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News of Prog

March 2017 | February | January | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |

31.III+ ARW
31.III+ Skyclad
31.III+ Galahad
31.III+ Carptree
31.III+ Spock’s Beard
31.III+ Karisma
31.III+ InsideOut
31.III+ MoonJune
31.III+ Cuneiform
31.III+ Giant Electric Pea


BANDS & PERFORMERS:

ARW
(UK) / March 31, 2017

Latest news & Forthcoming release:

ARW – Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman – are currently working on their first studio LP. So far, Jon Anderson‘s current union with former Yes bandmates Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman has mainly existed as a touring unit. Before too long, however, fans can expect to hear some new music from the trio in the form of a studio album. Anderson issued an update on the group’s future plans during a recent interview with Billboard, revealing that their concert commitments haven’t kept them from making fairly substantial progress on their first LP. In fact, he predicted that, by summer, they’ll have “half an album finished”. Given fans’familiarity with their work together in Yes, it isn’t too hard to imagine what the result will sound like. Still, Anderson insists there’ll be a few surprises on the album. “It’s very different from anything we’ve done before, which we’re pretty happy about”, he said, “hopefully breaking new ground, sound-wise.” In the modern record industry — particularly for veteran acts — making an album is only half the battle; there are also countless questions regarding how to release and promote it, and Anderson admits he, Rabin and Wakeman haven’t really come to any conclusions in terms of a release plan for whatever they end up recording. “We don’t know the best way to release them yet”, he said of the songs, “but we’re thinking very positively about new music. If we are lucky enough to get people playing it on the radio, then great. But if not, we’ve been there many times and we do have many fans all over the world, so we’ve just got to figure out how to release it for them.” Editor’s note: They had to call the project Yes WAR, or, as a last resort, RAW Yes :-).

Related Links:
ARW

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Skyclad
(UK) / March 31, 2017

Forthcoming release:

Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK-based band, Skyclad, will release their 13th studio album, the 13-track “Forward into the Past”, on April 28 via Listenable Records. Since their inception, Skyclad has created songs out of a highly original and influential sound mixing heavy metal and folk rock. Their lyrics have been generally permeated by political, social and environmental matters, and the new album seems to be no exception, as vocalist Kevin Ridley comments: "The songs are about politics, the environment and the music business and so on. These are mixed with the standard Skyclad fayre of traditional bawdy/drinking type of songs and songs with blues and more 'ethnic' feels." “Forward into the Past” artwork by Duncan Storr (who previously drew paintings for Edge Of Sanity, Rage and Hawking) displays the mesmerizing face of a man made out of trees and branches, as Kevin Ridley elaborates: “The 'green man' or 'storyteller' image used here is a traditional image (from Roman times, at least in the UK), which is usually taken as showing the close interdependence between man and nature.” That natural feel is also largely expressed in the album production: "I think the new album sounds, warm, natural and 'real' (i.e. not processed or overproduced).” Line-up: Kevin Ridley – vocals; Georgina Biddle – violin, keyboards; Steve Ramsey – guitars; Dave Pugh – guitars; Graeme English – bass; Arron Walton – drums.

Related Links:
Skyclad

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Galahad
(UK) / March 31, 2017

Forthcoming release:

The British neo-prog band Galahad has finished working on its new album, "Quiet Storms" (CD), which shows its mellower side. The recording consists of 15 tracks ranging from 2 to 9 mins, its total playing time exceeding 75 mins. Line-up: Stuart Nicholson: vocals; Roy Keyworth: el. guitar; Dean Baker: keyboards; Tim Ashton: el. bass; Spencer Luckman: drums; with: Christina Booth (Magenta): vocals; Karl Groom (Threshold): ac. guitar; Louise Curtis: violin; Sarah Bolter: clarinet, saxophone, lute, backing vocals. The album will be released on May 28 via the Polish label Oscar Records.

Related Links:
Galahad

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Carptree
(Sweden) / March 31, 2017

Forthcoming release:

The Swedish neo-prog project Carptree, the brainchild of keyboardist and songwriter Carl Westholm (ex-Candlemass), will release its new album, "Emerger", via Reingold Records (CD, on April 7) and via – Carl’s own label – Fosfor Creation (LP, on May 5). The album is made up of 8 tracks and lasts for 55 mins. Line-up: Carl Westholm – keyboards; Nicklas Flinck – vocals; with: No Future Orchestra.

Related Links:
Carptree

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Spock's Beard
(USA) / March 31, 2017

Latest news & Forthcoming release:

The American neo-prog band Spock's Beard has revealed the exciting news that founding member Nick D'Virgilio will be onboard for the recording of their new studio album, which will follow their 2015 release "The Oblivion Particle". "Nick, of course, is well known to SB fans as our former drummer/lead singer/all around awesome dude as well as for working with artists such as Genesis, Peter Gabriel and Mike Keneally among others. Nick was with us when we first started and we are over the moon to have him back with us for this album! We know you'll be as excited as we are to hear what we will be able to create with him back pounding the skins. We've been writing new material and plan to start recording in earnest in May.” Line-up: Ted Leonard – lead vocals, guitars; Alan Morse – el. & ac. guitars, mandolin, autoharp, backing vocals; Ryo Okumoto – organ, mellotron, piano, clavinet, synthesizers; Dave Meros – bass, backing vocals; Nick D'Virgilio – drums, lead & backing vocals.

