MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, PRODUCER AND THE PINEAPPLE THIEF FRONTMAN BRUCE SOORD RELEASES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO 'PILLARS'

Credit: Anne-Marie Forker

FIRST SINGLE FROM NEW SOLO ALBUM 'GHOSTS IN THE PARK'

SET FOR RELEASE ON 15^th MAY 2026

As founding member and principal songwriter of The Pineapple Thief, Bruce Soord has spent the last decade steadily refining a voice that balances emotional directness with musical restraint. Set for release on 15^th May, Ghosts In The Park, his latest solo album, is his most personal and unguarded work to date: a record shaped by loss, memory, and the quiet spaces that reveal themselves when life continues to move while everything else appears to stop. Today, Bruce has shared the first single from the album, titled ‘Pillars’ alongside a new video produced by George Laycock.

WATCH THE NEW VIDEO FOR ‘PILLARS’ NOW, PRODUCED BY GEORGE LAYCOCK: https://youtu.be/dc3HOoWY5gg

Excessive, damaging introspection, I guess is the theme of the song. I remember the day in my life when I was liberated from my god-fearing introspection. Only then could I see the damage it had done to me and was still doing to the people around me. The song is about that: the damage I have witnessed. It’s framed around religion and penance, but it’s not anti-religion, it’s about balance. Oh and the line about pillars. It’s a bit of a playful reference to Saint Simeon Stylites, a Christian ascetic from around 400 AD. Legend has it he perched on top of a pillar for 37 years, taking himself away from the world in order to dedicate his life entirely to prayer, fasting, and repentance. I thought it was quite apt.

I’ve been working with George Laycock from Blacktide Productions for years now, it’s incredible what he can do with his imagination and camera. – Bruce Soord

STREAM/DOWNLOAD THE NEW SINGLE ‘PILLARS’: https://orcd.co/pillars_listen

Written over a two-year period while Soord was touring extensively with The Pineapple Thief, the album emerged in hotel rooms, unfamiliar cities, and moments of enforced solitude. Against this backdrop, Soord was navigating the drawn-out decline and eventual death of his father, alongside the continued progression of his mother’s Alzheimer’s. These experiences form the emotional spine of Ghosts In The Park - grief in motion, memory surfacing unpredictably, and the quiet determination to keep moving forward.

Bruce Soord – Ghosts In The Park
Concepcion [01:25]
Pillars [03:10]
Meet Me On The Downs [03:05]
Kept Me Thinking [06:34]
Day Of Wrath [04:21]
Our Predicament [03:43]
Stared Down [04:33]
You Made A Promise [02:56]
Ghosts In The Park [12:52]

Ghosts In The Park will be released on 15^th May on the following formats -

3CD/BLU-RAY EARBOOK EDITION FEATURING RENOWNED PIANIST GLEB KOLYADIN (IAMTHEMORNING) - INCLUDES ‘GHOSTS IN THE PARK’ CD ALBUM, CD WITH ACOUSTIC REIMAGININGS, CD WITH PIANO VERSIONS & BLU-RAY DISC WITH HI-RES MIXES (DOLBY ATMOS, DTS-HD MA 5.1, & 24/48 PCM STEREO)

CREAM WHITE VINYL LP (UK INDEPENDENT STORE EXCLUSIVE)
+ DARK GREEN VINYL LP

CLASSIC BLACK VINYL LP

DIGIPACK CD EDITION, INCLUDES 16-PAGE PRINTED BOOKLET WITH LYRICS AND UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS

PRE-ORDER GHOSTS IN THE PARK: https://brucesoord.lnk.to/Ghosts_In_The_Park

Acoustic guitar sits at the centre of the record, often captured in raw, first-take performances recorded directly in hotel rooms before being carefully integrated with studio recordings. This tension between fragility and control defines the album’s sound. Tracks such as “Concepción,” “Meet Me On The Downs,” and the title piece were conceived in specific places - Chile, Hamburg, Oberhausen - each location leaving a subtle imprint on the music. Parks, harbours, and anonymous rooms become recurring settings where past and present coexist, intersected by fleeting moments of clarity amongst the disorder.

Performed almost entirely by Soord himself, with bass contributions from Jon Sykes on “Kept Me Thinking,” the album was recorded using a combination of hotel-room captures and studio sessions, preserving the immediacy of its origins. Mastered by Steve Kitch, Ghosts In The Park stands as a stark, reflective and evolutionary companion piece to Soord’s acclaimed previous solo work.

