Progressive Rock Review: Circulive::Majestik

Release Date: May 18, 2018

Label: Independent

Website

Circuline's newest release, CircuLive::Majestik, was released in May 2018. The CD captures the spontaneity and exciting prog rock sound of the band at the 13th International Rites of Spring Festival, otherwise known as the RoSfest. This is CD/DVD set; however, I am going to focus on the CD first and savor the visual version later.

I covered their 2016 release Counterpoint and can clearly remember being quite impressed. They were as good as any other top prog band I had recently heard. I also recently covered keyboard player Andrew Colyer’s release Christmas Time-Piano Improvisations, which is a big step away from the world of prog rock.

This new release really cuts to the bone in regards to their mastery of prog rock and their talents. The group members are Andrew Colyer (keyboards, vocals), Darin Brannon (drums), Natalie Brown (lead vocals), William “Billy” Spillane (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Beledo (lead guitar).

Once again, as I pointed out a few years ago, “Hollow” is their all-out prog rocker clocking in at 10:06. Hearing the live version really shows how this band can shine without the studio technologies to help. It is straightforward and what I would refer to as their epic track. Good to know that my tastes and recognition of that track has not changed. The perception of something played live is always different and hopefully in a good way, and it does not disappoint, it is a superb listen. This gets me really excited about viewing the DVD of this performance.

I like the combination of the male and female vocals It is the Ying and Yang of rock ‘n’ roll and there is a delicate balance there that must be just right for it to work, particularly in a live setting. Billy sounds reminiscent of Michael Sadler of Saga. When Billy and Natalie sing together it reminded me of the classic combo of Grace Slick and Marty Balin (R.I.P.). Those are some heavy-duty comparisons to make to be sure however they are deserving. “Nautilus” is a great track to check out and see if you can hear those influences or similarities in the vocals. In any event, all that conjecture is meant to be positive and a compliment.

CircuLive::Majestik is a great tribute to the Circuline body of work and their awesome sound. They can flat out rock, get softer or do both within one track, which is commonplace actually, and a wonderful thing. If you appreciate the changing tides of prog rock and the excellent musicianship presented then this set is a must-have.

Special Guests Include:

Harold Skeete (Ad Astra) - bass

Joe Deninzon (Stratospheerius) - electric violin

Recorded live at The Majestic Theater

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 7th, 2016

13th International Rites of Spring Festival

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

November 11, 2018

Founder of:

MuzikMan Productions

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Tracks: 
01. Who I Am (live) 07:48
02. Return (live) 05:00
03. Forbidden Planet (live) 06:36
04. Hollow (live) 10:06
05. Stereotypes (live) 04:53
06. Inception (live) 05:12
07. America the Beautiful (live) 01:23
08. Nautilus (live) 05:54
09. One Wish (live) 06:14   
10. Summit (live) 10:11   
11. Stay (live) 06:12   
12. Silence Revealed (live) 07:25
 

King Crimson's David Cross & No-Man's Andrew Booker's Unreleased 2006 Album "Ends Meeting" - Now Available!

London - David Cross was a member of King Crimson during the 1970s and Andrew Booker was a member of No-Man, Sanguine Hum and Peter Banks’s Harmony in Diversity.

This PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED STUDIO ALBUM was recorded in 2006 but had not seen a release until now.

David Cross said of the release “I met Andrew some years ago when the David Cross Band were touring with Pete Banks's Harmony and Diversity. Andrew was the drummer with that band and we got together after the tour to record some tracks. This eventually turned into the album we're releasing. Andrew brought a great deal of creativity and high level production skills to the project and is one of those people who make it easy to play - a wonderful talent!”

Andrew Booker said of the release, “David and I recorded only once together. I had come prepared with several sounds and tonal themes set up on the electronic drums, hoping to catch a little of the magic I had seen watching him with his band a few months earlier. I got that in spades. As I listened to David’s endlessly inventive phrasing, track after track, I knew we were capturing something special. Soaring and searing, or serenely soothing, even 12 years later I still find bits of it breathtaking, music for electric violin and electronic percussion in an arid North African heat-haze.” 

The seven new tracks on this album showcase the talents of Cross & Booker and will appeal to the fan-bases of both artists and the bands they have been in. It's an innovative meeting of minds.

1. LOOPSCAPE A
2. THE SHAKES RATTLED
3. SLEEK
4. SPARED BHANGRA
5. WORSHIP THE GOURDS
6. ENDS MEETING
7. LOOPSCAPE B

To purchase Cross & Booker's “Ends Meeting”:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/endsmeeting
iTunes: http://geni.us/endsmeetingdig
Download: http://sonicelements.bandcamp.com

David Cross official website: https://www.davidcrossband.com/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

King Crimson's David Cross & No-Man's Andrew Booker's Unreleased 2006 Album "Ends Meeting" - Now Available!

London - David Cross was a member of King Crimson during the 1970s and Andrew Booker was a member of No-Man, Sanguine Hum and Peter Banks’s Harmony in Diversity.

This PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED STUDIO ALBUM was recorded in 2006 but had not seen a release until now.

David Cross said of the release “I met Andrew some years ago when the David Cross Band were touring with Pete Banks's Harmony and Diversity. Andrew was the drummer with that band and we got together after the tour to record some tracks. This eventually turned into the album we're releasing. Andrew brought a great deal of creativity and high level production skills to the project and is one of those people who make it easy to play - a wonderful talent!”

