The Tangent, "The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery"

Welcome once again to the Closet Concert Arena fellow progheads!  Sit down and relax; now that autumn is officially here and you feel the urge to reach for that hoodie, rest assured there is plenty of heat here in the Concert Closet.  This week the search for all things prog sets the GPS for the United Kingdom and a visit with The Tangent to review their latest release, "The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery."

Not exactly a "newbie" to the prog garden; this is The Tangent's ninth studio album for those scoring at home.  Despite having reviewed the band just once, way back in 2013, I have been a fan ever since discovering their bounty in the prog garden.  This is a band that redefines themselves with every new release and "The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery" is no exception.  Despite a political slant, band leader/founder Andy Tillison takes world issues head-on...there is so much to enjoy and admire about this album.  So let us step up to the buffet and dive right in...

First song on the carving block this week is "Dr. Livingstone (I Presume)."  As the song opens you are immediately struck by the force that The Tangent brings...perhaps it is because of rather than in spite of this being their first new music in two years, but it feels like the magic is back. Top notes of old Tangent work their way through the headphones.  While there is a distinction here from the band's previous output, there is no denying the obvious...much like the unmistakable taste of  grandma's home cooking, there is something "comfortably familiar" happening here...

Next up on the platter is a cut that takes off in an entirely different direction, "The Sad Story of Lead and Astatine."  Perhaps grandma took some cooking lessons from Anthony Bourdain; the atmosphere changed although the surroundings aren't intimidating.  The piano work that rolls across the vocals is as smooth as ganache running down the sides of a chocolate torte...The Tangent manage to slap you awake with this cut despite the velvet gloves.  Madness may be the new norm in society, but for many that change is unsettling.  Andy Tillison walks a fine line between jazzy comfort and worrisome anxiety as the mood swings dark while the background haunts.  A Marillion hue added to the paint on the canvas...

Liner Notes...The Tangent is of course led by Andy Tillison on vocals, keyboards, and drums--his sitting behind the kit a Tangent first.  Andy is joined by Luke Machin on guitars and vocals, Jonas Reingold on bass, Theo Travis on saxes and flutes, and Marie-Eve de Gaultier on keyboards and vocals.  Guest appearances by Boff Whalley on vocals and DJ/producer Matt Farrow round out the line-up.  Perhaps this time around Andy felt the time was right to sit in every stool and wear every hat...

The Tangent came to be in 2002 and enjoy a loyal following. What captured my fancy this time around is the alternate approach the band took in putting this album together.  I prefer to keep the soil in the prog garden pure and leaves politics out; however this album does a splendid job bringing the two together without pummeling you with a one-sided argument.  There can be music with a purpose; music to make one think (remember the 70's?).  But The Tangent does it without forsaking the
quality--or validity--of the music.  One of the many gifts Andy possesses is the ability to tell a
story--a real story--one that pulls at your emotions, makes you think, and gets under your skin without  causing you to bleed.  The words and music used by The Tangent paint a picture as vivid as a Salvador Dali original...

Another dark gem etched in etched in vinyl here is "Slow Rust."  There is an eerie, somewhat sense of macabre coming through the headphones as the song opens, much like Steven King reading Hallmark cards out loud; is he being nice or should I walk faster past the open door?  One thing The Tangent refuses to do is stay silent or stand on the sidelines when discussing issues that tear at the moral fabric of society.  Andy prefers to point out the hypocrisy that runs rampant today, whether it be politicians, the couple next door, or the tabloid press.  The music absolutely captures the spirit and soul; the colors running down the canvas are rife with raw emotion.

"The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery" was released on the Inside Out Music label; you can purchase this jewel and others like it at The Tangent.  Check out more fantastic prog artists under the Inside Out umbrella at Inside Out Music.  Andy Tillison and The Tangent can also be found on Facebook and Twitter; The Tangent FB and @thetangentmusic respectively.

For a taste of what The Tangent brings to the prog garden, I chose the cut "Two Rope Swings."  An elegant opening belies the depth of this piece; I pick up scents of U.K. in the air and perhaps a hint of Gentle Giant.  The flow of the music and the range of mood a la Tangerine Dream are striking...much like discovering a bottle of Armand de Brignac champagne at your local discount liquor store...once the shock wears off the savoring begins...

   

The prog garden needs artists like The Tangent...sometimes it is important to stand up and be counted.  Andy & Co. make more than just a political statement here; this is a record that demands  everyone look in the mirror and decide if they like who/what they see.  Are you content to let the world spiral on and just be a spectator--or can you get in the game and make a difference?  Is the slow rust that surrounds you the moral decay of your world, and if so, what can be done about it?  The planet has not seen such divisive times as these in a while, and the prog garden is as good a place as any to get the conversation started...just be prepared to dig deep into the garden soil and have plenty of time to indulge your listening skills...

As the The Tangent sates your appetite for relevant, meaningful, insightful prog right now, The Closet Concert Arena continues the search for all things prog so as to keep you replete with an plethora of options as we delve into the future...until next time... 

