ProgressoR / Uzbekistan Progressive Rock Pages

News of Prog

February 2008 | January | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |

3.II+ Yes
3.II+ Arashk
3.II+ Xanadu
3.II+ Echolyn
3.II+ Nosound
3.II+ Caamora
3.II+ Bajaprog
3.II+ Gongzilla
3.II+ Syrens Call
3.II+ Tim Burness
3.II+ Moongarden
3.II+ Porcupine Tree
3.II+ Taylors Universe
3.II+ Deep Imagination
3.II+ Cuneiform Artists
3.II+ Progrock Records
3.II+ Cuneiform Records
3.II+ MoonJune Records
3.II+ MetalMind Records
3.II+ Primal Vinyl Records


BANDS & PERFORMERS:

Yes
(UK) / February 3, 2008

New release:

Image Entertainment is proud to present the release of Yes: Classic Artists, "Their Definitive Fully authorized Story" in a 2-Disc Deluxe Set. The DVD set has been available in stores since January 15. The story of Yes is as controversial as their music. The twists and turns of the band's career is now told for the first time in a series of exclusive interviews with Yes members past and present for this definitive and fully authorized DVD documentary. Praised and criticized for defining progressive rock, Yes have been surprising and delighting worldwide audiences for over five decades. On record and on stage, Yes created a fresh sound and striking visuals, blending genres and using state of the art technology to push boundaries, winning legions of new fans with each album. Tracing the musical journey from their debut album "Yes" (1969) until "Magnification" (2001) and beyond, the story of Yes is told by the members themselves in exclusive new interviews. The battle for recognition, the turmoil and upheaval, the stunts and pranks are revealed here and illustrated by archive performances, photographs and original music, including Roundabout, I've Seen All Good People, Siberian Khatru and Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Produced with full cooperation from the band, this documentary captures the musical vision and craftsmanship that continue to make Yes one of the great pioneers of sound. This 2-DVD set is packed with original music, rare and unseen photographs from personal collections, a performance archive, music promos, and includes 20-page full-color booklet. Extras include: Extended interviews, Music Videos, Rehearsal Footage and Stills Gallery.

Related Links:
View the Trailer for the DVD
Download cover art and fact sheet
Preferred Retail Link
Visit the Official Yes Site

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Arashk
(Iran) / February 3, 2008

New releases:

Arashk, an excellent progressive hard rock band from Iran, have just released "Sovereign", a follow-up to their debut CD "Abrahadabra" (review here), and are currently working on their third album, "Ustuqus-al-Uss".

Related Links:
Arashk

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Xanadu
(USA) / February 3, 2008

New release:

Classics & Image Entertainment present the CD release of the original Broadway cast recording from the hit Broadway musical, "Xanadu". The CD has been available in stores since January 8. The first smash hit of the 2007-2008 Broadway season turned out to be one of the biggest surprises in Broadway history: Xanadu, which roller-skated its way into the hearts of critics and audiences alike. A hilariously reinvented send-up of the 1980's Olivia Newton-John film flop, this irreverent musical adventure, about following your dreams when others say you shouldn't, spins along to the addictive original hit film score by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Xanadu follows the beautiful Greek muse Kira as she visits Venice Beach, CA in 1980 to induce an uninspired artist, Sonny, to build the first roller disco. When she accidentally falls in love with him, much to her jealous sister muses' dismay, chaos and fun abound, skate wheels turn and disco balls twirl. The updated script by Douglas Carter Beane takes the plot and dialogue to knee-slapping extremes, while the legendary chart-topping tunes get a musical theatre makeover via a stellar company of performers. This original Broadway cast recording will keep Xanadu in your head, and heart, forever.

Related Links:
Xanadu original Broadway Cast Recording Widget
Xanadu Video Stream
Download Xanadu press release etc
Xanadu Preferred Retail Link
Xanadu on Broadway Official Site

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Echolyn
(USA) / February 3, 2008

Latest news:

Echolyn work on their forthcoming studio album "Hey Little Man".

