Category: New album releases

Big Big Train announce new album ‘Common Ground’ out on July 30th, 2021

First single and video for title track out today!

UK tour dates revealed for March 2022

July 30th, 2021 sees the release of ‘Common Ground’, the self-produced new album from Big Big Train on their own label, English Electric Recordings. The new album, recorded during the worldwide pandemic, sees the band continue their tradition of dramatic narratives but also tackles issues much closer to home, such as the Covid lockdowns, the separation of loved ones, the passage of time, deaths of people close to the band and the hope that springs from a new love.

Watch the new video for the title track, created by Christian Rios, here:

“This is unashamedly a love song. It is about finding things that we share and have in common with other people. When my partner and I first came together as a couple, we lived not far from Avebury in Wiltshire, a very Big Big Train kind of place. The chalk hills and standing stones were part of the imagery of our ‘Folklore’ album, and once again I was writing what was literally happening in the location in which we found ourselves. I remember seeing my white chalk dust footprints upon the black of the car mats after we’d been walking around Avebury.  I’m pleased that we both get to have this time with each other and ‘Common Ground’ is about finding out the things that we have in common with each other and deciding what we want to do in life together.” – David Longdon

Tracklisting:

1. The Strangest Times
2. All The Love We Can Give
3. Black With Ink
4. Dandelion Clock
5. Headwaters
6. Apollo
7. Common Ground
8. Atlantic Cable
9. Endnotes

‘Common Ground’ is available for pre-order now as Double Vinyl, CD, and Bandcamp Download at these sites:
https://burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain
https://bigbigtrain.bandcamp.com

‘Common Ground’ sees the band taking in wider musical and lyrical inspiration from artists such as Elbow, Pete Townshend, Tears For Fears, Elton John and XTC, as well as acknowledging their more progressive roots. As ever, Big Big Train will take listeners on a journey, be it waiting for the UK 5pm pandemic press conferences (’The Strangest Times’) to the library of Alexandria (‘Black With Ink’) to the bottom of the ocean (‘Atlantic Cable’).
 
For the ‘Common Ground’ tour, which will be their most extensive to date and which will culminate in the UK with a show at the prestigious London Palladium, Greg Spawton (bass), David Longdon (lead vocals, flute), Nick D’Virgilio (drums, vocals) and Rikard Sjöblom (guitars, keyboards, vocals) will be joined by Carly Bryant (keyboards, guitars, vocals), who contributes vocals to ‘Common Ground’, Dave Foster (guitars), who plays on two tracks on the new album, Clare Lindley (violin, vocals) and by a five piece brass ensemble. The band expect to announce North American tour dates shortly.
 
Big Big Train has taken lyrical and musical inspiration from periods of history that are recognised as great leaps forward. Now with ‘Common Ground’, they are making such a surge themselves.
BIG BIG TRAIN UK TOUR 2022
 
TUE, MARCH 15TH – YORK, BARBICAN
WED, MARCH 16TH – CAMBRIDGE, CORN EXCHANGE
FRI, MARCH 18TH – BIRMINGHAM, SYMPHONY HALL
SAT, MARCH 19TH – BATH, FORUM
MON, MARCH 21ST – GLASGOW, ROYAL CONCERT HALL
TUE, MARCH 22ND – MANCHESTER, BRIDGEWATER HALL
WED, MARCH 23RD – LONDON, PALLADIUM
 
TICKETS ON SALE FROM MAY 14th, 2021
https://myticket.co.uk/artists/big-big-train

GIANCARLO ERRA RETURNS WITH SPELLBINDING NEW ALBUM DEPARTURE TAPES

TO BE RELEASED ON KSCOPE ON 2ND JULY 2021

First single & video for track “Departure Tape” premiered 

Departure Tapes is an album consisting of 6 contemplative recordings, written while travelling between the UK and Italy. The majority of these 6 tracks were improvised in the studio by Erra, so for the most part, are totally unique and hold a sincerity which cannot be replicated. It is the follow up to 2019’s acclaimed album Ends I-VII, with the new recordings reflecting what, has been an extremely difficult year for Giancarlo, with the loss of his father to cancer. Erra comments “In 2019 my first solo album was just being released, and I already had the view that I wanted to be more experimental with the second one, but no precise idea how at that point. Then my father suddenly got ill with cancer, and everything changed.”

