"Forever Live" DVD boxed set
Work is now almost complete on this project, and Mike Holmes has completely re-mixed the 1993 concert in both stereo and surround-sound formats. IQ are currently sifting through some real collectables for some juicy bonus material. The plan is to release "Forever Live" as two double sided discs (with DVD on one side and audio on the other) in a presentation box that's a smaller version of the old VHS boxed set. The musicians are hoping to have this one out in time for their shows in September.
"Dark Mattour" (working title) double live DVD set
Last year's concerts, the first with new drummer Andy Edwards were very successful and several of the shows were filmed including the NEARfest and Burg Herzberg festivals. The plan is to release these two shows as a DVD double pack. Work on the sound and vision mix of the Burg Herzberg show is now almost complete. Work has also started on the NEARfest show, which being in a large theatre is a complete contrast to the hippy festival at Burg Herzberg. IQ are hoping to get this double pack released in time for Christmas.
New IQ studio album The process of writing a new IQ studio album is now in full swing and the band hope to have at least one new track in the set for September. Release of the new album is tentatively put at early 2007. (There is the review of the band's latest release on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
More forthcoming releases on IQ's GEP label:
Martin Orford - 2006 - "The Old Road" (new solo album)
Martin now has finished drum tracks for 7 songs following a recent visit to these shores from Spock's Beard/Genesis/Tears For Fears drummer Nick d'Virgilio. Nick has done a fantastic job, and Martin is currently recording keyboards and guitars in readiness for other guests to add their parts. There is still one more song to record drums for, which will see Andy Edwards making a guest appearance. There is no definite release date for "The Old Road", but Martin is optimistic about completion in late 2006. (There is the review of Martin's first solo CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
By the way, Martin has now ended his long association with Jadis. He explains, "I will always have a soft spot for Jadis, but the band has been very much Gary's baby for quite a long time now. With the music becoming increasingly guitar-dominated, there really isn't much for a keyboard player to do in it anymore which is why I decided to concentrate instead on projects where I have more scope to show what I can do."
Steve Thorne - 2006 - "Emotional Creatures, Part II" Steve's new album is nearing completion and is pencilled in for an October release. Steve describes the new album as "proggier than the last one"(!), and regular guest stars Tony Levin, Geoff Downes, Nick d'Virgilio and Dave Meros together with Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison have already recorded their parts. (There is the review of Steve's first CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
IQ Silver Jubilee 25th anniversary tour dates
(The final schedule for the IQ 2006 tour):
Day Shift present their second CD "Of Whispers", released on June 29. The band have been working on this CD over the winter/spring and it's come out of hibernation this summer with 10 new songs they've recorded for it. The track listing is as follows: The Queen of Whispers, Evil People in Cars, Sand Head, The Burning Bush, Little Steps, Shift, Drift, Out of My Skin, Undercover and Never. You can download clips from the music page of their website. The CD is available to buy using PayPal from their website. (There is the review of the band's first CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
Festival:
Day Shift are playing at The Eastern Haze Festival on Sunday 23rd July. They will be on stage at about 12:30 pm. Also playing at this festival are Hawkwind, Senser, Dreadzone, Eat Static plus many, many other live acts across 4 stages. Check out the .
Website:
The band have been altering their website over the last few weeks to include details and images from their new CD. Check it out at
Myspace:
Four songs are available for you to listen to, including 3 from the new CD: The Queen of Whispers, Shift, Undercover and The Happy Elephant.
Other news:
Bob Leek has been busy with his other project Mr. Sketchy. There are 3 new songs available to download on the from the music page. There is also a , where you can listen to more Mr. Sketchy music.
Elegant Simplicity have finished mixing their new album "Nowhere Left To Turn". (There is the review of the band's latest CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
Acclaimed American progressive rock legends Rocket Scientists have returned to the studio after an 8 year hiatus and are proud to announce the forthcoming release of their new epic double CD album, "Revolution Road". Combining Rocket Scientists' extraordinary blend of melodic and memorable songwriting with adventurous instrumental fireworks, "Revolution Road" takes the band to new heights of artistic achievement. Founding members Erik Norlander (keyboards), Mark McCrite (guitar, vocals) and Don Schiff (NS/Stick) started writing and demoing songs for the album in 2002 and even played some California concert dates. But following the loss of their drummer Shaun Guerin, the project was put on hold. The three musicians continued to collaborate on other projects including Lana Lane's "Winter Sessions" and "Lady Macbeth" CDs and Norlander's "Music Machine" concept album. Norlander also produced Don Schiff's remarkable 2005 solo album, "Peering Over Clouds". But following the Lana Lane 10th Anniversary Tour in 2005, McCrite, Norlander and Schiff officially reunited again as Rocket Scientists and began to record this new studio opus.