Related Links:
Echolyn

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Nosound
(Italy) / February 3, 2008

New release:

Nosound has just released their new album, "Lightdark", a follow-up to their debut album "Sol29".

Related Links:
Nosound

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Caamora
(UK / Poland) / February 3, 2008

New release and latest news:

Caamora returns with a new EP entitled "Embrace", which is the final step announcing the premiere of the epic production "She". This special release included 4 alternative versions of songs to be featured on the full-length "She". The EP will be available on 11th February 2008 (15th April 2008 in the US - via MVD). The worldwide premiere of "She" is scheduled for 25th February 2008 in Europe and 15th April 2008 in the US (via MVD). The premiere of "She" is scheduled for release on 10th March 2008 in Europe and 13th May 2008 in the US (via MVD). This extensive material will be available in the following formats: 2 CD, DVD, ltd. DVD+2CD, ltd. 2 CD DG (incl. bonus track), ltd. 3 LP (incl. bonus track) and a BOX: 2 CD studio, 2 CD live, 2 DVD (incl. bonus DVD with 6 acoustic tracks and extra interview footage).

Related Links:
Caamora

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BajaProg Festival
(Mexico) / February 3, 2008

Latest news:

The International Art Rock Festival BajaProg-2008 will be held from March 26 to 29, 2008, at the Teatro del Estado in Mexicaly, Mexico. Confirmed bands: Cast, Circa, Le Orme, New Trolls, Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, Riverside, Rocket Scientists, Omni, Abarax, Octopus, Djamra, Quikion, Prisma, Platurno, Alex Carpani Band and Alonso Arreola.

Related Links:
BajaProg Festival

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Gongzilla
(USA) / February 3, 2008

Latest news:

Gongzilla first released a series of mostly instrumental jazz-rock albums featuring second guitarists on each one, including jazz fusion legends Allan Holdsworth, David Torn, and David Fiuczynski. More recently, Gongzilla has included some US jam-band heroes in its live performances, like guitarist Chuck Garvey and percussionist Jim Loughlin, and has emphasized vocals, crafting songs that fuse with improvisational rock. The new studio record includes the aforementioned Garvey as well as Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee plus guitarist David Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos) and bassist Kai Eckhardt of Garaj Mahal. Contradictions and balance, Gongzilla's Hansford Rowe and Bon Lozaga sing cool songs that will singe your soul while balancing both the hyper precision and the rocking mayhem this band is capable of live.

Related Links:
Gongzilla

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Syrens Call
(France) / February 3, 2008

Forthcoming release:

Syrens Call's new outing "Live from The Abyss" (DVD+CD) will be released through Thundering Records in April 2008.

Related Links:
Syrens Call

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Tim Burness
(UK) / February 3, 2008

New release:

Tim Burness has released his new album "Vision On". It is mostly a return to his 70s and 80s progressive rock roots, combined with elements of British pop and ambient music. The nucleus of the band from 2004's "Finding New Ways To Love" remains: drummer Fudge Smith (ex-Pendragon, ex-Steve Hackett and others), bassist Keith Hastings (Bamboleo, ex-Alan Darby Band and others), and fellow Gong fan keyboard wizard Monty Oxy Moron, who has just finished another UK tour with legendary English punks The Damned. Other experienced guest musicians include percussionist Julian Franks who has previously worked with Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree. 2007 has seen Tim play a number of solo support slots to artists such as John Young, The Watch and Strangefish. Tim hopes to support "Vision On" with some full band gigs in 2008. The new album is released on Tim's own Expanding Consciousness label and is initially available through Tim's website and a small number of progressive rock outlets.

Related Links:
Tim Burness

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Moongarden
(Italy) / February 3, 2008

Forthcoming release:

The new Moongarden album "Songs From the Lighthouse" will be released on Galileo Records this month.

