So, the new Toto album (XIV) is pretty darn great. It has an epic closing prog track, “Great Expectations,” that rocks your socks off and pays tribute to the glories of prog. “Chinatown” also has mad prog spirit to it as well. As for the rest, I am still warming to some of the other tracks, but my initial standout favorites among the remainder are “Orphan” and “The Little Things” and “Fortune.”

I was pleased to discover Toto is touring together with Yes this summer. It will be great to see Yes again, and also to see Toto play their most stellar track, “Great Expectations,” live. And I’ve always had a soft spot for “Hold the Line” and “Rosanna” as well…

The Big Big Train web site brings us the glad tidings:

SPECTRAL MORNINGS 2015

A new version of Steve Hackett’s classic track Spectral Mornings has been recorded and will be released as an EP on download and CD on April 27th. The release is the brainchild of Rob Reed who wanted to re-imagine the instrumental track, with its beautiful melody, as a song. Rob asked Big Big Train’s David Longdon to write the words for the new version.

Spectral Mornings 2015 features guitars by Steve Hackett, vocals by David and Christina Booth, drums by BBT’s Nick D’Virgilio, keyboards by Rob Reed and Nick Beggs on bass.

All profits from Spectral Mornings will go to the Parkinson’s Society UK.

The EP includes four different versions of Spectral Mornings and audio previews can be heard at iTunes.

The CD version can be purchased at Cherry Red, Burning Shed, or Amazon.

The download version can be purchased at iTunes or Amazon.

NEW BIG BIG TRAIN EP

A new BBT EP featuring three new songs (two of which will be exclusive to the EP) will be released on June 1st ahead of the band’s three sold out shows in London in August.

So, Steven Wilson is sporting, like, the coolest t-shirt ever, on his current tour…

Check out the Danforth and Pape Facebook page if you want to learn how to get one yourself.