Touchstone & The Reasoning announce European joint Tour
TOUCHSTONE & THE REASONING ‘ADVENTURES IN THE CITY’ EUROPEAN TOUR 2012
Two of the UK’s most rapidly rising progressive/melodic hard rock acts Touchstone and The Reasoning have announced that they are to join forces for a co-headline tour of Europe this autumn.
The ten-date “Adventures In The City” tour unites the two bands as The Reasoning prepare their new studio album ‘Adventures In Neverland’ for September 2012, and Touchstone celebrate the release of their back catalogue and new album ‘The City Sleeps’, which entered the UK rock charts at No.36 on its release at the end of 2011. It will also mark an important year for the bands, having both recently signed new record deals (Touchstone with German label SPV/Steamhammer and The Reasoning with Cherry Red’s dynamic front-line label Esoteric Antenna).
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:
Thursday 27th September - W2, Den Bosch, Netherlands
Friday 28th September - Nieuwe Nor, Heerlen, Netherlands
Saturday 29th September - Dru Cultuurfabriek, Ulft, Netherlands
Sunday 30th September - Bergkeller, Reichenbach, Germany
Monday 1st October - Logo, Hamburg, Germany
Friday 12th October - The Garage, London
Saturday 13th October - TBC
Sunday 14th October - The Globe, Cardiff
Monday 15th October - The Robin 2, Bilston
Tuesday 16th October - The Duchess, York
For more information follow Touchstone & The Reasoning here:
Troy Donockley releases new compilation CD 'Messages'
Troy Donockley has built up a formidable reputation as both a composer/arranger and as a multi-instrumental musician/performer. He is a leading virtuoso of the Uilleann Pipes (and the Low Whistle) and is known all over the world. His music, which has been described as “A peculiar brand of epic classical-folk-progressive fusion”, can be heard in TV, media and movies (such as 'Robin Hood' and 'Ironclad') and through various commissions. Troy co-founded the BBC Award Nominated band The Bad Shepherds and as a producer/musician has recorded and toured with various artists such as Nightwish, Maddy Prior, Barbara Dickson, Maire Brennan (Clannad), Midge Ure, Iona, Roy Harper, Lesley Garrett, Status Quo, Del Amitri, Alan Stivell, Mostly Autumn and many, many more.
Troy's first album The Unseen Stream released in 1998 was critically acclaimed globally for its unique fusion of traditional/classical forms. His second album The Pursuit of Illusion (2003) continued to push the boundaries with a highly individual blend of the English classical and Irish folk traditions. And then, onto the latest album The Madness of Crowds ...featuring a large cast of brilliant musicians it goes even further than before in the quest to make the most emotional and uncommercially driven music possible. If any modern music can shake off the ravages of fashion and hark back to a time when music was created and listened to as Art rather than as commodity and accessory, then by definition this does precisely that... the essence of that 'lost world'. “I have a massive range of influences,” says Troy. “From Pink Floyd to Mahler, Johnny Cash to Vangelis, Planxty to YES, and Vaughn Williams to Neil Young”.
And now, particularly for the uninitiated, a compilation of Troy's work 'Messages – A Collection of Music From 1997-2011' is available from Gonzo MultiMedia, UK. “I have been asked many times to put together a good overview of my work and so here we are,” says Troy about 'Messages'. “All the tracks are from my previous three solo albums, but there are two new and unreleased pieces, both of which I am very proud.”
In other news, Troy just begun a year-long world tour with Nightwish, although has some 'Grand ideas' in the pipeline for his next solo project. Lastly, Troy has this to impart to his listeners: “I really hope you enjoy the two new pieces on 'Messages'. Do try and listen in a darkened room, with headphones – just like you did when you were a kid.”
Storm Corrosion is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the current music scene's most innovative and multi-talented artists; Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth. The pair have been friends since the early '00s, when Wilson co-produced Opeth's revered Blackwater Park album.
Over the years, they'd often spoken of working on a project together, but it wasn't until recently that they managed to make something happen, when Mikael flew over to visit Steve in the UK and they ended up in Wilson's home studio (in Hemel Hempstead) throwing ideas around. That visit was the nascence of a whole self-titled album, written and produced by the pair and mixed by Wilson.
