Tag Archives: Prog rock

STEVE HACKETT – The Lamb Stands Up Live at the Royal Albert Hall

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Another STEVE HACKETT live album. I haven’t picked up the last one yet, but love all these releases revisiting his GENESIS years. But, is there any Genesis albums left for him to do? Check out the press release, video, and track-listing below.

Steve Hackett proudly presents ‘The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall’, a stunning audio/visual document of his show at the iconic London venue in October 2024, set for release on the 11th July 2025. Watch the band performing ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’ below:

Steve and his live band celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary Genesis concept album ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’, with a selection of his favourite tracks from that album including ‘Fly On A Windshield’ & ‘Lilywhite Lilith’. The live set also includes other Genesis & solo classics, including music from his most recent acclaimed album ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’. This special evening saw the band joined by guests including Ray Wilson, Steve Rothery, Amanda Lehmann & John Hackett. Steve comments: “I was so happy to revisit the Lamb on tour. The Royal Albert Hall evening was particularly memorable. It is my favourite London venue and the atmosphere there that night was absolutely electric… I was really pleased that everyone in the band and the performing guests pulled it off with flying colours!”

Expertly mixed by Grammy-award winning engineer Chris Lord-Alge, and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, the night was filmed by longtime collaborator Paul M Green, and is presented as Special Edition 2CD+Blu-ray Digipak which includes 5.1 Surround Sound & bonus interview content. The vinyl arrives as a deluxe 4LP 180g boxset, including 12-page LP-size booklet featuring photos from the evening. Pre-order now HERE.

Track-listing:

1. People of the Smoke 2. Circo Inferno 3. These Passing Clouds 4. The Devil’s Cathedral 5. Every Day 6. Hands Of the Priestess 7. A Tower Struck Down 8. Low Notes And High Hopes 9. Camino Royale 10. Shadow Of The Hierophant 11 .The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 12. Fly On A Windshield 13. Broadway Melody Of 1974 14. Hairless Heart 15. Carpet Crawlers 16. The Chamber Of 32 Doors 17. Lilywhite Lilith18.The Lamia 19. It 20. Dancing With The Moonlit Knight 21. The Cinema Show 22. Aisle Of Plenty 23. Firth Of Fifth 24. Los Endos 25. An Interview with Steve Hackett

Steve Hackett & band are currently continuing their Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlight & Solo tour around Europe, before taking it to Japan in July, Italy in September & North America in October & November.

For a full list of dates, head to: https://www.hackettsongs.com/tour.html

Earlier this year, Steve Hackett released ‘Live Magic At Trading Boundaries’, featuring live recordings from his annual acoustic shows at Trading Boundaries in the UK. Listen now HERE.  

STEVE HACKETT Online:

www.hackettsongs.com

 www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Hackett/123101228589

https://www.instagram.com/stevehackettofficial/

http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html

https://bsky.app/profile/stevehacketthq.bsky.social

FOCUS – Prog legends announce ‘Focus 12’

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Spirit of Unicorn Music are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of FOCUS 12, the brand new studio album from Focus.

Founded by Thijs van Leer, Focus have been at the forefront of the progressive music movement since 1969, yet they still continue to deliver engaging, innovative and skillfully crafted music.  Focus 12 exemplifies this and proves why they are still a firm fan favourite, the world over.

For Thijs van Leer (75) and Pierre van der Linden (78), age is nothing more than a number.  Both continue to contribute to Focus with a passion.  Thijs, who has written the majority of the new album, rises at 4.30am every day in order to work on his compositions.  Whilst the album boasts some of Pierre’s greatest and most energetic drum sequences to date.

Allowing the younger guard to take the audio reins for the first time, Focus 12 is produced by band members Udo Pannekeet and Menno Gootjes, who also contribute two compositions on the album.

Thijs commented “How beautiful life can be when a band plays so easily and so together.”

Focus 12 was recorded at the world-renowned Wisseloord Studios, in the band’s native country, of the Netherlands.  A first for Focus, the album features a completely improvised piece which was captured as it spontaneously took place in the studio, during the recording process.  Thus proving that more than 50 years on, the band are still excited by undertaking something new and different.

Van Leer continues “Thanks Pierre, Udo and Menno for so much musical passion!”

The band continue their long association with legendary artist Roger Dean whose stunning artwork graces the front cover and packaging.  The vinyl version features a stunning gatefold sleeve.

