Prog Duo Middlesong Release New EP “Directions” Feat. YES Legend Billy Sherwood

Buffalo, NY - Prog duo Middlesong has release a new three-song EP titled “Directions” featuring YES legend Billy Sherwood. With Joe Schneider (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Phil Tomczak (keyboards, guitars), Middlesong has heavy Prog and Classic Rock influence, along with hints of Folk, Pop and Americana. Middlesong's eclectic sources produce a universal sound that musicians and non-musicians will appreciate!

The three new tracks (“Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn)”, “See This Through”, “Rain to Sun”) were started at Middlesong Studios in Hamburg NY, followed by mixing and production by Billy Sherwood at his studio in California. Billy, who plays bass, drums, keyboards, guitar on the tracks, is a renowned producer, musician and performer, and is currently the bass player for the progressive rock band YES. Billy has worked as producer and engineer for countless artists in the rock and progressive rock genres. His musicianship and talent is respected world-wide.

“It was great fun working on the music with the guys, I'm very proud to have been a part of it all and very much looking forward to having it now get out there for everyone to hear and enjoy.”- Billy Sherwood

Says Phil and Joe, “We both love to write music. We were surprised and very pleased by the way the songs evolved. Never having worked together previously as songwriters, we soon found that the music seemed to write itself, and took off into directions all their own (which led us to the title for the EP). Nothing was off the table. We allowed all of our influences to enter into the songwriting process. Billy Sherwood was then able to polish and bring the songs to life while preserving our original tunes.”

For all three songs in the EP, Joe and Phil wanted to write songs with a solid musical structure, but take some chances along the way. Most of their songwriting begins with a nylon and steel string guitar, developing a musical theme, and taking shape from there (the “Middlesong Method”).

“In particular, with 'Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn)', we explored the key of D minor, while providing the listeners with different styles within the same song – a classic Prog offering. Each section of the song represents a stage of one’s life; chasing the musical dream; wrestling with the muse.

“With 'See This Through', our intent was to write a song that everybody could relate to, tapping their foot along the way. A fun part of the song for us was setting the scene for an old Western saloon in the bridge and lead section – providing a change from the main structure of the song, and a bit of an unexpected adventure. The theme of the song itself is one of perseverance, and speaks to both the whole of humanity, as well as to the individual.”

“Rain to Sun” is a great example of the “Middlesong Method”. The song came together quickly, with an instrumental lead melody written by Joe, and an initial arrangement of strings and choir voices written by Phil. In this song (as well as in “Direction in D Minor”), they left plenty of room for producer and performer Billy Sherwood. “In 'Rain to Sun', we were thrilled by his meandering bass line that complimented the dual guitar tracks. Billy precisely interpreted and felt the pulse of all of our songs with his bass and percussion.”

Joe Schneider and Phil Tomczak formed Middlesong in 2015. It didn't take long to realize the synergy and soul of their collaborative songwriting! Joe is a veteran of the performance stage. Augmented by his guitar playing, Joe's vocals soar with clarity, smoothness of texture, and deep feeling. Joe finds inspiration from singer-songwriters such as Lennon-McCartney, Tom Petty and Billy Joel. He has great, natural instincts for melody and harmony, and a gift for writing lyrics that touch our souls in just the right place. Phil's love for music stems from the piano, influenced by the likes of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson. His versatility extends to the guitar, which plays a significant role in Middlesong's songwriting and distinctive sound. Phil's musicianship evokes imagery and will carry you along on the clear road ahead, or sweep you off into a surprising new direction.

As well as Billy Sherwood, Middlesong has worked with renowned mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum. The duo are currently in the studio writing and arranging the remaining tracks to fill out the complete, debut album to be released sometime in 2017.

In closing Phil and Joe have this to impart, “We appreciate your listening and at the purest level, we hope you enjoy our music!”

OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.middlesong.com
Email Contact: middlesong@middlesong.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middlesong/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/middlesong
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong

To purchase:
CDBaby (main links for purchasing):
Full “Directions” EP and Individual Song Download: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong4
See This Through: http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong2
Rain to Sun: http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong
Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn): http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong3

SoundCloud:
See This Through:



Rain to Sun:


Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn):


ReverbNation:
See This Through: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150274-see-this-through
Rain to Sun: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150292-rain-to-sun
Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn): https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150294-directions-in-d-minor-make-sure

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

Prog Duo Middlesong Release New EP “Directions” Feat. YES Legend Billy Sherwood

Buffalo, NY - Prog duo Middlesong has release a new three-song EP titled “Directions” featuring YES legend Billy Sherwood. With Joe Schneider (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Phil Tomczak (keyboards, guitars), Middlesong has heavy Prog and Classic Rock influence, along with hints of Folk, Pop and Americana. Middlesong's eclectic sources produce a universal sound that musicians and non-musicians will appreciate!

The three new tracks (“Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn)”, “See This Through”, “Rain to Sun”) were started at Middlesong Studios in Hamburg NY, followed by mixing and production by Billy Sherwood at his studio in California. Billy, who plays bass, drums, keyboards, guitar on the tracks, is a renowned producer, musician and performer, and is currently the bass player for the progressive rock band YES. Billy has worked as producer and engineer for countless artists in the rock and progressive rock genres. His musicianship and talent is respected world-wide.

“It was great fun working on the music with the guys, I'm very proud to have been a part of it all and very much looking forward to having it now get out there for everyone to hear and enjoy.”- Billy Sherwood

Says Phil and Joe, “We both love to write music. We were surprised and very pleased by the way the songs evolved. Never having worked together previously as songwriters, we soon found that the music seemed to write itself, and took off into directions all their own (which led us to the title for the EP). Nothing was off the table. We allowed all of our influences to enter into the songwriting process. Billy Sherwood was then able to polish and bring the songs to life while preserving our original tunes.”

For all three songs in the EP, Joe and Phil wanted to write songs with a solid musical structure, but take some chances along the way. Most of their songwriting begins with a nylon and steel string guitar, developing a musical theme, and taking shape from there (the “Middlesong Method”).

“In particular, with 'Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn)', we explored the key of D minor, while providing the listeners with different styles within the same song – a classic Prog offering. Each section of the song represents a stage of one’s life; chasing the musical dream; wrestling with the muse.

“With 'See This Through', our intent was to write a song that everybody could relate to, tapping their foot along the way. A fun part of the song for us was setting the scene for an old Western saloon in the bridge and lead section – providing a change from the main structure of the song, and a bit of an unexpected adventure. The theme of the song itself is one of perseverance, and speaks to both the whole of humanity, as well as to the individual.”

