SOUND OF CONTACT review (sort of)

Just passing by to drop a few line on the debut album of sound of contact

http://www.soundofcontact.com/

Let’s get this out already shall we ? Yes SOC is the band of Simon ( I am the son of Phil) Collins where he sings and does the drums. Though there are some similarities (voice, face, prog rock) it is only fair to try to review this debut album just by itself.

SOC is a prog rock concept album around space. We’re facing a easy prog rock mostly in the vein of popish prog rock (with instrumentals and an Epic) but the album is musically ( but not lyrically) easy enough to enter with nice instrumentals and a few single possible (closer to you has that written all over it).

SOC is a very prog popish record, easy enough to listen. Not bad for a debut album but not a very powerful one. Though we can easily introduce people to the world of prog rock with this album, complete with nice melodies and catchy chorus that are an easy approach.

Worth listening to. I awaits the next one maybe not eagerly but I'll lend another ear.

On a side note, they did a pretty nice almost full album concert with the flower kings starting with the french date in Paris. MIssed Karmakanic but it was nice to get Moebius slip in full length.

Almost review - GAZPACHO – Demon

Brand new cd from the norwegian art prog masters.

And another cd that cannot be listen to like any other cd.

43 spins on the ipod before fumbling to these words.

Let’s face it, the band is now known for their conceptual records with no compromise.

Art rock, post rock, post art prog rock… who cares. The band delivers the music that they want to make and be damned with singles and easy listening.

Demon is no exception. 4 tracks with one (I’ve been walking) divided in 2. (plus bonus out-of-concept single song the cage worth having).

Let’s be honest: it is not easy music you can grasp and like after a couple of play in the sound machine.

No, Demon, as most of the music by Gazpacho, is something earned after many times, growing inside you each time you play it.

For here, all is about mood, ambiance. A real cinematic piece.

Gazpacho’s concept is not helping either: A demonical force moving through history, doing evil deed.

The lyrics are muddy at best; do not seek enlightenment in them (though there may be some message in there… Demon comes from the Greek meaning messenger).

These lyrics whispered by the slurry voice of Jan-holm is another part of the mood the Norwegians are crafting slowly seconds after seconds.

It is really hard to talk about this record. It is good, no question about that, but it is definitely for those who like having a world created before their very eyes…err…ears.

Gazpacho takes no short cuts, do not try to indulge producer or the listener. They present a diamond that needs to be shaped with multiple listening to reveal it’s purity and sparkling beauty.

Not the best way to discover the band but definitely one of their finest hour (along with pretty much the 4 prior albums).

 http://gazpachoworld.com/

Review Ayreon - the theory of everything

Brand new Ayreon album out a while ago. Exit the Aliens and space travel.

Welcome theory of everything and family problems.

An Ayreon is not a typical album. For those who don’t know, Ayreon is the covert name for the tall hippie prog dude known as Arjen Lucassen. Surrounded by his faithful assistants (Ed Warby on the drums and Lorie on production and a dark figure of his family…probably an evil twin), he fights conventional rock album boredom with the help of guest singers and musician, doing prog rock opera.

Because that‘s what it is.

Here you have a story (like a concept album) complete with instrumental, multi voice songs and flash backs in the narration.

Listening to an album by Ayreon is an adventure. You can’t buy the digital version and put it on your Ipod. The music has to be listened to in the same order and the songs (especially on this release) really lead one onto the other. Hell it is only 4 big epics with the lyrics mettant en scène (‘scuse My French) a cast of characters telling a story.

Listening to it without the wonderful booklet is missing half the fun. Even if you know the concept (a boy with mental problems who is also a math genius is gonna work on the theory of everything, the equation holding the universe together with his father, to sum it up), you barely can understand what is happening to the characters. Even if you get the lyrics out of the net, you’ll probably not get the didascalies and flavour text that describe the scenery (told you it’s like an Opera)

So you get it and play it on the cd player (or Vinyl). You sit back and enjoy the story at it unfolds.

