As Devin announced earlier this year, he has been using the Covid downtime to work on new material for upcoming albums, and for a current lack of touring possibilities and encounters with fans on the road he decided to do a series of live albums, quarantine albums, and generally interesting projects that keep people entertained while he’s busy on his next larger releases. The series is called the “Devolution Series”.
Devin comments in this video
“So we bring to you the ‘Devolution Series’: a grouping of oddities and interesting material that I would like people to hear, but don’t necessarily want to present as a ‘major release’. The series will include all the quarantine songs and concerts, as well as various live shows from the past few years. I’m am currently deep in the writing of my new projects and am very excited to be doing so. Thanks for facilitating my ability to do that, and I hope you enjoy the ‘Devolution Series’.”
The second release under the “Devolution Series” moniker will be the “Devolution Series #2 – Galactic Quarantine” album, scheduled for June 25th 2021. It was recorded in 2020 in various places around the world as a replacement show for the COVID affected “Empath Vol 2 European Tour” and cancelled Summer festivals. It originally aired on September 5th 2020 on StageIt.com.
For a first impression of what to expect, here’s the video for “Aftermath.” Enjoy!
DEVIN TOWNSEND “Devolution Series #2 –Galactic Quarantine” track listing: 1. Velvet Kevorkian (Virtually Live 2020) – 2:28 2. All Hail The New Flesh (Virtually Live 2020) – 5:32 3. By Your Command (Virtually Live 2020) – 8:18 4. Almost Again (Virtually Live 2020) – 3:42 5. Juular (Virtually Live 2020) – 3:50 6. March Of The Poozers (Virtually Live 2020) – 5:25 7. Supercrush! (Virtually Live 2020) – 5:15 8. Hyperdrive (Virtually Live 2020) – 3:42 9. Stormbending (Virtually Live 2020) – 5:21 10. Deadhead (Virtually Live 2020) – 7:55 11. Aftermath (Virtually Live 2020) – 6:51 12. Love? (Virtually Live 2020) – 5:21 13. Spirits Will Collide (Virtually Live 2020) – 4:35 14. Kingdom (Virtually Live 2020) – 5:05 15. Detox (Virtually Live 2020) – 6:20
Needlepoint is a Norwegian group based in Oslo that straddles the border between jazz and prog in a unique and timeless way. Based around the renowned guitarist Bjørn Klakegg, the band is rounded out by a veritable who’s-who of the Nordic jazz and rock scene, including members of Elephant9, Møster!, Bigbang and others.
Their first album The Woods Are Not What They Seem was released in 2010, followed by Outside the Screen (2012), Aimless Mary (2015) and The Diary of Robert Reverie (2018). Their upcoming album entitled Walking Up That Valley is out this week, January 29, 2021. Today the band reveals the new album in full via The Obelisk!
Listen here:
The Obelisk notes: “Walking up That Valley begins to take shape around vocal lines and spare guitar, with keys farther back in the mix and drums making their way in patiently behind the story being told, only to take a more forward role after four minutes in. An all-go jam ensues, with flute, and percussion and drums, guitar, bass, keys, and so on building to a fervent head until, a little past the nine-minute mark, the vocals return. The vitality of that jam isn’t totally gone — the drums are still there, the keys, the vocals are layered, etc. — but the final showcase of symmetry underscores the purposefulness writ large throughout Walking up That Valley, as Needlepoint cap with an electric solo on a somewhat surprisingly quick fade as though one is waking up from a dream when it’s over.“
The new album Walking Up That Valley continues the line of development from the band’s past two releases, which dug more deeply into the Canterbury prog only hinted at by the band’s first outings. With the group’s maturity has come continued exploration, evinced in a plethora of instruments heard across the album: harpsichord, violin, flute, a choir and more add layers of sonic beauty to an album already bursting with ideas. Between dreamy vintage keyboards, busy drums and percussion, mind-bending, jazz-tinged guitar work and deft bass lines, Klakegg’s soft and melodious voice finds room in the mix, tying the album together with tales from the road between reality and fantasy.
About the new album the band notes: “Nikolai and Bjørn have cooperated in the making of all the albums, from Bjørn’s ideas being captured on his phone up until their journey’s conclusion up on the record’s grooves. Bjørn considered himself a jazz musician when he first met Nikolai, but his old British heroes from the 70s such as ELP stepped out of the fog in the musical company of the now Needlepoint bassist. Olaf Olsen and David Wallumrød were Nikolai’s unconditional choices to fulfill the lineup.
Needlepoint started as an instrumental band, but when the second album was almost finished, Bjørn and Nikolai had a talk that lead to Bjørn’s first steps towards an identity as a singer. That talk also changed the identity of the band.
It was never really a conscious choice of style by the band, but Needlepointis now considered a prog band by many listeners, and it’s a pleasure having such an addicted audience by their side. Many people mention the Canterbury Scene to describe the bands profile, and Robert Wyatt,Sid Barret, Caravan, Camel and even King Crimson and Yes are also mentioned to place our musical identity.
The last album is absolutely connected to the previous ones, but there are also new sounds to be heard. Bjørn has picked up his flute and violin, so there is a strange little orchestra appearing here and there in the album. Olaf is accompanied by Erik, who plays percussion on the album, and their fun together is audible on the album, while David treats his collection of beautiful vintage keyboard instruments like no one else. Everything is supervised by producer and bass player Nikolai Hængsle; his bass playing as powerful and brilliant as always, and Bjørn’s vocal are more present than ever in this production. In some of the tracks the band is touching new areas, but absolutely without losing its identity.“
Walking Up That Valleyis sure to please fans of prog, 70’s rock, jazz and even folk rock. The album will be available on January 29, 2021 on colored vinyl, CD and digital download in Europe from Stickman Records, pre-order it here
Below links and a PRESS DOWNLOAD. Please use the new album for reviews + airplay. Support independent artists and labels. Thank you very much!
