Or, perhaps, I meant logo!
A Really Nice ARW Lego
Or, perhaps, I meant logo!
Beyond Prog: GRIMSPOUND by Big Big Train
Big Big Train, GRIMSPOUND (Giant Electric Pea, 2017). Tracks: Brave Captain; On the Racing Line; Experimental Gentleman; Meadowland; Grimspound; The Ivy Gate; A Mead Hall in Winter; and As the Crow Flies.
The band: Greg Spawton; Andy Poole; David Longdon; Nick D’Virgilio; Rachel Hall; Danny Manners; Dave Gregory; and Rikard Sjöblom.
The Rating: Perfect. Beyond prog.
Go, go, go said the bird: human kind
Cannot bear very much reality.
Time past and time future
What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
–T.S. Eliot, “Burnt Norton.”
There can be no doubt that Big Big Train is not just one of the best bands of third-wave prog, but also one of the best bands of the rock era. I suspected this when I first heard THE UNDERFALL YARD back in 2009 and was moved at every good level of my being. Subsequent releases from the band have only confirmed this for me. Every note, every lyric, and every brushstroke matter for the band. They take their music seriously, and they take us—their followers—seriously. Aside from the music (if there is, in any reality, such an “aside”), it’s clear that the two founders and mainstays of the band, Greg Spawton and Andy Poole, know how to form and leaven communities.
Lonely Robot’s Latest Is A Dream
One of my top albums of 2015 was John Mitchell’s Lonely Robot: Please Come Home. In addition to my rave review, several other Progarchists recognized that album’s greatness, putting it on their Best-Of lists for 2015.
It’s two years later, and Mitchell has returned with the second installment of the Lonely Robot saga: The Big Dream. I always approach sophomore efforts with some trepidation, because an artist often uses up all of his or her best ideas in the début. No worries on that front this time! Fresh off of his work with Jem Godfrey in Frost*, Mitchell has crafted a near-perfect pop/prog collection of songs that hearken back to the glory days of Peter Gabriel’s solo work, Porcupine Tree, and others.
According to Mitchell, The Big Dream continues the saga of the astronaut in Please Come Home. He has awakened from a cryogenic sleep, and finds himself in a woodland inhabited by human/animal hybrids. The concept is a bit hazy, while the music itself is tight as a nut. I am hard pressed to think of any songs that pack a bigger 1-2-3 punch than “Awakenings”, “Sigma”, and “In Floral Green”. I had to put those three on Repeat for several listens before I even heard the rest of the album.
If you thought, like me, that Please Come Home was terrific, The Big Dream actually tops it in every way. Big melodies that grab your ears and won’t let go, great vocals, John’s always outstanding guitar – all combine to deliver an album that will definitely be on many Top Ten of 2017 lists.
Rather than taking my word for it, just check out the first single, “Everglow”:
The Big Dream is slated for release April 28.
A Tale of Two Yeses
Three days after Yes gets inducted into the hall of fame, Anderson Rabin and Wakeman, announce a 2017 North American tour and that they are now “Yes featuring Anderson Rabin and Wakeman”.
On yesworld.com, the official website for Yes, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, and Billy Sherwood thank their fans for their support and talk about the upcoming Yestival tour:
“To all our incredible fans,
Last night was truly a special evening for us. We can’t thank you enough for all the continued support you’ve shown us throughout the decades and for helping to get YES into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Thank you, as well, to Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee from RUSH for the wonderful induction, and to Geddy for the amazing bass playing on “Roundabout”. What a tribute to Chris!
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone this summer on the YESTIVAL tour. And contrary to what you may have heard, YES has no plans to tour with the guys from ARW next year.
We do, however, have our own exciting plans to celebrate YES’s 50th Anniversary in 2018, which we will announce this summer during our 2017 YESTIVAL Tour.”
The North American YESTIVAL Tour will feature YES, Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. Presales & Onsales begin April 13th & 14th. The dates are listed at Yesworld.com
Interview: Alfonso Vidales of CAST
Mexican symphonic prog rocker Cast recently put out their 19th studio album “Power and Outcome,” and it was a good reason to talk with the founder of the band Alfonso Vidales about the new record, scene, and more.
Hey there! How are you doing?
Hello, Alfonso Vidales here and feeling great!
You released “Power and Outcome” recently. How do you feel about the release?
We think that our album became a solid piece of music with every contributor’s own taste and skills. That is what every production generates when you are involved in every side of the music production.
How much of a challenge was to work on the album?
I think that the making, recording and post production came out very smooth. Carlos and I looked very much that every mixing and mastering sessions were carefully observed. All the musicians and singers felt at the end that we developed an album to be recognized. Many years of Cast’s music were melted into this production.
What other artists similar to your genre that are coming from Mexico are you friends with?
After doing Baja Prog for 14 years we meet many musicians from the Mexican prog scene. Ramses Luna from Luz de Riada, Marco Corona from Codice, Ricardo Moreno from Iconoclasta, and much more. Probably I am missing many names.
What is your opinion about the current progressive rock scene?
