Melodic Revolution Records are beyond thrilled to announce the signing of COLIN CARTER, Co-founder of English Progressive Rock Group Flash to the MRR family of talent.
Flash was an English progressive rock group, formed by former Yes guitarist Peter Banks, vocalist Colin Carter, bassist Ray Bennett, and drummer Mike Hough in August 1971 the band released three studio albums, with all three in the top 200 Billboard charts as well as their debut which charted at No. 33.
Colin relocated to the US in the late 70s and continued performing with many bands. In the 2000’s Colin headed north, this time for rural Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. During his time in Oregon, he has recorded a reformed Flash album on Cleopatra Records, with Ray Bennett, former Flash bass player, now on guitar. The two performed as Flash at Mexicali Prog Festival in Mexico in 2005 and again at the ProgDay Annual Progressive Rock Festival in North Carolina in 2010.
Colin now resides near the Oregon Coast. He is still writing, recording, and has released a solo CD named “Colin Carter-One” in 2018. Writing and singing all the songs, and playing most of the instruments, he produced an eclectic collection of songs in wide ranging styles. The album became an experiment to test the boundaries of his musical and songwriting and production skills. A learning experience.
So what’s next? Well Colin has finished recording a second solo album, Tracks in Space and is due out in 2023.
In a statement from Colin I had just completed the Tracks in Space album, which was a ton of work, of course, but when it was finished , things all came to a grinding halt.
I didn’t want just another self release like my previous project, the Colin Carter-One CD which did okay but its release was limited in scope, I wanted more.
So in asking around my industry friends, I was pointed in the direction of Nick Katona of Melodic Revolution Records, and it turned out to be a perfect fit.
I came up with the music, Nick saw the possibilities, so now Melodic Revolution Records will be helping to send it out to the world to a far greater audience then I ever could.
“This new CD is more polished and focused than the “Colin Carter-One” recording, and if the songs have one thing in common through each of them, it’s a constant pulse. A dance beat! So, prepare to get those feet moving and hips swaying! “
10th March 2023: YES, who are Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood & Jay Schellen, are pleased to announce their new studio album Mirror To The Sky on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music on the 19th May 2023. This is a very important album for the band, says Steve Howe, Yes longest serving member, master guitarist, and producer of Mirror To The Sky. We kept the continuity in the approach we established on The Quest, but we havent repeated ourselves. That was the main thing. As Yes did in the seventies from one album to another, were growing and moving forward. In later years, Yes often got going but then didnt do the next thing. This album is demonstrative of us growing, and building again. For Yes, that next thing is a collection of high energy, intricate, lush and layered new studio songs for an album which adds to the bands much heralded legacy, while charting a path to exciting future times ahead.
Today also sees the launch of the first track taken from the album. Listen to Cut From The Stars & watch the video here:
Mirror In The Sky will be available on several formats, all featuring artwork by longtime Yes artist & collaborator Roger Dean:
Ltd Deluxe Electric Blue 2LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook with poster
Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook
Ltd 2CD Digipak
Standard CD Jewelcase
Gatefold 2LP+LP-Booklet
Digital Album
The blu-ray editions include the album as Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound, Instrumental Versions & Hi-Res Stereo Mixes.
As they were wrapping up The Quest, Yes found themselves with song sketches, structures, and ideas that were demanding attention. Yes received unconditional support from InsideOut boss Thomas Waber, who encouraged them to keep going in the studio, months before The Quest would even go on sale. It was like throwing gasoline on their creative fire.
When we delivered everything, and they were just getting the vinyl and everything into production for manufacturing, we were still very much in that creative zone, explains Steve Howe. That belief that Thomas had in us really meant a lot, he says.
We truly get along as people, says Jon Davison. I feel like everyones focused inward to the greater circle, concentric to the core of highest standards that define Yes. Its a wonderful thing to witness and of which to play a part. I believe this reflects vibrantly in the music and the creative input that each one is willing to apply, not for the benefit of the individual, but for the greater whole that is Yes.
There was a lot of material floating around because the band hadnt done anything in the studio for so long. Ideas were just copious, says bassist Billy Sherwood. The pace of it was fast. As soon as we were finished with The Quest, and the mix had come out, we took a couple of little breaks there to catch our breath. But there was still music flowing around in the loop. It was just constantly being looked at and worked on. As we were all home and in that mode, things started progressing quite swiftly. We just went one album into another without really announcing, Hey, were working on a second record right now. We just continued to work on material. It came about pretty naturally, and then we refined it as the process went on. But the initial bursts there was a lot of material around!
