Epic Rock Talk v. 2.0?

This is another one of those long-winded or *epic* discussions about music I did with some friends about music. This time around, there were a few new voices, my friend Josh, along with his gf Lynn and 2 other friends Lee and Meryl.

The whole thing is about 2.5 hours (approx.) Being that it's been awhile, my voice again was much higher on the mic (going-in I forgot about those past issues). But overall, the dynamic with 4 or even 5 at times active voices/opinions, I think added a fair amount to this idea/discussion.

So much so, I think we may try and do this every month as previously planned. Even if everyone can't make it.

Part 1
Part 2 and 3 (Part 3 being abbreviated for this podcast, being 19 mins, lol)

Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go (2013)

6/18/13 12:00PM
PRE-ORDERS LINK

Awesome how he finally is releasing Henny & Gingerale and at least Designer Drug will the B-side for that 7" single.
 

6/13/13 11:57AM
New song below "Reach Out Richard" as as Mayer just wrote:
Love you Dad. This new song is for you.  

Also I love how in this Article from RollingStone.com  he talks about his background with of all genres, \M/etal. Haha,..a genre my gf you can say, is not a fan of, lol.

The singer – who was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has since relocated to Los Angeles – says Where Does This Door Go allowed him to explore all his varied musical influences, from hip-hop to funk and metal. "This is the album that is truly me," Hawthorne says. "It was really about a journey into the unknown, doing something totally different and not knowing where it was going to go or how people were going to respond to it. And if that means really having that sort of DJ Haircut side of me come out and my hip-hop background, and my love for Michael McDonald and Steely Dan and the Cars. . . I used to be a metalhead, too, back in the day. I listened to Iron Maiden and Helmet and those are influences that have finally gotten [a] chance."

6/3/12 8:00PM

http://lifeandtimes.com/mayer-hawthorne-reveals-where-does-this-door-go-tracklist-and-speaks-on-kendrick-lamar-collab

this album is sounding more intriguing in a lot of ways. The only things are, #1 Designer Drug is not included. Could it be this album's "Henny and Gingerale"?

#2 there's a whole bunch of guests, but other than Jessie Ware and I suppose now Pharrell Williams, they're not necessarily names I have favorable backgrounds with.

Although if the songs are good, that may not matter. The comparisons to Thriller and the name dropping of Steely Dan caught my eye in that interview.

I guess with Designer Drug's absence, and the comment about so many songs could be singles; i.e. the album has 4, 5, 6 or more songs as good if not better than Designer Drug, it's absence may also not matter.

But we'll see. July 16th of course is a holiday in more than 1 respect.



L+T: At SXSW, you premiered some of the tracks from Where Does This Door Go. If I’m not mistaken, you originally didn’t know if you were actually going to release some or all of the tracks as an EP or album…or even release them at all. Is that correct? Was there a determining factor that led to your decision to create a LP?

MH: I recorded over forty songs for this album. It was really tough to narrow it down. The track list changed every day. In the end I decided to keep the album short and try to release the rest later. I really wanted to make a party record like [Michael Jackson's] Thriller, where every song could be a single.




1. Problematization
2. Back Seat Lover
3. The Innocent
4. Allie Jones
5. The Only One
6. Wine Glass Woman
7. Her Favorite Song
8. Crime (with Kendrick Lamar)
9. Reach Out Richard
10. Corsican Rosé
11. Where Does This Door Go
12. Robot Love
13. The Stars Are Ours
14. All Better


5/15/13 8:16PM
New single "Her Favorite Song (featuring Jessie Ware)" being released on Monday May 20th, but streamable now.

This is just a out-of-leftfield prediction, but this Mayer Hawthorne may THEE record to come out of nowhere as a legit album of the year contender. Why I say that, I would NOT expect it. But these 2 new songs and trailer really intrigue me.

I may actually get to enjoying Mayer somewhat close to my Mayer-aholic girlfriend does, lol.

4/29/13 9:13AM



Facebook Link

July 16th, 2013. Where Does This Door Go it's easy to presume that is said title and the release date of his next full-length record. Designer Drug the single he released like a month ago, is about as good a track as he's recorded (although my Mayer-aholic girlfriend might argue otherwise). It even has a psychedelic element.

I do know this should be a big deal to me given it is such a big deal to my gf. It actually comes out only 4 days after Mayer plays at the 2013 Basilica Block Party in fact, in Minneapolis.

