
5. This Ragged Heart (3:27)
6. King Of The Valley (4:34)
7. Things That We Notice (3:43)
8. Tennyson Mansion (7:06)
9. Wild Eyed Skies (5:48)
10. Top Of The World (7:27)

CD 2:
1. Working Man (3:48)
2. The Rain Song (5:36)
3. The Second Hand (4:29)
4. Caught In A Fold (3:49)
5. Passengers (4:03)
6. Pure White Light (5:10)
7. Constellations (2:22)
8. Evergreen (5:31)
9. Heroes Never Die (4:09)
10. Changing Fast (3:52)
11. The Last Train (1:05)
12. Tonight (5:46)

Mostly Autumn will also tour, starting in August. For more info click here.

IPRS #110 Playlist

I just realized that I forgot to post the playlist from the International Prog Rock Show from two weeks ago (July 6th). This was the Celebr8 Special, with the second and third hour of the show concentrating on artists that were to play during the weekend. So here goes with the playlist:

1. Beyond the Stars, by Cynosura (431, 2011)
2. Ossian, by Cynosura (431, 2011)
3. Anybody, by Silhouette (Across the Rubicon, 2012)
4. Silent Sun, by The Psychedelic Ensemble (Silent Sun CDS, 2012)
5. Dehumanize Me, by Inner Odyssey (Have a Seat, 2012)
6. Prisoner of Conscience, Part I, by Sean Filkins (War and Peace & Other Stories, 2011)
7. Titanic Calls Carpathia, by The Tangent (London or Paris, Berlin or Southend-on-Sea, 2011)
8. Alien Messiah, by Pallas (Live at High Voltage, 2011)
9. 30 END, by Matt Stevens (Relic, 2011)
10. Crashed and Burned (live), by IQ (Frequency Limited Edition Tour CD, 2008)
11. Paradigms & Storylines, by Dec Burke (Paradigms & Storylines, 2011)
12. Wide Awake at Midnight, by Tinyfish (The Big Red Spark, 2010)
13. The City Sleeps, by Touchstone (The City Sleeps, 2011)
14. Book of Dreams, by Magenta (Chameleon, 2011)
15. Sanctuary (The Return), by Alan Reed (Dancing with Ghosts, 2011)
16. Meadow and the Stream, by It Bites (Map of the Past, 2012)

As always, if you loved the music, please purchase the CDs (and I'm sure most of you did at Celebr8) either from the artists of from your favourite retailer.

Alan Reed Announces Release Date for Debut Album

White Knight Records are proud to present the debut solo album of one of Prog's most distinctive voices.

Alan Reed - for 25 years the voice of Scots Progressive Rock legends Pallas - unveils his first album as a solo artist. 'First in a Field of One' is a unique collection of songs that provide the perfect setting for the unmistakeable timbre of Alan's voice. The album embraces a number of musical flavours - through celtic folk, world music, and even jazz; - held together by strong song-writing and a passionate sense of identity.

This is a powerful statement of intent from an artist who knows who he is - and where he is going!

'First in a Field of One' will be released by White Knight Records on October 22nd.

The album will shortly be available for pre-order at http://www.themerchdesk.com/ (CD's)

or via Alan's BANDCAMP page: http://alanreed.bandcamp.com/ (downloads only)

Track-listing:

1: Begin Again

2: Kingdom of the Blind*

3: Never Too Late

4: The Bottom of the Bottle

5: Darkness has Spoken

6: The Real Me

7: Teardrops in the Rain

8: The Usual Suspects

A promotional video for 'Kingdom of the Blind' is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRUVHp_vXhk

Cast-list:

Alan Reed - Vocals, guitars, basses, keys, percussion

Mike Stobbie - Keyboards

Scott Higham - Drums and percussion

Jeff Green - lead guitars on 'Kingdom..' and 'Darkness..'

