2023 Work in Progress..ive

[nicola]

TREVOR RABIN









ABOUT

TREVOR RABIN

...from progarchives.com


Trevor Charles Rabinowitz - Born 13 January 1954 (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Born in 1954 in Johannesburg, Trevor RABIN started playing guitar at the age of twelve, and within a year he was playing his first local gigs in his brother?s band. From there he formed his first group CONGLOMERATION, and was a session musician by the tender age of 17. His musical career was delayed by being drafted into the army, but on leaving he soon formed RABBITT with former CONGLOMERATION bandmates, Neil CLOUD and Ronnie ROBOT. RABBITT soon became the most successful rock act ever to come from the country, winning multiple awards and having hit albums and singles.

He left RABBITT and moved to London in 1978 where he produced bands such MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND also released his debut solo album. He moved to LA in the early Eighties, where he came to the attention of Chris SQUIRE who was looking for a guitarist for his new band, which at that time was called CINEMA. However, after Jon ANDERSON joined the band the decision was taken to again take up the name YES, and the resulting album '90125' became the biggest selling of their career.

Trevor was with Yes for four albums, and since leaving he has concentrated mostly on film scores, and has continued to work in multiple different styles of music, including progressive rock. At the time of writing he has released five solo albums, with the most recent coming out in 2012







Push, the track I chose takes me back to the best Yes atmospheres with excellent use of choirs
I will always be grateful to Trevor Rabin for Endless Dream, one of the best Yes tracks, for having composed it, arranged it and even composed a good part of the bass parts, clashing with the great Chris Squire and getting into arguments and combined with the fact that Talk was the first album released with a independent label was not adequately promoted on the market, reaching position #20 in England and #33 in the United States. and so Talk remains Yes' most underrated album which includes Endless Dream, a masterpiece by Trevor Rabin
...but due to the clash with Squire and the problems of the lack of promotion of the album led Rabin to abandon Yes, creating a void filled by Billy Sherwood who I never liked and it may be a coincidence but the subsequent album OPEN YOUR EYES marks Yes's lowest point
















Hi friends

2023 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2023


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY

Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream

Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon

Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON

To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II

Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)

King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)

No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0

Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious

Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind

Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock​-​Headed Julia

Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram

The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption

Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three

All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky

Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA

Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES

Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER

Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA

The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II​)​, b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison

Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO

Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA

The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering

Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World

Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND

Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un​]​connected

Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW

Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS

Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX

A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends

Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio






















Push-TREVOR RABIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EiNeiz2hdE





I found on YouTube this collection of songs written by Trevor Rabin in the years in which he was a member of YES... an excellent collection that I recommend you listen to


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrthdnsRYx4



GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO








ABOUT

IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO

...from progarchives.com





Il Balletto Di Bronzo biography
Founded in Naples, Italy in 1969 (before as Battitori Selvaggi) - Disbanded in 1973 - Reformed in 1996

IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO formed with a line-up consisting of Lino Ajello (guitar), Giancarlo Stinga (drums), Marco Cecioni (guitar/vocals) and Michele Cupaiuolo (bass) using initially the name BATTITORI SELVAGGI. Despite avoiding the fate of many other Italian progressive bands of releasing one album and splitting up (they managed two) they still suffered from a lack of interest, the reason cited by some that they were too advanced for the time, which ultimately led to a split in 1973.

Their recording career started with the single "Neve Calda" in 1969 followed the following year by the album "Sirio 2222". Not really displaying much in the way of progressive rock at this stage the album was more in the psychedelic/blues rock vein with one foot still firmly in the sixties. 1971 saw a change of line-up with Cecione and Cupaiuolo leaving. They were replaced by on keyboards/vocals, Gianni Leone, who was in the original line-up of CITTA FRONTALE and bassist Vito Manzari, formerly of QUELLE STRANE COSE CHE, a band from Rome who despite doing some recording for RCA never managed to release anything. The addition of keyboards to the band's sound was to prove an inspired move and change the dynamics of their sound drastically. Their second album "Ys", which over time has become to be regarded as a classic by many RPI fans, was a much more sophisticated affair. Bearing no resemblance to "Sirio 2222" it saw a move towards symphonic prog with a very busy playing style containing elements of jazz and classical influences. An English language version was also prepared but didn't see a release until 1992.