Focus continue to be one of the hardest working rock bands on the planet, regularly touring the globe playing live.  This July, they undertake a string of live dates across the USA and Canada, as part of Asia’s Heat Of The Moment Tour.

Thijs van Leer concludes “After all these years, Focus is in the here and now; the triumph of survival!

Focus 12 will be available on CD, Vinyl and on all good streaming services and can be pre-ordered here:   https://burningshed.com/store/focus

Track Listing

  • 1. Fjord Focus
  • 2. Focus 13
  • 3. Béla
  • 4. Meta Indefinita
  • 5. All Aboard
  • 6. Born To Be You
  • 7. Nura
  • 8. Bowie
  • 9. Positano
  • 10. Gaia

Focus:

Thijs van Leer : Flute, Organ, Piano, Synths

Menno Gootjes : Guitars, Piano, Synths

Pierre van der Linden : Drums

Udo Pannekeet : Bass, Synths, Programming

Produced by Menno Gootjes and Udo Pannekeet

Recorded by Danny Sykes, Udo Pannekeet and Geert Scheijgrond at Wisseloord Studios and Wedgeview Studios, Netherlands

Mixed by Udo Pannekeet

Mastered by Sander van der Heide

STEVE HACKETT – new single from upcoming album

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Steve Hackett has released a new single/video from his forthcoming album The Circus and the Nightwhale which will be released on 16th February.

Steve says of the track: “People of the Smoke spins us all back in time to 1950, when bustling post-war London was stifled with smog from trains, chimneys, industry and smokers. I was born into that world! This song kicks off an album following my life’s journey both literally and metaphorically…”

The new album is available to pre-order on several different formats, including a Limited CD+Blu-ray mediabook (including 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit high resolution stereo mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP & as Digital Album. All feature the stunning cover painting by Denise Marsh. Pre-order now here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/TheCircusAndTheNightwhale

Steve will celebrate the release of his new album with two HMV instore events in London & Birmingham, where he will be taking part in a Q&A and signing albums. Find out more details on those here: https://ow.ly/HUaT50Q7paJ

STEVE HACKETT announces new studio album for 2024

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Legendary rock guitarist Steve Hackett will release his new studio album ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ on 16th February 2024, via InsideOut Music. A rite-of-passage concept album with a young character called Travla at the centre of it, ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’s’ 13 tracks have an autobiographical angle for the musician who says about his 30th solo release: “I love this album. It says the things I’ve been wanting to say for a very long time.”

‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ is Steve’s first new music in over two years. It follows the beautiful acoustic LP ‘Under A Mediterranean Sky’ from January 2021 – which rose to No 2 in the UK Classical chart – and, in September of that year, his metallic masterpiece Surrender Of Silence, which hit the UK Top 40. His 2023 live album, ‘Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live in Brighton’, reached No 2 in the Rock & Metal Chart.  Steve’s new LP promises ballads, blues, blistering progressive rock… and healthy measures of theatre and fantasia.

Recorded between tours in 2022 and 2023 at Siren studio in the UK – with guest parts beamed in from Sweden, Austria, the US, Azerbaijan and Denmark, the line-up for ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ includes some familiar faces alongside Steve on electric and acoustic guitars, 12-string, mandolin, harmonica, percussion, bass and vocals. Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Craig Blundell (drums) and Amanda Lehmann on vocals. Nick D’Virgilio and Hugo Degenhardt return as guests on the drumstool, engineer extraordinaire Benedict Fenner appears on keyboards and Malik Mansurov is back with the tar. Finally, Steve’s brother John Hackett is present once more on flute.

The new album will be available to pre-order from the 1st December 2023 on several different formats, including a Limited CD+Blu-ray mediabook (including 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit high resolution stereo mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP & as Digital Album. All feature the stunning cover painting by Denise Marsh.

Tracklisting:

1. People Of The Smoke

2. These Passing Clouds

3. Taking You Down

4. Found And Lost

5. Enter The Ring

6. Get Me Out!

7. Ghost Moon and Living Love

8. Circo Inferno

9. Breakout

10. All At Sea

11. Into The Nightwhale

12. Wherever You Are

13. White Dove

 Summing up ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’, Steve says: “It’s a lovely journey that starts dirty, scratchy and smoky and becomes heavenly and divine. How can you resist it?”