Kalle Wallner - lead guitar on 'Never Too Late'

Christina Booth - additional vocals

Produced by Mike Stobbie and Alan Reed

Jon Anderson to Play Special Concert in London

Music legend and original YES vocalist and songwriter Jon Anderson will be playing special one-off concert on August 8th at the Sadler's Wells Theater in London. This will be the first time Jon has performed in the UK since his successful tour with Rick Wakeman in 2010. “The concert in London is with the Slovakian Chamber Orchestra with the help of my good friend composer Peter Machajdik plus a semi acoustic group I performed with a couple of years ago in Bratislava,” says Jon.“ 'Concert for Earth and Peace'– the show will be around one hour long, with classic YES songs, and Vangelis songs, plus 'Earth and Peace', a new song written with the music of Austin Haynes, and some surprises.” Also performing, Miro Zbirka from Slovakia, a celebrated singer/songwriter with a career spanning 40 years.

For more information: http://www.sadlerswells.com

Jon recently completed a successful summer tour in support of his critically acclaimed new 21-minute digital download release 'OPEN'.

In other news, a vocal version of Vangelis's song “Chariots of Fire' titled "Race To The End", with lyrics penned by Jon, has become a hit song in the UK by Russell Watson. Jon is currently recording part two to his recently released 21-minute musical opus 'OPEN' titled 'Ever'. “Music is constantly happening all around me. I'm busy working on 'Ever', a follow up to 'Open', part two of my journey into the longer form music I love to create.”Also, Jon is working on the highly anticipated sequel to his critically acclaimed first solo album 'Olias of Sunhillow' titled 'Zamran'“Zamran is slowly finding me, or I'm slowly finding Zamran (Son of Olias), sometimes good things take time I'm told.with love....many blessings.....Jon Anderson”

Lastly, Jon will be touring South America in the Fall 2012, for tour dates visit www.jonanderson.com/tour.html

Jon Anderson 'OPEN' digital download available:http://www.amazon.com/Open-Single/dp/B005XT5Z8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1336499182&sr=1-1

Jon Anderson 'Survival & Other Stories' available through Gonzo MultiMedia:

www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk

IPRS #111

On Friday's International Prog Rock Show on the UK70s Prog Rock radio station, we had music by a variety of bands from around the world starting with an hommage to Jon Lord, by playing the wonderful Space Truckin' by Deep Purple (UK). Jon Lord passed away earlier this week and people from around the world mourned his passing, artists from Keith Emerson to Rick Wakeman writing beautifuly about his influence on them and on music in general. he will be missed. Countries covered on this show were the UK, the US, Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and Greece. BTW, three bands from Canada this time (Saga, Red Sans, and Karcius).

The playlist was:

1. Space Truckin (live), by Deep Purple (Made in Japan)
2. I Bambini Nascono Per Vivere Feli, by Phoenix Again (ThreeFour)
3. Til the Well Runs Dry, by Saga (20/20)
4. Tightrope Walking, by Panic Room (Skin)
5. Legacy, by Forward Shapes (Legacy)
6. Verlin & leningrad, by Sunchild (Isolation)
7. Chupacabras (live), by Phideaux (Phideaux & Mogon promotional)
8. The Laws of Nature, by The Prog Collective
9. Snardon, by Anglagard (Viljans Oga)
10. Behind the Mask, by Red Sand (Behind the Mask)
11. The Dark Water (live), by Erik Norlander & the Galactic Collective (Live in Gettysburg)
12. Rhodonus, by The Earth Explorer (Trans-europe Expression)
13. Water, by Karcius (The First Day)
14. Wishful Thinking, by The Damnation Project (The Damnation Project)

If you missed the radio show, which airs Fridays at 2 PM EST (7 PM in the UK), the show plays as a repeat on Sundays at 7 PM EST for those in the America's that work on weekdays. So please listen, then leave your comments here.

And as always, if you like the music, please purchase the CDs... it's the only way the artists will be able to continue writing the music you love.

Steven Wilson Is a Busy Man - Redux

Along with the previous news about SW's remixing ELP's back catalogue comes news about the man himself, this time working on his own material, with Alan Parsons overseeing things.

In his own words:

HI folks – an update of sorts…. The writing for the next SW album is almost finished, and this time I’ve written it all for my live band to play, mostly pretty long pieces (including the piece we previewed on the recent tour “Luminol”). We will start recording in LA in September with Alan Parsons overseeing things. Alan, as I’m sure many of you know, was the engineer on Dark Side of the Moon, one of the best sounding records ever.