The sound of Storm Corrosion can best be described as enchanting, orchestral, ambient, epic (half the album's tracks clock in around the 10 minute mark) and nothing short of surprising to the new ear. However, the musicians' respective fanbases will be primed to appreciate the new output, with Wilson's recent solo album, Grace For Drowning and Opeth's Heritage having brought them to a logical place to understand Storm Corrosion.
This eponymous collection is almost viewed as one side of a musical triangle.
Storm Corrosion's debut, self-titled album is released globally on 7 May. You can pre order the album in a mind-blowing multitude of different formats from the bands website.
Hastings KingBathmat release their 5th single in 2012
Hastings based psychoproggers KingBathmat have just released their fifth free song this year.
Behind The Wall, described as a 9 min Psychedelic Progressive Rock Song of epic
aspirations that explores a metaphysical theme of ontological positivisim or opposingly, depending on your stance, of existential gobbledygook, can be downloaded from their website at www.kingbathmat.com or through ReverbNation.
Previous free downloads can be got from their Facebook page, while the "Behind The Wall" track can be heard on YouTube below.
Acclaimed Norwegian post-progressive art rockers Gazpacho return with their new album, March of Ghosts, released by Kscope this week.
Formed in Oslo in 1996 by childhood friends Jon-Arne Vilbo and Thomas Andersen along with Jan-Henrik Ohme (later joined by Mikael Krømer, Lars Erik Asp and Kristian Torp), Gazpacho have honed their unique sound over a string of critically acclaimed albums and numerous tours, including several with long-time supporters Marillion.
March of Ghosts is the band's follow-up to Missa Atropos, which was released on Kscope in 2011 along with the live album, London. London was recorded on the band's recent European tour and the success of this tour helped provide the genesis for March of Ghosts, as Jon-Arne explains: 'The previous tour gave us lots of inspiration. So, the week after returning we went straight into the studio to capture whatever came. As a result, the majority of the album was written in a day writing orgy where the band got together and jammed for a full day and night… “March of Ghosts” was surprisingly easy to write.'
Such was the success of these early sessions that a lot of the material that can be heard on the final album comes from this original jam session. This material was then honed, dissected and refined throughout the summer and autumn of 2011 to create a coherent whole.
While Missa Atropos can be viewed as a concept album, following the story of one person leaving everything behind, Thomas sees March of Ghosts is much more as a collection of short tales; 'The idea was to have the lead character spend a night where all these ghosts (dead and alive) would march past him to tell their stories.'
Characters include Haitian war criminals, the crew of the Marie Celeste, a returning American WWI soldier who finds himself in 2012 and the ghost of an English comedy writer who was wrongly accused of treason and who will sit for eternity listening to gramophone recordings of the broadcasts he did on enemy radio. As lead singer Jan-Henrik explains, 'They are short stories. They are a march of ghosts. They are tales that need to be told.'
Metal Mind Productions is proud to announce the release of the fourth studio album by Mr Gil, a project led by Mirek Gil (ex-Collage, Believe). Their new album entitled I want You To Get Back Home is scheduled for release on June, 4th in Europe and July, 10th in USA (via MVD).
The beginning of Mr Gil dates back to 1998. It was then that Mirek Gil, the guitarist of the progressive group Collage, decided to present his artistic abilities on his first solo album Alone. He invited his fellow musicians to this project: Olaf Lapczynski on vocals, Krzysztof Palczewski on keyboards, Piotr Witkowski on bass and Vlodi Tafel on drums. The most outstanding track on that album was undoubtedly the song Beggar, which to this day is often performed during the concerts of groups led by Mirek Gil. After the success of “Alone”, the band chose to keep silent for the next 10 years. In 2009, the idea of reactivating the project was born. The band released Skellig in 2010, this time with Karol Wróblewski (Believe) on vocals. Also in 2010, the band released the album Light and Sound.
And now the band return with their fourth studio album entitled I Want You to Get Back Home. As the band say: "You can't plan everything. And especially you cannot control what comes out of the human soul. Because it is the need for honesty, friendship and passion that grew into the idea of Mr. Gil's new album. Friends decided to meet again in the studio to complete their story..."
And this story started with their album Light & Sound, when the band's new improved line-up crystalized: Mirek Gil (guitars), Karol Wróblewski (vocals), Konrad Wantrych (piano, keys) and Paulina Druch (cello). Their album I Want You to Get Back Home, recorded in the same line-up, brings 10 brand new tracks. "It’s like coming back home, like a return to peace and warmth” says Mirek Gil. "In our new music, there is a lot of friendship and that was the main idea behind it. Is there anything more important, more beautiful than this? We have managed to learn more about each other. It is in each other that we have found that home”.
