Italian Instrumental Ensemble Armonite Releases Second Album "And the Stars Above"

Includes guest appearance by Colin Edwin of iconic UK prog-rockers Porcupine Tree

Italy - Armonite, the instrumental rock collective led by composer Paolo Fosso and violinist Jacopo Bigi, have released their second album And the Stars Above on LA-based indie label Cleopatra Records.

Armonite's instrumental music is perfectly in line with the spirit of the label, especially now that Cleopatra expanded in the movie industry.

With the film division Cleopatra Entertainment, the company has distributed, developed, and produced several films most of which have a strong horror and/or music component, including The Devil's Domain (starring Michael Madsen), The Black Room (starring Lin Shaye), Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill! (featuring the voice of Dave Mustaine from Megadeth), The 27 Club (featuring Todd Rundgren), England Is Mine (Steven Morrissey bio-pic), A Street Cat Named Bob.

“Working with Cleopatra has been great,” says Fosso, “They're skilled and competent, I'm sure they will take Armonite to the next level. I've always been a great lover of movies and videogames, I was just moving forward to the composition of soundtrack music, so this collaboration comes right on cue.”

As with the previous album, And the Stars Above is an instrumental mix of electric violin, keyboards, bass, and drums with focus on the amazing and powerful electric violin, performed by Jacopo Bigi. Interpreting the music composed by keyboardist Paolo Fosso, Armonite also performs with bassists Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) and Alberto Fiorani, along with drummers Corrado Bertonazzi, Emiliano Cava, and Jasper Barendregt.

The sound of the album is more oriented to soundtrack music with textures that feel very immediate. “We consume tons of music every day, we can't just stick to one genre”, says Fosso, “generally speaking, the album is rock, but with this idea of soundtrack music.”

Throughout the album, lingers a ghostly female voice, appearing and disappearing here and there before fully emerging in the band's first song with lyrics, “Clouds Collide”. The track tells the story of a girl between time and memories.

And the Stars Above is a journey through 12 tracks, starting with “The March of the Stars” inspired by Dante's Paradise and ending with “Ghosts”. The album also features two bonus tracks: a polyrhythmic piece for piano solo, “The Fire Dancer”, and the String Quartet “A Playful Day”.

“We're confident this is going to be a great release, with a rather peculiar view,” says Fosso, “The Sun is New Each Day had a heavy compact sound... And the Stars Above is groovy, with different vibes across a bunch of genres. There's something indie in this new sound that we've never explored before and it's kind of sexy for us!”

You can find more information about Armonite and their new album at the band's official website, www.armonite.com



And the Stars Above Tracklist
01. The March of the Stars
02. Next Ride
03. District Red
04. Plaza de España
05. Clouds collide
06. Blue Curaçao
07. By heart
08. Freaks
09. By the Waters of Babylon
10. The usual drink
11. What's the Rush?
12. Ghosts
13. [Bonus Track] A Playful Day (for Strings Quartet)
14. [Bonus Track] The Fire dancer (for Piano solo)

Original music composed and arranged by Paolo Fosso

Performed by Armonite
Jacopo Bigi - acoustic and electric violin
Paolo Fosso - piano and keyboards
with
Colin Edwin (The March of the Stars, District Red, Freaks, By the Waters of Babylon, What's the Rush?, Ghosts); Alberto Fiorani (Next Ride, Blue Curaçao, By heart) - bass
Giacomo Lampugnani (Plaza de España, Freaks); Gianmarco Straniero (By the Waters of Babylon) - double bass
Corrado Bertonazzi (The March of the Stars, District Red, Blue Curaçao, Freaks, What's the Rush?, Ghosts); Emiliano Cava (Next Ride, Plaza de España, By heart); Jasper Barendregt (By the Waters of Babylon) - drums
Maria Chiara Montagnari (The March of the Stars, Clouds collide, By the Waters of Babylon) - voice
Diletta Fosso (Ghosts) - child's voice
Marcello Rosa (District Red); Gabriele Montanari (The March of the Stars, A Playful Day) - cello
Quartetto Indaco: Eleonora Matsuno, violin; Jamiang Santi, violin; Francesca Turcato, viola; Cosimo Carovani, cello (District Red) - string quartet
Jacopo Bigi also plays viola (District Red, Ghosts) and ukulele (By the Waters of Babylon). He whistles on “Freaks” and plays both violins and viola on “A Playful Day”.