The new album should be out in early 2013, and conceptually and visually we are planning to take things to the next level with the packaging and live show too. Lasse is also going to be there to film so we plan to bring you some in the studio footage on the official SW YouTube channel. Just a reminder that at the moment you can watch a preview from the forthcoming SW band live DVD/Blu-ray “Get All You Deserve” on the channel, see below….

ELP Re-releases Remixed by Steven Wilson

Steven Wilson does it again. After have done a wonderful job on the 5.1 mixes of the King Crimson catalogue (of which more are to come), and the 5.1 mix of Jethro Tull's Aqualung, Steven Wilson has now turned his sights on Emerson, Lake & Palmer's catalogue.

The first two to be released in september will be their self-titled debut and Tarkus. Both will be available in vinyl and in multi-disc format, the latter including the 5.1 mixes and unreleased mixes.

Here are the details: (after the break)

Neal Morse to Release “Momentum”

A new Neal Morse release slated for September, and one of the songs is the fifth part of Thoughts! Here's the press release:

Coming off of a highly successful 2011 marked by the release of the critically acclaimed “Testimony 2” and an enthusiastically attended tour throughout the U.S., Mexico and Europe, Neal Morse could easily have justified going on a creative hiatus to catch his breath. But that would fly in the face of his convictions and the sense that he is being led to build upon the swell of success he is experiencing.

In January 2012, Morse was pondering the possibilities of a change in direction. After all, it had been a decade since he left the progressive rock stalwart Spock’s Beard to pursue a solo career that would allow him to write more freely about his personal faith. And in that time he had recorded 6 impressive studio records that were heralded for their unique hybrid of epic compositions that tested the boundaries of musicianship while maintaining a remarkable sense of melody through irresistible hooks and addictive choruses. He could have taken a break. Or gone in an entirely new direction. But he felt led otherwise, as summed up in the new record’s title track: “You’ve got some new momentum, you better keep going.”

Morse’s long time studio partner and friend Mike Portnoy had a small window in January 2012 when he could record. The only problem was, there was only one song and a few bits and pieces written. Taking a leap of faith, he scheduled a recording session with the drumming legend and longtime bass player Randy George in two weeks, hoping that the music would arrive before the musicians. And boy did it ever.

“Momentum”features five exceptional stand alone songs and one longer conceptual piece. In addition to the accessible title track, there’s the quirkily clever, Gentle Giant-inspired “Thoughts Part 5,” which follows in the footsteps of the previous “Thoughts” tracks penned by Morse with Spocks Beard. “Smoke and Mirrors” trods an introspective, acoustic path, while “Weathering Sky” offers a raucous cry for deliverance and renewal from a searching soul. Rounding out the shorter tracks is “Freak,” an upbeat, strings-charged song unlike anything Neal has recorded to date. Last comes “World Without End,” a near 34-minute, six-part epic that contains everything that defines Morse as a master of the genre.

Another highlight of this record is that, in addition to a masterful solo by guitar wizard Paul Gilbert, there are contributions from Adson Sodré, Bill Hubauer and Eric Gillette—three musicians who were selected as members of Morse’s new touring band through an exciting YouTube driven open audition process.

While“Momentum” propels Morse forward and further cements his standing as a prolific progressive rock icon, it steers clear of the potential “more of the same” trap, and features fresh musical angles and some of the finest performances to date by the Morse, Portnoy, George team.

The release of “Momentum” on September 11 will be quickly followed up by a North American tour that spotlights the fresh talent of his new live band, with stops in such cities as Nashville, Jacksonville, New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle and Mexico City.

Much to the delight of progressive rock fans around the globe, Neal Morse is moving ahead with “Momentum,” and there doesn't appear to be any kind of end to his unique creative talent in sight.

