25 years on from its original release, the cover has changed in that Devin has had a new photo taken, and the album has been remastered and also now includes seven bonus tracks including the songs from the ‘Christeen’ EP. I vividly remember the impact this album had on me when it was released, as while I knew Devin from Strapping Young Lad, he had only released one album under his own name prior to this one and when I heard this I was absolutely blown away by the production and his approach to prog metal. It was recorded after Devin had checked himself into a mental hospital where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and while he played most of the instruments himself, he also brought in SYL bandmate Gene Hoglan on drums, Fear Factory bassist Christian Olde Wolbers plus Andy Codrington (trombone).
It was with this album that Devin really got to grips with his wall of sound approach to production: he later described this as “the parent project” of ‘City’ and ‘Biomech’, and anyone who knows those albums will agree this bastard offspring is far greater than what went before. This was the release which had me desperate to find out more about the mad Canuck and is still as fresh today as it was all those years ago. That he can go full on pronk on “Ants” is just wonderful but compare that to the anthemic bombast which is “War”, still one of my very favourite tracks of his, and it is interesting to note just how close the ‘Retinal Circus’ version is to this. This album is where Devin really came of age and found himself, and the learnings he took on that journey has been the foundation for what he has achieved since. These days Devin Townsend is a household name to anyone interested in progressive metal, but back then he was a musician who had toured with Steve Vai and The Wildhearts (one of the tracks on ‘Infinity’ is co-written with Ginger), then formed his own band which gained critical but little popular acclaim, Strapping Young Lad. This album changed all that, and I loved it 25 years ago, and my view has still not changed. Awesome. 10/10 Kev Rowland
Devin Townsend has announced the release of the second part of the ERAS Vinyl Collection for release on August 31st, 2018. This set includes the much sought-after albums ‘Ocean Machine’, ‘Physicist’, ‘Terria’, ‘Synchestra’ & ‘Infinity’ all in gatefold sleeves across 8 pieces of vinyl, contained inside a sturdy 2-piece box with an extensive LP booklet containing liner notes and comments from Devin himself. All the albums have been mastered for vinyl for the optimal listening experience.
Devin comments: “It has been over 25 years since I started this professional trip of mine with music as the anchor. In that time, I have spent a fair amount of energy describing the albums, rationalizing the albums, or just trying to basically explain the motivation behind them all. This ERAS box set series is a kind of monumental way for me to do it at one time, in one place. The intent of these albums from the beginning, has not changed. Music has been the outlet to describe my experience with life, and obviously my experience is far from ‘unique’. I like to think all this music describes my point of view on things we all participate in. Life is crazy, and each step of the way offers new things, births, deaths, failures, successes, heartache, confusion, anger etc etc etc… I don’t have it figured out, but the music has helped me deal with it in my own way.
The albums were just snapshots of different periods in my life, and although it’s just music, they mean a lot to me. The process that drew them out has helped me move on to each consecutive project and my hope is that with these boxsets, it makes what I do in the future make a little more sense.
I really appreciate having the opportunity to present them in one place with such attention to detail. It’s such an honour to be able to do this and I thank everyone involved for the support and passion in making these box sets happen.
Cheers,
Devin.
On the September 22nd, 2017, Devin Townsend Project played a special show at the Ancient Roman Theatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the landmark Ocean Machine album in full, as well as a set of fan-requested tracks alongside the Orchestra of Plovdiv State Opera. This concert was filmed, and recently saw its release as ‘Ocean Machine – Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv’.
You can watch the previously released clips for ‘Regulator’, ‘Truth’ & ‘By Your Command’ below:
‘Ocean Machine – Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv’ is available as a limited deluxe 3CD/2DVD/Blu-Ray artbook (with liner notes from Devin and a special documentary on the second DVD & Blu-Ray), Special Edition 3CD/DVD Digipak, standalone Blu-Ray and as digital audio download. Order now here: https://devintownsendproject.lnk.to/OceanMachineLive
“epic, swelling bombast worthy of the old stone” – Metal Hammer “a bold document from an incredibly ambitious artist.” – Prog Magazine “an incredible evening of music performed with precision and passion and captured for all of us in a nearly perfect fashion.” – Metal Wani
The full track-listing is as follows: By Request with Orchestra
“epic, swelling bombast worthy of the old stone” – Metal Hammer “a bold document from an incredibly ambitious artist.” – Prog Magazine “an incredible evening of music performed with precision and passion and captured for all of us in a nearly perfect fashion.” – Metal Wani
The full track-listing is as follows: By Request with Orchestra
Ocean Machine
1.Seventh Wave
2.Life
3.Night
4.Hide Nowhere
5.Sister
6.3 A.M.
7.Voices in the Fan
8.Greetings
9.Regulator
10.Funeral
11.Bastard
12.The Death of Music
13.Things Beyond Things
Steve Vai’s Favored Nations Entertainment in association with MGP Records and MoonJune Music is releasing the new studio album Infinity by UK based Swiss-born guitarist NICOLAS MEIER featuring JIMMY HASLIP and VINNIE COLAIUTA
It is rare to come across a musician whose vision for his instrument is so vastly expansive as that of Swiss-born Nicolas Meier. Even rarer still is finding a level of creative brilliance, precision and an almost reverential sensitivity — delivered with conviction and authority, no less! — in so many distinctly different musical settings … but here’s your proof!
