Archive for the ‘music’ Category

A Collaboration of 2 Prog Rock Legends: 1 Past 1 Present

Posted: August 17, 2016 in progressive rock music
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stoltanderson

It’s as if Jon Anderson, former leader of YES and Roine Stolt, guitarist extraordinaire for Flower Kings and Transatlantic met in some sort of hot tub time machine or tele-transporting phone booth like in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and created the music for this release.  Well although it didn’t exactly happen that way the two masters did exchange musical ideas while being world’s apart.  And the result, The Invention of Knowledge, Anderson:Stolt coverharkens back to a YES masterpiece from yesteryear, “Tales from Topographic Oceans,” with a healthy dose of Swedish progressive that only Roine Stolt can provide.

This 3 suite, 9 track performance reflects an attitude sorely lost on today’s musicians. According to Stolt, “It was like going back to the 70’s in one way.  Because there were no rules.  We were drawing inspiration from all sorts of musical heritages across the world.”  Besides the 2 acknowledged progressive rock legends the musicians  include Jonas Reinhold on bass; Felix Lehrmann on drums, both from Flower Kings; and Tom Brislin, who toured with YES on their 2001 Symphonic World Tour, on keyboards.

The song titles themselves suggest Anderson penned lyrics; “We Are Truth,”  “Chase and Harmony,” and “Golden Light” to name a few.  And that voice! Approaching 72 years on this 3rd planet from the sun, Anderson is in fine vocal form.  The musical suite I would like to highlight here is also the third one on this wonderful recording, “Everyone Heals.”  Part 1 of this 3 song suite concludes with a jazz influenced passage featuring Stolt’s fine lead guitar work and the electric piano of keyboardist Tom Brislin.  It’s a bit reminiscent, at least to this listener, of Chick Corea’s 70’s era fusion band, Return to Forever.  Part III, “Golden Light” concludes the suite with the especially enjoyable refrain “To the gift of giving you love” accompanied by a middle eastern influenced keyboard backdrop.

In the end, even after repeated listenings, I can’t decide if the music created here more closely resembles 70’s era YES or the modern wave of progressive rock of Flower Kings.  You’ll just have to listen and decide for yourself.  The music created on this satisfying collaboration doesn’t stray too far from the influences of Anderson and Stolt respectively.  It showcases a shared appreciation of a musical genre that 1 legend helped to create (Anderson) and the other (Stolt) has revitalized for the foreseeable future.

Check out the teaser below taken from the opening 3 part suite, “The Invention of Knowledge.”

Sci Fi Meets Prog Rock with the band Flaming Row

Posted: August 3, 2016 in progressive rock music
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My progressive rock muse has struck again.  Although I must admit I’m a little
late coming to the praise of this release.  Two years to be exact.  The band is
Flaming Row and the release is entitled Mirage – A Portrayal of Figures.
And the track that has me mesmerized is Pictures.  Track that deals with the grief
of losing a son against the tumultuous backdrop of an alien invasion but fighting on
and starting again. The concept of a catastrophic alien attack is nothing new to our
consciousness with Steven Spielberg’s recently produced television series “Falling Skies”
running for 4 seasons coming to my mind.

Here’s a small taste of the opening lyrics from this track:
You and I
Flying through morning light
Weary to northern sky
Even at the coming of night
Just you and I

Gorgeous opening instrumentals with acoustic guitar, sax and what to this
listener’s discerning ear sounds like a Celtic flute.   Although you may detect
a German accent in the inital male lead vocal that quickly dissolves into a
mixture of  voices with vocal harmonies that are absolutely beautiful.
Combining all of these male and female voices is a part of the original
concept of band founder Martin Schnella. He serves as the musical composer
of this extraordinary music with Kiri Geile providing the lyrical concept and
sharing lyrical duties.

Flaming-Row group _1

Continuing with the original concept of their debut Schnella has incorporated
many different musicians on this release. They hail from some of the more
recognizable bands of the genre like Spock’s Beard, Pain of Salvation, Enchant,
Ayreon, and Shadow Gallery to name a few but sadly probably known only to
true progressive rock fans.

Now onto the concept behind this release. The world is under siege by an alien
force who have declared war on earth. The last surviving elites fight to save
the world and vow to turn away from the greed and quest for power that has
brought the alien scourge to our planet.  Now before you dismiss this as another
pretentious concept album, this musical excursion is one of aural delight. No CGI
here to look at.  Just close your eyes and let your ears take it in.

Metal Prog from Tunisia?

Posted: March 17, 2016 in music, progressive rock music
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On the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia is a North African country whose culture dates to antiquity. From that exotic location comes a progressive metal band called Myrath. In Arabic that means “legacy” which just happens to be the name of their latest release. And that bit of information just reinforces my claim that progressive rock music has a truly universal appeal for musicians.