“Rain to Sun” is a great example of the “Middlesong Method”. The song came together quickly, with an instrumental lead melody written by Joe, and an initial arrangement of strings and choir voices written by Phil. In this song (as well as in “Direction in D Minor”), they left plenty of room for producer and performer Billy Sherwood. “In 'Rain to Sun', we were thrilled by his meandering bass line that complimented the dual guitar tracks. Billy precisely interpreted and felt the pulse of all of our songs with his bass and percussion.”

Joe Schneider and Phil Tomczak formed Middlesong in 2015. It didn't take long to realize the synergy and soul of their collaborative songwriting! Joe is a veteran of the performance stage. Augmented by his guitar playing, Joe's vocals soar with clarity, smoothness of texture, and deep feeling. Joe finds inspiration from singer-songwriters such as Lennon-McCartney, Tom Petty and Billy Joel. He has great, natural instincts for melody and harmony, and a gift for writing lyrics that touch our souls in just the right place. Phil's love for music stems from the piano, influenced by the likes of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson. His versatility extends to the guitar, which plays a significant role in Middlesong's songwriting and distinctive sound. Phil's musicianship evokes imagery and will carry you along on the clear road ahead, or sweep you off into a surprising new direction.

As well as Billy Sherwood, Middlesong has worked with renowned mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum. The duo are currently in the studio writing and arranging the remaining tracks to fill out the complete, debut album to be released sometime in 2017.

In closing Phil and Joe have this to impart, “We appreciate your listening and at the purest level, we hope you enjoy our music!”

OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.middlesong.com
Email Contact: middlesong@middlesong.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middlesong/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/middlesong
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong

To purchase:
CDBaby (main links for purchasing):
Full “Directions” EP and Individual Song Download: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong4
See This Through: http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong2
Rain to Sun: http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong
Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn): http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong3

SoundCloud:
See This Through:



Rain to Sun:


Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn):


ReverbNation:
See This Through: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150274-see-this-through
Rain to Sun: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150292-rain-to-sun
Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn): https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150294-directions-in-d-minor-make-sure

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

Prog Duo Middlesong Release New EP “Directions” Feat. YES Legend Billy Sherwood

Buffalo, NY - Prog duo Middlesong has release a new three-song EP titled “Directions” featuring YES legend Billy Sherwood. With Joe Schneider (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Phil Tomczak (keyboards, guitars), Middlesong has heavy Prog and Classic Rock influence, along with hints of Folk, Pop and Americana. Middlesong's eclectic sources produce a universal sound that musicians and non-musicians will appreciate!

The three new tracks (“Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn)”, “See This Through”, “Rain to Sun”) were started at Middlesong Studios in Hamburg NY, followed by mixing and production by Billy Sherwood at his studio in California. Billy, who plays bass, drums, keyboards, guitar on the tracks, is a renowned producer, musician and performer, and is currently the bass player for the progressive rock band YES. Billy has worked as producer and engineer for countless artists in the rock and progressive rock genres. His musicianship and talent is respected world-wide.

“It was great fun working on the music with the guys, I'm very proud to have been a part of it all and very much looking forward to having it now get out there for everyone to hear and enjoy.”- Billy Sherwood

Says Phil and Joe, “We both love to write music. We were surprised and very pleased by the way the songs evolved. Never having worked together previously as songwriters, we soon found that the music seemed to write itself, and took off into directions all their own (which led us to the title for the EP). Nothing was off the table. We allowed all of our influences to enter into the songwriting process. Billy Sherwood was then able to polish and bring the songs to life while preserving our original tunes.”

For all three songs in the EP, Joe and Phil wanted to write songs with a solid musical structure, but take some chances along the way. Most of their songwriting begins with a nylon and steel string guitar, developing a musical theme, and taking shape from there (the “Middlesong Method”).

“In particular, with 'Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn)', we explored the key of D minor, while providing the listeners with different styles within the same song – a classic Prog offering. Each section of the song represents a stage of one’s life; chasing the musical dream; wrestling with the muse.

“With 'See This Through', our intent was to write a song that everybody could relate to, tapping their foot along the way. A fun part of the song for us was setting the scene for an old Western saloon in the bridge and lead section – providing a change from the main structure of the song, and a bit of an unexpected adventure. The theme of the song itself is one of perseverance, and speaks to both the whole of humanity, as well as to the individual.”

“Rain to Sun” is a great example of the “Middlesong Method”. The song came together quickly, with an instrumental lead melody written by Joe, and an initial arrangement of strings and choir voices written by Phil. In this song (as well as in “Direction in D Minor”), they left plenty of room for producer and performer Billy Sherwood. “In 'Rain to Sun', we were thrilled by his meandering bass line that complimented the dual guitar tracks. Billy precisely interpreted and felt the pulse of all of our songs with his bass and percussion.”

Joe Schneider and Phil Tomczak formed Middlesong in 2015. It didn't take long to realize the synergy and soul of their collaborative songwriting! Joe is a veteran of the performance stage. Augmented by his guitar playing, Joe's vocals soar with clarity, smoothness of texture, and deep feeling. Joe finds inspiration from singer-songwriters such as Lennon-McCartney, Tom Petty and Billy Joel. He has great, natural instincts for melody and harmony, and a gift for writing lyrics that touch our souls in just the right place. Phil's love for music stems from the piano, influenced by the likes of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson. His versatility extends to the guitar, which plays a significant role in Middlesong's songwriting and distinctive sound. Phil's musicianship evokes imagery and will carry you along on the clear road ahead, or sweep you off into a surprising new direction.

As well as Billy Sherwood, Middlesong has worked with renowned mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum. The duo are currently in the studio writing and arranging the remaining tracks to fill out the complete, debut album to be released sometime in 2017.

In closing Phil and Joe have this to impart, “We appreciate your listening and at the purest level, we hope you enjoy our music!”

OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.middlesong.com
Email Contact: middlesong@middlesong.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middlesong/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/middlesong
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong

To purchase:
CDBaby (main links for purchasing):
Full “Directions” EP and Individual Song Download: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong4
See This Through: http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong2
Rain to Sun: http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong
Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn): http://cdbaby.com/cd/middlesong3

SoundCloud:
See This Through:



Rain to Sun:


Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn):


ReverbNation:
See This Through: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150274-see-this-through
Rain to Sun: https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150292-rain-to-sun
Directions in D Minor (Make Sure That You Learn): https://www.reverbnation.com/middlesong/song/26150294-directions-in-d-minor-make-sure

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

Prog Keyboardist/Composer Leon Alvarado To Release New Concept Album “The Future Left Behind” Feat. YES Legends Rick Wakeman & Billy Sherwood!