Momentum (6:25)

Thoughts Part 5 (7:51)

Smoke and Mirrors (4:38)

Weathering Sky (4:15)

Freak (4:29)

World Without End (33:39)

i Introduction

ii Never Pass Away

iii Losing Your Soul

iv The Mystery

v Some Kind of Yesterday

vi World Without End

Total Length: 61:17

Written and Produced by Neal Morse

“Thoughts Part 5”—Written by Neal Morse and Randy George

“Smoke and Mirrors” and “The Mystery”—Music by Neal Morse, Lyrics by Chris Thompson and Neal Morse

Mixed by Rich Mouser

Featured Musicians

Neal Morse – Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals

Mike Portnoy – Drums

Randy George – Bass

Additional Musicians:

Paul Gilbert – Guitar solo on “Momentum”

Adson Sodré–Guitar Solos on “World Without End”

Bill Hubauer – Clarinet, flute, guitar and additional keys on “The Mystery”

Eric Gillette – Additional vocals on “Thoughts Part 5”

Wil Morse – Additional vocals on “Thoughts Part 5”

Chris Carmichael – Strings

Rick Altizer – Additional vocals on “Weathering Sky” and “Smoke and Mirrors”

Random Touch’s 'Flock' Concludes Their Career with a Bang

Thirty-three years of collaboration and sixteen releases culminates in the masterpiece Flock, Random Touch’s final album. The ten tracks range from the bigger-than-life“Arena” to the uninhibited joy of “Dance of the Elementals”to the psychedelic final track, “She Wore Sheepskin”. In-between is found all manner of genre bending complexity and unnerving cinematic suspense.

Scott Hamill’s mastery of the bass guitar is notable on the album. Its pervasiveness recreates the traditional jazz trio, and yet jazz could be said to take a back seat to both 20th century classical and rock on this album. Much of the drum play is on an Ayotte set versus the DW kit that served for the previous releases, and the album also contains an unprecedented live track (# 6). The result of these changes is a freshness and newness that belies the band’s long history and propels the album to new heights.

“Poly-sound, across rhythm, melody and harmony, casts this music into a space between the atoms, tracing tangential connections that align to a sound residing deep down and out of sight.” – Christopher Brown, drums

Singular as the music of Random Touch is, there is little they do that has not been done within the 20^th century classical“tradition” or the rock and jazz idioms. It is simply their willingness to take risks and their unique embracing of the unconscious and serendipity that sets them apart from most of their contemporaries.

“From screaming crowds to whispers. We’ve come together to define our wall of sound.” – James Day, keyboards

Jon Lord, founder of Deep Purple, 1941-2012

From Jon Lord's website:

It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Jon Lord, who suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism today, Monday 16th July at the London Clinic, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Jon was surrounded by his loving family. 

Jon Lord, the legendary keyboard player with Deep Purple co-wrote many of the bands legendary songs including Smoke On The Water and played with many bands and musicians throughout his career.

Best known for his Orchestral work Concerto for Group & Orchestra first performed at Royal Albert Hall with Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969 and conducted by the renowned Malcolm Arnold, a feat repeated in 1999 when it was again performed at the Royal Albert Hall by the London Symphony Orchestra and Deep Purple.

Jon’s solo work was universally acclaimed when he eventually retired from Deep Purple in 2002.

Jon passes from Darkness to Light.

Jon Lord 9 June 1941 – 16 July 2012.

Magma Release New CD 'Félicité Thösz'

French Zeuhl band Magma has just released their newest CD, three years after their excellent "Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré". Already this new opus called 'Félicité Thösz' is getting rave reviews from lovers of this little known genre of progressive rock. It has garnered a 4.25 out of 5 rating on the ProgArchives site. Here is the press release:

One of music's most innovative and eclectic ensembles, Magma, has released a new CD titled 'Félicité Thösz' internationally on Seventh Records (June 2012). Having emerged unscathed from STAR WARS, don't just sit there waiting for the end of the world. Take a leap into the MAGMA universe and grab their new studio album which is not to be missed under any circumstances: a trip which will lead you from Japan to the Urals via Central Asia with a detour to pay homage to Tamla Motown. Already aired in concert under the title 'Felicite Thosz' and well-attended by legions of the band's fans, the piece is dominated by the celestial voice of Stella Vander and is a formidable mix of all the sonic colors which has made this cult band absolutely incatagorizable!

