“Beautiful acoustic textures… a deep, compelling listening experience.” – Guitar Player
Lowell. MA – From the quietly ambitious 4-CD box set debut, “Annals of My Glass House” (2011), through the expansive territory of “A Slight Departure” (2015), to the masterful new album, “Signs and Wonders” (2018), Birdsong At Morning has garnered rave reviews and airplay around the world.
Led by singer/songwriter Alan Williams, along with compatriots Darleen Wilson (guitar) and Greg Porter (bass), and a host of new and old collaborators, Birdsong At Morning spins elegant tapestries of sound, words, and music.
Produced by leader Alan Williams, the band’s new album contains 10 original compositions by Alan and an inventive (and timely) interpretation of Supertramp’s “The Logical Song.” Joining the core trio of Alan, Darleen and Greg, our drummer Ben Wittman (Sting, Paula Cole, Laurie Anderson) and guitarist Thomas Juliano (Seven Mary Three, Aimee Mann), along with a 20-piece string orchestra. Basics were recorded with David Minehan at Woolly Mammoth Sound, and the strings were recorded at WGBH, engineered by Antonio Oliart. The album was mastered by Grammy award winner Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering, and the Blu-Ray was authored by Neil Wilkes of Opus Productions, the same folks behind the King Crimson, Yes, and XTC reissues.
Says Alan, “Just as the album art is a bold, full-color shift from our previous sepia-toned artwork, so the music inside represents a wider sonic spectrum, and musical pace. The general theme is that there is often hidden and overlooked beauty to be found in unexpected places. There are references to the natural environment in many of the songs, and some of these are contrasted with a more urban experience or interior mindset. To quote the title song, ‘take a look around.’”
“Signs and Wonders” is available for streaming and download on September 28, 2018, but will also be issued in a 2-disc CD/Blu-ray package, with 44.1/16 stereo mixes on the CD, and 96/24 vocal and instrumental mixes in stereo, LPCM 5.1 surround sound, and DTS-HD 5.1 surround sound, along with a 16-page lyric book.
Additionally, there are videos to accompany every song on the album. These videos are available on the Blu-ray and will be posted on YouTube throughout the year.
Watch Birdsong At Morning’s video for the lead track from the album, “Waterfall”:
Photo by Jude Porter – L-R: Darleen Wilson, Alan Williams, Greg Porter
Formed in 2008, Birdsong At Morning began as an exercise in resurrecting long-dormant musical energies. Williams and Porter had gone to the New England Conservatory of Music, then played together in several groups, notably the star-crossed folk-rock ensemble, Knots, and Crosses. Porter was a founding member of Talking To Animals, before playing for Aimee Mann and Patty Griffin, among others. Wilson established herself as a groundbreaking recording engineer in Boston, working with a broad spectrum of artists from punk (Salem 66), to pop (New Kids On The Block), before becoming the pre-eminent producer of New England singer/songwriters – Bill Morrissey, Patty Larkin, Catie Curtis, Chris Smither.
During the long period between the demise of Knots and Crosses – a demise precipitated by their calamitous signing with Island Records – and the formation of Birdsong At Morning, Williams embarked on parallel careers in music production and academia. He served as musical director for Dar Williams and engineered a number of records for Patty Larkin, while earning a PhD in Ethnomusicology from Brown University. He is currently Chair of the Department of Music at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he also serves as the Richard and Nancy Donahue Endowed Professor of the Arts, and has published a number of scholarly chapters and journal articles, all while maintaining a presence as a creative, performing musician. In his spare time, he is also a certified yoga instructor.
The depth of experience present in every aspect of the band’s work helps to explain the professional quality that exists in this totally DIY project. The group releases its own records, designs its packaging, and does much of the engineering and music production work. Of course, like many indie-minded endeavors, Birdsong At Morning is assisted by extraordinarily talented friends – long-time collaborative partner Ben Wittman (Paula Cole, Laurie Anderson, The Story) plays drums, Greg’s Talking to Animals compatriot Thomas Juliano frequently contributes guitar, and the band’s last two albums were recorded with David Minehan (The Neighborhoods, Paul Westerberg, Aerosmith) at his studio Woolly Mammoth Sound, and mastered by Grammy award winning engineer, Adam Ayan.
