The feel of this double-album evokes yet another new, and truly progressive, listening experience and interpretation. A sense of beauty and great openness pervades both the production and songwriting. Each piece of music stands on its own and yet, at the same time, cohesively fits with all of the other songs. Neither tedious nor overbearing, this album will make you want to start-it-over-again each time it ends, as you are enveloped by the music.

One of the items on the band’s “bucket list” has been to release their music on vinyl. echolyn is happy to finally check this item off that list with the help of the UK Label, Plane Groovy. echolyn will be releasing the new album on double vinyl in a classic gatefold package complete with lyrics, song credits and beautiful artwork. These records will be individually numbered with a limited run of 500 copies on high quality 180g-heavyweight vinyl. To enhance the vinyl experience, the music has been mastered at a sample rate of 88.2kHz and EQ’d specifically for these 500 copies.

Of course, “echolyn” will also be released as a double CD complete with an eight-page booklet. The mastering engineer, Robert Hadley (The Mastering Lab in California), has done a remarkable job preserving the dynamic range of the performances and sonically making each song project accurately to the listener, as fully intended by the band.

echolyn would love to accept the gracious offer of many of our friends and fans by offering a pre-order to help offset some of the cost of this new endeavor. And yes, these pre-order albums and CDs ship first – our promise!

All pre-orders will ship the week of June 11th – Official release date is June 19, 2012.

MoonJune Records is releasing 3 new releases, officially out on May 15, 2012.
 
ALLAN HOLDSWORTH “Hard Hat Area” (re-mastered)
ALLAN HOLDSWORTH “None Too Soon”(re-mastered)
TOHPATI BETIGA “Riot”

Hard Hat Area, originally offered in very limited print and distribution in the USA, this great effort has been remastered and repackaged in digipak format (with intriguing new liner notes provided by Barry Cleveland). While the music on Hard Hat Area may seem a logical extension of the sophisticated, highly idiosyncratic style of jazz-fusion that Allan developed on his previous seven albums, it possesses a major difference: it was recorded by the guitarist’s touring band, which had refined the material by performing it live before entering the studio. The album was recorded on a 32-track Mitsubishi digital recorder at Front Page Recorders in Costa Mesa, California, not far from where Holdsworth resides. Overdubs and mixing were done personally by Allan at his home. The natural sum of the preparation, performance and recording processes is a more seasoned, organic feel. A truly superb album, from one of progressive music’s all-time greatest treasures – available, once again.
 

None Too Soon is Allan’s ninth album is a collection of interpretations of jazz standards by John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Django Reinhardt, and Joe Henderson, along with an Irving Berlin tune, two compositions by the late Gordon Beck (the album’s pianist, and Allan’s close personal friend of many years), and an intriguing arrangement of The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood”. Holdsworth fans are in for a special treat, as the musical settings provide an intriguing backdrop for some of his more adventurous soloing to date. The project’s underlying agenda is revealed in his quote from the reissue liner notes: “… after I’d completed Hard Hat Area, Gordon was visiting again and he said, ‘Maybe you should do a record of tunes that people might be able to relate to.’ He had the impression that my music mostly sailed past people, and he thought that maybe if I played something recognizable, they might be able to appreciate what was going on.” None Too Soon is a modern jazz classic and remains unique among Allan Holdsworth’s many recordings. It also has the noted distinction of being the only Holdsworth album to date to feature the renowned Tribal Tech battery of bassist Gary Willis and drummer Kirk Covington. Presented in digipak format, with fresh liner notes scribed by MJR artist and Guitar Player Magazine editor, Barry Cleveland.
 

World-class Indonesian guitarist Tohpati reveals further sides of his diverse musical palette with the debut from his power trio,Tohpati Bertiga. Riot frequently puts the rockier side of Tohpati’s style on display (and in full force!) on this scorching fusion shredfest. Venturing far into uncharted territory, ** Tohpati Bertiga** covers ground where few trios would dare tread — much less in a live performance. All new compositions from Tohpati test the mettle of this trio, and they are most certainly up to the task. Augmented by imaginative melodies, twisting changes, superb soloing and driving, relentless rhythms, this album is a tour-de-force of modern fusion shredding at its most creative. With his gifted playing taking center stage, Tohpati places yet more dimensions of his accomplished guitar stylings on display. Showing that he is just as “at home” with rock and even funk settings as he is with jazz and fusion, this album further cements his rightful place among the highest echelon of today’s guitar giants. Recorded live in sparkling studio-quality fidelity, Riot is a fine addition toTohpati’s already impressive resume.