Houston, TX – Hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed third album “2014, Music from an Expanded Universe”, keyboardist/composer Leon Alvarado will be releasing his new album “The Future Left Behind” on July 30, 2016! The highly anticipated new concept album features guest appearances by YES Legends Rick Wakeman & Billy Sherwood, as well as Johnny Bruhn (CIRCA:) and Steve Thamer.

According to Leon, “The idea of creating a concept album out of instrumental progressive rock music had appealed to me ever since I first heard Rick Wakeman's 'Journey To The Centre of The Earth'. What I found difficult was to create all the individual pieces that would unify the set of ideas into a single concept. It meant for me to come up with a story, some music and a set of visuals that together would form an inclusive experience. I started by working on music that had more of a cinematic feel than my usual, meaning that when played, it evokes certain imagery in the listener's mind.”

Says Leon, “My goal was to create something that would combine the artwork and the music into one cohesive vision. I thought that basing my project on a sci-fi story would be very fitting and would give me the necessary creative space to make music that entices the imagination, like what Vangelis', Rick Wakeman's and YES' music do for me.”

Billy Sherwood had this to say about his participation on the album, “It was my pleasure to be a part of Leon's new record… I had a blast working on it and I'm sure fans of great music are going to enjoy this new record!”

Leon's first album, “Plays Genesis and Other Original Stuff,” drew on his strongest musical influences, primarily, the many styles in Genesis's lengthy career. By the time Leon released his second album, “Strangers in Strange Places,” he had refined his method and his vision, and it's the audience who wins. “Strangers” features Brand X's John Goodsall on guitar and the legendary drummer Bill Bruford (YES, King Crimson, Earthwork) and reveals an intertwining of progressive rock and ambient textural sound that blossoms in, “2014, Music from an Expanded Universe”. For this third release, he enlisted the talents of Trey Gunn (King Crimson) and Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oats).

And now, much to the excitement of Prog fans worldwide, Leon is set to release his latest masterpiece, “The Future Left Behind.” In regards to the guest performers, Leon explains, “To help the story along and properly set the pieces of music we recorded some narrated bits. I wanted a voice with a large presence. A deep resonating voice that more or less commands to be heard. Steve Thamer is a Canadian voice-over talent who majored in Classical Theatre and has work doing voice-overs for audio books, films and animated shorts.

“As for Billy Sherwood, I envisioned his involvement in the project from the outset. He played a big part in the recording and helped me in elevating the music as a whole. Billy is very down to earth and has to be one of the hardest working musicians I have ever met. He is also extremely proficient and doesn't waste any time when it comes to getting things down musically.

“During one of my visits to California I went to see Billy's other band CIRCA:. The guitar player was Johnny Bruhn. I've seen many people perform YES music before but Johnny's guitar playing captured the feel of it so well that it left an impression on me. When this album was conceived, I knew I would have a place for him.

“I have the greatest respect for all the people involved in the project. I must admit that when it came to working with Rick Wakeman, I was a bit nervous at first. But in the end, it was one of those 'pinch me' moments that worked brilliantly. It's not everyday that you have one of your musical heroes performing on a piece you composed.

“The last person to touch the material was Andy Jackson. This is my third project working with him and I couldn't be happier about it. Andy is better known as Pink Floyd's engineer of 30 years and his work has been nominated twice for Grammys. He won two British Hi-Fi Awards for his work with Pink Floyd and was a co-producer for 'The Endless River' album. What I really like about Andy's work is his personal taste for sound. To me he is truly a magician at the controls.”

For the fans, although also available as a digital download, the CD version of the album has the most to offer. Leon envisioned the album to be something more than just a set of musical pieces. Instead, he immerses the listener in the world he has conceived through music, story and imagery, and allows their own imagination to fill in the details, creating a very personalized experience for each. “It is the most ambitious album I have created so far. 'The Future Left Behind' speaks to those who like Science-fiction stories and futuristic artwork. Like many of my projects, my approach is always to create something that I would want to see.”

Tracks:

1. PREFACE 1:16
2. LAUNCH OVERTURE 6:10
3. A VOYAGE… 0:49
4. JOURNEY INTO SPACE 2:39
5. WEIGHTLESS 2:24
6. HARD CHOICES 0:50
7. THE ONES LEFT BEHIND 6:14
8. LIFE IN THE OUTSIDE 0:55
9. AMONG THE STARS 6:06
10. MUCH ADO ABOUT… 0:36
11. IN OUR QUIET ORBIT 6:36
12. TO BE LOVED 2:43
13. A SILVER LINING 0:39
14. THE STAR SEEKERS 3:28

Leon Alvarado: Keyboards, sequencing, drums, percussion, launch control voices
Billy Sherwood: Lead and rhythm guitars on all except for “To Be Loved”
Rick Wakeman: Moog solo on “Launch Overture” and extra keyboards
Johnny Bruhns: Acoustic guitar on “To Be Loved”
Steve Thamer: Narration

Produced and mixed by: Leon Alvarado
Guitar tracks produced by: Billy Sherwood
Mastered by: Andy Jackson / Tube Mastering
All songs by Leon Alvarado
except “To Be Loved” by Johnny Bruhns and Leon Alvarado
Based on “The Future Left Behind”, an original short story by Leon Alvarado
Design and Illustrations: Synergy Design / LA

To purchase:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/leonalvarado5
http://mrrmusic.com/leon-alvarado/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leon-alvarado/id304356695

For more information:
www.melodicrevolution.com
www.leonplaysmusic.com

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

Prog Keyboardist/Composer Leon Alvarado To Release New Concept Album “The Future Left Behind” Feat. YES Legends Rick Wakeman & Billy Sherwood!

Houston, TX – Hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed third album “2014, Music from an Expanded Universe”, keyboardist/composer Leon Alvarado will be releasing his new album “The Future Left Behind” on July 30, 2016! The highly anticipated new concept album features guest appearances by YES Legends Rick Wakeman & Billy Sherwood, as well as Johnny Bruhn (CIRCA:) and Steve Thamer.

According to Leon, “The idea of creating a concept album out of instrumental progressive rock music had appealed to me ever since I first heard Rick Wakeman's 'Journey To The Centre of The Earth'. What I found difficult was to create all the individual pieces that would unify the set of ideas into a single concept. It meant for me to come up with a story, some music and a set of visuals that together would form an inclusive experience. I started by working on music that had more of a cinematic feel than my usual, meaning that when played, it evokes certain imagery in the listener's mind.”

Says Leon, “My goal was to create something that would combine the artwork and the music into one cohesive vision. I thought that basing my project on a sci-fi story would be very fitting and would give me the necessary creative space to make music that entices the imagination, like what Vangelis', Rick Wakeman's and YES' music do for me.”

Billy Sherwood had this to say about his participation on the album, “It was my pleasure to be a part of Leon's new record… I had a blast working on it and I'm sure fans of great music are going to enjoy this new record!”

