After more than 20 years of anticipation from fans around the world, Jon Anderson's renowned album, "Animation", is officially available on CD.
Originally released in mid-1983, Animation boasts some of Jon's most stunning and hauntingly beautiful solo works, including Olympia, Animation, Surrender, and All in a Matter of Time. In addition to the original nine Animation tracks, this re-issue contains two bonus tracks: Spider, which was the B-side of the original Surrender single; and the never-before-released track, The Spell, which was an outtake from the Animation recording sessions. All of Animation's music has been meticulously re-mastered and has never sounded more vibrant, full of energy, alive, or fresh.
Also included as part of this very special re-issue are the complete lyrics to the nine original Animation tracks, as well as short stories and anecdotes from Jon Anderson himself, talking about Animation and most of its tracks. It's a rare glimpse into Jon's thinking at the time, as well as his thoughts on Animation, and what the album means to him.
At long last Jon Anderson fans can now add Animation to their CD library. Best of all, act today and you can order an autographed copy personally signed by Jon. Only 500 autographed copies are available, so don't delay. For complete information and to order your copy of Animation, visit:
Dreadnaught returns to the Stone Church in Newmarket NH on Friday, October 13th to celebrate its 10th year together. This is a not-to-be-missed performance with loads of surprises, new music, and of course a healthy dose of one-liners and music theory pep talks. Dreadnaught takes the stage at 10 PM sharp (no opening act). Tickets are available at
New Album Release Details: Post-production is almost completed on "High Heat & Chin Music", the double-disc retrospective featuring 5 new studio cuts and tracks from each of Dreadnaught's prior releases. The album will be released by Big Balloon Music/Red Fez Records and features artwork by Haunted Milk Design.
Theme Song, Film, And Other Sessions: Dreadnaught will head back into the studio this fall to record theme music for NHPR's "The Exchange". The new music will debut in 2007. "Wander", a short film from director Josh Clark with original score by Bob Lord, is currently airing on Independent Film Channel. The film has won 'Best Experimental Short Film' at the Ivy Film Festival; visit wandermovie.com for more information.
The "Vialka / Kruzenshtern I Parahod" split CD (aum-011/via-004) is finally released in collaboration with Auris Media. This split compact disc will provide you with five Vialka tunes recorded in Israel on the last day of our three-month around the world tour 2005, and four songs from the Israeli band Klezmercore band Kruzenshtern I Parohod.
Latest news from Ronan Chris Murphy from Veneto West Records:
Ronan Chris Murphy - Solo Album
After working on hundreds of albums for other artists and collaborative releases, I am finally doing my own with the coolest backing band on the planet: Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, John Lennon..) Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, XTC, Mr. Mister) Mike Keneally (Zappa, Steve Vai) and Terry Bozzio (Zappa, Missing Persons, UK) I am recording it at Veneto West and the insanely beautiful and amazing Saint Claire Recording in Lexington, KY. I hope to release it at the start of 07. Check out some photos from the sessions .
Veneto West Launches Record Label
We Launched Veneto West Records this year with two releases distributed through DGM/Inner Knot. Our First release is a compilation called >"Destroying Silence" featuring several cool artist from the Veneto West label and production stable teamed up with legends from the world of prog rock and avant jazz. Our Second release was the psychedelic prog epic from Italian band Hypnoise which has been nominated in the Italian prog awards for best album, best cover art and best sound. We recorded it in a 500 year old Italian Villa, an 800 year old church and the canals of Venice. Visit our web shop to buy online I think the compilation might be on sale for $5.
Veneto West vs. Ladies Choice
Veneto West Records has released a 12 inch compilation with Ladies Choice Records in Seattle featuring Sean, The Abadox, Anthony Curtis (with Tony Levin, Lewis Pragasam and Mike Keneally) and a Ronan Chris Murphy Track (with Terry Bozzio). This album is all really heavy "out" stuff and features amazing custom engraved artwork on the B-side of the vinyl by Grammy Nominee Jesse LeDoux. You can buy it direct from .
Home Recording Boot Camp
My series of 2 day and 6 day recording workshops called is really taking off. Our last two programs have sold out and we have had students from Iceland to Samoa. We have had weekend warriors to major label artist and even a contestant from Rock Star: Super Nova. Courses are scheduled throughout the year. We were recently featured in the national music magazine One Way. Read the article .
Veneto West Studios
Our commercial recording in LA (Culver City) is becoming a favorite for many musicians for it laid back vibe and cool sounds. Its getting a reputation as one of the coolest sounding drum rooms in LA and one prominent mastering engineer described our custom D&R 4000 console as one of the best sounding in LA (greatly helped by our collection of outboard A Designs pre-amps!) My Manager Liz Redwing has been keeping me and the studio booked almost year 'round.
Recording Canora In Iceland
I have wanted to make a record in Iceland for a long time, and I finally did this summer when I produced a new album for the Icelandic band . Canora is an extreme metal band with big pop harmonies, Very Cool! It was a great trip. Great band, good studio, and very cool people except for the fact that they fed me putrified shark which was the most god awful thing I have ever eaten.
Designing a New Line of Recording Gear
I am very excited about designing a new line of recording products with one of my favorite gear companies on the planet. More details to follow when we are ready to launch. We are building some really cool high end stuff, and keeping mum about the details but we should be rolling out some prototypes early next year by NAMM.
Terry Bozzio's Jazz Trio
I recorded Terry Bozzio's jazz trio with Doug Lunn and Alex Machacek at Veneto West for their upcoming CD.
Wilco guitarist Nels Cline
I recently recorded a new CD by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline and guitarist G.E. Stinson at Veneto West.