Tracklist 1. Rules Of A Mad Man 2. Walking Up That Valley 3. Web Of Worry 4. So Far Away 5. Where The Ocean Meets The Sky 6. Carry Me Away 7. Another Day 8. Walking Up That Valley
The two VE Day Heroes being celebrated within the Fripp and Willcox families: Uncle Bill, aka RAF Flight Sergeant Alfie Fripp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfie_Fripp, who helped in planning The Great Escape.
Beric Willcox of the Royal Navy, based in Alexandria, who guarded convoys in the Mediterranean.
Watch the video:
The guitar used in the video is RF’s Les Paul serial no. 9-1986; used on all KC albums 1969-74; and on the Heroes session in Berlin with David Bowie, Tony Visconti & Brian Eno at the Hansa Studios, July 1977.
Backing track: King Crimson Live In Berlin on September 12th. 2016.
Personnel: Gavin Harrison, Jeremy Stacey, Pat Mastelotto, Mel Collins, Tony Levin, Jakko Jakszyk & Robert Fripp. Fairy dustings provided by Bill Rieflin.
Recorded and mixed by Chris Porter. Produced by Chris Porter with Robert Fripp & David Singleton.
Used by permission.
Vocal track & video: Toyah Willcox, at home in the kitchen, Middle England; May 5th. 2020 on iPhone. For more information:www.dgmlive.com
Surveillance NSA is a newly recorded bonus track, the original recording appears on the band’s sixth album Anomalous Propagation released in October 2019
Surveillance NSA explores the concept of Big Brother always watching, and features the wonderful work of lead vocalist Laurie Kurdis, Laurie has recently joined the band as the new lead vocalist filling the void after Heidi Engel’s departure, soon after the release of Anomalous Propagation.
The bonus single for Surveillance NSA will be released soon, Anomalous Propagation was released on October 19th, 2019 in three formats, double CD, Double LP, and High-Resolution Digital and features 11 new songs.
CD Track Listing 01. Red Light Syndrome 02. Surveillance 03. Despoina’s Dagger 04. Queen of Fools 05. Rhizomatic Horizon 06. Deep Web 07. Translucent 08. Defenestrated 09. Love 10. Candlelight 11. Principle Amor
Double LP Track Listing Side One 01. Red Light Syndrome 02. Surveillance 03. Principle Amor
Side Two 04. Despoina’s Dagger 05. Deep Web
Side Three 06. Rhizomatic Horizon 07. Love 08. Translucent
Side Four 09. Defenestrated 10. Queen of Fools 11.Candlelight
In the Studio… Rowen Poole: guitars, synths, lyrics Chris Siegle: bass, synths Heidi Engel: vocals, lyrics Jim Puskar: drums, percussion Jason English: guitars, vocals Laura Martin: pianos, keyboards, synths, vocals
Recorded April 2015 – January 2019 at StarGlider Studios, Gibsonia, PA Engineered and mixed by Rowen Poole Mastered by JK Northrup at Alien Productions Music Studio, Carmichael, CA
We are so sad to have to be posting this, but circumstances here and around the world have left us no alternative. We’ve been watching COVID-19 carefully and have been deliberating what to do about Prog On The Ranch over the past few weeks. We were struggling with the thought of everyone coming together at the ranch after going through all the various airports, and other people joining us after disembarking CTTE (if the cruise even happens) and the possibility of putting our other attendees at risk, as well as people they may come in contact with afterwards.
Once the European travel restriction was announced last night, that finalized it for us. There are too many wonderful people who were traveling from the EU who are like family to us, and the joy of Prog On The Ranch would be diminished without them. As this is our 5th year hosting Prog on the Ranch, which began as a small group of us coming together in music and friendship, it wouldn’t make sense to proceed with only our local attendees, when many from our founding group wouldn’t even be able to join us.
We want to thank those of you who have helped us during our planning stage over the past 8 months; Ken Slater, David Maniscalco, Michael Bortz, Suzanne Reardon-Mulhall, Tim Palsson, Gary Hobish, Scott Summers, Michael Rashasl, Leah Treeheart Songweaver Clark, Anamnesis Houston, Bob Harris, William Day, Barbara McGunigal, Ed Mulhall, Ed Platt, Erik Koch, Christopher Hammond, as well as everyone who joined us on The Grid, and we want to assure you that your efforts were not in vain.
We are looking at dates in the Autumn to reschedule and hope that everybody will be able to join us at that time. We intend to keep the POTR Song Grid INTACT, and we will hopefully be able to pick things up right where we left off. You now have a little extra time to practice your songs 😉
HAND OF FATE recently released their debut titled “Messengers of Hope”. Mainly influenced by epic – symphonic rock and metal, they have a melodic Rock/ Metal sound, while respecting their needs and adjusting it to their desires. The band’s main goal is to express themselves through each member’s own character, style and inspiration.
The album is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon and other digital platforms.
Music By John Hatzidimos Lyrics By Alexandra Anagnostopoulou Remixed and remastered by John Hatzidimos Lyric video created by Jim Evgenidis http://iconfilmworx.com/
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