Deep Limbic System

Deep Limbic System hails from Mexico, and they have put together an impressive sound that is deep, complex, eclectic, and absolutely sophisticated. This is not something I would expect from a band's first effort.
This EP, "The Embryo", really is an album all to itself. Far from a collection of songs, this album explores the idea of growing, maturing, and realizing your potential. It's about understanding yourself, learning to better yourself and get over your fears, and it hits on the idea of that inner hope for something beyond this life. This aptly named EP is truly something deep, as is hinted in the fantastic artwork.

The EP starts off with a dirty, dynamic saxophone lead in "Amniotic", and it never pulls back from greatness. Beto Valtierra on saxophone is truly gifted, and his sound is incredibly signature from the first listen. The rest of the band---Sergio Sunga on vocals and guitars, Efraín Fraire on guitars, Carlos Barcenas on keys, Angel Daniel on bass, and Pepe Armengol on drums---have crafted something beautiful that Beto then accents expertly with his peeling sax. The music is hard to nail down in one genre, as on this short EP, the band visits everything from jazz fusion to progressive metal to the classic prog rock sound. Gorgeous walls of piano and keys mix expertly with emotive guitar solos in the vein of Floyd and Riverside to evoke a fullness, a gentleness, and a melodious wonder to my ears. The excellent rhythm section is full of surprises and very organic grooves, too. Lastly, Sergio's voice is rather free of accent, and wonderfully balanced, although this EP is primarily instrumental.

The band is formed in the late 2012, as a mutation of various projects that converged in one belief, which consist in taking music as the main focus and not a particular genre, having in that way the freedom to work with emotion and every color it offers.

So, do yourself a favor and pick this album up at the band's Bandcamp page. Support this band, as I predict amazing things to come.

Deep Limbic System 

Sleeping Pulse

Sleeping Pulse ist der Name der musikalischen Kollaboration von Mick Moss (Antimatter) und dem Portugiesen Luís Fazendeiro (Painted Black).

Während Moss sich hier im Gegensatz zu Antimatter erstmals ausschließlich auf Texte und Gesangslinien konzentriert, entstammt die Musik komplett der Feder von Fazendeiro.

Mit ihrem gemeinsamen Debüt "Under The Same Sky" erschaffen die Musiker ein facettenreiches, modernes Rockalbum, das von einem kernig-progressiven Fundament gekonnt Bögen zu zerbrechlichen Akustikpassagen, elektronischen Elementen und gefühlvollen Streicherarrangements spannt. Verantwortlich für die Abmischung und das Mastering ist Daniel Cardoso (Anathema), der dem Album einen klaren und differenzierten, aber stets kraftvollen Klang verleiht.
Trotz seiner musikalischen Vielfalt wirkt "Under The Same Sky" zu jedem Zeitpunkt homogen, was auch auf die perfekt in Szene gesetzte Stimme von Mick Moss zurückzuführen ist, der hier seine wahrscheinlich bis dato stärkste Gesangsleistung abruft. Auch inhaltlich beschäftigt sich Moss einmal mehr mit den Abgründen der menschlichen Seele und legt den Songtexten ein elaboriertes Konzept über soziopathische Manipulation zugrunde.

Erhältliche Editionen:
- CD
- 2CD-Digipak inkl. Bonus-CD mit 5 Bonusstücken und erweitertem Booklet

Titelliste:
CD1:
1. Parasite
2. Gagging Order
3. Backfire
4. The Puppeteer
5. Foreign Body
6. The Blind Lead The Blind
7. Painted Rust
8. Noose
9. War
10. Under The Same Sky

CD2 (acoustic):
1. The Puppeteer
2. Gagging Order
3. Backfire
4. Foreign Body
5. The Blind Lead The Blind

Sleeping Pulse

Fish On Friday

It’s september 2009 and William Beckers has a music project on his mind. Through 'youth novel writer' and common friend Luc Descamps he is introduced to producer Frank Van Bogaert. William decides to record his first music ideas in Frank’s ACE studio. The music ideas are faint but about the project’s name he is pretty determined,.... Fish On Friday.
It sounds good and nobody opposes. The initial recording sessions are quite disappointing and it’s clear that the project needs a more determined style and sound. On one studio session Frank puts on a second hat: in addition to producing the music, he’s actually starting to compose live in the studio, together with William. It’s only then that magic happens, when two keyboard players have found each other. They inspire each other and, both sharing a love for progressive rock, push each other to write songs true to their Prog-influences while also adding a much more popmusic style of arrangements.