As some of you might know, around 2001 (cue Thus Spake Zarathustra), I was attacked by a gang of rather grubby youths on the platform of Teddington station in South London. I gave as good as I got but somewhere in the middle of the altercation, one of the young gentlemen decided to use my skull as a bottle opener. The subsequent concussion was mild (and quite entertaining when you consider the highly involved dreams I had under the influence of the uber strong pain killers I was prescribed) but it left me with a hearing condition known as Tinnitus.

For those of you who don’t know, Tinnitus is a form of hearing loss that manifests itself as a constant ringing or rushing wind sound in your ears. It is rather rare for a blow to the head to set it off but we Godfreys always like to take the route least travelled. The usual method for purchasing Tinnitus is through being subjected to loud noises such as er…playing in a rock band.

I thought there might still be hope and went back to the Audiologist to see if there had been any degradation over the year since I had seen her and the results were pretty plain; I am going deaf (and not in a cool, hip-hop kind of way).

So you ask; where does that leave me and more importantly, where does that leave Tinyfish?

The short answer is that right now we don’t honestly know. Currently Tinyfish has two more full shows to play this year which we fully intend to honour. After that, I’ll have to take stock of the situation and see if there is a way forward that produces the least inconvenience for everyone involved. There is no point gilding the lily however and in all probability the shows in Swindon and Kingston in July are probably going to be my last live electric gigs for the foreseeable future.

Read HERE the full story!

Chris Thompson has had a long and varied career in the music business. Born in the United Kingdom but raised in New Zealand Chris first experienced local success with bands in New Zealand before relocating to the UK in 1973. Chris’s first big break came when he replaced Mick Rogers in Manfred Mann’s Earthband. His debut with the band was on the ‘Roaring Silence’ album which contained the worldwide number 1 hit single “Blinded By The Light”. Following that single the band re recorded another Bruce Springsteen song “Spirits In The Night” which had featured on the bands previous album ‘Nightingales and Bombers’.

Whilst with Manfred Mann’s Earthband Chris also featured on Jeff Wayne’s concept album ‘War of the Worlds’ recording the track “Thunder Child” which was also a UK hit single. (Chris would regularly perform the song live in the concert presentation of the ‘War of The Worlds’ album). He also enjoyed massive worldwide success with Manfred Mann’s Earthband recording the albums ‘Watch’ and ‘Angel Station’ and hit singles “Davy’s On The Road Again”, “Mighty Quinn”, “Don’t Kill It Carol” and “You Angel You” before deciding to leave the Earthband to concentrate on his solo career by way of the band Night which Chris led for two albums.

Following his time with Night, Chris returned to the Earthband but also continued to record solo albums. More recently Chris has been performing concerts with the Mads Eriksen band where the band perform both new material from Chris alongside other songs Chris is rightly famous for from the Earthband catalogue. To date the band has filmed two live DVDs and live albums for release.

This live 2CD and bonus DVD package is a mixture of a live radio concert and a previous rehearsal and concert that took place ion Aschaffenburg. The Aschaffenburg material was salvaged from a full concert film and recording and is included as a bonus as it was felt that the material contained in the salvaged footage conveyed the excitement of the concert. The Berlin concert is just as it came from the radio transmission and as such is the complete concert as fans heard it at the concert and also on the radio

Chris is backed by a full band which includes Mads Eriksen, Gunnar Bjelland, and Frank Hovland with Szolt Meszaros on drums for the Berlin concert and Steinar Krokstad drumming on the Aschaffenburg material.

Chris Thompson’s profile as an artist is currently high due to extensive touring and also as a result of his previous work with Manfred Mann’s Earthband and also as a solo artist and as such this package will be an attractive and much anticipated release.

