Tirian Flame

Warm spring greetings fellow progheads!  The mid-point in May has been reached...2016 is sliding through the hourglass faster than the Jamaican bobsled team down an icy slope.  This week as I take the Concert Closet on the return trip from Germany, I head to the UK for a week with a band I was exposed to by a fellow proghead...a band that has been around quite some time yet has managed to escape (or avoid) the trappings of commercial success.  Hopefully the Concert Closet can shine a spotlight that will help Tirian Flame burn a bit brighter in the prog garden...

Tirian Flame considers themselves "...melodic progressive rock..."  Hmmm; could be a "not-so-obvious" way of saying this is just a band with shiny, fancy artwork on the CD cover, or a non-assuming way to say they got talent and just need a listen to drive the point home...either way, the Concert Closet has docked in the northwestern section of the UK for seven days of searching out and listening to Tirian Flame...

Checking out the buffet as spread before me, the opening track seems the obvious kick-off point; "Destiny."  Exceptionally crisp sound; the keyboards and drums flow almost seamlessly, each intertwined with the other in a melodic romp through an open field.  Definite top notes of Mister Mister and Marillion on this particular cut.  The guitar makes a strong appearance but seems content with a backseat for this piece...no need to shout over the top when the message is getting through.

The second track cued up for headphone ingestion is another high paced song, "Adventures of a Lightning Chaser."  Keyboards are once again on the front burner, setting the tone for an adventurous ride through the latter-day Genesis/Roxy Music section of the prog garden.  The vocals ride high across the top while guitars and drums are content to "hunker down" and keep the foundation firm and secure.  Tirian Flame emits top notes of Be Bop Deluxe and perhaps a hint of Yes when they were in their "new line-up every album" run.  Colors are bright on the canvas but not so much as to make you cover your eyes and turn down the volume...the hues bleed through each other in a way that creates a sound as smooth as honey dripping down the side of a hot biscuit...

Liner Notes...Tirian Flame hails from Manchester, UK and is currently comprised of two members; Gary Gordon on guitars, bass, drums, and vocals, and Neil Gordon playing those high flying keyboards.  Tirian Flame originated in 1992 and disbanded in 1994...nothing really new about that; the plight of many a prog band has played out in similar fashion.

What seems to set Tirian Flame apart from those other bands is their refusal to surrender so easily.  Breaking up may have been the swansong of other prog bands--but not Tirian Flame.  The brothers(?) Gordon reunited with the other original band members, Darren Ogden and Niall Fryer, to record the LP "Destiny" in 2008. This was re-mixed/re-mastered and ultimately re-released September 2013...hence the Concert Closet picking up the scent now and bringing it to you my fellow progheads.

The third and final platter of prog this week is a dish called "Yes It's True."  Tirian Flame does in fact stay true to their desire to build big sound that flows smooth and easy while splashing vivid color across an otherwise mundane prog terrain.  Leaning a bit heavier on the drum kit for this piece, I pick up strong top notes of Kansas and undertones of 10cc...even a hint of Asia floating through the headphones.  If Tirian Flame has a fault, it would be that they are almost too smooth...too polished. While that isn't a negative per se, it tends to baffle me a bit as to why a band this crisp only has one LP on its resume in two decades plus.  Stay the course yes, but at least leave a mark...

The cut below is a live version of "Romantic Escape."  Live cuts are always a risk because of the
hit-or-miss quality of the videographer, the acoustics, the sound equipment, blah blah blah...and while this is not exactly the best live clip I have seen--it is definitely not the worst.  You do get a sense of what Tirian Flame is about, and Gary's vocals are pretty clean for a small venue...of course this clip is from 1993, so the cleaner, smoother, closer-to-present-day studio work on the LP makes sense.  All the more reason to go to the Tirian Flame website Tirian Flame Band and check out the entire album and--dare I say it--make a purchase!  You can also see what is happening in the world of Tirian Flame on Facebook Tirian Flame Facebook.  On Twitter you will get a sense of their musical likes and tastes, something I personally like to analyze...see for yourself at @GaryRetepGordon.

Well fellow progheads, another chapter in the book of prog written, another plot in the garden of prog tilled.  While Tirian Flame has a bit of a "waxy shine," the band manages to hit you with clean shots at just the right moment...keeping you alert and waiting for the next round.  Tirian Flame runs smooth, but rest assured there are lumps in the mix...like so many bands before and untold numbers to inevitably follow, Tirian Flame has spent much time tending the seedlings and nurturing the sound from the shadows, while we listeners enjoy the fruit of those labors basking in the sun.

Time now to head home and clean out the deep, dark corners of the Concert Closet.  The search for all things prog has logged quite a few miles as we near the half-way marker for 2016...a good spot for reflection and a chance to catch up with some friends who have much going on in the prog garden. The search for all things prog will resume after a fortnight hiatus; that is two weeks to those of you unfamiliar with Old English.  I have a few surprises and some exciting new releases and interviews to finish up...the world of prog continues to move at a rapid pace; I'm just trying to keep up.