Myrath-band

Progressive metal musicians are known for their instrumental skills and this band makes no exception!  Their inspiration comes from their western influences and Arabic background as well as their personal experience.

Legacy is their 4th release and the video found here is for the track Believer. According to lead singer Zaher Zorgati (and no, I wouldn’t want to pronounce the names of all the band members let alone spell them!) we took the bet to do the most insane music video clip, as professional as “Games of Thrones” as insane as “Prince of Persia.”   I’ve included it here for the cinematic value as well as the music. The set-up to the video is roughly 45 seconds but whoa, then it really takes off.  So give it a chance.  And about the music. The musicianship and production values are exceptional. Metal mixed with oriental and Arabic cultural influences. Love the guitar work of Malek Ben Aria.  Truly a different musical experience and surely an acquired taste.

With all of the hate and vitriol towards the Middle East and Northern Africa coming from the West in recent years let’s hope something like a band called Myrath can cut through the xenonphobia and be appreciated for their art.  Believe and carry on.

Beautiful Interpretation of an Instrumental Classic

Posted: September 16, 2015 in progressive rock music
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I was listening to my favorite source for progressive rock music, morow.com the other day and stumbled upon this gem. I initially recognized the song title “Spectral Mornings” from Steve Hackett’s 1979 solo LP of the same name.original  Upon first listening it didn’t sound familiar but as the track continued I was dumfounded (always wanted to use that word in a sentence!) to find this was a vocal interpretation of the Steve Hackett original.  Now this is definitely interesting.  Adding vocals to a track that was originally released 36 years ago.  I had to know more!  And I’m passing it on to you now. First, the lyrics were penned by David Longdon.  He’s currently the lead vocalist for the British prog rock band Big Big Train. Ironically David auditioned to replace Phil Collins in Genesis in 1996 long after Steve Hackett had left the band. David also adds a flute solo to the piece.  Continuing with a theme to bring in top notch talent from the world of progressive rock, 2 members from the Welsh progressive rock band Magenta are also part of the line-up.  Christina Booth on vocals and Rob Reed on 12 string guitar join this ensemble.  Reed is the brainchild behind this collaboration and also receives producer credits. Spectral Mornings 1I always loved the dynamic of a duet with male and female vocals and the pairing of Booth and Longdon is exceptional!  Of course it would not be complete without Steve Hackett playing classical guitar and adding his signature axe solo that first appeared in the original instrumental version.  He is by far one of my favorite guitarists of any musical genre.  I’m also the proud owner of an autographed copy of the original 1979 solo release of the same name.  You can safely say I’m a big fan.

To add to the overall impact of this wonderful version of Hackett’s original it’s all a part of In Aid of Parkinson’s UK at www.parkinsons.org.uk.   That’s the Parkinson’s support and research charity of the United Kingdom that for more than 40 years has been working to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.  That makes me appreciate these fine artists even more for coming together to record for such a worthy cause. I’ve included a performance video for the track here below.  It most cases it’s awfully hard to duplicate or surpass the original.  But in this case I think the talented musicians assembled here have done just that.

Sylvan’s Quest for “Home”

Posted: July 14, 2015 in progressive rock music
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I’ve been an admirer of this German neo progressive band since their 2006 release, “Posthumous Silence” which many fans believe to be their finest work to date. Their latest is titled “Home” and features the single “Shine” that immediately “caught” my ear and blew me away.Sylvan Home cover  Like the aforementioned “Posthumous Silence” this is a conceptual journey.  The 12 tracks on this 2015 release tell the story of how the leading character rediscovers long-forgotten childhood memories of pain and sadness.  The track begins simply enough with piano, straightforward bass and subdued drumming from Volker Sohl, Sebastian Harnack and Matthias Harder respectively.  It builds to feature Marco Gluhmann’s powerfully haunting vocals that evoke an intense sense of urgency with the refrain:  Out of the dark, please shine, my child, don’t cry!  Against all this pain, please fight, despite… please try!  No silly love songs here.  There’s a radical change to a metal riff before the track returns to it’s earlier sensibility.  Here new guitarist Jonathan Beck offers some tasty licks on this evocative cut.  I’ve included the video for “Shine” here.  Check It out.  Sylvan is a shining example of the appeal of progressive rock to musicians from around the world.  It’s certainly not music to dance to. You just have to appreciate the sheer musicianship and storytelling of gifted artists whose life experiences often have occurred far removed from our own.