As I said, from our Baja Prog list of names around the world I think that the progressive movement has become important and it is a nice and elegant choice for rock lovers to listen. I understand that the first generation is not anymore very active or some paseed away, but the legacy is still growing. Mexicali, our city, has a good progressive atmosphere and I think that is because of our festival and of course because of Cast, with 40 years of activity.
Can you tell me something about your influences?
My main influence is classical music as my parents both piano and are classically trained. But also Jethro Tull (Aqualung, Thick As a Brick, Passion Play), Genesis, Manfred Mann, Kayak (concept albums), ELP are in my list of favorites.
What are you listening to these days?
I listen to Rondo Veneziano and Classical music, but in my car you can find some classic rock too.
Your 5 favourite records of all the time?
Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Tarkus, Thick As A Brick, Merlin (Kayak), Live With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (Procol Harum).
Can you tell me a little bit more about the gear you use to record “Power and Outcome”?
Yamaha CP300 piano, Nord C2D organ, Mellotron, Nord Lead, Korg Triton, Minimoog, Oberheim,…
Besides the release of the album, are there any other plans for the future?
We are planning to continue touring. We have a tour which starts in August and ends in November. In between, the recording of the 20th studio album will start.
Any words for the potential new fans?
Welcome to the music of Cast, and get involved in our activities by visiting our Facebook page and our website. And please send us your comments, I will gladly answer them!
Yes plays “Roundabout” with Geddy Lee!
Yes with Geddy Lee on bass at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, on April 7, 2017.
soundstreamsunday: “Candy-O” by the Cars
It’s been forty-ish years since their first record but it’s not difficult to remember how important the Cars were to American music. Punk really broke with the Cars and maybe also with Devo, because until these bands hit the radio, and they did so in a big way in 1978-79, punk music and its influence was just a news story for those of us not living on America’s coasts. The Cars weren’t a punk band really at all but they brought a toughness to their pop music that defined American new wave, even as they were being played, say, between the Doobies and AC/DC on the radio (as they still are today). They represented a slew of less commercially fortunate American underground bands: Big Star, NRBQ, Flamin’ Groovies, the kind of groups who extended 60s garage rock post Beatles. That is, they saw the art in what they did. They opened ears. Ric Ocasek’s and Benjamin Orr’s lyrics were smart, un-fussy, their singing had the odd effect of creating emotional distance even while containing heartbreak, and Elliott Easton’s guitar kept the band on course — they were never not a rock band. Here on “Candy-O,” the title track of their second album, the Cars throw down a power pop gauntlet elevated by this raw live peformance. Bookended by a monster debut album and outsized 1980s success, “Candy-O” is nonetheless the band’s peak as new wave game changer.
soundstreamsunday presents one song or live set by an artist each week, and in theory wants to be an infinite linear mix tape where the songs relate and progress as a whole. For the complete playlist, go here: soundstreamsunday archive and playlist, or check related articles by clicking on”soundstreamsunday” in the tags section above.
Yes gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Congratulations Yes!!! A long time coming.
Watch videos of Yes’ speeches and performances from last night’s induction- Progreport
Video preview of “Apex” from Unleash the Archers @UnleashArchers
Here’s the video for a track from Unleash the Archers’ forthcoming new album, Apex:
Review: Emperor Guillotine – Emperor Guillotine
Dallas’s Doom Metal upstarts EMPEROR GUILLOTINE have landed firmly within the Metal scene as one of the “newest modern” instrumental bands carrying the torch of the blueprint that BLACK SABBATH created over 40 years ago. In particular, SABBATH‘s first three albums are all over the project’s full-length debut release. From the song structures, the occasional synth noodling and the demonic Blues you cannot mistake the influence.
The project was formed by multi-instrumentalist and sole band member, Ben Randolph. A digital only release, it wets the appetite of every doom metal fan and the excitement for what comes next.
One of the biggest highlights of the record is definitely its production. It is obvious that EMPEROR GUILLOTINE reaching for a retro feel and are heavily influenced by Rodger Bain and his early BLACK SABBATH productions. Randolph achieves it in a very good way. One of the issues with bands going for this type of sound is that usually the bass is mixed too loud and dominates the material. In this case, the bass is audible but it still gives way for the guitar and drums. The guitar has enough gain, it’s powerful and greasy—just as it should be.
The songwriting is as strong; there is plenty here to celebrate. “Sailor on the Seas of Fate,” “Sea of Dust,” “The Oak and the Ram,” “Witch Mountain,” “The Bastille,” and “The Unearthly” are heavy, pounding numbers that represent this release. “Ursa Minor” is a beautiful acoustic piece that connects the “sides.” Its melody is haunting and recalls the atmosphere of 1960s inspired acoustic, folk records.
“Emperor Guillotine” is an excellent introductory release from Randolph. My hope is that the next releases will embrace more of different styles such as folk rock and progressive rock. On their next release they need to instill the confidence that they don’t need to rely so heavily on imitating BLACK SABBATH. Do yourself a favor and check this album out out.
EMPEROR GUILLOTINE is on Facebook.
Progarchy 