After the split in 1973 one more release in the form of a single titled "La Tua Casa Comoda" saw the light of day, but only featured Stinga and Leone from the "Ys" line-up. Leone went on to a solo career as LEO NERO and released two albums. Many years later he returned with a new line-up of IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO where he was the only member of the seventies incarnation. He was joined by bassist Romolo Amichi and drummer Ugo Vantini and they released the live album "Trys" in 1999. More live shows with yet another rhythm section featuring drummer Adolfo Ramundo and bassist Marco Capozi later resulted in a DVD being released in 2008 titled "Live In Rome."

On the strength of "Ys" alone IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO are regarded as one of the more important and pioneering bands of the Italian prog scene. While it won't necessarily be to every RPI fans taste, it should be at least heard.

-Paul Fowler/Nightfly










Hi friends

2023 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2023


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY

Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream

Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon

Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON

To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II

Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)

King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)

No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0

Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious

Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind

Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock​-​Headed Julia

Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram

The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption

Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three

All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky

Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA

Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES

Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER

Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA

The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II​)​, b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison

Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO

Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA

The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering

Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World

Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND

Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un​]​connected

Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW

Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS

Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX

A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends

Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio

Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO-Lemures





















Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQua2ZzVEnE





GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

SEVEN IMPALE









ABOUT

SEVEN IMPALE

...from official website



Seven Impale was started in the fall of 2009 by Stian Økland. Stian wanted to create a new and exciting sound combining his love for jazz guitar, thrash metal and everything in between. Tormod, Benjamin and Fredrik was part of some of these first line-ups while the band changed form rapidly, coming into its own during the first year. Håkon and Erlend joined the band in the following months and the current members has formed Seven Impale as we know it since the summer of 2010.

What became the Beginning/Relieve EP was written and partly recorded in this period, while the band practiced often and performed as much live as possible. From a small “battle of the bands”-like competition in Åsane in Bergen, the first festival gig and connections were made where Seven Impale won and got the opportunity to play the wonderful Utkant festival in the beautiful surroundings of Gulen. These connections and a bit of luck led to an open spot at the local music industry conference Blest, where we got the chance to perform in front of, among others, Ivar Peersen from Enslaved and a long haired King Crimson loving guy named Martin Kvam from Karisma Records. This was love at first sight and Martin invited us on the spot to join their roster, while Ivar put us into contact with our producer-to-be, Iver Sandøy.

While getting ready for recording City of the Sun, the band was exited to release some music and decided to finish the old material which was partly recorded earlier, and would not be part of the album anyway. Our friend, Christian Fredrik (currently the bass player in Moron Police), was excited about the music of Seven Impale and offered to help us with the production, which included re-recording everything except drums and saxophone in his apartment in Bergen. After some hundred ours of recording, production and mixing, we had the Beginning/Relieve EP ready for digital release early in 2013. Christian did all of this work for us for free and is a true hero in the mythos of the Seven Impale extended universe.

In the fall of 2013, the gang went into Solslottet studio with Iver and recorded City of the Sun, more or less exactly like it was rehearsed but with additional insane layers of synths, percussions and the trusted Roland Space Echo. The album was released in September 2014 and was received very warmly by the international prog audience. Fast forward to late summer/early fall 2015, we had already gotten impatient and again went into Iver’s studio to record Contrapasso. We had a lot of musical material from the previous two years but it was not nearly as refined as our previous album, and this proved to be quite an entertaining challenge. In that sense, Contrapasso is even more a product of the collaboration of Seven Impale and Iver Sandøy, the crazy ideas, tapestry of heavy riffs and insane soundscapes, and we couldn’t be more proud of the result.

After Contrapasso was released in September 2016 we went on to play some of our biggest and most important concerts. In 2017 we played the renowned local jazz festival in Bergen, Nattjazz. This had been a dream of ours for a long time and we are very attached to the festival both as volunteers, audience and now finally, as artists. A few months later, we travelled to Germany and played the Night of the Prog festival in the beautiful amphitheater at Lorelei, a legendary venue for prog rock.

Going forward from the summer of 2017, a lot has happened in our lives outside of Seven Impale which has made things slow down a bit. Activities with other bands, a couple of master’s degrees, health, work, family, love lives, a baby, a pandemic, the list goes on. In April 2021, Seven Impale played in Bergen again for the first time since May 2017. We played the first song that has been written for our long awaited third album. Everyone lives in Bergen again, everyone is really excited about once again gaining some momentum and showing the world how we have grown in the last five years, as human beings, as musicians, as a collective and individually. Whether the world needs more eclectic, eccentric, electric, elastic heavy jazz-rock is not certain, but it is coming your way.














