RochaNews: Nosound

 
NOSOUND LAUNCHES NEW VIDEO FOR “SOGNO E INCENDIO” FEAT. ITALIAN SINGER ANDREA CHIMENTI
Fifth studio album “Scintilla” out September 2 on Kscope
ROME, Italy – Ahead of the release of its fifth studio album Scintilla on September 2 via Kscope, Nosound has launched a new video for the song “Sogno E Incendio” featuring acclaimed Italian singer Andrea Chimenti. Stream the clip on YouTube at:
Nosound’s Giancarlo Erra explains: “The video was directed by Erika Errante. She was introduced to me by Andrea [Chimenti] via his son, as she had produced a few videos for his band and I wanted a video done by someone else for once, not myself. For this reason I wanted to give her full freedom. All we knew is that we didn’t want to go too literal with the lyrics in the song, but instead expressing the concept in another way. So the concept is explained through the idea of lost and found people and feeling, and transformation from one into the other. It is a more loose and artistic connection, and I liked it a lot for that reason.” 
Giancarlo Erra co-wrote the song with Andrea Chimenti: “Working with Andrea was extremely easy; we discovered we have a common emotional ground, so the theme of my album immediately vibrated with him and together we quickly arrived to the meaning this song was meant for. The song is all about the spark (scintilla) that can ignite a fire, but for that to happen there’s a need for dead dried leaves, or branches, or old paper, so the old and dead stuff that seems useless is what is really needed for the fire to start again.”
 
On the collaboration and creative thought process Chimenti adds: “Giancarlo Erra had long ago sent me an instrumental song to listen to. It struck me immediately and I liked very much the idea of working with him, but as often happens we were busy with various things and that tune remained in the drawer for a while … maybe it was not the time to deal with it because everything happens when it has to happen. At the beginning of this year, after a series of events that have transformed my life, the text and singing for that song were born. The extraordinary piano sequence of Nosound, with its perpetual motion, rolled out the words, one after another like a string of pearls and the album title ‘Scintilla’ was the thread on which they walked. 
 
“The crescendo of the second part suggested to me fire as a purifying element that from a spark turns into a real fire. I love music when it manages to be evocative, calling into dreams and images. The music of this song has in it all that strength and not just that of the dream, but that of the spark, the fire prelude.”
Inspired by personal upheaval and a desire for change, Scintilla is an emotionally complex and musically direct work, presenting a stripped-down set of compositions that mark a major departure from Nosound’s trademark symphonic lushness and production precision. Taking in influences from post rock, shoegaze and alt-singer-songwriters, the album imaginatively utilizes a mostly organic and acoustic sound palette.
In addition to Andrea Chimenti, Anathema’s Vincent Cavanagh lends his distinctive vocals to two of the album’s tracks, and cellist Marianne De Chastelaine returns once more to the Nosound fold (this time in a more free-flowing and improvisational capacity).
An additional Scintilla track and video, “Short Story,” can be streamed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtfb-HcTz8&feature=youtu.be and Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/167108079.
Scintilla is available to pre-order via the Kscope webstore at: https://www.burningshed.com/store/nosound as a deluxe CD/Blu-Ray in Mediabook (with 24 page booklet and Blu-Ray containing HD stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes, plus additional video content) and audiophile double 180g vinyl edition (mastered at 45rpm to ensure quality) in a gatefold cover with booklet and poly-lined inner bags. Download and streaming versions will be available to pre-order at: http://smarturl.it/SCINTILLA_DIGITAL with instant downloads of “Short Story” and “Sogno E Incendio.”
1. Short Story [02:24]
2. Last Lunch [07:00]
3. Little Man [04:38]
4. In Celebration of Life [05:34]
5. Sogno E Incendio [04:44]
6. Emily [03:19]
7. The Perfect Wife [07:27]
8. Love is Forever [02:51]
9. Evil Smile [04:33]
10. Scintilla [06:27]
Regarded by critics and fans alike as one of the most interesting up and coming alt/art rock bands in Europe, Nosound inventively combines influences from ’70s psychedelia, ’80s/’90s ambient and contemporary alternative, progressive and post rock. The project started as a one man studio project in late 2002 by Giancarlo Erra, but has since grown into a five piece band, evolving into something unique, focused and powerful. The music is evocative and intense, with personal songwriting.
A cathartic album of emotional extremes, Scintilla marks the brave beginning of the second phase of Nosound’s fascinating career. Stay tuned for more information on Nosound and Scintilla, out this September on Kscope.
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Nosound is:
Giancarlo Erra – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Marco Berni – keyboards, vocals
Alessandro Luci – bass, upright bass, keyboards
Paolo Vigliarolo – acoustic/electric guitars
Giulio Caneponi – drums, percussion, vocals
Nosound online:

