• A NEWLY REMASTERED & EXPANDED 2 DISC EDITION OF THE LEGENDARY 1976 SOLO ALBUM BY YES VOCALIST JON ANDERSON • NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES • FEATURES A DVD WITH A HIGH RESOLUTION 96 kHz / 24-BIT REMASTER OF THE ORIGINAL STEREO MIX ALONG WITH A 5.1 SURROUND SOUND UP-MIX DERIVED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES • WITH FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK AND AN ESSAY WITH AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JON ANDERSON • INCLUDES ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET WITH NEW ESSAY
Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the release of a new expanded and remastered 2 disc edition of the classic debut solo album by YES vocalist JON ANDERSON, “Olias of Sunhillow”. Released in July 1976, the album was a conceptual work recounting the story of an alien race on a journey to find a new world following volcanic destruction on their home planet. All music on the album was written and performed by Jon Anderson and the recording took place at Anderson’s Buckinghamshire home studio whilst Yes were on hiatus following the tour to promote the album “Relayer”. Initially recorded on an 8-track tape machine, the arrangements were then re-recorded on to a 24-track tape machine. The album saw Jon perform the music entirely alone, teaching himself to play keyboards and acknowledging the influence of such legendary musicians as Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz and Vangelis on his work.
“Olias of Sunhillow” was released by Atlantic Records in the summer of 1976 in an elaborate gatefold sleeve designed by David Fairbrother-Roe and was a top ten album in the UK. This Esoteric Recordings edition has been newly remastered from the original album master tapes and fully restores the stunning original artwork and also features a booklet with a new essay and exclusive interview with Jon Anderson.
Over the ensuing years the excellence of the album has led to many calls for the album to be remixed in a 5.1 Surround Sound format. Alas, despite extensive research, the multi-track masters of the album cannot be found. However, this expanded edition of “Olias of Sunhillow” features a DVD featuring a high resolution 96 kHz / 24-bit re-master of the stereo mix and also includes a high resolution 5.1 Surround Sound up-mix derived from the original stereo master tapes as an additional feature.
The more I realize that time flies when you’re having fun…boy oh boy, the fun I’m having listening to my early solo work….
OLIAS for me was like going to music school for Three Months solid without breathing…
Totally captivated by making a true SOLO album…every sound, vocal, instrumental and whatever came from the cosmos is there on the album…a dream made reality…
I never really listened to it all the way through after it was released, I must have listened to every sound a zillion times while mixing it….
So, a month ago I listened to the whole album again…and felt such joy and gratefulness to have gone through that experience, and here I am so many years later going through a similar musical journey…
Time flies by when you’re having fun….
cheers…love and ‘light’…Jon
Track Listing:
DISC ONE: OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW REMASTERED EDITION
1. OCEAN SONG 2. MEETING (GARDEN OF GEDA) SOUND OUT THE GALLEON 3. DANCE OF RANYART OLIAS (TO BUILD THE MOORGLADE) 4. QOQUAQ EN TRANSIC NAON TRANSIC TO 5. FLIGHT OF THE MOORGLADE 6. SOLID SPACE 7. MOON RA CHORDS SONG OF SEARCH 8. TO THE RUNNER
DISC TWO: OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW HIGH RESOLUTION 96 KHZ / 24-BIT 5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX & STEREO REMASTER
1. OCEAN SONG (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX) 2. MEETING (GARDEN OF GEDA) SOUND OUT THE GALLEON (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX) 3. DANCE OF RANYART OLIAS (TO BUILD THE MOORGLADE) (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX) 4. QOQUAQ EN TRANSIC NAON TRANSIC TO (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX) 5. FLIGHT OF THE MOORGLADE (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX) 6. SOLID SPACE (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX) 7. MOON RA CHORDS SONG OF SEARCH (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX) 8. TO THE RUNNER (5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX)
Arc Of Life is a new progressive rock supergroup featuring three members of the current YES line-up, vocalist/guitarist Jon Davison, bassist/vocalist Billy Sherwood and additional drummer Jay Schellen. On keyboards, one of the most interesting talents in the “new” progressive rock scene in the US, Dave Kerzner (Sound of Contact) and Jimmy Haun (also featured on YES albums in the past) on guitar.