Much to everyones delight, including that of longtime-fan Thomas Waber, Yes have pushed into territory they practically invented the prog rock epic albeit in a thoroughly new and modern way. I always felt that it would be great to have stuff thats a little bit more epic, he says, although he resisted the temptation to push for something that would be too formatted and could come off as contrived. He just gave the band space to do what they do and let things develop. They were so excited by The Quest and the momentum they had that they went straight back in to the studio. What they were writing, even early on, was obviously headed in that epic direction what Yes music really is to me. It is almost a genre onto itself. It is Yes Music. Mirror To The Sky certainly is Yes Music.
Mirror To The Sky features not one, but four tracks clocking in at over eight minutes, with the sweeping and cinematic title track coming in just shy of fourteen minutes. Whats more, the tracks, like Yes best, take the listener on a wide dynamically ranging journey of soundscapes which also showcase Steve Howes dazzling guitars, keyboard wizard Geoff Downes impeccable sounds, exquisite melodies and fills, Jon Davisons angelic, crystalline vocals, Billy Sherwoods deftly dancing bass and Jay Schellens masterfully controlled explosions, on drums.
Jay Schellen, who has been touring with the band since 2016, was hand-picked to step into his mentor and friend Alan Whites role when White sadly passed away in 2022. I had done the 2016 Topographic Drama tour on my own for Alan, say Jay. From late 2017 onwards, we had a partnership, and a beautiful partnership, I might add. I learned so much, and discovered so much about Alans style, and why it was the way it was. It fit his personality so perfectly. This album has Alans presence all over it. It is inside of us. So this is still, in my heart, Alan just being present and with us, and with me, in a big way.
Let Go” is a new collection of songs written and recorded by multi-instrumentalist Matt Dorsey. Stylistically it stands as a blend of all the artists and bands that influenced him including, Rush, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, XTC, The Police, Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan and more. It can be described as progressive-pop-rock. On it Matt sings and plays guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion and, on two of the songs, the drums. Marco Minnemann provides drums on three tracks and Jonathan Mover on another three. Dave Kerzner performs a keyboard solo that he wrote for one of the songs.
Says Matt, “‘Let Go’ is a collection of songs that cover many aspects of life. I studied philosophy in college and the first song I wrote following my studies was MAN, which is something of a summary of the human condition and a celebration of the mystery and miracle of human existence. Following my college days, I shifted my focus from western to eastern philosophy and you can hear a sense of that influence in the song Echo which expresses a deep connection with all living things. ‘Let Go,’ too, is a reflection of the eastern philosophical tradition expressing a sort of taoist disposition toward the flow of things and a zen-like non-attachment. Waiting for the Fall and Castles Made of Sand are a bit darker, expressing a more existential despair, the one about perpetual failure and the other about the fleeting nature of time. But, to round the album out, Compromise, Dangerous and Impossible Friends are more straight-forward love songs. Life is many things. Art should reflect that. ‘Let Go’ is an album about the philosophy of life.”
The album contains 8 tracks recorded almost entirely at Matt’s home studio in Orange County, except for the drum tracks provided by Minnemann and Mover, and the keyboard solo by Kerzner. The album was mixed by Matt and mastered by Andy VanDette. The album artwork was created by Ed Unitsky.
Best known as a founding member of Sound of Contact, he has also played with Beth Hart, Dave Kerzner, In Continuum, and most recently with the all-star progressive rock cover band ProgJect.
Says Matt, “I hope those who listen to my music actually get something meaningful or useful out of it, even if it’s just the enjoyment of the rhythms and melodies or the tapping of the foot. If one gleans anything more deeply significant, all the better. If I’m honest, I write and play music entirely for the sheer joy of it. I guess that’s a bit selfish to say. That said, I know there is power in music, to be sure, and it can move people in very potent ways. I feel privileged to be a part of that. I guess to sum it up my message is simply, life is extraordinary and we would do well to look longer and more carefully at it.”
Track List:
1. Castles Made of Sand 2. Compromise 3. Waiting for the Fall 4. Man 5. Impossible Friends 6. Echo 7. Let Go 8. Dangerous
12th October 2022: Progressive legends YES have announced UK dates for their long-awaited Album Series 2023 Tour featuring their 1974 Relayer album in its entirety together with a selection of other classic YES favourites. Tickets are on sale from 10am on Friday 14th October.
The Relayer Tour was originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic and last years highly successful 50th anniversary of their legendary Close To The Edge album. The Royal Albert Hall was the original choice for the tours London show but has no availability, so the band will make a nostalgic return to an old haunt, the former Hammersmith Odeon.
