Tag: Giancarlo Erra

Nosound Cover Pink Floyd’s Echoes

On By bradbirzerIn Uncategorized4 Comments

artworks-000011754621-tdrn2o-t500x500I know that I can get into all kinds of trouble for stating this, but, when covers are done well, they’re often even better than the originals.  And, I don’t mean to degrade the originals.  For example, I think NDV’s Rewiring Genesis does an even better job at LAMB LIES DOWN than did Genesis originally.  Heresy???  Maybe.  But, it’s true.

Here’s another example.  I love Pink Floyd’s Echoes.  I was probably 14 or so when my friend and sometime debate colleague, Darrin, showed me Pink Floyd’s Live in Pompei on laser disc.  I was blown away.

But, this version (linked below) is even better.  I’m sure production and technological advances have something do with it.  But, I also think it’s because the covers do come later, and the folks who cover them often have integrated the songs into their very being in ways the original writers probably didn’t.

Yes, start writing crazy things about me in the posts comments!  At 45, I’m thick skinned enough to take it!!!

So, here’s the cover and the masterpiece: Nosound’s version of Pink Floyd’s Echoes.  Makes me just sigh in wonder.  Erra is a genius.  And, he “just gets it.”

https://soundcloud.com/kscopemusic/nosound-echoes-pink-floyd-live

Nosound, “Afterthoughts”–a must own (brief)

On By bradbirzerIn Uncategorized1 Comment

afterthoughts640After posting a brief note this weekend re: the forthcoming album from Nosound, “Afterthoughts,” Giancarlo Erra himself (!) contacted me.  What a gracious man he is.

Thanks to his good graces, I have now had a chance to listen to a preview/promo of the new album several times.  In fact, I’m on at least my sixth time.  And, I’ve the had the chance to listen to it on at least three different types of devices.

“Afterthoughts” is stunning.  I–and perhaps a few other progarchists as well–will review this fully.  But, if you’re looking for something to preorder, make sure this is it.  Fantastic, melancholic yet uplifting, intense, organic, deep, imaginative–everything you expect from Nosound and then some.  A 2013 must-own.

To preorder (and YOU SHOULD!), click here.

 

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Also, in doing a brief bit of research on Nosound, I came upon this insightful interview from Prognaut:

http://prognaut.com/interviews/giancarlo-erra-nosound.html

Nosound–Quite the Contrary

On By bradbirzerIn Uncategorized4 Comments

comboweb640 (1)There can be no doubt that this will be one very, very great year for Prog.  We’ve already had masterpieces from Big Big Train and Cosmograf.  Sanguine Hum has released its second, though it’s still not available in North America.  Matt Stevens, Ayreon, Heliopolis, Advent, and the Tin Spirits are working on new albums as well.  Very exciting.

One of the albums I’m most looking forward to this year is the new studio album (KScope–May 6, 2013) from Nosound, “Afterthoughts.”  It will be their fourth studio release.

Sea of Tranquility was able to get a hold of a pre-release copy and has offered an excellent review.  You can read it here.

I’ve been a huge fan of this Italian (now, Anglo-Italian with the addition of Chris Maitland on drums) post-prog act for coming up on a decade now.  Indeed, I find Lightdark (2008) and A Sense of Loss (2009) to be essential parts of any serious progger’s library.  When music historians look back on this current revival of prog, the albums of Nosound will stand at the forefront–along with the works of Big Big Train, Glass Hammer, Gazpacho, Cosmograf, Ayreon, and The Fierce and the Dead . . . and many others (what a great time to be a prog fan!).

This music is contemplative and wave-like, without ever descending into the abyss of self-absorption or ascending into the madness of over-the-top ELPism.  Probably the best descriptive of Nosound’s perfectionist sound would be: tasteful.

Nosound’s official website is: http://nosound.net/.  I preordered “Afterthoughts” the moment the CD was announced, and I very much look forward to reviewing it.