Billy Sherwood describes the music as, “interesting, with well-crafted songs, performed with precision and grace. All songs feature memorable melodies and lyrics that take the listener on a sonic adventure. Dynamic arrangements with peaks and valleys… it’s all there.”
In Jon Davison’s words, “Each YES member understands and supports when others may desire to explore and thrive along new artistic avenues. We then each find further inspiration to bring back to the YES fold.” But all the descriptions are best left to the listeners to discern for themselves as repeat listens will reveal more layers. Arc Of Life is a true garden of delight for progressive rock fans and the band is looking forward to performing live. “Once the world gets over the COVID hump, Arc Of Life will be planning as much touring as we can fit in between YES and our other projects. Quite honestly, we’re all chomping at the bit to be out performing again!” concludes Jon Davison.
Tracklist: 1. Life Has A Way 2. Talking With Siri 3. You Make It Real 4. Until Further Notice 5. The Magic Of It All 6. Just In Sight 7. I Want To Know You Better 8. Locked Down 9. Therefore We Are 10. The End Game
Big Big Train are delighted to announce the re-issue of their breakthrough 2009 album The Underfall Yard. The new release will be available as 2CD and 3LP Vinyl as well as in digital formats and will be available on 25 March (CD version in Japan via Marquee) and 9 April (rest of the world via English Electric/RSK/2 CD/digital version and Plane Groovy/RSK/3 LP version).
Released in December 2009, The Underfall Yard was the first Big Big Train album with vocalist David Longdon and drummer Nick D’Virgilio as full band members, the first to feature Dave Desmond’s brass band and the first to include the guitar playing of Dave Gregory.
Alongside the remix of the original recordings, a second companion CD/third vinyl LP features 48 minutes of material, including a new 2020 studio recording of the title track, preceded by a previously unreleased brass prelude.
Also included is the Songs From The Shoreline suite, which was planned for the album’s original release in 2009. For this re-issue, in 2020 the band completely re-recorded Victorian Brickwork, which segues into Fat Billy Shouts Mine (which has to date only been available on the Far Skies, Deep Time EP).
The final track on the second disc is Brew and Burgh, a newly composed song written by BBT founder and bassist Greg Spawton specifically as a companion piece for this re-issue of the album. In addition, original album artist Jim Trainer has painted some new images for an expanded booklet.
“The Underfall Yard is where the story of the contemporary line-up of Big Big Train begins. For the re-issue we asked BBT mixing engineer Rob Aubrey to open up the original sessions and to completely remix the album so that we could make a definitive version,” explains Greg Spawton. Rob had more time and a bigger budget to work with, plus the benefit of another decade of mixing experience. His new mix has significantly improved the sound and dynamic range of the album.”
“The Underfall Yard just missed out on the vinyl revival, so for some time we have been planning for a vinyl version of this re-issue,” David Longdon adds. “We’re thrilled to have the album available on vinyl for the first time and so beautifully presented with Jim Trainer’s paintings.”
CD Disc One 1. Evening Star 2. Master James of St George 3. Victorian Brickwork 4. Last Train 5. Winchester Diver 6. The Underfall Yard
CD Disc Two 1. Songs From The Shoreline: (i) Victorian Brickwork (2020 Version) (ii) Fat Billy Shouts Mine 2. Prelude To The Underfall Yard 3. The Underfall Yard (2020 version) 4. Brew And Burgh
5th February 2021: OUT NOW Downes Braide Association (DBA) fourth album Halcyon Hymns CD. DBA also launch the video and radio edit of the third track to be taken from the album entitled Today – today! Here’s a link to the video:
Buy Halcyon Hymns here: CD/DVD OUT NOW – Pre-order the 2LP White Vinyl out 26th March: https://downesbraide.co.uk/
Today is an anthemic celebration of life and making the most of what we have, here and now, something we have all come to appreciate in these unprecedented times.