Interesting trailer which shows clips from many movies. The one's I caught:

Being John Malkovich
Beetlejuice 2x's
Willia Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Wizard of Oz
Scarface
The Shining
Alice in Wonderland
The Matrix
Team America: World Police



May 25 University of Denver - Magness Arena Denver, CO
Jun 08 Cultivate Festival - Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA
Jul 12 Basilica Block Party Minneapolis, MN

with One Republic
Jul 23 Ravina Festisval - The Pavillion Highland Park, IL
Jul 25 LC Pavillion (Outdoor)  Columbus, OH
Jul 27 Meadow Brook w/ OneRepublic Rochester Hills, MI
Jul 28 Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center  Canandaigua, NY
Jul 30 Newport Yachting Center  Newport, RI
Aug 01 Bank of America Pavilion  Boston, MA
Aug 02 Mgm Grand Theater At Foxwoods  Mashantucket, CT
Aug 03 Musikfest  Bethlehem, PA
Aug 05 Filene Center At Wolf Trap  Vienna, VA
Aug 06 Cape Cod Melody Tent  Hyannis, MA
Aug 08 Tags w/ OneRepublic Big Flats, NY
Aug 09 Pier Six Pavilion  Baltimore, MD
Aug 10 Hudson Waterfront Park  Hudson, NY
Aug 12 Hard Rock Live  Orlando, FL
Aug 13 Seminole Hard Rock Live Amphitheatre  Hollywood, FL
Aug 15 Chastain Park Amphitheatre  Atlanta, GA
Aug 16 Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte  Charlotte, NC
Aug 18 The Woods at Fontanel  Nashville, TN

Miracles of Modern Science - Get Lucky (Daft Punk cover)

My gawd, they've done it again! How 2013-of them, lol. Love-this-band!





downloadable:

Between the Buried and Me Fall NA Tour: Full "Future Sequence"..The Faceless

http://www.showstubs.com/collections/the-future-sequence-tour




Between the Buried and Me, The Faceless, The Contortionist and The Safety Fire are on all dates as far as I know.

I'm wondering if the uncertainty of Station 4's status had them book this show. And the fact BTBAM was with Coheed at First Ave last Winter, has made them *acceptable* for the hipsters now. The Varsity used to book prog and modern college-prog. But in the past few years, it's been a lot more infrequent. Maybe this show will be a sign of them getting more prog/prog related or Metal shows? I can't say I'd be upset if that happened.

As far as BTBAM and Future Sequence, I enjoy enough of it, and it may work in-full, better live. And The Faceless as well, their last album didn't go too far for me, but seeing them live again may change my feeling. I hope they at least play some of the Akeldama stuff.

September 13, 2013
Winston-Salem, NC at Ziggy's

September 14, 2013
Knoxville, TN at NV

September 15, 2013
Atlanta, GA at The Masquerade

September 16, 2013
Jacksonville, FL at Brewster's Roc Bar

September 17, 2013
Orlando, FL at The Plaza Live

September 19, 2013
Houston, TX at House of Blues

September 20, 2013
Austin, TX at The Mohawk

September 21, 2013
Dallas, TX at House of Blues

September 23, 2013
Denver, CO at Summit Music Hall

September 24, 2013
Murray, UT at Murray Theater

September 26, 2013
Mesa, AZ at The Nile

September 27, 2013
West Hollywood, CA at House of Blues

September 28, 2013
San Diego, CA at House of Blues

September 29, 2013
Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory

September 30, 2013
San Francisco, CA at Regency Ballroom

October 01, 2013
Sacramento, CA at Ace of Spades

October 03, 2013
Portland, OR at Hawthorne Theatre

October 04, 2013
Seattle, WA at El Corazon

October 05, 2013
Vancouver, BC at Commodore Ballroom

October 07, 2013
Calgary, AB at The Republik

October 08, 2013
Edmonton, AB at Starlite Room

October 09, 2013
Winnipeg, MB at Garrick Centre

October 11, 2013
Minneapolis, MN at Varsity Theater (16 and Older Only)

