2022 Work in Progress..ive

[nicola]

BEN CRAVEN





Ben Craven ... you can say all the best about him ... self-taught begins trying to participate in bands that do not appreciate his compositions and after several attempts he fortunately decides to abandon them to their fate since they did not have understood the luck that had happened to him ... in Italy they say .... better alone than badly accompanied .... and today he composes, produces and plays all the instruments and the result is an excellent symphonic progressive rock and in addition to label with which he is defined "grandson of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson" but I also add some techniques to use the keyboards of Dave Kerzner in short, a truly top music and the track I have chosen will participate in the choice of the best track of the 2022 ..... the album cover entrusted to Roger Dean who contributed to give an extra touch to the successes of Yes and I hope that the same will happen for the next albums for this excellent musician.
.... from the MONSTERS FROM THE ID album
.... the track I chose is Die Before You Wake




ABOUT

BEN CRAVEN


From Official Website




Ben Craven is a cinematic progressive-rock artist from Brisbane, Australia.

He likes to make records.

Immersed as a toddler in the era of big prog rock, Craven taught himself guitar and keyboards and joined a series of bands. None of them made it and none of them remotely played the kind of music that had been burned into his mainframe as a kid.

Nonetheless, the songs he wrote accumulated steadily. In 2005, Craven dispensed entirely with the band approach and recorded his debut album, Two False Idols under the name of Tunisia. The result was a work of incredible maturity, with influences ranging from Pink Floyd and Brian Wilson to the likes of Bernard Herrmann and John Barry.

As Craven worked the album it became painfully obvious that the music business was in the midst of a sea change, and most of the old guard didn’t seem to realise they were the cause. Very quickly he took an anti-DRM stance and released the live acoustic EP Under Deconstruction as a high-quality free download.

Craven stepped up a gear for his sophomore album, Great & Terrible Potions. Delivering on the cinematic promise of Two False Idols, Potions went widescreen as Craven blurred the boundaries between conventional songs and orchestral soundtracks. Augmented by a stunning cover designed by legendary artist Roger Dean (Yes, Uriah Heep, Asia), Potions was dense, complicated and unashamedly pretentious – everything a good prog rock album should be! Or, to put it another way, Craven sounded exactly like someone revelling in the creative freedom that came only from not worrying about what others wanted, and delivering what he felt instead.

His 2016 album, Last Chance To Hear, was a stunning triumphant musical masterpiece of progressive rock. The grandness of the album suggested it was performed by a five or six-piece band. Craven explained, “In keeping with the idea of the album as an endangered species, the new album’s title is Last Chance To Hear. It’s another solo album in the true sense of the word where I play just about everything, like on Potions. The difference this time is a much greater portion has turned out to be instrumental. Not that I dislike vocals, but sometimes the music can be strong and emotional and moving enough to stand on its own without them.”

There was also a special appearance on the album by legendary Star Trek actor William Shatner, providing spoken-word vocals for the track Spy In The Sky Part 3!

Craven achieved a great accolade in 2016, winning the MusicOz Australian Independent Music Award for Best Instrumental, for the track Critical Mass Part 2.

Monsters From The Id is the logical realisation of Craven’s musical trajectory thus far. It’s an album of two halves, each containing a traditional progressive rock “epic” the length of a side of vinyl. The two pieces comprise flowing parts and movements with both rock and Hans Zimmer-esque orchestral arrangements, punctuated by Ben’s distinctive lead guitar and vocals. Yet the album is predominantly instrumental.

“Lyrics are incredibly important to me,” explains Craven, “but this music was not driven by words or language. It’s pure other-worldly escapism. It’s playing dress-up, wanting to make the world look much bigger than it seems right now, trying to recall the feeling that anything is possible, no matter how unlikely that might be.”

Visually, the album cover is a treat, featuring breathtaking artwork by Freyja Dean adorning the triple gatefold CD/DVD wallet. Sonically, things are equally ambitious. A 5.1 surround mix is included on the DVD, while both stereo and surround versions are available for digital download in 24-bit 96kHz high resolution.