Tracks: DVD: LIVE AT THE COLOS-SAAL / THE ASCHAFFENBURG REMAINS: 1. MARTHA’S MADMAN, 2. LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD, 3. WHOLE LOT TO GIVE, 4. IF YOU REMEMBER ME, 5. DEMOLITION MAN, 6. REDEMPTION SONG, 7. DON’T KILL IT CAROL, FAN CAM DEXHEIM: 1. MIGHTY QUINN, 2. DRUM SOLO ( ZSOLT MESZAROS ), 3. YOU ANGEL YOU, 4. DAVY’S ON THE ROAD AGAIN, PLUS INTERVIEW : CHRIS AND BAND BY JON KIRKMAN
CD 1: LIVE AT RADIO BERLIN 88.8: 1. FATHER OF DAY, 2. WASTING TIME, 3. HOT SUMMER NIGHT, 4. SPIRITS IN THE NIGHT, 5. MARTHA’S MADMAN, 6. LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD, 7. WHOLE LOT TO GIVE, 8. IF YOU REMEMBER ME, 9. DEMOLITION MAN, 10. REDEMPTION SONG, 11. DON’T KILL IT CAROL, 12. RUNNER, 13. MIGHTY QUINN, CD 2: LIVE AT RADIO BERLIN 88.8: 1. PIECE FOR THE WICKED ( MADS ERIKSEN ), 2. YOU ANGEL YOU, 3. DAVY’S ON THE ROAD, 4. BLINDED BY THE LIGHT, ENCORES: 5. FOR YOU, 6. YOU’RE THE VOICE, 7. QUESTIONS.

The video below is the second video single taken from Aged for Perfection after previously released Tired Nature. As Tired Nature, Aged for Perfection was also directed by the band’s keyboardist Per Hillblom. Commenting on the new video, singer/guitarist K. Soren Bengtsson states:

Greetings fellow music addicts!

We are proud to present to you, exclusively this day together with Prog Sphere, the brand new video to the opening track Aged to Perfection, from our new album with the very same title. The song is about our hope, that we all, one day, may wake up and take responsibility for our actions on this planet. To make her spin around for many more generations to come. Enjoy!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

For more info visit the band’s official website on: www.darxtar.com.

Both Touchstone and The Reasoning have enjoyed a busy and successful eighteen months after each being asked to open the inaugural High Voltage Festival in London’s Victoria Park playing alongside legendary acts such as ELP, ZZ Top and Black Label Society. This year alone, both bands’ respective front women Kim Seviour and Rachel Cohen have been awarded plaudits for being amongst the top ten female vocalists of 2011 by Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine and the Classic Rock Society readers and critics.

The two bands are excited to be heading out on the road together for what will be their biggest headline tour yet:

“It’s been nearly half a decade since the last time we shared a stage with The Reasoning” explains Touchstone guitarist Adam Hodgson. “Getting to play out in Europe properly as well as in the UK with some great friends will be amazing.”

The Reasoning’s bassist Matt Cohen comments: “Touchstone and The Reasoning have developed so much as artists over the years so the versions you see today are lean, mean rocking machines with more fire and drive than ever before. We are going to bring you one hell of a gig experience! The New Avengers of Prog are coming to a city near you in 2012 so join the adventure!”

UK show tickets on sale from Wednesday 16th May.

ADVENTURES IN THE CITY TOUR – SEPT/OCT 2012:
27-09-12 Poppodium W2 Den Bosch NL
28-09-12 Poppodium Nieuwe Nor Heerlen NL
29-09-12 Dru Cultuurfabriek Ulft NL
30-09-12 Bergkeller Reichenbach Ger
01-10-12 Logo Hamburg Ger

12-10-12 The Garage London UK
13-10-12 TBC
14-10-12 The Globe Cardiff UK
15-10-12 The Robin 2 Bilston UK
16-10-12 The Duchess York UK

Peter Hammill says, “Most of the music on ALT was made while we weren’t really looking, or perhaps only while the left side of our collective brain was engaged. The album is a mixture of improvisations recorded at sound checks and in the studio and more considered sonic creations which often verge on Musique Concrete.”

The fourteen pieces on ALT offer a fascinating glimpse into an alternative Van der Graaf Generator sound world.

This instrumental album is another side of Van Der Graaf Generator, a truly unique listening experience.

