Sweden-borne folkloric progressive rock band Kaipa proudly announce their new album Sommargryningsljus. 49 years after the release of their debut album, the band is set to reveal the 15th longplayer of their musical journey, Sommargryningsljus, which will be released via InsideOutMusic on June 28th, 2024.
The announcement comes with the release of the first single of the album, which is a mélange of both the opening and closing track of Sommargryningsljus, subsequently named “Sommargryningsljus (Single Edit)”. Two of the songs from the album, the opening track Sommarskymningsljus and the ending track Sommargryningsljus, can be heard together in this single edit version, as they were originally written.
The song is about dusk and a journey through the night to meet the light again at dawn. The single comes with a lyric video that showcases the mystical vibes of twilight and gives a glimpse of the album aesthetics and illustrations.
Watch the video for Sommargryningsljus (Single Edit) here:
„I had written all the songs for the album and the total playing time was 70 minutes, but then something unexpected happened. One day when I was recording with Aleena Gibson, we took a break and went out into my garden to have a cup of coffee. Suddenly Aleena started singing some notes and I said it was beautiful. ‘Okay, let’s write a song‘, she said. So we returned to the studio and 15 minutes later a new song had been born. We were both delighted with the result and said that this song must be on the album and the lyrics must be in Swedish. I developed the song and created an interlude built on the same chords. The melody was hovering around in the studio and it landed gracefully in my fingers when I started to play. One early morning a few weeks later, the words suddenly came floating down and landed in my consciousness.“
++
Sommargryningsljus will be available as
Ltd. CD Mediabook with extensive 24-pages booklet 12’’ Gatefold 180g 2LP black vinyl digital album
Tracklist:
Sommarskymningsljus 00:01:30 Seven Birds 00:09:50 Like Thousand Dawns 00:11:08 Revelationview 00:09:28 Chased by Wolves And Burned by The Sun 00:10:17 Spiderweb Train 00:15:29 Songs In Our Hands 00:13:00 Sommargryningsljus 00:03:58 Sommargryningsljus (Single Edit) 00:05:24
++
Kaipa are:
Hans Lundin – keyboards & vocals Per Nilsson – electric & acoustic guitars Jonas Reingold – bass Darby Todd – drums Patrik Lundström – vocals Aleena Gibson – vocals KAIPA online:
Recorded in 2016, “Powertron” has languished in the Bill Nelson archives for eight years.
A potent collection of twelve pieces that highlight Nelson’s prowess and invention as a guitarist.
“Its genesis came whilst recording tracks for ‘The Jewel’ album. Amongst these was a track titled ‘Drive Shaft’ which I considered too brash for ‘The Jewel’, but too good to abandon. I decided to create a suitable album to house ‘Drive Shaft’ and ‘Powertron’ was the result. It’s an album of left-field rock songs, mainly vocal but layered with loud and edgy guitars. It will appeal to those who enjoy the wilder side of my work.” – Bill Nelson
Track list: 01) Fascinating Noise 02) A River On The Edge Of Time 03) Dreams And Smoke (Flow With The River) 04) The Moon Came In My Window 05) Where’s The Wonder? 06) Loose Chippings 07) When I Don’t Feel Blue 08) Moments In The Day 09) Fair Winds And Steam Machines 10) Sailing My Boat 11) Laughing Sailors, Raging Seas 12) Drive Shaft
TRANSATLANTIC – the Prog Supergroup of Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt & Pete Trewavas – have announced the release of ‘Live at Morsefest 2022: The Absolute Whirlwind’ for April 26th, 2024. This mammoth Limited 5CD + 2 Blu-ray Artbook set features both sets from Morsefest in their entirety, with nearly 4 and a half hours of music in total.
To coincide with the announcement, the band have launched a live clip of the track ‘Can You Feel It’, taken from night 2, and you can watch that video here:
“Not to be confused by last years live release of our last show in Paris, THIS release of TA at Morsefest 2022 represents the most epic and mammoth of all TA Live releases!
2 Nights, 2 completely different sets, 2 TA concept albums done in their entirety…accompanied with Strings, Horns, Percussion, Female Vocals, etc…Transatlantic has always been about “More Never Is Enough”, but no live TA release has ever been more EPIC than this one…It’s the ULTIMATE Live TA experience!”
Neal Morse adds:
“At long last, a musical dream come true in true epic fashion! To play The Absolute Universe, The Whirlwind, and other great pieces of music with Transatlantic, along with an amazing string section, background singers, etc. What more could any musician ask for? This is the very best of the very best in my view. I hope you all enjoy experiencing this as much as we enjoyed performing it!“
Roine Stolt comments:
“Playing Morsefest was quite a task, learning all the different material for the 2 different shows.
