Cymbalic Encounters displays its ‘world music’ side with the release of “Afrika Mandalika,” which features nine original progressive rock songs with an African twist of classic tribal and healing chants with rhythmical drums samples to offer authenticity to the tracks. Including titles like; “Rains of Waimba,” “Voodoo Supermarket” and even “Black Magic.”
Along with drummer Mark Murdock, guitarist Fernando Perdomo appears on a few songs like the upbeat opener, “The Fire Merchants” and “Festival of Miracles,” an instrumental which also features Joe Berger on guitar.
Also contributing are vocalist Tim Pepper from the U.K., who was also greatly influenced by Peter Gabriel’s work with Yassou N’Dour. Further accompanying Mark are Japanese bassist, Kenta Shimokuni and Mark’s son, Preston on guitar.
“Afrika Mandalika” track list: The Fire Merchants Rains of Waimba Black Magic Sacred Trees Shadows from the Past Festival of Miracles Voodoo Supermarket Windows and Skies Surrounding Shadows
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Mark Murdock at Off-Shore Recordings Tokyo Eventide Reverb, Delay, EQ and compression settings by Beam Audio N.Y.C, Joe Berger
All words and music composed by Mark Murdock - Copyright 2024
Cymbalic Encounters new album “Eclipsis” coincides with the solar eclipse of 2024. Guest artists include bassist Dave Sturt from Gong and Prog guitarist Fernando Perdomo.
Mark says, “There are some elements of electronica that made their way onto some of the tracks, which modernize the 'Cymbalic' sound, yet the material still retains the 'Encounters' essence.”
“Eclipsis” Track List: The Penumbra Shadow Echo, Delta, Charlie At the Drop of the Bowler Hat Afterlife Theme Park Eclipsis Futuristic Skylines Electromagnetic Interference Chinatown Disruption of the Order The Nectar of Immortality
Mark Murdock/drums/synthesizers/fretless bass synth Fernando Perdomo/guitar on 1 & 3 Dave Sturt/fretless bass on 1 & 7 Joe Berger/lead guitar on 8, 9 & 10 Tim Pepper/vocal on 6 Charles Lambiase/fretless bass on 8, 9 & 10 Daniel Kubota/guitar on 4
Recorded in Cyber Space: Tokyo, NYC and the U.K.
All song compositions by Mark Murdock All Rights Reserved 2024
“Incandescent Spirits” features a mixture of prog-vocal and instrumental songs that are in the tradition of the experimental side of Cymbalic Encounters.
Drummer/Composer, Mark Murdock says, “These works are considered to be the sister album of my recently released title “Electricus.” Rather than releasing a double album, it was necessary to split the tracks.”
Album Tracks:
1. Exploring Minds in the Vastness of Possibilities 2. Electro-Luminescence Pulse 3. Incandescent Spirits 4. Voltaic Currents 5. A Surge in Electricity 6. Random Reaction 7. Electrolytes 8. Electrical Permittivity 9. When Sparks Ignite 10. The Disappearing Future
Mark Murdock/drums/synthesizer/fretless bass Tim Pepper/vocal on 1, 3, 5 & 10 Joe Berger/lead guitar Dave Juteau/guitar on 1 & 4 David Rambeau/guitar on 5 Preston Murdock/lead guitar on 9 Charles Lambiase/fretless bass on 9
*Song 3 is dedicated to the memory of drummer Ron Howden (R.I.P.) of the band, Nektar, who presented Mark with his Paise Flat Ride cymbal used on this song.
“Incandescent Spirits” Cymbalic Encounters Music and Lyrics composed by Mark Murdock Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Mark Murdock at OffShore, Tokyo and BEAM Audio, NYC Copyright 2023
“Electricus” represents Cymbalic Encounters’ 10th anniversary after releasing the initial collaboration with Brand X’s Percy Jones and John Goodsall on Mark Murdock’s “Cymbalic Encounters” and “Exploration of the Southern Constellation.”
“Electricus” features eight songs under the theme of “Experiments in Static Electricity” with three vocal songs and five instrumental songs, in the Cymbalic Encounters tradition.
Track list: 1. Within the Lightbulb’s Glow 2. Electricus 3. Circuits and Codes 4. Electro-Static Particles 5. The Flying Boy Experiment 6. Experiments in Static Electricity 7. Rubber Sole 8. The Hindenburg (The Future of Human Missions)
Musical Contributions: Mark Murdock/drums, synthesizers & synth fretless bass Tim Pepper/vocal on 1, 3, & 6 Joe Berger/lead guitar on 2, 3, 4, 7 & 8 Charles Lambiase/fretless bass on 8 Dave Juteau/guitar on 1, 3 & 4 Preston Murdock/lead guitar on 3 (first solo) David Rambeau/guitar on 6
All songs composed by Mark Murdock Mixed and Mastered by Joe Berger at R&B Studios, Okachimachi Copyright 2023
“False Readings” is drummer Mark Murdock’s third solo prog-rock release which features Fernando Perdomo, whom Mark performed with in the ‘Out to Sea Band’ on the 2022 Cruise to the Edge. Also contributing on selected songs are recurring guest artists from the band ‘Nektar’ with Ron Howden, Derek ‘Mo’ Moore and Nektar newcomers, Ryche Chlanda and Kendall Scott.