Hi friends

2023 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2023


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY

Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream

Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon

Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON

To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II

Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)

King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)

No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0

Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious

Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind

Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock​-​Headed Julia

Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram

The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption

Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three

All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky

Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA

Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES

Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER

Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA

The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II​)​, b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison

Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO

Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA

The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering

Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World

Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND

Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un​]​connected

Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW

Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS

Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX

A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends

Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio

Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO-Lemures

Hydra-SEVEN IMPALE-Summit

























Hydra-SEVEN IMPALE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaQ5aWxMJNs





GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

THIS WINTER MACHINE








ABOUT

THIS WINTER MACHINE

...from official website



Multi award-winning progressive rock outfit This Winter Machine were formed in 2016 by vocalist/song-writer Al Winter

Writing commenced quickly, and within a year they released their debut album 'The Man Who Never Was'

The album was well received by audiences, press and radio worldwide

They followed this with their sophomore album 'A Tower of Clocks' which cemented their reputation

After further line up changes, they released their third album 'Kites' in 2021 to critical and audience acclaim, building on and expanding their fanbase.

A fourth album is currently in the works and is in the later stages of writing and recording. It will be called 'The Clockwork Man' and is planned to be their first fully concept record

The first demo from that upcoming album 'The River' was released to YouTube at the beginning of 2022
















Hi friends

2023 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2023


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY

Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream

Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon

Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON

To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II

Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)

King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)

No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0

Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious

Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind

Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock​-​Headed Julia

Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram

The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption

Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three

All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky

Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA

Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES

Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER

Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA

The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II​)​, b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison

Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO

Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA

The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering

Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World

Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND

Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un​]​connected

Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW

Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS

Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX

A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends

Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio

Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO-Lemures

Hydra-SEVEN IMPALE-Summit

The River-THIS WINTER MACHINE-The Clockwork man



























The River-THIS WINTER MACHINE
https://thiswintermachine.bandcamp.com/track/the-river





GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

OZRIC TENTACLES











ABOUT

OZRIC TENTACLES

...from official website



A campfire at the Stonehenge free festival in 1983 witnessed the birth of Ozric Tentacles. It was there that composer and band leader Ed Wynne (guitar & keyboards), and brother Roly Wynne (bass), who were performing in a group known at the time as ‘Bolshem People’, along with drummer Nick 'Tig' Van Gelder (Jamiroquai), stumbled upon keyboardist Joie Hinton. After a session of warming their bones and discussing imaginary breakfast cereals, the group went to perform an impromptu late jam session. Over the course of what became an epic six hour performance, an audience member inquired as to the name of the band. Randomly thinking back to the group’s former conversation, visions of ridiculous mythical mueslis entered Ed’s mind, and consequently he replied; “Ozric Tentacles”. (…Good job too, since some of the previous alternatives had been “Desmond Whisps”, “Gilbert Chunks” and “Malcolm Segments”).

From that very first jam session, a musical compatibility was evoked that has since been a trademark of the Ozric Tentacles. It's a signature blend of hippy aesthetics and raver electronics with spiraling guitars, textured waves of keyboards, midi, samplers, and super-groovy bass and drum rhythms. Before long the band was laughing in dismay, as requests came piling in from people who were looking for more music by “Ozric Tentacles”, or “The Ozrics”, (as they had become more commonly known). The band swiftly claimed their place as a staple of the UK's burgeoning festival scene, and are now credited as one of the influential musical linchpins of the scene's re-emergence.

1984 saw the band's first cassette release, “Erpsongs”. Recorded at home on a barely more than a domestic hi-fi and lined with hand drawn covers, it ignited the underground psychedelic scene. The album showcased a variety of styles, which has been a characteristic feature of the band throughout their career. Some tracks seemed a mixture of alien, spacey sounds in a floating ambiance, while other tracks showed the Ozrics' harder rock tendencies with a solid rhythm section underpinning soaring guitar and synthesizer passages.