“Hi guys! I’m writing from beyond the grave. Seriously, I was not in a car crash and I haven’t broken my arm. All that happened is I hit my head in Mastodons tour bus as I was getting a new pair of (red) underwear out from my suitcase. Wish the story was more rock and roll, believe me. Anyways I split my head open down to the skullbone and had to be taken to the emergency. They gave me a bunch of shots in the wound, cleaned me up and stapled my head shut with 8 metal staples. Head is sore and if I smile it feels like the wound is gonna burst open again, but I’ll be on stage by tomorrow again. I feel extremely disappointed that we couldn’t play at the myth in Minneapolis, but paramedics told me I couldn’t. We will reschedule the show for our next trip to the USA. So all rumors of me being in a car crash are false. I did crash my head into a car though, well…a bus really. Sorry for disappointing our fans in Minneapolis but I hope you understand. See you next time. Best. Mikael”

A limited edition 7″ vinyl single “Sea of Smiles” was released late last month to tie in with International Record Store Day – http://www.recordstoreday.com .

Samples via Soundcloud can be heard below:

It is with great regret that we must announce the cancellation of Fused Festival for 2012.

We started the festival last year knowing that it would take several years for the event to become established. However, against expectation, ticket sales for this year’s festival are considerably down on last year’s and we simply cannot afford to continue with the event. As things are, we will sustain a very considerable loss; continuing would be utterly disastrous.

Full refunds for tickets purchased will be made over the next few weeks; please bear with us as we have to sort out all the implications of cancelling.

Taking place at the Alton Lounge Bar in Alton, Hampshire between July 13-15.

The line-up includes Monuments, Chimp Spanner, TesseracT, Aliases, Xerath, Disperse, Uneven Structure, ReadSeasFire, Visions and many more.

Weekend tickets are now available.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Tomorrow Will Tell The Story is considered a cornerstone of the Echo Us material and the 2nd part of a multi-album suite that began with The Tide Decides. The final album in this larger work is in completion stages for release later in 2012.

The book, the authorized biography of Rick Wakeman, who is arguably the world’s greatest prog rock keyboardist, is lavishly illustrated with dozens of photos from Wakeman’s extraordinary career which includes the time his career took off when he joined the folk group, Strawbs, in 1969, and played on three of their albums.

But the ultimate accolade – the biggest break of Rick’s career at that time – came shortly afterwards when a giant picture of Wakeman filled the front page of the Melody Maker in London, England, with the headline, “Tomorrow’s Superstar?”

The article said: “This is the man Keith Emerson hired a box at London’s Lyceum to hear. Since the twenty-one-year-old keyboard virtuoso joined the group [Strawbs], along with Ford and Hudson, [and] they’ve evolved into one of the most exciting bands of the folk-rock scene.”

Wooding’s book also includes fascinating descriptions of his several excursions with the British super group, Yes, and his many themed solo albums, including The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975).

Richard Christopher Wakeman (born May 18, 1949), was trained at the Royal College of Music in London, where he also went on to feature on songs by artists including Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens.

Wakeman has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies.

Elton John, in his foreword for the book, said, “Rick’s mastery of electronic instruments only adds to his abilities, and I think it is fair to say he was one of the reasons I stuck to the piano. I also admire his attitude to stage shows – always willing to take a gamble, but never sacrificing his musical ideals. Just as important, never losing his sense of humour and his sense of the ridiculous. Anyone who can put on an ice show at Wembley must be all right. I must add that Rick loves cars and is a fanatic when it comes to soccer. Therefore, he and I have an unbreakable bond.

“It has become fashionable to knock musicians who have been around a while, and who are still determined to persevere in what they believe in. It is very easy to be misunderstood along the way, but it is vital to ignore trends and get on with what you want to do. Rick will always do this because, quite simply, he’s that much better than everyone else.”

“I was looking for stories for the paper and had just called in on a shop called the Musical Bargain Centre in South Ealing Road, and it was then that I heard someone playing amazing keyboards at the back of the store,” said Wooding. “I waited until he had finished and then talked with him. That person was Rick Wakeman and he told me that he was then a student at the Royal College of Music in London and was also doing sessions with different musicians. He told me had had just played piano on and arranged Morning Has Broken for Cat Stevens and also played Mellotron on Space Oddity for David Bowie. Both went on to become number 1 hits both in the UK and the USA.

“Rick told me that he had never been interviewed before, so I wrote up the story for the paper and we became best friends. He invited me to his home in Northolt and I sat there spellbound as he played for me on his home piano. I had never heard anything like it.

“I shared with him a little about my background, explaining to him that I was born of missionary parents in Nigeria, and it was then that Rick told me that he was also a Christian and had been baptized at South Harrow Baptist Church and, at that time, was also a Sunday School teacher there.