My introduction to IQ — Grendel HeadQuarters

Another introduction story again. I have discovered so many bands through different ways (and not the usual “Hey, listen to this” happenings), so I thought that it’s fun to share those stories with you! Today’s story is about the band IQ!

via My introduction to IQ — Grendel HeadQuarters

Topographic Wilsons

I had no idea this was forthcoming, Steven Wilson mixing Yes’s most misunderstood masterpiece, TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS.  The following is from Burning Shed:

The ultimate way to enjoy Yes’s most controversial album! 

***

The towering Tales From Topographic Oceans is the fifth in a series of remixed and expanded Yes albums. 
Presented in a 2 x mini vinyl replica gatefold card sleeves in a slipcase with booklet featuring new sleeve notes by Sid Smith along with rare photos and archive material, the album has been mixed for 5.1 Surround Sound from the original studio masters and is fully approved by Yes. 
The 3 CDs feature a 2016 mix of the album by Steven Wilson plus an alternative extended Dance of the Dawn (mixed from multi-track by SW) and 5 single edits. The CDs also include a complete alt. album with High The Memory (unreleased studio run-through) and Ritual (live in Zurich, April 1974) – fully restored audio from original sources. 
The booklet includes elements of new interviews with Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Alan White. 
The blu-ray (Region 0, NTSC) features: 
– 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround (24bit/96khz) mixed from the original multi-channel recordings. 
– the new stereo album mix in DTS-HD Master Audio (24bit/96khz). 
– the original album mix in a DTS-HD Master Audio flat transfers from the original master tape source. (24bit/192khz). We believe this is the earliest master of the original mix to be issued in the digital era. (This master was also used for the original stereo on the CDs). 
– full alt. album featuring: sides 1 and 3 from the 2003 Rhino CD, previously unreleased studio run-through of Side 2 and previously unreleased live version of Side 4. 
– exclusive needle-drop of an original UK vinyl pressing transferred in 24bit/96khz audio and US branded promo pressing. 
– exclusive instrumental versions of all new mixes in DTS-HD Master Audio stereo (24bit/96khz). 
– 2016 stereo and 5.1 remix of Dance of the Dawn plus 5 single edits (stereo only) all mixed from multi-track by Steven Wilson. 
Original artwork expanded, restored and approved by Roger Dean. 
“I worked on and off for about 3 years on this new mix in my quest to do it justice. I hope it will satisfy the people who agree with me that it may just be Yes’s pre-eminent masterpiece.” Steven Wilson 
Pre-order for 26th September release.

Review: Trauma Field – Changing Tides

Changing Tides

Trauma Field is an progressive metal group hailing from Jyvaskyla in Finlad, who recently released their second full-length album “Changing Tides.” All songs (as well lyrics) on “Changing Tides” were written by singer and guitarist Jakko Pessu. The album was recorded between 2015 and early 2016 and was tracked by the band and Joonathan Jaakownaho, who also did the mix.

Welcome to the beautiful nightmare world called “Changing Tides.” With a very focused release to the band’s opus, Trauma Field created an album that has all the potential to push them into upper echelons of charts.

As “outsider” as it feels, “Changing tides” is something that masses can easily identify with. It rather feels as a band with the drive and unfettered ambition to create a standalone marvel which not only awakens the ghosts and cliches from alternative and progressive music’s pompous pasts, but it entirely adds its own voice. And Pesu’s voice is intelligent and familiar, his cold grandiosity spreads out like wildfire as the album plays out.

The opening, title track is going the furthest in imitating feelings of desolation. “Aeons,” “Black Haze,” and “Reborn” are the sharpest-sounding tracks on “Changing Tides.” There is everything here to make Trauma Fe

Field big — ethereal melodies, soaring melodies, and a bombastic sense of “epic” that makes the band’s sound both memorable and powerful.

“Changing Tides” covers a wide range of emotions. There is great songwriting, great performances and an epic quality that is rarely found in alternative rock. Trauma Field have a way of magically turning a quintet into the sonic equivalent of a rock orchestra, and giving strength and bite to their music.

