Category: progressive rock

I, (Lonely) Robot: Progarchy Talks to John Mitchell

On By Erik HeterIn progressive rock2 Comments

John Mitchell is a busy man.  It was less than a year ago that another one of his projects,Lonely Robot 2 Frost*, was getting ready to drop another album.  And before that, John was busy with another one of his bands, Arena.  To put the parenthesis on then and now … before that he was busy with the first Lonely Robot album, and now we have seen the release for the latest one, The Big Dream (Tad Wert’s excellent review can be found here).  We caught up with John recently, and he generously gave his time to discuss his career, the concept behind the Lonely Robot project, and the creative process, and how to stay busy.

Progarchy: You are in Lonely Robot, Kino, Arena, Frost*, It Bites … (did I miss any?), while your Arena bandmate Clive Nolan is also associated with Pendragon, Shadowland, Caamora, Strangers on a Train, Neo, and Casino.  Are you two having a contest to see who can be in the most bands?

John Mitchell: I can’t remember – it seems like I’m busy enough already! That is indeed a humorous question – and yes, you are absolutely right.  If I don’t win, heads are going to roll!  The honest answer though is that these things don’t run concurrently, they don’t run in parallel, they run in series.  I think if we are going to run a contest, it needs to be the most things done concurrently, and I don’t really win that at all.  Clive Nolan has won, so there we go!

Progarchy: This is your way of keeping busy, I assume.

John Mitchell: Yes, well it looks good on paper.  I have at some point or other have been involved in that many musical projects.  I hasten to not use the word ‘project’.  When I started these things, I didn’t think of them as projects. ‘Project’ to me denotes something that has a finite end, like a table.  A table, once it’s made, that’s the end of the project.  When I went into these things, with the good grace of the Lord, to make a band, and to try to engage that band and do multiple albums with it, so I never really saw it as a project.  Kino I never really thought it to be a one-off thing, but I didn’t realize quite how busy everybody was.  The things I’ve been involved in, they reach a natural conclusion, and they get parked and that’s it.  So I’m really not that busy, just doing a few things these days.

Continue reading “I, (Lonely) Robot: Progarchy Talks to John Mitchell” →

New Mew Video: Really Weird

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock5 Comments

Not sure what to think of this.  Lots of Star Trek red shirts dancing before getting blasted away on some alien world?  Then, demons pushing back goodness?  Call me utterly confused.  The band should’ve just stuck to audio.

BANDOLIRUM: Bandoneon Prog Metal

On By NickIn Prog, progressive rockLeave a comment

Bandolirium

Argentinian Prog-Tango Metal act Bandolirium, led by bandoneon player Amijai Shalev, are set to release their self-titled debut album this Friday, May 12.

Although there were tries in the past to blend Tango and Progressive Metal together, Bandolirium’s approach to this idea goes a few steps further by including a bandoneon—a type of square concertina popular in Argentina—in their music.

About the idea to create Prog Metal music with the inclusion of the instrument, Shalev commented: “I feel it’s a natural result of the music I listen to and my personal background. Great part of being a composer is finding the unique combination that we are and the way we see our environment. Living in Buenos Aires,  this combination seems obvious to me, it hasn’t been done before just because people have a tendency to keep on doing the same stuff. In Prog Metal you hear very often rhythms and melodies from different cultures, so if we want to do Argentinian Prog Metal, Tango is a great inspiration, also using the bandoneon in metal parts is interesting because the sound is similar to keyboards but you can work the dynamics of an acoustic instrument, and of course for Tango audience the metal sound is something new.”

Progressive Metal and Tango have a lot in common, the intensity and drama especially, but even specific rhythms that are used in metal are found in tango.

Bandolirium has previously released a cover of Metallica’s classic “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Shalev said: “I think that our version of ‘For whom the Bell’ tolls is an example how close tango and metal (in this case thrash) can get.”

About the creative process of the self-titled album, Amijai said: “I composed all the parts with scores at home, a very intimate process, for the drums I only wrote a reference and our drummer, Marcos Edwards, composed the real drums. While rehearsing we made the changes and corrections; there were many of them. It was a very interesting work, we learned a lot doing it.”

Bandolirium is out on May 12th.

Bandolirium is:

Amijai Shalev – bandoneon
Marcos de Cristobal – guitars
Matias Brandauer – bass
Marcos Edwards – drums

Bandolirium online:

Website

Facebook

Bandcamp

From White to Red: Ultravox, LAMENT (1984)

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments

Review of Ultravox, LAMENT (Chrysalis, 1984).  Tracks: White China; One Small Day; Dancing With Tears in My Eyes; Lament; Man of Two Worlds; Heart of the Country; When the Time Comes; and A Friend I Call Desire.