October 12, 2013
Chicago, IL at Metro

October 13, 2013
Detroit, MI at Majestic Theatre

October 14, 2013
Louisville, KY at Headliner's Music Hall

October 16, 2013
New York, NY at Best Buy Theatre

October 17, 2013
Worcester, MA at The Palladium

October 18, 2013
Sayreville, NJ at Starland Ballroom

October 19, 2013
Philadelphia, PA at Theatre of Living Arts

October 20, 2013
Cleveland, OH at Peabody's

October 21, 2013
Millvale, PA at Mr Smalls Theatre

October 23, 2013
Baltimore, MD at Sound Stage

October 24, 2013
Asheville, NC at The Orange Peel

October 25, 2013
Nashville, TN at Cannery Ballroom

Karnivool - Asymmetry (2013)

I dig the video/1st single below "We Are." The jury will still be out with this record until I hear it with headphones as the songs from Sound Awake sounded great per radio streams, and then the terrible mix from the cymbals was noticed with headphones and my opinion totally changed about those songs and the album.

But beyond that issue, I can't help but be rather jazzed to hear this album. Cool cover art fwiw.

July 19th is when it drops down under. North America?


1. Aum 
2. Nachash 
3. A.M. War 
4. We Are 
5. The Refusal 
6. Aeons 
7. Asymmetry 
8. Eidolon 
9. Sky Machine 
10. Amusia 
11. The Last Few 
12. Float 
13. Alpha 
14. Om 

JBHIFI (Australia) Preorders Link

DELUXE EDITION

The limited Deluxe Edition comes in a digipack with a PVC O-Ring (slipcase). The DVD (exclusive to this version) features a 92 min live concert; ‘Live At The Forum’. It is s 8x camera pro shoot from The Forum , Melbourne, Australia.
With over 250,000 albums sold to date across their acclaimed 2005 debut, Themata, and 2009’s ground breaking follow-up, Sound Awake, Karnivool established themselves as one of the most vital forces in progressive modern music. Now a major international draw, appearing at festivals such as The Big Day Out, Sonisphere (France), Download (UK), SXSW (US) and Hurricane (Germany), and gaining high praise from international press titans such as Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, Kerrang! and Rocksound, Karnivool have belied expectation again with album number three, the brazen and introspective, Asymmetry.

This expansive new work was designed in the band’s Perth studio over two years, before in late 2012, the Karnivool caravan headed across the continent to bunker down with legendary producer, Nick DiDia (Rage Against The Machine, Mastodon) at Byron Bay’s Studios 301

Track Listing

CD

1. Aum
2. Nachash
3. A.M. War
4. We Are
5. The Refusal
6. Aeons
7. Asymmetry
8. Eidolon
9. Sky Machine
10. Amusia
11. The Last Few
12. Float
13. Alpha Omega
14. Om

DVD - Live At The Forum

1. Simple Boy (Live)
2. Goliath (Live)
3. Shutterspeed (Live)
4. COTE (Live)
5. New Day (Live)
6. Fear Of The Sky (Live)
7. Deadman (Live)
8. All I Know (Live)
9. Umbra (Live)
10. Themata (Live)
11. Set Fire to The Hive (Live)
12. Roquefort (Live)
13. Change (Live)

Vuvuzela - Like a Lion (live)

Despite the sound quality, great performance! From seeing Timbre, awesome to see another live harp from Stephanie.

Mew - TBA (2013)

6/12/13 6:35PM
tease.

Higher/Better Resolution


5/15/13 11:56AM

working with a choir.


http://www.mewx.info/michael-beinhorn-produces-album-6/

The long-awaited sixth album is about to be reality in a matter of months. The previous album, No More Stories, was released in August 2009 and before that the gaps between albums have always been 2-4 years. The next yet-untitled album was originally rumoured to come out sooner, but we know now that this approximately four-and-a-half-year gap will, in fact, be the longest for Mew. 

So far. Pre-production phase is coming to its end and recording will begin in Copenhagen next month. This will be the first time that Mew are going in and out of the studio and playing live shows in-between (in June and August). For this album Mew will be collaborating with many talented people, but Michael Beinhorn is the main producer. The aforementioned producer was the guy behind And the Glass Handed Kites which many consider to be Mew’s best-sounding album. It is mixed very low, as we know, and playing it in a night club forces the DJ to go easy on the bass level. Whether this album will contain big rock anthems or not, we’ll just have to wait to see. Previously Beinhorn has also produced albums for Aerosmith, Marilyn Manson, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Korn among many many others.