Related Links:
Spock's Beard

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RECORDING COMPANIES:

Karisma
(Norway) / March 31, 2017

Forthcoming release:

  • Bjorn Riis – "Forever Comes to an End"

    Karisma Records presents: "Forever Comes to an End", the new solo album by Norwegian guitarist, singer and songwriter Bjorn Riis (Airbag). The album is comprised of 7 tracks. Line-up: Bjorn Riis (Airbag): guitars, vocals; with: Henrik Fossum (Airbag): drums; Asle Tostrup: programming; Simen Valldal Johannessen: piano; Sichelle Mcmeo Aksum: vocals. Genre: Progressive Rock. Format: CD, vinyl, digital. Release date: May 19.

    Related Links:
    Karisma

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    InsideOut
    (Germany/USA) / March 31, 2017

    Forthcoming releases:

  • Lonely Robot – "The Big Dream"
  • Nad Sylvan – "The Bride Said No"

    InsideOut Music presents: "The Big Dream", the new album by the British neo-progressive rock band Lonely Robot. There are 11 tracks on the recording, plus there are 3 bonus tracks, the last of which appears as another new composition. Line-up: John Mitchell (Arena, Kino, Frost*) – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards; Craig Blundell (Pendragon, Steven Wilson) – drums; with: Kim Seviour (Touchstone) – vocals (on track 14). Format: CD, vinyl, digital. Release date: April 28.

    "The Bride Said No", the new solo album by American neo-prog musician and songwriter Nad Sylvan, will be released on May 26. The recording lasts for 60 mins and consists of 9 tracks ranging from 1 to 12 mins. Line-up: Nad Sylvan (Steve Hackett, Agents of Mercy) – vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming; with: Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Stick Men) – Chapman stick, upright & el. bass; Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, Karmakanic, The Tangent) – bass; Doane Perry (Jethro Tull) – drums; Steve Hackett (solo, ex-Genesis) – guitars; Anders Wollbeck – keyboards, orchestration; Sheona Urquhart – saxophone, vocals; and a few more musicians. Format: CD, vinyl, digital.

    Related Links:
    InsideOut

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    MoonJune
    (USA) / March 31, 2017

    Latest news:

  • Markus Reuter & Friends – “Kopfmensch”

    MoonJune Records presents: “Kopfmensch” (free download), a 16-track compilation, 70 mins of post-modern music. “Kopfmensch”, the natural predecessor of Markus Reuter's “Fool of Music” (already featured as a free download by MoonJune Records), is a collection of 16 tracks that work as the perfect introduction to Markus. Compiled and remixed by Markus and producer Adrian Benavides, “Kopfmensch” presents highlights from Centrozoon (with Bernhard Wostheinrich and Tim Bowness), Stick Men (with Pat Mastelotto and Tony Levin), Europa String Choir (with Udo Dzierzanowski and Cathy Stevens), plus his critically acclaimed collaborations with Ian Boddy, Adrian Benavides, Pat Mastelotto (under the "Tuner" moniker), 05Ric (under the "Blld" moniker), Robert Rich, Tim Motzer and Toyah Willcox (under the "This Fragile Moment" moniker). Even for those fans who own the original CDs and releases, “Kopfmensch” includes many remixed and alternative versions, making it a must for fans of this innovative guitarist and composer. (Donations gladly accepted):

    Related Links:
    MoonJune

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    Cuneiform
    (USA) / March 31, 2017

    New releases:

  • Thinking Plague – “Hoping Against Hope”
  • Chicago / London Underground – “A Night Walking Through Mirrors”
  • The Microscopic Septet – “Been Up So Long It Looks Like Down to Me”
  • The Ed Palermo Big Band – “The Great Un-American Songbook Vol I & II”

    Cuneiform Records presents: “Hoping against Hope”, the new album by Thinking Plague, one of America’s most profound rock bands. Thinking Plague is often cited as the leading light of the American arm of the Rock-In-Opposition (RIO) movement, a term associated with European outfits such as Henry Cow, Art Zoyd, Univers Zero and Present, who fused elements and instruments from rock and neoclassical music with compositional rigor and DIY aesthetics. “Hoping against Hope” is a darkly beautiful and complex album that offers hope against hope, against the hope that things will somehow work out for the best, or that someone will somehow fix it all for us. In a time when hope seems both scarcer and more necessary than ever, Thinking Plague don’t offer the fleeting consolation of a fairy tale, but the enduring and tangible value of an unvarnished and courageous artistic response.

    Chicago / London Underground – “A Night Walking Through Mirrors” (Jazz) :(

    The Microscopic Septet – “Been Up So Long It Looks Like Down to Me” (Jazz) :(

    Ed Palermo Big Band – “The Great Un-American Songbook” (Big Band Jazz) :( :(

    Related Links:
    Cuneiform

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    Giant Electric Pea
    (UK) / March 31, 2017

    Forthcoming release:

  • Damanek – "On Track"

    Giant Electric Pea Records presents: "On Track", the new album (CD) by the UK/US neo-progressive rock band Damanek. There are 8 tracks "On Track". Line-up: Guy Manning (The Tangent) – lead & backing vocals, keyboards, guitars, acoustic instruments, percussion; Dan Mash (The Tangent) – bass; Marek Arnold (Toxic Smile) - saxophones, clarinet, keyboards; Sean Timms (Unitopia) - keyboards, banjo; with Brody Thomas Green (Southern Empire) –drums; Tim Irrgang – percussion; Antonio Vittozzi – guitar; Julie King – backing vocals; and a few more musicians.

    Related Links:
    Giant Electric Pea

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