You’ve got these 4 tracks divided in 42 ones but you cannot listen to them at random, they all lead one into the other (except the 4 majors one)

As usual, this album is a typical Ayreon album. From the first riff or melody, you recognise the touch of Arjen. Fan of diversity beware, Arjen like Woody Allen does seemingly the same stuff over and over but hell, he sure knows how to make a good, solid guitar riff.

For those who do not know, it’s prog a bit metally because Arjen is very inspired by 70ies prog, pink floyd (“what have we done ?” ) and Maiden , Led Zep…

So you know what to expect if you know the lad but he does not deceived and stills knows how to shape a nice, intriguing story.

If not, then you‘re in for a treat, do purchase the cd or vinyl, especially with the DVD to boot (so you can see the building of this fantastic stuff. And Arjen always put on some funny stuff in it worth watching it even though, as the usual  promotional dvd goes, everybody is sooo happy to work with everybody… must be the hippie  way of life. ^^) so you can really experience the full power of this grand brand new prog rock opera.

On the side minor note (cause when you love, you cannot help to bicker and pester), I must grind my teeth a bit as the singers (the few) do not seem to sound much apart for my poor ears (maybe the father and the prodigy ARE supposed to sound alike) but just listening I sometimes do not know which one is singing.(need the book let, need the booklet !)

And as a friend of mine noticed (and I know it applies also to some male characters too, especially here), women tend to really have, how to put it, not very gratifying appellation. The girl, the mother… whereas you have prodigy, teachers, psychiatrist (yes rival and father too). But maybe next time the genius can be a girl too hey what do you say Arjen ?

http://www.arjenlucassen.com/content/

The third man (or wrestling applied to live concert)

Something I got from my wrestling hobbies (yes I’m a referee for wrestling matches on my spare time)

Think it could be applied to lots of things including music and especially live music.

On the typical wrestling match you’ve got two guys fighting each other, one playing the good and favourite of the crowd, the other a vile and evil one prepared to any treachery to win.

They do their story, the traditional good versus evil with come backs and coup bas and else.

But as any live show or entertainment, a great part of success comes from the Third man (no. Not the referee. I’m not that ego maniac) that is the audience.

On a wrestling show, who cares if it’s too long, or botched, truly great or a miserable failure, the real success depends on the Third man (which hopefully would be more the thirty hundred or so men depending on the venue capacity.)

You could debate the value of an act, if the audience loves it then it is great.

Quantity is not quality, especially in art, meaning 1 000 000 readers does not really make a novel pure genius.

But as far as live entertainment goes, the way the public react makes a big part of it, if not all. If the crowd is into the fight, it will be great no matter what, the people will be entertained and delighted and that is a big part of it. As the tree falling down in the forest, if no one ids there to see an act, what good is it really?

Works a bit the same for concert. 

No matter how great the songs are, the show is, if there is nobody to see it, it’s kinda useless.

Someone on the internet was talking about a band from Norway called Leprous. Big metal prog show.

She said she saw them live and was untouched by their performance.

Different strokes as they would say but my experience with the band is a bit –ah- different.

I saw them twice and I never even heard a single note of the studio albums prior to going to see them.

I wanted to see by myself. I do not know if (like most of the metal rock I hear) it will not be as great on disc as live but the live act is really something.

The guys are giving everything they’ve got on stage wetting the shirts reaaaaal good.

But that feel so great without other people into it ? Intimate, just the band and me ? The fact that lots of energy was pouring and the crowd was reviling in it really makes the venue special.

Was it better played than last time ? Maybe not. When the people on the stage is giving itself and the crowd feel ready to receive, it does not really matter in the end if the music is really good by itself.

There’s a magical connexion between the stage and the crowd, this third man that really makes it worthwhile sometimes.

So there is definitely a quality factor in the songs and the show played, but if the actors push themselves on and more importantly if the crowd follows, you can really get a great moment of Live music, a nice piece of entertainment. Because it is for the people that bands are playing and nothing works better if everybody is into the mood display. Because that is what concert means to me.. It is about the third man, you in the venue, how you feel, listen, move, and react to what is going on. And because the people around you also depend on that… Kind of mob effect.