Here’s what the press raved about Ben Craven’s previous release:

“Heavy-duty prog rock monster”
– Anil Prasad, Innerviews

“Cracking virtuoso performance by an absurdly talented individual”
– Classic Rock Society

“Craven’s one-man-band production is a prog opus for the 21st century”
– Musoscribe

“All the drama, thunder, strum and drang you could want the spiritual grand child of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson to bring”
– Midwest Record

“Craven’s tremendous ability to combine memorable hooks with complex progressive rock and cinematic orchestral music is astounding”
– Sea Of Tranquility

“Press play and this album does the rest”
– Muzikreviews

“Seriously well-distilled and blended”
– Van Dyke Parks

In closing Ben has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “The music business is becoming an increasingly cynical place. The landscape is dominated by reissues, remixes and repacking of old material in what feels like a ‘last hurrah’. But there are still true believers out there flying under the radar and producing music primarily out of love and obsession. Not because of contractual obligations, deadlines or other market forces. I’d still be making music if the industry was truly dead and buried. But I’d much rather people listened to it!”












Hi friends

2022 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2022



Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

The Chosen Ones-LALU-Paint the Sky

Land of Green (part 1)-KARFAGEN-Land of Green and Gold

Jagannath-SIMON PHILLIPS-Protocol V

Alda-BREIDABLIK-Alduorka

Mrs Tibbets-JETHRO TULL-The Zealot Gene

Living For A Better Day-TIME HORIZON-Power Of Three

A Needle Tree-KARCIUS-Grey White Silver Yellow and Gold

No Still Moment-LIGHTHOUSE SPARROWS-Aerials

Little Pretty-STEVE VAI-Inviolate

The Elephants of Mars-JOE SATRIANI-The Elephants of Mars

Wilderness Excursion-KAIPA-Urskog

Changing Worlds-THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-Psychopomp

In 256 Zeichen-TANGERINE DREAM-Raum

Scissors-GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Scissorgames

Die Before You Wake-BEN CRAVEN-Monsters from the id















Die Before You Wake-BEN CRAVEN
https://bencraven.bandcamp.com/track...efore-you-wake



Wicked Delights (Single Edit) -BEN CRAVEN
https://bencraven.bandcamp.com/track...ts-single-edit


GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

THE TANGENT




ABOUT

THE TANGENT


From Official Website




The Tangent are Insideout/SONY recording artists based in Europe, with most current members living in the UK. They have released 12 studio albums, 3 live albums, 2 DVDs since their formation in 2002/3. They have a history of members that has stabilised somewhat since 2014 and the band has now been for some time:

Andy Tillison - Keyboards/Vocals/Musical Director/Composer & Lyricist (Joined 2002)

Jonas Reingold - Bass Guitar (Joined 2002)

Theo Travis - Saxophones & Flute (Joined 2004)

Luke Machin - Guitars (Joined 2009)

Steve Roberts - Drums (Joined 2017)

The Tangent are a new era Progressive Rock outfit whose influences range from the obvious Yes/Van Der Graaf sources, through into Jazz Fusion, Canterbury, Funk, Soul and frequently electronic dance grooves. Like many other Prog bands their songs can be long, involved, instrumentally complex etc, but they are highly melodic, can rock with the best of them and are never afraid to try new additions to the boiling fusion pot.
They have lyrics firmly centred on life in the world in the current epoch, no sword/sorcery or high fantasy in the music, though such materials often appear on their artwork. The lyrical content takes in huge amounts of subject matter, with over 40 completely different topics dealt with in their career, ranging from aging hell's angels through to Brexit via American movie lore and refugee crises. Unlike many bands they have not abandoned the use of humour, characterisations and the songs are almost cinematic in their storytelling and narrative.