Steve is currently on tour in North America, continuing his ‘Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights’ run. Next year he will tour the world extensively, including a brand-new UK tour under the name ‘Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo’, and that will see him return to the legendary Royal Albert Hall. For the full list of dates, head to: http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html

STEVE HACKETT Links:

http://www.hackettsongs.com

 www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Hackett/123101228589

 www.twitter.com/HackettOfficial

http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html

JOHN WETTON – An Extraordinary Life, 8CD solo album box set

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John Wetton’s solo catalogue is being released in box set format in November. This comes after the book An Extraordinary Life, as well as the John Wetton Tribute concert this week (August 3), which can also be live-streamed! Check out all the info below on the box set.

On 24th November the first in a series of box sets commemorating the life and music of one of the UK`s most extraordinary and prolific musicians, John Wetton, will be released. 

The An Extraordinary Life box set contains 8 newly remastered CDs, featuring the six solo albums Wetton released between 1980 and 2011. Each album now includes special bonus tracks.  Additionally, two further discs are included which feature a gold mine of rare, live and unreleased material from the vaults, compiled by John`s archivist, Rick Nelson.

*Check out trailer for the box set here:   

Housed in a sumptuous 12” by 12” box, this set includes a 64-page book with an introduction by legendary artist, Roger Dean and contains comprehensive sleeve notes by Nick Shilton, author of Wetton’s biography, ‘An Extraordinary Life’, published earlier this year. The book also features a raft of photographs taken from the Wetton archive and has been designed by John’s long-time friend, Michael Inns.

This whole project has been lovingly crafted and compiled with the full blessing of John`s son Dylan and his wife Lisa and is endorsed by the Wetton estate.

With a career spanning more than four decades, John Wetton`s rich baritone voice and accomplished bass playing has adorned many recordings. In this ‘An Extraordinary Life’ his extensive solo career is captured for posterity all in one sumptuous box set, making this a fitting tribute to one of the UK most loved and respected artists.

An Extraordinary Life

DISC 1: Caught in The Crossfire (1980)

DISC 2: Battle Lines (1994)

DISC 3: Arkangel (1997)

DISC 4: Welcome to Heaven (2000)

DISC 5: Rock of Faith (2003)

DISC 6: Raised in Captivity (2011)

DISC 7: New Live and Unreleased Tracks

DISC 8: New Live and Unreleased Tracks

Pre-Order link:

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/?post_type=product&p=1056834&preview=true

LINKS:

http://www.johnwetton.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/johnwettonlegacy

Story Behind the Album Cover: ARJEN LUCASSEN’S SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION’ Golden Age Of Music

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Arjen Lucassen’s Sonic Revolution have a fantastic new album out titled Golden Age Of Music is now out. The album pays homage to and celebrates the great ’70s rock era with plenty of references to bands and albums from the period. The album’s cover is colorful and eye catching, with references to a number of classic albums as well. Awesome packaging, designed by Arjen, himself. So here’s a new installment of The Story Behind The Album Cover where Arjen discusses the new album’s artwork, as well as picks his own favorite classic covers.

You are credited with design, logo, and layout for the Supersonic Revolution cover/package. So, I presume you had a vision and oversaw the whole design and cover being put together!?  

Oh yes, always. I’m a total control freak! There are obviously some images included/influenced from some other classic album covers (the moons, the pyramid, the rainbow, etc…)..

Without giving it ALL away – how many are there and what inspired that idea and how it connects to the album’s theme/concept?  

I explain it all in the unboxing video here:  

Hope that helps! 

Can you tell me how important to you has your album covers/artwork been to you and how you see it as part of the whole record buying package?  

Incredibly important! As a kid I bought so many albums just because of the artwork. Or the opposite… I didn’t buy them when the artwork didn’t pull me in. I bought all the Hipgnosis and Roger Dean stuff, unheard. 

Can you give me some insight to those that helped create the artwork via drawings, photos, layout?  

I basically come up with all the basic ideas. I draw them all out on a piece of paper, very basic and sketchy. And then they perfect it. But it’s a long process, I’m such a perfectionist! I’ve driven many art workers crazy. Really. 

Can you give me a list of Your favorite album covers (5-10 perhaps), growing up, that  had an influence/impact on you later on (Not the music, but just those favorite covers that really impressed)?  

Sure!  Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy, Yes – Tales of Topographic Oceans, Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies, T Rex – Electric Warrior, Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick, Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon, UFO – Phenomenon, Nice – Elegy, Uriah Heep – Magician’s Birthday, Pink Floyd – Animals, Led Zeppelin – Presence.  Not sure if that was 10, haha! 

