Category: News

GLEB KOLYADIN, THE VIRTUOSO IAMTHEMORNING PIANIST, DEBUT SELF TITLED SOLO ALBUM – OUT TODAY – NEW VIDEO FOR “STORYTELLER” FEAT. JORDAN RUDESS OF DREAM THEATER

With the debut self-titled album from Gleb Kolyadin (iamthemorning) released today on Kscope, the Russian virtuoso pianist premieres a new video for the song “Storyteller” which features special guest Jordan Rudess from Dream Theater

Gleb comments on the song and the Kolyadin/Rudess collaboration “Storyteller is the final point of this musical journey.  After passing through intricate corridors and stairs, the character finds a secret room where he comes to understand himself and everything that is happening with him. The room is a real mystical location in which time and space are intertwined. 

I think no one could play the solo part better than Jordan. His rocking piece is the true magic. I’m happy that everything turned out the way it did: his part was the most important detail that breathe new life into the track.”

Gleb Kolyadin is an emotive exploration of self-identity; a story of two parts with interweaving leitmotifs. The album’s central concept weaves through an elaborate tonal and thematic structure, built around the extraordinary rhythm section of Gavin Harrison and Nick Beggs, which is accented at its focal points by guest appearances from Steve Hogarth, Jordan Rudess, Mick Moss and Theo Travis.

The album is a collaborative piece with each musician recording their own parts separately, starting with Gleb recording himself on grand piano in Moscow Winter-Spring 2017 at the famed Mosfilm studio. The album was mixed and engineered by Vlad Avy, who also previously worked on the two Iamthemorning records.

Gleb Kolyadin is available on CD / LP and digitally and is available HERE

Follow Gleb Kolyadin: https://www.facebook.com/iamthemorningpage/

Drifting Sun Open Pre-orders For Reissue of Debut Album

The re-issue of Drifting Sun’s eponymous debut album has been set for March 2nd. The album will be released as a jewel case CD, with brand new artwork in a 12-page colour booklet, and the band are now taking pre-orders on their official web:

http://www.driftingsun.co.uk/shop/

And from their bandcamp page here

TESSERACT ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM ‘SONDER’ COMING 20TH APRIL 2018 PREMIERE NEW SINGLE ‘LUMINARY’ & ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICA TOUR FOR APRIL & MAY 2018

TesseracT, a band that sit outside the bounds of any genre specificity, pioneers of the ever-evolving metal scene and unstoppable force of off-kilter riffs, soaring melodies and disorientating atmospherics release their fourth studio album Sonder on April 20th 2018 through Kscope.

Sonder adds significant firepower to the band’s arsenal, blending the harsh abrasiveness of One (2011) and progressive ethereal elements of Altered State (2013) with the accessibility of Polaris (2015). Sonder is streamlined, honest and direct with all the trademark TesseracT dreamy atmospherics and bending grooves. Sonder was recorded in the UK at 4D Sounds, Celestial Sounds and Project Studios, engineered by the band and Aiden O’Brien with mastering by Acle Kahney, and cover artwork designed by Amos Williams.

Vocalist Daniel Tompkins described Sonder as “Conceptually exploring a deep and devouring sense of insignificance, which ties into the overall theme and meaning behind ‘Sonder’”. Also featured is an extended and re-worked version of last summer’s single “Smile”.

Sonder will be released on CD / 2CD – featuring binaural album bonus disc / black LP / Crystal Clear vinyl LP / picture disc (exclusive to the band’s webstores) and digitally (with digital album pre-order receiving “Luminary” as an instant download) and is available to listen to & to pre order HERE

For audiophiles, TesseracT have produced a binaural version which will be available exclusively as part of the 2CD version, this version is a 360-listening experience designed by Klang: Fabrik for headphones listening Amos Williams explains more “the concept is to push past the restrictions of a stereo headphone mix and create an accurate ‘3D’ space in which positioning outside of the normal Left Right axis can occur. This is something that every artist that uses in ear monitors on stage wishes to recreate; the real and accurate positioning of instruments. We immediately felt that this technology could be applicable to us in the studio. TesseracT loves to bring what it does in the studio to the stage, but this time it’s experimenting with bringing a live element to the studio.”