Leon's first album, “Plays Genesis and Other Original Stuff,” drew on his strongest musical influences, primarily, the many styles in Genesis's lengthy career. By the time Leon released his second album, “Strangers in Strange Places,” he had refined his method and his vision, and it's the audience who wins. “Strangers” features Brand X's John Goodsall on guitar and the legendary drummer Bill Bruford (YES, King Crimson, Earthwork) and reveals an intertwining of progressive rock and ambient textural sound that blossoms in, “2014, Music from an Expanded Universe”. For this third release, he enlisted the talents of Trey Gunn (King Crimson) and Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oats).

And now, much to the excitement of Prog fans worldwide, Leon is set to release his latest masterpiece, “The Future Left Behind.” In regards to the guest performers, Leon explains, “To help the story along and properly set the pieces of music we recorded some narrated bits. I wanted a voice with a large presence. A deep resonating voice that more or less commands to be heard. Steve Thamer is a Canadian voice-over talent who majored in Classical Theatre and has work doing voice-overs for audio books, films and animated shorts.

“As for Billy Sherwood, I envisioned his involvement in the project from the outset. He played a big part in the recording and helped me in elevating the music as a whole. Billy is very down to earth and has to be one of the hardest working musicians I have ever met. He is also extremely proficient and doesn't waste any time when it comes to getting things down musically.

“During one of my visits to California I went to see Billy's other band CIRCA:. The guitar player was Johnny Bruhn. I've seen many people perform YES music before but Johnny's guitar playing captured the feel of it so well that it left an impression on me. When this album was conceived, I knew I would have a place for him.

“I have the greatest respect for all the people involved in the project. I must admit that when it came to working with Rick Wakeman, I was a bit nervous at first. But in the end, it was one of those 'pinch me' moments that worked brilliantly. It's not everyday that you have one of your musical heroes performing on a piece you composed.

“The last person to touch the material was Andy Jackson. This is my third project working with him and I couldn't be happier about it. Andy is better known as Pink Floyd's engineer of 30 years and his work has been nominated twice for Grammys. He won two British Hi-Fi Awards for his work with Pink Floyd and was a co-producer for 'The Endless River' album. What I really like about Andy's work is his personal taste for sound. To me he is truly a magician at the controls.”

For the fans, although also available as a digital download, the CD version of the album has the most to offer. Leon envisioned the album to be something more than just a set of musical pieces. Instead, he immerses the listener in the world he has conceived through music, story and imagery, and allows their own imagination to fill in the details, creating a very personalized experience for each. “It is the most ambitious album I have created so far. 'The Future Left Behind' speaks to those who like Science-fiction stories and futuristic artwork. Like many of my projects, my approach is always to create something that I would want to see.”

Tracks:

1. PREFACE 1:16
2. LAUNCH OVERTURE 6:10
3. A VOYAGE… 0:49
4. JOURNEY INTO SPACE 2:39
5. WEIGHTLESS 2:24
6. HARD CHOICES 0:50
7. THE ONES LEFT BEHIND 6:14
8. LIFE IN THE OUTSIDE 0:55
9. AMONG THE STARS 6:06
10. MUCH ADO ABOUT… 0:36
11. IN OUR QUIET ORBIT 6:36
12. TO BE LOVED 2:43
13. A SILVER LINING 0:39
14. THE STAR SEEKERS 3:28

Leon Alvarado: Keyboards, sequencing, drums, percussion, launch control voices
Billy Sherwood: Lead and rhythm guitars on all except for “To Be Loved”
Rick Wakeman: Moog solo on “Launch Overture” and extra keyboards
Johnny Bruhns: Acoustic guitar on “To Be Loved”
Steve Thamer: Narration

Produced and mixed by: Leon Alvarado
Guitar tracks produced by: Billy Sherwood
Mastered by: Andy Jackson / Tube Mastering
All songs by Leon Alvarado
except “To Be Loved” by Johnny Bruhns and Leon Alvarado
Based on “The Future Left Behind”, an original short story by Leon Alvarado
Design and Illustrations: Synergy Design / LA

To purchase:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/leonalvarado5
http://mrrmusic.com/leon-alvarado/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/leon-alvarado/id304356695

For more information:
www.melodicrevolution.com
www.leonplaysmusic.com

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

YES Legends Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye's “Live In Japan” 2CD/1DVD OUT NOW!

London, UK - BILLY SHERWOOD is the current bass player in the band YES and will be touring with the band throughout 2016. TONY KAYE was an original founder member of YES and re-joined the band for the hugely successful 90125 era, which produced the hit OWNER OF A LONELY HEART. “Live in Japan” sees the duo performing songs from their careers including a generous number of YES hits!

The album is OUT NOW worldwide through all good retailers, including Amazon and iTunes, however for anyone purchasing directly from Cherry Red EACH ORDER COMES WITH A LIMITED EDITION HAND-SIGNED POSTCARD!  http://shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=5339

“Really looking forward to the release of our CD/DVD! It was very special for us to go to Japan and play these songs. We're both very excited to now be able to share the experience with everyone!” - Billy Sherwood

Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye's “Live In Japan” 2CD / 1DVD release will be eagerly greeted by YES fans especially in light on Sherwood’s recent return to the band in mid-2015!

DISC ONE

1. CONFESS
2. TOGETHER WE ARE
3. CUT THE TIES
4. TIME AND A WORD
5. I COULD
6. RED LIGHT AHEAD
7. FIREWORKS
8. YOUR MOVE
9. OWNER OF A LONELY HEART

DISC TWO

1. I AM WAITING
2. TONY KAYE SOLO
3. THE OTHER SIDE
4. WONDROUS STORIES
5. MAN OVER BORED
6. THE MORE WE LIVE
7. NO WAY WE CAN LOSE
8. SAY GOODBYE
9. ROUNDABOUT

The DVD is NTSC Region 0 – Playable Worldwide and has the same track list as the CDs, plus behind the scenes tour clips.

To purchase:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/1wkM
Amazon Digital: http://geni.us/3CMk
iTunes: http://geni.us/3nGy

For more information:
http://www.billysherwoodhq.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tony.kaye.3

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

YES Legends Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye's “Live In Japan” 2CD/1DVD OUT NOW!

London, UK - BILLY SHERWOOD is the current bass player in the band YES and will be touring with the band throughout 2016. TONY KAYE was an original founder member of YES and re-joined the band for the hugely successful 90125 era, which produced the hit OWNER OF A LONELY HEART. “Live in Japan” sees the duo performing songs from their careers including a generous number of YES hits!