BRUCE SOORD LIVE SHOWS

Bruce Soord & Jon Sykes/ Tim Bowness (co-headliner)
Sun 24 May | Liverpool | Philharmonic Music Room
Fri 29 May | Bath | Bath Fringe Festival at Rondo Theatre
Sat 20 June | London | The 100 Club

Bruce Soord
3 June – Backstage by the Mill, Paris - France
4 June – Boederij, Zoetermeer - NL
5/6 June - Ankea Festival - Tampere, Finland

Ghosts In The Park will be released on 15^th May on Kscope. Pre-order here.
https://brucesoord.lnk.to/Ghosts_In_The_Park

Bruce Soord online:
Facebook, twitter & Instagram: @bsoord

The Pineapple Thief online:
Website: www.thepineapplethief.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepineapplethief
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pineapplethief
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepineapplethief
Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/artist/4lrBMUSk8PiNnCEZfsmPAk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE6401DB011BD837E
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/the-pineapple-thief/id278648772

Hi-res images available here: www.kscopemusic.com/media/brucesoord

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

90’s Rock Band Nuclear Valdez To Release Expanded Double CD of "Present from the Past" April 10

Nuclear Valdez announces the release of a newly remastered and expanded edition of their album Present from the Past on April 10, 2026. Originally released on vinyl in 2017, this enhanced, 25-song follow-up includes 14 new, previously unreleased demos from the Nuclear Valdez archives. They’ve been beautifully remastered to benefit from the CD listening experience.

The Digipak also includes an 8-page booklet featuring photos from the past, and a tribute to their friend and manager, John Tovar, who was instrumental in their signing with Epic and the national success of bands including The Mavericks and Marilyn Manson, among others.

Artist Biography:
Nuclear Valdez is an all-Hispanic band formed in Miami in 1985. Vocalist Fro Sosa is Dominican; bassist Juan Diaz, guitarist Jorge Barcala, and drummer Robert Slade LeMont are Cuban. The band quickly became a prominent force in the local music scene, which garnered them a record deal with Epic. Their manager, John Tovar, had the band back Raul Malo on live shows when he was creating The Mavericks. Fro played the keyboard hook and Jorge played the guitar solo on Exposé’s “Point of No Return” (1987), and Fro also played the keyboard hook on Pet Shop Boys’ “Domino Dancing” (1988).

Nuclear Valdez gained national attention with their 1989 debut album, I Am I. They also got noticed for their performance on MTV Unplugged with The Alarm. Their second release, Dream Another Dream, expanded their audience with the single “Shelter.” Following a hiatus, the band returned in 2002 with their third studio album, In a Minute All Could Change, marking a shift toward a heavier, grunge-influenced sound.  In 2017, Present from the Past arrived with 8 remastered songs on vinyl leading to the complete 25 song “Deluxe” release in 2026.

DISC ONE
The Vinyl:
1. Give Up on You*  4:05
2. Trapped In Time**       5:04
3. Queen  4:43
4. A Tear for a Smile  3:38
5. Nineteen  6:40
6. Come Inside*  4:54
7. Rose-Colored Glasses  4:19
8. Dead Siobhan  3:57
Bonus from 2017 LIVE:
9. Summer - Live  4:57
10. Hope - Live  4:52
11. Run Through the Fields - Live  4:45

DISC TWO
Bonus Demos:
1. Depending on You*  3:43
2. Forgotten Yellow Cowboy  4:32
3. Running Red Lights  5:44
4. I Found Out**  3:18
5. Candle  5:49
6. The Boy Within*  4:56
7. Memories and Desire  3:00
8. Out of My Head  4:19
9. A Simple Light*  6:19
10. Open Your Eyes*  5:00
11. Chances*  3:44
12. Mad About You  5:35
13. Midsummer Nights*  2:21
14. Listen*  3:57

All songs written by Nuclear Valdez except (*) written by Fro Sosa and
(**) by Fro Sosa and Juan Diaz.

Personnel:
FRO SOSA - Vocals, Guitars
JUAN DIAZ - Bass, Vocals
JORGE BARCALA - Guitars, Vocals
ROBERT SLADE LEMONT - Drums, Vocals

Order Present from the Past: https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/762184628226

For more information:
https://NuclearValdez.com
https://facebook.com/nuclearvaldez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Valdez

Contact:
Sinical Records, LLC
Roland Alvarez 305-505-3310
roland@sinicalrecords.com

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

Instrumental Rock Review: The KBK - Human Sounds Vol II

Release Date: March 6, 2026

Label: KBK Records

Website

Spanning many decades and an infinite number of timelines, The KBK is most known for delivering their Apocalyptic Testament since 2005. That statement is part of their introduction on their Bandcamp page. Based on that, I would expect to hear some highly energetic music on Human Sounds Vol II!