Erra, having had a fractured and conflicted relationship with his father since his early teenage years found a way to turn this distressing time into a cathartic experience, “he left when I was 14 and since then he wasn’t really part of my life. Then I received the news of his terminal illness and somehow, I found myself in a situation where I was taking care of this man, someone who I have been distanced from for so long.  During this period, I realised it had become a time for both of us to come to terms with many things. I wanted to get closure, but a positive one, for him and for me, and I think he was the same even though he maybe didn’t know it; this was hard but at the same time ‘healing’ and in a painful twist, it was possibly the most close and positive few months I had with him since I was a small child.” He explains the influence this had on him creatively“It’s the first album I have created without realising I was actually writing it, as it is so intrinsically linked to one of the hardest and yet more healing parts of my life. The end result is the most experimental, and at the times, the darkest material I have ever written, without compromise or set plan. It contains all the elements of my music in a very unconscious free flowing way. 

Watch the video for Departure Tape here:

The first single to be taken from the new album is the extremely poignant and personal “Departure Tape” with the video dedicated to Erra’s father, he explains “This track was written I think when I came back from my first visit to Italy to see my father after he had been diagnosed. It really just began as a live experiment – born and finished within one afternoon. I remember I didn’t really want to do anything; I was exhausted and down, but then, when I started playing the track took shape. I discovered there was much more going on inside my head that needed to be faced. For me, music has been always the only way I can do that, and from this introspection ‘Departure Tape’ was born. It’s almost as a free subconscious stream of thoughts and feelings while recording everything that was happening.”

Giancarlo Erra began his musical career in 2005 with one man studio project Nosound. 2008 saw him signing with Kscope and released a string of albums under the Nosound banner before recording his debut solo ‘Ends I-VII’. Departure Tapes sees Erra play and record every instrument himself along with taking on full production responsibilities at his own studio (https://widescreen.studio). 

Max Richter, Olafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm and the more electronic / ambient recordings of Brian Eno may offer a reference point by which to enter Erra’s world, but the depth within his recordings is truly original.

Departure Tapes tracklisting  

1. Dawn Tape [06:15] 

2. Previous Tape [01:48] 

3. 169th Tape [02:51] 

4. Unwound Tape [08:24] 

5. Departure Tape [16:51] 

6. A Blues For My Father [07:31] 

Departure Tapes will be released on the following formats and is available to pre-order HERE (https://GiancarloErra.lnk.to/DepartureTapes)

·       a gatefold LP on oxblood coloured 180g vinyl

·       2-disc CD/DVD with the DVD-A/V including high resolution stereo & 5.1 mix:DVD-V: stereo 24/48 LPCM lossless mixes, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS 96/24 5.1 Surround and DVD-A: 5.1 Surround 24/48 LPCM lossless mixes

·       Digitally (with digital pre-orders receiving the single “Departure Tape” as an instant download from 22nd April)

(photography by Caroline Traitler)

Yes Issue 2019 Boxset ‘From A Page'(Featuring ‘Live In Lyon’) Digitally

YES has issued the 2019 boxset From a Page featuring Live in Lyon on digital platforms. The 4 tracks created as new content for the miniature five-piece box set of recordings from that era, are joined by a single edit of To The Moment complete with original Roger Dean Artwork.

Watch the video of the single edit for To The Moment here: 

All tracks were recorded by the line-up of Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman:
1. To The Moment (6:09)

2. Words on a Page (6:18)

3. From the Turn of a Card (3:24)

4. The Gift of Love (9:52)

5. To the Moment (single edit)

Oliver Wakeman has personally overseen the preparation of the previously unreleased recordings which were mixed by Karl Groom and mastered by Mike Pietrini.

Buy the digital version of From A Page here: https://lnk.to/FAPLFL

The double CD album Live From Lyon was first released in 2010 and this edition restored “Second Initial” which was previously a Japanese only bonus track.  This is the first time this has been made available on digital platforms.

Oliver Wakeman says: “Following Chris Squire’s passing, I felt that the new music we’d created, but not released, should be heard and not sit unfinished on a shelf. And with Steve, Alan and Benoit’s enthusiasm for the project, I am proud to know that this music will get to see the light of day and, hopefully, be enjoyed by YES fans as a piece of previously hidden Yes history.” 