Magma was founded in Paris in 1969 by drummer Christian Vander, who derived his inspiration from a "vision of humanity's spiritual and ecological future" that profoundly disturbed him. Vander was a self-taught musician, who received some tips from drum legend Elvin Jones. In the course of Magma's first album, the band tells the story of a group of people fleeing a doomed Earth to settle on the planet Kobaïa. Later, conflict arises when the Kobaïans, who are descendants of the original colonists, encounter other Earth refugees. A distinguished aspect of Magma's music is that Vander actually invented a constucted language, Kobaïan, in which most lyrics are sung. Later albums told different stories set in more ancient times; however the Kobaïan language remained an integral part of the music. Reportedly, Christian Vander is also highly influenced by the work of jazz legend John Coltrane. "For my work, it is still Coltrane who actually gives me the real material to work on, to be able to move on.," says Vander.

Magma's new CDfeatures two pieces – the 28-minute title track 'Félicité Thösz', and a composition titled 'Les Hommes Sont Venus'. Both tracks were recorded between September 2011 and April 2012 in Francis Linon's new studio on the French Riviera. “I started working on this piece in 2001, right after I finished the exhausting recording of 'Les cygnes et les corbeaux',” explains Vander. “With 'Félicité', there was an immediate feeling of ease, the piece seemed to come to life, clear, under my fingers. True happiness beneath the complexity, the circumvolutions, the meanderings... the spires and the spirals of 'Les cygnes et les corbeaux'. There lies the color of Magma's great themes, and its quintessential spirit. One could say that the melodies have evolved, gained fluidity. The idea of renewal belongs to every civilization, celebrating beings, places, nature and gods. With the sounds, rites and traditions from various lands unfold. This theme offers a new aspect of Magma's music, a source that unleashes its power flow. I hope you enjoy listening to it.”

In other news, Magma will be the headline act for the Zappanale Festival in Germany on August 3^rdand Paris La Villette Jazz Festival on August 30^th.

Great news from the IQ Front

Just got the news that Subterranea (5U37ERR4NE4), the iconic IQ release from 1997, will be turned into a movie! Here's the press release:

Greetings,

We bring you exciting news that IQ's legendary double CD, 'Subterranea' is being made into a feature length film!

A team of American filmmakers have been working with the concept album for over a year now, adapting it into a screenplay and are ready to officially launch the news that production of the film is scheduled to begin in 2013. The project is in the pre-production phase right now and fund raising has begun. The filmmakers will need as much support and help from the fans of the band to spread the word and build momentum for the project.Subterranea-Movie.com is the film's official website. The site will become increasingly interactive as the project gets closer to it's release, so be sure to check it out often. Watch the counters for hidden features to become live and more of the 'code' to be revealed. The site will also contain a blog where day to day news on the project will be shared.

The filmmakers are looking for any interested parties to contact them about potential roles in helping produce the film. They want to offer the opportunity for fans of the band and music to be involved in the film making process so that there is a unified vision and respect for the subject matter. Please contact Contact@subterranea-movie.com with questions.

IQ will also be collaborating with the filmmakers in the post production process creating the score for the movie. There will be an infusion of existing themes from the album with brand new material to accompany the film.

A message from the film's writer/director.

“As a huge fan of IQ, I am honored and thrilled to be working on this project in collaboration with the band. I want to make sure the IQ community is as excited about the film as I am. Our film making team and I hope that our enthusiasm and vision for the film will bring to life the already stimulating and poignant images the music has created in all of our minds and hearts as fans. We look forward to bringing you more updates and for your help in the long road of movie making ahead.

Sincerely,

Mathew Miller”

Kaipa Set to Release VITTJAR on August 28

Well it seems that August 28th will be a busy release day. After Monument's Gnosis and Beardfish's the Void, we now have news of the new Kaipa set to be released on the same day.

The Swedish progressive folk-rock-fusion band KAIPA will be releasing their new album VITTJAR on August 28 via InsideOut Music. KAIPA's unique sound is constantly evolving, and regardless of what direction it takes, it always carries a profound breath from the inner-most depths of the ancient Swedish primeval forest. This time around, KAIPA even uses the Swedish language in the title track to further express and stress these close bonds with their mother country.

While recording VITTJAR, each of the musicians recorded their parts separately using several different studios. As the voice of the band, Hans Lundin led the group in deciding how songs would be assembled, giving credence to the old-school belief that present day technology - no matter how useful it may be in the studio - is no substitute for experience. Lundin is as experienced as they come, having recorded his first single in 1965.