Looking forward to continuing the search and sharing some more great prog with you June 6th...until then...

Atlas Cube

Thanks for stopping in at the Concert Closet once again fellow progheads!  To paraphrase an old saying; "...what a tangled music web we weave when first we seek out prog to please..."  It has been quite the tangent journey in my quest for all things prog; searching for bands old and new...whether they have but one release to their credit or an entire library burned into disc and carved into vinyl; the Concert Closet is happy to present progressive rock bands worthy of your time and headphones.  The journey has been fun, exciting, and a great lesson in prog gardening.  This week the Concert Closet ventures to a country not often visited but with a wealth of prog talent.  Join me and together we will explore Germany; the land of bratwurst, beer, and the prog sounds of Atlas Cube.

Atlas Cube describes their music as "...what cubism art sounds like...progressive and groovy at the same time...cubism for your ears..."  My loyal followers know Atlas Cube had me at "sounds like cubism art."  This is a sound the Concert Closet has to add to the collection...so headphones on and to the buffet we go...

The first offering this week is "Asia Moments."  I am instantly struck with an image of Dream Theater, "Scenes From a Memory."  Atlas Cube comes out of the gate with both speakers blazing; striking at your auditory canals with hard-hitting guitars and drums saturated with volatility.  Atlas Cube rides a tempo up and down a mood elevator that avoids the middle floors...

Next up for auditory digestion is an intricate piece called "Fortress Of Rain."  An instrumental cut strong enough to hold up to against strong winds and heavy weather...the guitars come right at you led by a solid, rhythmic drumbeat...Atlas Cube channels a bit of Flim & the BB's in the beginning...and then Beardfish starts to fight for headspace.  Close your eyes and you can feel a storm rising; strong rains indeed.  The tempo holds throughout as if an uphill car chase was wending along some dark mountain road...gotta stay focused...

Liner Notes...coming to you via Regensburg, Germany, Atlas Cube is Martin Mies on guitar, Sebastian Beer on bass, and Helmar Weib on drums.  Sounds pretty basic and simple--but Atlas Cube is not quite that plain and ordinary.  Originating in 2013, Atlas Cube was the coming together of three friends who were in previous bands together but not as a trio.  Helmar and Sebastian played in a "hard rock" band of sorts, and Helmar was also involved in a prog rock project earlier in his music life that included Martin.  Their mutual desire to put together an "anything goes" prog band with an emphasis on "groovy" led to a jam session that sealed the deal.  Groovy?  Maybe I ain't that old after all...

Atlas Cube approaches prog the same way French painters in the early twentieth century approached their art; no rules or restrictions.  Thus, as Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso were pioneers in cubism art, Helmar, Martin, and Sebastian consider themselves pioneers in cubism prog. Their approach is as refreshing as it is honest; leave behind everything you know (or think you know) and push the boundaries...nothing is off limits so long as it adds to and enriches the sound.  Jamie Muir, Patrick Moraz, Adrian Belew, and Peter Gabriel--just to name a few--can certainly appreciate the desire.  You, However, will appreciate the result; Atlas Cube has found new, previously unexplored acreage in the prog garden to cultivate.

The last piece served up this week is a definite "outside-the-lines" offering called "Two Point Oh (2.0)."  The sharp edges and offbeat lines of their cubism signature shine through on this cut;  equal parts broken glass and the suede lining of a leather jacket flow down the inside of your skull like semi-melted peanut butter.  Helmar's drums take the tempo up a notch and Martin's guitar puts a stake in it.  Atlas Cube would be equally at home playing a dark nightclub, a large auditorium--or even an outdoor stage in the middle of nowhere...no boundaries...

I chose the tune below for your "taste-of-the-week" because it has the bits and pieces that make up the whole.  The smooth, velvety richness that makes you want more...the strong, stand-alone boldness that fills a canvas without forced exaggeration...and the funky groove this trio seems to relish.  Learn more about Atlas Cube and get their music at Atlas Cube Band.  Keep up with all the band shenanigans on their Facebook page, Atlas Cube Facebook.  Don't forget to capture their every rant on Twitter as well, @atlas_cube.  Oh, the moods you will discover and the shapes you will find...

Once again fellow progheads, I find myself staring at the empty upper half of the hourglass wondering where the time went.  Atlas Cube took the search for all things prog this week just a bit farther off the beaten path than I have ventured previously.  Their bent for being on the funky/groovy side of the prog garden opened an entire section that I had yet to trod.  For me, therein lies the best part of the journey--no matter how long I am at it, no need to worry about getting in a rut or the search becoming mundane.  To that end, the search for all things prog continues...until next week...  

Seconds Before Landing

Welcome to a new month fellow progheads!  As we begin to lay footprints in May, I decided to take yet another tangent road in my search for all things prog.  Still determined to shine light on new,
not-so-new, and up-and-coming bands worthy of attention, I stumbled upon a rare find in the prog garden this week; a prog band with big talent, big names, an impressive line-up of both musicians and production staff, and a marvelous sound.  This week the Concert Closet heads back home to the USA for some world-class progressive rock from Seconds Before Landing.