Alan White added: “I’m pleased to see a gem of YES history coming to fruition in the form of this mini box set. New songs from the past and I’m hoping we can find even more music in the archives for future releases.”

About Oliver Wakeman
Eldest son of prog legend Rick, Wakeman filled the keyboard role, once held by his father, with YES from 2008 to 2011. His work with YES includes the triple live album In The Present – Live From Lyon, Fly From Here and the From A Page box set featuring recordings from his time in the band and released in 2019. During his tenure with YES, Wakeman also toured and recorded as a member of The Strawbs.

Wakeman’s debut album (1997) Heaven’s Isle was inspired by the island of Lundy, and he has since released a number of solo and Oliver Wakeman Band albums.  He has also released several collaborations with renowned musicians, including Steve Howe, band mate to both Oliver and his father in YES for The Three Ages of Magick album, as well as uniting with another guitar legend Gordon Giltrap for the award-winning Ravens & Lullabies album, both of which are set to be part of an upcoming box set. Most recently Wakeman has been working on The Tales by Gaslight box set which contains classic albums Hound of the Baskervilles and Jabberwocky, plus a previously unreleased disc of recording from the never made third album from the trilogy made in collaboration with Clive Nolan. Each album is accompanied 16-page booklets including lyrics, previously unseen artwork and many stories behind the creativity from both Wakeman and Nolan. Tales by Gaslight will be released by Burning Shed on 23rd April available from www.burningshed.com/oliverwakeman

Buy the digital version of From A Page here: https://lnk.to/FAPLFL

MAGNUM: EARLY CLASSIC ALBUMS REISSUED ONTO VINYL – Available For Pre-Order

The melodic hard rock band Magnum was formed back in 1972 by Tony Clarkin and Bob Catley. They developed a hard rock sound that sat somewhere between heady art rock and commercial pop.

They released their debut album, Kingdom of Madness in 1978. Though their debut album charted at #58 in the UK charts and received positive reviews. It wasn’t until the release of their third album, Chase The Dragon in 1982 that they saw commercial success. The album spawned a handful of hit singles in the UK, notably “Soldier Of The Line”, “Sacred Hour” and “The Spirit”.

After decades of live performances and twenty-one albums, later their early albums plus an additional live album will be reissued onto deluxe vinyl by Renaissance Records.

The albums Kingdom of Madness, Magnum II, Marauder, Chase The Dragon, and The Eleventh Hour are due to be released on April 28th. These deluxe 180-gram gatefold LPs will include extra incentives such as trading cards of the original band, lost photos, lyric sheets, and a poster that comes with the albums when you purchase them directly through Renaissance Records.

Pre-orders for these Magnum reissues are available now from renaissancerecordsus.com.

About Renaissance Records

Founded in 1993 by former Aerospace Engineer John W. Edwards who had a passion for music and a new idea to form a recording label. He focused on the reissuing of classic rock and classic country LPs on CD for the first time. Renaissance Records soon signed licensing deals with EMI-Capitol, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and BMG/RCA/Arista. The record label has released recordings from artists such as Rick Springfield, Pure Prairie League, Blue Oyster Cult, Gamma, Roxy Music, and Judas Priest.

‘Kingdom of Madness’ Track List

1.In The Beginning

2.Baby Rock Me

3. Universe

4.Kingdom Of Madness

5.All That Is Real

6. Bringer

7. Invasion

8.Lords Of Chaos

9.All Come Together

‘Magnum II’ Track List

1.Great Adventure

2. Changes

3.The Battle

4.If I Could Live Forever

5. Reborn

6.Everybody Needs

7.So Cold The Night

8.Foolish Heart

9.Stayin’ Alive

10. Firebird

11. All Of My Life

12. Lonesome Star

‘Chase The Dragon’ Track List

1.Solider Of The Line

2.On The Edge Of The World

3.The Spirit

4.Sacred Hour

5.Walking The Straight Line

6.We All Play The Game

7.The Teacher

8.The Lights Burn Out

‘The Eleventh Hour’ Track List

1.The Prize

2. Breakdown

3.The Great Disaster

4.Vicious Companions

5.So Far Away

6.Hit And Run

7.One Night Of Passion 8.The Word

9.Young And Precious Souls

10.Road To Paradise

‘Marauder’ Track List (Live Album)