Mark says, “‘False Readings’ comes after the release of two experimental in my Cymbalic Encounters catalog; ‘Overexposure’ and ‘Cerulean Cathedral.’ There may be traces of these works on some elements of the music, as some of the material was composed near the same time frame, while offering some new dimensions to my works.
“False Readings” (Track List)
1. Distant Sirens 2. Volatility Swaying 3. Remain in Darkness 4. Until I Reach the End 5. Pure as the Driven Snow 6. False Readings 7. Symposium of the Greatest Failures 8. Singularities 9. The Extremities of My Dreams 10. Ending World Overture
Mark Murdock/drums, keyboards, synthesizers & percussion Tim Pepper/vocals Fernando Perdomo/guitar on songs 2, 4 & 8 Ron Howden/drums on songs 3 & 5 *Courtesy of Nektar Derek ‘Mo’ Moore/bass on song 2 *Courtesy of Nektar Ryche Chlanda/guitar song 2 *Courtesy of Nektar Kendall Scott/synth solo on song 6 *Courtesy of Nektar Ken Hall/guitar on songs 1, 6 & 7 Katsumi Yoneda/electric guitar on song 5 Dave Juteau/guitar on song 3 & 7 Daniel Kubota/12 string guitar on song 5/electric guitar on songs 9 & 10 David Rambeau/ending lead guitar on song 3
All compositions, lyrics and music by Mark Murdock Produced by Mark Murdock Mixed and Mastered by Mark Murdock Cover photo by Satomi taken in Kagoshima, Japan Copyright 2022
Out on October 30th via Bandcamp, “Oblivion Bound”: the first full-length collaboration between Mark Murdock and Dmitry M. Epstein
The eve of Halloween 2021 sees the release of “Oblivion Bound”: a concept album, devised by Dmitry M. Epstein on Mark Murdock’s request, a record which tells a story of a rock star who dies and is given a second chance to live - provided he can change and get cleansed through his love, his only constant on this mortal coil - but what if he returns and no one remembers his name? It’s a story of Orpheus and Eurydice turned inside out and upside down, with a possible happy end – recounted over the background blending hard-rock vigor and prog sophistication and set to a string of highly memorable melodies.
The joint project of Japan-based American Murdock, famous for his part in Peter Banks’ Empire, and Canadian Epstein, a music journalist and a runner of the “Let It Rock” website (dmme.net), who followed the veteran’s career and reviewed albums he released with such ensembles as Cymbalic Encounters and Masheen Messiah, started in early 2021.
Perceived initially as a Murdock record, “The Game of the Name” – this is the opus’ original title – turned into a duo’s one once Mark asked Dmitry to come up with a concept which would run through all the songs they planned to write. The latter obliged, even though he had never penned a narrative-based lyrics, as opposed to image-driven words, and the former sketched out demos to be fleshed out by artists often present on his discs. Thus, The Id’s Tim Pepper became the voice of “Oblivion Bound” and NEKTAR’s Ron Howden shared drumming duties with Murdock, while Fernando Perdomo, his colleague in The New Empire, and his son Preston are but two of the guitarists featured on the album.
While the record was being prepared, Dmitry co-wrote two songs on Mark’s Atomic Rooster tribute, Nuclear Bird’s debut “Tyrannical Megalomaniac,” and Mark finished and has just released his new solo CD, “Visitors from Another Planet.”
Says Mark Murdock, “Based on the creative writing of Dmitry’s reviews, I felt he was the right person to approach about doing a concept project with. In this project the lyrics were written after the music, but perhaps as follow up we can reverse the process.”
Adds Dmitry M. Epstein, “It was a gripping experience directing Mark’s music as well as being directed by it. The result of our efforts is open to interpretation, but don’t hurry to jump to conclusions just because the end of this story might have to be written yet.”
The tracklist: 1. Coming To 2. Ain’t No Avalon 3. Echo of My Ego 4. A Way Out For the Weak 5. The Game of the Name 6. Voices in My Mind 7. Outside Whorl 8. Vanishing Point 9. Will You Take Me Back (to the Fold)?