We even got a chance to play that Procol Harum tune, that is dear to me & takes me back to my teenage years, just getting to know what prog is/was. The addition of the strings and choir at Morsefest, plus Philip adding percussion lent a different and perhaps more of an orchestral side. That worked really well and made these 2 nights very special.”
Pete Trewavas comments:
“To play Morsefest 2022 was an absolute pleasure for me and gave us a natural break at the end of the North American leg of The Absolute Universe tour, where we regrouped at Neal’s to rehearse for the two shows, back where we had rehearsed for the tour some four or five weeks earlier.
We had 3 days I think it was to refresh The Whirlwind full version and learn ‘In Held T’was In I’. The festival was an absolute blast. We were all super relaxed and enjoying ourselves probably due to the little break from touring back to rehearsing.
Neal had been wanting to get Transatlantic at MorseFest since we released Whirlwind and it never panned out for various reasons, so it felt fitting that we got it all together for The Absolute Universe tour.”
Morsefest, the festival put on by Neal Morse annually in Nashville, Tennessee has been in existence since 2014. Typically, the weekend-long event celebrated music from Neal’s solo work and other bands from his career. But with each passing Morsefest, there had been one question lingering among the faithful audience that returned every year…when will Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt & Pete Trewavas perform at Morsefest? In 2022, at the 9th Morsefest, it finally happened and in epic Transatlantic fashion.
In 2021, Transatlantic released The Absolute Universe, the band’s 5th album since forming in 2000. However, as the band’s motto is “More Is Never Enough,” ‘The Absolute Universe’ was released as two different versions – ‘The Breath of Life (Abridged version)’, and ‘Forevermore (Extended version)’. In addition, the band combined those two versions for an Ultimate Edition of the album. With touring restrictions due to the pandemic finally lifted, the band finally started their tour in April 2022 ending up at Morsefest on the weekend of April 29th and 30th.
The weekend at Morsefest provided 2 nights of shows. For night one, the band performed their classic album ‘The Whirlwind’ in its entirety, the first time they had done so in 10 years. The evening also added “Into the Blue” and “Shine” from the band’s 4th album ‘Kaleidoscope’ as well as the classic ballad “We All Need Some Light.” As a surprise, the band played a song they’ve never performed live before – their cover of the Procol Harum classic “In Held ‘Twas In I” from the first Transatlantic album ‘SMPTe.’
Night 2 saw the full performance of The Absolute Universe – The Ultimate Edition, combining all of the tracks from the 2 versions of the album. The night closed with a medley of tracks from the band’s first two albums including “All of the Above,” “My New World,” and “Stranger In Your Soul.”
For the first time, the band performed alongside a choir and string section, making these shows truly special for those who were in attendance. Now, you can experience these incredible performances for yourself with the release of this Limited Deluxe 5CD+2Blu-ray artbook, featuring an extensive 36-page booklet with photos, contained within a hardcover.
Night 1 Tracklisting: 1. Into The Blue 2. In Held (‘Twas) In I 3. Shine 4. We All Need Some Light 5. Overture/Whirlwind 6. The Wind Blew Them All Away 7. On The Prowl 8. A Man Can Feel 9. Out Of The Night 10. Rose Colored Glasses 11. Evermore 12. Set Us Free 13. Lay Down Your Life 14. Pieces of Heaven 15. Is It Really Happening? 16. Dancing With Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise)
Night 2 Tracklisting: 1. Overture 2. Reaching For The Sky 3. Higher Than The Morning 4. The Darkness In The Light 5. Take Now My Soul 6. Bully 7. Rainbow Sky 8. Looking For The Light 9. The World We Used To Know 10. The Sun Comes Up Today 11. Love Made A Way (Prelude) 12. Owl Howl 13. Solitude 14. Belong 15. Lonesome Rebel 16. Can You Feel It 17. Looking For The Light (Reprise) 18. The Greatest Story Never Ends 19. Love Made A Way 20. Bridge Across Forever 21. The Final Medley
UK prog-synth-rockers Kyros release 4th studio album ‘Mannequin’, (February 2nd on limited edition double orange Vinyl, digipak CD and digitally – Pre-order)
Released ahead of the band’s upcoming 2024 UK tour dates, Kyros continue their meteoric rise with acclaim across UK press and radio alike. The album offers some of the bands most electrifying, fiercely unique, complex and all round breathtaking work to date.