1.If I Could Live Forever

2.The Battle

3.Foolish Heart

4.In The Beginning

5. Reborn

6. Changes

7.So Cold The Night

8.Lords Of Chaos

OLIVER WAKEMAN & CLIVE NOLAN Launch Lyric Video for Coming to Town from Jabberwocky Tales by Gaslight 3CD Box Set Out 23 April

Oliver Wakeman and Clive Nolan release a lyric video for Coming to Town taken from their box set, Tales by Gaslight – out on 23rd April. The track is taken from the first album in the box set Jabberwocky and features Bob Catley (Magnum) on vocals and the late Peter Banks on guitar. Oliver says: “This is a fun upbeat track which I have always enjoyed playing live and it became an ever-present song in my bands live set. Revisiting the original for this box set reminded me of what a great job Bob Catley did with his vocal performance, and it is always lovely to listen to Peter playing a wonderful guitar solo.”

Watch the video here:

Jabberwocky, released in 1999, was based on the famous Lewis Carroll poem. It was followed by The Hound of The Baskervilles (2002), inspired by the Sherlock Holmes novel penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The project was always intended to be a trilogy of musical interpretations of literary classics, but an album inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was shelved because of a lack of record company funding.

Oliver Wakeman reunites with Clive Nolan after 20 years to issue a 3CD Box Set – Tales by Gaslight featuring remastered versions of their ‘future prog classics’ Jabberwocky and The Hound Of The Baskervilles along with a new disc Dark Fables.

This box set package also includes a third disc, featuring previously unreleased pieces that were intended to complete the trilogy. This third disc, Dark Fables, contains over 30 minutes of music conceived for the abandoned Frankenstein album.

Unusually for the time, the first two albums featured a host of guest performances, including narration by Wakeman’s father Rick and actor Robert Powell. Former YES guitarist, the late Peter Banks, Magnum vocalist Bob Catley and singer Tracy Hitchings appeared on both albums. Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen lent his talent to The Hound of the Baskervilles along with members from the bands IQ and Threshold. The unique artwork was created by Rodney Matthews for the original Jabberwocky release. Peter Pracownik was the creativity behind The Hound of The Baskervilles artwork 20 years ago and has returned to this trilogy by lending his talents to the new Dark Fables artwork.

In keeping with the spirit of the two previous albums, the new recordings feature the talents of, amongst others, Gordon Giltrap, Paul Manzi (Arena, Oliver Wakeman Band, Sweet) Andy Sears (Twelfth Night) and David Mark Pearce (Oliver Wakeman Band). Also included is an original reading of the Jabberwocky poem by Rick Wakeman.

The Tales by Gaslight box set contains 3 CDs each with 16-page booklets including lyrics, previously unseen artwork and many stories behind the creativity from both Wakeman and Nolan. The first 250 box sets will also include a 4th limited edition numbered art print of the box set cover signed by Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman. 

Tales by Gaslight will be released by Burning Shed on 23rd April. Pre-order it here: https://burningshed.com/store/oliverwakeman

About Oliver Wakeman
Eldest son of prog legend Rick, Wakeman filled the keyboard role, once held by his father, with YES from 2008 to 2011. His work with YES includes the triple live album In The Present – Live From Lyon, Fly From Here and the From A Page box set featuring recordings from his time in the band and released in 2019. During his tenure with YES, Wakeman also toured and recorded as a member of The Strawbs.

Wakeman’s debut album (1997) Heaven’s Isle was inspired by the island of Lundy, and he has since released a number of solo and Oliver Wakeman Band albums. He has also released several collaborations with renowned musicians, including Steve Howe, band mate to both Oliver and his father in YES for The Three Ages of Magick album, as well as uniting with another guitar legend Gordon Giltrap for the award-winning Ravens & Lullabies album, both of which are set to be part of an upcoming box set. 

About Clive Nolan
Aged just sixteen, multi-instrumentalist Nolan became the youngest musician (at that time) to gain an A.L.C.M. composition diploma from the London College of Music. At university he studied composition, orchestration, musical arrangement and conducting, gaining a BMus and MMus. He has played a prominent role in the development of progressive music, as a member of Pendragon since 1986 and as a member of Shadowland (1992 – present), Strangers on A Train (1993 – 1994) and by forming his own band Arena in 1995.