A Chapter Ends as Mystery Bids Adieu to Lead Singer Benoit David

Posted: March 20, 2015 in progressive rock music
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Live albums are not usually my first choice for listening to a band in the confines of my home or car.   I prefer the studio version of songs.  But with this latest release “Tales from the Netherlands” from the Canadian progressive rock band, Mystery, I may have to change my thinking.  This live recording from May of 2013 showcases the emotion and skill of this band.   Here’s the line-up that performs on this live set.Mystery-band-new

– Michel St-Pere / Guitars
– Benoit David / Vocals
– Benoit Dupuis / Keyboards
– Francois Fournier / Bass Guitar
– Sylvain Moineau / Guitars
– Jean-Sébastien Goyette / Drums

I have to single out lead vocalist Benoit David for a few reasons.  He sings on this live set and was the lead vocalist from 1999 to 2013.  He joined the seminal progressive rock band Yes on their 2008 tour and replaced, if that is the correct word, founding member Jon Anderson.  David performed with Yes until 2012.  That’s quite a resume!   Presumably this recording represents his final performance with Mystery.

The majority on songs here are taken from 3 studio releases;  “Beneath the Veil of Winter’s Face” (2007), “One Among the Living” (2010) and “The World Is A Game” (2012).

Beneath the Veil                   ! among the living                          Mystery LP cover

I know the original premise with this blog was to highlight one particular progressive rock track with each subsequent posting but since I’ve been a fan of this band since 2010 I find it hard to single out just one so I’ll pick two!  First up is “Pride.”  Written by original band member Michel St-Pere, his soaring lead guitar work is featured here.  Supported by the bass groove of Francois Fournier and powerful drumming of Jean Sebastien Goyette this track shifts back and forth from the softer elements of progressive rock to the full force of this band.

Another track to savor is the poignant and reflective “Dear Someone.”  The touching lyrics that reach out and grab you;

Beware
Don’t do the same mistakes we made
And pray
Just keep your children loved and safe
The world will find a way

The cut climaxes with the emotional angst of lead vocalist David and the sweet, dual lead guitar work of St-Pere and Moineau.

By now I hope you’ve arrived at the conclusion that I really like this band!  Years ago these tracks would be labeled Album Oriented Rock with a progressive rock sensibility.  How’s that for a label?  But what will stick with me long after hearing these live tracks is that they represent perhaps the farewell performance for a great vocalist, Benoit David and his contributions to this fine band.  “Tales from the Netherlands” closes a chapter for Mystery.  These live tracks are indeed a fitting showcase.

Click on the Playlist  in the video player below and select these 2 or any tracks from this live release. They’re all there. Don’t let the band Mystery be a mystery to you any more!

Triumphant Return of Bay Area Progressive Rock Band Enchant

Posted: February 28, 2015 in progressive rock music
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The San Francisco Bay area has produced some notable bands over the years from Green Day to Metallica. Now after a 10 year hiatus comes another, progressive rockers Enchant.
Enchant B & W band pic

They have been compared to fellow Amercian prog rock bands like Dream Theater and Kansas.  The current band line-up includes:

Ted Leonard – vocals & guitar
Doug Ott – guitars & vocals
Ed Platt – bass
Bill Jenkins – keyboards
Sean Flanegan- Drums

During their absence from recording Ted Leonard became the lead singer for another American prog rock band, Spock’s Beard.  Fast forward to 2014 and here comes Enchant‘s first release in 10 years, “The Great Divide.”  If you’re counting, it’s their 8th studio album.  The first track premiered from that release is the one that I’ll comment on here, “Within An Inch.”

From it’s opening dissonant guitar riff to the heavy bass line that is most represented by purveyors of the prog-metal scene, this track rocks!  The lead vocals showcase Leonard’s range from his full power down to a whisper.  The chorus includes the introspective lyrics; “Can you hear me? Can you help me?  Can you hear me?  Feels like I’m dying…”

This track features an instrumental synthesizer solo worthy of some of the best you’ll hear in this genre. It’s soon followed by some reflective piano and then the soaring lead guitar of Douglas Ott.  Ott commented on the creative influence behind the lyrics, “It’s about coming as close to death as possible without dying.  I was in a horrible accident when I was 20 years old… This is about that experience.”

It would seem the years have treated these musician’s well.  “Within An Inch” delivers the sophisticated instrumental skill we’ve come to expect from progressive rock with relatable, emotional vocals.  On the band’s return after that 10 year hiatus guitarist Ott offers these words; “We’re very excited and proud of this endeavor.  It’s classic Enchant, but with a bunch of new twists and turns.  It’s been a long time in the making, but it’s surely worth the wait.”  I agree wholeheartedly and hope you will too.  Check out “Within An Inch” below.  No video included, just pure American progressive rock.  And as their name symbolizes, may it fill you with great delight!

