Category: News

Nosound announce new studio album Scintilla, and release video for new track ‘Short Story’

Nosound - Scintilla

Nosound’s new studio album, their fifth, entitled ‘Scintilla’ marks a major departure and includes guest appearances from Anathema’s Vincent Cavanagh and acclaimed Italian singer Andrea Chimenti.

After a decade of crafting a very particular type of widescreen melancholia and wistful imagery, Nosound’s fifth studio album ‘Scintilla’ introduces a wholly new musical and visual approach for Giancarlo Erra’s ever-evolving band.

Inspired by personal upheaval and a desire for change, ‘Scintilla’ is an emotionally complex and musically direct work presenting a stripped-down set of compositions that mark a major departure from Nosound’s trademark symphonic lushness and production precision. Giancarlo Erra says,

“The intention with ‘Scintilla’ was to do something a bit more different than previously and illustrating more vigorously what Nosound is today. During a decade of activity, my listening tastes have shifted gradually towards a simpler, more direct music with an intimate character that still retains a certain richness and detail in sound. Northern folk and alt singer-songwriter music are possibly the stronger influences, but generally speaking, everything that is simple, direct and minimal but with rich sound is what I like, and what I hope this album is.”

Taking in influences from Post Rock, Shoegaze and Alt-Singer-Songwriters, the album imaginatively utilises a mostly organic and acoustic sound palette.

Musically looser and more sonically intimate than the band’s previous releases, ‘Scintilla’s’ emphasis is placed firmly on feeling rather than technique.

Anathema’s Vincent Cavanagh lends his distinctive vocals to two of the album’s tracks – In Celebration of Life and The Perfect Wife, and cellist Marianne De Chastelaine returns once more to the Nosound fold (this time in a more free-flowing and improvisational capacity). Acclaimed Italian singer Andrea Chimenti co-writes and sings on the serene Sogno E Incendio.

Shifting from the uncharacteristic sarcasm of Love is Forever and potent anger of The Perfect Wife to the dreamy sensitivity of Emily and the unusually uplifting Celebration of Life, ‘Scintilla’ represents the boldest statement of Nosound’s career so far.

A cathartic album of emotional extremes, Scintilla marks the brave beginning of the second phase of Nosound’s fascinating career.

Nosound - band

Nosound have launched their first video for the song Short Story – Giancarlo comments of the song and video,

“This is one of the shortest and less structured Nosound songs, both musically and lyrically, and yet one that perfectly sets the mood to ‘different’ and prepares for the album. A statement of intentions, so much that it is the opening of the album and  the one we choose to be the  first single. The video was shot specifically for this song, introducing the places where the album was partly written and recorded, and at the same time illustrating the emotional extremes present on the whole album, being at the same time delicate and thunderous without very much for the in-between.” 

Scintila tracklisting

1. Short Story
2. Last Lunch
3. Little Man
4. In Celebration of Life
5. Sogno e Incendio
6. Emily
7. The Perfect Wife
8. Love is Forever
9. Evil Smile
10. Scintilla

Released 2nd September 2016

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CIRCA: announce new album Valley of the WIndmill – by Progradar

CIRCA_votw_COVER_HI

From Frontiers Music Srl:

“CIRCA: is a Progressive Rock band formed by veteran rockers Tony Kaye (original YES keyboard and organ player) and Billy Sherwood (who took Chris Squire’s place after his untimely passing in 2015), with Ricky Tierney on bass and Scott Connor on drums.

The band was formed in 2007 by Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood. The debut self-titled CD, “CIRCA:”, features also YES drummer Alan White and Jimmy Haun on guitar. The follow-up, “CIRCA: Live” DVD, archived the band’s first live performance.

In 2009, “CIRCA: HQ” was released with Jay Schellen on drums. CIRCA: “Overflow” is a collection of extra bonus material from the first and second recording sessions, available only as a digital download.

“And So On,” was the third studio CD by the band. A subsequent tour happened in 2011.

“Valley of the Windmill” the new album, includes several extended length songs, and can be described as “super proggy” with influences ranging from classic Yes and Gentle Giant, to Porcupine Tree and Marillion. And absolute must for all Prog Rock fans!”

“Valley of the Windmill” will be released by Frontiers Music Srl on 8th July 2016.