Nolan’s interest in rock opera extends beyond his collaborations with Wakeman. In 2008 he wrote She, based upon the novel by Sir H Rider Haggard, and two musicals Alchemy and King’s Ransom. This year will also see the release of a new ‘Viking Inspired’ album Song of the Wildlands, as well as the new Arena album The Theory of Molecular Inheritance.

Tales by Gaslight – Release 23rd AprilPre-order the boxset here: https://burningshed.com/store/oliverwakeman

‘Ram On’ – A 50th Anniversary Celebration Of Paul And Linda McCartney’s ‘Ram’ – Out On 14th May

For the 50th anniversary of Ram by Paul & Linda McCartney, over 100 musicians have come together to celebrate this much-loved seminal album. With Sir Paul McCartney’s blessing, they have re-recorded all of the Ram songs to create RAM ON: The 50th Anniversary Tribute to Paul & Linda McCartney’s ‘RAM’, released on 14th May 2021 through Spirit of Unicorn Music (distributed by Cherry Red Records).

Hear a teaser of all tracks from RAM ON here:

You can pre-order the album here: https://geni.us/ramon50th

It is a testament to the enduring love and affection for Ram that so many artists across three generations should want to be a part of this recreation of a classic album. The idea was born in 2020 from a discussion between producer/multi-instrumentalist Fernando Perdomo and Denny Seiwell, the original drummer with Paul McCartney & Wings, who performed on Ram. Original guitarist David Spinozza returns to reprise his parts on the album along with Marvin Stamm who played flugelhorn on Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. They are joined by their musical contemporaries Davey Johnstone (Elton John Band) and Will Lee (The Fab Faux).

A second generation of musicians includes Brian Wilson’s daughter Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips), Dan Rothchild (Heart, Sheryl Crow) Pat Sansone (Wilco), Joey Santiago (Pixies), Eric Dover (Jellyfish) and Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd, Blue Pearl).

The latest cohort of musicians with this love of Ram includes Dave Depper (Death Cab For Cutie), Lauren Leigh, Cindy Wassermann and Frank Drennan (Dead Rock West) and multi-instrumentalist Timmy Sean.

RAM ON includes warm and sensitive re-recordings of all the original tracks on Ram plus two non-album tracks from the Ram sessions: McCartney’s first single after his departure from The Beatles, Another Day, was a huge global hit in 1971 and the single’s B-side Oh Woman Oh Why, is also included. The tribute closes with a reprise of the opening track Too Many People (Slight Return).

RAM ON is produced by Fernando Perdomo and Denny Seiwell.

“From early on I wanted this to not be a typical tribute record,” says Fernando Perdomo. “Every musician on this record loves Ram with all their heart and I think it shows. This record was made with pure love.”

RAM ON Track Listing:
01. Too Many People feat Dan Rothchild

02. 3 Legs feat The Dirty Diamond and Durga McBroom

03. Ram On feat Pat Sansone

04. Dear Boy feat Adrian Bourgeois

05. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey feat Bebopalula

06. Smile Away feat Timmy Sean

07. Heart of the Country feat Dan Rothchild

08. Monkberry Moon Delight feat Timmy Sean

09. Eat At Home feat Dead Rock West

10. Long Haired Lady feat Rob Bonfiglio and Carnie Wilson

11. Ram On Reprise feat Pat Sansone

12. Backseat of My Car feat Brentley Gore

13. Another Day feat Gordon Michaels

14. Oh Woman Oh Why feat Eric Dover and Lauren Leigh

15. Too Many People (Slight Return)

RAM ON is released in CD format on 14th May 2021 via Spirit of Unicorn Music. We’re also considering the release of a vinyl format later in the year, more details to follow.

“Uncanny! Ram On effortlessly captures the beauty, spirit and charm of Paul and Linda’s original. Wonderful!” Paul Sinclair – Super Deluxe Edition.