“As his career blossomed, I went on to write his authorized biography, and this latest one, which contains some updates, has been reissued along with Elton John’s foreword, and the three of us even had our picture taken together at Brentford F.C. for the back cover of the book.”

Wooding, who now lives in Southern California, added, “Rick and I have remained close friends for all these years and he has also performed several concerts for ASSIST in the United States.

“I am delighted that his incredible story, or at least the earlier part of it, can be told again for those in this new generation, who possibly don’t know too much about the ‘Grumpy Old Man’ that they see on British TV, will be able to learn about his incredible talents as a keyboard player, composer and songwriter.”

Why the title? Wooding says it comes from the fact that the blond figure of Wakeman would wrap his glittering shimmering cape around his giant frame and head on stage at arenas around the world to start another incredible performance on his battery of electronic keyboards.

And, even today, the “Caped Crusader” continues to push back the limits of music with his extraordinary talents.

The purchase a copy of “Caped Crusader” just go to HERE!

Dutch band Silhoutte will release their third studio album, Across The Rubicon, on June 30th In De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Holland together with Marathon (as ENorm) – follow ups to A Maze (2006) and Moods (2009).

Sunday, May 6th, Silhouette will perform with Maschine and Also Eden in De Kade, Zaandam, Holland and also to try out three new songs.

As a promo of this new CD Silhouette have made a beautiful and special track: Snow’s Falling Down. All kids from the members of Silhouette are singing the last part of this track! See below!

Across the Rubicon was recorded and produced between July 2011 and March 2012 at the Brewery in Vleuten (The Netherlands). Music composed by Silhouette, music arranged and performed by Silhouette and Aldo Adema. Production by Erik Laan, mixing by Aldo Adema, mastering by Han Uil. Artwork and layout by Ed Unitsky. Special appearance by MaryO on flute and backing vocals.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Tracklisting:

Across the Rubicon
Breathe
Empty Places
When Snow’s Falling Down
Anybody
Grendel Memories
Nothing
Don’t Stop This Movie

Trip Trigger was founded in 2008 and consists of five energetic musicians, Joost Kralt (vocals), Bjorn van der Ploeg (bass), Kevin Hoogervorst (guitar), Paul Hoogervorst (drums) and Erik van Ittersum (keys).

Progressive influences are definitely a big part of the music because the band wants to sound different than most of the bands in the scene. So pounding rhythms, soothing soundscapes and relatable lyrics are to be expected. Trip Trigger takes you to a world where everyone can find his/her own.

Soundfiles HERE!

Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets. No fewer than 18 musicians have been a part of the band’s line-up, with its current form comprising singer Jon Davison, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, and keyboardist Geoff Downes.

The North America Summer 2012 is set with Procol Harum as special guests.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

This re-release comes as a double CD plus bonus-DVD. It contains the classic original album as well as live tracks from a German show Fates Warning played in Dusseldorf in 1995 and unreleased demo takes. The bonus-DVD contains an assortment of live clips, from 1993-1995. The full track listing is below. A sample clip from the DVD, Monument, as well as one of the re-mastered tracks, Pale Fire, can be viewed now over on metalblade.com/fateswarning.

CD1 – INSIDE OUT (re-mastered original album)
Outside Looking In
Pale Fire
The Strand
Shelter Me
Island in the Stream
Down to the Wire
Face the Fear
Inward Bound
Monument
Afterglow

CD2 – LIVE in DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY February 11th 1995
Outside Looking In
Down to the Wire
The Eleventh Hour
Point Of View
Face The Fear

DEMOs/Unreleased
Outside Looking In (demo)
Pale Fire (demo)
Shelter Me (demo)
Island In the Stream (demo)
Face The Fear (demo)
Monument (rough mix)
Circles (unreleased)

DVD – INSIDE OUT LIVE
Outside Looking In 1994/95
Pale Fire 1993/94
The Strand 1994
Shelter Me 1993
Island In The Stream 2010
Down To The Wire 1994/95
Face The Fear 1994/95
Monument 1994/95
Afterglow Slide Show

Extras
Live In Still Water 1994
Through Different Eyes 1995
Guardian (Mike Portnoy drums) 1994
Shades of Heavenly Death 1995
MTV Europe Interview 1995
Eye to Eye 1994/95
Face The Face Of Fear 1994
Don’t Follow Me 1994
Shortest Fates Warning Show Ever. 1994
Guardian (Arch/ Alder duet) 1994

Inside Out will be released June 4th via Metal Blade Records the UK.