“CQ 02:15” opens with a message to the masses as the drums kick in and electronic sounds fill the air; the dialogue continues as the epic soundtrack builds in intensity. The guitar is the leader, with the bass and drums following in purposeful unison. This is technically sound and a dramatic start.

“Giallo, Rosso, Blu” continues with the force of this band’s power reaching high points. I am reminded of the legendary sound of Man or Astro-man?. This is very complex and layered with synths, drums, bass, and wailing guitar lines. It feels like going to the cinema and watching an epic scene in Dolby 7.0 surround sound.

“Transmission Statement” continues the strong momentum as the surf instro influence makes its first appearance. The dialogue of transmissions is heard, then, for the first time, some vocals. This rocks, and they have not let up since the opening note of the first track. This one cranks with all the elements I love to hear, like rock, surf, and just flat-out non-stop energy.

“S.I.B” starts with a sci-fi flair from the synth, then gradually builds as the drums set the pace. The lyrics and vocal style mirror those of the track’s creator, DEVO.  The acronym stands for Swelling Itchy Brain. A very strange track! I like that they are talented enough to step entirely away from their usual sound and cover this with a nod to the originators.

“SK” clocks in at 10 minutes and 1 second.  So, get ready for a ride! It begins with steady, repetitive sounds of whooshing air, what could be a wave, a tapping, and a synth that sounds like it’s sending Morse code. It’s like a drone, and you are wondering in which direction all of this is going to go, and I must be honest, I don’t like this at all. It intensifies in tempo and sound, but there is not much variation. Up to this point, I thought the album was good, but I just didn’t get this and found it quite annoying. After 8 minutes, I had to turn it off.

Human Sounds Vol II stands out as one of the most unique and diverse releases I’ve encountered this year. The opening trio of tracks is outstanding, packed with energy and creativity, while the fourth and fifth tracks didn’t resonate with me as much. Although there’s a brief surf-influenced segment on the second track, the album is largely instrumental rock, showcasing the band’s willingness to experiment.

Approaching this release with an open mind is essential, as it caters to listeners with eclectic tastes who appreciate musical exploration. As this EP serves as a preview for an upcoming full-length album, I’m genuinely curious to see how the band further develops their sound.

Credits:

Chris Eagle - Keys, Vocals

Noah Holt - Guitar, Keys, Vocals

Josh Jackson - Drums, Vocals

Erek Smith - Bass, Vocals

Produced by The KBK and Breihan Dryden

Mixed and Mastered by Breihan Dryden

Artwork by John Derek Simmons

All Songs by The KBK except S.I.B by Mark Mothersbaugh

 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

March 13, 2026

Tracks:

1. CQ 02:15

2. Giallo, Rosso, Blu 03:23

3. Transmission Statement 03:58

4. S.I.B. 04:38

5. SK 10:01

FIRST TIME VINYL RELEASE OF LAURA NYRO’S STUNNING "LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO, 28TH APRIL 1994"

LIMITED EDITION CLEAR VINYL 2LP SET FOR RELEASE ON 27^TH MARCH

A rare and intimate live document from one of America’s most singular songwriting voices, Live In San Francisco, 28th April 1994 captures Laura Nyro in spellbinding form during a late-career performance at the New Orleans Room, Fairmont Hotel. Recorded just three years before her passing, this show finds Nyro revisiting her extraordinary catalogue with warmth and conviction, exuding her indelible soulful nature.

Pressed for the first time ever on vinyl, this limited edition clear 2LP presents a beautifully curated set spanning early classics, fan favourites, and deeply personal later works. Stripped back and heartfelt, Nyro’s piano-led performances are enhanced by subtle backing vocals, the power of her songwriting and voice shining through.

“She wrote songs that had no kind of fixed compass point. They remain as unique and absolutely spellbinding to this day as when I first heard them in the ‘60s.”

Elton John, 2024

PRE-ORDER LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO, 28^TH APRIL 1994 LIMITED EDITION CLEAR VINYL: https://lauranyro.lnk.to/Live_In_SF_94_2LP

Highlights include moving renditions of “Dedicated To The One I Love,” “Save The Country,” “And When I Die,” “Emmie,” and “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle,” alongside lesser-heard gems.