About Ram
Recording sessions for Ram took place in New York and Los Angeles between October 1970 and March 1971. The principal musicians were Paul McCartney (vocals, bass, keyboards, guitars and ukulele on Ram On), Linda McCartney (harmony and backing vocals), Denny Seiwell (drums), David Spinozza (guitar), Hugh McCracken (guitar) with Marvin Stamm (flugelhorn on Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey).Ram was released 17th May 1971. McCartney was hurt by the negative reception from the press, but the album was a huge commercial success and much-loved by fans around the world. In retrospect, the critics heaped praise upon the album at the time of its re-release in 2012 and fans continue to love the album to this day.

About Fernando Perdomo
A powerhouse of the LA music scene Fernando Perdomo has made a name for himself as an in-demand producer, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is featured in the Netflix documentary Echo In The Canyon where his is seen backing up Brian Wilson, Norah Jones and Regina Spektor. He played on the official soundtrack album of the film along with Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Stephen Stills.Fernando owns and operates Reseda Ranch Studios in Los Angeles. He has produced hundreds of records and as a session guitarist and bassist, he has played with Emitt Rhodes, Todd Rundgren, Curved Air and many more.

About Denny Seiwell
Having played with New York’s jazz elite, Denny received an invitation from Paul McCartney to move to London and become a founding member of the post-Beatles phenomenon Wings. Denny toured with Wings and played on many of that era’s biggest hits, My Love and the Oscar nominated Live And Let Die along with McCartney’s Ram, Wildlife and Red Rose Speedway albums. 

Other

Highlights of Denny’s London years included work with Joe Cocker, Donovan, and The Who with the London Symphony Orchestra on their groundbreaking version of the Rock Opera Tommy. Denny’s signature drumming can be heard on records by Art Garfunkel, James Brown, Astrud Gilberto, Deniece Williams, Janis Joplin’s posthumous Farewell Song album and Billy Joel’s Cold Spring Harbor.

WHITE MOTH BLACK BUTTERFLY RETURN WITH THEIR NEW STUDIO ALBUM ‘THE COST OF DREAMING’ – RELEASED ON KSCOPE 28TH MAY 2021

After their lauded 2017 album Atone, White Moth Black Butterfly return with their new studio album The Cost Of Dreaming through Kscope on 28th May 2021.

Thecontemporary pop project with progressive and experimental music at its heart; created by Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) features a team of songwriters & producers based worldwide, all at the height of their own scenes. Collaborating with Tompkins are New-Delhi based Skyharbor songwriter and producer Keshav Dhar; US based producer and string arranger Randy Slaugh who has previously worked with the likes of Devin Townsend, Architects & Periphery, drummer Mac Christensen and the line up is completed by ethereal vocals of UK singer & lyricist Jordan Turner. Their newest output not only signals a sonic evolution for the band, whilst still retaining core elements from previous recordings such as organic string sections and experimental theme linking interludes, but also features some exceptional special guests including saxophonist Kenny Fong and The Contortionist’s keyboardist Eric Guenther.

Daniel Tompkins explains why he sees White Moth Black Butterfly and The Cost Of Dreaming representing the dichotomy between peace and conflict within a life full of chaos. “Our new album ‘The Cost of Dreaming’ is something we feel just about every human being on the planet that’s been affected by life changing disruption will relate strongly to. Our nature is to always be planning, dreaming about an ideal future in which we will have ticked various boxes that define our ideal lives, often at the cost of the present. And when control over that future is seized away from us and all we are left with is the present, we realise just how much we took for granted. Life is surely a gift to us all throughout which we experience moments of soaring bliss and happiness, and then in a heartbeat sink into states of great trouble and suffering. Often our struggles can serve as momentous opportunities for growth, but the balance of life can often hold us back from seizing the day. We believe that this album is our greatest achievement – it’s an outpouring of love and a cry for help.”

There are strong themes throughout the album that will resonate with many people, from addressing the issue of ongoing domestic abuse crisis in “Use You” and offering a way to sign post people toward support agencies; to the unexpected psychological upheavals brought about by events beyond our control in “Darker Days”. 

Self produced, engineered and recorded over three continents in various studios throughout the last year, The Cost Of Dreaming was written remotely. This album signals a sonic evolution in the bands’ output while still retaining core elements from previous recordings such as organic string sections and experimental theme linking interludes.

Fans will be able to discover a series of easter eggs within the album, providing a link between this and TesseracT’s live portals experience, demonstrating the interconnected relationships throughout the artists’ various projects. 