Do you keep (and still collect) a big record collection?  

No. I was really stupid. I had thousands of vinyl albums and I gave them all away. I hated the scratches on vinyl so much! I kept a lot of the sleeves though, and they are hanging all through my house, (see attachment). 

Links:

https://usa-store.mascotlabelgroup.com/search?type=product&options%5Bunavailable_products%5D=last&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=arj

Album of The Day : ARJEN LUCASSEN’S SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION’s Golden Age Of Music

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Dutch songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen has done numerous big projects over the past few decades, under such names as AYREON, Arjen Lucassen’s STAR ONE, GUILT MACHINE, and THE GENTLE STORM. His new band is called ‘Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution’, and they have debuted with the massive Golden Age Of Music album. I say massive, as it’s 15 tracks over 2 LPs, and it is a great production of ’70s inspired heavy rock, not quite metal and not quite totally prog. Golden Age Of Music essentially pays homage to the prog and heavy bands of the ’70s. There’s tons of Hammond organ throughout this, big intros, fantastic heavy guitar, a good bit of variety, and plenty of references to classic bands and iconic songs & albums.

Immediate highlights include the title track (check out the band & song references in this one), “Rise Of The Starman” (Bowie!?), “Burn It Down” (a twist on Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water”, and dig the Jon Lord-like intro), “They Took Us By Storm”, and “Holy Holy Ground” (a more soulful number that reminded me of something Glenn Hughes might do) . Love this whole album! Side 4, (or the ‘bonus’ tracks) consists of 4 covers, including ZZ Top’s “Heard It On The X” (which is how this project got started), as well as versions of songs by T-Rex, Roger Glover, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Lucassen plays bass on this, as well as writes most of the music & lyrics, and produces / engineers the project, even designing the awesome cover-art (check out the various classic album references on it!).

Arjeb Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution includes:

Arjen – bass

Jaycee (John Cuijpers) – vocals (Praying Mantis)

Koen Herfst – drums (The Cards, Vandenberg)

Joost van den Broek – keyboards (Ayreon, After Forever, Epica)

Timo Somers – guitars (Vengeance, Delain)

Supersonic Revolution – Arjen’s new band!

YES – release video for ‘Circles of Time’ from new album

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YES, who are Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood & Jay Schellen, have released their new studio album Mirror To The Sky on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music this week. “This is a very important album for the band,” says Steve Howe, Yes’ longest serving member, master guitarist, and producer of Mirror To The Sky. “We kept the continuity in the approach we established on The Quest, but we haven’t repeated ourselves. That was the main thing. As Yes did in the seventies from one album to another, we’re growing and moving forward. In later years, Yes often got going but then didn’t do the next thing. This album is demonstrative of us growing, and building again.” For Yes, that “next thing” is a collection of high energy, intricate, lush and layered new studio songs for an album which adds to the band’s much heralded legacy, while charting a path to exciting future times ahead.

To celebrate, the band are pleased to launch a video for the albums closing track ‘Circles of Time’

Mirror To The Sky is available now on several formats, all featuring artwork by long-time Yes artist & collaborator Roger Dean:

Ltd Deluxe Electric Blue 2LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook with poster

Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook

Ltd 2CD Digipak

Standard CD Jewel case

Gatefold 2LP+LP-Booklet

Digital Album

The blu-ray editions include the album as Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound, Instrumental Versions & Hi-Res Stereo Mixes.

Mirror To The Sky can be ordered – order now here: https://Yes-Band.lnk.to/MirrorToTheSky

YES ONLINE:

http://www.yesworld.com 

http://www.facebook.com/yestheband 

http://www.twitter.com/yesofficial 

http://www.youtube.com/user/yesofficial 

http://www.instagram.com/yesofficial 

http://www.soundcloud.com/yesofficial  

ASIA : Reunion album ‘Phoenix’ to get issued on vinyl!