Kansas announce first new album in 16 years – ‘The Prelude Implicit” to be Released September 23rd – by Progradar

Kansas Album

KANSAS, America’s legendary progressive rock band, will release their intensely anticipated new studio album “The Prelude Implicit” on September 23, 2016.  The album is the first new release in 16 years for the band that has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and is famous for classic hits such as ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ and ‘Dust In the Wind,’ to progressive epics like ‘Song for America’ and ‘Miracles Out of Nowhere.’
“The Prelude Implicit” features 10 all new tracks written by the band and co-produced by Zak Rizvi, Phil Ehart, and Richard Williams.  KANSAS‘s signature sound is evident throughout the album.  It showcases Ronnie Platt’s soaring lead vocals, David Ragsdale’s blistering violin, Williams and Rizvi’s rocking guitar riffs, the unmistakable sound of David Manion’s B3 organ and keyboards, Ehart’s thundering drums, and Billy Greer’s driving bass and vocals.
KANSAS returned to the studio in January 2016 after signing with Inside Out Music.  Says Inside Out founder and president Thomas Waber, “KANSAS is the biggest and most important Prog band to come out of the United States. I grew up listening to them, and their music is part of my DNA.  ‘The Prelude Implicit’ undoubtedly adds to their already impressive musical legacy.  I can’t stop listening to it, and we are proud to be releasing the album.”
The result of the time in the studio was even more than the band imagined.  “This is definitely a KANSAS album,” remarks original guitarist Richard Williams. “Whether it is the trademark Prog epic like ‘The Voyage of Eight Eighteen,’ biting rocker such as ‘Rhythm in the Spirit,’ or mindful ballad like ‘The Unsung Heroes,’ there is something on this album for every kind of KANSAS fan.  After years of pent-up creativity, the entire band is very proud of ‘The Prelude Implicit.'”
Lead Vocalist Ronnie Platt adds, “Recording ‘The Prelude Implicit’ was an incredible experience, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. It is my hope that, knowing the intense listeners that KANSAS fans are, the continuity yet diversity of this album will be pleasing to them.”
The album title, The Prelude Implicit means, “Without a doubt, this is a new musical beginning,” explains Ehart. Tattoo artist, Denise de la Cerda, did the oil painting of the front and back cover.  “It shows a Phoenix flying from the past into the future.”
“The Prelude Implicit” will be released September 23, 2016, on Inside Out Music and is distributed by RED.  The album will be available on CD, Double 180 Gram Vinyl, and digitally on iTunes and Google Play.  Pre-order opportunities will be available starting later this summer at KansasBand.com and Amazon.com.
‘The Prelude Implicit’ Track Listing:
1.) With This Heart
2.) Visibility Zero
3.) The Unsung Heroes
4.) Rhythm in the Spirit
5.) Refugee
6.) The Voyage of Eight Eighteen
7.) Camouflage
8.) Summer
9.) Crowded Isolation
10.) Section 60
KANSAS will be debuting songs off “The Prelude Implicit” this fall, live in concert, as part of their Leftoverture 40th Anniversary Tour in celebration of their breakthrough album. The sextuple-platinum album will be performed in its entirety.

 

Glass Hammer announce new album – by Progradar

Renowned progressive rock outfit Glass Hammer have announced that 16th studio album ‘Valkyrie’ will be released this autumn.

The new release will see Susie Bogdanowicz take lead vocal duties, along with support from founder members Steve Babb and Fred Schendel.

A full on concept album in the vein of ‘Lex Rex’ and ‘The Inconsolable Secret’, ‘Valkyrie’ was rehearsed it as if it would be a show then recorded all of the basic rhythm tracks live. There’s still a lot of recording to do back at the studio.

Glass Hammer are in the studio now, finishing off what could prove to be their Magnum Opus.

A teaser trailer video has been released:

 

AISLES announce new studio album and release online documentary – by Progradar

Aisles Hawaii Album Cover

The Chilean prog rock sextet returns with their new studio effort, “Hawaii”, a two-disc concept album that will be available starting in July.

Chilean prog rockers Aisles have just announced the title and release date of “Hawaii”, their highly anticipated fourth studio album. The LP will be released on July 29, 2016 via Presagio Records on CD and digitally, while the vinyl edition will be available in November.

“Hawaii” is a two-disc concept album about human colonies established in space after the destruction of the Earth. Its twelve tracks explore the dilemmas and challenges that the individual and the human spirit would face in this futuristic scenario. Regarding the theme and sound of the album, guitarist and producer Germán Vergara states: “Without a doubt it’s our most profound work so far. With ‘Hawaii’ we dug deep in search of a concept that could really move us. Our objective was to write music that would emotionally and mentally take us to the place where the events in the album occur: Space”.

 “All the music on the album was written with our hearts and minds set on the idea of these human colonies, a small group of people who are able to preserve some of the heritage of mankind after the Earth is destroyed. Musically speaking we had never taken so many risks, tried so many different approaches and allowed ourselves this level of freedom to improvise and experiment. I am really proud of what we’ve achieved this time”, Vergara adds.

