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Prog Report Playlist – Tim Bowness

by Blake | Feb 20, 2017 | Prog Report

One of the most underrated artists in prog is Tim Bowness. A subtle yet captivating writer, Bowness brings together all the elements of Pink Floyd and Steven Wilson and filters it through an alternative lens. Known for his work with Steven Wilson in the group No-Man, Bowness has rejuvenated a solo career that started with one solo album in 2004 and then went dormant for 10 years. Since 2014, the singer/songwriter has released three terrific solo albums, each one with increased confidence and boldness. The latest, Lost in the Ghost Light, is a concept album about an aging singer from a has-been band, and is also his best album to date. Here we have assembled the best of these last 3 solo albums.

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The Mute Gods – Tardigrades Will Inherit the Earth (Album Review)

by progrock.com | Feb 16, 2017 | Prog Report

The Mute Gods return barely more than a year since their debut album took the Prog world by surprise. Looking back, of course, it should not have been such a shock that it was a great debut album considering the members involved. However, few knew Nick Beggs had this sort of writing in him. Now full of confidence as a frontman and main songwriter, Beggs bring back his fellow MG’s Roger King and Marco Minnemann for an even stronger set of new material.

While still on the road with Steven Wilson, Beggs found time to write and record this new album which is largely set against the backdrop of turmoil throughout the world. Beggs speaks his mind on a number of matters from animal rights on “Animal Army” to standing up against corrupt politicians in “We Can’t Carry On”, or on the title track singing about the survival traits of microorganisms that will outlive us all. Musically, there is not much here in terms of technical showing off or intricate instrumental moments, but Beggs has never really been about that, despite being one of the world’s most skilled bassists and Chapman stick players. However, the band do sound tighter throughout, playing within the songs and accenting when the moments are available.

The early moments of the album are hard-hitting and aggressive. “The Dumbing of the Stupid”, brilliant by the title alone, is one of the album’s best tracks. Minnemann drives the song with his rapid-fire approach, while the production especially in the chorus is explosive and powerful. Here Beggs rails against reality TV and its effects on society. On “Early Warning” we find the Beggs channeling his inner Steven Wilson with the haunting melody and harmonies setting the tone.

The title track “tardigrades will inherit the earth” is probably the album’s best track as well. The uptempo nature and main repeating riff already make this engaging, but it is Beggs’ vocal delivery that completes the song. Plus, somehow he found a way to make the words “tardigrades will inherit the earth” totally singable so that as you walk around singing this song, you will look completely insane. With a hint of 80s synth-pop influence, this should be a hit single. “Window Onto the Sun” is another memorable track where you can hear a bit of Tears for Fears. The album’s longest track is the exotic “The Singing Fish of Batticaloa”. It is also probably the most proggy song on the album clocking in at 8:25. Everything works here, from the gorgeous piano in the verse to the hook-laden chorus. The album then closes on the beautiful ballad “Stranger Than Fiction” which is a nice contrast to the angry nature of much of the album.

The Mute Gods have proven to be one of the new bands to be reckoned with. The lineup is solid and the songs keep getting better. This is one of the first albums this year to make a mark. Once it sinks in after a few listens, you will be walking around singing “tardigrades will inherit the earth” with people looking at you weird, which is probably what Nick Beggs wants anyway.

Released on Feb 24th, 2017 on InsideOut Music

Key track: Tardigrades Will Inherit the Earth, The Singing Fish Of Batticaloa

Nick Beggs
Roger King
Marco Minnemann

01. Saltatio Mortis (01:57)
02. Animal Army (05:00)
03. We Can’t Carry On (05:11)
04. The Dumbing Of The Stupid (07:09)
05. Early Warning (03:56)
06. Tardigrades Will Inherit The Earth (05:02)
07. Window Onto The Sun (06:00)
08. Lament (02:01)
09. The Singing Fish Of Batticaloa (08:24)
10. Hallelujah (05:50)
11. The Andromeda Strain (02:57)
12. Stranger Than Fiction (04:21)

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Lonely Robot announce new album

by progrock.com | Feb 15, 2017 | Prog Report

Lonely Robot, the project masterminded by producer, guitarist and singer/songwriter John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*, Arena), has announced that its much-anticipated second studio album ‘The Big Dream’ will be released on April 28th, 2017.

Following 2015’s acclaimed debut ‘Please Come Home’, ‘The Big Dream’ has a core theme running through it – one that sees The Astronaut, the central character in the Lonely Robot adventure, emerging from a long period in stasis.

Mitchell explains: “The Astronaut wakes up from a cryogenic sleep but finds he’s no longer in space, and is instead in a woodland area surrounded by a group of strange people with animal heads! It’s a little surreal, a little ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ to some extent. This is something of a solipsistic haze, for want of a better description!”

Mitchell explains more about his Lonely Robot concept: “I have always envisaged the storyline of The Astronaut’s journey evolving over the course of three albums. And I always knew where I wanted to go with the second album – taking The Astronaut away from space and into a strange and unfamiliar environment. Right now, I have no thoughts of what will happen for the third one but I’d better start thinking about it now!”