"Revolution Road" brings two new musicians to the Rocket Scientists universe. Drummer Gregg Bissonette, who previously played on Norlander's "Music Machine" and Lana Lane's "Covers Collection" and "Winter Sessions" CDs, brings his dynamic versatility and technical excellence to the band. South Carolina's David McBee has also been brought in as the second lead vocalist. McBee's powerful hard rock vocal ethic is the perfect contrast to McCrite's smooth and warm vocal stylings. Together, the two vocalists are a formidable pair that take Rocket Scientists to new uncharted worlds. "Revolution Road" is produced by Erik Norlander, and it contains stunning artwork from Polish surrealist Jacek Yerka who painted the cover to the band's last album, "Oblivion Days", Schiff's solo album, "Peering Over Clouds", as well the unforgettable covers that appear on the many famous Lana Lane albums. "Revolution Road" is a new milestone for Rocket Scientists, and it is one that will surely send the band to new altitudes. The album will be released worldwide on September 23, 2006. (There is the review of the band's second CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
Erik Norlander (of Rocket Scientists) also announces his first solo DVD, to be released on July 26, 2006. The DVD is called "Erik Norlander and Friends - Live in St. Petersburg", documenting his landmark concert in St. Petersburg, Russia. "Erik Norlander and Friends - Live in St. Petersburg" contains 90 minutes of concert material from this spectacular event plus the 45-minute documentary, "The Road to Russia", which tells the story of Erik's three month tour across the USA and Europe leading up to the final concert in St. Petersburg. The documentary contains interviews with Erik and all of the contributing musicians along with additional concert performances from American and European shows. "Erik Norlander and Friends - Live in St. Petersburg" also contains a bonus audio CD with the best tracks from the concert along with two studio tracks including a soaring cover of From Russia With Love featuring the iconic vocals of Norlander's wife, Lana Lane.
"Erik Norlander and Friends - Live in St. Petersburg" features the vocals of Lana Lane along with the now familiar voice of Kelly Keeling who appeared previously on Norlander's "Music Machine" (2003) and "Stars Rain Down" (2004) CDs. Keeling also plays bass in the concert ably switching between fretless and fretted basses throughout the show. Joining Norlander, Lana and Keeling on stage are the Dutch musicians Peer Verschuren on guitar and Ernst Van Ee on drums who have been touring together with Norlander and Lane for several years from Europe to Japan. Verschuren and Van Ee have been previously featured on Norlander's "Stars Rain Down" album and also appear on the recent Lana Lane titles, "Lady Macbeth" and "10th Anniversary Concert" (both 2005). Like Kelly Keeling, Peer Verschuren was also a prominent contributor to Norlander's 2003 rock opera, "Music Machine", so it is no surprise that many tracks from this masterwork have found their way into the St. Petersburg concert.
"Erik Norlander and Friends - Live in St. Petersburg" also showcases Norlander's uncanny ability for re-interpreting cover songs by his favorite artists. Norlander's version of the Procol Harum classic A Salty Dog moved audiences around the world with the soulful voice of Kelly Keeling delivering the lyrics with power and substance. A Salty Dog was brought into the set to follow Norlander's Rocket Scientists standard Mariner, which Keeling also takes to new heights with his soaring vocals and fluid fretless bass. Another classic cover featured on the DVD is Norlander's arrangement of In the Court of the Crimson King sung with grace and style by Lana Lane as she has done in concert since her "Queen of the Ocean" tour in 1999. In addition to the bow to original prog rockers King Crimson, Norlander also puts in nods to Vivaldi and Grieg as part of the piece. The final cover song on the DVD is a new studio recording of the James Bond theme, From Russia With Love, sung by Lana Lane and used as the soundtrack to a video montage of the group's visit to Russia.
As with Norlander's previous DVD effort, the "Lana Lane 10th Anniversary Concert", the "Live in St. Petersburg" DVD is expertly mixed in Dolby Stereo and also in DTS 5.1 Surround to capture all the subtle nuances of the concert experience. The bonus audio CD is packed with 78 minutes of music, the best performances from the St. Petersburg concert plus the studio tracks of From Russia With Love and a new version of Fanfare for Absent Friends which first appeared on Norlander's 2004 electronic effort "Seas of Orion". Both tracks feature Ernst Van Ee on drums and Don Schiff on NS/Stick and were recorded especially for this release.