All music composed by Mark Murdock, except Song 9 which was composed by Preston Murdock Lyrics by Dmitry M. Epstein
Mark Murdock - drums, percussion & keyboards Ron Howden (Nektar) - drums on song 8 Tim Pepper (The Id) - vocals Fernando Perdomo (The New Empire) - lead guitar on songs 1 & 2 Katsumi Yoneda (French TV) - guitar Dave Juteau (The Dave Juteau Band) - guitar on song 8 Preston Murdock (Cymbalic Encounters) - guitar on song 9 Jeff Curry (Izmatik) - bass Daniel Kubota (Cymbalic Encounters) - guitar on song 4
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Mark Murdock Recorded at Off-Shore Studios, Tokyo and U.K. Artwork by TimPani Graphics Copyright 2021
Mark Murdock’s new prog release “Visitors From Another Planet” featuring a cast of visiting prog earthlings like drummer Ric Parnell of Atomic Rooster/Spinal Tap, drummer Ron Howden, bassist Derek ‘Mo’ Moore, both from the band Nektar, also drummer Alan Childs of David Bowie, guitarist Fernando Perdomo, guitarist Katsumi Yoneda of French TV, guitarist Joe Berger, vocalist Tim Pepper of TheId and more...
Mark Murdock, best known as the drummer in Peter Banks (YES) Empire Mark lll, The New Empire with Fernando Perdomo, Cymbalic Encounters with Brand X members. Mark most recently released a solo record, “The Phoenix Has Risen” and with Nuclear Bird's “Tyrannical Megalomanic.” Mark sees his new creation “Visitors from Another Planet” as a “further contribution to the Arts with new dimensions and atmospheres not explored on my previous works.”
“Visitors from Another Planet” Track Listing: 1. Visitors from Another Planet 2. Time Travelers from the Future 3. The Purveyors of Underworld Ideas 4. The Tarnished Mirror 5. False Algorithms 6. Forgotten Episodes 7. The River of Illusion 8. Somewhere and Nowhere 9. Adapted for Theater 10. Sub-Reactional Stratospheric Complex 11. Friction 12. Shadows that Stood Between the Lies 13. In Speculation
Artists: Mark Murdock - drums, synthesizer & gongs Tim Pepper - lead vocal Ric Parnell - drums & percussion on 2, 4 & 13 Alan Childs - drums on 3 Ron Howden - drums on 6 & 7 Fernando Perdomo - guitar on 1, 4, 7, 9 & 11 Derek ‘Mo’ Moore - bass on 7 Joe Berger - lead guitar on 11 & alien voice on 1 Katsumi Yoneda - guitar on 5, 6, 9 &13 Dave Juteau - guitar on 1, 2, 8 & 12 Preston Murdock - guitar on 3 and 7 Kenta Shimokuni - bass Rod Farlora - bass on 10 Jeff Curry - bass on songs 2, 3, 6, 8 & 12
All songs composed, produced, mixed and mastered by Mark Murdock Artwork by Jiro Oshima Copyright 2021
Watch the Promotional video for “Visitors from Another Planet”:
“The Phoenix Has Risen” represents the work of drummer/songwriter Mark Murdock whose previous works included Cymbalic Encounters (With Brand X musicians) and Empire (Peter Banks of YES) and most recently The New Empire “Second Lifetime” release on Forward Motion Records. Mark was also a guest on the YES 50th Anniversary tribute album by Dave Kerzner and Fernando Perdomo
“The Phoenix Has Risen” was composed and produced by Mark during the lockdown of 2020. Mark sites the Phoenix in the title as a symbol of hope in these pandemic times. Mark just happens to be from Phoenix, Arizona but now resides in Tokyo. The music leans more to the Prog side with hints of rock and pop embellished in it.
The 12 song CD features guest artists, not only including guitarist Fernando Perdomo, but veteran Prog drummer Ronald Howden of Nektar who guests on two songs, and bassist Alan Thomson, who played with John Martyn and currently the Martin Barres Band, U.K. vocalist Tim Pepper and Joe Berger lead guitar and more.
Mark not only composed all music and lyrics but all the keyboard tracks including orchestral sections.