Today’s a perfect day, so spend it with me The sun is high, the wheel of time It will turnYou know it goes by so fast No time to dwell in the past I wish today would never end
“Today Is about being in love with a moment that can never last,” says Chris Braide, “and treasuring the feeling that fleeting moment, brings. The lyric is truly from the heart.”
Geoff Downes adds: “Today is DBA’s 21st Century take on the romance of spending a perfect day with someone you love. Here’s to more perfect days – today, together and beyond.”
Geoff Downes (keyboards, programming) and Chris Braide (vocals) are joined on the album and Today by Ash Soan on drums, Andy Hodge (bass) and Dave Bainbridge who provides a particularly tasty guitar throughout the track. Today sends out a positive message while the infectious melody promises to make this a radio delight.
Halcyon Hymns is the fifth DBA collaboration and follows their previous critically-acclaimed studio albums Pictures of You (2012), Suburban Ghosts (2015) and Skyscraper Souls (2017). The duo have also released Live In England (2019) recorded at their first ever concert at Trading Boundaries, East Sussex, in 2018
About Downes Braide Association Downes Braide Association was formed as a studio-based project by Geoff Downes and Chris Braide and has already produced three acclaimed studio albums: Pictures Of You (2012), Suburban Ghosts (2015) and Skyscraper Souls (2017) together with a live album Live In England (2019). The project draws on Downes’ and Braide’s rich musical heritage to create a delightfully accessible brand of progressive rock.
Keyboard wizard Geoff Downes was thrust into the limelight with the worldwide success of Video Killed The Radio Star in 1979. The single topped the charts chart in 16 countries for The Buggles duo of Geoff and Trevor Horn (vocals, bass guitar). They briefly joined prog legends YES before Downes became a founder member of the supergroup Asia with YES guitarist Steve Howe, ELP drummer Carl Palmer and the late John Wetton (vocals, bass guitar).
The Wetton-Downes composition Heat Of The Moment became a world-wide hit in 1982 heralding many years of success for Asia with their FM radio-friendly brand of rock. Downes later returned to YES in 2012 and remains with the band alongside Steve Howe.
British singer-songwriter-pianist Chris Braide has recently returned to UK shores after many years based in California. He enjoys enormous success writing and producing music for film scores, advertising campaigns and working closely with artists including Toni Braxton, Sia, Lana Del Rey, Marc Almond, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears, David Guetta, Chris also co-wrote the music with Hans Zimmer and Sia for Seven Worlds One Planet – David Attenborough series. Downes Braide Association release both the single Today and CD version of Halcyon Hymns, today 5th February.
Downes Braide Association: Halcyon Hymns buy it here: CD/DVD Out Now – Pre-order the 2LP White Vinyl out 26th March: https://downesbraide.co.uk/
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius has released their first new song “Cognitive Dissonance,” with a claymation video to follow in late February. The video is a collaboration with Patrick Carmichael, who has subbed on drums for the band through the years.
“Cognitive Dissonance”’s first verse deals with the confusion we go through, when elders and leaders influence us to change our minds with their negative feelings on those we care about. “We are all born innocent, free of prejudice and hatred, but our elders make us carry a heavy burden, which can last our whole lives. Hatred is taught, we are not born with it,” explains Joe. “We all see children that are terrified by friends that are their same ages, because their parents have taught them negative things about other religions, ethnicities, genders, skin colors, political ideologies….” He says prejudicial teachings “can create “cognitive dissonance” in anyone’s mind when they’re told their friends are ‘evil’ because they have different roots.”
The second verse deals with political and ideological intolerance. “There’s rising extremism, and it’s been this way for decades. People are prisoners of fake news, social media echo chamber bubbles, and politicians who reinforce conspiracy theories and retweet them to their followers. The line ‘No one can touch us now’ refers to people hiding behind their screens, spewing the deep-rooted hatred without fear of physical retaliation. Even though I wrote the song a year ago, I think it eerily speaks to recent events.”