In just a couple of months the duo writes ten gorgeous songs, true to their prog-roots but also very accessible to people not acquainted with progressive rock. Frank even states: ‘I guess we’re trying to give ‘women friendly prog rock’ a new boost,... if this has ever existed anyway’

It’s clear that such music has to be performed by a great band and so that’s where Frank calls in his regular studio band. Great songs and a stunning band, what else does one need ?? Urgh,....maybe a singer ?? No problem, William and Frank have written these songs as a kind of modern Alan Parsons project,...we’ll hire in whoever we feel is fitted to sing the song, simple isn’t it ? So they only need to prepare some pilot vocals to guide the singers so they can rehearse before the actual recording. Frank is appointed this job, he was a singer in a succesful new wave band, 1000 Ohm, some 300 years ago or so (we’re still checking the records about this), so he’ll be doing fine. Said and done. But after several try out sessions with different singers, William is always left with the same feeling, he still prefers Frank’s pilot vocals. So he becomes convinced Frank should sing all vocals, ‘caus it just sounds right’ and his voice is, as he puts it, female friendly. The only problem,... Frank doesn’t feel like he should be a singer again. ‘I’ve been there, done that, seen it before and am happy now.’

Frank is giving William a hard time and is actually refusing to do the final lead vocals. It’s only after a while and mainly out of frustration that no one gets to sing it the way he intended, that Frank accepts his role as lead vocalist. ‘After a while I even started to enjoy singing again and really got into it again.’ Frank admits.

The debut album "Shoot The Moon" is an immediate hit for the more melodic and song oriented prog fan . Fish on Friday plays a few shows in homeland Belgium and the project is starting to feel a bit more like a band.

With the following release "Airborne" FoF reaches an even broader audience and the album enjoys a lot of airplay on mainstream radio as well as on specialized Progressive rock stations.
It"s also on this album , that UK top Bass player Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo, Steven Wilson, Steve Hackett ) gets involved, appearing on the steaming opening track  "Welcome".

 Nick's and FoF's musical tastes are along the line and so mr. Beggs decides to be part of the band  on the coming third album "Godspeed".

Fish On Friday

Fake?

Fake? is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in 2001 by Ken Lloyd and Inoran.
Their music can be described as alternative rock mixed with electronic sounds.
Lyrics are mainly in English and sometimes in Japanese.

Their lates album The Lost Generation (September 17, 2014) is again a high quality output.

Discography:

Studio albums:

    Breathe In... (July 10, 2002)
    Tomorrow Today (January 22, 2003)
    The Art of Losing Touch (June 23, 2004)
    Made with Air (June 17, 2005)
    Songs from Beelzebub (May 24, 2006)
    Marilyn Is a Bubble (November 22, 2006)
    Switching on X (February 24, 2010)
    The Lost Generation (September 17, 2014)

Mini-albums:

    New Skin (March 17, 2004)
    Nail (November 19, 2012) (limited EP for those who bought it on "FAKE? Showcase III" gig at Daikanyama UNIT)
    Stone (June 23, 2013) (limited EP for those who bought it on "Fallen Angels" gig at Daikanyama UNIT)
    Together (September 29, 2013) (limited EP for those who bought it on "Grind-A-Go-Go" gig at Daikanyama UNIT)

Compilations:

    Fake? Best Album (December 21, 2005)
    Fake? 2002-2012 Decade Selection (August 1, 2012)

Singles:

    "Taste Maximum" (February 27, 2002)
    "Someday" (May 22, 2002)
    "Here We Go" (December 11, 2002)
    "Praise" (April 21, 2004)
    "Just Like Billy" (November 25, 2004)
    "Pulse" (March 16, 2005)
    "Pulse" -English Version- (April 1, 2005)

DVDs:

    Stepping Stone Extra Date (June 3, 2004)
    www.hedfuc.com (November 25, 2004)
    Tour of Losing Touch Shibuya-Ax (December 22, 2004)
    Live Tour ? Final at Shibuya-Ax (December 21, 2005)
    Live From Beelzebub Tour (November 22, 2006)
    Used to Be a Bad Thing's PV (limited DVD for those who attended any gig of "Live with Marilyn" in early 2007)
    FAKE? -Decade Live- (October 02, 2013)

Fake?