11/8/12 12:00PM
Just a live video of this new song "Klassen (The Class), but odds are it'll be on the album, and a single more than likely. You may have to signup for their email list on their homepage to watch it.

http://www.facebook.com/mew/posts/1651642444974745 

To all Frengers of the Universes -

A something we have up the sleeve
For you
Now growing bigger and faster
And too big to handle
Not just a sleeve thing anymore
We will care for it but it can live with you now

All though still work in progress, the song which holds the working title Klassen (The Class) - was the show stopper many nights at this summers festivals. You can now watch a TV recording of Klassen live from this years Roskilde Festival exclusively at our Mewsite.com - See you there!

Bo/Mew

10/7/12 2:00PM
http://www.mewsite.com/

Post on Facebook from Friday October 5th

hey all you over the worlds we are now ready to meet you at mewsite.com with news on the new mew all participants in the film are made of music B

If you sign up to their mailing list, there's 5+ minute video showing Mew in Sicily this past Summer writing (and possible recording?) new music. Although, the music in the video is mostly acoustic, which I'm a little torn about. On one hand it's Mew, so the odds of it being distinct, melodic, dreamy, surreal, etc are high no matter. But if it is all-acoustic, it may be a change in sound still.

Maybe they've been listening to a lot of folky acoustic stuff of late? Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel or something? All just guessing, but given it doesn't seem it'll come by the end of 2012, its release year seems more likely 2013 now.

1/12/12 8:29AM

MewX Fan Group Post on FB

"Silas, Jonas and I have just commenced writing and recording of the new Mew record." - Bo Madsen

Fuck Yeah, new Mew coming!

The Red Paintings - The Revolution Is Never Coming (2013)

6/11/13 12:00PM
Available to purchase in AUSTRALIA, HERE FROM JBHIFI 

Loving this fucking record, the more I hear it. Trash does remind me of some singers, I think perhaps maybe closest to Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro.

But not to spoil, but when my Midyear Albums countdown is published soon, don't be surprised to see this record rather high. 

6/10/13 12:00PM 

Wow, this album "The Revolution is Never Coming" very well may have lived-up if not exceeded the expectations and hype I've seen in so many glaring reviews over the past few weeks. Wow, the drumming is BOMBASTIC, the songs are *epic* in more than a few ways. The strings or mostly violin work is tremendous. The melodies stay with you. I think the amount of time/years they spent working to finish it is evident. I can see myself listening to it a fair amount over the coming weeks to get a better idea, but for now, I can already say it's a 4-star record with a ton to explore. It may just be held back by a few little things like some of the tracks silent spots, and a little bit of compression on the cymbals and swallowing by their singer briefly at points.

But if the Revolution is in fact never coming, at least this record finally has come.


1 early review

Another review from today (5/23/13)

Taking elements from the full rainbow of rock from the 60s to the future and beyond, you’ll find The Beatles sitting alongside Karnivool, and Radiohead in a world where Seattle grunge, punk, neo-classical, prog, and many more genres live harmoniously.

This amalgamation was created by The Red Paintings with help from a choir, violin, cello, horns, guitar, synth, bass and drums. Oh, and a 35-piece orchestra.

01 Vampires Are Chasing Me
02 Dead Children
03 Dead Adults
04 Wasps
05 The Fall Of Rome
06 Walls
07 Streets Fell Into My Window
08 You’re Not One Of Them
09 It Is As It Was
10 Hong Kong
11 Deleted Romantic
12 Rain
13 The Revolution Is Never Coming

release date in Australia for this album is June 7th. I guess it'll be coming to North America in August or perhaps even October. These glaring reviews have my interest going up about this record, quite a bit more.

Toy Matinee live "In the Studio" Dallas 1990

http://www.inthestudio.net/live-tracks/toy-matinee-last-plane-out-dallas-1990/

Fuck yeah, I'm always up for hearing some Kevin Gilbert recordings. .I recall hearing his folks lived in Texas, but I had no idea about his dad being a physicist.

The Barnum Meserve

I'm just going to share this, as I literally was just told about this band 30 minutes ago and am enjoying these songs quite a lot. This is a I guess relatively new UK band, who I just noticed have a description on their Facebook saying "dark theatrical" among other adjectives.

They sort of remind me of a few different bands, yet also sound distinct enough. I suppose a couple of names are Typhoon and O'Brother, but that's vague.