Sphere³ drummer extraordinaire Jamie Fisher will be appearing at the upcoming G2 concerts held at Charterhouse in April, to join Jeff Walker in recreating the legendary Genesis Seconds Out dual drummer lineup. A rare opportunity to see and hear the music of Genesis performed at the school where the band was first formed. More information about the shows can be found on the G2 Website.
Keep up to date with this and other Sphere³ news, and add your comments, at the Sphere³ website.
Finnish band Overhead sign to Progressive Promotion with a new album
Finnish rock-band Overhead signs with a German record label. Progressive Promotion Records will release Overhead's long awaited fourth album titled Of Sun and Moon in June. The music ranging from Rock, Pop and Metal, the new album has a fresh and original sound: diverse and intense. The band and the label are very confident and have high hopes for "Of Sun and Moon".
One new song from the album, Aftermath, is available for listen for free on Overhead's home page and in social medias. More new material is promised later this week when the pre-orders start.
Preview of Believe's "Seeing is Believing" DVD on YouTube
The second live DVD by Believe will be released on April, 30th in Europe and June, 19th in USA (via MVD) but today you can see its preview. Track AA is available on Metal Mind Productions’ official channel on YouTube.
Believe - this outstanding art-rock act was formed by guitarist Mirek Gil – the former leader and composer of Polish prog-rock legend Collage. The DVD entitled Seeing Is Believing was recorded in November 2011 in Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice, Poland. During this unique evening Believe in the line-up: Mirek Gil – guitars, Karol Wróblewski – vocal, Satomi – violin, Vlodi – drums, Przemas – bass guitar and Konrad Wantrych – keyboards, primarily presented material from their last studio album World Is Round (Metal Mind Productions, 2010). The DVD also includes bonus video material: Interview with Mirek Gil and Karol Wróblewski, Music for One Leg (documentary about the band’s drummer), bootleg gig Live at Progresja, Warsaw, 2011. Other extras: Biography, Discography, Photo Gallery and Desktop images.
1. No Time Inside
2. World Is Round
3. This Bread Is Mine
4. And All the Roads
5. What They Want (Is My Life)
6. Lay Down Forever
7. AA
8. Guru
9. New Hands
10. Cut Me Paste Me
11. Poor King of Sun / Return
12. Silence
Bonus videos:
Interview with Mirek Gil and Karol Wróblewski
Music for One Leg (documentary)
Friends for Robert, 2011
Live at Progresja, Warsaw, 2011
Police concern for missing The Reasoning guitarist Owain
The Reasoning's guitarist Owain Robert has been missing since Saturday morning. A statement of the Police's website reads:
Increasing concern for Cardigan Missing Man
The family of 36 year old Owain Mon Roberts are increasingly concerned for his safety.
Owain has not been seen since Saturday morning, 10th March 2012.
Owain’s hair is greying particularly on the sides. His front left tooth has a chip. He is of medium build with blue/grey eyes. He may well have grown stubble by this time
The top he was last seen wearing has a round neck, and the cardigan he was wearing over it is a thick knit with a zip up front, with a quilted hood. The cardigan is a Topshop cardigan.
The bag he was carrying is grey in colour with orange stitching, and of canvas type material and is a shoulder bag, most likely to be worn across the front.
Owain is a sound technician with Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan
Any information as to his whereabouts, no matter how relevant thought to be, should be passed to Cardigan Police station on 101.
YouTube Video
JengaJayful has posted a video on YouTube featuring images of Owain to help jog peoples memories.
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I'm sure you'll all join us in hoping Owain turns up safe and sound soon.
Sauna proggers Gazpacho are back with a new album, March Of Ghosts, out on KScope this week. To promote the release, the boys have enlisted the help of Ashley Dean and Broken Pixel along with long-time collaborator Antonio Seijas to create a video for the track Black Lily.
Visit KScope's March Of Ghosts mini-site to buy the album, and check out the bands tour dates.
Art Of Infinity to make live debut at Bochum Planetarium
German atmospheric electronic duo Art Of Infinity, featuring Thorsten Sudler-Mainz (keyboards and vocals) and Thorsten Rentsch (keyboards, guitar and percussion) will finally make their live debut when they, along with Gandalf, play at the Planetarium in Bochum, Germany on Saturday 3rd November 2012.