Is this band going to meet a criticism from metal fans? Unfortunately, yes. They are very progressive based, which many would consider a far cry from actually being prog. While there is definitely a feeling that Trauma Field are never going to be full-out prog band, they incorporate prog music into a more accessible songwriting style that is enjoyable, although the music tends to flow in a depressing direction in terms of style and feeling. The band integrates progressive (innovative) ideas into a more accessible sound. But that also doesn’t mean that this is mainstream. It is simply a marriage of two schools of music, and there are certainly enough strange ideas in the music to keep the album fresh for many listens.

In general, Trauma Field have impressed me with their songwriting. They succeeded in making an album that is dramatic, bombastic and larger than life from start to finish. “Changing Tides” is one of the nicest discoveries in terms of new music in 2016.

“Changing Tides” is available from Bandcamp here. Like Trauma Field on Facebook.

A big update from your roving reporter! — Grendel HeadQuarters

Hey hey! ‘sme with some news again. As you may know, I’ve left House of Prog recently (if you haven’t read my statement yet, you can read it here). I got a lot of responses and sweet messages (mostly on Facebook) from friends, colleagues, readers, listeners, and even artists! I would like to thank everyone for […]

via A big update from your roving reporter! — Grendel HeadQuarters

Honourable mention: 7sleepers — Grendel HeadQuarters

Check out the website (where you can get the music for free, or can ask for a cd): http://7sleepers.net/Free http://7sleepers.net/

Not so long ago, I posted an article about the fact that I I’m only into progressive rock music, and that I’m also open for a lot of other genres too. Suddenly I got a message on Twitter from someone named 7sleepers. He asked me if I was interested in reviewing his album, so I […]

via Honourable mention: 7sleepers — Grendel HeadQuarters

Skynet’s first single

Skynet has downloaded its first single…

This 90-second song was composed by a Google algorithm: MP3

Read all about it here.

One small step for software…

One giant leap for robotkind?

Will software eventually be able to write prog epics??

Rockin’ genius to the Hult: Chris Cornell’s magical evening in Eugene, Oregon

cornell_concert1
Waiting for the show to commence….

Nearing the end of his stunning two-and-a-half hour concert last night at the Hult Center here in Eugene, Oregon, a clearly delighted Chris Cornell noted that while he had enjoyed his two previous stops in Eugene, this particular night was “special”. He was quite right. I was at his October 19, 2013 show at The Shedd—a smaller and more intimate (that is, cramped) venue—and while it was a very good show, Cornell topped it last night with a generous mix of newer and older tunes—a total of 26 songs in all— the occasional accompaniment of Brian Gibson on keyboards and cello, and a vocal performance that rivals any I’ve heard from him—and I’ve listened to numerous live performances on albums and via YouTube.

Simply put, Cornell’s songs are demanding, requiring the sort of range, strength, stamina, and flexibility that very few singers can pull off on a regular basis. And there have been times when the strains of traveling and performing have taken a toll on Cornell’s voice, especially on Soundgarden tours. But the legendary singer and songwriter (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, solo) is, without doubt, in a wonderful place as an artist, making great new music and embracing his older songs with unashamed enthusiasm. Late in the set, introducing “Black Hole Sun”—a huge hit that he has sung countless times—Cornell mused that he didn’t understand why some artists end up “hating” those defining hits. “If you don’t want to sing it,” he said, “don’t write it and record it in the first place.” And then he tore into the song as if he had written it just last week, clearly thriving on the interplay between his acoustic guitar riffs and Gibson’s dynamic cello excursions.  Continue reading “Rockin’ genius to the Hult: Chris Cornell’s magical evening in Eugene, Oregon” →

Adam Holzman, Live at De Twee Spieghels Leiden, 7 July 2016 — Grendel HeadQuarters

Steven Wilson and band were going to perform on North Sea Jazz Festival The Netherlands on the 9th of July, but keyboardist/pianist Adam Holzman had arrived a few days earlier and was actually looking to do a solo performance somewhere in the area. Arne van Os van den Abeelen and Monica Scheepers made it possible […]

via Adam Holzman, Live at De Twee Spieghels Leiden, 7 July 2016 — Grendel HeadQuarters

TRAUMA FIELD: Neverending Cycle — Prog Sphere

Atmospheric metal quintet from Jyväskylä in Finland, Trauma Field released their second studio album titled “Changing Tides” in May this year, a versatile release that has a lot to offer. Prog Sphere talked with singer and guitarist Jaakko Pesu and keyboardist Antero Jokinen. Read below what they told us about the mentioned release, influences, technology, and…

via TRAUMA FIELD: Neverending Cycle — Prog Sphere