Australian Artist Matt Ellis with an all start cast
Speaking of Nels Cline he was also one of the players on the new album by Australian singer songwriter Matt Ellis and his drummer / collaborator Banden Harper. Other players included Greg Leisz (KD Lang, Beck, Joni Mitchel) on lap steel, pedal steel and mandolin, Tim Luntzel (Bright Eyes, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris) on acoustic and electric bass, Dave Palmer (Fiona Apple, AIR) on piano and rhodes and Tim Young (David Sylvian, The Youngs) also on guitar. The album was recorded mostly live in the studio and we used no digital effects of any sort. Just the big natural sound of great players in a cool sounding space with good gear.
Playing a Lot More Guitar
This is not really big news but I am playing a lot more guitar these days. In addition to my own solo album and several of my artist's productions, I just recorded a collaborative project with Italian Stick player Cirani Emanuele, I have been gigging with my dark ambient duo with ex-Ten Seconds guitarist William Forth called (which Robert Fripp described as "scary stuff"). We are also working on a Lives of the Saints album and I am producing and playing a lot on Forth's upcoming solo album. I have also been playing sporadic gigs in the US and Italy. Lives of the Saints has a really cool gig in Sothern California next week. Details .
Eggshell Egoz
Keep an eye out for the new CD by Eggshell Egoz . A really cool rock-funk-pop band from LA. It's a great album and producing it was a real highlight of my year.
Jeff Findl
Its none done yet, but I am knee deep in producing the new CD for instrumental acoustic guitarist Jeff Findl. Guest include Jeff Gautheir on violin, Ian Sheridan (Jason Mraz) on bass, Giovanna Imbessi(Yanni, Andy Summers) on keys, Victor Bisetti (Los Lobos) on percussion and I may play a little on it by the time its done.
Women with Names that Begin with V
I got to produce a few more tracks for Swedish pop singer Vanya this year and we are in talks for me to produce a few more tracks in Sweden next year, Also this year I produced more tracks for Indian singer / model Veme Anya whose recordings feature, in addition to my own playing, Allen Eisenhart on drums, Bob Glaub (CSN&Y, John Lennon, Rod Sterwart) on bass, and Dean Pleasants (Suicidal Tendancies, Jessica Simpson) on guitar.
Jared Young
I mixed the new album, So Many Miles, by rock/pop singer-songwiter Jared Young .
Chris Tondre
I was brought in to track the guitars on the new album by guitarist and songwriter Chris Tondre.
Soccer Mom
I am almost done mixing the new album by LA punk/new wave band Soccermom.
Full Force
I produced an EP for a great young hard rock band called Full Force
Symphonic rock vocalist Lana Lane and her keyboardist / producer / husband Erik Norlander have just completed a pair of covers albums for release this winter. It has been a tradition in Japan for the two to release a Lana Lane "specialty album" every two years. They started with the Lana Lane Ballad Collection in 1998, then continued with Ballad Collection 2 (2000), Covers Collection (2002) and Winter Sessions (2004). Now for 2006, Lana and Erik have recorded not one but two albums for the winter season.
The first album is , an album of classic rock covers from the 60s and 70s featuring the backing musicians Vinny Appice (d), Tony Franklin (b), George Lynch (g), Mark McCrite (g, v) and Erik Norlander (k) along with Kelly Keeling providing additional duet and harmony vocals. Gemini is the astrological symbol for twins, and since this is Lana's second album of all covers, the album carries the theme of "two" throughout. Lana recorded two songs by each classic rock artist for this release: a pair of songs each originally recorded by Cream, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, Heart, Jefferson Airplane and Foreigner. Of particular note is Lana's "Pink Moon Suite" that combines the song "Johnny Moon" -- originally recorded by Heart -- with songs from most of "Side One" of Pink Floyd's landmark "Dark Side of the Moon" album.
The second album is , an album of progressive rock covers recorded by Erik along with Gregg Bissonette (d), Don Schiff (b), Mark McCrite (g) with Kelly Keeling handling all of the vocal duties. Erik employed a small ensemble of acoustic instruments featuring Jon Pappenbrook (trumpets, flugelhorn), Eric Jorgensen (trombones), Mike Alvarez (cello) and David Schiff (woodwinds). David is the brother of Don Schiff, and in addition to Don's NS/Stick work on the album, he also fills out the acoustic string ensemble with the new Bowed Guitar instrument. Erik's choice of covers reflects his own broad musical taste, performing songs originally recorded by ELP, ELO, Yes, Rick Wakeman, King Crimson, Procol Harum and Jethro Tull and Chuck Mangione. The last artist may sound the most surprising, but Erik's stirring rendition of Mangione's "Children of Sanchez" brings this jazz - fusion classic more into Erik's world of symphonic progressive rock supported by his seasoned and highly versatile band.
Lana Lane - "Gemini" and Erik Norlander - "Hommage Symphonique" albums follow the already acclaimed 2CD release, , from Erik's band . The Rocket Scientists musicians appear throughout these two new titles continuing the collaboration and bringing it to new heights. Like Rocket Scientists - Revolution Road, these two new CDs will be distributed in North America and Europe by ProgRock Records which continues another successful collaboration with Erik and Lana's Think Tank Media label. Lana Lane - Gemini and Erik Norlander - Hommage Symphonique will be
released on November 23, 2006 on the Avalon label in Japan and then on January 30, 2007 on Think Tank Media / ProgRock Records with advance sales starting in December 2006.
As part of the recent partnership between ProgRock Records and Think Tank Media, the 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 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 Mark McCrite (guitar, vocals), Erik Norlander (keyboards) 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. South Carolina's David McBee has also been brought in as the second lead vocalist. "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.