Related Links:
Moongarden

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Porcupine Tree
(UK) / February 3, 2008

New release:

To celebrate the general release of "Nil Recurring" by Porcupine Tree on February 18th, Peaceville Records have created a new mini-site at their website (check Related Links below). The site features info, downloads, audio samples and will also premiere the new video by Lasse Hoile for the track Normal on February 15.Fans can also download a special "Nil Recurring" banner from the site which will enable them to embed a Porcupine Tree audio player on their own site, blog or myspace. There are also French, Italian and German language versions of the mini-site. "Nil Recurring" follows the release of Porcupine Tree's Grammy-nominated "Fear of a Blank Planet" album. The mini-album (about 30 minutes of music) was written during the "Fear Of A Blank Planet" sessions, completed over the summer of 2007, and is now presented as a cohesive, self-contained Porcupine Tree work in its own right. The title track features Robert Fripp on lead guitar, and the album moves through the full Porcupine Tree spectrum of atmospheric ambience, melodic hooks, and crushing riffs. This edition is packaged in a deluxe super jewel case in textured slipcase. Porcupine Tree are regarded as one of the most impressive experimental/ progressive/ psychedelic rock bands to emerge from the UK since their inception in 1991, having enjoyed a successful recording career spanning over 15 years.

Related Links:
Porcupine Tree at Peaceville Records

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Taylor's Universe
(Denmark) / February 3, 2008

New release:

Taylor's Universe have just released a new studio album on LP entitled "Soundwall", although a CD edition will follow in not too long. Lineup: Robin Taylor (guitars, bass guitar, piano, organ, mellotron, synthesizers, percussion, voice), Michael Denner (of King Diamond / Mercyful Fate fame: guitars), Karsten Vogel (of Secret Oyster, Burning Red Ivanhoe and solo fame: soprano, alto & tenor saxophones), Rasmus Grosell (of Taylor's Universe: drums), Louise Nipper (voice) and Victoria Bjerre (voice).

Related Links:
>Robin Taylor

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Deep Imagination
(Italy) / February 3, 2008

New release:

New album "Gemstones" by Deep Imagination is out now as a CD + Bonus DVD on the SynGate Records label.

Related Links:
Deep Imagination

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Cuneiform Artist
(International) / February 3, 2008

Latest news:

Ahleuchatistas will be touring parts of the US in spurts, writing new music, and re-issuing their second album, "The Same and the Other", on Tzadik in February.

Beat Circus is preparing for a tour of the east coast in February 2008 to celebrate the release of the new album "Dreamland" produced by Martin Bisi. The tour dates run Feb 6-16, 2008 and will include shows with some of our favorite artists, including Nervous Cabaret, O'Death, The Cassettes, Flaming Fire, and Hallelujah The Hills.

Gregg Bendian (The Mahavishnu Project): Mahavishnu Project drummer Gregg Bendian will tour this spring with Genesis repertory group, The Musical Box, throughout the US and Canada. Aggregate Music is planning a spring release for "Research & Development", Bendian's first disc of solo percussion works since his critically acclaimed "Definite Pitch" was released in 1994.

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic:
Performances: Atlanta-based African-American spiritual singer Oral Moses traveled to Boston in late December for a rare live performance of the unusual Extreme Spirituals collaboration with Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. The performance took place on New Year's Eve at the historic Emmanuel Church as part of Boston's annual First Night events. A recording of this work was released by Cuneiform last year. Oral Moses is internationally known for his extensive repertoire of spirituals and art songs, and for his incredible bass-baritone voice. Extreme Spirituals includes live and processed vocals by Moses with innovative instrumental arrangements by Birdsongs. This winter Birdsongs will begin rehearsing new material for a 13th release, their first CD of new instrumental music since 2003's acclaimed The Iridium Controversy. The as-yet untitled disc is scheduled for 2009 release on Cuneiform. Erik Lindgren has been working on several compositions for the CD, and Ken Field finished 4 new pieces during his November 2007 residency fellowship at The MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire. Birdsongs is planning to perform some of this new material in the spring, tentatively in early May at the Broad Institute Theater in Cambridge, MA in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Cambridge Science Fair.
News: Ken Field's improvisational street beat brass band the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble will release Forked Tongue, a follow-up to their award-winning debut Year of the Snake, on Cuneiform in May 2008. The CD will include a unique treatment of Billy Idol's 80's hit "White Wedding", along with material by Field, Ornette Coleman, and others. Ken Field's original score for the Bridgman/Packer Dance piece Under the Skin was performed recently at Rhode Island College in Providence and at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Upcoming performances include the Alabama Dance Festival (January 18-20, 2008), the Flynn Center in Vermont (March 28, 2008), and Dance Umbrella in Austin, Tx (June 13-14).