The duo will be joined on stage by keyboard player and guitarist Matthias Krauss, whilst further guests are expected to appear. The band will be playing music from their fourth album Raumwerk as well as their previous three. Tickets are available from the www.planetarium-bochum.de website.
They also have a new video out on YouTube, for the song Utopia (edit). The original 18 minute track can be found on their third album Endless Future and features singer Eva Wolf
Top Genesis tribute band, G2 Definitive Genesis have announced more shows for this year. You can catch their excellent show at :
Saturday 17th March - The Swan Theatre, High Wycombe Friday 13th April - Charterhouse School, Godalming Saturday 14th April - Charterhouse School, Godalming Friday 11th May - The Stables, Wavendon Saturday 12th May - The Stables, Wavendon Friday 15th June - The Harlequin, Redhill Saturday 30th June - The Grand, Clitheroe Saturday 8th September - The Wharf, Tavistock Saturday 15th September - The Duchess, York Saturday 3rd November - The Muni, Colne Saturday 10th November - Farnham Maltings, Farnham
The gigs at Charterhouse School, the home of Genesis and quite possibly the birthplace of progressive rock music, will be raising funds for Shooting Star CHASE, a childrens hospice service that offers support to families with children who are not expected to reach their 19th birthday. More information can be read on the website and I'm sure that you'll all agree it's a totally worthwhile cause. So get along to one of these gigs, or even just donate.
Wiltshire proggers Blue Drift, the band made up of ex-Morrigan boys Arch, David Lodder and John Lodder, have just had their debut album Cobalt Coast put up on iTunes and Amazon download sites.
We reviewed the album here, and the follow up, Marinerhere. Hopefully that'll get a digital release soon.
There's a few great shows coming up at the Pacific Road Arts Centre in Birkenhead in the next fortnight. First up, on Friday 16th March there's Pink Floyd'77 Show playing the In The Flesh tour set list. See this for details.
Then on Friday the 23rd March, there's Mama, the "all era's Genesis tribute band" playing their debut gig. More info on this here and you can check out the band on their website at www.mama-genesis.co.uk
This is followed on Saturday 24th March by Rush tribute act Bravado who will performing the Exit... Stage Left live album setlist. Info for that is here
New Jon Anderson / Marco Sabiu single "Limitless Lives" now available for download
The international music community is buzzing with excitement over the new collaboration between legendary Yes vocalist/songwriter Jon Anderson and Italian composer/conductor, international producer and arranger Marco Sabiu. Limitless Lives is the new single co-written and performed by Anderson and Sabiu, and is now available as a digital download. The song is also available on Marco Sabiu's most recent album Audio Ergo Sum, which was presented on February 18, 2012 on live TV before an audience of 12 million; the album has consequently reached iTunes Italy Top 10.
Music legend Jon Anderson, who has one of the most recognizable voices in music, and is best known for his work with Yes, Vangelis and Kitaro, as well as his innovative solo efforts, and is currently in the midst of a successful US solo tour, had this to say about his musical collaboration with Marco Sabiu: “A good friend of mine, musician Alessandro de Rosa put Marco Sabiu and I in touch with each other just last month. I was instantly connected to Marco's music; he sent me the music track and within moments I had sang the song and lyric and sent back to him. Marco loved my singing, so we talked about releasing the song on his new album. I love his 'Limitless' theme for the song, as I wrote the lyric I realized we have so much to learn in this life, and we are truly Limitless human beings”
“The collaboration with Jon was born by chance, as most of the best things often do,” says Marco. “What I found in Jon is the ideal musical partner: I've never met anybody who has understood my music and bettered it so quickly and effectively as Jon did. I was always very passionate about prog-rock, and being able to work with a legend like Jon is an honor, and truly exciting.” Along with being a highly respected arranger (Take That, Kylie Minogue, Pavorotti, Morricone), Marco is currently a TV star and crossover chart artist in his native Italy, as well as orchestrator and conductor for major Italian rock stars, including the arena act Ligabue. Jon Anderson and Marco Sabiu are planning to record a full album together and a tour in 2013.
You can purchase Jon Anderson / Marco Sabiu “Limitless Lives” from Amazon.
Marco Sabiu's 'Audio Ergo Sum' album is also available from Amazon.
Jon Anderson US 2012 Tour Dates:
Thursday 8th March - Baltimore Sound Stage, Baltimore, MD, USA
Saturday 10th March - B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, New York, NY, USA
Sunday 11th March - The Hamilton, Washington, DC, USA
Wednesday 14th March - Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT, USA
Thursday 15th March - Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA, USA
Saturday 17th March - Narrows Center For The Arts, Fall River, MA, USA
Monday 19th March - Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), Englewood, NJ, USA
Centric Jones sign to ProgRock Records and release "The Antikythera Method"
The Antikythera Method bears witness to the growing musical abilities of and friendship between Chris Fournier and Tobe London over the nearly two years spanning early 2010 to late 2011. Starting off as a re-connection between them after a break following their first Centric Jones album (Foreign Tea), the album sessions evolved into the band gaining deeper insights into their composition, recording, production, and rehearsal methods - the result is an album that flows like the Northern Lights across the sky and rewards the listener with ever-deeper layers of complexity and delight to discover with each listen. The songs contained within were composed gradually and practiced repeatedly before recording, enabling them to naturally grow and improve until they were tracked and mastered. Fans of progressive rock (and well-composed music in general) will find The Antikythera Method and Centric Jones a new intellectual and emotional diversion to enjoy!
The Antikythera Method is the ProgRock Records debut release from Centric Jones and can be found at www.therecordlabel.net. The album is available for immediate sale and shipping.
As you all know, the final three shows of last year's European tour were cancelled due to my ill health. On my return to Canada, I was advised to cease touring, for the foreseeable future, in order to avoid further damage to my voice. Following this extremely disappointing diagnosis, I had no alternative but to inform my fellow band members that I was unable to confirm my availability for, at least, the forthcoming concerts in New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Although there was no alternative, I did so with a heavy heart as I felt that I was letting everyone down especially those who have supported me since I had the privilege of becoming the band's vocalist in 2008. The band members were all very understanding and asked if I would mind being replaced for the April shows - I immediately agreed that this would be the best way forward and gave them my blessing. I was then pleased to learn that Jon Davison would be my replacement as he is an accomplished musician with a fine voice.
I subsequently learnt, from a band member's interview, that I had officially left Yes and that my departure was permanent. As this is the situation, everyone should know that I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity I was given and very proud to have contributed to more than 200 concerts and to the 'Fly From Here' and 'In The Present Live From Lyon' albums. I would also like to express my appreciation for the support I was given by each member of the band, the fantastic crew, the management and everyone else involved during my time as vocalist in the band. Finally, to the fans who have applauded my efforts and to those I have had the pleasure of meeting - many thanks, my best wishes and please continue with your support of one of the world's greatest bands - YES.
Although I need to take it easy for a while, I fully intend to continue with my music career. In late summer of 2011, I added vocals to Mystery's forthcoming album 'The World Is A Game' - which is at the final stages of mixing and will be available in the near future. This is my third collaboration with Michel St-Pere, and Mystery, following 2007's 'Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face' and 2010's 'One Among The Living'. So I guess I will, hopefully, see you somewhere down the road…
Polish proggers Believe release their second DVD in April
Metal Mind Productions will release second live DVD by Believe on April, 30th in Europe and June, 19th in USA (MVD). This outstanding art-rock act was formed by guitarist Mirek Gil – the former leader and composer of Polish prog-rock legend Collage. The material entitled Seeing Is Believing was recorded in November 2011 in Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice, Poland. During this unique evening Believe in the line-up: Mirek Gil – guitars, Karol Wróblewski – vocal, Satomi – violin, Vlodi – drums, Przemas – bass guitar and Konrad Wantrych – keyboards, primarily presented material from their last studio album World Is Round (Metal Mind Productions, 2010).
The program of the DVD includes the following tracks:
1. No Time Inside
2. World Is Round
3. This Bread Is Mine
4. And All the Roads
5. What They Want (Is My Life)
6. Lay Down Forever
7. AA
8. Guru
9. New Hands
10. Cut Me Paste Me
11. Poor King of Sun / Return
12. Silence
Seeing Is Believing DVD will also include bonus video material: Interview with Mirek Gil and Karol Wróblewski, Music for One Leg (documentary), Live at Progresja, Warsaw, 2011. Other extras: Biography, Discography, Photo Gallery and Desktop images.
The audio version of track “AA” is a foretaste of this DVD and is now available on Metal Mind Productions’ YouTube channel.
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