With special thanks to Shawn Gordon at ProgRock Records, FreeForm features selected cuts from ProgRock Records artists: Karfagen, Wolfspring, Sky Architect, Roswell Six, and FramePictures.
Sky Architect
Excavation of The Mind
Overview
"Excavations of the Mind" can best be described as symphonic, complex,
dynamic, versatile and ambitious. Thriving to revive and reinvent the
progressive style and sound of the 70's, the album hopes to reclaim a place
for symphonic rock-music in the 21st century. The album dives into the dark
and disturbing psyche of a mentally troubled man, while staying true to the
concept oriented nature of progressive rock music. The music has a
complex structure with a lot of instrumental freedom. Vintage keys add to
the warm, symphonic character of their sound. You can often hear a hint of
bands such as King Crimson, Gentle Giant, The Flower Kings, Porcupine
Tree and Pain of Salvation in their music. The epic magnitude of the album
takes the listener on a journey into ones vivid imagination. Renowned rock
illustrator Mark Wilkinson, famous for his work with Marillion, Fish and Judas
Priest has created the artwork for the CD.
Players
Tom Luchies – Vocals, Guitar
Wabe Wieringa – Guitar
Rik van Honk – Keyboards, backing vocals
Guus van Mierlo – Bass
Christiaan Bruin – Drums, backing vocals
WolfSpring
WolfSpring
Overview
WolfSpring is a new band created by JP Louveton, guitarist and singer of
the progressive French band NEMO. Motivated by the creation of new
musical surroundings, this new project surrounds JP with musicians of
various influences : Julian Clemens (vocals), Ludovic Moro-Sibilot (Metal
drummer) and Guillaume Fontaine on keyboards, who also played in
NEMO.
Mixing in a new Metallic sounds, acoustic atmospheres and synphonic
music, WolfSpring belongs to that kind of modern progressive bands that
does not hesitate to experiment with genres, all while keeping a musical
coherence and a personal sound.
Players
Julian Clemens - Vocals
Jean-Pierre Louveton - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Guillaume Fontaine - Keyboards
Ludovic Moro-Sibilot - Drums
THE LATEST ANTONY KALUGIN PROJECT
As expansive and emotive a statement of progressive art rock
music as you will hear this year with over 75 minutes of
memorable melodies to savour. It’s an excellent mix of mostly
instrumental tracks with some stunning vocals which has
expanded way beyond the horizons of earlier KARFAGEN, but
still retains the much loved sounds that reminds us of bands such
as CAMEL and FOCUS which is built upon with the debut of local
guitarist ALEXANDR PAVLOV who’s playing is masterful.
For the first time there is vocals on three tracks by MARINA
ZACHAROVA a female vocalist in the tradition of Celtic
flavoured bands such as MOSTLY AUTUMN, MAGENTA and
THE REASONING, a sound that creates that special magic the
listener is always seeking, with vocals that heighten and
compliment the track rather than dominate.
SANDPIPER is the follow up to the 2007 studio album THE
SPACE BETWEEN US, since then we have been treated to the
compilation 2CD, THE KEY TO PERCEPTION.
KALUGIN stated then that Keys was a closing of the first
chapter of KARFAGEN.
So with the Solitary Sandpiper Journey what else is new? Well
like any artist who is continually progressing (don’t forget he is
still not even 30 years old) in his work there comes a moment
when a combination of changes marks a watershed and the
tracks here show this. The previous KARFAGEN studio albums
were recorded on restricted budgets and with AK accordingly
handing over control of certain aspects to other parties, here just
like with the SUNCHILD and HOGGWASH albums he has
complete control on all aspects of the recording and mastering
showing Kalugin's abilities in these fields which places him at the
forefront of the new generation of progressive art rock musicians.
So here is 75 minutes of KALUGIN in full KARFAGEN vein and
bringing you as good a mix of instrumental and vocal music as
you will hear in 2010 enjoy the feast folks.