"Live in St. Petersburg" [91:30] contains the concert performances of: Fanfare for Absent Friends-I, Neurosaur, Dreamcurrents, Mariner, A Salty Dog, Sky Full of Stars, Alexandria, Guardian Angel, Oblivion Days, Peer's Guitar Solo, Beware the Vampires, Secrets of Astrology, Fallen, One of the Machines, Fanfare for Absent Friends-II.
"The Road to Russia" [51:30] documentary contains performances of the songs: In the Court of the Crimson King (Cal Prog 2004 festival), Sky Full of Stars, Mariner (both from 2004 European Tour), and From Russia With Love (new studio recording with video montage) along with extensive interviews with Erik Norlander, Lana Lane, Kelly Keeling, Peer Verschuren and Ernst Van Ee.
Total DVD running time: 2 hours, 23 minutes. Bonus audio CD running time: 77:30.
1) Frogg Cafe have signed an exclusive distribution deal with . 10T President Steve Carroll had this to say, "The Label's mission is to create a cooperative environment where artists, label and promotions work together to elevate the quality of our products, maximize media and press exposure, and increase retail and online sales." The band say it's a great label and that they are excited to be a part of it.
2) Frogg Cafe and their new live CD: The band are finishing up production at the new Capt. Cabesa studios. This will be their first release with 10T Records. They're also going to let the tape run this week on a group improvisational session, similar to their 2002 CD-R entitled "Noodles". Speaking of "Noodles", it will be available for the first time for retail sale on the 10T website in a couple of weeks.
3) Frogg Cafe to play Bellastock Festival on Sunday, July 16:
East Jewitt, NY 12424, 12pm - Doors
12:30pm - Frogg Cafe, 2pm - Ryan Montbleau Band
Tickets - $30 weekend pass
Other bands on Friday and Saturday include: Dynamic Stew, Positive Mental Trip, Wreckloose, Cliff Street, Licorice, School Bus Yellow, Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets and many more.
4) Frogg Cafe live at the NJ ProgHouse on Saturday, September 16:
Old Franklin Schoolhouse, 491 Middlesex Ave (RT 27)
Metuchen, NJ 08840, Time and Ticket info TBA
5) Frogg Cafe's other upcoming shows:
Thursday, June 29
Knitting Factory Old Office, 74 Leonard Street
New York City, NY 10013
212-219-3132
9:00 - 11:00 Frogg Cafe
Tickets - $8 at the door
Thursday, July 6
Nectar's 188 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 658-4771
9 pm - Fluttr Effect, 11 pm - Frogg Cafe 2 sets
Summer's End Festival 2006 will be held on September 30 and October 1, 2006. Venue: The Robin 2 Club in Bilston, UK.
The inaugural festival, held in Gloucester last year, was a one-day event, which was universally praised, both by those who attended and by those who played. This year, with a new venue and format, it will be even better. For 2006, the festival will take place over two days, Saturday September 30th and Sunday October 1st at the festival's new home, The Robin 2, Bilston, one of the UK's premier live music venues.
The line-up draws together some of the best progressive rock bands and performers from the UK and the wider European prog scene and is confirmed as:
Saturday 30/09, Afternoon: Ezra + Credo + White Willow (headlining)
Saturday 30/09 Evening: TBC + Strangefish + Pendragon (h/l)
Sunday 1/10 Aftnn: Darwin's Radio + Pure Reason Revolution + Flamborough Head (h/l)
Sunday 1/10 Evnng: Guy Manning + Also Eden + The Flower Kings (h/l)
Tickets will be available on-line through and and by post, by phone or in person from the Robin box office.
The following are 3 all new recording projects Djam Karet plan on creating for possible release in 2007:
Djam Karet / Richard Pinhas collaboration:
Djam Karet have been huge fans of Richard Pinhas's pioneering work for over 20 years. Tracks have been exchanged between them and Richard, and they are beginning work on a project that will meld the outer limits of analog synths and digital sound processing.
New Djam Karet CD:
There have been lots of undercurrents and new lands explored during the last few releases that will be brought to the forefront in the next Djam Karet release. They are also considering filming a live performance in our studio, to help make this a unique CD/DVD package.
New Djam Karet film makers collaboration DVD:
Djam Karet are also starting to work on a DVD collaboration project with numerous film makers from around the world. These are today's top indie art/experimental film directors who have been shaping the world of film/video for many years. Djam Karet will be sending them new DK music, and they'll have total freedom to make whatever visual images the music inspires them to create.