These songs appear to be for sale on their Soundcloud page, but they haven't released them on any lp or ep yet I guess.

edit: They have an EP titled Broken Window available to buy digitally on amazon.com HERE. I'm not clear when it was released, other than in 2012.

Mercies - Barely Speak // Vultures [Single] (2013)

This is a new single from Mercies. By *new* it's relative. Last year they had a successful Kickstarter campaign to tour, and 1 extra perk for some was a 7" single for this they were going to release. Well, I guess printing it and other factors changed the plans. So, they now finally finished it and decided to release it just as a digital file (at least for now).

The 2 tracks here are very nice. Much in the style of their previous music for the most part. Dreamy, jangley at points. Why it's a single with 2 tracks in the title is a bit odd, but maybe they weren't putting out an EP, but also decided the 2 songs go together. Sort of a double-single in a way. That sounds like a contradiction in terms, but whatever.

The guys in Mercies continue to impress here. If you feel the same, it's only $2 for a download. And of course free to stream.




1 Barely Speak 4:26
2 Vultures 4:10

Dream Theater - Dream Theater (2013)

6/9/13 2:00PM
Screen Cap from video with a breakdown of the writing/progress of the songs.



 Studio Video 1:



From the official Facebook Page:

DREAM THEATER UNVEILS MILESTONE NEW ALBUM;
GRAMMY®-NOMINATED ROCK ICONS TO RELEASE
FIRST-EVER SELF-TITLED COLLECTION;
WORLD TOUR TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON;
“DREAM THEATER” ARRIVES ON SEPTEMBER 24TH
Roadrunner Records has announced the eagerly anticipated new album from the legendary Dream Theater. “DREAM THEATER” – the first self-titled collection in the GRAMMY®-nominated band’s nearly three decade career – arrives at last on September 24th.
“DREAM THEATER” was recorded at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, with founding guitarist John Petrucci producing and studio luminary Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Rush) engineering and mixing. The album marks a brilliant new chapter for the always adventurous band, their first to have been written and recorded with drummer Mike Mangini wholly integrated into the creative process from the start.
“I see every new album as an opportunity to start over,” says Petrucci. “To either build or improve upon a direction that has been evolving over time or to completely break new ground. This is the first self-titled album of our career and there is nothing I can think of that makes a statement of musical and creative identity stronger than that. We’ve fully explored all of the elements that make us unique, from the epic and intense to the atmospheric and cinematic. We’re incredibly excited about ‘DREAM THEATER’ and can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
“DREAM THEATER” will be available in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard and special edition CDs, 180 Gram Vinyl Double LP, and a Limited Edition Box Set. Pre-orders are scheduled to get underway sometime in July at the Roadrunner Records Webstore. 
“DREAM THEATER” follows 2011’s acclaimed “A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS.” That album – highlighted by “On The Backs Of Angels,” which earned the iconic band its first ever GRAMMY® Award nomination (in the “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance” category) – proved one of Dream Theater’s most successful, making top 10 chart debuts in 14 countries, including our own Billboard 200. “A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS” was hailed for its ambition, complexity, and sheer melodic power, with Japan’s influential BURRN! naming it as the year’s “Best Album.” 
Furthermore, the special edition CD/DVD set of “A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS” included “The Spirit Carries On” – a 60-minute movie documenting Dream Theater’s drummer auditions, which resulted in the addition of the gifted Mangini. The challenge spurred Dream Theater to extraordinary artistic heights on “A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS” and the epic world tour that followed. Long known as one of hard rock’s most powerful live acts, the recalibrated band hit the road hard in celebration of the acclaimed album, a 15-month trek which saw sold out headline shows in 35 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Central America, and South America.
With total sales exceeding 10 million albums and DVDs worldwide, Dream Theater have long stood among the upper echelon of hard rock giants. Albums such as 1992’s RIAA gold-certified classic “IMAGES & WORDS” (featuring the breakthrough top 10 single, “Pull Me Under”) have earned the Long Island-based band countless accolades for their visionary synthesis of melodic power and virtuosic experimentation, including being named as one of Rolling Stone’s top 10 “Best Prog Rock Bands of All time.”
Since uniting with Roadrunner in 2007, Dream Theater has unleashed a series of remarkable albums, each work revealing stunning new musical facets and creative avenues. 2009’s “BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS” proved a milestone, debuting at #6 on the Billboard 200 – the band’s highest album chart debut to date. 
Dream Theater will tour in support of “DREAM THEATER” – full details will be announced soon. For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visitwww.dreamtheater.net/tourdates.
Dream Theater is: John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), James LaBrie (vocals), Jordan Rudess (keyboards and continuum) and Mike Mangini (drums). 
For additional news and information, please visit www.dreamtheater.net,www.facebook.com/dreamtheaterofficial, www.twitter.com/dreamtheaternetwww.myspace.com/dreamtheater, www.youtube.com/dreamtheater, andwww.roadrunnerrecords.com.