1986 was a very productive year for the band with three cassette releases, “Live Ethereal Cereal”, “Tantric Obstacles”, and “There Is Nothing”. Live Ethereal Cereal, record from those early festival jams, showed the band to be hot psychedelic property indeed. There was also a truly new and unique form of reggae and dub emerging in their recordings intrinsic to Ozrics’ sound. ‘There Is Nothing’ featured increasingly more ethnic elements. Scales, styles, and samples gathered by Joie on visits to India, and Ed on trips to Thailand became deeply entwined with the band's sound. At Stonehenge festival the year following the bands inception, Ozrics had picked up a second synth player, Tom Brooks, who helped to fill in the audio spectrum with bubbling ethereal effects. In 1987 “Horse Drawn Tom” gave up his synthesizers for greener pastures, (…after renouncing the electricity used to power them).

Following Tom’s departure, Ed found himself forced to fill the sonic gap by focusing more on his own synthesis and keyboard skills. (A concept that had become appealing to Ed after releasing “The Grove of Selves” by Nodens Ictus, earlier in the year. Nodens Ictus was Ed and Joie’s ambient project, still very “Ozricky”, but mellower in nature and without the live rhythm section, hence they decided that they should release the project under a different name.) This shift would prove not only to be a comfortable success for Ed, swapping seamlessly between guitar and keyboards, but the ethereal sounds of his Sequential Circuits Pro-One synth, and Roland D-50 keyboard would essentially become a molecular base of Ozrics’ DNA.

1988 saw the band's most cohesive and endearing of the early cassette releases, “Sliding Gliding Worlds”, a favourite for many friends and fans. Around the same time, drummer Tig evaporates, and Ozrics recruit Merv Pepler, a 21 year old phychobilly drummer from Somerset. Merv’s raw untrained energy, which managed to shift through multiple time-signatures without a thought of it, would not only suit the band, but inherently provide a solid backbone for their sound. Six months later the band would release their last cassette-only release, “Bits Between The Bits”, and closed the tape only period of the band with a collection of odds and ends from the 1985 - 89.

The live performances from this time have become something of folklore amongst the hardcore fan-base: jam sessions lasting for hours and featuring an array of musicians. Tape trade amongst these fans has reached the feverish dedication shown by the Dead-heads in the USA, with similar rules of free trade and no profit. Realizing that signing with any of the established companies would inhibit their creative freedom, in 1989 the band formed their own record label, “Dovetail Records”. Their first major release, (available on CD, vinyl, and cassette), “Pungent Effulgent” invoked a clutch of rave reviews from somewhat startled music journalists, and is also a blinding example of the live experience and the raw energy the Ozrics put into every performance.

Throughout the early 1990's, constant touring of the UK helped the Ozric Tentacles to build a tremendous national fan base on a grass roots level. In 1991 the band’s first and only single was released. “Sploosh!” scored the group a #1 in the indie charts, and spilled the band into the mainstream. The single was released just as dance music was exploding in the UK, and the ravers embraced its hypnotic pulse. The subsequent album “Strangitude” took the music to a new level, leaning towards electronic but retaining the authenticity of an Ozric recording. By 1992 The Ozrics were the soundtrack to the summer. Travelers were suddenly trendy and free festivals were attracting tens of thousands of people.

With the band's 1993 release "Jurassic Shift," which debuted at #11 on the British indie chart and climbed into the Top 10 in the National Album Charts, the Ozrics eventually won over the adulation of mainstream press, and found themselves heralded in publications such as NME and Melody Maker. It was, and still is, an astonishing accomplishment for a band with no celebrity status, and no major record label backing. Over the years Ozrics have toured extensively both at home and abroad, performing regularly throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. Ed’s influences are rooted in ethnic scales and the native music of many continents, rather than from any particular artist and this is continually illustrated in the twists and turns of each piece and the varying sounds used in their construction.

As the Ozrics continue to create genre-free music with no boundaries in sight, it means that their aim and goals are enthusiastically raised as they strive to take each track to a new level, and each album must grow substantially for the band to be satisfied. Post 1994, along with the release of “Arborescence”, the music press had realized that the Ozrics were never here for chart success, nor to be the latest fad, rather to simply have the opportunity to explore their music with an almost obsessive zeal by wringing the most bizarre and unlikely sounds from whatever instrument they happened to be playing, …and long may they continue to do so!

