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.

RochaNews: Old Fire

On By bradbirzerIn Brian Rocha, progressive rockLeave a comment
OLD FIRE (FEAT. JOHN MARK LAPHAM [THE EARLIES / THE LATE CORD]) SIGNS TO KSCOPE; DEBUT ALBUM “SONGS FROM THE HAUNTED SOUTH” DUE OUT JUNE 24
“Songs From the Haunted South” teaser video streaming online
TEXAS – Kscope is delighted to announce the release of the debut album from Old Fire, Songs From the Haunted South, on June 24. The pet project of Texas based programmer John Mark Lapham (of The Earlies and 4AD band The Late Cord fame), Old Fire joins a world-class roster that includes the likes of Steven Wilson, The Pineapple Thief, Anathema, Nordic Giants and The Anchoress.
The 13-track album contains a selection of songs that in one way or another are dedications to people, some dead and some still living. Musically, inspirations range from ambient artists such as Brian Eno and Stars of the Lid to psychedelic rock, traditional country and early 4AD.
Sitting alongside original Old Fire compositions are a selection of intriguing cover versions. Lapham uniquely interprets songs by Psychic TV (“The Orchids”),  Low (“Laser Beam”), Ian William Craig (“A Sight Grip, A Gentle Hold”), Jason Molina (“It’s Easier Now”), Camberwell Now (“Know How”) and Shearwater (“Helix”).
The project also features a myriad of exceptional musicians including DM Stith – piano & guitar, Christopher Barnes (Gem Club) – piano, Warren Defever (His Name Is Alive) – guitar, Thor Harris (Swans) – drums, Christian Madden – Rhodes piano & organ and Semay Wu – cello.
Songs From the Haunted South was produced by John Mark Lapham, mixed by JM Lapham and Mark Kuykendall, and was mastered by Ian Hawgood.
The powerful cover art was designed by U.K.’s Grammy Award winning designer Vaughan Oliver, famed for his work with artists such as Mojave 3, Lush, Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, The Breeders, This Mortal Coil, Pixies, Throwing Muses, in addition to artists such as David Sylvian and Bush. The cover shot taken in 1958 features Lapham’s father during bivouac camping basic training in the foothills of the Ozarks, at Fort Chaffee, Ark.
View a teaser for Songs From the Haunted South on Vimeo at:
Pre-order Songs From the Haunted South on CD here: www.kscopemusic.com/store.
1. Old Fire 3
2. Along Came a Sadness
3. Helix
4. Know How
5. It’s Easier Now
6. A Stranger in the Family
7. Bloodchild
8. Faust
9. Shadows
10. A Slight Grip, A Gentle Hold
11. Laser Beam
12. The Orchids
13. Deadhouse Dream
Taking nearly a decade to make, Songs From the Haunted South has been a labor of love for Lapham. Born from an album concept for a 4AD project with singer Micah P. Hinson (The Late Cord), the album was originally intended to feature different singers and musicians recording songs that were both covers and originals. After parting ways with Hinson, Lapham remained determined to realize his vision for the album and sought voices he considered special or fitted the inspiration.
The first piece of the puzzle fell in to place after meeting the former owner of 4AD, Ivo Watts Russell, who introduced Lapham to singer/songwriter, Tom Rapp – who recorded a string of haunting albums in the late ’60s and ’70s under the name Pearls Before Swine. The vocals Rapp provided formed the basis of the track “Shadows.” In the following years, guest vocals were recorded by Sara Lowes (The Earlies), DM Stith, Christopher Barnes (Gem Club), Rebekka Karijord, and Alex Maas (The Black Angels).
Stay tuned for more information on Old Fire and Songs From the Haunted South, out next month on Kscope.

The Genius of Routine (Video)

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If you need a reminder of what artistic genius is, please watch this deeply and utterly humane Steven Wilson video from last year’s HAND.CANNOT.ERASE.  No one who has a lost child can make it through this without the most powerful of emotions swelling up and beyond.  Simply incredible.

Long Distance Calling – “Trips” — The PROG Mind

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The recent addition of vocals to Long Distance Calling’s sound still doesn’t seem to be able to plug an apparent gap in identity.

via Long Distance Calling – “Trips” — The PROG Mind

Messenger – Threnodies – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal

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Artist: Messenger Album Title: Threnodies Label: InsideOut Music Date Of Release: 22 April 2016 It’s no exaggeration to say that the UK progressive music scene enjoying a period of rude health at the current time. To the already impressively-swelling ranks, you can now add the name of Messenger, a London-based quintet who bring accomplished musicianship […]

via Messenger – Threnodies – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal

An Apology to Mr. Steven Wilson

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock12 Comments
Steven Wilson
Steven Wilson, The LONDON GUARDIAN.

I will admit, I find it hard to believe that Steven Wilson’s HAND.CANNOT.ERASE. is now fourteen months old.  It arrived on my doorstep—courtesy of amazon.com—on the day it was released, and I played it immediately, of course.  At the time, however, I had become truly skeptical of anything Wilson was doing at that moment.  My dislike and distrust had not come on me suddenly, but, rather over a relatively long period of time.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I didn’t come across his work until a random turning on of album rock radio in Fort Wayne played an incredible song—“Trains” if I remember correctly—just as Porcupine Tree had released IN ABSENTIA.  I not only purchased that album that day at a Fort Wayne Bestbuy, but I also searched out an independent CD/record store, and purchased much of PT’s back catalogue.  To say that a decade of obsession (in the healthy, fan sense; not in the psychotic sense) with Wilson and all of his art set in.  I was certainly a completest.  If it had Wilson’s name on it, I owned it.