Here’s what the press has said about Birdsong at Morning:
“Sweeping strings, gorgeous sonics, and soulful singing, Birdsong at Morning is the greatest act you’ve never heard of.” – Electronic Musician
“Art music both unpretentious and ravishing” – The Boston Herald
“Birdsong at Morning’s creative intents find full fruition, making ‘A Slight Departure’ a fascinating point of embarkation. Lovely indeed.” – No Depression
“A sprawling collection of poignant beauty delivered through Williams’ keenly poetic eye. Simple and direct, carrying with it the breadth and depth of the kind of observation only an acute student of the world around him can deliver.” – BMI MusicWorld
“A remarkable convergence of lush, patient music and intriguing poeticism performed with conviction and grace.” – Songwriter’s Monthly
In closing Alan has this to impart, “I think our listeners pick up and respond to the attention to detail that is put into the songwriting, arrangements, and recording. Nothing is assembled like a factory; everything is meticulously crafted, even when captured as complete performance elements. We think repeated listenings should reward with new perspectives, new discoveries. This mirrors the concept of small wonders revealing themselves on closer inspection that can be found in many of the song lyrics. And woven throughout is a sensitivity to the political conditions of the moment, and an underlying call to value the humanity in each and every one of us.”
Hot on the heels of last year’s “Gothica”, UK hard rock stalwarts TEN/Gary Hughes are returning with a new album, “Illuminati”! The album promises to be one of the hallmarks of their 22+ years career, where fans will easily spot all the trademark textures and flavours they have come to expect from TEN, with a consistent and solid spark of creativity throughout. “Illuminati” continues to build upon the rich legacy that the great British rockers have established in their 20+ year career.
“Illuminati” is said to be an elite, secret organization of world leaders, business authorities, innovators, artists, and other influential members of the global society. A coalition that unites influencers of all political, religious, and geographical backgrounds to further the prosperity of the human species as a whole. The album “Illuminati” brings the band’s atmospheres and sounds and weaves them into a reel of mysteries, esoteric tales, and elaborate spells, evoking embers that spark the imagination courtesy of the classic songwriting of vocalist Gary Hughes.
Following the success of the recent string of albums, from “Albion” to “Gothica”, Hughes is joined once again by guitarists Dann Rosingana, Steve Grocott and John Halliwell along with bass player Steve McKenna, keyboard maestro Darrel Treece-Birch, and drummer Max Yates. On their fourth outing as a collective unit, the musicians in TEN have raised the bar even higher than they had previously. The album is full of stunning guitar work over a rich keyboard, bass, and drum tapestry with Hughes’ rich vocals once again bringing the nuances of the intricate lyrics to life.
“Illuminatii” was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. TEN’s longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, “Stormwarning” and has always guaranteed albums with stunning sound and production.
Tracklisting:
1. Be As You Are Forever
2. Shield Wall
3. The Esoteric Ocean
4. Jericho
5. Rosetta Stone
6. Illuminati
7. Heaven And The Holier-Than-Thou
8. Exile
9. Mephistopheles
10. Of Battles Lost And Won
Produced by: Gary Hughes
Line-Up:
Gary Hughes (Vocals)
Dann Rosingana (Lead Guitars)
Steve Grocott (Lead Guitars)
John Halliwell (Rhythm Guitars)
Darrel Treece-Birch (Keyboards)
Steve McKenna (Bass)
Max Yates (Drums)
Esclavitud de tu ser was filmed more than 4000 meters above sea level, in the Marcahuasi Stone Forest, Andes Mountains, Perú with a lot of effort and with a lot of heart. We hope you like it and help us with imi diffusion. Buy your ticket to attend the presentation of new album eclipse on November 16th, at the cultural center cafae-SE. Sale to the inbox.
Esclavitud de tu ser was filmed more than 4000 meters above sea level, in the Marcahuasi Stone Forest, Andes Mountains, Perú.
Directed by Stuardo Huertas
Produced by no mercy productions
Production assistants: Julio Almeida “Ñaca” and Alfonso Chacón “ Pilón”
Taken from the new album “Eclipse”
Produced and mixed by Roy Z
Mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering – California – USA www.maorappelbaum.com
Flor de Loto is:
Alonso Herrera: Vocals and guitar
Alejandro Jarrin: Bass
Sergio Czech paintings: Quena
Gabriel Iwasaki: Keyboards
Alvaro Escobar: Drums
To all ABEL GANZ fans and friends. It is with great regret that we must inform you all that after an amazing run of [at least] eighteen years in #abelganz [a life sentence!!!] our dear friend and band-mate Davie Mitchell’s time with the band is drawing to a close.
When #abelganz was reborn at the turn of the millennium, and we were on the hunt for a lead guitar player, there was only ever one contender really. Davie was right at the very top of our wish list because we were not interested in simply finding a ‘gunslinger’ type player – we wanted something much more than that and we got it with him.
It is no understatement to say that since Davie joined Abel Ganz both the sound and direction that the band has developed has been in no small part down to his pivotal contributions – for not only is Davie an outstanding guitar player he is also a fantastic composer and contributor who thinks about ‘the song’ first and foremost and the guitar second!