1st source I've seen
http://www.rocking.gr/news/Titlos-kai-imerominia-kukloforias-gia-to-neo-album-twn-Dream-Theater/16408/

roughly translated I guess:

"Dream Theater" was recorded at Cove City Studios in New York, produced by the guitarist and founding member of the group John Petrucci, and engineered by the famous Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Rush). Τhis album marks a new chapter in the band's history, since it is the first where drummer Mike Mangini was involved completely and from the beginning in the creative process.

«I see each album as an opportunity for a new beginning» says Petrucci. «Building or improving in a direction that has evolved over time, or enter in completely new territory. This is the first self-titled album of our career and i can't think of something that states a musical and creative identity in a better way than this. We have completely explored all those elements that makes us unique, like the intensity and the cinematic atmosphere. We are excited with “Dream Theater” and can't wait for everyone to hear it.»

"Dream Theater" will be available in many different editions, including a regular and special 2CD edition, 180gram double vinyl and a limited box set. Preorders will start in the next month via the  Webstore of Roadrunner Records.

September 24th, Road Runner Records. They are also releasing a new live record in November I guess, which for some reason releasing a new live album after a new studio album, knowing none of the music from the new studio will be inlcuded on the live album seems weird.

And of course the band did no demo-ing or even testing of this music live, which is status quo I suppose, but I've felt for over a decade, is at least part of the reason their albums have come out at the quality they have.

But so be it, I am still rather curious.

When more info comes, it'll be edited in (maybe later today even).

God is an Astronaut - Origins (2013)

6/8/13 12:04PM



Drop date is September 16th, with the 1st single on September 2nd. GiaA are a post rock band who I always think of for their use of piano. And their music I have enjoyed, but it's been a little hit and miss. Their best work or songs are brilliant. I just can't say their percentage for being brilliant is incredibly high. But all their music has definitely been worth checking out, no matter. The 2 videos are the bottom are 2 of the best tracks by them. Although "Zodiac" doesn't feature as much piano if I recall, and their record Age of the Fifth Sun and S/T record I remember not including as much as their earlier work. Hopefully Origins will; namely since the name suggests it'll be like their earlier or music from their *origins* (early influences?)

http://giaaband.tumblr.com/post/52375020759/rocket-girl-press-release-origins-is-the-seventh

Origins is the seventh full-length album released by God is an Astronaut and sees the band return to Rocket Girl records, who licensed the band’s breakthrough album, All is Violent, All is Bright in 2005. In the eight years since then, GIAA have continued to release albums on their own Revive Records (Far From Refuge, 2007, God is an Astronaut, 2008 and Age of the Fifth Sun, 2010), with limited promotion and yet still amassing a vast following on social media sites (150,000 fans on Facebook, half a million listeners on lastfm.com) and touring extensively, establishing themselves as Ireland’s most intense, incandescent live act.

The new single ‘Spiral Code’ (rgirl99) will be released on 2nd Sept on Rocket Girl, followed by the full length ‘Origins’ (rgirl98) on 16th Sept







also their whole back catalog (6 albums) was remastered and released as a package earlier this year
http://www.superadmusic.com/god/shop.html

Timbre - Sun and Moon (2014)

6/8/13 11:39AM
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-timbre-record-a-double-disc-album-that-will-unite-two-worlds-of-music/x/2421326

Keep at it Timbre! $5800 left to go in the next 12 days. You Can Do It!.



Just to remind people who don't know Timbre, it's songs like this show how brilliant her music is.

5/7/13 5:55AM

the write-up below is from the Indiegogo Campaign. $10K in about a month-and-a-half. I think she can do it, but $10K is not nothing.

It sounds and I'm sure will be amazing. Double album at that. And it'll be coming in 2014 of course.