Syd Arthur, a quartet of Canterbury-based devotees of sound immersed in the simple pleasures of songwriting, performance and exploratory musical interplay, will release their debut album On An On this July 2nd.

Greatly inspired by the sonic pioneers of the late 60s and early 70s, they have patiently learned how to engineer, produce and mix themselves, using an innovative hybrid of analogue and digital techniques. Naturally, in 2009, Wicker Studios, their own studio space was created, followed by their record label, Dawn Chorus Recording Company. Syd Arthur may revel in the music of decades long past but, as psychedelic rock goes, they match the hallucinogenic sounds of modern contemporaries like Wolf People, Black Mountain, Tame Impala, even Making Dens era Mystery Jets – with imaginative, whimsically sweet, melodies.

When the band released early tracks in 2010 (on their Moving World EP) they were swiftly picked up by The Guardian and included in their Band of The Day feature. Here, on their debut album proper, they seamlessly mix bucolic, retro reveries, devastating blasts of precision controlled riffing, sweeping folk, fleet-fingered mandolin work and a musical vocabulary that’s as fluently conversant with world music as it is the time signature twists of Soft Machine. That these influences are successfully integrated into their songs rather than merely grafted on as stylistic affections says a lot about the band’s desire to hone their craft. And hone it they very much have on debut album On An On. 

Building upon the themes of the live studio interplay explored on previous releases and their live set, On An On finds the band in fine form, with the 8 minute live work out of Paradise Lost being performed live in the studio as an ensemble. Due care was taken to try new approaches, resulting in more layered soundscapes as in Moving World and Edge of the Earth. New instruments and textures are given a chance to shine in tracks like Dorothy where swirling keys take on an integral role, and the continued use of Raven Bush’s string compositions are also furthered on tracks such as First Difference. Lyrically, the poetry, honesty and mystique of Liam Magill’s vocals have been brought to the forefront, as he muses on life and draws on imagery from the dream-world.

Syd Arthur’s intricate, high-energy live sets, which to date include Glastonbury and Secret Garden slots, have resulted in a large following emerging – one that is also burgeoning in Europe as they continue to pick up tours in France, Belgium, The Netherlands and most recently Italy. This is an accomplished live band.

With the benefit of an extra 40 years of popular music culture, WOMAD festivals and the entire world’s musical output at their fingertips, the Psychedelic genre no longer sits, gathering dust, in the decades gone by. Syd Arthur embrace its origins, lodge their feet in the present, and hold up a triumphant head, pointed firmly at the future. 

The DJ behind a Epileptic Gibbon Prog-casts is to host a mini prog fest in England on Saturday, 23rd June 2012. Ian Fairholm is promising that the first EppyFest will offer ‘a night of exciting and eclectic English music, featuring the poppy psych folk of Candythief, the loop guitar wizardry of Matt Stevens, and William D Drake & his band headlining with their neo-classical art rock’.

The event takes place at The Lansdown Hall in Stroud, Gloucestershire at 7pm. Tickets cost just £10 and are available in advance from Kanes Records in Stroud.

As you will have observed from our recent posts and updates, things here at The Reasoning’s HQ are shaping up very nicely indeed for a busy 2012 and beyond. We’ve recently announced with great excitement our inclusion on the forthcoming Marillion tour: and we are absolutely honoured to have been invited to open for them on their first UK date this Autumn. Since this show – at the Great Hall, Cardiff University on 9th September – is not only in our home town, but also at Rach’s place of PhD study, this is a double delight! Marillion have of course been truly wonderful to us over the years, and we’re thrilled to have been offered another opportunity to share the stage with such a fantastic band.

Our next piece of Big News is this: the appointment of a new guitarist to The Reasoning fold. We have been incredibly privileged to have played with (the wonderful and talented) Owain, and our search for someone who might bring a similar dedication, enthusiasm and musicianship was always going to be a tricky one… not to mention that this quest was also wholly unexpected and unforeseen.

We have taken the time to explore many different possible options – in the shape of several fantastic guitar players – and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all involved. One of these musicians connected with us and our music especially well, and we hope that you will join us in welcoming Keith Hawkins to the band. We are extremely confident that Keith will make a new and exciting contribution to The Reasoning, and to our ongoing journey together whilst, importantly, remaining sensitive to the music and the experiences that we have already shared.