Fortunately for us, Davie has recently completed recording all his guitar parts for our new, forthcoming record and, as usual, his contributions are nothing less than stellar. We are so grateful that he is leaving us with yet more great music from him!
We know, too, that for many fans and friends of the band, Davie has become a firm favorite and he is sure to be missed by all of you as well. In that regard – he has not quite gone yet!!!! Please join with us, if you can, in giving him the very best send-off possible at this year’s Prog Before Xmas event. This will be Davie’s last performance with the band and so now is also a ‘farewell’ gig for him.
As some of you may know – life has thrown many ups and downs at Davie. We are all so delighted for him that a new opportunity has presented itself that will shortly begin an exciting new chapter in his life. Although we ourselves will, of course, all miss him terribly, we wish him nothing less than great health, great happiness, and great good fortune.
Love from us all!!!!
Back in 1995, a totally unknown quartet released their debut album. This was back in the days before the internet existed, and the mainstream hated prog, so it was actually incredibly hard to hear about new bands, especially from America unless they were signed to a label such as Kinesis who was getting publicity. But, pretty soon everyone involved in the underground scene in the UK knew who they were, and we’re talking about them. I remember going to a gig at Shepherd’s Bush, and afterward, everyone just seemed to be talking about this new band, and had anyone actually heard ‘The Light’? Martin Orford was incredibly excited that GEP had secured the European rights and the first time I played that album I was in awe.
From there on Spock’s Beard could do no wrong in my eyes or ears, as anyone reading Feedback at the time will attest to, as I was shouting from the rooftops that this was the best band I had ever heard out of America. I saw them every time they came to London, and each gig was better than the last. Then in 2002, they released ‘Snow’. At the time I was working on a project which involved me spending many hours in a car visiting different supermarkets each Thursday, which gave me the opportunity to blast this out at the correct volume in its entirety, and I was saying that the best band in the world had just released the finest album possible. Then it was announced that Neal Morse had left and that there would be no tour. I was in shock, and went through all the stages of grief (especially denial), as it just made no sense to me whatsoever. I mean, Gabriel went through with the Lamb tour didn’t he? But no, it was all over. The next time I saw Spock’s Beard they had California Guitar Trio as the initial support, followed by Enchant. They had a long time been a favorite band of mine, so I really enjoyed the set, but the same can’t be said to Spock’s Beard, and I left halfway through the gig. I was fortunate enough to catch Neal on the ‘Testimony’ tour, and it was like old times, but I accepted that the finest album released in the past 20 years would never be played at a concert.
Fast forward to Saturday,
July 2nd, 2016, at New Life Fellowship Church in Cross Plains, and the unthinkable happened. The current line-up of Spock’s Beard (Alan Morse, Ryo Okumoto, Dave Meros, Ted Leonard and Jimmy Keegan) was joined by Neal Morse and Nick D’Virgilio for one night only, and they performed ‘Snow’ in its entirety. Being performed in a church (as part of Morsefest) there was only ever going to be a small audience, so it was also recorded and filmed, and what I have here is the 2 DVD/2 CD set. There was no pressure on the band, all they had to do was perform the album note perfect for an audience that knew the words as well as they did, but also it was very much a one-off, never to be repeated. The first thing I did was play the DVDs so that I could then listen to the CDs knowing what was going on. I must state that I felt sorry for Ted Leonard through this whole performance, as although he was always onstage, and made valuable contributions, he was very much the third wheel. Having a second drummer made a lot of sense as it allowed Nick to be at the front when he needed to be, but Ted was raised on a small dais behind Alan and just didn’t look comfortable, which is a real shame as he is one of the best singers around, and I have always enjoyed his work.
But, tonight was all about Neal being back where many SB fans feel he totally belongs, front and center of the Beard, performing his songs. Not only was he the voice, but he also wrote the majority of the songs, and his ability to move between keyboards and guitar gave the band presence and ability they have missed without him there to provide it. Was it a brilliant performance of the album? Pretty much, it has to be said, and with an additional electric guitar from Leonard when the time was right, it added some crunch that would have been missed otherwise.
The DVD filming of the evening is also good, and the interplay between Jimmy and Nick is wonderful to see, especially in the duet on “Falling For Forever”, one of the only two in-‘Snow’ songs from the night (the other of course being “June”). The question and answer section was interesting, especially as Rich Mouser was involved. The “making of” was also really interesting, where they talk about the original recording and what had happened. I hadn’t realized that the combination of Nick being incredibly unwell and the falling of the Twin Towers had a major impact on the album, which was basically re-written due to that.
Anyway, if you have no idea what ‘Snow’ is about then this four-disc set isn’t the place to start, go and get the original instead. If you are already a fan then this is indispensable. ‘Nuff said.
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