Building on their phenomenal success with worldwide tours in support of Polaris over the last two years, as both headliners and as special guests for the likes of Megadeth, Meshuggah, DevinTownsend Project and Gojira, TesseracT area gearing up to take Sonder to worldwide audiences beginning in North America in April.

On this tour they will be supported by Plini (https://www.facebook.com/PLINI ) and Astronoid (www.facebook.com/astronoidband/ ) with the first show in Boston on 19th April and the tour culminating at New York’s Irving Plaza on 24th May.

“North America is where TesseracT first took off and is always the leg of the album cycle that holds the most sentiment to me. There are a lot of good memories made and good friends discovered along those long and bumpy roads. This time we’re lucky enough to share the road with two boundary pushing bands: Astronoid, a wall of euphoric noise who have a bright and noisy future ahead of them. And Plini, with his genre defying effortless virtuosity. It’s going to be a fun tour for us, especially as we’ve got a bunch of new tunes to add to the set!” Amos Williams.

For full routing see www.tesseractband.co.uk

European summer festivals have already been announced, followed by a headline tour of UK & European and Australia.

08/06/18 – UK, Donington, Download Festival (headlining the Dogtooth Stage)

22-24/06/18 – BE, Dessel, Graspop Festival

22-24/06/18 – FR – Clisson – Hellfest

28-30/06/18 – ESP, Madrid, Caja Magica, Download Festival

TesseracT are:

Daniel Tompkins – vocals

Amos Williams – bass

Acle Kahney – guitar

James Monteith – guitar

Jay Postones – drums

MIDAS FALL ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND SHARE TITLE TRACK ‘EVAPORATE’

Combining elements of electronica, post-rock and alternative rock with progressive and gothic undertones, Scottish duo Midas Fall have carved a distinctive and captivating sound, creating taut, shimmering soundscapes led by the hauntingly melancholic vocals of Elizabeth Heaton – a sound described as “powerful yet fragile, devastatingly beautiful and beautifully devastating” (The Founder Magazine).

‘Evaporate’, the fourth album from Scottish duo Midas Fall (Elizabeth Heaton and Rowan Burn), is a visceral display of ferocious beauty.

Recorded in Argyll, Scotland, the album shimmers with a dark, gothic grace, delicate and brutal in equal measure. The title-track sweeps through tidal waves of Elizabeth Heaton’s towering vocals atop progressive post-rock landscapes both menacing and affirming, whilst the cinematic build of ‘Lapsing’ and the heavenly crush of final track ‘Howling at the Clouds’ pull vigorously at the heart. ‘In Sunny Landscapes’ is a magical, magnificently radiant world of its own, elegantly bringing its title to life.

Title track ‘Evaporate’ is the first song to shared from the record which vocalist Elizabeth Heaton describes as ‘the first track written and my personal favourite from our upcoming album. Inspired by the dark winters and landscape of Iceland it tells a story of a mind in turmoil. It also demonstrates the new and exciting use of strings and synths in our music that you will hear more of on the album’’.

Extremely emotive and vivid, ‘Evaporate’ is a deeply beautiful record – from the desperate, savage cacophony of ‘Bruise Pusher’ to the elegant ascension of ‘Sword to Shield’ – it conjures stunning soundscapes at every turn.

The album will be released worldwide by Monotreme Records on 27 April 2018 on CD and digital formats, as well as a limited pressing of 500 LPs on 180 g vinyl (200 black and 300 clear blue / black).

n September 2015 Midas Fall released their third album ‘The Menagerie Inside’ (Monotreme Records), followed by a month-long European tour later in the year with Canadian musician Raised by Swans. The album, mastered by Ed Brooks (Pearl Jam, Death Cab for Cutie, Caspian), received excellent press around the world.