The coming tour features Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar) with Jay Schellen (drums and percussion) stepping into Alan Whites shoes following his passing in May 2022.
The show will comprise of two sets by the band. The first will feature favourite classic tracks from YESs extensive catalogue. YES will perform Relayer, their seventh studio album, in full in the second set. Relayer marked a slight change in direction bringing an edgier feel to this album. At almost 22 minutes in length, the opening track Gates Of Delirium included a battle scene between keyboard and guitar. The battle gives way to the beautiful closing ballad Soon, a prayer for peace and hope.
Relayer continues with Sound Chaser, a prog-rock-jazz fusion experiment demonstrating the power of Alan White and Chris Squire, and To Be Over, a calm and gentle conclusion to the album, based on a melody by Steve Howe and Jon Anderson.
Released in late 1974 on Atlantic Records, Relayer continued YESs success reaching number 4 in the UK album chart and number 5 in the US Billboard chart.
The UK Relayer Tour dates for 2023 are as follows:
Saturday 10 June Birmingham Symphony Hall
Sunday 11 June Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Monday 12 June York Barbican
Wednesday 14 June Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Thursday 15 June Gateshead The Sage
Friday 16 June Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Saturday 18 June Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Tuesday 20 June London Eventim Apollo
Tickets from Yesworld.com, Bookingsdirect.com and all usual outlets.
About YES
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals (1970 1981, 19901992, 1995present)
Geoff Downes: keyboards (19801981, 2011present)
Jon Davison: lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2012present)
Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late, and much-missed, Chris Squire, YES have been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history. Their 1970s albums The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, Yessongs (a triple live album set), Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer and Going For The One were ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YES albums.
With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 where they performed Roundabout from the album Fragile and the FM radio-friendly Owner Of A Lonely Heart from the 1985 album 90125.
YES released their 22nd studio album in 2021, The Quest, which went to No. 1 in the UK Rock Albums Chart and entered the Official UK Album Chart at No. 20.
In May 2022 came the sad news that drummer Alan White, ever-present in the YES line-up for 50 years, had passed away. The news came shortly before the band embarked on their 50th anniversary tour marking the release of their classic, genre-defining album Close To The Edge.
22nd May 2022: YES Management have announced today that due to current health issues Alan White will not be taking part on the forthcoming 50th Anniversary Close to the Edge UK & Eire Tour. Alan was really looking forward to playing live again preparing to celebrate 50 years with Yes, having joined the band for the July 1972 Close to the Edge Tour, coming full circle in 2022. Alan’s close friend Jay Schellen will be taking on drumming duties in Alan’s place.
The Album Series Tour 2022 which willcelebrate the 50th anniversary of YES’ iconic album Close to the Edge and will feature the album, performed in full, along with other classic tracks from YES’ extensive catalogue.
The tour line-up will feature Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals) with Jay Schellen (drums and percussion).
The show will comprise full production and a high-definition video wall directed by Roger Dean who will also be joining the tour with an exhibition of YES related art.
A full performance of the Relayer album will now be featured in a future UK tour in The Album Series. European dates were recently announced for rescheduled dates in 2023.
The 10 date UK and Eire tour starts on 15th June – full dates are:
Wed 15th JuneGlasgowRoyal Concert Hall
Fri 17th JuneManchesterBridgewater Hall
Sat 18th JuneNottinghamRoyal Concert Hall
Mon 20th JuneLiverpoolPhilharmonic Hall
Tues 21st JuneLondon Royal Albert Hall
Wed 22nd JuneYorkBarbican
Fri 24th JuneBirminghamSymphony Hall
Sun 26th JuneNewcastle O2 City Hall
Tues 28th JuneDublinVicar Street
Wed 29th JuneCorkOpera House
Tickets remain valid for the rescheduled shows. For full details and to book tickets for all shows go to venue website or http://yesworld.com/live where you can also book Meet and Greets with the band.
About YES
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals (1970 –1981, 1990–1992, 1995–present) Alan White: drums, percussion (1972 – present) Geoff Downes: keyboards (1980–1981, 2011–present) Jon Davison: lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2012–present) Billy Sherwood: guitar, backing vocals ((1994, 1997–2000), bass guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late, and much-missed, Chris Squire, YES have been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history. Their 1970s albums The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Yessongs (a triple live album set), Tales From Topographic Oceans,Relayer and Going For The One were ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YES albums.
With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 where they performed Roundabout from the album Fragile and the FM radio-friendly Owner Of A Lonely Heart from the 1985 album 90125. In 2021 YES released their 22nd Studio album, The Quest, produced by Steve Howe, which went to No.1 in the UK rock chart and entered the Official UK Album Chart at No. 20.
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