Featuring artwork from the award winning Ani Artworks and for the first time procuring the vocal mixing services of an external producer in Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Skyharbor), The Cost Of Dreaming finds the band in a highly creative mood. 

The Cost Of Dreaming tracklist     

1. Ether [02:42]  

2. Prayer For Rain [03:21]  

3. The Dreamer [03:06]  

4. Heavy Heart [03:14]  

5. Portals [03:30]  

6. Use You [02:48]  

7. Darker Days (feat. Kenny Fong) [02:57]  

8. Sands Of Despair [02:33]  

9. Under The Stars[02:53]  

10. Soma[03:29]  

11. Liberate [03:30]  

12. Unholy [02:53]  

13. Bloom (feat. Eric Guenther) [04:10]  

14. Spirits [04:46]

The Cost Of Dreaming is released on 28th May on CD, black 180g vinyl LP and digitally with pre-orders available now HERE (https://wmbb.lnk.to/TheCostOfDreaming)

FROST* release ‘Terrestrial’; first single from new album ‘Day And Age’

Frost* recently announced ‘Day And Age’, their first new studio album in 5 years, set for release on the 14th May 2021. The band’s fourth record features Jem Godfrey once again joined by John Mitchell & Nathan King, as well as 3 guest drummers: Kaz Rodriguez (Chaka Khan, Josh Groban), Darby Todd (The Darkness, Martin Barre) & Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Mister Mister). The album also features actor Jason Isaacs.

Today the band are pleased to launch ‘Terrestrial’, the first single taken from ‘Day And Age’, and you can watch the video here: 

Jem Godfrey comments: “Terrestrial is about Donald Crowhurst who disappeared while competing in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race never to be found. The last page of his logbook contained the words: “I have no need to prolong the game. It is finished – It is finished IT IS THE MERCY.”

 ‘Day And Age’ was recorded over the course of 2019 and 2020, featuring 8 tracks and striking cover artwork by Carl Glover of Aleph Studios (Steven Wilson, Marillion, Steve Jansen). The album will be released on Limited 2CD (including a bonus disc of instrumentals), Gatefold 180g 2LP + CD (with etching on Side D), and as Digital Album. Pre-order now here: https://frost-band.lnk.to/DayAndAge

The full track-listing is below:

1.         Day And Age 11:49

2.         Terrestrial 5:13

3.         Waiting For The Lie 4:31

4.         The Boy Who Stood Still 7:33

5.         Island Life 4:14

6.         Skywards 4:13

7.         Kill The Orchestra 9:27

8.         Repeat To Fade 6:14 

In September 2019 Godfrey and Mitchell rented a cottage for a week in Helford, Cornwall and set about converting it into a recording studio. Day one saw them write and record “Skywards”, “Island Life” was written on day two. On day three, the duo wrote what was to become the title and defining track of the new album, “Day And Age”. 

The following January, the band setup a new temporary studio for a further week in a converted coastguard tower at Dungeness in East Sussex. “We were 30 feet by the sea, next to a nuclear power station and a lighthouse, in midwinter. So there was hardly any daylight and the weather was dreadful”, laughs bassist Nathan King, “We wrote “Terrestrial” and “Repeat To Fade” there and you can definitely hear the bleak isolated oppression having an effect on us. The songs we wrote were far darker – the wind howling round the building at night, the power station generating crackles on the audio, a huge lighthouse next door sweeping light into the fog every 30 seconds and John screaming “ENJOY YOURSELVES YOU SCUM” into a microphone. It was absolutely brilliant!”.

In November 2020, Frost* released the career-retrospective collection ‘13 Winters’ which featured all their studio albums to date, plus live material, b-sides & last years ‘Others’ EP, all packaged in a beautiful artbook.

Frost* was formed in 2004 by keyboard player and singer Jem Godfrey, Released in 2006 the band’s debut album “Milliontown” was an instant success and is regarded by many as a classic in the modern prog rock genre featuring John Mitchell on guitar, John Jowitt on bass and Andy Edwards on drums. The band quickly followed it up with “Experiments In Mass Appeal” in 2008, in many ways the antithesis of “Milliontown” featuring a much more stripped back sound, more concise songs and a new band member and singer in the form of Dec Burke.