David Borden / Mother Mallard (coming from David): 1. I am still retooling the band so that most everything we do is contained on Apple Laptops using REASON software for live performance. Besides me, Blaise Bryski and David Yearsley are the other keyboardists. Conrad Alexander plays the MalletKat. All of the above instruments are connected to the laptops via USB cables. The other band member is electric guitarist, Gabe Borden. In addition, Noni Korf Vidal and her husband Franck have joined Mother Mallard as digital video artists. 2. The current project involves producing a promotional DVD. This will feature short interviews with David and Gabriel Borden as well as clips showing the band playing from it's recent repertoire. Also included will be some images from past incarnations of the band. Most notably, there will be excerpts from a new piece honoring Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn who together had much to do with inventing modern dance. This 30-minute piece was a huge success when we premiered it at Cornell University last September. It is the first of several pieces that will use live video projection. Franck and Noni act as VJs and each performance is slightly different. I plan to send this DVD to various presenters at colleges and universities to hopefully arrange a 70th birthday tour during the 2008 - 2009 and 2009 - 2010 seasons. 3. Finally, the Mother Mallard web page is undergoing some basic changes with a new URL.

Djam Karet (coming from Gayle Elett): After more then twenty years together, Djam Karet is still alive and making music! Djam Karet is currently discussing the creation of a new CD. But we have not yet figured out exactly what style or focus the CD will have. Also the title and release date are not yet known. It will be difficult for us to make an album better then our previous release "Recollection Harvest", but we would like to try. Also, Chuck Oken, jr and Gayle Ellett have created a side-group of Electronic synth music, called Ukab Maerd. And we are planning on recording and releasing a CD of this music soon. Chuck Oken, jr is also planning on releasing some of his solo Electronic synth work on CD soon. Using his great collection of vintage analog synths, Mellotron, and modular & digital synths, his music has a beautifully dark and moody sound. Also, Gayle Ellett's new all-acoustic side-group Fernwood will be releasing their new CD "Almeria" by about March 1st 2008. Working with his friend Todd Montgomery, this pastoral and dreamy album is filled with the beautiful sounds of sitar, Greek & Irish bouzoukis, ruan, mandolin, guitar, harmonium, bulbul tarang, oud, gimbri, and other traditional World instruments.

Doctor Nerve (coming from Nick Didkovsky): Feb. 15th 2008, 7:00pm Doctor Nerve, Bone, Sirius String Quartet at Whitney Museum of American Art (Madison ave at 75th street, NYC). Nick has been invited to do a "composer's showcase". We'll open with Tube Mouth Bow String for string quartet and four talkboxes, followed by Zero Waste for solo piano and computer-generated score, then a set by Bone (Didkovsky/ Hugh Hopper/ John Roulat), finishing with a set by Doctor Nerve. Feb. 16th, 2008 Doctor Nerve and Bone double bill. Bunch of new Nerve tunes, too. And yes Ben Herrington is playing with Nerve tonight as well. March 30, 2008, 7:30 PM Didkovsky's Slim In Beaten Dreamers for brass quintet and drum set. Performed in LA's dazzling Walt Disney Concert Hall by CalArts New Millennium Performers, Wind and Brass Ensemble.