Ozric Tentacles returned to their Dovetail label for 1995's Become the Other. Ed Wynne's brother Roly, whose later life was plagued with difficulties, died by suicide in 1999, a tragic development for the Wynne and Ozric families. However, the band forged ahead, closing out the decade with the release of “Waterfall Cities” that year, and during the summer of 2000, the Ozrics resurfaced with “Swirly Termination”. The band also released Hidden Step in 2000, followed by the EP “Pyramidion” in 2002. “Live at the Pongmasters Ball” arrived in 2002 as well, their first venture to be released on both CD and DVD.

By 2004's “Spirals in Hyperspace”, Ozric Tentacles were largely guided by sole original member Ed Wynne, who was responsible for guitar, keyboards, and beat programming on the studio effort, which nevertheless included appearances from previous Ozrics contributors but the release in 2006 of “The Floor's Too Far Away” continued the trend of Ed Wynne's domination of the band.

A live appearance from June 2007 was documented on 2008's “Sunrise Festival” disc, and 2009 saw the release of a new studio album, “The Yumyum Tree”. Inspired by Lewis Carroll. Yet another permutation of the latter-day Ozrics was a true Wynne family affair, with Ed joined by his son - and the late Roly's nephew - Silas on synths, with wife Brandi back on bass. Following the release of 2011's “Paper Monkeys”, the Wynnes’ Colorado home and studio were destroyed by wildfires while the band was away on tour. The fires resulted in the loss of various archival material, instruments, equipment, and other valuables. Rebuilding and returning with a revitalized approach, Ozrics delivered the double album “Technicians of the Sacred”, in 2016, a release which many fans saw as a creative return to form.

The band went on a temporary hiatus in the three years that followed, with Ed Wynne focusing on Nodens Ictus, an electronic side project in collaboration with Hinton. Wynne returned to working on Ozrics material in 2019, emerging with their 16th studio album, “Space for the Earth”, in 2020.

Through 2021 and the early part of 2022, Ed and Silas Wynne toured as Ozric Tentacles Electronic before overseeing the reformation of a full live band to embark on a joint headline UK tour with fellow space rock band GONG in the autumn of 2022.
















Hi friends

2023 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2023


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY

Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream

Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon

Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON

To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II

Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)

King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)

No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0

Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious

Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind

Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock​-​Headed Julia

Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram

The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption

Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three

All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky

Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA

Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES

Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER

Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA

The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II​)​, b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison

Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO

Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA

The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering

Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World

Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND

Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un​]​connected

Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW

Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS

Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX

A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends

Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio

Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO-Lemures

Hydra-SEVEN IMPALE-Summit

The River-THIS WINTER MACHINE-The Clockwork man

Lotus Unfolding-OZRIC TENTACLES-Lotus Unfolding























Lotus Unfolding-OZRIC TENTACLES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2YS...HxWdYO&index=3





GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

GLASS HAMMER










ABOUT

GLASS HAMMER

...from official website



Glass Hammer is an American progressive rock band from Chattanooga, Tennessee. They formed in 1992 when multi-instrumentalists Steve Babb and Fred Schendel began to write and record “Journey of the Dunadan”, a concept album based on the story of Aragorn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. To their surprise, the album sold several thousand units via the Internet, The QVC Shop-At-Home Network, and their own toll-free order number. As such, Babb and Schendel were convinced that the band was a project worth continuing. The stage was then set for a successful career that now includes numerous albums, DVDs and an enthusiastic, world-wide fan base that continues to grow at a steady rate.

While many musicians have appeared on Glass Hammer albums over the years, Babb and Schendel have remained the core creative force of the band. Both play a variety of instruments, but Babb is better known as the bassist while Schendel is the primary keyboardist. And though they also sing, a number of other vocalists (most notably Michelle Young, Walter Moore, Susie Bogdanowicz, Carl Groves and Jon Davison) have also handled lead vocal duties.

Lyrically, Glass Hammer is inspired mostly by their love of literature (most notably Tolkien, C. S. Lewis and John Krakauer) and Babb’s love of Victorian prose and medieval mythology. Musically, they lean towards 70’s driven symphonic rock, focusing on epic-length songs anchored by Babb’s distinctive bass guitar work and strong keyboard playing from Schendel; specifically Hammond organs in the tradition of ELP. They have a superb melodic flow to the music they make, encapsulating real power and dynamics without ever becoming overpowering. Their most apparent influences are Yes, ELP, Genesis, and, to a less noticeable extent, Camel. Fans and critics are usually quick to attest that Glass Hammer have managed to combine those influences into a unique style all their own.