Brand new band promo images are being organised as we write but, by way of a sneaky preview, here’s a picture of the man himself, surrounded by a few of his friends!

Further news on our album and forthcoming tour plans will be released very soon, so please do keep your ears and eyes wide open for announcements. We look forward to seeing you all again in the very near future: it really has been too long. Whilst we press on with our work, Owain will of course remain in our hearts and minds – and we will continue in our efforts to bring him home to his family and loved ones.

Keep the faith.
Much love as always,

Matt, Rach, TT, Jake and Keith xxxxx

A word from Keith:
I’m honoured to be asked to take on guitar duties in The Reasoning and am looking forward to contributing to the band’s future sound. With enjoyment, I have listened to the development of the band’s music from “Awakening” to the present “And Another Thing… EP” and I will endeavour to play the many different styles in back catalogue as faithfully as possible. It’s going be a blast playing future live dates with such a talented group of musicians and I can’t wait to see you out there on tour soon.

The Aurora Project is in the studio right now to record their upcoming album “Selling the Agression”

Selling the Aggression is a concept album which deals with the geo-political structure of the current reality and tells the story through the events which happened between 1999 and the current day.

The album contains 8 tracks. The producer of the album is Arno Dreef, and is being recorded at the Westeinder Studio’s.(Rijnsaterwoude)

2 sneak previews, espacially for DPRP, are available here: preview 1 and preview 2.

The band has also just released a live-in-the-studio clip of Vanishing Rites (Tread Softly Little One) from the Colossus EP.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Welcome to ‘Crimes And Reasons’, the long-awaited fourth album by multi-instrumentalist and multi-genius Steve Thorne.

Following his two-album opus ‘Emotional Creatures Pt. 1 and Pt.2’ and 2009´s critically acclaimed ‘Into the Ether’, Thorne presents a collection of ten musical gems that again defy the usual categorization.

If ‘Crimes And Reasons’ were a picture, it would probably be a wide and solid bridge between two shores – a very traditional English landscape, all hedges and green fields on one side, a vibrating, challenging and somewhat puzzling city on the other. Thorne, who cites artists from Bowie to Genesis to Cockney Rebel as influences, is a master of moods and atmospheres. On ‘Crimes and Reasons’ you´ll find melancholic, intimate gems alongside songs that roar with anger.

A progressive rock artist that is not afraid to shout “Fuck” if the song demands it: “I guess the lyrics are the most important thing”, says Steve. “Sometimes they are written incredibly quickly and almost appear before my eyes.” But the end product is far more than a series of brief sketches – they’re courageous statements of a modern man in a changing society. “Some of it can come over a little bitter and twisted” admits the singer.

No out-dated metaphors. Steve Thorne is clearly a man of our times and aware of real life challenges. That might be the reason why ‘Crimes and Reasons’ even more than it´s predecessors is pushing the boundaries of progressive rock. Those that had never heard of the ‘P’ word would probably place Thorne as a singer/songwriter – but with a twist.

Melancholic, but not dull. Accessible, but not easy going. Different, but not just for the sake of being different – Steve Thorne´s “Crimes And Reasons” is an album that will enlighten this year´s spring for the mature progressive rock listener (and his wife as well).

And a little help from his friends! While Thorne sings all compositions, and plays the majority of instruments, he has again managed to put together an impressive list of guest musicians who were happy to help out on ‘Crimes and Reasons’. You´ll find Tony Levin´s (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson) precise bass playing and Nick D´Virgilio´s (Genesis, Spock´s Beard) superlative drumming, as well as contributions from Martin Orford (ex-IQ) on flute, Gary Chandler (Jadis) on guitar and last but not least the smooth grooves of Bob White.

As always, “Crimes and Reasons” was mixed by engineer and long time collaborator Rob Aubrey (IQ, Spock´s Beard, Pulse).

We are very excited to announce our Saturday Night headliners THE CRYPTIC CLUES

Following the band’s triumphant “debut” gig at the Peel a few months ago, we are thrilled to feature their second live appearance.  The band comprises Twelfth Night founder members Brian Devoil, Clive Mitten and Andy Revell alongside long tern collaborator Mark Spencer and Galahad keyboard player Dean Baker.  Their set will consist largely of early Twelfth Night material, culled from the Live at the Target, Fact and Fiction and Live at Let Live albums.  The band are promising us that this will be their biggest gig of the year featuring a full multimedia extravaganza. With Anglagard in the Saturday special guest slot, this will make for a day not to be missed!