To purchase:
CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/armonite-and-the-stars-above-cd/
Digital: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/and-the-stars-above/1380495940

For more information:
Website: http://www.armonite.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armonitemusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/armonitemusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armonitemusic
Bandcamp: https://armonite.bandcamp.com
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/armonite
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Armonite

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com


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

Italian Instrumental Ensemble Armonite Releases Second Album "And the Stars Above"

Includes guest appearance by Colin Edwin of iconic UK prog-rockers Porcupine Tree

Italy - Armonite, the instrumental rock collective led by composer Paolo Fosso and violinist Jacopo Bigi, have released their second album And the Stars Above on LA-based indie label Cleopatra Records.

Armonite's instrumental music is perfectly in line with the spirit of the label, especially now that Cleopatra expanded in the movie industry.

With the film division Cleopatra Entertainment, the company has distributed, developed, and produced several films most of which have a strong horror and/or music component, including The Devil's Domain (starring Michael Madsen), The Black Room (starring Lin Shaye), Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill! (featuring the voice of Dave Mustaine from Megadeth), The 27 Club (featuring Todd Rundgren), England Is Mine (Steven Morrissey bio-pic), A Street Cat Named Bob.

“Working with Cleopatra has been great,” says Fosso, “They're skilled and competent, I'm sure they will take Armonite to the next level. I've always been a great lover of movies and videogames, I was just moving forward to the composition of soundtrack music, so this collaboration comes right on cue.”

As with the previous album, And the Stars Above is an instrumental mix of electric violin, keyboards, bass, and drums with focus on the amazing and powerful electric violin, performed by Jacopo Bigi. Interpreting the music composed by keyboardist Paolo Fosso, Armonite also performs with bassists Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) and Alberto Fiorani, along with drummers Corrado Bertonazzi, Emiliano Cava, and Jasper Barendregt.

The sound of the album is more oriented to soundtrack music with textures that feel very immediate. “We consume tons of music every day, we can't just stick to one genre”, says Fosso, “generally speaking, the album is rock, but with this idea of soundtrack music.”

Throughout the album, lingers a ghostly female voice, appearing and disappearing here and there before fully emerging in the band's first song with lyrics, “Clouds Collide”. The track tells the story of a girl between time and memories.

And the Stars Above is a journey through 12 tracks, starting with “The March of the Stars” inspired by Dante's Paradise and ending with “Ghosts”. The album also features two bonus tracks: a polyrhythmic piece for piano solo, “The Fire Dancer”, and the String Quartet “A Playful Day”.

“We're confident this is going to be a great release, with a rather peculiar view,” says Fosso, “The Sun is New Each Day had a heavy compact sound... And the Stars Above is groovy, with different vibes across a bunch of genres. There's something indie in this new sound that we've never explored before and it's kind of sexy for us!”

You can find more information about Armonite and their new album at the band's official website, www.armonite.com



And the Stars Above Tracklist
01. The March of the Stars
02. Next Ride
03. District Red
04. Plaza de España
05. Clouds collide
06. Blue Curaçao
07. By heart
08. Freaks
09. By the Waters of Babylon
10. The usual drink
11. What's the Rush?
12. Ghosts
13. [Bonus Track] A Playful Day (for Strings Quartet)
14. [Bonus Track] The Fire dancer (for Piano solo)

Original music composed and arranged by Paolo Fosso

Performed by Armonite
Jacopo Bigi - acoustic and electric violin
Paolo Fosso - piano and keyboards
with
Colin Edwin (The March of the Stars, District Red, Freaks, By the Waters of Babylon, What's the Rush?, Ghosts); Alberto Fiorani (Next Ride, Blue Curaçao, By heart) - bass
Giacomo Lampugnani (Plaza de España, Freaks); Gianmarco Straniero (By the Waters of Babylon) - double bass
Corrado Bertonazzi (The March of the Stars, District Red, Blue Curaçao, Freaks, What's the Rush?, Ghosts); Emiliano Cava (Next Ride, Plaza de España, By heart); Jasper Barendregt (By the Waters of Babylon) - drums
Maria Chiara Montagnari (The March of the Stars, Clouds collide, By the Waters of Babylon) - voice
Diletta Fosso (Ghosts) - child's voice
Marcello Rosa (District Red); Gabriele Montanari (The March of the Stars, A Playful Day) - cello
Quartetto Indaco: Eleonora Matsuno, violin; Jamiang Santi, violin; Francesca Turcato, viola; Cosimo Carovani, cello (District Red) - string quartet
Jacopo Bigi also plays viola (District Red, Ghosts) and ukulele (By the Waters of Babylon). He whistles on “Freaks” and plays both violins and viola on “A Playful Day”.