Seconds Before Landing (S.B.L.) is a bit of a "tweak" for the Concert Closet.  A prog rock project fronted by John Crispino who has guest musicians join him on each new venture.  An extremely
interesting--and pretty freakin' cool--way to operate!  The prog garden certainly has its share of creative thinkers and "waltzing on the edge" musicians...let us stride headlong to the buffet for a first person listen and peel back the curtain...

First vibrations to awaken my eardrums are the cautionary sounds of "Solitary Man."  An eyebrow-raising opening; the tension mounts among the wary silence.  Vocals cut through as if sung through a phone receiver...and the mood continues its downward spiral.  Seconds Before Landing hits hard without drawing blood; you feel yourself being pulled into darkness yet feel no desire to turn back. As pleading vocals gently bore through your skull, the intrigue continues to lull while clever guitar work penetrates almost unnoticed....quite the first course!

As a balancing act of sorts, I chose "Alice Springs" for my second serving.  The soft acoustic opening has an Alan Parsons Project/Gentle Giant feel to it...soothing like lip balm during a winter windstorm. The vocals pierce the music gently; so delicately you almost wonder how they made it through and where they came from.  Understated percussion rounds out what truly is a song slight enough to bounce raw eggs off of, yet strong enough to grab you by the ears and demand attention.

Liner Notes...Seconds Before Landing originated in Pittsburgh PA in the mind, heart, and soul of John Crispino.  John released a prog concept album under the S.B.L. name in 2012 called "The Great Deception."  Trey Gunn of King Crimson fame (among other highlights on his resume) performed on the album, which received rave reviews.  S.B.L. later released a second album, "Seconds Before Landing 2."  While the title may not exactly grab you by the throat--the music will.

Musicians are varied on both albums and include not only John Crispino on drums and percussion, keyboards, synthesizers, lead vocals, and special effects, and Trey Gunn on guitar; but also Tim Bogert, Steve Schuffert, Michele Cricco, J.D. Garrison, Jamie Peck, John Palumbo, Maurice Witkowski, Carrie Marie Jackson, and Vanessa Campagna.  Both releases were mastered by Andy Jackson, who has worked with Pink Floyd and received two Grammy nominations.  Mr. Crispino apparently has a lot of friends in the prog garden only too happy to help cultivate some fresh new growth...

Seconds Before Landing uses dark hues to paint vivid pictures, and the canvas drips with dramatic emotion and powerful imagery.  John Crispino walks the entire prog garden listening for sounds he can cultivate into something new and unique. Working with such an array of talent has allowed John to not only push the envelope--he was able to tear it wide open.  

                                          

The final selection for this week's review is "Big Train."  A song with a John Coltrane jazz feel as it opens, you feel as though you are in Penn Station...the vibrations of the locomotives as they pull in and out, squealing on the rails...an extremely vibrant picture painted on the underside of your eyelids. Not only do the horns take you to a smoky jazz cafe, the percussion work floats right under the entire piece, like a child's favorite blanket, providing the comfort needed for everyone to ease up, relax, and let the music flow...

Find out more about Seconds Before Landing, their "soon-to-be-released" third album, their first two releases, and the band in general at S.B.L.Band.  You can purchase both of their current albums--and I would suspect their third release when it hits the airwaves--  at SBL Bandcamp.   The band also has a Facebook page at SBLFacebook and of course a Twitter account @SBLOfficial.

Seconds Before Landing is a project I am enormously pleased to have stumbled across in the prog garden. John has a vision for each album he constructs, and proceeds to assemble the perfect performers to bring it to life.  Unlike many bands that paint with a dark brush, Seconds Before Landing blends an array of hope, encouragement, and acceptance with grit and determination--the desire to take back control.  Each song builds on the previous as life leaps through the headphones.  I invite all my faithful followers to support Seconds Before Landing as well as every prog artist/band reviewed on these pages...the garden will be so much better for it...  

The song I selected as an introduction to the band is another from the "The Great Deception" LP, "Welcome To The Future."  I chose this for several reasons, not the least of which is Seconds Before Landing is itself a bit of a glimpse into the prog future... The lyrics are a bit "Orwellian" as they project at you from all sides.  The music isn't so much ominous as commanding and foreboding; this is your future--be careful what you wish for....

 There you have it fellow progheads, another piece of prog gold unearthed in the garden.  Seconds Before Landing takes you behind the curtain for a glimpse of...your darkest fears, your innermost secrets, your future..?  What really grabbed me while listening to this album was the strength of its authenticity...don't believe something just because you are told you should.

The search for all things prog continues on it current trajectory; searching out bands that bring a new perspective and shed new light on a garden filled with prog wonder.  The journey (hopefully) never ends...until next week...