The album is OUT NOW worldwide through all good retailers, including Amazon and iTunes, however for anyone purchasing directly from Cherry Red EACH ORDER COMES WITH A LIMITED EDITION HAND-SIGNED POSTCARD!  http://shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=5339

“Really looking forward to the release of our CD/DVD! It was very special for us to go to Japan and play these songs. We're both very excited to now be able to share the experience with everyone!” - Billy Sherwood

Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye's “Live In Japan” 2CD / 1DVD release will be eagerly greeted by YES fans especially in light on Sherwood’s recent return to the band in mid-2015!

DISC ONE

1. CONFESS
2. TOGETHER WE ARE
3. CUT THE TIES
4. TIME AND A WORD
5. I COULD
6. RED LIGHT AHEAD
7. FIREWORKS
8. YOUR MOVE
9. OWNER OF A LONELY HEART

DISC TWO

1. I AM WAITING
2. TONY KAYE SOLO
3. THE OTHER SIDE
4. WONDROUS STORIES
5. MAN OVER BORED
6. THE MORE WE LIVE
7. NO WAY WE CAN LOSE
8. SAY GOODBYE
9. ROUNDABOUT

The DVD is NTSC Region 0 – Playable Worldwide and has the same track list as the CDs, plus behind the scenes tour clips.

To purchase:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/1wkM
Amazon Digital: http://geni.us/3CMk
iTunes: http://geni.us/3nGy

For more information:
http://www.billysherwoodhq.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tony.kaye.3

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

Australian Prog Artist Ben Craven To Release Third Album “Last Chance To Hear” Featuring Guest Contributions By William Shatner and Billy Sherwood

“Seriously well-distilled and blended” - Van Dyke Parks

Brisbane, Australia – Australian cinematic progressive-rock singer-songwriter Ben Craven is releasing his highly anticipated third album “Last Chance To Hear”. The new release features guest contributions by YES legend Billy Sherwood and iconic actor William Shatner (yes, Capt. Kirk himself!!!). A new single titled “The Remarkable Man” is available for immediate download when pre-ordering the album. It's an imaginary theme song from a spy thriller movie franchise.

Says Ben, “ 'Last Chance To Hear' is loosely inspired by the end of the music industry as we knew it. There’s never been a time when so much new music was being made by so many people and being listened to by so few people. The concept of paying for new music is now alien to a lot of the audience. Digital downloads have made physical media virtually obsolete. Streaming services mean that anybody making new music is now competing with the whole history of recorded music. And the album format is in danger of becoming extinct. There's never been a time full of more 'opportunity' than now. So I made an album about it.

“The new album is a logical progression from my previous album, 'Great & Terrible Potions'. The arrangements are more confident and more purposeful. But probably the biggest difference is that there are fewer vocals on this new one. 'Last Chance To Hear' is more about having the confidence, and presumably the competence, to let the music do the talking.”

The obvious question is how did Ben recruit such iconic artists as William Shatner and Billy Sherwood to guest on his new album? Ben explains, “I was not my first choice to perform the vocals on 'Spy In The Sky Part 3'. I pored over the melody and the lyrics to get them just right. But when I finally ran through the completed lyrics in my head, I could only imagine a speaking voice.

“Immediately I thought 'William Shatner!' and loved the idea. Then reality kicked back in and I got on with the job of singing my own vocals. Except the idea never went away. It kept nagging and eating away at me, like all good ideas do. And here I was willing to give up my own vocal performance on the most dramatic piece of music on the album! So I had to stop ignoring it.

“I reached out to Billy Sherwood who as you know produced William Shatner's last album, the excellent 'Ponder The Mystery'. Billy would have been my first and only choice to record the session. I asked him if he thought the concept of having Shatner appear one of my songs would even be possible. Amazingly, everyone agreed, and Billy is the one who actually made it happen.

“Deep down I felt a lingering terror that the music might collapse under the weight of a William Shatner vocal performance. But I suspect Shatner realized the opposite. He played the lead vocalist role perfectly, as boldly and grandly as the music aspired to be. It is an awesome combination and he brought the track up to a new level altogether. I love it.”

Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, immersed as a toddler in the era of big prog rock, Craven taught himself guitar and keyboards and joined a series of bands. None of them made it and none of them remotely played the kind of music that had been burned into his mainframe as a kid. Nonetheless, the songs he wrote accumulated steadily. In 2005, Craven dispensed entirely with the band approach and recorded his debut album, “Two False Idols” under the name of Tunisia. The result was a work of incredible maturity, with influences ranging from Pink Floyd and Brian Wilson to the likes of Bernard Herrmann and John Barry.

Says Ben, “My usual suspect influences are Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Yes and King Crimson. But just as important are composers like Bernard Herrmann, John Barry, Henry Mancini and John Williams. I seem to blend progressive music with film soundtrack elements. I'm also a Brian Wilson tragic.”

As Craven worked his first album it became painfully obvious that the music business was in the midst of a sea change, and most of the old guard didn't seem to realize they were the cause. Very quickly he took an anti-DRM stance and released the live acoustic EP “Under Deconstruction” as a high-quality free download.

Craven stepped up a gear for his sophomore album, “Great & Terrible Potions”. Delivering on the cinematic promise of “Two False Idols”, “Potions'” went widescreen as Craven blurred the boundaries between conventional songs and orchestral soundtracks. Augmented by a stunning cover designed by legendary artist Roger Dean (Yes, Uriah Heep, Asia), “Potions” was dense, complicated and unashamedly pretentious – everything a good prog rock album should be! Or, to put it another way, Craven sounded exactly like someone reveling in the creative freedom that came only from not worrying about what others wanted, and delivering what he felt instead.

And now, much to the excitement of Prog fans worldwide, Ben is releasing his latest masterpiece “Last Chance To Hear”!

Here's what the press raved about Ben Craven's previous release:

“Heavy-duty prog rock monster” - Anil Prasad, Innerviews

“Cracking virtuoso performance by an absurdly talented individual” - Classic Rock Society

“Craven’s one-man-band production is a prog opus for the 21st century” - Musoscribe

“All the drama, thunder, strum and drang you could want the spiritual grand child of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson to bring” - Midwest Record

“Craven’s tremendous ability to combine memorable hooks with complex progressive rock and cinematic orchestral music is astounding” - Sea Of Tranquility

“Press play and this album does the rest” - Muzikreviews

In support of “Last Chance To Hear” Ben is putting together a one-man show for the album launch event in April, and hopes to develop it for further performances.

In closing Ben has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “This is a desperate time for music. The landscape is littered with album reissues, remixes, repackages and compilations. Record companies are trying to squeeze out every last cent while they still can. Some artists only put out new albums so they can tour. Others have decided that nobody wants to hear their new music so they don't bother making any. There’s so much noise out there now that it’s virtually impossible for anyone to stand out without the marketing might of a big record label. I want people to know that there are still those of us flying under the radar, the obsessives, who make music because it keeps us alive. With no realistic expectations of financial success, it's the anticipation of the next song, the one we haven't finished yet, that keeps us going!”