Peter Frohmader: Two brand new DVDs are available on NTSC from Peter Frohmader's Nekropolis: "Compilation I" (1988 - '07, 73 min) and "Compilation II" (1973 - '07, 100 min), including rare documents like live tracks, concert excerpts, experimental films, TV features and so on.

Hamster Theatre is currently on hold while Thinking Plague gears up for its European shows. After that, work will begin on the next HT installment, tentatively titled "Desert". They're also compiling the Original Masters (by Bob Drake) of their CD "Carnival Detournement", which will be the next pressing of the now out-of-print Cuneiform release.

Hugh Hopper: Humi - a new project with Yumi Hara Cawkwell, sensual improvised music. Hugh Hopper on bass and loops, Yumi on keyboards and voice.

Mats/Morgan Band: Upcoming tour dates: 4/3, Jeriko, Malmo, 8/3, 21st Anniversary Schizoid Boat, Stockholm, 29/3+30/3, Fasching, Stockholm, 30/5, Le Triton Le Lilas (France).

The Microscopic Septet: In December 2007 The Microscopic Septet completed a tour of Europe, including dates in Berlin, Hannover, Dresden, Ilmenau, Halle, Amsterdam, and a live show which was recorded for broadcast on Radio Bremen. The shows were well received everywhere. The Micros then returned to New York for a triumphant gig at Sweet Rhythm, and to record material for a new CD, the first new Micros recording since 1988, to be released in September on Cuneiform. Their regret at the departure of long-time Micro Paul Shapiro was tempered by joy at the addition of Mike Hashim on tenor saxophone. The Micros plan another European tour in late 2008, to promote the release of their new Cuneiform CD, and several gigs in the US, TBA.

Miriodor are currently working on their upcoming CD. It should be called "Avanti".

The Muffins have completed basic rhythm tracks for a new CD (no overdubs!); guest stars to be announced.

Radio Massacre International are currently recording the soundtrack for a film to be released late spring, details to be finalized.

Roswell Rudd: two new releases spring 2008: Roswell Rudd Qaurtet (June 24th release date on Sunnyside) and Roswell Rudd/ David Oquendo Duo (to be released on Pimiento in the spring).

Thinking Plague will appear at the Gouveia Art Rock Festival in Gouveia, Portugal this April, 2008.

University of Errors are looking forward to a tour in May and beyond. Releases planned are a DVD of their performance at the Gong Family Unconventional Gathering from November 2006 and also a possible DVD and CD documenting the Brazil gigs.

Upsilon Acrux are writing new material.

Related Links:
Cuneiform Records


RECORDING COMPANIES:

Progrock Records
(USA) / February 3, 2008

New releases:

  • Moongarden - "'Songs From the Lighthouse"
  • Invisigoth - "Narcotica"
  • Soul Secret - "Flowing Portraits"
  • Related Links:
    Progrock Records

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    Cuneiform Records
    (USA) / February 3, 2008

    New releases:

  • The Brotherhood Of Breath - "Eclipse at Dawn"
  • Beat Circus - "Dreamland"
  • Planeta Imaginario - "Biomasa"
  • Mats / Morgan Band - "Heat Beats Live"
  • Mats / Morgan Band - "Tourbook 1991-'07" (DVD)