Also, on their YouTube channel Aisles have just released the first of five episodes of an online documentary depicting the recording process of “Hawaii”. Check it out below:

‘HAWAII’ DOCUMENTARY EPISODE 1:

“Hawaii” is available for preorder in various formats and bundles on Aisles official website.

“Hawaii” tracklisting

 Disc 1:

  1. The Poet Part I – Dusk
  2. The Poet Part II – New World
  3. Year Zero
  4. Upside Down
  5. CH-7

Disc 2

  1. Terra
  2. Pale Blue Dot
  3. Still Alive
  4. Nostalgia
  5. Club Hawaii
  6. Falling
  7. In the Probe

The Pineapple Thief premiere first track ‘No Man’s Land’ from new album ‘Your Wilderness’ – by Progradar

Pineapple Thief -Your Wilderness

The Pineapple Thief have revealed the first full track, entitled “No Man’s Land”  from their highly anticipated new album – Your Wilderness due for release on the 12th August  (19th August in France) through Kscope .

“This is the first track to share from our new album, Your Wilderness.  It is a tale of two halves.  It’s short but progressive and 100% The Pineapple Thief” Bruce Soord

Your Wilderness, their 11th studio album, showcases the band performing without any inhibitions providing a springboard for the ongoing creative growth of The Pineapple Thief.

For the first time, The Pineapple Thief has brought in several special guest performers. “Since our last album Magnolia, the most eye catching change is obviously having Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) contribute drums throughout the album” explains Bruce Soord.  “This has not only redefined our sound but also redefined how we approached the songs as a band.  Gavin’s drumming is technically brilliant but also incredibly musical, and it inspired all of us to raise our game.  I’ve also rediscovered my progressive roots in terms of song-writing and arrangement.  Added to that, we were lucky enough to have John Helliwell from Supertramp contribute some beautiful clarinet parts and Geoffrey Richardson (Caravan) provided a string quartet. We were also joined by a lovely 4 piece choir and to cap it all off, my friend Darran Charles (Godsticks) added some jaw dropping guitar playing… You’ve never heard a The Pineapple Thief album like this one!  I am convinced people will love this record as much as we do.”

Your Wilderness was recorded entirely by the band with the exception of the drums, which Gavin Harrison produced & engineered at his own studio. The string quartet which was recorded at Geoffrey’s own studio in Canterbury. The album was mixed and produced by Bruce Soord and Steve Kitch with mastering duties also carried out by Steve. There will be a special lossless 5.1 surround mix available with the special edition mixed by Bruce.

Seen as one of the most vital rock bands the UK has produced over the last two decades, The Pineapple Thief was formed in 1999 by founder and chief songwriter Bruce Soord. The band has steadily evolved and refined its sound with the bass playing of Jon Sykes and the production and keyboards of Steve Kitch now so integral to the sound.  “After so many years, The Pineapple Thief has become way bigger than the sum of its parts.” explains Soord.

The Pineapple Thief will be playing Be Prog My Friend Festival in Barcelona, Spain on 1st July and is currently booking a European tour for late 2016 and planning live shows in USA / Canada.

Your Wilderness Album Tracklisting

  1. In Exile (05:40)
  2. No Man’s Land (04:20)
  3. Tear You Up (4:53)
  4. That Shore (04:36)
  5. Take Your Shot (04:34)
  6. Fend For Yourself (03:49)
  7. The Final Thing On My Mind (09:52)
  8. Where We Stood (03:46)

Your Wilderness will be released by Kscope on the following formats:

Deluxe 12” hardback book featuring:

  • 44 page artwork book
  • CD 8 track original album
  • New bonus 8 Years Later CD
  • DVD-AV –  8 original tracks hi resolution stereo & 5.1 audio (24/96 MLP Lossless stereo, 24/96 Lossless 5.1 surround, 24/96 PCM stereo & DTS 96/24 5.1 Digital surround) mixed by Bruce Soord.

CD featuring:

  • 8 original album tracks with a total playing time of 41.07 minutes.
  •  24 page booklet in digisleeve

180g heavy weight LP featuring:

  • 8 original album tracks (with MP3 download code).
  •  8 page booklet

Digital download featuring:

8 original album tracks mastered for iTunes (pre-orders receive “No Man’s Land” as an instant download)

All formats are now available to pre-order:

CD / LP / Deluxe Edition / exclusive bundles: www.kscopemusic.com/store

(all physical format pre-orders through Kscope store will receive signed band postcard)

Tilt to release new album ‘Hinterland’ on 30th June 2016

Tilt Album

Over 5 years in the making, ‘HINTERLAND’ is the long awaited debut album from progressive rock band, TILT.