Dave Kerzner

Dave Kerzner, former member of the progressive rock band “Sound of Contact”, is gearing up for a late October release of his debut solo concept album, “New World”.

 The first single off the album, “Stranded”, has just been released as a digital download from iTunes®, Amazon®, Google Play® and other on line stores. “Stranded” is a 10 minute “rock opera” comprised of 5 parts. It features Kerzner on vocals and keyboards with special guests Steve Hackett of Genesis, Durga McBroom of Pink Floyd, Nick D’Virgilio of Spocks Beard, Jason Scheff of Chicago and it was mixed by legendary engineer Tom Lord-Alge.

http://www.davekerzner.com

Lillian Axe

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame members, Lillian Axe, have released their thirteenth album, the acoustic live, "One Night In The Temple", produced by Steve Blaze, on May 27, 2014.

Performed acoustically in an intimate setting housed in a Masonic Temple in the Bayou, with their most diehard fans, One Night in the Temple, features all their hits including, True Believer, Show A Little Love, Crucified, Misery Loves Company, Ghost of Winter, The Great Divide, Bow Your Head, Waters Rising and the crowd favorite Nobody Knows.

Lillian Axe founder Steve Blaze reflects; "When I first had the idea of putting this show together, it was originally going to be a private 20 person show with acoustic guitars, vocals and no production, however, it took on a life of its own."

One Night in the Temple; will be released as 3 disc set (2CDs/1DVD and 2CDs/1Blu-Ray), housed in an elaborate digipack. Filmed in high definition, the Blu-Ray and DVD will contain the acoustic performance, fan question and answer session, videos for the songs Caged In and Death Comes Tomorrow, live concert footage from their July 4, 2013 performance at the Paragon Casino and behind the scenes footage.

MRR owner Andrew McNeice: "I'm excited to be involved with the guys on this release. The guys really deliver an "electric" unplugged set of their classic songs and it's an honor to have such a great name in music on the MRR label. It's also our first DigiPack/DVD release on the label, so I'm really keen to see how this release goes. Confidence is high!"

Lillian Axe is:
Brian Jones (lead vocals), Steve Blaze (guitar and vocals), Sam Poitevent (guitar and vocals), Eric Morris (bass guitar) and Ken Koudelka (drums).

Discography:
Lillian Axe / 1988
Love And War / 1989
Into The Darkness Into The Light / 1991
Poetic Justice / 1992
Psychoschizophrenia / 1993
Fields Of Yesterday / 1999
Live 2002 / 2002
Waters Rising / 2007
Sad Day On Planet Earth / 2009
Deep Red Shadows / 2010
XI: The Days Before Tomorrow / 2012
Live & War [digital only release live EP] / 2012
Convergence [13 CD box set] / 2014
One Night In The Temple / 2014

http://www.lillianaxe.com

A Secret River

Out of the fertile musical soil of southern Sweden comes A Secret River, a band intent on exploring and creating innovative sounds, while still keeping the song in focus. From its humble inception as a duo some ten years ago to the four-piece it is today, A Secret River is steadily building a following around the world, with songs that are undoubtedly progressive and intricate, yet remain easily accessible to listeners from all walks of life. Lush vocal harmonies, unusual song structures and multilayered sounds are just a few of the things that make A Secret River stand out from the crowd.

PROG magazine compared the band’s sound to that of artists like Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel, and a number of radio shows have been giving the bands debut ep steady airplay.

 The band released their first full-length album, entitled “Colours of solitude” on june 25th, 2014.

The band:

Andreas Ålöv - Bass and lead vocals

John Bergstrand - Drums, percussion and vocals

Mikael Grafström - Guitars and vocals

Björn Sandberg - Keyboards and vocals

http://www.asecretriver.com