For more information: http://bencraven.com/

“The Remarkable Man” video: 

To purchase Ben Craven's “Last Chance To Hear”: https://bencraven.bandcamp.com/album/last-chance-to-hear

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

Australian Prog Artist Ben Craven To Release Third Album “Last Chance To Hear” Featuring Guest Contributions By William Shatner and Billy Sherwood

“Seriously well-distilled and blended” - Van Dyke Parks

Brisbane, Australia – Australian cinematic progressive-rock singer-songwriter Ben Craven is releasing his highly anticipated third album “Last Chance To Hear”. The new release features guest contributions by YES legend Billy Sherwood and iconic actor William Shatner (yes, Capt. Kirk himself!!!). A new single titled “The Remarkable Man” is available for immediate download when pre-ordering the album. It's an imaginary theme song from a spy thriller movie franchise.

Says Ben, “ 'Last Chance To Hear' is loosely inspired by the end of the music industry as we knew it. There’s never been a time when so much new music was being made by so many people and being listened to by so few people. The concept of paying for new music is now alien to a lot of the audience. Digital downloads have made physical media virtually obsolete. Streaming services mean that anybody making new music is now competing with the whole history of recorded music. And the album format is in danger of becoming extinct. There's never been a time full of more 'opportunity' than now. So I made an album about it.

“The new album is a logical progression from my previous album, 'Great & Terrible Potions'. The arrangements are more confident and more purposeful. But probably the biggest difference is that there are fewer vocals on this new one. 'Last Chance To Hear' is more about having the confidence, and presumably the competence, to let the music do the talking.”

The obvious question is how did Ben recruit such iconic artists as William Shatner and Billy Sherwood to guest on his new album? Ben explains, “I was not my first choice to perform the vocals on 'Spy In The Sky Part 3'. I pored over the melody and the lyrics to get them just right. But when I finally ran through the completed lyrics in my head, I could only imagine a speaking voice.

“Immediately I thought 'William Shatner!' and loved the idea. Then reality kicked back in and I got on with the job of singing my own vocals. Except the idea never went away. It kept nagging and eating away at me, like all good ideas do. And here I was willing to give up my own vocal performance on the most dramatic piece of music on the album! So I had to stop ignoring it.

“I reached out to Billy Sherwood who as you know produced William Shatner's last album, the excellent 'Ponder The Mystery'. Billy would have been my first and only choice to record the session. I asked him if he thought the concept of having Shatner appear one of my songs would even be possible. Amazingly, everyone agreed, and Billy is the one who actually made it happen.

“Deep down I felt a lingering terror that the music might collapse under the weight of a William Shatner vocal performance. But I suspect Shatner realized the opposite. He played the lead vocalist role perfectly, as boldly and grandly as the music aspired to be. It is an awesome combination and he brought the track up to a new level altogether. I love it.”

Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, immersed as a toddler in the era of big prog rock, Craven taught himself guitar and keyboards and joined a series of bands. None of them made it and none of them remotely played the kind of music that had been burned into his mainframe as a kid. Nonetheless, the songs he wrote accumulated steadily. In 2005, Craven dispensed entirely with the band approach and recorded his debut album, “Two False Idols” under the name of Tunisia. The result was a work of incredible maturity, with influences ranging from Pink Floyd and Brian Wilson to the likes of Bernard Herrmann and John Barry.

Says Ben, “My usual suspect influences are Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Yes and King Crimson. But just as important are composers like Bernard Herrmann, John Barry, Henry Mancini and John Williams. I seem to blend progressive music with film soundtrack elements. I'm also a Brian Wilson tragic.”

As Craven worked his first album it became painfully obvious that the music business was in the midst of a sea change, and most of the old guard didn't seem to realize they were the cause. Very quickly he took an anti-DRM stance and released the live acoustic EP “Under Deconstruction” as a high-quality free download.

Craven stepped up a gear for his sophomore album, “Great & Terrible Potions”. Delivering on the cinematic promise of “Two False Idols”, “Potions'” went widescreen as Craven blurred the boundaries between conventional songs and orchestral soundtracks. Augmented by a stunning cover designed by legendary artist Roger Dean (Yes, Uriah Heep, Asia), “Potions” was dense, complicated and unashamedly pretentious – everything a good prog rock album should be! Or, to put it another way, Craven sounded exactly like someone reveling in the creative freedom that came only from not worrying about what others wanted, and delivering what he felt instead.

And now, much to the excitement of Prog fans worldwide, Ben is releasing his latest masterpiece “Last Chance To Hear”!

Here's what the press raved about Ben Craven's previous release:

“Heavy-duty prog rock monster” - Anil Prasad, Innerviews

“Cracking virtuoso performance by an absurdly talented individual” - Classic Rock Society

“Craven’s one-man-band production is a prog opus for the 21st century” - Musoscribe

“All the drama, thunder, strum and drang you could want the spiritual grand child of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson to bring” - Midwest Record

“Craven’s tremendous ability to combine memorable hooks with complex progressive rock and cinematic orchestral music is astounding” - Sea Of Tranquility

“Press play and this album does the rest” - Muzikreviews

In support of “Last Chance To Hear” Ben is putting together a one-man show for the album launch event in April, and hopes to develop it for further performances.

In closing Ben has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “This is a desperate time for music. The landscape is littered with album reissues, remixes, repackages and compilations. Record companies are trying to squeeze out every last cent while they still can. Some artists only put out new albums so they can tour. Others have decided that nobody wants to hear their new music so they don't bother making any. There’s so much noise out there now that it’s virtually impossible for anyone to stand out without the marketing might of a big record label. I want people to know that there are still those of us flying under the radar, the obsessives, who make music because it keeps us alive. With no realistic expectations of financial success, it's the anticipation of the next song, the one we haven't finished yet, that keeps us going!”

For more information: http://bencraven.com/

“The Remarkable Man” video: 

To purchase Ben Craven's “Last Chance To Hear”: https://bencraven.bandcamp.com/album/last-chance-to-hear

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

Australian Prog Artist Ben Craven To Release Third Album “Last Chance To Hear” Featuring Guest Contributions By William Shatner and Billy Sherwood

“Seriously well-distilled and blended” - Van Dyke Parks

Brisbane, Australia – Australian cinematic progressive-rock singer-songwriter Ben Craven is releasing his highly anticipated third album “Last Chance To Hear”. The new release features guest contributions by YES legend Billy Sherwood and iconic actor William Shatner (yes, Capt. Kirk himself!!!). A new single titled “The Remarkable Man” is available for immediate download when pre-ordering the album. It's an imaginary theme song from a spy thriller movie franchise.