    The Brotherhood Of Breath - "Eclipse at Dawn" (Jazz):
    In an era not known for its jazz big bands - the 1970s - the Brotherhood of Breath emerged from adversity and did the impossible. Based in London and led by white South African Chris McGregor, the Brotherhood made music that both swung in the big band tradition of Duke Ellington and Count Basie from days long past, and sqwonked in shared spirit with the new avant jazz improvising groups like the Globe Unity Orchestra - all at the same time, in a single tune. Fueling and firing it all were the rhythms of kwela, high life and other traditional African musics from the core band members' youth. The result - joyous and jubilant, sounding like no one else - was not merely a breath of fresh air for British jazz, but a revelation. While now cultural fusion is the norm in popular music and audience crossover a mainstream goal in the music industry, McGregor's work with The Brotherhood of Breath and its predecessor, The Blue Notes, a racially-mixed band based in South Africa, was groundbreaking politically, socially, and musically in its time. Cuneiform Record's newest release by Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath, "Eclipse at Dawn", continues the label's efforts to introduce the Brotherhood's music to a new generation of fans. Cuneiform's releases have sparked a renaissance of interest in the vibrant jazz scene surrounding the South African expatriate musicians in London in the '60s-70s - a scene whose roots lay in the adversity of Apartheid. The Brotherhood made only a handful of recordings during their lifetime. In the 2000s, to augment the Brotherhood's scarce (and mostly out of print) recorded output and reawaken interest in the band, Cuneiform began to release previously unreleased live recordings of Brotherhood concerts. Cuneiform Record's newest release by Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath, "Eclipse at Dawn", features a previously unreleased live recording of the Brotherhood's performance at the Berliner Philharmonie on November 4, 1971 as part of the Berliner Jazztage Festival. The CD is accompanied by a 16-page booklet containing liner notes by Marcello Carlin and historical photos of the band, taken by Roberto Masotti at the actual Berliner Jazztage Festival concert. "Eclipse at Dawn" is essential listening for anyone interested in: jazz big bands, 1970s and 1980s jazz, world music, jazz & world-music fusions, the anti-apartheid movement and the African diaspora, and British jazz.

    Beat Circus - "Dreamland" (Post Rock / Post Cabaret):
    Produced by Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans, The Dresden Dolls), Beat Circus' "Dreamland" is a dark American epic, cinematic in its scope. It is the first part in a Weird American Gothic trilogy of song cycles written by singer/ songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian Carpenter, the leader of Beat Circus - a band aligned with Boston's internationally recognized post-cabaret music scene (The Dresden Dolls, Reverend Glasseye). The "Dreamland" song cycle is based on historical fact - real people and events in the turn of the century Coney Island amusement park of the same name - interwoven with Carpenter's fictional tale of an impoverished, alcoholic gold miner who makes a pact with the devil before fleeing eastward to work in Dreamland's sideshows. To bring his historical fiction to life, Carpenter created a 150 page musical score that blends Vaudeville, cabaret, parlor songs and other old-time, pre-jazz American popular musical forms with modern composition and post-rock. The resulting music is a surreal new-folk Americana, resounding and brutal in musical and emotional power. Blurring the lines between past and present, fact and fiction, nightmares and the American Dream, Beat Circus' "Dreamland" exists in a perverse and magical netherworld, where reality shifts like sand on Coney Island's shore. Beat Circus' "Dreamland" CD is filled with unforgettable melodies and dark, gripping narratives. Outside of the music, the "Dreamland" CD is, as a physical package, a gorgeous object in and of itself, beautifully designed and lovingly researched and assembled. It contains a 12-page, full-color booklet that provides song titles, musician credits and lyrics (where applicable) for each track, gorgeously laid out by Dave Bias amidst original artwork and historical photos whose visuals expand and augment the meaning and mood of each song. The original cover art was created by Brian Dewan, a NY-based multimedia artist/ musician/ filmmaker. The gorgeous visuals supplied by Bias and Dewan augment the meaning and mood of the music on "Dreamland" and serve to further blur the line between historical fact and artistic fiction behind the Dreamland tale. Beat Circus will tour the East Coast USA in February.