Progressive Nation@Sea 2014

Trying to organize some thought unto (electronic) paper about my last holiday, the now infamous progressive Nation at Sea 2014 on the Norwegian pearl featuring more prog bands you can shake a … I dunno what but indeed a lot of bands.

I’ll try to sum this incredible experience.

Arriving at the airport of Miami on the Friday night, I had the pleasure to see Danny Cavanagh waiting for the arrival of Lee Douglas before my mate can realise his backpack was missing.

The next day we arrived to embark… at the same time as Jon Anderson and his wife. Starting queuing for the customs service to enter the boat.

Next to us was Jonas Reingold, Devin Townsend and Hasse Froberg.

The check in is a bit long but we’re doing fine and finally after some photo shoot over green screen and some high five by Sixthmen Jennifer we enter the boat.

Straight to the free buffet (man to sum it up free food, great choice, good quality- kinda surprise everybody) dessert, free ice cream arghh… !! even 2 “real” restaurants were free… imagine dinning with the view on the rear of the boat and the endless sea gently disturbed by the slowly rotating propellers.

After some nice lunch and the first annoying attack of an artist, (sorry Ted... I’ve been asked to say hello) we head for the small room where we’ll crash after the last concerts. Nice and comfortable but really tight.

Let’s explore the ship and run around watch the many stages inside and outside.

The pool deck bathing in the hard Florida sun, the Stardust theatre complete with drapings, the Spinnaker with its beds and comfy seats, the atrium and Bar city.

Then it begins. To see the sound check Ryo and Neal laughing, to pass by some great musicians (Vinnie Cavanagh, the guys from Riverside, Jimmy from Spock’s Beard) even non playing artists: like John Wesley (met at the evacuation drill) and Randy George.

Ha ! The joyful pleasure to have a beer and the sun in my eyes and listen to the full performance of Transatlantic’s  Kaleidoscope.

Then it went on and on concerts at night on the cool night breeze listening to Anathema.

Despite the jet lag waking you at 4.30 am, up at 6.30 for a morning jog among the very few already up (Hey Pete, you’re really a light sleeper).

Then sun bathing, eating, meeting guys from bands walking around, in the jacuzzi (Hi Ryo, Jonas) and talking to lots of people (from everywhere, Norway, Brazil, Costa rica, England, Canada, Germany US of course…)

The fact of day 2 is that never sits down no matter what the hour is… you’ll probably always fall asleep. Poor Riverside with some microphones problems.

Second day is great stirrup bay, island with fishes in the sea, great music (snorkling and lifting the head to hear lamb lies down, operation mindcrime, perfect circle, smashing pumpkins… how cool can that be!)

Loosing to Costa Rica and Brazil on the second turn of the battleshots (damn those were light shots…)

Taking pics with part of Jolly and Riverside. Playing on inflatable rafts close to the shore (and getting a bleeding knee for the trouble).

On the down side it seemed that they were medusas around sadly… some people got sting.

Back for some more music. And the infamous 30 minutes gig. (the schedule was so that beside the opening act of Big Elf you could spend the first 30 minutes of every show and get to see everybody… that I almost try… went to see Anneke full time (with mike staying a couple of songs), went to the Flower kings only to discover the first 26 minutes song was the same as the day before… so there went the FK and I went back catch a glimpse of the Periphery (Hi John Wesley ! and oh hi Anneke and Julie !).

Then full time Devin Townsend (because it rocked!) and spent the rest of the night trying again to stay awake for The Dear Hunter.

Third day off to the Bahamas Island… And found the trick to escape the Washy washy happy happy mantra (but I did washy washy don’t worry).

Man did these reek of touristic industry… Parked into cars to either shop or beach, dollars dollars everywhere…. Managed to get to a small beach (very hot) and sunbath with Mister Macalpine and the Damian Fox family… reminded me of the Osbourne one… Funny seeing the singer of Big Elf in bathing shorts.