Critically acclaimed albums have continued to flow from the Glass Hammer studio, with the most successful and noteworthy being “Chronomtree” (2000), “Lex Rex” (2002), “The Inconsolable Secret” (2005) and “IF” (2010). Vocalists and fan-favorites Carl Groves and Susie Bogdanowicz took a temporary hiatus from the band after 2009 and vocalist Jon Davison took over as lead vocalist for three studio albums; “IF”, “Cor Cordium” and “Perilous”. Kamran Alan Shikoh joined the band at the same time taking on the role of guitarist.

During the recording of “Perilous”, Davison also assumed the role as front-man for Yes. This led to Carl Groves rejoining the Glass Hammer in 2013 for live performances and recording. Aaron Raulston joined at the same time as drummer for the group. Susie Bogdanowicz rejoined in late 2013 and appeared along with Raulston, Groves and Shikoh in 2014 concerts.

Glass Hammer’s “Ode To Echo” release for 2014 featured performances by many of the band’s vocalists, including Bogdanowicz, Young, Moore and Davison, though Carl Groves was handling the lion’s share of the vocal duties for the band. “The Breaking Of The World” followed in 2015 along with the two CD one DVD set “Double Live” which was recorded and filmed at ROSFest in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Carl Groves and Susie Bogdanowicz fronted the group throughout 2015.

2016’s “Valkyrie” saw the lineup shift somewhat as Carl Groves departed and Susie Bogdanowicz stepped to the fore. Before recording sessions began, Babb, Schendel, Shikoh and Raulston rehearsed the music of “Valkyrie” for several weeks, as if they were preparing for a live concert. This was a new approach for Glass Hammer album production. According to the band, this was done in order to better capture the live energy of an actual Glass Hammer performance. “Valkyrie” was also conceived as a “full-blown concept album” in the tradition of “Lex Rex”, and “The Inconsolable Secret”.

In 2020 Glass Hammer released the first of Babb’s concept trilogy, Dreaming City. It would be followed in in 2021 with Skallagrim-Into The Breach, 2022’s At The Gate, and Babb’s first full-length novel, Skallagrim – In The Vales Of Pagarna. The saga tells the story of “the thief with the screaming sword”, a sword and sorcery inspired character. The band began to adopt a heavier sound for these projects, and introduced lead vocalist, Hannah Pryor to the fold. A session guitarist, Reese Boyd, who had played on several GH albums, became an official member in 2023 for the release of the band’s space rock homage, ARISE.

Other prog musicians and rock artists have made contributions to Glass Hammer projects, including Jon Anderson of Yes, Arjen Lucassen, Rich Williams and David Ragsdale of Kansas, Rob Reed of Magenta and Randy Jackson of Zebra. Glass Hammer has also appeared with The Adonia String Trio and performed two concerts (2006-2007) with 120 plus member choirs from Belmont University and Lee University.















Hi friends

2023 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2023


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY

Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream

Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon

Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON

To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II

Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)

King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)

No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0

Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious

Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind

Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock​-​Headed Julia

Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram

The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption

Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three

All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky

Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA

Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES

Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER

Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA

The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II​)​, b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison

Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO

Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA

The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering

Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World

Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND

Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un​]​connected

Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW

Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS

Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX

A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends

Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio

Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO-Lemures

Hydra-SEVEN IMPALE-Summit

The River-THIS WINTER MACHINE-The Clockwork man

Lotus Unfolding-OZRIC TENTACLES-Lotus Unfolding

The Return Of Daedalus-GLASS HAMMER-ARISE























The Return Of Daedalus-GLASS HAMMER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYvrAgui0xI





GOOD LISTENING

[nicola]

PETER GABRIEL






ABOUT

PETER GABRIEL

...from Stephen Thomas Erlewine



Peter Gabriel combines the theatricality of his time as the leader of Genesis in the early '70s with widely appealing sounds and songwriting, making him an international star with the credibility of a cult hero. With his eponymous debut solo album in 1977, he explored dark, cerebral territory, incorporating avant-garde, electronic, and worldbeat influences into his music. The record, as well as its two similarly titled successors, established Gabriel as a critically acclaimed solo artist, and with 1982's Security, he began to move into the mainstream; "Shock the Monkey" became his first Top 40 hit, paving the way for his breakthrough So in 1986. Accompanied by a series of groundbreaking videos and the number one single "Sledgehammer," So became a multi-platinum hit. Instead of capitalizing on his sudden success, Gabriel founded the Real World label, which proved an invaluable channel for international artists of every stripe to ply their trade. All this and his shepherding of political causes such as Amnesty International gained him a reputation as a true nobleman of the pop world, a role he has continued to fill well into the 21st century, as he toiled on i/o, his eighth album of original material that finally appeared in 2023, 21 years after Up.