Following on from their acclaimed debut EP ‘Million Dollar Wound’, ‘HINTERLAND’ has over 60 minutes of new music.

TILT members Robin Boult, David Stewart and Steve Vantsis are all probably better known for recording, writing and touring with prog legend FISH over the years. Steve Vantsis was also responsible for most of the writing of the last two well received Fish albums, ‘13th Star’ and ‘Feast of Consequences’. They are augmented by guitarist Paul Humphreys and singer PJ Dourley.

TILT are joined on this release by keyboard player John Beck (It Bites) and guitarist John Mitchell (Lonely Robot/Kino/Arena/It Bites) with John Mitchell also responsible for the final mix.

‘HINTERLAND’ is exclusively distributed by Burning Shed and is available to pre-order now with an exclusive signed postcard by the band for initial orders at:

www.burningshed.com

The radio edit of ‘Bloodline’ can be bought or streamed at:

Tilt – ‘Bloodline’ – Radio Edit

Tilt Bloodline

www.tiltband.co.uk

The Pineapple Thief return with new album ‘Your Wilderness’ on 12th August (to be released through Kscope)

Pineapple Thief -Your Wilderness

(Featured image credit: Rob Monk)

“The new album was a joy to make. More so than any other The Pineapple Thief album before it. Everything came together so effortlessly and I think this comes across when you hear the record.” – Bruce Soord

After the worldwide acclaim generated by the 2014 anthemic rock release Magnolia, The Pineapple Thief returns with its most ambitious studio album to date, Your Wilderness on 12th August  (19th August in France). 

Your Wilderness, their 11th studio album, showcases the band performing without any inhibitions providing a springboard for the ongoing creative growth of The Pineapple Thief.

For the first time, The Pineapple Thief has brought in several special guest performers. “Since our last album Magnolia, the most eye catching change is obviously having Gavin Harrison contribute drums throughout the album” explains Bruce Soord.  “This has not only redefined our sound but also redefined how we approached the songs as a band.  Gavin’s drumming is technically brilliant but also incredibly musical, and it inspired all of us to raise our game.  I’ve also rediscovered my progressive roots in terms of song-writing and arrangement.  Added to that, we were lucky enough to have John Helliwell from Supertramp contribute some beautiful clarinet parts and Geoffrey Richardson (Caravan) provided a string quartet. We were also joined by a lovely 4 piece choir and to cap it all off, my friend Darran Charles (Godsticks) added some jaw dropping guitar playing… You’ve never heard a The Pineapple Thief album like this one!  I am convinced people will love this record as much as we do.”  

Carl’s thought provoking collection of photographs perfectly compliment the concept of the album, something which Soord is tight lipped about. “It should reveal itself to the listener and be open to interpretation. I don’t want what it means to me to influence how it affects you”.   

Your Wilderness was recorded entirely by the band with the exception of the drums, which Gavin Harrison produced & engineered at his own studio. The string quartet which was recorded at Geoffrey’s own studio in Canterbury. The album was mixed and produced by Bruce Soord and Steve Kitch with mastering duties also carried out by Steve. There will be a special lossless 5.1 surround mix available with the special edition mixed by Bruce.

Seen as one of the most vital rock bands the UK has produced over the last two decades, The Pineapple Thief was formed in 1999 by founder and chief songwriter Bruce Soord. The band has steadily evolved and refined it’s sound with the bass playing of Jon Sykes and the production and keyboards of Steve Kitch now so integral to the sound.  “After so many years, The Pineapple Thief has become way bigger than the sum of it’s parts.” explains Soord.

Bruce Soord has also collaborated with the likes of Wisdom Of Crowds (with Katatonia’s Jonas Renske), Katatonia (joining the band on its 2014 acoustic European tour), and has created 5.1 remixes for artists such as Opeth, TesseracT, Tim Bowness and Katatonia. Soord also released his debut self titled debut solo album through Kscope in 2015.

The Pineapple Thief is currently booking a European tour for late 2016 and planning live shows in USA / Canada

Your Wilderness will be released by Kscope on CD, LP, digitally and as a special deluxe ‘hardbook’.