Continue reading “An Apology to Mr. Steven Wilson” →

Thank you, Cailyn Lloyd

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IMG 2
Page 76 of PROGRESSION (issue 69)

A favorite musician (and supporter) from the opening days of progarchy, Cailyn Lloyd is an absolute gem in the music world.  And, from what I know of her, she’s a gem to her family and community as well.  Not surprisingly.

Thanks for including us in your lovely ad, Cailyn.  Much appreciated!

If you’ve not had the pleasure of listening to Cailyn’s music–Stevie Ray Vaughn meets ELP meets Hayden–you’re in for a huge treat.

 

 

Fire Garden: The Pledge!

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fire garden 1
The glorious first album.  Still in constant rotation in my music listenings–Brad

One of my favorite musicians (and an incredible man of integrity and friendship), Zee Baig, has just announced a pledge campaign for his mighty and as-near-as-perfect-in-this-world progressive band, Fire Garden.

I give you my fullest and most complete and bestest encouragement to pledge!

Zee is worth it.

Zee’s art is worth it!

A hundred fold.

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/firegardenmusic

Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 8.08.18 PM

 

Behind Rush R40

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments
r40 rush
Actually 41, but who’s counting!

There’s a wonderful look at the “behind the scenes” of Rush’s 40th anniversary tour last year by Derk Hagedorn.  The article is actually six months old, but I just found it now.

From Jack White and Bruce Hornsby to Van Halen, Shakira and Jane’s Addiction, Brad Madix has mixed for a huge number of top artists over his impressive career, winning a number of Parnelli Awards, a Grammy nomination, and other industry accolades along the way. Together with business partner Greg Price, Brad also founded Diablo Digital Inc., a company that specializes in providing turn-key live recording systems for tours, festivals and installations. Most recently Brad was behind a VENUE | Profile at FOH for Rush’s R40 Live Tour, which commemorated the band’s 40th anniversary and featured songs from every era of their extensive catalog. I spoke with Brad shortly after the tour about the unique challenges he faced mixing the R40 Live Tour as well as his initial impressions of the new VENUE | S6L system.

Go here to read the full article.

 

Pre-Order Eric Gillette’s Second Album

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Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 7.57.40 PM

http://www.ericgillettemusic.com/store/p2/The_Great_Unknown_%28DELUXE_PRESALE_BUNDLE%29.html

RochaNews: Airbag’s new song, “Killer”

On By bradbirzerIn Brian Rocha, progressive rockLeave a comment
 
AIRBAG, PROG MAGAZINE PREMIERE NEW SONG “KILLER” FROM UPCOMING ALBUM “DISCONNECTED”
“Disconnected” out June 10 on Karisma Records; new “Disconnected” website launched
OSLO, Norway – Norwegian progressive rock act, Airbag, has teamed up with Prog Magazine to launch a new song, “Killer,” from the band’s upcoming fourth studio album, Disconnected, at: http://teamrock.com/news/2016-05-03/airbag-premiere-new-track-killer.


“Killer was one of the first songs written for Disconnected,” commented Airbag guitarist Bjørn Riis. “I had this idea of this ruthless corporate guy who used everyone to gain success – sort of Bateman from American Psycho meets Wall Street’s Gordon Gekko. He’s outside, or disconnected from, the rules of our society.


“Musically, ‘Killer’ is slightly different from what we’ve done before. There’s more emphasis on the drums, different rhythm patterns and electronic elements. It really was a band effort, where everyone was contributing ideas and trying out new stuff.”
 
Disconnected, the follow-up to Airbag’s critically acclaimed 2013 release The Greatest Show on Earth, will release on June 10 via Karisma Records. 

The band has launched a Disconnected website with several pre-order options, video content and more at: http://www.airbagdisconnected.com/.


Featuring six songs with a common theme of alienation between the individual and society, Disconnected was recorded with long-time collaborator and engineer Vegard Sleipnes and produced by Airbag vocalist Asle Tostrup and guitarist Bjørn Riis.


Guitarist Bjørn Riis adds: “The early demos for ‘Disconnected’ were written during a couple of months in late 2014. The idea and inspiration for most of the lyrics, and the title track in particular, came from me realizing that I had to make some changes in my life. I was tired of the daily routine, working 9-5 in an office doing basically nothing and never having enough time for my family and music. I took a year off and started writing for the album.


“As for the music, you want to look forward and explore new sounds and musical ground. We talked a lot about wanting to use more electronic elements and giving more room for the drums, allowing them to be more percussive and basically avoid the usual rock formula on all songs. We also wanted to do a more stripped down production and create a more spacious and dynamic sound.”
 
1. Killer
2. Broken
3. Slave
4. Sleepwalker
5. Disconnected
6. Returned

Airbag’s music is best described as scenic, epic rock – a sonic journey of lush soundscapes and arrangements, underlined by soaring guitars and soulful vocals. Airbag’s three previous album releases: Identity (2009), All Right Removed (2011) and The Greatest Show on Earth(2013) have gained the band a solid following and reputation among both fans and the press. Prog Magazine hailed The Greatest Show on Earth as a “confident step in the right direction, so much so you’re led to believe that album number four really could be the big one.”


Over the years, Airbag has also become a solid live act, playing at several major festivals and as support and in double-bills with bands like Marillion, Anathema, Pineapple Thief, Riverside, RPWL and Gazpacho.


Stay tuned for more information on Airbag and Disconnected, out next month on Karisma Records.
 
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