Austrian guitarist Alex Machacek makes stunning stateside splash with his new CD [Sic] featuring Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck and UK alumnus Terry Bozzio on drums. Release Date: August 15, 2006.
One of the most extraordinary players to emerge in recent years on the contemporary guitar scene, Austrian axeman Alex Machacek makes his stunning stateside debut with [Sic] on the Abstractlogix label. A resident of Los Angeles since October 2004, Machacek has been something of an underground phenomenon on the West Coast. His considerable talents have already been championed by such renowned guitarists as Steve Vai, Steve Khan and the late Shawn Lane and drew kudos from jazz critic Bill Milkowski, who wrote in his liner notes to [Sic]: "Imagine a composite of Allan Holdsworth's stunning legato chops and advanced harmonic language with Mike Keneally's exacting virtuosity and Frank Zappa's fiercely uncompromising 'difficult music' and you're getting close to where this visionary new talent is operating".
Born in 1972, Machacek grew up in Vienna, where he began studying classical guitar at the age of eight and continued for six years. While his early interest in guitar outside the classical field tended toward rock (Queen, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden), he later gravitated toward jazz, with a particular interest in jazz guitar great Joe Pass. At age 16, Alex enrolled at the Conservatory of Vienna, where he studied jazz guitar. During his formative years he gained invaluable bandstand experience in a wide variety of groups, from Dixieland to pop cover bands, big band to musical theater, singer-songwriter to contemporary classical as well as sitting in on jam sessions. A turning point in his development came after he encountered the music of guitar god Allan Holdsworth. Some years after his introduction to Holdsworth's wholly unique approach to guitar playing, Machacek had a similar encounter with Frank Zappa's music, which had a significant impact on him. In 1993, Alex attended a summer course in Perugia, Italy, where he won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. It was during his stay at Berklee that he fortified his own approach to the guitar. At the time, the prevailing attitude among aspiring guitarists was to emulate either Pat Metheny or John Scofield, while the strictly straight ahead contingent identified more with the Pat Martino-Wes Montgomery camp. After completing two semesters at Berklee, Machacek returned to the Conservatory of Vienna to complete his degree in Jazz Education. He was named Guitar Newcomer for 1998 in a European guitar competition and the following year debuted as a leader with Featuring Ourselves. That same year, 1999, he was introduced to his favorite drummer, Terry Bozzio, which later led to the formation of an unorthodox trio with saxophonist Gerald Preinfalk. In 2001, they recorded Delete and Roll under the collective name BPM (for Bozzio, Preinfalk, Machacek) in Austin, Texas, where Bozzio currently lives with his family. In 2002, BPM subsequently did two European tours. In 2003 Machacek and Bozzio performed with the former Zappa bassist Patrick O'Hearn (who had played alongside Bozzio on Zappa in New York). Their remarkable chemistry is documented on the DVD Out Trio. In October of 2004, Machacek and his wife Sumitra moved from their home base of Vienna to Los Angeles, where the guitarist has since created quite a buzz with his local appearances. Bozzio and Machacek have also recently formed a new trio with bassist Doug Lunn.
After more than a year of silence, Aeolus have found a new vocalist. Tijmen van Galen has joined the two founders Michiel Kramp and Jurrie Teeuwen to create, record and release new material and finally a second album. Besides being a singer, Tijmen is also a lyric writer and an experienced musically co-writer. The three guys are very active making new songs and will place a few demo MP3's on their website as soon as possible. As soon as enough material has been recorded and released, a new band will be formed and rehearsals for new gigs will start.
Swedish melodic metal band Lion's Share have uploaded another batch of photos from their latest vocal recording sessions for their new album at MySpace. This time the band went to a house in Falun, Sweden (to be able to work closer to singer Patrik Johansson's home), and set up a mobile studio there. Patrik (also in Astral Doors) sang on five new songs, which means the vocals now have been recorded for 12 out of the planned 14 songs for the upcoming new CD (their fifth). The demo guitars, bass and drums will be replaced with the actual album takes later this fall/winter. Former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick has already recorded a guest solo for the song The Edge of the Razor. 11 tracks are expected to appear on the CD, with three extra songs as bonus tracks. If everything goes according to plan, the band hope to have the album mixed and ready by January 2007 for a possible May/June release.