Your Wilderness Album Tracklisting 

1. In Exile (05:40)

2. No Man’s Land (04:20)

3. Tear You Up (4:53)

4. That Shore (04:36)

5. Take Your Shot (04:34)

6. Fend For Yourself (03:49)

7. The Final Thing On My Mind (09:52)

8. Where We Stood (03:46)

CHECK OUT A TRAILER FROM YOUR WILDERNESS HERE:

Mothertongue release live video of Perfect Zero – recorded at The Castle Hotel launch gig

Following the succesful launch event for the release of their debut album ‘Unsongs’, Manchester band Mothertongue have released a video of them performing a track from the album – ‘Perfect Zero’ – recorded at the gig at The Castle Hotel in Manchester on the 8th of April. The video was filmed and produced by the band’s drummer John Simm.

‘Unsongs’ is 13 tracks that make up an inspirational, progressive-pop melting pot with touches of punk and ska thrown in for good measure. Along with drummer  Simm, the band consists of Louis Smith (guitar, vocals), Mark Wall (guitar), Phil Dixon (guitar), Will Holden (bass) and Andy Malbon (trumpet).

Phil Castle Ed Sprake

With its incisive, intelligent lyrics and first-class musicianship, ‘Unsongs’ is unlike anything you will have heard in recent years. The music will lead you on a roller-coaster journey of acid jazz inventiveness that’s a big heap of noisy and light and also includes a lot of brass because everyone likes brass, right?

BEM021 album cover

‘Unsongs’ was released through Bad Elephant Music 15th April 2016.

Buy ‘Unsongs’ from the Bad Elephant music store…

Band pictures by Ed Sprake Photography

Check out the rest of Ed’s great photos of the launch event, including support band We Are Kin

 

 

iamthemorning confirmed for the BE PROG! MY FRIEND festival in Barcelona

BE PROG! MY FRIEND FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE FINAL BAND IAMTHEMORNING 

CO-HEADLINERS STEVEN WILSON & OPETH

MAGMA, BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME, ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN, THE PINEAPPLE THIEF, TEXTURES, OBSIDIAN KINGDOM, EXXASENS 

1ST – 2ND JULY

KF_Amorphis_PosterA1.eps

Barcelona based festival Be Prog! My Friend have announced the final band for this year’s line-up. Russian progressive duo Iamthemorning who released their new album ‘Lighthouse’ earlier this month will join the likes of co-headliners Steven Wilson and Opeth as well as Magma, The Pineapple Thief, Between The Buried and Me and many more. Vocalist Marjana Semkina comments:

‘It’s a great pleasure for us to join the amazing line up of Be Prog! My Friend this year – such a lovely surprise at the very last moment. It’s a great pleasure, but also a great challenge. We’ll be playing the chamber set with our string duo (cello and violin) and some percussion, and you can’t get more different from other bands on the festival. So, we’ll see how the audience responds to such a huge contrast and our almost classical sound. It will be our first appearance in Spain and first big prog festival – wow, so many things for the first time. Very exciting.’

Since its inception in 2014 the Barcelona based festival Be Prog! My Friend has played host to the likes of Anathema, Devin Townsend, TesseracT, Camel, Meshuggah, Katatonia, Riverside, Isahn and Alcest.

Taking place in the beautiful open air surroundings of Poble Espanyol, the site is one of the most important landmarks of tourism in Barcelona. By day the Catalonian hotspot is an architectural museum and on the first weekend of July it will play host to some of the world’s finest progressive bands.

Sponsored by Metal Hammer and Prog Magazine, 2016 will see Be Prog! My Friend co-headlined by Steven Wilson and fellow progressive heavy weights Opeth.

Friday 1st July Is a free entry show only for those who have purchased tickets for the Saturday. This will also now take place at Poble Espanyol having been moved from the Sala Apolo concert hall to meet demand. The line-up features Steven Wilson’s label mates The Pineapple Thief who will be joined by the highly rated Icelandic band Agent Fresco and Barcelona’s very own Obsidian Kingdom and Exxasens as well as the newly added iamthemorning.

The line-up so far:

Friday 1st July, Poble Espanyol:

The Pineapple Thief, iamthemorning, Agent Fresco, Obsidian Kingdom, Exxasens

Saturday 2nd July, Poble Espanyol:

Steven Wilson, Opeth, Magma, Between The Buried & Me, Anneke Van Giersbergen, Textures

Tickets priced at 90 Euros are available here:

http://ticketmaster.es/es/entradas-musica/be-prog-my-friend/6279/

http://www.beprogmyfriend.com/

facebook.com/beprogmyfriend

Be Prog! My Friend takes place in the heart of Barcelona and with an airport only 12km away, regular, cheap flights make it an easy festival to get and from the UK. Bands will start playing from mid/late afternoon each day which will also mean visitors have plenty of time to explore the stunning city of Barcelona while they are there.

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com