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The end of the quartet of excellence.

Though the album came out in 1984, Ultravox’s LAMENT is as relevant today–perhaps more so–than it was then, at least in terms of its themes.

Considering the position that China now occupies in the world, especially when compared with its third-world status 1984, it’s hard not to wonder if Midge Ure had more than a bit of the prophet in him.  From Pale to Pink, from White to Red, the road toward totalitarianism is a slippery one.  Though Ure was probably thinking of Margaret Thatcher’s horrific betrayal of the people of Hong Kong on the first track, “White China,” he might well have been writing about the Red Chinese, the Nationalist Chinese, or the Koreans of 2017.  Or, he might have been talking about Britain and America, wrapped in Asiatic imagery.  It was, after all, 1984 (que Orwell. . . .)

Continue reading “From White to Red: Ultravox, LAMENT (1984)” →

Blair-Pongracic Band East (U.S.) Coast Tour, 2017

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

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This looks wonderful.  Ivan Pongracic is, of course, the lead guitarist of The Madeira, the world’s greatest surf band.  The Blair-Pongracic Band is one of his side projects.  An important one to be sure.

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For those of you who haven’t already heard, The Blair-Pongracic Band is about to bring nine, very high energy appearances to the East Coast in just a few short weeks. Here are the June dates:

16th Star Bar (Atlanta GA)
17th Snug Harbor (Charlotte NC)
18th The Station (Carrboro NC)
19th Hill Country BBQ (Washington DC)
20th Brighton Bar (Long Branch NJ)
21st Lucky 13 Saloon (Brooklyn NY)
22nd Happy Dog (Cleveland OH)
23rd Urban Artifact (Cincinnati OH)
24th Melody Inn (Indianapolis IN)

Help spread the word. Hope to see YOU along the way!!!

Haim: “Right Now” (Live) & “Want You Back” @HAIMtheband

On By Time LordIn progressive rock1 Comment

For me, the Haim sisters are even reminiscent of stratospheric artists like Peter Gabriel or Steven Wilson at their most thrilling moments of pure pop perfection. No wonder, when their personal playlist unsurprisingly includes the likes of Kate Bush and ELO.

With what promises to be one of the best albums of 2017, the supremely talented Haim will return to the charts by releasing Something To Tell You on July 7.

The appropriately titled track “Want You Back” is already now available. Not to be missed is also a preview of the track “Right Now” from that same forthcoming album. Here it is, superbly performed, as a live, one-take version in the studio, filmed by Paul Thomas Anderson:

Haim will be live on SNL this weekend. Here’s how good they were last time, when they played my favorite track from 2013’s Days Are Gone, “The Wire”:

I’ve wanted them back for a long time, so I’m really looking forward to a new, full-length album from Danielle, Alana, and Este. It’s going to be a great summer!

Born to make music, check out this window on the band’s nice life story:

By the way, if you think you have them pegged as a pop band, think again. It never makes sense to put talented people in a box. Here’s proof that Haim can rock hard with the best of them:

The Tangent: SLOW RUST OF FORGOTTEN MACHINERY–Album information

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

tangent slow rust

FROM INSIDEOUT music MAY 9 2017

The Tangent, the progressive rock group led by Andy Tillison, have announced the release of the first new music since 2015. Their new ninth studio album ‘The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery’ is set for release on 21st July 2017. The line-up for this album once again features Tillison on keyboards, vocals (and for the first time on a Tangent record – drums), Jonas Reingold on bass, Luke Machin on guitars and vocals, and Theo Travis on sax and flutes plus new member Marie-Eve de Gaultier on keys and vocals. There are also guest appearances from author/playwright and Chumbawamba founder Boff Whalley on vocals, and upcoming DJ/producer Matt Farrow.

Band leader Andy Tillison had this to say: “Roger Waters did prove the ability of Progressive Music to act as a vehicle to communicate ideas about the current world scene. In both Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut” and his “Amused To Death” albums, Waters set a challenge to others in the genre. A challenge which has not been frequently accepted.”

The album sees The Tangent in political commentary mode once again – this time often focussing on the horrendous plight of refugees from war torn parts of the world – and the way in which they are treated by the West, and in particular by the tabloid press. The album laments the new trend in building walls and defending borders across the world yet takes time to look at the breakup of friendships and other more personal issues – along with a song about the fate of wildlife in the modern consumer world.