The a bum Infinity is, at its core, a trio outing; supported by the sublime efforts of legendary LA studio veterans, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. They provide a corporate foundation that never lacks in flow or imagination, providing the perfect compliment to a delightfully divergent musical bill of fare.
The Favored Nations debut of this fabulous UK-based axeman — whose support work behind Jeff Beck has already garnered him considerable fame and abiding respect among guitar afficiandos across the globe — features eleven songs showcasing Nicolas’ chameleon-like adaptability (as a player and composer), as his pristine sonic exploits defy stylistic bounds and transport listeners. Whether he’s the spy sprinting through a Middle Eastern bizarre, a chilled morning breeze winding through the Alps, or the 6-string acrobatic, dancing madly with abandon a couple hundred feet up, Meier provides compelling, convincing evidence that he’s one of today’s most accomplished and visionary guitarists.
For fans of ambitious guitar adventures, there’s plenty to sink your ears into, here!
Available directly from Nicolas Meier’s website: http://www.meiergroup.com
Or available via Favored Nations in stores and online:
In just a few short years, UK-based guitarist Nicolas Meier has carved a reputation out as one of the UK’s most original and uniquely talented guitarists. Drawing from a love of Turkish, Eastern & Middle Eastern music, Flamenco, Tango and more — all mixed with jazz — Meier is one of the rising stars in a vibrant British jazz scene, but his versatility and musical fluency extends well beyond that … so much so, that his considerable talents drew the attention of rock guitar legend, Jeff Beck, who has since made Nicolas a mainstay in The Jeff Beck Group, carrying him on two world tours during the course of the last several years.
Meier originally hails from Switzerland; born in 1973 to parents who are great lovers of the arts, with wide-ranging musical tastes extending to the Classical, Jazz, Latin, Flamenco, Rock and (even) Pop genres. After picking up guitar at the age of 12, it was his father’s gift of Joe Satriani’s legendary “Surfing with the Alien” and Tony MacAlpine’s “Maximum Security” (both, major intelligent rock “guitar-god” albums), shortly thereafter, that served as Nicolas’ earliest motivation. Attending the Montreux Jazz Festival while still a young teen would further expand Nicolas’ vision for guitar, with John McLaughlin, in particular, being of particular interest and inspiration.
A true gypsy spirit with a disciplined maestro’s touch, Nicolas has embraced a number of different cultures and studied their music forms, nuances and idiosyncrasies. (It was during his Eurasia travels, early in the new millennium, that Nicolas met his Turkish wife, Songul.) Meier’s sound is rooted in his love of playing jazz on acoustic guitar, especially his Godin nylon-string guitar. It’s a sound that lends itself especially well to flamenco and middle-eastern music, also — conveniently — as these influences, and more, are brilliantly fused in his unique multi-lingual style. He also plays fretless acoustic guitar, the Saz (a traditional Turkish stringed instrument), electric guitar, steel-string acoustic guitar, glissentar (an 11-stringed fretless insturment) and a baglama.
During the course of his six-string baptism and global sojourns, Nicolas has been the recipient of numerous awards. A truly dedicated student of the instrument, he has pursued advanced studies at Switzerland’s prestigious Conservatoire de Fribourg, and studied arranging, prior to earning a scholarship to Boston’s illustrious Berklee College of Music. His burning passion for both rock and jazz persists to this day, something he partly credits to his teacher, Francis Coletta (at the Conservatoire de Fribourg), who, while inspiring a profound love of jazz and world music, encouraged the young man to transcribe rock solos, as well!
In fact, Meier is one of the rare musicians who plays both metal and jazz fluently, and has written books on both: “Heavy Metal, Part I: Rhythm Guitar,” and; “Jazz, Part I: Chord Tones.” When asked about his two seemingly divergent loves, Nicolas had this to say: “I deeply love both styles. There is magic in each style that the other one doesn’t have. I just love metal’s power and energy, and at the same time I love jazz’s deep emotion. Both styles can give high energy, but in different directions or different worlds.”
During his time at Berklee, Nicolas immersed himself in classic American jazz (Parker; Coltrane; Miles; etc.), while performing primarily acoustic jazz and fusion. After graduation, he returned to Switzerland in 1998 and formed the Meier Group, a band that would quickly become popular European festival regulars. Naturally, he gravitated to Montreux, finding himself performing with the likes of Rachelle Ferrel, George Duke, Macy Gray and Will Calhoun, among others.
It wasn’t long, though, before Meier found himself missing the vibrance and vitality of Boston. After considering possible relocations, he settled on London as the perfect destination for combining the energy of the US with a happening European music scene. Shortly after arriving in London, Nicolas met drummer Asaf Sirkis, whom he credits with helping open his ears to Middle Eastern music, as well as helping him find his feet in London. “He (Asaf) is such a passionate player that I just had to keep playing with him whenever I could. I met Gilad Atzmon through him, and many other great players.”
Never short on ambition, Meier founded his own record label, MGP Records, in 2009. To date, he has produced ten albums: as a solo artist; in various group formats (The Meier Group; Nicolas Meier Trio; Eclectica!); with his progressive metal band, Seven7, and; in a duo format, with UK jazz maestro guitarist, Pete Oxley. (Their most recent 2015 release, “Chasing Tales,” is a masterful, benchmark album, in the dual-guitar format.)
Having made a lasting impression on gentlemen the likes of Jeff Beck, Bill Bruford, Steve Vai — just to name a few! — Nicolas Meier is unquestionably one of today’s most well-rounded, ambitious, masterful up-and-coming talents on guitar.
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