2014 Saw Midas Fall complete a Balkans mini-tour and begin work on their third album.

In April 2013 Midas Fall released their second album, ‘Wilderness’ (Monotreme), which they followed up with the release of 3-track EP. ‘Fluorescent Lights’, and a full UK and European tour. The band shared the stage with Chvrches, Deaf Havana, Her Name is Calla and label mates Sleepmakeswaves, in addition to headlining a show at the Norwich Sound and Vision festival.

2012 saw the band perform at Switzerland’s Deadline Festival, share the stage with label mates 65daysofstatic and Reigns in London at the Monotreme Records 10th Birthday party, perform headline slots in London and Budapest and support We Were Promised Jetpacks and Her Name is Calla.

2011 saw Midas Fall complete their first European tour, including a slot at Belgium’s Dunk! Festival, sold-out shows in Athens, Sofia, Glasgow, Manchester and London, play Germany’s Dark Spring Festival in addition to supporting label-mates Jeniferever and Kerrang! favourites Hawk Eyes. 2011 also saw the band secure endorsements from JHS Hornby (Fret King Guitars), Diago, DiPinto Guitars, Dava Picks and Lion Cajon Drums.

Their debut album ‘Eleven. Return and Revert’ had its worldwide release with Monotreme in April 2010, garnering numerous glowing reviews comparing them to the likes of Portishead and Explosions in the Sky.

Midas Fall previously supported Japanese post-rockers Mono and had their track ‘MovieScreens’ synced on BBC3’s Lip Service soundtrack – a soundtrack which charted in the UK’s top 20 and has since been released in Canada and Australia, increasing the bands overseas following.

ACCLAIMED COMPOSER AND VIRTUOSO CELLIST JO QUAIL ADDED TO AMENRA & BORIS UK TOUR

Fresh from opening for Myrkur over the past week, as well as joining her on stage in her Folkesange project, internationally acclaimed composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail has been added to the UK leg of the upcoming Amenra and Boris European tour. Jo comments:

“Supporting Amenra and Boris on the UK leg of their co-headline EU tour – WOW! I cannot wait! It is a true privilege to play these concerts.  I’m a soloist, and I perform my music that sits somewhere between contemporary classical, post-rock, avant garde and experimental. It is an honour to be invited to open the stage for two genre-defying bands who are masters of their craft, who have been and continue to be revolutionary in their individual approach to composition, performance and musical ethos and who reach in to the depths of being both spiritually and sonically.  

I recently performed with Danish goddess Myrkur on her Folkesange tour, supporting and also joining her ensemble for 4 songs. It was fascinating to step in to her world and to have an opportunity to work with her and the ensemble in realising both the traditional folk songs and her own compositions too. I felt very lucky to receive such a warm response from her audience.”

On this tour Jo will be playing some pieces from her forthcoming 4th album (released later this year) and adds, “I’m looking forward to seeing how these develop during this tour. I find that only when I take a composition on stage do I fully begin to know and understand it; it morphs, develops, and reveals itself with each performance and my audience is as much a part of the writing process as I am. I’ll be recording this album with Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studios (Electric Wizard, Primordial, Conan) in March, Chris is an outstanding producer and I think we’re going to have a lot of fun making this record!”

Since starting to play solo in 2010, Jo has released three albums, three EPs and a live DVD and toured across the world with the likes of Caspian.

UK Tour w/ Amenra & Boris

Feb 14: Thekla, Bristol, UK
Feb 15: Heaven, London, UK
Feb 16: Arts Centre, Norwich, UK
Feb 17: Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK
Feb 18: Gorilla, Manchester, UK
Feb 19: St. Lukes, Glasgow, UK
Feb 20: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK

 

Marillion Add New Dates in Ireland and York to Sell-Out UK Tour

MARILLION have added 3 NEW DATES to their almost sold-out tour in April 2018.