    Planeta Imaginario - "Biomasa" (Jazz-Fusion / Progressive Rock):
    The band Planeta Imaginario (Imaginary Planet) is an extraordinary eight piece Spanish jazz-rock/fusion group that plays creative, genre bending electric fusions. Founded in Barcelona in 1999, the band is named after a radically creative children's TV show from the early 1980s. In its music, Planeta Imaginario takes listeners on a magical, sonic journey to a musical Utopia, touching like a time capsule on three decades of jazz and rock and creating unique, new musical fusions of psychedelia and progressive rock. On "Biomasa", Planeta Imaginario blends geographically and temporally disparate musical influences, from the English Canterbury School (National Health, Gilgamesh, Hatfield and the North) of progressive rock, Chick Corea's Spanish fusions, American guitar rock (a la The Allman Brothers Band), West African and Mediterranean rhythms into a fantastically creative, imaginative, evocative and uplifting musical brew. A studio recording, "Biomasa" is Planeta Imaginario's second album and its first release outside Spain, on Cuneiform. More mature and elaborate than the band's previous compositions, *BIOMASA*'s songs include a world of musical references - everything from A to Z, Allman Brothers to Zappa and influences from continents ranging from Africa to North America, Europe and beyond. Fans of instrumental music (especially various fusions, jazz-rock, progressive rock and related musics) are encouraged to explore the work of this remarkable Spanish band, whose music should appeal to listeners of such diverse artists as: Anekdoten, AKA moon, Area, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, King Crimson, Avishai Cohen, Steve Coleman, Deus ex Machina, Gabriel Faure, Gilgamesh, Hatfield at the North, Pat Metheny, Nucleus, Soft Machine, Van Der Graaf Generator, Frederic Mompou, National Health, Weather Report, Kenny Werner, Frank Zappa, and John Zorn.

    Mats / Morgan Band - "Heat Beats Live"(Jazz Rock / Avant-garde / Progressive):
    Singled out by iconoclastic genius Frank Zappa while youthful prodigies and invited to join Zappa's touring band before his death, the Swedish musicians Mats Oberg (keyboards) and Morgan …gren (drums) remain today one of the longest-running (over 25 years!) and most musically successful collaborations in the universe of fusion and progressive rock. Their Mats/Morgan Band has released eight albums and played countless festivals and concerts, and the two have also played and recorded with other bands, including appearing on a Grammy Award winning 1994 release by Zappa's Universe. In addition, both have successful independent careers. Regarded as "Sweden's top drummer", Morgan has played with Roine Stolt's group Kaipa, Fredrik Thordendal (guitarist for Meshuggah), Simon Steensland, Artis the Spoonman, Glen Hughes, Terry Bozzio, Mike Keneally, Dennis Walley, his own brother, guitarist Jimmy …gren, the electrified string group Fleshquartet, and many others. Mats and Morgan's latest collaborative release, "Heat Beats Live", a double-disc set from Cuneiform, showcases the matured promise that Zappa saw in the Swedish wunderkinds decades before. This new double-disc Cuneiform release contains "Heat Beats Live", a CD featuring recent live recordings by the Mats/Morgan Band at Stockholm's Club Fasching in May 2005 and April 2007, and in France at Le Triton, a club near Paris, in Sept. 2007. Besides Mats and Morgan, the live CD features performances by Tommy Tordsson (bass), Simon Steensland (baritone horn), Erik Steinberg (tenor sax), Martin Steinberg (alto sax), Jimmy …gren (guitar), and Robert Elovsson (keyboards). Mats/Morgan Band would be of interest for fans of Allan Holdsworth, King Crimson, National Health, Return To Forever, Stevie Wonder and Frank Zappa.
    The Cuneiform release also includes the first-ever DVD released by either of the band's leaders, titled "Tourbook 1991-'07", which features live and studio video footage of Morgan …gren. This is a drum extravaganza: a 16-year overview of Morgan's work. Containing nearly two hours of music in 65 tracks, it features Morgan playing both solo and with his "favorite musicians", including the Christer Karlberg Trio, Frederick Thordendal, Fleshquartet, Simon Steensland, P. Tjernberg, Jannis Eliasson Band, and playing Beefheart and Magma tributes. Most notably, the DVD features Morgan playing with the Mats/Morgan Band on numerous tracks - these are the first-ever DVD recordings released of that band.