"St.Cecilia" sounds like it would be worth having this album for alone.





"Sun and Moon"

Art does not exist alone... art creates art.

This is the idea behind my newest project, "Sun and Moon". This double disc record explores the deep connection between classical music and modern songwriting. One disc, "Sun" will feature songs written with my band, songs about friendship, love, grief, nature, even a song based on a children's fairy tale (more on that later!). The other disc, "Moon", will feature a variety of classical music that I've written, from a harp and oboe duet, to a piece for full orchestra, choir, harp, and solo soprano (me!).

Both discs will feature many of the same musicians. Themes and ideas will pass back and forth between them, playing with ideas of dark and light, day and night. My desire is to show that classical music and "popular music" are deeply connected, as they have always been. Classical music and popular music each have their depth, their energies, their forms of communication, and together they can speak to us in even deeper and more beautiful ways.

I grew up in a completely classical world, listening to only classical and choral music until I was in my teens. I have sung classically from as early as I could stand up and make sounds, and have played harp classically for 20 years. I have been composing for a few years as well, and have had my pieces performed in cathedrals all over the world, including Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and St Peter's Basilica in Rome. I have also performed vocally with composer Eric Whitacre in Carnegie Hall for the premiere of his choral cycle, "The City and The Sea."

 Over the past 7 years, I have slowly found my way into a new world of popular music, writing songs  with my band and playing with a ridiculously diverse collection of bands, from people like mewithoutYou, the Chariot, Brooke Waggoner, to bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and Jack White of the White Stripes. I have found a deep undercurrent of passion and art that connects these worlds, and I want to help my listeners plunge into the depth of those waters with me. 

I believe this album will introduce many listeners to classical music in a new way, in a way that can be attached to and felt. I also believe this album will take listeners into different depths of spiritual and emotional experience, as the different kinds of sounds take them to new places. I believe in this record, and I know I will be more proud of it than anything I have done yet! 

I also believe that the way we think about making music is changing. Music is not a commodity to be made and sold and consumed. Music is a form of deep expression, something that moves between souls, back and forth. I am so passionate about the idea of partnering with listeners. I am making this for you, to communicate with you, to share with you... and I cannot make it without you.

WHAT WE NEED:

Our ideal budget for this album $20,000. That seems like such a big number, but recording an orchestra and choir(100 +people) is not something an independent artist often undertakes. We have set our minimum goal at $10,000, but to be able to go beyond just tracking and actually master, print, and promote this album, we need $20,000. We have already invested around $5,000 into it so far, and had to stop due to lack of funding. We will be starting back up in June if this fundraiser is successful!

Money will go towards:

-Tracking in Nashville and in Cincinatti

-Paying musicians (orchestra, choir, guest musicians)

-Travel

-Engineering and mixing fees

-Mastering

-Printing (super expensive for a double disc)

-Artwork

-Promotion 

The CRAZY thing with this whole project is that fact that I even have the opportunity to write for an orchestra and for a world-renowned a capella choir. I have a beautiful relationship with my alma-mater, Trevecca University, and their music department is working on this project with me. So few composers get the chance to even hear their music performed. This is a ridiculously rare opportunity and I am SO grateful! It should cost $50,000 or more to record 2 different orchestral pieces and two a capella choral pieces, in freaking CATHEDRAL. The fact that we are able to do this for only $20,000 is a little crazy. 

WHAT WE WANT TO GIVE YOU:

All perks include early download of album! 

In keeping with this idea that art creates art, we have partnered with friends from all over the U.S. to create unique pieces of art inspired by "Sun and Moon", which you can claim with a donation to our project! There will also be crochet art made by our cellist, Patrick Rush. We will be using crochet lace doily designs as apart of the album artwork, and those doilies are among the rewards!

Here are the art pieces we have available:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151581735649165.1073741825.16237174164&type=1&l=3363e0a8c6

We also have lots of other goodies, including early downloads of the album, cover songs, house shows, even a piece of my harp. hahaha. but for real.

Just to be clear, we still have at least a year of work to do on this album, including a symphony premiere in november, which will be recorded for the album. All art rewards will be sent out once the fundraiser is over, but all music rewards will be dependent on the album release date. (approx July 2014)

If we don't reach our goal, we will keep working to put this album out ourselves! It might just take a while longer...