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Phoenix was the first of 3 studio albums from the reunited original line-up of ASIA. Released in 2008, following up the Fantasia (Live In Tokyo) release. At the time I thought Phoenix was a good album, and over time I’ve come to really appreciate those 3 albums (along with Omega and XXX), all made for a great set of follow ups to the band’s first 2 from 1982 and ’83. Standout tracks and favorites would be the opener “Never Again”, “An Extraordinary Life” – both of which would’ve been huge hit singles decades earlier, as well as “Alibis”, and ” Parallel Worlds / Vortex / Déyà”. Phoenix never came out on vinyl when originally released, so this will be a welcome addition to many Asia fans’ collections. *Check out the press release and links below…


ASIA are a multi-platinum selling, English Rock band who formed in 1981 and celebrated their 40th Anniversary in 2021. ASIA announce the release of Phoenix for the first time as a 2 vinyl LP set on 26th May.    Phoenix was originally released in 2008 and was their first studio album with the original line-up in a quarter century.   

In terms of sound this emotional, compelling comeback album sees Asia continue the very high standards from where they left off in 1985, as ever displaying suppleness when stretching out into multi-part suites while retaining a knack for big, arena pop hooks.

Their 1982 self-titled debut album reached number one in several countries, including 9 weeks topping the US charts, with lead single ‘Heat Of The Moment’ making the top 40 in over a dozen, including US #4.

This is the second of four critically acclaimed ‘reunion’ releases (2007-2012) featuring vocalist John Wetton ex of King Crimson, guitarist Steve Howe and keyboard player Geoff Downes from Yes and drummer Carl Palmer from Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

The sleeve comprise unique artwork by world famous rock music artist Roger Dean.

Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Never Again

2. Nothing’s Forever

3. Heroine



Side B

1. Sleeping Giant / No Way Back / Reprise

2. Alibis

3. I Will Remember You

Side C           

1. Shadow Of A Doubt

2. Parallel Worlds / Vortex / Déyà

3. Wish I’d Known All Along


Side D           

1. Orchard Of Mines

2. Over And Over

3. An Extraordinary Life

Buy here: https://Asia.lnk.to/PhoenixPR

LINKS:

http://www.originalasia.com

https://www.facebook.com/asiatheband

Canadian band THE WRING release first single from upcoming album – Spectra

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Canada’s The Wring is gearing up to release a third album Spectra next month, which promises to be an assertive mix of different styles including hard rock, jazz, metal, classical, 80’s rock, 70’s rock, and probably a few other things. Solo artist Don Dewulf had the idea and with the help of accomplished musicians, the project has been brought to life. The next piece they are sharing is the single “Stiletto” ft. Marco Minnemann, which Dewulf outlines:

“This song is about the debilitating need for social media attention and validation. The blade goes in and you never even feel it, then you slowly bleed out. The verses are in 5/8 and ⅞ creating a somewhat jarring effect, and also speaking to the theme. Chandler does a killer job on the chorus vocal and there is a very peculiar odd-time breakdown before the solo. Very fun song to play.”

He also comments that Spectra is a bit like a 1970’s King Crimson album, but without any ethereal soliloquies and certainly with a more significant hard rock/metal influence. Compared to last year’s full-length “Project Cipher”, this new offering carries on in the same tradition and headspace, but the songs are fuller and cohesive.

The album got its name because Dewulf feels that it really touches on a wide range of musical styles and themes. The mixes are very layered with a lot of detail; you can listen to it many times and still continue to pick out intricacies and small details each time.

Dewulf is writing constantly as he always has a lot of ideas to flesh out and bring to the ears of listeners around the world. He has no intentions of stopping soon, so fans of Spectra should keep an eye out for new music. The Wring is recommended for fans of King Crimson, Dream Theater, and Opeth.

The music video for “Stiletto” ft. Marco Minnemann can be seen and heard via its premiere on Bravewords HERE.

Digital single – https://orcd.co/stilettopresave​

Spectra is due out on December 16, 2022, via WormHoleDeath Records.

The album teaser can be heard at https://youtu.be/FBbV-FngKG0​

Album digital pre-save available at https://orcd.co/spectrapreorder​

Track Listing:​
1. Stiletto 4:40
2. Stones & Bones 4:58
3. The Prince 3.54
4. The Wolf 5:00
5. Tin Man 5:25
6. From Mars 4:43
7. Sins 4:43
8. Fallen 5:05

Album Recording Line Up:​
Don Dewulf – Guitars
Marco Minnemann – Drums
Chandler Mogel – Vocals
Reggie Hache – Bass & Keyboards
Isamu McGregor – Keyboards

For more info:​
​http://www.thewring.ca​
​https://www.facebook.com/thewringband​
​https://www.instagram.com/wringband