News
November 23rd, 2011
JOURNEY TO THE SKY
Heaven-bound or not and ignoring the fact there was a band called SKY, former JOURNEY warbler Robert Fleischman - he didn't make it onto any of their albums but co-penned three cuts on 1978's "Infinity" including hit "Wheel In The Sky" - now has a group of his own, THE SKY. And now there's an album ready to fly to let the singer let off steam after scoring various soundtracks such as the pilot episode of "Sponge Bob". Here's more serious stuff.
THE FOREST FROM THE TREE
Working separately at the moment, with the singer's sights set on South America and the keyboardist's on the Northern part of the continent, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman follow their last years joint effort, "The Living Tree", with a document of their live trek, "The Living Tree In Concert. Part One". Which is, obviously, should be followed later on by another disc. This one was laid down in the UK in 2010 and presents the highlights of the ex-YES-men shows and is a real treat for all the lovers of things celestial and hilarious. Expect the review here.
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1. And You & I |
THIEFS IN THE LIGHT
While their fans listened on, many rock aficionados crossed WISHBONE ASH off potential surprises list, and now Andy Powell and his colleagues proved the infidels wrong. The veterans' new album, "Elegant Stealth" - recorded in France as documented on the "This Is Wishbone Ash" DVD - harks back to the early '70s in both style and mood to set the ground for the next year's 40th anniversary of "Argus". The agenda is laid out in the opening track, "Reason To Believe", the video for which can be watched here. A wonderful work - now read the review.
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1. Reason To Believe |
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Meamwhile, the band's former axeman Ben Granfelt has asked his replacement Muddy Manninen and the stalwart Andy Powell to guest on a cut for his solo album....
November 2nd, 2011
TANGLING OUT
Due to the lack of time, this site didn't report of Bert Jansch's passing last month. A real, if humble hero, without whom there'd been no LED ZEPPELIN or FAIRPORT CONVENTION as we know them and, therefore, all the rock landscape would have been different. It was shocking, then, that most of DME's contacts on LinkedIn, 99 per cent musicians, preferred to be lamenting the death of Steve Jobs who, for all his merits, contributed majorly to the killing of an album format in favor of single cuts. A pity, really, that the real mover went unnoticed.
ALL THINGS BASS
Colin Bass is known to many as a CAMEL bassist but there's always a lot of extracurriculum activity on his hands, especially now that the band are on hiatus due to Andy Latimer's illness. The ensemble get back to action next year, as it seems, but at the moment Bass is looking for sponsors to support the production of recordings to be made in Java, Indonesia this December. If your company would like to contribute to the cause, contact Colin. On other fronts of his, Bass-steered album "Lost Causes" by Daniel Kahn & THE PAINTED BIRD, one hell of a Klezmer-pitched entity, has snatched the "Best Folk / Folklore album of the year" award from the German Record Critics Association, while Bass' new solo album, "Random Chance Destiny" is pencilled in for a spring 2012 release.
BETTER WATCH OUT
Some may not like the troubles that the "Occupy" movement causes street-wise but, unlike you're a big cheese in a biz, you share its fundamental priciples. Andy Fraser might be Mr. Big on the financial fron, too, what with his co-authorship of FREE's immortal "All Right Now", yet the veteran's riches emerge from the pleasure his music gives people. So he's only so ever entitled to pitch in for the movement with a new copyright-free song called simply "99" which Andy donated to help bring awareness to the cause.
"It wasn't even a decision, or a passing thought, not a way to make money", says Fraser who showed up at the "Occupy Los Angeles" demonstration on October 23rd to bring some entertainment" and support the folks who sit on the City Hall lawn in LA. "There is a self-appointed 'privileged' 1% who feel the 'great unwashed masses' are there to serve them. They want to cut taxes to the rich and services to the poor, borrow from China if need be, but keep their nests well feathered". The artist arrived there on a red Double Decker bus with a DJ and a group of dancers and played his creation to the crowd. In his words, "It turned into quite the adventure, with everyone hugging each other, and spreading good vibes".
Meanwhile, Fraser's protege Tobi who's riding big with his debut album, "Spirit In Me", will grace the stage of the "Bull Theater" in Barnet, London, on November 26th. He shares the bill with Steven Rodgers, a son of Andy's erstwhile songwriting partner in FREE, Paul. A curious coincidence.
SOON OH SOON
Having recently embraced the world with "Survival And Other Stories" and currently touring USA while gearing up for the South America solo trek, Jon Anderson delivered recently a single track epic "Open", available as digital download here. It's been a while since the veteran came up with a long-form composition, and it's a pure Anderson, his unmistakable voice and picking flowing on orchestral wave. Review will appear on the site shortly.
FRANKLY SAYING
Getting back on stage to tour with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, a fretless bass supremo Tony Franklin marked the event with a relaunching of his site www.tonyfranklin.net which allows his fans to follow their hero. Not filled too much with a content yet, it still tracks Tony's adventures.
CRESSING BACK
Collector's items in their vinyl glory, CRESSIDA's two albums are kept in hugh esteem thanks to their quality proto-prog. And now, four decades since the band ceased to exist, the classic line-up of Angus Cullen, Kevin McCarthy, Peter Jennings and Iain Clark who later drummed briefly for URIAH HEEP, reunited to play a one-off concert at "The Underworld" in London's Camden Town on December 2nd. Hopefully, they'll record the gig.
EIGHTY TRAINS AT THE STATION
These days, Steve Hackett has arguably the best band since GENESIS. And it was with this line-up that the guitarist stepped on the "Shepherds Bush Empire" stage on November 30th, 2010 to finish their "Around The World In Eighty Trains" tour with special guests Steven Wilson and John Wetton. And now, this show is out on DVD and CD as "Fire And Ice", a must-have master class in sheer brilliance.
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1. Intro |
11. Sierra Quemada |
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