Following his departure from Genesis in 1976, Peter Gabriel began work on the first of three consecutive eponymously titled albums; each record was named Peter Gabriel, he said, as if they were editions of the same magazine. In 1977, his first solo album appeared and became a moderate success due to the single "Solsbury Hill." Another self-titled record followed in 1978, yet received comparatively weaker reviews. Gabriel's third eponymous album proved to be his artistic breakthrough, however. Produced by Steve Lillywhite and released in 1980, the record established Gabriel as one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians, as well as one of its most political -- "Biko," a song about a murdered anti-apartheid activist, became one of the biggest protest anthems of the '80s. "Games Without Frontiers," with its eerie chorus, nearly reached the Top 40.

Birdy
In 1982, Gabriel released Security, which was an even bigger success, earning positive reviews and going gold on the strength of the startling video for "Shock the Monkey." Just as his solo career was taking off, Gabriel participated in a one-shot Genesis reunion in order to finance his WOMAD -- World of Music, Arts and Dance -- Festival. WOMAD was designed to bring various world musics and customs to a Western audience, and it soon turned into an annual event, and a live double album was released that year to commemorate the event. As Gabriel worked on his fifth album, he contributed the soundtrack to Alan Parker's 1984 film Birdy. His score was highly praised and it won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes that year. After founding Real World, Inc. -- a corporation devoted to developing bridges between technology and multi-ethnic arts -- in 1985, he completed his fifth album, So.

Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ
Released in 1986, So became Gabriel's commercial breakthrough, largely because his Stax homage "Sledgehammer" was blessed with an innovative video that combined stop-action animation with live action. So climbed to number two as "Sledgehammer" hit number one, with "Big Time" -- featuring a video very similar to "Sledgehammer" -- reaching the Top Ten and "In Your Eyes" hitting the Top 30. As So was riding high on the American and British charts, Gabriel co-headlined the first benefit tour for Amnesty International in 1986 with Sting and U2. Another Amnesty International Tour followed in 1988, and the following year, Gabriel released Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ, a collection of instrumentals used in Martin Scorsese's film. Passion was the furthest Gabriel delved into worldbeat, and the album was widely acclaimed, winning the Grammy Award in 1989 for Best New Age Performance. In 1990, he released the hits compilation Shaking the Tree.

Us
Gabriel labored long on the pop music follow-up to So, finally releasing Us in the spring of 1992. During the recording of Us, Gabriel went through a number of personal upheavals, including a painful divorce, and those tensions manifested themselves on Us, a much darker record than So. For various reasons, not the least of which was the fact that it was released six years after its predecessor, Us wasn't as commercially successful as So, despite positive reviews. Only one single, the "Sledgehammer" knockoff "Steam," reached the Top 40, and the album stalled at platinum sales. In 1993, Gabriel embarked on the most ambitious WOMAD tour to date, touring the United States with a roster including Crowded House, James, and Sinéad O'Connor, with whom he had an on-off romantic relationship. The following year, he released the double-disc Secret World Live, which went gold. Later in 1994, he released the CD-ROM Xplora, one of many projects he developed with Real World. For the rest of the decade, Gabriel concentrated on developing more multimedia projects for the company and working on a new studio album.

Big Blue Ball
Up was released in 2002, a full decade after Gabriel's last studio effort. Dense, cerebral, and often difficult, the record peaked at number nine but failed to sell well in America. It fared slightly better in Canada, where it went gold. He then turned his attention to a host of different projects, although the release of Big Blue Ball -- a compilation of collaborative performances recorded at Real World Studios during the '90s -- helped placate fans while Gabriel focused his energies elsewhere. He eventually returned to the studio for another album, 2010's Scratch My Back, which featured orchestral covers of songs originally performed by Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Paul Simon, David Bowie, and others. Gabriel uncharacteristically delivered the sequel to Scratch My Back quickly, releasing New Blood -- a collection of orchestral reinterpretations of his own songs -- in the fall of 2011. The following year, Gabriel held a lavish celebration of the 25th anniversary of So, releasing several deluxe editions of the record -- the largest being a four-CD, two-DVD, two-vinyl box -- and launching the Back to Front tour, where he played So in its entirety.