Says Ben, “ 'Last Chance To Hear' is loosely inspired by the end of the music industry as we knew it. There’s never been a time when so much new music was being made by so many people and being listened to by so few people. The concept of paying for new music is now alien to a lot of the audience. Digital downloads have made physical media virtually obsolete. Streaming services mean that anybody making new music is now competing with the whole history of recorded music. And the album format is in danger of becoming extinct. There's never been a time full of more 'opportunity' than now. So I made an album about it.

“The new album is a logical progression from my previous album, 'Great & Terrible Potions'. The arrangements are more confident and more purposeful. But probably the biggest difference is that there are fewer vocals on this new one. 'Last Chance To Hear' is more about having the confidence, and presumably the competence, to let the music do the talking.”

The obvious question is how did Ben recruit such iconic artists as William Shatner and Billy Sherwood to guest on his new album? Ben explains, “I was not my first choice to perform the vocals on 'Spy In The Sky Part 3'. I pored over the melody and the lyrics to get them just right. But when I finally ran through the completed lyrics in my head, I could only imagine a speaking voice.

“Immediately I thought 'William Shatner!' and loved the idea. Then reality kicked back in and I got on with the job of singing my own vocals. Except the idea never went away. It kept nagging and eating away at me, like all good ideas do. And here I was willing to give up my own vocal performance on the most dramatic piece of music on the album! So I had to stop ignoring it.

“I reached out to Billy Sherwood who as you know produced William Shatner's last album, the excellent 'Ponder The Mystery'. Billy would have been my first and only choice to record the session. I asked him if he thought the concept of having Shatner appear one of my songs would even be possible. Amazingly, everyone agreed, and Billy is the one who actually made it happen.

“Deep down I felt a lingering terror that the music might collapse under the weight of a William Shatner vocal performance. But I suspect Shatner realized the opposite. He played the lead vocalist role perfectly, as boldly and grandly as the music aspired to be. It is an awesome combination and he brought the track up to a new level altogether. I love it.”

Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, immersed as a toddler in the era of big prog rock, Craven taught himself guitar and keyboards and joined a series of bands. None of them made it and none of them remotely played the kind of music that had been burned into his mainframe as a kid. Nonetheless, the songs he wrote accumulated steadily. In 2005, Craven dispensed entirely with the band approach and recorded his debut album, “Two False Idols” under the name of Tunisia. The result was a work of incredible maturity, with influences ranging from Pink Floyd and Brian Wilson to the likes of Bernard Herrmann and John Barry.

Says Ben, “My usual suspect influences are Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Yes and King Crimson. But just as important are composers like Bernard Herrmann, John Barry, Henry Mancini and John Williams. I seem to blend progressive music with film soundtrack elements. I'm also a Brian Wilson tragic.”

As Craven worked his first album it became painfully obvious that the music business was in the midst of a sea change, and most of the old guard didn't seem to realize they were the cause. Very quickly he took an anti-DRM stance and released the live acoustic EP “Under Deconstruction” as a high-quality free download.

Craven stepped up a gear for his sophomore album, “Great & Terrible Potions”. Delivering on the cinematic promise of “Two False Idols”, “Potions'” went widescreen as Craven blurred the boundaries between conventional songs and orchestral soundtracks. Augmented by a stunning cover designed by legendary artist Roger Dean (Yes, Uriah Heep, Asia), “Potions” was dense, complicated and unashamedly pretentious – everything a good prog rock album should be! Or, to put it another way, Craven sounded exactly like someone reveling in the creative freedom that came only from not worrying about what others wanted, and delivering what he felt instead.

And now, much to the excitement of Prog fans worldwide, Ben is releasing his latest masterpiece “Last Chance To Hear”!

Here's what the press raved about Ben Craven's previous release:

“Heavy-duty prog rock monster” - Anil Prasad, Innerviews

“Cracking virtuoso performance by an absurdly talented individual” - Classic Rock Society

“Craven’s one-man-band production is a prog opus for the 21st century” - Musoscribe

“All the drama, thunder, strum and drang you could want the spiritual grand child of Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson to bring” - Midwest Record

“Craven’s tremendous ability to combine memorable hooks with complex progressive rock and cinematic orchestral music is astounding” - Sea Of Tranquility

“Press play and this album does the rest” - Muzikreviews

In support of “Last Chance To Hear” Ben is putting together a one-man show for the album launch event in April, and hopes to develop it for further performances.

In closing Ben has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “This is a desperate time for music. The landscape is littered with album reissues, remixes, repackages and compilations. Record companies are trying to squeeze out every last cent while they still can. Some artists only put out new albums so they can tour. Others have decided that nobody wants to hear their new music so they don't bother making any. There’s so much noise out there now that it’s virtually impossible for anyone to stand out without the marketing might of a big record label. I want people to know that there are still those of us flying under the radar, the obsessives, who make music because it keeps us alive. With no realistic expectations of financial success, it's the anticipation of the next song, the one we haven't finished yet, that keeps us going!”

For more information: http://bencraven.com/

“The Remarkable Man” video: 

To purchase Ben Craven's “Last Chance To Hear”: https://bencraven.bandcamp.com/album/last-chance-to-hear

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

Progressive Rock Review: Billy Sherwood-Citizen

Release Date: 6^th Nov 2015

Label: Frontiers Records

Website: www.billysherwoodhq.com

The list of areas in which Billy Sherwood is involved, is little short of staggering, as he is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, producer, engineer, mixer, solo artist, current bass player with Yes and an independent producer. He has, however, found time to record his eighth solo album, Citizen, released recently. His debut album was released back in 1999 (The Big Peace) and even with his involvement with many projects, also releasing albums, he has averaged a solo album every 2 years on average.

The list of guest artists helping out on this album reads like a “Who’s Who” of the progressive fraternity. On keyboards we find such luminaries as Rick Wakeman, Jordan Rudess, Tony Kaye, Geoff Downes and Patrick Moraz, on guitars appear Steve Hackett, Steve Morse and John Wesley, violin provided by Jerry Goodman and vocals by Colin Moulding, Alan Parsons and Jon Davidson. Billy Sherwood contents himself by only being involved in drums, bass, keyboards, guitar and vocals. One other guest, who sadly passed away earlier this year, provides the thundering bass on the title track which is apparently one of the last recordings by Yes bassist, Chris Squire.

Classed as a concept album, Citizen tells stories from various historic moments as seen through the eyes of one man, a sort of audio version of “Quantum Leap” which was a TV series. The album itself is an 11 track release with a total playing time of around 72 minutes with the shortest track, “Just Galileo and Me” clocking in at 5:12 minutes and the longest piece on offer, “The Great Depression” having a running time of 8:58 minutes.