 More About The Album: 

"Sun and Moon" will explore many ideas of dark and light, of the mysteries of the unknown and the joy of exploring those places. 

Two snapshots of the album:

"Nycteris Sees the Sun" will be a song on the "Sun" album, and is inspired by a story written by George McDonald, "Day Boy and Night Girl- the Romance of Photogen and Nycteris" (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/macdonald/daynight/files/daynight.html) Photogen has lived entirely in light, and Nycteris has lived entirely in darkness, not knowing the other half of reality even exists. They meet, and must learn to see and love what they fear in the other. Nycteris, the girl, decides that the sun is more real than the moon, that she must KNOW this light, even if it destroys her.  My interpretation of her story expresses her decision to move from the dark of the cave that she knows into the pain and the glory of light. The music moves from a quiet, dark, contemplative sound then suddenly bursts into the frenzy of her joy and pain. Its one of my favourite songs I've ever written!! 

"St Cecilia: an Ode to Music" will be on the "Moon" album, and is written for full orchestra, choir, harp, and soprano solo. It was premiered in april 2012 and was the most incredible night of my life thus far. It explores the language of music, and again draws parallels between two worlds, this time between the natural and the spiritual. Here are my liner notes about the piece from that night:

 "St Cecilia" encompasses a series of concepts that are incredibly important to me as a composer and as an individual. It speaks of the transcendent nature, the spiritual language of music that reaches beyond what can be seen with our eyes or felt with our hands.

 “St Cecilia” also touches on a concept that has enraptured me: the unspeakable Name of God. In ancient Israel, "YHWH" represented the name of God that was beyond speaking, unknowable. Ephesians 3:19 says that we can "know this love that surpasses knowledge". That idea has always resonated with me, that we can know what is unknowable. We cannot fully quantify God, but we can know Him. We cannot fully define God, but we can experience Him. I think this is the unknowable knowing.

 I believe that if God exists, He is the ultimate form of all that is good. He is Love, He is Light, He is Joy. What I centered on for this piece is the idea that He is Beauty. All that is beautiful is a broken form of Him. And so, when we make something beautiful, we are pointing to and experiencing Him.

 These ideas came together for me in this... When we make music, music that is truly beautiful, we are speaking His Name. In song, we can speak the Unspeakable Name of God. We can participate in the mystery of His beauty, and actually hear Him sing back to us.

 St Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians. Christian legend says that as she was martyred, she sang praises to God. She died singing, and heard angels singing with her. I was struck with this, the closeness of the two worlds, joined by song. The piece begins with a plea for her to pray for us, with the hope that we too would experience God and touch heaven through music as she did.

 Other Ways You Can Help

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3/15/13 11:00PM

1 of the new songs "Chicago Pier," which sounds outstanding.


Timbre - Chicago Pier - Whalehead Sessions from Love Greatly on Vimeo.

11/9/12 2:09PM




http://www.facebook.com/TimbreHarp/posts/10151242278454165

I am excited to announce that WE GO INTO THE STUDIO TOMORROW!!!! We're driving to Cincinatti tonight and in the morning, Mason will start putting down our sweet beats!! Haha ;) Thus begins our new album "Sun and Moon" !!!!!!! #timbresunandmoon

 Pretty excited to hear this. 2010's Little Flowers is breathtaking at times, and having seen her twice this past year in my home state, including just over a month ago where she played 1 of the new pieces, my optimism about this record couldn't be higher.

The only thing is, she mentioned to myself and my friend John who was there as well, she has enough music for a double album, but she also didn't really know for sure when it would be coming out. Perhaps due to the fact she may want to release a double album, it may take all of next year to finish, thus perhaps a 2014 release.

But regardless, it's great news she is finally going into the studio to record it.
She is rather active on social media, so I imagine updates will be happening and bumps of this entry in the coming week/months when more info is certain. 

Very cool that both her and Brooke Waggoner have albums coming soon, for my and others female orchestral-oriented pop/rock/etc music fix. 

Cloud Cult's - Hurricane and Fire Survival Guide (Northern Illinois U Recital)

Just noticed Cloud Cult share this very cool arrangement from the track from Feel Good Ghosts.



Super cool arrangement of Cloud Cult's "Hurricane and Fire Survival Guide" (Feel Good Ghosts) by Brian Wach's Junior Percussion Recital at Northern Illinois University. Big smiles all around:)