Rated PG
In 2014, Gabriel was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo act, joining Genesis, which had been inducted four years earlier. He also released the concert album Back to Front: Live in London that year. Gabriel rounded up a bunch of his stray songs in 2019 via the compilations Rated PG and Flotsam and Jetsam; the former contained songs he gave to films, the latter focused on B-sides and non-LP tracks. After a 2022 appearance on the Blue Note-issued Leonard Cohen tribute, Here It Is, Gabriel kicked off 2023 with "Panopticon," the first single from his next studio album, i/o, an album he began in the early 2000s, not long after the release of Up. Over the course of two decades, Gabriel steadily worked on the record, taking the occasional break to pursue other projects or tend to personal affairs. He finally finished the twelve songs comprising i/o in early 2022, then spent the course of 2023 doling out the tracks as a series of singles while touring the material all before the December release of the full album.















Hi friends

2023 Work in Progress..ive



These are my best tracks of 2023


Track Title-Group or Artist-Album

I'm Done with You-RIVERSIDE-ID.ENTITY

Life Lines-SUNCHILD-Exotic Creatures and a Stolen Dream

Scanning The Dark Horizon-JOHN IRVINE-Scanning The Dark Horizon

Memories in a Box-SINGLE CELLED ORGANISM-EVENT HORIZON

To_find_the_light_part_two-GREAT WIDE NOTHING-Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II

Ghosts From The Future-OVERHEAD-Telepathic Minds (Disc 1)

King_of_the_world-RPWL-Crime Scene(Disc 1)

No Man's Land-TNNE-LIFE 3.0

Mysterious Forest, Pt. 1-KARFAGEN-Passage to the Forest of Mysterious

Something New-MARTIN MILLER-Maze of My Mind

Kill_the_sun_and_the_moon_and_the_stars-THE BLACK CAT'S EYE-The Empty Space Between A Seamount And Shock​-​Headed Julia

Gargantuan.(Part One)-AMPLIFIER-Hologram

The Beauty and the Least-MYSTERY-Redemption

Scratches-INNER PROSPEKT-Canvas Three

All Connected-YES-Mirror to the sky

Summer Lies Beyond-COMEDY OF ERRORS-THRENODY FOR A DEAD QUEEN

The Sacred Law of Retribution-TRITOP-RISE OF KASSANDRA

Ingravita-BUHO ERMITANO-IMPLOSIONES

Danger-ELOY-ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Naturens katedral-LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE-FIRE FORTELLINGER

Ur askan-AGUSA-PRIMA MATERIA

The 11th Chapter: The Nine, including a) The Fire (pt II​)​, b) A Nonagon in Eight -RING VAN MÖBIUS-Commissioned Works Pt II - Six Drops of Poison

Journey to the Center of the Mind -MARCO RAGNI-HALLUCINATORY EMBRYO

Poker -I VIAGGI DI MADELEINE-TRA LUCE E OMBRA

The Gathering-SKY PASSAGE-The Gathering

Moving Through Tomorrow-SOUTHERN EMPIRE-Another World

Tell Me-KARMAMOI-STRINGS FROM THE EDGE OF SOUND

Liquid Suite-LA BOCCA DELLA VERITA-[Un​]​connected

Stronghold -THE FLOWER KINGS-LOOK AT YOU NOW

Helen-UNITOPIA-SEVEN CHAMBERS

Actual Brutal Facts-STEVEN WILSON-THE HARMONY CODEX

A Hymn for the Pioneers-SYNTH REPLICANTS-Time of Legends

Push-TREVOR RABIN-Rio

Labyrinthus-IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO-Lemures

Hydra-SEVEN IMPALE-Summit

The River-THIS WINTER MACHINE-The Clockwork man

Lotus Unfolding-OZRIC TENTACLES-Lotus Unfolding

i/o -PETER GABRIEL-I/O


































i/o-PETER GABRIEL
https://petergabriel.bandcamp.com/tr...ght-side-mix-3





GOOD LISTENING