20 Essential Albums of 2018 by Kev Rowland

No. 1
Yagull – Yuna
Self-released
December 2, 2018
https://yagull-moonjune.bandcamp.com/track/yuna-2

No. 2
Galahad – Seas of Change

Self-released
January 22, 2018
https://galahad1.bandcamp.com/album/seas-of-change

No. 3
Michael – Alan Taylor Avalonia (The Sonnets of Guinevere)

Melodic Revolution Records
June 29, 2018
https://michael-alantaylor.bandcamp.com

No.4
Bomber Goggles – Gyreland
Melodic Revolution Records
March 21, 2018
https://bombergoggles.bandcamp.com

No. 5.
Tiger Moth Tales – Story Tellers Part Two
Self-releasedTalking Elephant
October 18, 2018
https://tigermothtales.bandcamp.com/album/story-tellers-part-two

No. 6
Ashley Hutchings – Paradise And Thorns
Talking Elephant
November 9, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Thorns-ASHLEY-HUTCHINGS/dp/B07GJFQ2CV

No. 7
Soft Machine – Hidden Details
Dyad
September 14, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Details-Soft-Machine/dp/B07F9G2JQX

No. 8
3.2 – The Rules Have Changed
Frontiers Music SRL
August 10, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Have-Changed-3-2/dp/B07D5R6GFK

No. 9 
Dream Aria – The Other Side
February 24, 2018
Self-released
https://dreamaria.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-other-side-cd

No. 10
Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear – Live in the Studio
Self-released
September 16th. 2018
http://www.iona.uk.com/albums/detail/id/36/live-in-the-studio

No. 11
Xavi Reija – The Sound Of The Earth
MoonJune Records
January 18, 2019
https://xavireija-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/the-sound-of-the-earth-hd

No. 12
Mystery – Lies
and Butterflies
Unicorn Digital 
Released July 14, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Butterflies-Mystery/dp/B07F7R8L1Q

No. 13
Damanek – In Flight

Giant Electric Pea
October 12, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Damanek/dp/B07GWJW463

No.14
Dwiki Dharmawan – Rumah Batu
MoonJune Records
May 15, 2018
https://dwikidharmawan-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/rumah-batu-hd

No. 15
Dialeto – Live with David Cross
Chromatic Music
June 4, 2018
https://dialeto.bandcamp.com/album/live-with-david-cross

No. 16
Mayan – Dhyana
September 21, 2018
Nuclear Blast
https://www.amazon.com/Dhyana-MaYaN/dp/B07GRRH5HC

No. 17
Carpe Noctem – Vitrun
Aural Music
October 5, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Vitrun-Carpe-Noctem/dp/B07GGRJWQZ

No.18
Ovrfwrd – Blurring the Lines (a democracy manifest ) ( 2018)
Sel-released
September 29, 2018
https://ovrfwrd.bandcamp.com/album/blurring-the-lines-a-democracy-manifest-2018 

No. 19
The C Sides Project – 10 Days
Self-released
October 26, 2018
https://csides1.bandcamp.com/album/10-days

No. 20
Ten Jinn – Ziggy Blackstar (A Tribute To David
Melodic Revolution Records
October 5, 2018
https://tenjinn.bandcamp.com/album/ziggy-blackstar-a-tribute-to-david-bowie

 

 

DAMANEK to Release New Album “In Flight ” 5th October 2018.

We are so excited about this new album which is somewhat darker than “On Track” and features a three part epic suite called “Big Eastern”.

1. Ragusa
2. Skyboat
3. The Crawler
4. Moon-Catcher (Heaven Song Pt.2)
5. The Crossing
6. Big Eastern (Part One – Cruel Skies)
7. Big Eastern (Part Two – The Shaking Earth)
8. Big Eastern (Part Three – A Life in Chinatown)

Guy Manning, Sean Timms, Marek Arnold, Dan Mash
with our guests Luke Machin, Brody Green, Antonio Vittozzi, Tzan Niko, Raf Azaria, DavidB, Julie King, Kev Currie & the Gospo Collective and Jones Commentary choir.

Music & Lyrics Guy Manning
Mix & Production: Sean Timms

The album is described as “Dark and Dense, Intense and Immense…. ”

The Damanek Web site will be updated as the album is released with pages for each song, the lyrics, the players plus some insights into what the piece is about and background information.