  • Related Links:
    Cuneiform Records

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    Moonjune Records
    (USA) / February 3, 2008

    New release:

  • The Wrong Object - "Stories From the Shed"
  • Related Links:
    Moonjune Records

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    Metal Mind Records
    (Poland) / February 3, 2008

    Latest news:

    Metal Mind Productions is very proud to announce a multi licensing deal signed with Nuclear Blast Records for their interesting, valuable back-catalogue. In the first half of 2008 Metal Mind Productions will re-issue nearly 70 albums from their deep archives in new digipak editions, each title limited to 2000 copies, digitally remastered using 24-Bit process. The albums will include additional features like bonus audio or video material, biography, liner notes from artists etc.

    New releases:

  • SBB - "Complete Tapes 1974" 2CD
  • SBB - "Four Decades" DVD+CD
  • SBB - "Four Decades" DVD
  • Osada Vida - "Three Seats Behind a Triangle"
  • Anal Stench - "Red Revolution"
  • Acrophet - "Corrupt Minds"
  • Acrophet - "Faded Glory"
  • Crimson Glory - "Crimson Glory"
  • Crimson Glory - "Transcendence"
  • Pyorrhoea - "Desire For Torment"
  • Spinal Cord - "Stigmata Of Life"

    Forthcoming releases:

  • Metalmania - "Metalmania 2007" DVD+CD
  • Abomination - Abomination
  • Abomination - Tragedy strikes
  • Control Denied - The Fragile Art Of Existence
  • Macabre - Sinister Slaughter / Behind The Wall Of Sleep
  • Mortification - Scrolls of the Megilloth
  • Mortification - Post Momentary Affliction
  • Mortification - Blood World
  • Mortification - Primitive Rhythm Machine
  • Mortification - Envision Evangelene
  • Mortification - Triumph of Mercy
  • Mortification - Hammer of God
  • Mortification - The Silver Cord Is Severed / 10 Years Live Not Dead
  • Mortification - Conquer The World
  • Delight - Breaking Ground
  • Winter - Into Darkness / Eternal Frost
  • Onslaught - Live Polish Assault DVD+CD
  • Crowbar - Crowbar
  • Crowbar - Live + 1
  • Crowbar - Time Heals Nothing
  • Solitude Aeternus - Through The Darkest Hour
  • Solitude Aeternus - Downfall
  • Gardenian - Sindustries / Soulburner 2CD
  • Disgust - A World Of No Beauty
  • Final Breath - Mind Explosion
  • Flotsam And Jetsam - When The Storm Comes Down
  • Flotsam And Jetsam - Cuatro
  • Flotsam And Jetsam - Drift
  • Flotsam And Jetsam - Dreams of Death
  • Dragon - Scream Of Death
  • Dragon - Fallen Angel
  • Par Lindh Project - PLP In Concert Live In Poland DVD
  • Par Lindh Project - PLP In Concert Live In Poland DVD+CD
  • Pallas - Moment To Moment DVD
  • Pallas - Moment To Moment DVD+CD
  • Caamora - Embrace EP
  • Caamora - She Live DVD
  • Caamora - She Live DVD+2CD
  • Caamora - She 2CD
  • Caamora - She 3 LP
  • Caamora - She: The Definitive Edition Box 4CD+2DVD
  • Related Links:
    Metal Mind Records

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    Primal Vinyl Records
    (UK) / February 3, 2008

    Latest news:

    Primal Vinyl are pleased to announce the launch of our new vinyl re-issue label, Primal Vinyl Records. Our aim is to bring vinyl collectors classic and progressive rock albums previously unavailable in vinyl format. As our first release, Primal Vinyl Records have issued IQ's 2004 progressive rock masterpiece, "Dark Matter", on vinyl for the very first time. The LP has been pressed on 180 gm virgin vinyl and comes in a glorious gatefold sleeve specifically designed by Tony Lythgoe. This is a limited edition run of 1500 copies, and is the first in what we hope will be a series of IQ vinyl re-issues. The release date for IQ - "Dark Matter" is 28th January 2008.

    Related Links:
    Primal Vinyl Records

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    ProgressoR / Uzbekistan Progressive Rock Pages