Blending prog tendencies with elements of rock, synth pop and electronic textures, the 10 tracks display the bands musical understanding and with virtuoso musicianship and some elegantly delivered, infectiously catchy melodies.
Lead vocalist Shelby explains: “Our upcoming album, ‘Mannequin’ is like peeling back layers of paint on an old canvas. With each track, we’re exploring the masks we all wear, the stories we tell ourselves to get by.
This album is a real heart-on-sleeve affair for us and it’s probably the most ‘us’ we’ve ever sounded. It’s about what happens when the facade cracks and you’re left with nothing but the truth. Nothing but your true self. We can’t wait for everyone to hear it and perhaps see themselves in it, just like we do.”
“80s-infused prog rock tapestry of expansive synths, vigorous drums, and driving bass” – Earmilk
“Melodic hooks of pop with the musical complexity and depth of progressive rock and metal” – Power of Prog
Mannequin’ Album Tracklisting: 1. Taste The Day 2. Showtime 3. Illusions Inside 4. Esoterica 5. The End in Mind 6. Digital Fear 7. Ghosts of You 8. Liminal Space 9. Technology Killed the Kids IV 10. Have Hope
All tracks by Shelby Logan Warne, Joey Frevola, Robin Johnson, & Peter Episcopo
Guest vocals on Illusions Inside- Dominique Gilbert, Saxophone on Esoterica – Canyo Hearmichael
Kyros are: Shelby Logan Warne – vocals, keys and production Joey Frevola – guitar Robin Johnson – drums Charlie Cawood – bass
Having built a reputation for their synth heavy prog rock sound, Kyros have gained widespread acclaim for their unique music approach, high octane live shows and fiercely DIY approach. With widespread acclaim from the likes of Prog Magazine, Planet Rock, 1883 Magazine, Total Rock, Earmilk, Music Crowns, Fame Magazine and Prog Rock Journal, the band have toured across the US and Europe, played sets at a number of UK and EU festivals and opened for the likes of Marillion, Spock’s Beard and IQ.
The new album ‘Mannequin’ see’s Kyros cement their place as one of the most exciting new bands on the UK Prog scene.
The Full Album ‘Mannequin’ is due for release February 2nd 2024
Here is some exciting news for those who pre-ordered Rick Wakeman’s “The Prog Years 1973-1977” CD+DVD box set: the expansive collection will now include 17 discs’ worth of never-before-released concert material totaling 300-plus minutes – or a whopping five hours – of live recordings all previously unreleased.
Now known as “The Prog Years: Redux,” the 32-disc box set is back in production, with a brand-new list of content and a new release date of 23rd February 2024. Explaining the decision to overhaul the collection at the 11th hour, compiler Rob Ayling says that he had a duty to do it for the fans:
“Totally out of the blue came a wave of previously unreleased concert recordings. I couldn’t believe it when I discovered them. I generally know what was recorded and what wasn’t – and then to find entire gigs from the 70s that had never before been released… I simply couldn’t ignore them! Especially if they got released later, the fans would rightly ask the question, why weren’t these recordings in the ‘Prog Years’ ?
“It was a really tough decision to make, to stop a box set in full production. But it was also a no-brainer to remove releases which have already been available in different formats over the years and replace them with a trove of music no one will own.
“My feeling is that the true fans will already have most if not all of the previously planned ‘Prog Years’ content, like the Winterland Ballroom and Hammersmith Odeon shows. They have been officially available for years. Yet how many fans have Rick Wakeman’s full 1975 concert from Boston Music Hall, or the opening night of that year’s Japanese tour, with the orchestra, or the Montreux concert from 1979?
“The newly discovered material will replace these recordings in what we’re calling ‘The Prog Years: Redux,’ which now boasts over five hours of previously unreleased music! That, to me, is a game-changer. I know it means fans will have to wait a little longer to receive the box but given that it will contain these newly unearthed gems, I hope everyone will understand why I had to make this decision. I am convinced that everyone will enjoy the gigs as much as I do.
“I also want to thank everyone who has pre-ordered the release for their patience, and promise that it will be worth the wait when ‘The Prog Years: Redux’ lands on your doorstep!”