“The key inspiration for Lonely Robot comes from my love of science fiction films, and the atmospheric soundtracks that often accompany them – such as Alan Silvestri’s compositions for ‘Contact’ and Clint Mansell’s work for ‘Moon’.”

The album once again features drums by Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson), with all other instrumentation on the album delivered by Mitchell himself.

‘The Big Dream’ will be available as a special edition digipak CD (including 3 bonus tracks), gatefold 2LP + CD & digital download.

The track-listing is as follows:
1. Prologue (Deep Sleep)
2. Awakenings
3. Sigma
4. In Floral Green
5. Everglow
6. False Lights
7. Symbolic
8. The Divine Art Of Being
9. The Big Dream
10. Hello World Goodbye
11. Epilogue (Sea Beams)
Bonus Tracks:
12. In Floral Green (Acoustic Version)
13. The Divine Art Of Being (Acoustic Version)
14. Why Do We Stay? (feat. Kim Seviour)

At the end of 2015, Lonely Robot played a triumphant show at The Scala in London, and Mitchell wants to play further dates in 2017, with a few already confirmed. “The only condition is that I want them all to be special; and now we have two albums of material from which to choose the set.” The current line-up is made of John Mitchell, Craig Blundell, Steve Vantsis (Fish) & Liam Holmes (Inglorious).

The following dates are currently confirmed:
5th March – Progdreams VI, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
27th April – Sub89, Reading, UK
28TH April – Marillion Convention, Leicester, UK
27th May – Trinity Live, Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa, UK

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Morsefest 2015 to be released on CD/DVD and Blu-Ray

by progrock.com | Feb 13, 2017 | Prog Report

After just releasing the epic double album, THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM, The Neal Morse Band are announcing the massive live release of a once-in-a-lifetime concert event: Morsefest 2015 on March 24 via Radiant Records. Pre-orders are now open at RadiantRecords.com. Read our review of the event from 2015. Neal Morse and his band just finished their US tour in support of their latest album and come off the Cruise to the Edge.

In addition to The Neal Morse Band featuring Mike Portnoy, the 38 musicians on stage create a prog orchestra. Over two nights (one on each video disc) in 2015, they perform new arrangements of material from Neal’s career. The two concerts span over five hours, venturing beyond the studio versions they’re based on. In addition to complete performances of the SOLA SCRIPTURA and QUESTION albums, there are songs fromSpock’s Beard (featuring guest Nick D’virgilio), Transatlantic, and surprises—including performances with guitar legend Phil Keaggy. Accompanied by extravagant visuals, including three video screens and live dancers, Morsefest 2015 is the most massive live release of Morse’s career.

Complimenting this level of musicality, is a multimedia visual presentation. It begins with the most elaborate lighting set-up Morse has ever used, constructed specifically for this event, designed by Ryan Proplesch. A video graphics track, projected on three screens, was created by media artist Christian Rios to illustrate every moment of each song. Live dancers provide further visual interpretations, adding a dimension to the performance that is rare in progressive rock.
In addition to both concerts, a one-hour documentary puts audiences behind the scenes for this epic event. Featuring candid moments from the band, other musicians, and crew—it’s an engaging glimpse into the whirlwind staging of this event. And there’s even a Prog Jeopardy featurette.

Sonically, outstanding audio is delivered by veteran mix engineer by Rich Mouser, who has helmed every Neal Morse, Spock’s Beard, and Transatlantic studio album. The package is presented as either 2 Blu-ray discs, or 2 DVDs with 4 CDs. Digital downloads of the music portion will be available from Radiant Records in uncompressed audio, and on iTunes. The classic Testimony album will also be available for first time, on vinyl.

“Morsefest 2015 was absolutely incredible for me! We performed QUESTION and SOLA SCRIPTURA plus a lot of other really cool stuff with full choir, horns, orchestral percussion, strings, piano harp, Cuika and dancers! The artwork on the video wall was absolutely mind blowing. Combine that with the atmosphere of the community of fans and the love in the room…it was definitely a peak experience in my career, and I think the DVD and Blu-ray are among the finest we’ve ever produced.”— Neal Morse

TRACK LISTING:
2 DVD/4 CD Set
DVD 1
Chapter 1 – Intro (1:56)
Chapter 2 – The Call (10:25)
Chapter 3 – The Grand Experiment (7:36)
Chapter 4 – Go The Way You Go (14:01)
Chapter 5 – MacArthur Park (13:36)
Chapter 6 – A Whole Nother Trip (24:14)
Chapter 7 – New Jerusalem (8:33)
Chapter 8 – Question Mark intro (3:16)
Chapter 9 – Temple Of The Living God (6:35)
Chapter 10 – Another World (2:16)
Chapter 11 – The Outsider ( 2:52)
Chapter 12 – Sweet Elation (2:46)
Chapter 13 – In The Fire (8:02)
Chapter 14 – Solid As The Sun (7:57)
Chapter 15 – The Glory Of The Lord (3:05)
Chapter 16 – Outside Looking In (5:12)
Chapter 17 – 12 (7:00)
Chapter 18 – Entrance (6:14)
Chapter 19 – Inside His Presence (7:16)
Chapter 20 – The Temple Of The Living God Reprise (1:14)
Chapter 21 – Credits (1:56)