Then the grand finale.. seeing Anathema again and Spock’s Beard with Neal…. On the light.

Catching a glimpse of Thank You Scientist. And then Transatlantic, with some King Crimson and Yes with Jon Anderson.

Great moments… after that not enough will to go on partying... as the wake up call was at 6.30.

But even after disembarking, the dream continued as we saw Ryo and his wife in the streets if Miami as we were eating at a restaurant.

So many good memories and pics,

On the down side.

Sunburn sunburn !

Having to sneak out to try to do a jogging and either forgetting one shoe or the pass. L

Various small problems of technical problems, the worst being  Riverside 10-15 minutes with microphones problems.

Staying awake on seated venues.

Some scheduling problems… too much bands on the same timetable... A friend couldn’t see Pain of Salvation  because he had to tuck the kids in.. so no concert before 9pm… and the Dear Hunter were only around midnight…hard to stay awake for them.

The new millennium stage….It was at first hard to see lots of the main bands so to put small groups at the same time… lots of them seemed very empty  as I pass by the Bar city.

Could have been great to schedule them a bit earlier... If people did not wanted to see them all the same but we may have time in the morning or early in the evening to watch some of them new comers.

Flower kings set not very different especially when starting with a 25+ minutes song for an hour set… but I guess poor Roine did not have time to do much rehearsing.

The revealing science of god. For the start of a set, that was hard, especially past midnight.

Jellyfish in the waters not advertised.

On the plus side (I mean besides the awesomeness of it all ?)

Neal singing again with Spock’s beard with tears in his eyes… The Morse brothers together… I discovered SB with V, missed them live..  I was expecting the Snow touring (and we did get the start of the album !) then the split…

Max Portnoy being admonished by his aunt to run at his sound check pronto.

Jon Anderson, with Transatlantic. Hearing that wonderful voice live. Pure Magic

Big Elf‘s Damian Fox’s family on the beach.

Seeing people from bands everywhere, eating between Periphery, the Dear Hunter, Randy George and Rob from Haken. Sunbathing next to Riverside. Meeting people on elevators, lounges, almost colliding with Devin in the Garden Palace.

Discovering King’s X and the great feeling of musical peace distilled throughout the show.

Climbing up the stairs and falling face to face with Anneke, trying desperately to remember how to speak, even in broken English.

Talking Leprous music with a beautiful girl from Atlanta and being thankful for being red faced already from sunburn.

Most of all it is the joy and good spirit overall. Feeling to be among family, people who were here for the joy of music. Easy access to speak and mingle so that one day someone asked me what band I was with…( Considering I had no beard, no long hair, no tattoo, I really came on the short end of  being a stereotype of a band member but well…)  One nation under Prog. One family under Prog

And always remember… washy washy to be happy happy, smily smily all the tiiiiime ! (of all the sentences in all the songs in this boat, I have to only remember this one…)

Now of course as much as I want this to happen again, I must muse a bit on the possibilities and all.

First it was not full and I wonder how much was it possible to make it happen without loosing (too much) money.

Even thought the good word to mouth should help filling more empty slots, it might help to have a big name to sell it more. No offense to Transatlantic or Jon Anderson, but a bigger name (even for the poor secluded genre of prog could help.) like say, King Crimson or Rush or that band Mike left…

After that some adjustment in schedule could be done (see a little bit up for that)

Maybe a combo pack with T shirts and goodies can help secure reservations and satisfy the thirst for T shirts of the event (as they went sold out the Wednesday or so)

It’s a feeling that it will or may not happen again or at least not a second year in a row. Conflicting schedules and all that.

Good news is that the word to mouth was so great that lots of people would jump at an other shot at that.

The headliners were very great but really being sponsored by insideout, (besides anathema and some smaller bands) it seems the roster will pretty much be the same again and again (of course opening to Roadrunner, Kscope would help.)

So it would be nice but it would be a bit the same and the novelty may wear off the second or third time. Let’s hope and wait and see…