But why wait…you can pre-order the album right NOW!! 
http://www.guymanning.com/damanek/damanek-orders.html ]

TOUR DATE – UPDATES:

GEP Presents “Damanek and Southern Empire ‘In Flight’ tour of the U.K. and Europe November/December 2018”

In November 2018, internationally renowned progressive rock bands Damanek and Southern Empire will join forces and embark upon their debut tour of the United Kingdom and Europe.

Damanek, featuring members from three different nations, is the brainchild of visionary multi-instrumentalist / singer-songwriter Guy Manning. The group released their debut album ‘On Track’ in early 2017 to critical acclaim appearing in many ‘Best album of 2017’ polls and will release their follow-up album ‘In Flight’ on the 5th October this year through GEP Records.

Guy Manning, commenting on the upcoming album and tour stated, “Since we played that memorable set at Summers End X Festival in 2016, I have been constantly asked ‘When are you going to play live again?’ and I have always had to say “…as soon as we can”…but now I can say “SOON!” The new album “In Flight” will be ready for the tour and it has some fantastic new pieces on it, which we are keen to perform live along with some of the favorites from ‘On Track’. Should be one hell of a show!”

Southern Empire, hailing from Adelaide, South Australia have just released their second album “Civilisation” through GEP.

We are happy to report that it is getting some fantastic reviews in its first few weeks!

Led by composer / producer / keyboardist Sean Timms, Southern Empire was formed from the ashes of symphonic prog. band Unitopia in 2014 and have quickly established themselves as one of the premiere live and studio acts of the current prog. era.

“It’s always extremely exciting to release a new album and then take those songs on the road.
I think we have a very strong set of new songs to compliment the older material and we’re really looking forward to bringing our unique blend of ‘prog ’n’ roll’ (as Danny Lopresto, our lead vocalist calls it) to our friends and fans in the U.K. and Europe.”Sean Timms.

For the European leg of the tour, Damanek and Southern Empire will be joined by special guests / friends Seven Steps to the Green Door.

“It’s great to be back on stage with Damanek 2 years after our first set at Summers End festival and promoting a brand new album. For the European dates of the tour, my mates in “Seven Steps to the Green Door” will join in for a triple bill of great songs from all the current albums and from our forthcoming new album THE?LIE, which will be released right in time for the tour! – Marek Arnold.

TOUR DATES (Updated):

For Tickets please visit:
http://www.guymanning.com/damanek/damanek-live.html ]

Southern Empire

17/11/18 – HRH PROG Festival, Pwllheli, North Wales.

Damanek, Southern Empire and our Special guests, Seven Steps to the Green Door

Wed 21/11/18 – Bergkeller, Reichenbach, Germany.

Thu 22/11/18 – Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium.

Sat 24/11/18 – De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.

Damanek and Southern Empire

Tue 27/11/18 – The Vic, Swindon, U.K.

Wed 28/11/18 – The Joiners, Southampton, U.K.

Thu 29/11/18 – The Robin 2, Bilston, U.K.

Fri 30/11/18 – Boston Music Room, Tufnell Park, London, U.K.

Sat 01/12/18 – Classic Rock Society (CRS), Maltby, U.K.

Please note: As joint headliners on the tour, Southern Empire and Damanek will be alternating and mixing up the final slot of each night to allow both bands a chance to play slightly extended sets…however we are not telling who / when!

Damanek: www.damanek.com / www.facebook.com/DamanekBand
Southern Empire: www.southernempireband.com / www.facebook.com/southernempireband
Seven Steps to the Green Door: www.ssttgd.de

DAMANEK get Ready to Record New Album

Recording work on “In Flight” is due to start up in a few weeks, really looking forward to how the REAL players transform my demos…poor old Marek has had to put up with my crappy Sax samples…
Trying to get a November tour organised is proving very frustrating…a number of the venues it would be good to play simply will not consider it because we cannot guarantee audience numbers…and I do see where they are coming from but its Catch22 …to get bigger numbers you have to be known, to be known you have to be a proven live act which means you have to have played
We would like a German date and a northern France date if anyone has good direct contacts with the owners
Help appreciated…
See you soon

Guy