Tickets for the shows in Belfast, Dublin and York go on sale on Friday, 26th January and fans of the prog giants should grab these tickets fast, as Marillion’s recent show at The Royal Albert Hall, sold out in just four minutes.

After nearly 40 years, Marillion have evolved into a vibrant and international musical force, flourishing seemingly outside of fashion and mainstream media exposure. And they are still as popular as ever – their most recent album, F E A R (Fuck Everyone and Run), peaked at No. 4 in the UK album charts and No. 1 in the rock chart last year and was given a 5-star review by The Guardian.

Steve Hogarth says: “I have been part of this band now for 27 years yet we’re as inspired as we ever were and still enjoying creating together. Luckily our music has remained free to evolve and change without the constraints of a corporate music business which otherwise might have killed us!. He continues, We’re really looking forward to this little outing, especially as we’re playing a few places we haven’t visited for a while. It’s long overdue!

FULL 2018 Tour Dates as follows:-
Sun 8th April Belfast Ulster Hall – NEW DATE
Mon 9th April Dublin Vicar Street – NEW DATE
Wed 11th April Gateshead The Sage – last few tickets available
Fri 13th April Cambridge Corn Exchange – SOLD-OUT
Sat 14th April Birmingham Symphony Hall – SOLD-OUT
Mon 16th April Brighton Dome – last few tickets available
Tue 17th April  Bristol Colston Hall – SOLD-OUT
Thu 19th April Reading Hexagon – SOLD-OUT
Fri 20th April Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – SOLD-OUT
Sun 22nd April York Barbican – NEW DATE

 

Tickets available from myticket.co.uk, seetickets.com & venue box offices.

 

Bass Magus Colin Edwin announces collaboration/album with Robert Jürjendal

“Another World” is the first full length album born from the chance connection between prolific bassist and collaborator Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree/Metallic Taste of Blood/Twinscapes/O.R.k.)  and Estonian experimental guitarist and composer Robert Jürjendal (UMA, Slow Electric, Jan Bang etc.)

A finely balanced blend of Colin Edwin’s trademark deep, hypnotic basslines and rhythmic sensibilities paired with Robert Jürjendal’s spontaneous yet expansive, sweeping and lyrical guitar style, ‘Another World’ reveals itself to be a sophisticated, finely crafted and highly evocative instrumental statement across it’s measured 9 track selection.

The duo were aided in their decidedly outward looking approach by the stellar talents of Australian trumpet phenom Ian Dixon, (whose credits include Ape, Ute, Can’s Irmin Schmidt, and legendary Ethiopian artist Mulatu Astatke) and expert Norwegian electronica and sample manipulator Isak Nygaard.
‘Another World’ mines a rich seam of sonic inventiveness to create a multi layered and highly engaging blend of ECM style ambient coolness, subterranean atmospherics and cinematographic beauty.

Kicking off with a virtuosic blast from Ian Dixon’s muted trumpet, opening track “Blue Mint” sets the pace with a cascade of echoing bass delays set against glassy and ever evolving guitar textures, complemented by a subtle backdrop of finely wrought, ever changing and pulsating electronic textures.

Other highlights include the deep dub infused “Frozen Fields” , the playful, yet concentrated “Sancho Panza” and “Tightrope Walker”, where Ian Dixon’s FX laden improvisations spin teasingly over Frippish guitarisms met with insistent and propulsive bass patterns.

Album closer, “My Island”, unfolds slowly from an introspective beginning before gradually building to an intense, molten guitar solo, which finally cools into an ambient dialogue between trumpet, electronica and Robert Jürjendal’s artful guitar textures.

Whilst evoking the space, freshness and openness of the Baltic, “Another World”  also showcases an artistically open  and creative partnership with teasing, subtle, intricate and elemental forces waiting to be discovered within a seemingly minimalist environment.

Packaged in a fold out card wallet with original album artwork by Kitty Jürjendal.