Group Therapy (Jaspan) - "Nightmare in the College"
Last album of this great jazz-rock band from Japan, whose leader
Hiroyuki Hitada sadly passed away in the beginning of 2006. (There is the review of the band's latest CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
The Santana Tribute final lineup / track list:
Ten Midnight (Italy) - Just in Time to See the Sun
Goad (Italy) - Black Magic Woman
Naos (France) - Incident at Neshabur
Spirits Burning (USA) - Soul Sacrifice
Canvas (USA) - Brightest Star
Conqueror (Italy) - Love Devotion & Surrender
Jeff Bragg Band (USA) - Hope You're Feeling Better
Vilma (Finland) - Taboo
Sonic Pulsar (Portugal) - Mirage
Quiet Celebration (USA) - El Morocco
Maury E I Pronomi (Italy) - Flor de Luna
Lucio Lazzaruolo (Italy) - Oyo Como Va
Giogentile (Italy) - Europa
Giobia (Italy) - No One to Depend On
Projecto Heleda (Italy) - El Farol
SADO (Italy) - Jingo/Moonflower/Tales of Kilimanjaro
Chaos Conspiracy (Italy) - Mother's Daughter
William Red Rossi (Switzerland) - Samba pa Ti
Pleasure (Italy) - Persuasion/Fried Neckbones
Luna Ad Noctum (Poland) - "The Perfect Evil in Mortal" Luna Ad Noctum are back with their third album, which includes 9 tracks in their unique style, lunar black metal. Unconventional melodies create an atmosphere of darkness and melancholy. Recommended to fans of Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, etc.
Moonlight are currently working on their new, tenth CD, a follow-up to their critically acclaimed latest offering "DownWords". They plan to enter the studio next month, again with charismatic producer Marcin Bors. As for the other Moonlight news, their lineup has undergone some changes. Drummer Maciek decided to part with Moonlight and was replaced with Krzysztof Nedrala, known for his work with Body Mind Relation. (There is the review of Moonlight's latest CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
Valleum (UK) - "The Whitey Album"
An exciting Welsh band who claim they were formed in Anglesey 'sometime in the last century'. Certainly their unique blend of power folk-rock lends itself to yesteryear and the unforgettable Jethro Tull, Black Widow etc, and yet we hear full-on modern day angles, best compared to softer-end System of a Down and Faith No More. Tinged at times with insanity and etched with pagan and Wicca influences, Valleum create an atmosphere that is both electric and mysterious.
Electrum (Denmark / UK) - "In the Far Field"
Pedigree musicians, Electrum, their background speaks volumes about the high standard you can expect: Claus Bohling is one of the best known guitarists on the Danish rock scene and is also well known internationally for his acclaimed work with Hurdy Gurdy and Secret Oyster. Bassist Ian McDonald graced The Ginger Baker Band and Separate Energy (John Simms/Clear Blue Sky etc) and drummer Dyl Jones originates from cult band Tunk. Prog, rock, fusion, funk and more are exquisitely blended and served in ten superb tracks.
Karfagen (Ukraine) - "Continuum"
Unicorn Digital is proud to welcome Ukrainian band Karfagen into the family. Their new album was released on July 1, 2006. Produced by Antony Kalugin, mastered by Richard Addison at Trillium Sound Studios, Artwork by Jonas Thuren.
Nil (France) - "40 Jours sur le Sinai"
The reissue of Nil's first CD (There is the review of the band's latest CD on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
Spaced Out (Canada) - "Unstable Matter"
Spaced Out presents their fourth studio work entitled "Unstable Matter", to be released on July 6. The album contains ten new exciting compositions filled with high-energy jazz-rock. Produced by Antoine Fafard, mastered by Richard Addison at Trillium Sound Studios, Artwork by Jonas Thuren. (There is the review of the band's latest outing on Progressor. To read it, please click here.)
Taylor's Universe (Denmark) - "Certain Undiscoveries" (new studio CD)
Little Tragedies (Russia) - "The Sixth Sense" (new studio CD)
The new Taylor's Universe album was produced during the winter and spring of 2006 with the following lineup: Karsten Vogel - saxophones and bass clarinet, Rasmus Grosell - drums and Robin Taylor - grand piano, Hammond organ, string ensemble, synthesizers, harmonium, electric guitar, bass and varied percussion. "Certain Undiscoveries" is the band's most ambitious and most progressive album to date, in the truest meaning of the term "progressive".
The new offering from Little Tragedies is still a combination of Gennady Ilyin's composition and Nikolay Gumilev's poetry. Overall, "The Sixth Sense" has much common ground with the group's previous two CDs, "Return" and "New Faust", and features the same musicians: Gennady Ilyin - keyboards, vocals, Yury Skripkin - drums, Oleg Babynin - bass, Alexander Malakhovsky - guitar and Aleksey Bildin - saxophone.