Caerllysi Music : www.caerllysimusic.co.uk
Antony Kalugin : www.antonykalugin.net
Roswell Six
Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon (PRR720)
Track List Line-up
1. Ishalem Vocals: Lana Lane, Michael Sadler, James LaBrie, John Payne
2. The Call of the Sea Keyboards: Erik Norlander
3. I Am The Point Guitar: Gary Wehrkamp, Chris Brown
4. Letters In A Bottle Bass: Kurt Barabas
5. Halfway Drums: Chris Quirarte
6. Anchored Violin: David Ragsdale
7. Here Be Monsters Cello: Mike Alvarez
8. The Sinking of the Luminara Flute: Martin Orford
9. The Winds of War
10. Swept Away
11. Beyond the Horizon
12. Merciful/Letters Reprise Discography
13. The Edge of the World Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon (2009)
Roswell Six - a short biography
International bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson has developed a unique crossover project with ProgRock Records -- an epic fantasy
novel and rock music CD: "Terra Incognita: Beyond the Horizon" in conjunction with his major new novel, "Terra Incognita: The Edge of
the World."
Anderson and his wife, bestselling author Rebecca Moesta, wrote the lyrics, adapting part of the novel’s story to music. Accomplished
keyboardist/composer Erik Norlander (Rocket Scientists) came aboard to write the music and to helm the production chores. Executive
Producer Shawn Gordon from ProgRock Records brought together some of the finest talents in progressive rock to form "Roswell Six."
Roswell Six is truly a supergroup, with vocals by James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Michael Sadler (ex-Saga), John Payne (Asia feat.
John Payne) and Lana Lane (the Queen of Symphonic Rock). Guitars by Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) and Chris Brown (Ghost
Circus), bass by Kurt Barabas (Amaran¹s Plight, Under the Sun), drums by Chris Quirarte (Prymary), violins by David Ragsdale
(Kansas), cello by Mike Alvarez, and flute by Martin Orford (IQ). The creative team behind Roswell Six has sold over 45 million copies
worldwide.
The CD has 13 tracks and a booklet with original connecting prose by Kevin J. Anderson. Will appeal to the huge crossover audience
of SF/F fans and devotees of Progressive Rock.
Terra Incognita: Beyond The Horizon
For his new fantasy series, "Terra Incognita," bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson created an incredible fantasy universe with sailing
ships, sea monsters, a clash of religions, and a love that will reach to the edge of the world.
After the sacred city of Ishalem burns to the ground, a holy war breaks out between the world’s two major religions. But this is also a
time of exploration and discovery. The young sailor Criston Vora (sung by Michael Sadler) feels the call of the sea and signs aboard the
Luminara, a sailing ship that will explore beyond the horizon. After listening to Captain Shay (John Payne) tell glorious stories about the
wonders of the world, he says goodbye to his wife Adrea (Lana Lane), promising to return home. Meanwhile, Soldan-Shah Omra
(James LaBrie) follows the drive for vengeance demanded of his faith and raids ‘enemy’ villages. He captures Adrea, taking her away
with him . . . while Criston himself survives sea monster attacks and the sinking of the Luminara. The two lovers, swept apart, must
cling to their love and try to find each other.
Each of the 13 tracks, including two major instrumentals, stand alone; they are snapshots of the epic story, with connective prose
written by Anderson. This project -- novel and CD written by the same author -- is a unique musical experience. Read the novel. Listen
to the music.
More information: www.myspace.com/roswellsix
FramePictures
Remember It
Overview
Originally formed in 2004 as a group of session musicians backing up a pop
vocalist, the band realized that prog was where they wanted to be and
ventured out as an instrumental group similar to Planet X. After some time
in this configuration they decided that having a vocalist was what they
needed and found Tiago and started working on their first album.
The debut album of the Portuguese band brings to the 21st century the
same non-conformism and artistic expression without boundaries that was
so fresh in the past, through musicians like Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, Thom
Yorke and Steven Wilson. Varying from the most aggressive up-tempo
guitar riffs to the intimate warmth of the grand piano, “Remember It” is
stretching from left to right of the rock repertoire, including the 25 minutes
conceptual seven-part epic song “My Will to Live”.
Players
Tiago Delgado - Vocals
Artur Jorge - Drums
Helder da Silva - Guitar
Ricardo Drumond - Bass
Mafalda Brogueira - Keyboards
Our classic prog album this week is Thick as a Brick, a concept album, and the fifth studio album, by English progressive rock band Jethro Tull released in 1972. Its lyrics are built around a poem written by a fictitious boy, "Gerald Bostock" a.k.a. "Little Milton" (Ian Anderson himself). The album featured only one song, lasting nearly 45 minutes. To accommodate the album on LP vinyl and cassette, the seamless track was split on both sides of the record. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Pop Albums chart.
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