To purchase:
CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/armonite-and-the-stars-above-cd/
Digital: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/and-the-stars-above/1380495940

For more information:
Website: http://www.armonite.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armonitemusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/armonitemusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armonitemusic
Bandcamp: https://armonite.bandcamp.com
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/armonite
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Armonite

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com


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

NASHVILLE IN THE BERKSHIRES TICKETS

https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleBerkshires2018/

Gin Blossoms to Release Eagerly Awaited New Album "Mixed Reality" and Embark on Major US Tour

Los Angeles - Cleopatra Records will be releasing the brand new album from one of the most successful melodic alt-rock bands still making music today, Gin Blossoms! “Mixed Reality” will be released on June 15, 2018. The Blossoms recently celebrated the 25 year anniversary of their seminal, multi-platinum album “New Miserable Experience,” which spawned the blockbuster singles “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You!”

Gin Blossoms' blockbuster 1992 album “New Miserable Experience” spawned four Top 40 hit singles, and established the Arizona quintet as one of the top rock groups of that decade. More than 25 years have passed since the release of “New Miserable Experience,” and now Gin Blossoms are back with their best set of songs in years. Produced by Don Dixon and engineered by Mitch Easter, “Mixed Reality” demonstrates that the timeless appeal of Gin Blossoms' music has endured.

Says lead singer Robin Wilson, “I knew we were recording with Don and Mitch, and I managed to hack into a young version of myself to craft songs. All of us turned in our best work in 25 years. Regardless of commercial outcome, I know 'Mixed Reality' is special, and that we've lived up to our legacy.”

Gin Blossoms formed in 1987 in the Arizona city of Tempe; guitarists Jesse Valenzuela and bassist Bill Leen were founding members. After some lineup changes, the group coalesced around Valenzuela, Leen, Robin Wilson (vocals and guitar), drummer Phillip Rhoades, and guitarist Doug Hopkins. One quality that set Gin Blossoms apart from other groups was its deep bench: four of its five members wrote songs.

In 2017 Gin Blossoms began work on their first new album in almost eight years. Longtime producer and friend of the band John Hampton had passed away in 2014, so at first the group considered self-producing. But at one of their shows, they met Don Dixon, producer of the Smithereens' first two albums and a legend in power pop circles.

The group booked time in Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium Studio in Kernersville, N.C., working with Dixon as well as Easter, veteran of R.E.M. sessions. Now Gin Blossoms had a producer and engineer who helped define '80s jangling power pop, a style that exerted a major influence on the band's own musical approach. “We needed to be shaken and taken out of our element,” Wilson explains. “Working with Don and Mitch gave us the inspiration to reconnect with the very foundations of the band: where we came from as songwriters and band mates.”

“Mixed Reality” shares the same timeless feel as “New Miserable Experience”; it's packed with 15 songs, with Wilson, Leen, Johnson and Valenzuela all contributing material. And once again, the mix of songwriters results in something that has that unmistakable Gin Blossoms sound. “As much as we are children of our influences,” explains Wilson, “we managed to do something that was both familiar and original.”

“We're at the point now where we play better, we communicate better, we get along more,” says Wilson. “We're more grateful. It’s a very full-circle thing for us to be releasing 'Mixed Reality.'” Built around the proven strategy of using the band's deep songwriting bench, and packed with memorable songs that connect with listeners while transcending a specific time period, “Mixed Reality” may turn out to be as timeless as Gin Blossoms' major label debut.



Track List:
1. Break
2. Face The Dark
3. New Mexico Trouble
4. Angels Fly
5. Here Again
6. Still Some Room In Heaven
7. Miranda Chicago
8. Girl On The Side
9. Fortunate Street
10. Wonder
11. Shadow
12. Forever Is This Night
13. The JFK Shit Show
14. The Devil’s Daughter
15. Mega Pawn King

Catch the Blossoms on tour this year with special engagements alongside Vertical Horizon & Tonic!