VITTJAR gives a new and true meaning to the "progressive" stamp and ultimately puts KAIPA outside the genre box. It's a label that Lundin has lived with for years, and he sees no reason to fight it even as KAIPA's music continues to evolve. "It doesn't matter what we do, we'll always be placed in progressive rock," says Lundin. "When I'm writing songs I actually try to avoid a traditional way of writing and playing progressive rock, but at the same time those elements are a part of me and my history. So, I hope the result is something new and fresh. Of course, the special influence of Swedish folk music helps accomplish that, and I think it grows with every Kaipa album."

Track Listing:

First Distraction

Lightblue and Green

Our Silent Ballroom Band

Vittjar

Treasure-House

A Universe of Tinyness

The Crowned Hillsides

Second Distraktion

Line Up:

Hans Lundin: Electric and acoustic keyboards, vocals
Per Nilsson: Electric and acoustic guitars (Scar Symmetry)
Morgan Ågren: Drums (Mats & Morgan, Zappa)
Jonas Reingold: Electric basses (The Flower Kings, Karmakanic)
Patrik Lundström: Vocals (Ritual)
Aleena Gibson: Vocals

Special guests:
Fredrik Lindqvist: Recorders & whistles (Ritual)
Elin Rubinsztein: Violin

Beardfish release The Void on August 28

International Prog Rock Show favorite Beardfish have just annouced the release of their latest opus. Interesting aside, another IPRS favorite, Andy Tillison of The Tangent, appears on this new CD.

Less than two years after the release of their last record, the critically acclaimed Mammoth, BEARDFISH have returned with a new masterpiece, THE VOID, which will be released August 28 via InsideOut Music. The album is darker and heavier, and in some parts even has a bit of a metal edge to it, while still incorporating all that BEARDFISH and their typical warm retro-sound stand for.

The band comments: "We went full-on with this one... We've had some trouble in the past conveying our live energy on the studio albums. This is the one that shines through! It's an album about loss. It's about love. It celebrates both life and death and the struggle in between to heal the wounds that don't show and to actually take the step to move forward in life. We've been waiting to share these songs with all of you for a while now and we, Beardfish, are really proud to present to you 'The Void'."

Track Listing:

01 Intro (by Andy Tillison)

02 Voluntary Slavery

03 Turn To Gravel

04 They Whisper

05 This Matter Of Mine

06 Seventeen Again

07 Ludvig & Sverker

08 He Already Lives In You

09 Note

I. Note

II. Descending

III. The Void

IV. Note (reprise)

10 Where The Lights Are Low

Bonus Track:

11 Ludvig & Sverker Solo Piano Version

Line Up:

Rikard Sjöblom - vocals, keyboards

David Zackrinsson - guitars

Robert Hansen - bass

Magnus Östgren - drums

Monuments Posts Track-Listing for 'Gnosis'

Just received this press release from Century Media Records:

"If you want to learn how to jam along to MONUMENTS' "Doxa", check out the following play-through video that shows John Browne (guitar), Adam Swan (bass), and Mike Malyan (drums) playing along to an instrumental version of the song:

http://youtu.be/_s714ye3RRg

"Doxa" will be available on MONUMENTS' upcoming debut album Gnosis that will be out on the following dates:

GERMANY / AUSTRIA / SWITZERLAND / NORWAY: Friday, August 24, 2012.
UK / BENELUX / FRANCE / GREECE / DENMARK / PORTUGAL / REST OF EUROPE: Monday, August 27, 2012.
USA / CANADA / SPAIN / ITALY: Tuesday, August 28, 2012.
SWEDEN / FINLAND / HUNGARY: Wednesday, August 29, 2012.
AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND: Friday, August 31, 2012.
  

Gnosis track-listing:

1. Admit Defeat

2. Degenerate

3. Doxa

4. The Uncollective

5. Blue Sky Thinking

6. Memoirs

7. 97% Static

8. Empty Vessels Make The Most Noise

9. Regenerate

10. Denial

The iTunes exclusive version offers another bonus track:

11. Empty Vessels Make The Most Noise (Paradigm Shift Remix)

MONUMENTS will continue their work at the forefront of UK Tech Metal. The music combines aggressive angular grooves interwoven with spacious melodic ambience that is punchy yet progressive. The broad vocal spectrum of Matt Rose adds a new innovative dimension to their complex musical landscape, merging tight, chaotic grooves, screams and cinematic choruses with hooks that will taunt you for hours. MONUMENTS has already forged their complex soundscapes into the minds of thousands with their 3 track EP, We Are The Foundation. In the short time since their formation, the quintet has already toured the UK and Europe twice, supporting the likes of WINDS OF PLAGUE, PERIPHERY and TESSERACT.