Watch the promotional video:
Mixed and Mastered by Mark Murdock and Joe Berger BEAM Audio NYC Artwork by Synergy/Leon Alvarado
Currently available on all digital platforms. Physical release through Disk Union Japan. For International orders
Track list: The Phoenix Has Risen Reoccurring Dreams Heal My Wounded Soul Compromised Exit Door The Starfish and the Four Phases of the Moon When Thoughts Collide Silence on Empty Streets All Fools Fade Away The Unknown Man Set Your Heart On Fire In The Future Of
Musicians: Mark Murdock- drums, synthesizer, piano, orchestra horns, percussion and backing vocals Tim Pepper- lead vocal *Courtesy of TheId Daniel Kubota- guitar Kenta Shimokuni-bass Katsumi Yoneda- guitar on songs 2, 3 & 12 *Courtesy of French TV Joe Berger- lead guitar on song 1 Preston Murdock- lead guitar on songs 4 & 7 David Rambeau- guitar on song 7 & acoustic guitar on song 8 Tatsuo Inoue-rhythm guitar on song 6 Rodolfo Falora- bass on songs 1, 6 & 9
Featured Artists: Ronald Howden- drums on songs 2 & double drumming on song 9 *Courtesy of Nektar Fernando Perdomo- guitar on songs 4, 6 & 9 *Courtesy of The Out To Sea Band Alan Thomson- fretless bass on song 4 *Courtesy of The Martin Barres Band
All music and lyrics composed by Mark Murdock *Song 7 was composed by Cary Bialac and Mark Murdock
Here’s what’s being said about “The Phoenix Has Risen”:
“While Mark Murdock may have seemed to venture beyond art-rock pastures he used to explore decades ago, prog remains a vital aspect of this EMPIRE and BRAND X associate, and even though there are collective projects the veteran was involved with lately, his individual style naturally led to a solo album, a record of a particularly personal stripe.” - DMME
“There are themes that could be Prog Soundtracks or Miniseries!” –
Anonymous musician in Tokyo
“Prog at its best! Mark Murdock’s new solo work, ‘The Phoenix Has Risen’ is most definitely carrying the innovative torch on this much missed genre of music” - Anonymous Prog Fan
“The Phoenix Has Risen” represents the work of drummer/songwriter Mark Murdock whose previous works included Cymbalic Encounters (With Brand X musicians) and Empire (Peter Banks of YES) and most recently The New Empire “Second Lifetime” release on Forward Motion Records. Mark was also a guest on the YES 50th Anniversary tribute album by Dave Kerzner and Fernando Perdomo
“The Phoenix Has Risen” was composed and produced by Mark during the lockdown of 2020. Mark sites the Phoenix in the title as a symbol of hope in these pandemic times. Mark just happens to be from Phoenix, Arizona but now resides in Tokyo. The music leans more to the Prog side with hints of rock and pop embellished in it.
The 12 song CD features guest artists, not only including guitarist Fernando Perdomo, but veteran Prog drummer Ronald Howden of Nektar who guests on two songs, and bassist Alan Thomson, who played with John Martyn and currently the Martin Barres Band, U.K. vocalist Tim Pepper and Joe Berger lead guitar and more.
Mark not only composed all music and lyrics but all the keyboard tracks including orchestral sections.
Watch the promotional video:
Mixed and Mastered by Mark Murdock and Joe Berger BEAM Audio NYC Artwork by Synergy/Leon Alvarado
Currently available on all digital platforms. Physical release through Disk Union Japan. For International orders
Track list: The Phoenix Has Risen Reoccurring Dreams Heal My Wounded Soul Compromised Exit Door The Starfish and the Four Phases of the Moon When Thoughts Collide Silence on Empty Streets All Fools Fade Away The Unknown Man Set Your Heart On Fire In The Future Of
Musicians: Mark Murdock- drums, synthesizer, piano, orchestra horns, percussion and backing vocals Tim Pepper- lead vocal *Courtesy of TheId Daniel Kubota- guitar Kenta Shimokuni-bass Katsumi Yoneda- guitar on songs 2, 3 & 12 *Courtesy of French TV Joe Berger- lead guitar on song 1 Preston Murdock- lead guitar on songs 4 & 7 David Rambeau- guitar on song 7 & acoustic guitar on song 8 Tatsuo Inoue-rhythm guitar on song 6 Rodolfo Falora- bass on songs 1, 6 & 9
Featured Artists: Ronald Howden- drums on songs 2 & double drumming on song 9 *Courtesy of Nektar Fernando Perdomo- guitar on songs 4, 6 & 9 *Courtesy of The Out To Sea Band Alan Thomson- fretless bass on song 4 *Courtesy of The Martin Barres Band
All music and lyrics composed by Mark Murdock *Song 7 was composed by Cary Bialac and Mark Murdock
Here’s what’s being said about “The Phoenix Has Risen”:
“While Mark Murdock may have seemed to venture beyond art-rock pastures he used to explore decades ago, prog remains a vital aspect of this EMPIRE and BRAND X associate, and even though there are collective projects the veteran was involved with lately, his individual style naturally led to a solo album, a record of a particularly personal stripe.” - DMME
“There are themes that could be Prog Soundtracks or Miniseries!” –
Anonymous musician in Tokyo
“Prog at its best! Mark Murdock’s new solo work, ‘The Phoenix Has Risen’ is most definitely carrying the innovative torch on this much missed genre of music” - Anonymous Prog Fan