May 2012
 
Squackett – A Life Within A Day (vaious formats)
Ken Hensley – Love And Other Mysteries
Gnidrolog – In Spite Of Harry’s Toenail | Lady Lake
Robert Wyatt – End Of An Ear
Decameron – Mammoth Special
Jim Capaldi – Let the Thunder Cry | Sweet Smell Of Success

June 2012

Panic Room – Skin
Van Der Graaf Generator – Alt (CD & Ltd Edition Vinyl)
Tangerine Dream – Tyger
Barclay James Harvest – Victims Of Circumstance (2 CD) | Ring Of Changes
Day Of The Phoenix – Wide Open N’ Way (Danish Prog)
Cluster – Cluster | Cluster II

2012 Momentum Sessions:
‘Lido Shuffle’ (BOZ SCAGGS)
‘I Saw The Light’ (TODD RUNDGREN)
‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’ (STEELY DAN)
‘Teacher’ (JETHRO TULL)
‘Driven To Tears’ (THE POLICE)
‘Come Sail Away (STYX)
‘Southern Man / Needle And The Damage Done / Cinnamon Girl’ (NEIL YOUNG)

A clip of the trio performing ‘Crazy Horses’ is available below. Guitars on the track were performed by Paul Gilbert (MR. BIG), who does not appear in the clip. Previously released footage of the trio covering the Styx classic ‘Come Sail Away’ is also available.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

The story, style, setting, history, the characters, the cast, album release, the show and the fundraising.

Clive: As I said, we hope to film the DVD in February, and I assume that most people who feature on the CD will be in the DVD show, which will be filmed in Katowice, Poland, just like ‘She’. The full theatrical version will be performed in the Cheltenham Playhouse in September 2013.

It’s quite possible by then that I will have made a few changes, and entirely possible that some of the cast will have changed.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Much to the anticipation of guitar aficionados around the world, on May 4, 2012, one of Sweden’s youngest and most talented guitarists, Johan Randén, releases his third solo-album ‘Summary’ on Reingold Records, home to prog superstars the Flower Kings. ‘Summary’ is a musical journey that takes us through guitar picking à la Steve Morse in the country influenced track “Country Maniac”,to beautiful bluesy and tasty woodwork à la Jeff Beck in “Floating Around”. On this record Johan proves that he´s not only a guitarist but also a great songwriter and producer, with the guitar always in focus. Bengan Andersson, Sven Lindvall, Staffan Astner form the backbone of ”Summary”.

Johan Randénwas born to play the guitar. At the age of 12, he played with Freak Kitchen at Sweden Rock Festival and today at 24, Johan Randén already works as a freelance guitarplayer, composer,producer and musical director.He has also worked and played with bands and people like Bronk (Staffan Astner, Per Lindvall, Sven Lindvall), Janne Schaffer, Simon Andersson (Pain Of Salvation), Andreas Brobjer (Lady Gaga), Jonas Reingold (Flower Kings, Karmakanic) and many more…

His first solo album ‘Lead Guitar’, released in 2002 when Johan was only 14 years old, was written and produced by Mattias IA Eklundh from Freak Kitchen. It soon led to Johan’s second release ‘Version 2.0′ in 2005, this time with Johan as co-writer together with producer Christian Alsing. ‘Leadguitar’ was a succes in Asia and Japan and with his second album, he toured in Japan together with Freak Kitchen were he also recorded a guitar DVD for ‘Young Guitar’, the biggest guitar magazine in Japan. Johanhas been endorsed by both Yamaha and Elexir Strings and currently he is endorsed by Fender Guitars.

On the 26th of April 2012, it was announced that Warner Music Group were to make substantial cutbacks throughout Roadrunner Records worldwide operations. According to staff working at the company, The UK offices and the Canadian offices of Roadrunner Records are to be closed completely, with severe levels of cutbacks occuring across the rest of the label worldwide. It has also been announced that the Roadrunner office in The Netherlands is to close, and that the label’s founder Cees Wessels is stepping down from his role of CEO.

Source: Wikipedia