Osada Vida; Both a legend and a progressive rock band from Poland

Posted: February 16, 2015 in progressive rock music
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As the legend goes, in the land that is now known as Benin, a country in West Africa, there lies a small village.  It’s inhabitants live far from civilization in perfect harmony.  It has been told that their newborn babies are given to pythons which look after them and protect them from danger.  This village is called Osada Vida and it is also the name of the progressive rock band I’m about to blog about.  How’s that for inspiration for a band!  Now the band Osada Vida Osada Vida 2014hails from Poland and along with Believe, Quidam and Riverside is one of the Polish progressive bands I’ve discovered in recent years.  Their fifth and latest release (2014) is called “The After Effect” Osada Vida - The After-Effect (2014)and the track that quite simply grabbed my attention on first listen is “Sky Full of Dreams.”  With new members on guitar and drums respectively the band has been quoted as saying: “All the changes Osada Vida has undergone lately gave us new energy, enthusiasm and a drive to create new music. Music-wise, the new songs constitute a harmonious combination of our distinctive style …”  Complete with a string quartet adding to the chorus this cut has really got me hooked.  Tasty lead guitar work and strong vocals add to the effect. The uplifting lyric for the chorus goes:

“Let your spirit fly
Let it take you to the open sky
Don’t forget that there’s a different place
That can be your home”

Fortunately a performance video for “Sky Full of Dreams” can be found on YouTube (along with other videos from the band) and I’ve included it here.  Aside from the band’s name and the legend attached to it, this current group of musicians represents the world-wide influence of progressive rock music. And in my opinion, we as true fans are all the better for it.

Counting Time with Flicker

Posted: January 7, 2015 in progressive rock music
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Looking for the lighter side of prog?  Haunting vocal harmonies, delicate yet elegant musical arrangements?  Here’s  a recommendation; the British band, Flicker.

Ellis Mordecai – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard and String arrangements.
Andy Day – Guitars and Vocals.
Peter Coussens – Bass Guitar.
Vaughan Abrey – Drums.

They’ve been performing and recording for over 10 years yet just released their debut album “How Much Are You Willing to Forget” in 2013.Flicker LP cover   Reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, modern day Porcupine Tree and Steve Wilson, the track “Counting Time” off this debut release creates a light atmosphere of relaxing progressive rock.  This track should put the listener in a reflective and contemplative mood.  It certainly did for me!

The Latest Chapter for ASIA, the band

Posted: January 3, 2015 in progressive rock music
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In 1981 the British progressive rock supergroup ASIA was born.  Featuring one of the best voices in rock music of any kind, John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep, UK & others ) along with Steve Howe and Geoff Downes (Yes), and Carl Palmer (Emerson Lake & Palmer).  asia Whereas some fans of the movement may have considered their music closer to the arena rock sound of bands like Journey and Styx, here in the states their debut sold over 4 million copies.  In 1982 it was named the #1 album of the year by Billboard and Cashbox. ASIA debut LPThough they would never reach those dizzying heights again they continued to record, tour and change personnel. Fast forward to 2014.  ASIA released by what is my count, their 7th studio album, Gravitas.  This marked the official retirement of Steve Howe from the reunited original line-up of the band and the introduction of new guitarist Sam Coulson who was basically discovered on YouTube. There are 2 cuts on this release I would to like to highlight.  The first being the lead track, Valkyrie.  It opens with an a cappella intro followed by a subtle bow of a cello that is as much a part of the chorus as the vocals themselves.  Wetton’s voice sounds as strong as ever.  The track chugs along teamed with the understated keyboards of Geoff Downes.  And finally toward the end of the song we’re introduced to the lead guitar work of new guitarist, Sam Coulson.  ASIA has released a video for the lead track that I’ve included here. Now the video doesn’t break any new ground but does include some beautiful time-lapse cinematography of clouds interspersed with shots of band members.  In a sense the video is much like the genre of progressive music itself, created for the ears and not necessarily the eyes!

http://youtu.be/CIpmYEYC2rU

The second cut I would like to comment on is Nyctophobia.  For those of you trying to figure out “what kind of phobia is that?”  It’s the extreme or irrational fear of the night of darkness.  Now that we’ve got that established let me riff on the track itself!  It features the familiar warmth of John Wetton’s vocals with some tasty lead guitar work by new member Sam Coulson. What you get on this track is “comfortable as your favorite chair” progressive rock ASIA style.  The title and subsequent chorus are repeated enough times that’s it’s sure to stick in your head.

So if you were ever a fan of ASIA, and maybe you didn’t want to admit it, their latest release Gravitas follows the formula.  After over 30 years of recording for a band to still be true to their signature sound, in the humble opinion of this blogger they deserve an audience.  With this latest release you won’t be disappointed.

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