While members of the Tangent past and present currently also work in King Crimson, The Steve Hackett Band, Francis Dunnery's It Bites, Soft Machine (and more) playing classic music with classic bands, The Tangent is a place where they all come together to make music of their own.
The band is led by idiosyncratic Andy Tillison who cut his musical teeth in Northern English post punk bands in the late 70s, becoming a noted sound engineer on the growing Death/Hardcore metal/Punk scene of the 1980s. He lists Crass and Chumbawamba among his influences - but adds Joni Mitchell, Squarepusher and Stravinsky to the rather long list of his favourite artists. "Prog Music was my first love, but it will not be my last" he said mischievously paraphrasing John Miles in a recent interview.

In 2018 The Tangent released a 17 minute multisectioned prog epic made entirely of electro dance music that worked every bit as well as traditional instrumentation. Their 2016 political anthem "A Few Steps down the wrong road" featured speed punk butted up to musical quotes from Gustav Holst.

They've flrted with Hip Hop, Dubstep, Djent, Bebop smf 70s disco. They've released 4 movemeΩnt electric sinfonias and 3 minute pop songs, played headline in some of the worlds leading Prog festivals and frightened locals in small pubs. They've never pushed themselves down a pre-ordained career path, eschewing success for total artistic control and freedom. But thy have pushed the music beyond its normal envelope.

They are The Tangent. There isn't another band quite like it. Retro Prog? Certainly. But there's more.











Hi friends

2022 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2022



Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

The Chosen Ones-LALU-Paint the Sky

Land of Green (part 1)-KARFAGEN-Land of Green and Gold

Jagannath-SIMON PHILLIPS-Protocol V

Alda-BREIDABLIK-Alduorka

Mrs Tibbets-JETHRO TULL-The Zealot Gene

Living For A Better Day-TIME HORIZON-Power Of Three

A Needle Tree-KARCIUS-Grey White Silver Yellow and Gold

No Still Moment-LIGHTHOUSE SPARROWS-Aerials

Little Pretty-STEVE VAI-Inviolate

The Elephants of Mars-JOE SATRIANI-The Elephants of Mars

Wilderness Excursion-KAIPA-Urskog

Changing Worlds-THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-Psychopomp

In 256 Zeichen-TANGERINE DREAM-Raum

Scissors-GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Scissorgames

Die Before You Wake-BEN CRAVEN-Monsters from the id

The Changes-THE TANGENT- Songs From The Hard Shoulder
















The Changes-THE TANGENT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm6SGJShHtA



.... .... and the great remake of UK's "IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT" featured on the album as a BONUS track ... bringing the original 5 minute 35 second version to a 16 minute 11 second suite


IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT-THE TANGENT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=716bZ3sTv_o



GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

RYO OKUMOTO





ABOUT

RYO OKUMOTO



From Official Website



RYO OKUMOTO was born in Osaka, Japan. He began playing classical piano at the age of three and continued through 13. He became a professional musician at the age of 15 performing at the Live House in Osaka for a year. Because of his great desire to learn more about different styles of music and his strong independence, he moved to Tokyo at the age of 16. Ryo performed in nightclubs and discos for the next five years.

Ryo’s first real break started in 1978 when he was 19. He toured with a well-known group called “Creation” and recorded on their album “Best of Creation.” The next year Ryo toured with the legendary Kitaro and recorded on their album, “Live in Parco.”

In February of 1980, Ryo’s first solo album, “Solid Gold” was released with Canyon Records. He recorded this album at Air Studio in London with well-known musicians: Richard Baily (drummer for Jeff Beck), Kuma Takeda (bass), Katsutoshi Morizono (guitar) and Delandro Winston (guitarist for Elton John).

Two months later in April, Ryo released his second solo album, “Makin’ Rock” with Canyon Records. This album was recorded at Sound Labs Studios in Hollywood. He once again had the best musicians recording behind him: David Foster (keyboards), Jay Graydon (guitar), Steve Lukather (guitar), Jeff Porcaro (drums) and Neil Stubenhaus (bass).