“It’s easy to write about our high ideals and our wishes for world peace, but when you have a gun pointed to your head or your business is burning down, it’s a rude awakening about how nasty the world really is. The big collective guitar/electric violin solo at the end represents two sides screaming at each other, full of hatred, fading out screaming, never reaching an understanding or resolving anything.”
Multi-instrumentalist Randy McStine, who has subbed in Stratospheerius on guitar, bass, and drums, has played on a few of the band’s songs: “Soul Food” and “Impostor.” His voice blends with Joe’s, that “we thought it’d be cool to have him sing lead on the second version of ‘Cognitive Dissonance.’”
Joe has been called The Jimi Hendrix of the electric violin. Stratospheerius has showcased their “frenzied mélange of progressive rock, jazz fusion and funkabilly” throughout the world. Stratospheerius was a winner of the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition the Musicians Atlas Independent Music Awards. They have been featured in Progression, Relix, Downbeat, and Jazziz, among other publications. Their last album on Melodic Revolution Records, “Guilty of Innocence,” has been widely acclaimed by critics and fans. Joe has played violin in orchestras for Bruce Springsteen, the Who, Sheryl Crow, 50 Cent, and Renaissance.
Stratospheerius is: Joe Deninzon – lead vocals/electric violin Jason Gianni – drums Michelangelo Quirinale – guitar Paul Ranieri – bass
A Gardening Club Project is the latest project by Canadian Progressive Singer-songwriter Martin Springett. A Gardening Club Project features Kevin Laliberte on Flamenco Guitar and Electric Guitar, Drew Birston – Fretless Electric Bass and Acoustic Bass, Martin Springett – Guitars and Vocals with special guest Sari Alesh – Violin on Part 2 Sister Of Theft.
“I had always wanted to work with guitarist Kevin Laliberte and bassist Drew Birston of the Sultans Of String. The new song that I was working on, Forever Leaving Home, with lyrics by Terry Findlay that inspired me to go to a new place musically and emotionally, seemed to fit Kevins’ Flamenco stylings. When Drew added his acoustic arco bass and then fretless bass into the proceedings, the dark drama of the song went through the roof. I was amazed at this musical and emotional response, so I knew we had to do more. Kevin’s stellar guitar playing is matched by his production abilities, and when the next song, Woman In the Waves, was taken to a finish I longed to find another piece that would make this project a trilogy of songs. Well over a year ago I had recorded Sister Of Theft at Kevin’s home studio, and after asking my good friend Sari Alesh to add violin, it had remained ‘dormant’ as it didn’t quite fit into the musical realm of The Gardening Club work I was doing with Norm MacPherson. The eastern rhythmic and tonal influences that were coming into the music connected all three songs beautifully. For Kevin and Drew, this is home territory! This is nothing I could have planned! Serendipity played its part once again, in life as in music.” Martin Springett
1. Part 1 Forever Leaving Home / Lyrics by Terry Findlay Kevin Laliberte – Flamenco Guitar and Electric Guitar Drew Birston – Fretless Electric Bass and Acoustic Bass Martin Springett – Guitars and Vocals
2. Part 2 Sister Of Theft / Lyrics from A Poem by Sandra Kasturi Sari Alesh – Violin Kevin Laliberte – Flamenco Guitar – Electric Bass Martin Springett – Guitars and Vocals
3. Part 3 Woman In the Waves Martin Springett – Guitars Bass and Vocals
Tracks based on Martin Springett’s demos recorded at Studio Spong Toronto Track 2 recorded at Kevin Laliberte’s studio in Toronto Bass parts recorded at Drew Birston’s studio Toronto Sari Alesh recorded his violin at his studio in Victoria BC
Mixing, sound design, string arrangements, drum programming, and production by Kevin Laliberte Arrangements by Drew Birston, Kevin Laliberte, and Martin Springett Artwork by Martin Springett
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