Tue 05 29 18 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe Live
Thu 05 31 18 - South Bend, IN - Four Winds Field
Fri 06 01 18 - Eldon, MO - Shawnee Bluff Vineyard
Sat 06 02 18 - Alabaster, AL - Alabaster City Fest
Sun 06 03 18 - Greensboro, NC - White Oak Amphitheater
Wed 06 06 18 - Columbus, OH - Express Live! Outdoor Amphitheater
Thu 06 07 18 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
Fri 06 08 18 - Big Flats, NY - Tag's Summer Sound Stage
Sat 06 09 18 - Fairfax, VA - Celebrate Fairfax Fair
Sun 06 10 18 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
Wed 06 13 18 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heigh
Thu 06 14 18 - Northfield, OH - Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield
Fri 06 15 18 - Indianapolis, IN - The Pavillion
Sat 06 16 18 - Springfield, IL - Bank of Springfield Plaza
Sun 06 17 18 – West Saint Louis Park, MN - Common Sound Festival
Sat 07 07 18 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
Sun 07 08 18 - Rochester, MN - Down by the Riverside Concert
Tue 07 10 18 - Des Moines, IA - Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater
Thu 07 12 18 - Appleton, WI - Neuroscience Group Field
Fri 07 13 18 - Toledo, OH - Promenade Park
Sat 07 14 18 - Fort Wayne, IN - Headwaters Park
Wed 07 18 18 - Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus
Thu 07 19 18 - Stamford, CT - Alive @ Five Outdoor Summer Co
Fri 07 20 18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE – Outdoors
Sat 07 21 18 - Atlantic City, NJ - The Theater, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun 07 22 18 - Lakeville, PA - Cove Haven Resort
Tue 07 24 18 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Wed 07 25 18 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
Fri 07 27 18 - Chautauqua, NY - Chautauqua Institution Amphith
Sat 07 28 18 - Island Lake, IL - Sideouts
Thu 08 02 18 - Selbyville, DE - The Freeman Stage at Bayside
Sat 08 04 18 - Mount Tabor, NJ - At The Tabernacle
Fri 08 10 18 - Chamblee, GA - Chamblee City Park
Sat 08 11 18 - Suwanee, GA - Suwanee Town Center Park

To purchase Gin Blossoms “Mixed Reality”:
CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/gin-blossoms-mixed-reality-cd/
Digital: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/mixed-reality/1383520725?app=itunes&at=1000lt9k

Official website: www.ginblossoms.net

Management: Chad Jensen, cjallclear@earthlink.net

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


CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

Gin Blossoms to Release Eagerly Awaited New Album "Mixed Reality" and Embark on Major US Tour

Los Angeles - Cleopatra Records will be releasing the brand new album from one of the most successful melodic alt-rock bands still making music today, Gin Blossoms! “Mixed Reality” will be released on June 15, 2018. The Blossoms recently celebrated the 25 year anniversary of their seminal, multi-platinum album “New Miserable Experience,” which spawned the blockbuster singles “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You!”

Gin Blossoms' blockbuster 1992 album “New Miserable Experience” spawned four Top 40 hit singles, and established the Arizona quintet as one of the top rock groups of that decade. More than 25 years have passed since the release of “New Miserable Experience,” and now Gin Blossoms are back with their best set of songs in years. Produced by Don Dixon and engineered by Mitch Easter, “Mixed Reality” demonstrates that the timeless appeal of Gin Blossoms' music has endured.

Says lead singer Robin Wilson, “I knew we were recording with Don and Mitch, and I managed to hack into a young version of myself to craft songs. All of us turned in our best work in 25 years. Regardless of commercial outcome, I know 'Mixed Reality' is special, and that we've lived up to our legacy.”

Gin Blossoms formed in 1987 in the Arizona city of Tempe; guitarists Jesse Valenzuela and bassist Bill Leen were founding members. After some lineup changes, the group coalesced around Valenzuela, Leen, Robin Wilson (vocals and guitar), drummer Phillip Rhoades, and guitarist Doug Hopkins. One quality that set Gin Blossoms apart from other groups was its deep bench: four of its five members wrote songs.

In 2017 Gin Blossoms began work on their first new album in almost eight years. Longtime producer and friend of the band John Hampton had passed away in 2014, so at first the group considered self-producing. But at one of their shows, they met Don Dixon, producer of the Smithereens' first two albums and a legend in power pop circles.