And it’s a Progressive Rock Record. Full of intricacies, long developed pieces, challenging arrangements and virtuoso playing from all members. New sounds and styles (the band have brought a DJ on board for some sections) – new voices and techniques (first female vocals in The Tangent since the “Not As Good As The Book” album 10 years ago). A new producer in the form of Luke Machin whose open and deep/clear sound is a major factor of this album, a new drummer in the form of Andy Tillison who decided at long last (after drumming for 30 years) to let his own performances guide the rest of the band rather than adding another musician later. And after 13 years of asking, Jonas finally agreed to play some double bass in a song where Luke also plays some Scat guitar and Andy does a full on drum solo.

“The Slow Rust Of Forgotten Machinery” also features stellar artwork from Marvel / DC Comics artist Mark Buckingham. The sleeve of the album is totally based on the music it contains and was especially created for this project.

The album will be available on limited digipak CD, gatefold 2LP + CD, and digital download, and you can find the full track-listing below:

Two Rope Swings
Doctor Livingstone (I Presume)
Slow Rust
The Sad Story of Lead and Astatine
A Few Steps Down the Wrong Road
Basildonxit

The band will head out on tour in support of the new record, once again joining forces with Sweden’s Karmakanic to present albums by both bands. The full list of dates is as follows:
Aug 26th 2017 – Bierkeller, Reichenbach, DE
Sept 1st 2017 – 2 days of Prog +1 Festival, Veruno, Italy
Sept 9th 2017 – The Boerderij, Zoetermeer
Oct 8th 2017 – SUMMERS END Festival, Chepstow, UK
Oct 21st 2017 – Progtoberfest, Chicago, USA
Oct 22nd 2017 – Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI, USA
Oct 24th 2017 – Token Lounge, Westland MI, USA
Oct 26th 2017 – Roxy & Dukes, Dunellen NJ, USA
Oct 27th 2017 – The Regent Theatre, Arlington MA, USA

Look out for more information in the coming weeks!
The Tangent online:
www.thetangent.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/alltangentmembers/

INSIDEOUTMUSIC ONLINE:
www.insideoutmusic.com
www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic
www.twitter.com/insideouteu
www.myspace.com/insideoutlabel

Visit the new Insideout Shop:
www.insideoutshop.de

Pre-Order New Steven Wilson

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

Just about two hours ago, the pre-orders for the new Steven Wilson album, TO THE BONE, began.  The release comes in four versions, with the deluxe box set being limited in number.

To pre-order from Steven Wilson’s official store, go here: https://store.universalmusic.com/stevenwilson/*/*/To-The-Bone-Box-Set/5IVP0000000

Below is the first video from the album.  According to the official write up, Talk Talk’s THE COLOUR OF SPRING and Tears for Fears’ SEEDS OF LOVE serve as two of the three inspirations for the album, labeled as “progressive pop.”  The third is Peter Gabriel’s SO.

Latest Tillison/Tangent News

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

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Posted by Andy Tillison an hour ago:

So at long last there will be a chance to see the much vaunted album sleeve tomorrow – Mark Buckingham‘s art for this sleeve is absolutely stellar. The dropbox for pre-preorders will be updated with some new excerpts from the album and we’ll have something for everyone to hear whether they have ordered or not. Shortly after that we’ll hope to get regular pre-orders going. I’ll be around this page tomorrow from 2.00 pm UK time and be up for any questions etc from that time onwards…. Hope to catch some of you tomorrow!

2017 might very well go down as the greatest year for prog, ever.  Very excited.

NAO’s THE THIRD DAY

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

NAO, THE THIRD DAY (Kscope/Snapper, 2014).  Tracks: Great Plains II; Elsewhere; August; A Nice Little Place; Penrose; Do Something Useful; Wires; Pines of Eden; Dust; When to Stop.

NAO TTD cover art
Not sure if The Third Day is related to Genesis, but it is epic.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.  The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.–GENESIS, Chapter 1

Though NAO’s Sam Healy is not religious in the least, there might be something culturally reflective here.  I have no idea, frankly.  But, I’m sure I’m not the only who imagined the Jewish creation story when reading the title of NAO’s third album.

Whatever the origin of the title, I was actually prompted to re-reveiw the album because of listening to the NAO compilation, LIBRARY STRIKES THE LIBRARY TWICE.  Listening to  the three tracks on that “best of,” taken from THE THIRD DAY, and listening to them out of context gave me an entirely new perspective on the 2014 album.

Continue reading “NAO’s THE THIRD DAY” →