Ryo’s third album was released in June that same year with Canyon Records. This was called “Synthesizer” and recorded at Sound Design Studio in Tokyo.

The following year, Ryo decided to make the big move to the States and relocated to Los Angeles in March. Tokyo seemed to have become stagnate to him and he yearned to learn more about the different styles of music that L.A. had to offer.

Ryo studied at Dick Grove School of Music for the next four years. Upon graduation, his unique style and technique were welcomed by the American music scene and he has been involved in numerous projects worldwide ever since.

Some of the artists he has performed with include Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, Eric Burdon, Peabo Bryson, and Roberta Flack. Ryo also has been part of countless world tours.

It was 1994 when Ryo became part of Progressive Rock group SPOCK’S BEARD. The band quickly hit the top of the prog scene with many successful European and US tours. Their fourteenth studio album “Noise Floor” was released in 2018.

Ryo’s skills are internationally recognized now and he is reaching audiences all over the world. He has been featured in many magazines worldwide - Dutch Rock magazine “iOPages,” for example.

Spock’s Beard released their most recent album, “Noise Floor”, and have been performing for the past 28 years. Meanwhile, Ryo has been performing with ASIA, Lou Gramm and many more!

He has most recently joined the prog supergroup ProgJect, featuring Jonathan Mover, Michael Sadler, Mike Keneally and Matt Dorsey. They started touring in April of 2022.

Ryo’s creativity has no limitations and his undying passion for music will always keep him visible, whether it be rock, jazz, R&B or a broadway production. He will always be in the public’s eye.

Ryo has performed with:
Phil Collins
David Foster
Debbie Gibson
Al Green
Eric Clapton
Steve Lukather
Neal Morse
Mike Portnoy
Lamont Dozier
Nichele Nichols
Natalie Cole
Jeff Porcaro
Richard Elliot
Roslyn Kind
Barry White
Simon Phillips
Chris Squire (Yes)
Jennifer Holliday
Louis St. Louis
Kitaro
Jay Graydon
Sue Raney
James Ingram
Peabo Bryson
Original 5th Dimension
Aretha Franklin
Dionne Warwick
Aaron Neville
Marilyn McCoo
Melissa Manchester
Johnny Gill
John Payne
Guthrie Govan
Paul Gilbert
Eric Burdon of the Animals
Roberta Flack
Pointer Sisters
Brenda Russell
Glenn Hughes
Patti Austin
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Bobby Kimball
Sheena Easton
Eric Carmen
Teena Marie
Robbie Robertson
Richard Street (Temptation)
Aynsley Dunbar
Steve Walsh
Lou Gramm
Mike Keneally
Jonathan Mover
Michael Sadler
… and many more.










Hi friends

2022 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2022



Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

The Chosen Ones-LALU-Paint the Sky

Land of Green (part 1)-KARFAGEN-Land of Green and Gold

Jagannath-SIMON PHILLIPS-Protocol V

Alda-BREIDABLIK-Alduorka

Mrs Tibbets-JETHRO TULL-The Zealot Gene

Living For A Better Day-TIME HORIZON-Power Of Three

A Needle Tree-KARCIUS-Grey White Silver Yellow and Gold

No Still Moment-LIGHTHOUSE SPARROWS-Aerials

Little Pretty-STEVE VAI-Inviolate

The Elephants of Mars-JOE SATRIANI-The Elephants of Mars

Wilderness Excursion-KAIPA-Urskog

Changing Worlds-THE JOHN IRVINE BAND-Psychopomp

In 256 Zeichen-TANGERINE DREAM-Raum

Scissors-GHOST OF THE MACHINE-Scissorgames

Die Before You Wake-BEN CRAVEN-Monsters from the id

The Changes-THE TANGENT- Songs From The Hard Shoulder

The Myth of the Mostrophus-RYO OKUMOTO- The Myth Of The Mostrophus




















The Myth of the Mostrophus-RYO OKUMOTO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxHQ9rmLMl8




GOOD LISTENING