The live album “The Philadelphia Experiment” followed in 2009 and the a long gap followed before 3rd album “Falling Satellites” was released in 2016 with a new line-up of Nathan King on bass and Craig Blundell on drums, plus returning guitarist and singer John Mitchell on guitar who also co-wrote much of the album with Jem Godfrey. 

It Bites – announce reissues of ‘The Tall Ships’ & ‘Map Of The Past’

It Bites are pleased to announce reissues of their albums ‘The Tall Ships’ and ‘Map Of The Past’ for release on the 7th May 2021. Both albums have been newly remastered by John Mitchell, and will be available on CD, LP & Digital formats, with it being first time that ‘The Tall Ships’ has ever been available on vinyl. The physical formats also include extensive liner notes from John Mitchell reflecting back on the making of these albums.

Listen to the remastered version of ‘Ghosts’ from ‘The Tall Ships’ & pre-order now here: https://itbites.lnk.to/TheTallShips-ReIssue2021

Listen to the remastered version of ‘Cartoon Graveyard’ from ‘Map Of The Past’ & pre-order now here: https://itbites.lnk.to/MapOfThePast-ReIssue2021

Both albums will be released as Limited CD Digipaks that include an additional booklet containing the liner notes, Gatefold 180g 2LP + CD & LP-booklet (with liner notes) & as Digital Albums. 

The track-listing for the reissues is as follows:

The Tall Ships

1.     Oh My God

2.     Ghosts

3.     Playground

4.     Memory Of Water

5.     The Tall Ships

6.     The Wind That Shakes The Barley

7.     Great Disasters

8.     Fahrenheit

9.     For Safekeeping

10.  Lights

11.  This Is England

12.  These Words (Bonus Track)

13.  When I Fall (Bonus Track) 

Map Of The Past

1.     Man In The Photograph

2.     Wallflower

3.     Map Of The Past

4.     Clocks

5.     Flag

6.     The Big Machine

7.     Cartoon Graveyard

8.     Send No Flowers

9.     Meadow And The Stream

10.  The Last Escape

11.  Exit Song

12.  Lighthouse (Bonus Track)

13.  Come On (Bonus Track)

Please note bonus tracks are not included on the vinyl LP’s, but are included on the CD’s in the package. 

It Bites fourth studio album ‘The Tall Ships’, originally released in 2008 was the first It Bites album to feature singer & guitarist John Mitchell, and the bands first new music in nineteen years.

It Bites fifth studio album ‘Map Of The Past’, originally released in 2012, was the first concept album of the bands twenty-five year career. It explores the theme of the past, as seen through old family photographs. 

PORCUPINE TREE – OCTANE TWISTED – RECEIVES FIRST VINYL RELEASE AS 4LP BOX SET– FEATURING ‘THE INCIDENT’ LIVE IN CHICAGO

OUT ON TRANSMISSION ON 16TH APRIL

Regarded as one of the most impressive experimental/progressive/psychedelic rock bands to emerge from the UK since its inception in 1991, Porcupine Tree enjoyed a successful recording career spanning over 15 years. The release of The Incident in 2009 was followed with a lengthy tour before the band entered a hiatus, giving band members Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin and Gavin Harrison time to work on their various solo careers and other collaborations.

The Incident went top 30 in both the UK and USA, and the world tour climaxed with sold out shows at Royal Albert Hall in London and Radio City Music Hall in New York. The album marked another step forward in the incredible journey of the band from a solo studio project created by Wilson in the late eighties, to a multi Grammy nominated act and one of the world’s most revered live bands, selling out arenas across the globe and wowing fans with incredible shows.

Octane Twisted features The Incident album in its entirety, recorded in Chicago. The end of the album contains 5 classic PT tracks also recorded in Chicago along with 3 highlights from the band’s landmark show at Royal Albert Hall.

“Octane Twisted really captures the atmosphere and energy of a Porcupine Tree live concert experience. Recorded at a time when the band had the set well ‘played in’, you can hear the interaction between the band members as well as the audience as they navigate their way through The Incident and many other older songs too.” Gavin Harrison

Originally released on 2CD+DVD in 2012, this release sees Octane Twisted on vinyl for the first time across 7 sides in a 4LP box set with a new etching from long term designer Carl Glover.

Porcupine Tree – Octane Twisted 4 LP set is due to be released on 16th April and is available to PRE-ORDER HERE