MONUMENTS live 2012:

11.07.2012 (UK) London - Barfly Camden

15.07.2012 (UK) Alton - UK Tech Metal Fest

20.10.2012 (GER) Cologne - Euroblast Festival Vol.8

More tour dates will be announced soon, so stay tuned!"

IPRS 109 Playlist

I had forgotten to write down the playlist of the previous IPRS, the one that aired two weeks ago. So here goes.

1. For the Love of Gold, by Flower Kings (Banks of Eden, 2012)
2. Tall Trees, by St. Elmo's Fire (Onto, 2012)
3. Ljudet Innan, by Storm Corrosion (Storm Corrosion, 2012)
4. See of Smiles, by Squackett (Sea of Smiles CDS, 2012)
5. Lost in the New Real, by Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Lost in the New Real, 2012)
6. Infinite Possibilities, by Cryptic Vision (Of Infinite Possibilities, 2012)
7. The Hunting of Johnny Eue, by Citizen Cain (Skies Darken, 2012)
8. Catching the Bullet, by Arena (The Seventh Degree of Separation, 2012)
9. What If? by Arena (The Seventh Degree of Separation, 2012)
10. Stars, Harvest (Chasing Time, 2012)
11. Time Lapse, by Harvest (Chasing Time, 2012)
12. Nightinglae Express, by A Liquid Landscape (Nightingale Express, 2012)
13. Thieves of Time, by A Liquid Landscape (Nightingale Express, 2012)
14. The Final Hour, by Hasse Froberg (Powerplay, 2012)
15. Suspira, by New Goblin (Live in Roma, 2012)
16. Phenomena, by New Goblin (Live in Roma, 2012)
17. Alpha Omega, by Absolace (Fractals, 2012)

Don't forget that the radio show airs every Friday at 2 PM Eastern time and repeats the following Sunday at 7 PM Eastern time on UK70s Prog Rock.

A Bit More Steve Hackett News

Remember two weeks ago when I found out that Steve Hackett was working on a new version of the classic "Supper's Ready"? Well, I was curious about this project and found a lot of interesting tidbits around the web.

It seems that this project started as a follow-up to Steve's Genesis Revisited CD. Steve told a reporter that this time he wanted to "revisit" some lesser known Genesis songs. Soon the project changed a bit, and now it looks like the album will be a 2 CD affair, with songs from both Genesis' past, and Steve's solo career.

I've been following Steve's Twitter feed, and found these interesting nuggets about the tracks being worked on, and about who is working on them. On his latest Twitter he wrote that the album cover is being worked on at this moment.

First the Genesis songs:

Blood on the Rooftops (sung by John Wetton and someone named Gary). Steve has also written a new intro to the song.
Fly on the Windscreen (sung by someone named Gary)
Afterglow
The Musical Box (sung by Nad Sylvan)
The Chamber of 32 Doors (sung by Nad Sylvan)
Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
The Lamia (sung by Nik Kershaw, with some guitar by Steve Rothery)
Can-Utility and the Coastliner (sung by Steven Wilson)
Entangled (sung by Jakko Jakszyk)
Eleventh Earl of Mar (sung by Nad Sylvan)
Ripples (sung by Amanda Lehmann)
The Return of the Giant Hogweed (with some guitar by Roine Stolt)
Supper's Ready (with vocals by Simon Collins, Francis Dunnery, and Mikael Akerfeldt)

As to the Hackett songs being reprised, it seems he is taking the Peter Gabriel route. Both songs mentionned on Twitter seem to be orchestral versions. They are:
Please Don't Touch
A Tower Struck Down

No need to tell you that I am very excited about this project, as Steve Hackett is the guitarist that inspired me to learn the guitar. And the song list is truly amazing. Can't wait to pick this one up.