The previously unreleased discs are:
1). The Six Wives… alternative versions 2). The Three Wives: Radio session, 27 February 1973 3). Boston Music Hall, Massachusetts, 10 October 1975, Part 1 4). Boston Music Hall, Massachusetts, 10 October 1975, Part 2 5). Missing Pieces and interviews 6). Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland, 7 May 1976 7). Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan, 21 January 1975, Part 1 8). Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan, 21 January 1975, Part 2 9). Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Japan, 16 January 1975, Part 1 10). Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Japan, 16 January 1975, Part 2 11). Live in Anaheim, 11 November 1975, Part 1 12). Live in Anaheim, 11 November 1975, Part 2 13). Reflections Of Winter (White Rock sessions), Part 1 14). Reflections Of Winter (White Rock sessions), Part 2 15). White Rock Original soundtrack music and FX soundtrack 16). Live From London 1979 17). Live at Montreux 1979
Previously released:
18). Live in Melbourne, 4th February 1975, Part 1* 19). Live in Melbourne, 4th February 1975, Part 2* * this concert was previously released but in an edited form to fit on one CD. We are releasing the full concert, now fully remastered.
Australian progressive metal outfit Caligula’s Horse release their new single “The World Breathes With Me” from their upcoming album Charcoal Grace, due out on January 26th, 2024. “The World Breathes With Me” is the second single and the 10-minute opening track from the new albumand takes the listener through the emotions and vibe of the new album.
The band shares about “The World Breathes With Me”: “’The World Breathes With Me’ is a powerful musical journey that sets the stage for Charcoal Grace as a whole. It pulls right back to a bird’s eye view of what we saw and experienced during the years of the pandemic. While we did lose our faith in humanity, we ultimately reconnected in the understanding that we are all forever connected to one another through breath and to the world through each other.”
Listen to “The World Breathes With Me” here:
Stream The World Breathes With Me on your favorite DSP’s here: https://ffm.to/twbwm
In November, the band released its first single Golem, which served as the first glimpse of the thematical depth of Charcoal Grace.
The band says about Golem: “Golem is about how we all struggled with the weight of expectation through the pandemic. We felt that weight acutely as musicians, being trapped with no notion of when, or even if, we would return to the life we knew, all while feeling the pressure to create our next work rising. While that’s our specific experience, the themes of Golem are something we can all relate to. It’s a heavy song with an emphasis on riffs and driving rhythms.”
Charcoal Grace is the 6th studio album of the band, and it combines raw rock power with immense emotional depth. Charcoal Grace is borne of the static hopelessness that the pandemic forced upon the band and, indeed, much of the world, these past few years. It is an album reckoning with the experiences and outcomes of this time geared, ultimately, towards catharsis – moving towards a more hopeful future.
The title Charcoal Grace is described by the band as “the grim allure and strange beauty in stillness, silence, and loss”. This can be heard through the album’s 10-minute opening track “The World Breathes With Me,” a mission statement for the album’s main themes. Musically, it’s a work of contrasts, moving from the lightest ebb to the heaviest flow. Meanwhile, the second track and first single from the album, “Golem,” examines struggling with the weight of expectation through the pandemic. It’s a heavy song with an emphasis on riffs and driving rhythms.
At the center of the album is the 4-part title track suite, a 24-minute opus that pushes deeper into the album’s foundational themes: connection, alienation, and the ways humanity acts under duress. Musically, it covers every facet of the band’s vocabulary, from heavy and dense orchestral-accompanied intensity embodying the song’s darkest lyrical ideas, through to soft acoustic-driven moments and introspection.
Tracklist:
Side A
The World Breathes With Me (10:00)
Golem (05:20)
Side B
Charcoal Grace I: Prey (07:48)
Charcoal Grace II: A World Without (06:48)
Charcoal Grace III: Vigil (03:22)
Charcoal Grace IV: Give Me Hell (06:13)
Side C
Sails (04:31)
The Stormchaser (05:57)
Mute (12:00)
Charcoal Grace is available as Ltd. CD Digipak, CD Jewelcase (US only), Gatefold 2LP in various colours & Digital Album.
Pre-Order Charcoal Grace here:
The band recently announced their Charcoal Grace North America Tour 2024 with special guests Earthside. Tickets available at caligulashorse.com.
US:
01/31 Union Stage – Washington,DC 02/01 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA 02/02 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall 02/03 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre 02/04 Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD 02/06 The Axis Club – Toronto, ON 02/07 Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall – Pittsburgh, PA 02/08 Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL 02/10 Exit – Nashville, TN 02/12 The Underground – Charlotte, NC 02/13 The Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA 02/15 Come Take it Live – Austin, TX 02/16 Granada Theatre – Dallas, TX 02/18 Nile Half House – Phoenix, AZ 02/19 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 02/20 The Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA 02/21 Cornerstone – Berkley, CA 02/23 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 02/24 Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, OR 02/25 Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, BC
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.