KINO return with new album Radio Voltaire; 13 years after their debut

Kino have announced the release of their new album ‘Radio Voltaire’, arriving 13 years after the band’s much-loved debut ‘Picture’ back in 2005. Out on March 23rd,  2018, it sees John Mitchell (It Bites, Lonely Robot) & Pete Trewavas (Marillion) teaming up once more, with Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson) on drums & John Beck (It Bites) guesting on keyboards.

Recorded at the end of 2017, writing began at the end of that Summer. “We actually began the writing process in late August” says John Mitchell. “Pete had a few tunes and so did I, and we went from there.” Mitchell and Trewavas were both a crucial part of the original band more than a decade ago, with the former providing lead vocals and guitar parts, while the latter played his trademark bass lines and also contributed backing vocals.

Keyboard player John Beck, who is also a bandmate of Mitchell’s in It Bites, has been brought back. But while he was fully involved on the debut album, this time his role is that of a guest musician. “Yes, I am delighted to say we’ve gone John on board. His keyboard playing is splattered throughout the album, and I’ve also done the odd keyboard part myself.” The task of drummer this time fell to Craig Blundell, as Mitchell explains: “This time around Craig was the obvious choice to be the drummer, as far as I was concerned. I have worked with him so much that there was nobody else in the frame.”

Of the albums direction, Mitchell illustrates: “The title sounds very cool and obviously there’s a connection with the band Cabaret Voltaire. But Voltaire himself (the 18th century French philosopher) had a fascination with death, which appealed to me. He also stood for freedom of speech and freedom of religion. On top of that, I love the idea of a radio station that would reflect his views on life and cut through the bullshit which seems to be all over politics. Now, that is the type of radio station I think would reflect what a lot of us want to hear.”

The album cover has been designed by Paul Tippett, who is one of the most in demand artists of the modern era. “I like what he’s done with this sleeve. It reminds me of Moulin Rouge meets ‘Live And Let Die’. It is very striking, and I am sure everyone will have their own interpretation of what it reminds them of.”

The album will be available on Limited CD Digipak (including bonus tracks), Jewel Case CD, Gatefold 180g Double Vinyl (incl. CD) & Digital Download.

The tracklisting can be found below:

1.Radio Voltaire
2.The Dead Club
3.Idlewild
4.I Don’t Know Why
5.I Won’t Break So Easily Any More
6.Temple Tudor
7.Out of Time
8.Warmth of the Sun
9.Grey Shapes on Concrete Fields
10.Keep The Faith
11.The Silent Fighter Pilot

Bonus Tracks

12.Temple Tudor (Piano Mix)
13.The Dead Club (Berlin Headquarter Mix)
14.Keep The Faith (Orchestral Mix)
15.The Kino Funfair

Charlie Barnes (Bastille Live Member) – new album, single and live dates

Charlie Barnes has announced ‘Oceanography’, his second album for Superball Music. The follow up to 2015’s post-pop monster ‘More Stately Mansions’, ‘Oceanography’ finds Barnes in a different place in his life. The past two years have seen huge change for the musician, he has spent the majority of his time on the road as a touring member of Bastille, performing on some of the biggest stages in the world and travelling all over the globe as well as getting married and relocating from Leeds to the Midlands.

In contrast to his previous LP – largely recorded in one place with producer Oceansize guitarist Steve Durose – ‘Oceanography’ is a story of snatched moments after tour rehearsals, late nights spent in far flung studios from Wales to Virginia, ideas sent back and forth over email and put down in fits and starts while on the road. At points it seemed like it would never come together, so it’s some achievement that it not only matches the attention-grabbing maximalist prog-pop of ‘More Stately Mansions’, but builds and expands on that record’s foundations.

“The last few years have been totally bonkers,” admits Barnes. “I was rarely at home, so I was doing a lot of arrangement work in dressing rooms and hotels on a tiny keyboard. I eventually took to carrying recording gear around with me so that I could make the best use of any free time.”   