DVD 2
Chapter 1 – Intro (2:06)
Chapter 2 – The Door (34:28)
Chapter 3 – The Conflict (27:55)
Chapter 4 – Heaven in My Heart (5:42)
Chapter 5 – The Conclusion (17:34)
Chapter 6 – Waterfall (7:56)
Chapter 7 – At the End of the Day (17:07)
Chapter 8 – Wind At My Back (7:02)
Chapter 9 – Whirlwind Medley ( 16:37)
Chapter 10 – Thank you and credits (7:17)

CD 1
01 – Intro (1:56)
02 – The Call (10:25)
03 – The Grand Experiment (7:36)
04 – Go The Way You Go (14:01)
05 – MacArthur Park (13:36)
06 – A Whole Nother Trip (24:14)
07 – New Jerusalem (8:33)

CD 2
01 – Question Mark intro (3:16)
02 – Temple Of The Living God (6:35)
03 – Another World (2:16)
04 – The Outsider ( 2:52)
05 – Sweet Elation (2:46)
06 – In The Fire (8:02)
07 – Solid As The Sun (7:57)
08 – The Glory Of The Lord (3:05)
09 – Outside Looking In (5:12)
10 – 12 (7:00)
11 – Entrance (6:14)
12 – Inside His Presence (7:16)
13 – The Temple Of The Living God Reprise (1:14)
14 – Credits (1:56)

CD 3
01 – Intro (2:06)
02 – The Door (34:28)
03 – The Conflict (27:55)
04 – Heaven in My Heart (5:42)
05 – The Conclusion (17:34)

CD 4
01 – Waterfall (7:56)
02 – At the End of the Day (17:07)
03 – Wind At My Back (7:02)
04 – Whirlwind Medley ( 16:37)
05 – Thank you and credits (7:17)

2 Blu-ray Set
Disc 1
Chapter 1 – Intro 00:00 – 01:56 (1:56)
Chapter 2 – The Call 1:56 – 12:21 (10:25)
Chapter 3 – The Grand Experiment 12:22 – 19:58 (7:36)
Chapter 4 – Go The Way You Go 19:58 – 34:00 (14:01)
Chapter 5 – MacArthur Park 34:00 – 47:36 (13:36)
Chapter 6 – A Whole Nother Trip 47:36 – 01:11:50 (24:14)
Chapter 7 – New Jerusalem 01:11:50 – 01:20:23 (8:33)
Chapter 8 – Question Mark intro 01:20:23 – 01:23:39 (3:16)
Chapter 9 – Temple Of The Living God 01:23:39 – 01:30:11 (6:35)
Chapter 10 – Another World 01:30:11 – 01:32:28 (2:16)
Chapter 11 – The Outsider 01:32:28 – 01:35:20 ( 2:52)
Chapter 12 – Sweet Elation 01:35:20 – 01:38:06 (2:46)
Chapter 13 – In The Fire 01:38:06 – 01:46:08 (8:02)
Chapter 14 – Solid As The Sun 01:46:08 – 01:54:06 (7:57)
Chapter 15 – The Glory Of The Lord 01:54:06 – 01:57:11 (3:05)
Chapter 16 – Outside Looking In 01:57:11 – 02:02:23 (5:12)
Chapter 17 – 12 02:02:23 – 02:09:24 (7:00)
Chapter 18 – Entrance 02:09:24 – 02:15:38 (6:14)
Chapter 19 – Inside His Presence 02:15:38 – 02:22:54 (7:16)
Chapter 20 – The Temple Of The Living God Reprise 02:22:54 – 02:24:08 (1:14)
Chapter 21 – Credits 02:22:54 – 02:26:05 (1:56)

Disc 2
Chapter 1 – Intro 00:00 – 2:06 (2:06)
Chapter 2 – The Door 02:06 – 32:20 (34:28)
Chapter 3 – The Conflict 32:20 – 1:02:24 (27:55)
Chapter 4 – Heaven in My Heart 1:02:24 – 1:08:06 (5:42)
Chapter 5 – The Conclusion 1:08:06 – 1:25:41 (17:34)
Chapter 6 – Waterfall 1:25:41 – 1:33:36 (7:56)
Chapter 7 – At the End of the Day 1:25:42 – 1:33:36 (17:07)
Chapter 8 – 1:33:36 – 01:57:46 (7:02)
Chapter 9 – Whirlwind Medley 1:57:46 – 2:14:23 ( 16:37)
Chapter 10 – Thank you and credits 2:14:24 – 2:21:37 (7:17)

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