During the singer/songwriter movement in the late '60s and early '70s, Laura Nyro was one of the most celebrated tunesmiths of her day. Nyro was just 18 years old when she signed her first recording contract and wrote the songs for which she is likely to be best remembered. By the time she was 22, she had become one of the most successful composers in American popular music. She wrote wonderfully expressive and poetic songs that took the folky introspection of her peers and infused it with elements of soul, R&B, jazz, and gospel, giving them an emotional heat that set her apart.

This 2LP edition of Live In San Francisco, 28th April 1994 is available on vinyl for the first time and is pressed on limited edition clear vinyl.

DOWNLOAD PRESS SHOTS AND ARTWORK HERE: https://madfishmusic.com/media/lauranyro/

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

Hans Annellsson Releases New Cover of Frank Zappa’s “Sinister Footwear”

Hans Annellsson, one part of the prog duo The Vegetarians, has recorded a complete cover version of Frank Zappa's orchestral composition Sinister Footwear. This new version has been arranged for keyboards, bass, drums, guitar, violin, woodwinds & mallets. This recording was produced and performed by Hans Annellsson with Andreas Hagman (violin) & Viktor Enebjörn (drums). The new recording released on March 1, 2026 on Bandcamp, and is available as a digital download or as a numbered limited edition CD.

The complete version of Sinister Footwear, which had its world premiere at Zellerbach Auditorium, Berkeley, California on June 15, 1984, has never been officially released by Frank Zappa.

Most of the instruments on this new version were recorded in Annellssongs studio during the second half of 2025. The drums were recorded by Viktor Enebjörn in his studio, and the violin was recorded at Studio Loftet, Malmö, Sweden by Janne Brovall. The mixing and mastering was also done at Studio Loftet by Hans Annellsson & Janne Brovall.

The story of the music:

00:00 JAKE, WHO DESIGNS IT
01:06 SOMEPLACE IN NEW JERSEY WHERE THEY MAKE THEM
02:55 ILLEGAL ALIENS ON A LUNCHBREAK
03:35 AT THE CATERING TRUCK
04:15 JAKE EATS A MOLDED JELLO SALAD
05:16 JAKE'S SECRETARY
05:55 ILLEGAL ALIENS WORK SLOWER IN THE AFTERNOON
06:06 JAKE'S SECRETARY READS HER MAGAZINE
06:22 ILLEGAL ALIENS WANT TO GO HOME
06:30 JAKE'S SECRETARY EATS COTTAGE CHEESE
06:41 UGLY SHOES ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE
07:51 WHAT YOU THINK YOU LOOK LIKE WHILE YOU'RE
WEARING THEM
09:11 SOMETIMES THEY MAKE YOU WALK FUNNY
09:48 OTHER PEOPLE PRETEND NOT TO NOTICE
12:08 SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM OFF FOR A MINUTE
12:28 THEN YOU PUT THEM BACK ON BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY LOOK SO GOOD ON YOU
13:18 CHILDREN CAN ALSO HAVE UGLY SHOES
15:03 THE FOOT DOCTOR SAYS YOU MIGHT NEED AN OPERATION
15:30 BUT YOU'RE GONNA WEAR THEM ANYWAY
16:04 VARIOUS NEW POSTURES
16:42 EVERYBODY HAS A PAIR SOMEWHERE
18:19 A PLACE YOU CAN GO WHEN YOU GOT THEM ON

Hans Annellsson

Musician/Composer from Sweden. One part of the Swedish-American Prog duo The Vegetarians with John Tabacco. Has released music on his label Annellssongs since 1989. Has his own studio where the majority of the music is recorded. Got permission from Frank Zappa to release one of Frank’s compositions in Swedish, Penisens Storlek, (Penis Dimension) 1993. Performed with The Vegetarians at the Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberman, Germany in 2011. Has worked with Morgan Ågren & Mats Öberg (Mats&Morgan Band), Gustaf Hielm (Meshugga), Napoleon Murphy Brock (Frank Zappa & George Duke) & John Tabacco.

Andreas Hagman

Violinist from Sweden with an interest in contemporary & avant-garde music. A member of the Opera Orchestra in Malmö, Sweden.

Viktor Enebjörn

Freelancing drummer from Sweden. Also supporting himself as a drum teacher.

To purchase digitally or on CD: https://hansannellsson.bandcamp.com/album/sinister-footwear

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