Barnes had consciously decided even before joining Bastille that he wanted to make an album more honed and streamlined, so it is that much of ‘Oceanography’ is built around pop hooks that although vast in sonics are earworm tight in their structure. There is a more consistent palette of sounds used throughout, with songs comfortable in shifting between newer synth explorations and reverting to long-held influences Oceansize and Amplifier – shining particularly prominently on tracks like Ruins and Maria.

However, there’s no getting away from the impact that working with one of the UK’s biggest touring bands has had on his work. For one thing, Dan Smith himself pops up on backing vocals on Will & Testament – a track that arguably stands out in its pared-down synthetic feel compared to the string-tinged rock grandiosity of much of the rest of the album. Smith’s inclusion came after he’d asked to hear what Barnes had been working on while out on tour with them, but his mark on the album is more diffuse that a guest cameo: “Being with Bastille during the making of their second album, I got to hear how some of those songs took shape over time, from small changes to entire reworks” he says. “I think that helped me to be a bit more cut-throat with my own songs and try to streamline things a bit.”

Charlie has also shared the first single & video to be taken from  ‘Oceanography’ which is due out on Superball Music on the 9th of March.

‘Oceanography’ will be released on Superball Music on the 9th of March 2018 and can be pre-ordered now from here.

A full-band UK tour will also take place ahead of the album’s release.

Some words from Charlie on the new tour –

“I’m fully blown kid-in-sweetshop excited about these upcoming dates.  It’s going to be a little bit different to anything I’ve done before, so expect to see some new faces (well, one new face…), and the occasional support slot from another familiar face (my face, doing something else).  These will be my first live performances with a band since my mate Alex’s wedding a couple of years ago where we played a load of (superbly curated) cover versions (Biffy, Wheatus, Bowie…), so I’m definitely feeling the nerves about getting back to frontman duties.  It’ll be okay.  Right?  Come and say hello.  We’re very clean.”

Tour dates are listed below – 

·       March 7th – Leeds, Oporto (with The Society Pages)
·       March 13th – Glasgow, Bloc
·       March 14th – Leicester, The Cookie (with The Society Pages) 
·       March 15th – London, Islington Academy 2 
·       March 22nd – Sheffield, West Street Live

STEVE HACKETT Genesis Revisited – Band with Orchestra – TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE: Friday, 26th January

Following last year’s sell-out Genesis Revisited tour, prog icon and former Genesis guitarist, Steve Hackett, announces a 6-date UK tour in October. Treating fans to many favourite Genesis and Hackett numbers, this time Steve and his band will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra.

The decision to undertake this tour was cemented following the critical success of last year’s one-off US performance of the Genesis Revisited music with his band and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the charismatic Bradley Thachuk.

It went down a storm with the audience and sounded amazing, with the orchestra adding even more texture and colour to these classic tracks, prompting Steve to want to perform more shows in this way. Such was the gusto and verve brought to the performance by conductor, Bradley Thachuk that he will fly over to the UK to conduct the October shows. This show promises to be a transcendent experience!

Steve explains, “I always hoped that the Genesis music would one day involve an orchestra and I’m proud to say I’ll now be able to make that dream a reality on my next British tour, involving my own extraordinary rock band alongside a full-sized orchestra.”

The show will feature some of Genesis’ best-loved songs, including Supper’s Ready, Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth and more. Steve will not be neglecting his remarkable solo repertoire and there will be tracks included such as Shadow of the Hierophant, El Niño and The Steppes.

Tour details are as follows: –

Monday, October 1st Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Wednesday, October 3rd Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Thursday, October 4th London Royal Festival Hall
Friday, October 5th Birmingham Symphony Hall
Sunday, October 7th Gateshead The Sage 1
Monday, October 8th Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Tickets available from http://myticket.co.uk/ http://www.hackettsongs.com/ and venue box offices.

Joining Steve on the tour are his regular musicians Roger King (keyboards), Gary O’Toole (drums/percussion), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes) with Nad Sylvan on vocals. They will be joined on this tour by Jonas Reingold from The Flower Kings on bass.