The group booked time in Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium Studio in Kernersville, N.C., working with Dixon as well as Easter, veteran of R.E.M. sessions. Now Gin Blossoms had a producer and engineer who helped define '80s jangling power pop, a style that exerted a major influence on the band's own musical approach. “We needed to be shaken and taken out of our element,” Wilson explains. “Working with Don and Mitch gave us the inspiration to reconnect with the very foundations of the band: where we came from as songwriters and band mates.”

“Mixed Reality” shares the same timeless feel as “New Miserable Experience”; it's packed with 15 songs, with Wilson, Leen, Johnson and Valenzuela all contributing material. And once again, the mix of songwriters results in something that has that unmistakable Gin Blossoms sound. “As much as we are children of our influences,” explains Wilson, “we managed to do something that was both familiar and original.”

“We're at the point now where we play better, we communicate better, we get along more,” says Wilson. “We're more grateful. It’s a very full-circle thing for us to be releasing 'Mixed Reality.'” Built around the proven strategy of using the band's deep songwriting bench, and packed with memorable songs that connect with listeners while transcending a specific time period, “Mixed Reality” may turn out to be as timeless as Gin Blossoms' major label debut.



Track List:
1. Break
2. Face The Dark
3. New Mexico Trouble
4. Angels Fly
5. Here Again
6. Still Some Room In Heaven
7. Miranda Chicago
8. Girl On The Side
9. Fortunate Street
10. Wonder
11. Shadow
12. Forever Is This Night
13. The JFK Shit Show
14. The Devil’s Daughter
15. Mega Pawn King

Catch the Blossoms on tour this year with special engagements alongside Vertical Horizon & Tonic!
   
Tue 05 29 18 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe Live      
Thu 05 31 18 - South Bend, IN - Four Winds Field
Fri 06 01 18 - Eldon, MO - Shawnee Bluff Vineyard
Sat 06 02 18 - Alabaster, AL - Alabaster City Fest
Sun 06 03 18 - Greensboro, NC - White Oak Amphitheater        
Wed 06 06 18 - Columbus, OH - Express Live! Outdoor Amphitheater
Thu 06 07 18 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
Fri 06 08 18 - Big Flats, NY - Tag's Summer Sound Stage
Sat 06 09 18 - Fairfax, VA - Celebrate Fairfax Fair
Sun 06 10 18 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount        
Wed 06 13 18 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heigh
Thu 06 14 18 - Northfield, OH - Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield 
Fri 06 15 18 - Indianapolis, IN - The Pavillion
Sat 06 16 18 - Springfield, IL - Bank of Springfield Plaza
Sun 06 17 18 – West Saint Louis Park, MN - Common Sound Festival
Sat 07 07 18 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
Sun 07 08 18 - Rochester, MN - Down by the Riverside Concert     
Tue 07 10 18 - Des Moines, IA - Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater
Thu 07 12 18 - Appleton, WI - Neuroscience Group Field
Fri 07 13 18 - Toledo, OH - Promenade Park
Sat 07 14 18 - Fort Wayne, IN - Headwaters Park        
Wed 07 18 18 - Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus
Thu 07 19 18 - Stamford, CT - Alive @ Five Outdoor Summer Co
Fri 07 20 18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE – Outdoors
Sat 07 21 18 - Atlantic City, NJ - The Theater, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun 07 22 18 - Lakeville, PA - Cove Haven Resort
Tue 07 24 18 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Wed 07 25 18 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent          
Fri 07 27 18 - Chautauqua, NY - Chautauqua Institution Amphith
Sat 07 28 18 - Island Lake, IL - Sideouts      
Thu 08 02 18 - Selbyville, DE - The Freeman Stage at Bayside      
Sat 08 04 18 - Mount Tabor, NJ - At The Tabernacle            
Fri 08 10 18 - Chamblee, GA - Chamblee City Park
Sat 08 11 18 - Suwanee, GA - Suwanee Town Center Park

To purchase Gin Blossoms “Mixed Reality”:
CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/gin-blossoms-mixed-reality-cd/
Digital: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/mixed-reality/1383520725?app=itunes&at=1000lt9k

Official website: www.ginblossoms.net

Management: Chad Jensen, cjallclear@earthlink.net

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


CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com