Andrew Booker said of the release, “David and I recorded only once together. I had come prepared with several sounds and tonal themes set up on the electronic drums, hoping to catch a little of the magic I had seen watching him with his band a few months earlier. I got that in spades. As I listened to David’s endlessly inventive phrasing, track after track, I knew we were capturing something special. Soaring and searing, or serenely soothing, even 12 years later I still find bits of it breathtaking, music for electric violin and electronic percussion in an arid North African heat-haze.” 

The seven new tracks on this album showcase the talents of Cross & Booker and will appeal to the fan-bases of both artists and the bands they have been in. It's an innovative meeting of minds.

1. LOOPSCAPE A
2. THE SHAKES RATTLED
3. SLEEK
4. SPARED BHANGRA
5. WORSHIP THE GOURDS
6. ENDS MEETING
7. LOOPSCAPE B

To purchase Cross & Booker's “Ends Meeting”:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/endsmeeting
iTunes: http://geni.us/endsmeetingdig
Download: http://sonicelements.bandcamp.com

David Cross official website: https://www.davidcrossband.com/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Instrumental New Age Piano Reviews: Brian Hagen -You're The One

Release Date: November 15, 2017

Label: Independent

Website

Brian Hagen began piano lessons at four years old. That is a very young age when most children are not even in the first year of school. It looks like the lifelong commitment to the mastery of the ivory keys have paid many dividends.

You're The One is Brian’s third proper album. His range, acumen, and styles encompass contemporary classical, new age and jazz. All of the music is straightforward piano instrumentals with no accompaniment.

What I find most compelling about music like this is the way it can hold you from start to finish. The piano is so pure and unconstrained - it flows, bends, moves and shapes your emotions. It is all dependent on the pace and timing of the composition. What is simplistic at first blush can be just as complicated as several instruments playing together and so can the emotions you have that follow. It is a powerful and effective instrument.

Artist like Brian Hagen and recordings like You're The One continue the tradition of great solo piano recordings. The torch is being carried and burning ever so brightly for gifted musicians such as this.

You're The One transports fourteen tracks of pristine beauty, relaxation, and contemplation. It awaits your calling. The listeners have the easy job, we just sit and take it all in. The creator of the music is the gift from the heavens that brings us peace and joy through the music. It is work but it most definitely sounds like a lot of joy and love goes into the creation of these wonderful sounds.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

November 8, 2018

Founder of:

MuzikMan Productions

MuzikMan Reviews

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Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Tracks: 
01. You're The One
02. By The Limpid Stream
03. Nocturne
04. Contemplation
05. Diabelli Sonatina
06. Fantasie
07. Lonesome Road
08. Beethoven Sonatina WOo 50
09. Afternoon Waltz
10. Let It Flow
11. Now and Forever
12. Autumn Afternoon Homecoming
13. Kleine Studie
14. Sunflower 

A Life In YES: The Chris Squire Tribute Featuring Members of YES, Renaissance, Marillion, Blackmore's Night, Curved Air, Toto and others!

Feat. Todd Rundgren, Steve Porcaro (Toto), Annie Haslam (Renaissance), John Wesley (Porcupine Tree), Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Patrick Moraz (Yes/The Moody Blues), Steve Stevens, Dweezil Zappa, and more!

Los Angeles - Purple Pyramid Records is releasing A Life In YES: The Chris Squire Tribute; A heartfelt and masterful musical salute to the longtime bassist of prog rock legends YES, Chris Squire!

Produced by Squire's friend and frequent collaborator, and current bassist in YES, Billy Sherwood with amazing contributions from Todd Rundgren, Steve Porcaro (Toto), Annie Haslam (Renaissance), John Wesley (Porcupine Tree), Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Patrick Moraz (Yes/The Moody Blues), Steve Stevens, Dweezil Zappa, and more!

“Needless to say this record is near and dear to my heart, Chris and I were friends for decades and his loss was epic. I wanted to honor his spirit, his writing, his bass work… And so I set forth to create this record. Everyone who participated lifted the project and did it out of the deepest respect and love for Chris.” -  Billy Sherwood

Includes 2 bonus tracks: one from the prog supergroup The Prog Collective, and one from the massively popular Pink Floyd tribute album Back Against The Wall!

Available on both CD and vinyl!

Track List:
1. Jon Davison & Patrick Moraz - On The Silent Wings Of Freedom
2. Steve Hogarth & Larry Fast - Hold Out Your Hand
3. Annie Haslam - Onward
4. David Sancious & Steve Stevens - South Side Of The Sky
5. Sonja Kristina - The Fish
6. Steve Porcaro & Steve Hackett - The More We Live - Let Go
7. Jon Davison & Tony Kaye - Parallels
8. Nikki Squire & Dweezil Zappa - Owner Of A Lonely Heart
9. Todd Rundgren, John Wesley & Tony Kaye - Roundabout
10. Candice Night & Brian Auger - Don't Kill The Whale
BONUS TRACKS
11. The Prog Collective - The Technical Divide
12. Chris Squire - Comfortably Numb

To purchase:
Buy the CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/a-life-in-yes-the-chris-squire-tribute-cd/
Buy the vinyl: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/a-life-in-yes-the-chris-squire-tribute-2-lp/

Press inquiries:  
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com


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