First up on Citizen, is the title track, “Citizen” which is a tad under 7 minutes in length (6:57). This is an initially strong opening track with a great guitar melody, backed by the characteristic thundering bass provided by Chris Squire and good vocals, all of which lead into a superb keyboard based section from Tony Kaye. Unfortunately, by the time the track has entered its 5^th minute, just after the keyboards section, the repetitive melody seems to have been overplayed and the last couple of minutes seem to be an extension too far.

“Man and Machine” (6:59) has a typically “mechanized” sound to the intro, but rolls along well and has several passages that maintain the interest of the listener and there is a great little hook appearing at points. This track seems to work better than the opening track, but there is a similarity to the pace of the tracks.

The third track on Citizen is “Just Galileo and Me” (5:12) which has a different style, but similar tempo to the previous two bits of music. The chorus is extremely catchy and the lyrics prompt a bit of thought, but I was starting to yearn for someone to “let rip” with an instrument to heighten the “grab your ears” factor.

The ballad-like “The Great Depression” (8:58) leans heavily on the superb piano passages and keyboard themes, provided by The Caped Crusader himself, none other than Rick Wakeman. Billy Sherwood excels on acoustic guitar then moves onto the electric guitar and fires off some classy solos.

“Empire” (5:45) features vocals by Alan Parsons and some excellent violin playing by Jerry Goodman from The Flock and Mahavishnu Orchestra. “Age of the Atom” (6:37) has a few points which hint back at previous tracks and is one of the less successful outings on the album. There are a few excellent keyboard and guitar passages on “Trail of Tears” (6:14), but “Escape Velocity” (6:14) seems to struggle to reach the heights of earlier tracks.

The penultimate track, “A Theory All of Its Own” (5:45), and the finale, “Written In The Centuries” (7:35) build up the interest in this listener again as there seems to be more happening musically within the tracks than earlier.

Without doubt, having reviewed a few of the Billy Sherwood project releases, Citizen is the most enjoyable release I have heard thus far. Individually, the tracks all have their moments some more than others, but after all 11 tracks, the lack of real highs across the album is a bit of a disappointment. This may be caused by the expectation from such an amazingly talented collection of guests, but I feel that the potential from such a pool of musicians is left untapped.

Citizen is an album that I will dip into from time to time, but for a single track or perhaps two. As always, I would suggest giving Citizen a few listens before making any decisions, and I would also expect that a great many people will have a different viewpoint on the album.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: The Great Depression, A Theory All of Its Own, Empire

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

December 15, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

Progressive Rock Review: Billy Sherwood-Citizen

Release Date: 6^thNov 2015

Label: Frontiers Records

Website: www.billysherwoodhq.com

The list of areas in which Billy Sherwood is involved, is little short of staggering, as he is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, producer, engineer, mixer, solo artist, current bass player with Yes and an independent producer. He has, however, found time to record his eighth solo album, Citizen, released recently. His debut album was released back in 1999 (The Big Peace) and even with his involvement with many projects, also releasing albums, he has averaged a solo album every 2 years on average.

The list of guest artists helping out on this album reads like a “Who’s Who” of the progressive fraternity. On keyboards we find such luminaries as Rick Wakeman, Jordan Rudess, Tony Kaye, Geoff Downes and Patrick Moraz, on guitars appear Steve Hackett, Steve Morse and John Wesley, violin provided by Jerry Goodman and vocals by Colin Moulding, Alan Parsons and Jon Davidson. Billy Sherwood contents himself by only being involved in drums, bass, keyboards, guitar and vocals. One other guest, who sadly passed away earlier this year, provides the thundering bass on the title track which is apparently one of the last recordings by Yes bassist, Chris Squire.

Classed as a concept album, Citizen tells stories from various historic moments as seen through the eyes of one man, a sort of audio version of “Quantum Leap” which was a TV series. The album itself is an 11 track release with a total playing time of around 72 minutes with the shortest track, “Just Galileo and Me” clocking in at 5:12 minutes and the longest piece on offer, “The Great Depression” having a running time of 8:58 minutes.

First up on Citizen, is the title track, “Citizen” which is a tad under 7 minutes in length (6:57). This is an initially strong opening track with a great guitar melody, backed by the characteristic thundering bass provided by Chris Squire and good vocals, all of which lead into a superb keyboard based section from Tony Kaye. Unfortunately, by the time the track has entered its 5^th minute, just after the keyboards section, the repetitive melody seems to have been overplayed and the last couple of minutes seem to be an extension too far.

“Man and Machine” (6:59) has a typically “mechanized” sound to the intro, but rolls along well and has several passages that maintain the interest of the listener and there is a great little hook appearing at points. This track seems to work better than the opening track, but there is a similarity to the pace of the tracks.

The third track on Citizenis “Just Galileo and Me” (5:12) which has a different style, but similar tempo to the previous two bits of music. The chorus is extremely catchy and the lyrics prompt a bit of thought, but I was starting to yearn for someone to “let rip” with an instrument to heighten the “grab your ears” factor.

The ballad-like “The Great Depression” (8:58) leans heavily on the superb piano passages and keyboard themes, provided by The Caped Crusader himself, none other than Rick Wakeman. Billy Sherwood excels on acoustic guitar then moves onto the electric guitar and fires off some classy solos.

“Empire” (5:45) features vocals by Alan Parsons and some excellent violin playing by Jerry Goodman from The Flock and Mahavishnu Orchestra. “Age of the Atom” (6:37) has a few points which hint back at previous tracks and is one of the less successful outings on the album. There are a few excellent keyboard and guitar passages on “Trail of Tears” (6:14), but “Escape Velocity” (6:14) seems to struggle to reach the heights of earlier tracks.

The penultimate track, “A Theory All of Its Own” (5:45), and the finale, “Written In The Centuries” (7:35) build up the interest in this listener again as there seems to be more happening musically within the tracks than earlier.

Without doubt, having reviewed a few of the Billy Sherwood project releases, Citizen is the most enjoyable release I have heard thus far. Individually, the tracks all have their moments some more than others, but after all 11 tracks, the lack of real highs across the album is a bit of a disappointment. This may be caused by the expectation from such an amazingly talented collection of guests, but I feel that the potential from such a pool of musicians is left untapped.

Citizen is an album that I will dip into from time to time, but for a single track or perhaps two. As always, I would suggest giving Citizen a few listens before making any decisions, and I would also expect that a great many people will have a different viewpoint on the album.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: The Great Depression, A Theory All of Its Own, Empire

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

December 15, 2015

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk