My lyrical analysis of one of my favorite albums, Pendragon’s “Not of This World”.
via Album Spotlight: Pendragon – “Not of This World” — The PROG Mind
Author: bradbirzer
By day, I'm a father of seven and husband of one. By night, I'm an author, a biographer, and a prog rocker. Interests: Rush, progressive rock, cultural criticisms, the Rocky Mountains, individual liberty, history, hiking, and science fiction.
CONNER GREEN Talks New HAKEN Album, Gear, Tour & More — Prog Sphere
I believe that everybody already knows that Haken have a new album called Affinity and that it’s bloody great. The band is literally about to kick off their European tour together with Special Providence, Rendezvous Point, and Arkentype. For bassist Conner Green, Affinity is the second release with Haken after 2014′s EP Restoration, and in an interview for…
via CONNER GREEN Talks New HAKEN Album, Gear, Tour & More — Prog Sphere
Airbag – Disconnected – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal
Artist: Airbag Album Title: Disconnected Label: Karisma Records Date Of Release: 10 June 2016 I may be the Man Of Much Metal but occasionally, there’s nothing I like more than to dial down the extremity and indulge in something altogether more relaxed. The scratching post for this particular itch comes in the form of Norwegian […]
via Airbag – Disconnected – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal
Steven Wilson Newsletter
Reading through the excellent blog of Stephen Humphries, I found that the great man is now editing the newsletter of another great man, Steven Wilson.
Sign up here: http://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/subscribe-to-steven-wilsons-newsletter-and-receive-a-free-download/
Radiant Records: Kristoffer Gildenlöw
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This week’s Monday Spotlight is
Kristoffer Gildenlöw’s newly released album
The Rain
Born in Eskilstuna, Sweden, Gildenlöw made a name for himself in the progressive rock scene during his eleven year career (1995- 2006) as bass player for world-renowned Swedish band, Pain of Salvation. His skill as a bass guitarist granted him the endorsement by Mayones guitars for more than a decade. In addition to bass guitar, Gildenlöw studied: piano, drums, double bass, guitar, classical vocals and music design; all of which have served the artist well in his transition to a solo career. He left Sweden and PoS to move to the Netherlands, but remained very active working as a session musician in live performances, touring, and recording bass lines on over thirty prominent albums for various artists all over the world. Gildenlöw’s solo career took flight with release of his debut album, RUST (2013). He released charity single, Pass The Torch (2014) and critic’s response to previews of The Rain (2016) have been very positive.
The deep tones of how the mind fights against itself resonate throughout this powerful and poignant work by Kristoffer Gildenlöw. A brilliant effort after his highly acclaimed first solo release: Rust (2013); a thematic album which delved into the realities of aging and one’s perspectives on past, future and ultimately reconciliation with life choices. Again, Gildenlöw has chosen a heavy subject for the theme of The Rain; which is a concept album that examines the life of a man in later stages of dementia who struggles with his own reality, perceived through the metaphor of rain and clouds.
The gentleness of the piano passages oppose the angst and turmoil which lie beneath. The gentle pace at which the album progresses is reflective of the destructive force of the disease upon the man, and you find yourself at the tipping point with the track, ‘Breath In, Breath Out’. It is through this lyrically beautiful song that the realization of the end becomes apparent; leaving the listener grasping for the beauty captured in the mind’s eye.
Never have I been so moved by an album. Put your phone on silent, so you will not be disturbed. It is best to listen with good headphones. Then you hear every detail and is the album the best advantage.
Esther Kessel-Tamerus – Rock Musizn
It’s a beautiful album which rewards further with repeat listening.
Kevin Thompson – Progradar
It is one of those albums that come along once in a generation and has such profound effect on the lives of the listener. It would not surprise me that this shows up as a Top 5 album of 2016
Robert Brady – Power of Prog
Get your copy of this AMAZING album here!
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Radiant Records| info@radiantrecords.com |radiantrecords.com
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The Whimsy of Frost*
Review of Frost*, FALLING SATELLITES (Insideout Music, 2016). Release date: May 27, 2016. Tracks: First Day; Numbers; Towerblock; Signs; Lights Out; Heart-strings; Closer to the Sun; The Raging Against the Dying of the Light Blues in 7/8; Nice Day for It; Hypoventilate; and Last Day.
Our name is Frost*
How do you do?
We’re here today to play for you.
We’ve come all this way.
We came on a plane.
We’re from the U.K., where it always rains.
Apart from Nick and his beautiful locks—but he’s only on loan from his friends in Spock’s.
To play some songs.
That is why we are here.
Although we plan to also drink your beer.
Any fan of Frost* knows this full glorious intro by heart. In the Birzer household, it’s one of those little things that helped me convince my wife and kids that prog was not just a brilliant genre of music, but also a rather hilarious one. For years, we began every car trip (whether local and just around town or on one of our insane three-week odysseys into the American West) by playing this song. Of course, being rather silly, we changed every instance of Frost* to Birzer*.
A little bit of familial pride, I suppose, but also always resulting in immense and prolonged laughter.
Anderson-Stolt Trailer
Amazing sound from this new trailer. Sounds like something from TALES OF TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS.
Brainy Beauty Gianna–Dissertation Submitted!
Congratulations to our wonderful progarchist and Marillion-ite, Gianna, on the completion of her dissertation. Now, for a successful defense. . . . Onward!
BillyNews: Keith Emerson Tribute
The Official Keith Emerson Tribute Concert will be held Saturday, May 28, at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles presented by Goldenvoice. It will be a retrospective of Keith’s entire career from the Nice, to ELP, to the Keith Emerson Band and Three Fates Project. Many of the artists who were close friends and have worked with Keith will be performing some of his most famous works.
It promises to be a great night of music and homage to one of the most influential musicians and composers of the twentieth century.
Featuring Performances by:
Eddie Jobson (U.K./ Roxy Music)
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
Steve Porcaro (Toto)
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan / Doobie Bros.)
Vinnie Colaiuta (Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa)
Cj Vanston (Spinal Tap)
Steve Lukather (Toto)
Brian Auger (Oblivion Express)
Rachel Flowers
Philippe Saisse (Al Dimeola)
Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr)
Keith Emerson Band
Marc Bonilla (Keith Emerson Band / Toy Matinee)
Troy Luccketta (Tesla, Three Fates Project)
Joe Travers (Zappa’s Universe)
Travis Davis (Keith Emerson Band)
Mick Mahan (Pat Benatar)
Mike Wallace (Boys Club / Dragonchoir)
Jonathan Sindelman (Alan White Band)
Maestro Terje Mikkelsen (Three Fates Project)
Rick Livingstone (The Best)
Kae Matsumoto (Kae M Black)
Ed Roth (Boys Club/CTA)
Hosted by “Uncle Joe” Benson – 100.3 The Sound
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
El Rey Theatre 5515 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
For more information: http://www.theelrey.com/events/detail/309437
Tickets available at Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/officialkeithemersontribute
Progarchy 