Gregorian Rock...Making "Fire" the Old-Fashion Way

Greetings once again fellow progheads!  Summer 2017 is preparing for her swan song; nights are getting a bit cooler as Mother Nature starts to hunker down in anticipation of autumn.  The leaves are starting to turn, there is a crisp bite in the evening air, and a brisk stroll through the prog garden has me looking for hearty fall bounty.  In an effort to cling to summer as long as possible, I circle back to San Antonio, Texas for a follow-up to a blog post started several months ago...

Dale Benedict, perhaps better known as the master mind behind Gregorian Rock, has been putting together album #3, "Fire" one single release at-a-time.  I wrote about this album and the concept behind it back in March; the early cuts were original, exciting, and very well put together. Gregorian Rock is truly a distinctive prog force to be reckoned with.  Recently Dale forwarded me a copy of song #11 called "Wisdom"; a piece he described as "pummeling."  The song opens hard and stays there throughout; drums crack the protective coating that is the vocals, which are but the lone word sapientia (Latin for wisdom), and guitar work spills out just enough to tangle itself around that vocal line and hang on.  I pick up a few top notes of Spock's Beard and Porcupine Tree lingering around the periphery...

Playing back some of the other tracks Dale has laid down leads to some attention-grabbing music; the cut titled "Blood & Fire" jumps right at you.  There is "jazz cafe" feel much like Steve Scales improvising with Herbie Hancock if you can paint that picture in your mind.  Once again the drum work is exceptional as it carries the rest of the music comfortably through the headphones, filtering through your cerebrum as it both soothes and ignites the senses.

Gregorian Rock is the stained glass window in that vintage village gift shop...until you cross the threshold and nothing is as it seems.  While the vocals are a chant, they are well accompanied by incredible guitar and keyboard work.  Dale does Tony Levin proud with the Chapman stick as well...

A song that changes things up a bit is this next cut, "Talon."  Gregorian Rock digs deeper into the rock section of the prog garden with this tune; I detect top notes of latter era Yes blending with aromatics of Be Bop Deluxe.  Dale has done his home work for this album; there are footprints up and down the prog garden.  "Fire" is a culmination of Gregorian Rock's first two albums stretched to a new limit...Dale didn't just push the envelope to stroke his ego, he moved the bar and raised the expectation level for what Gregorian Rock can do.

"Ashes" is up next and once again Gregorian Rock comes at you from a different angle.  The vibe is almost surreal; you feel as though you are floating downstream on a current as gentle as flowing honey, each twist of the water soothing and tender.  The pallet goes from dreary gray to color strewn as Gregorian Rock manages to awaken you without shock waves...letting the sound flow over you like a soothing balm...

Liner Notes...As should be blatantly obvious by now--and explained to the prog faithful in previous posts--Gregorian Rock is Dale Benedict and vice-versa.  However; for the making of "Fire" Dale had some help in the form of a pretty impressive line-up.  With Dale on vocals, keyboards, EWI, and Chapman stick, the line-up rounds out with Phil Keaggy, Vinnie Moreno, Pat Neil, and Jay Pilkington on guitars, John Adams on bass, Scott McCullor on vocals, and Sean McCurley and Paul Garretson on drums.  As big as Texas is, that is one crowded recording studio...

Gregorian Rock legitimizes itself as a band with this album.  Assembling that level of talent--the fact that Phil Keaggy not only played guitar but had nothing but positive things to say about the project--is a bold statement all by itself.  Gregorian Rock has grown and matured from their first release in 2013 right through the first eleven tracks of "Fire."  The sound is tighter, the mixing improved, the songs stronger, and the emotions bursting through the headphones are real.

Take the leap and learn more about Gregorian Rock at Gregorian Rock.  You can purchase any or all of the first eleven tracks of "Fire" (there will be twelve upon completion) at Amazon
GR Fire Amazon, iTunes GR Fire iTunes, and cdbaby GR Fire cdbaby.  You will also find links to purchase the first two albums while you are there.  For those looking to expand their own personal prog boundaries, this is must-have stuff.  There is also Facebook if you are interested in keeping up with the latest, including the release of song #12 (when that occurs) at Gregorian Rock FB.  Of course, Gregorian Rock can also be found on the ever popular Twitter @cantusnovus.

I debated posting a clip this week as I prefer you to listen and make a purchase...need to support the artists after all.  However I thought the clip below, "Remember the Name" would help introduce those who are still unfamiliar with Gregorian Rock to this section of the prog garden.  This song should help erase the misconception that Gregorian chant is simply dark voices echoing from a hollow void.
Although the song opens with a melancholy, perhaps stereotypical "churchy" feel, the mood quickly swings right as the tempo gains steam and even the vocals have an upbeat, toe-tapping edge.  The drums and percussion lay a foundation for the vocal work that is tight as a wrestling mat; you feel the music bounce up and come right back at you.

                   

OK fellow progheads...two weeks in Texas and two bands expanding the prog garden.  Gregorian Rock has taken a unique approach as Dale Benedict blends the ancient art of Gregorian chant with modern music to establish a different section of the prog garden.  The sounds are soothing, menacing, deep, and relaxing...all while seeping into your subconscious to alter your thoughts on the genre.  One thing is certain--prog rock has many tangent roads down which it is unafraid to roam...

So please give Gregorian Rock a listen and make a purchase.  The search for all things prog continues to find new and expanding avenues and ever changing acreage in the prog garden...which is after all the best part of the journey.  Until next time...

Aaron Clift Experiment "If All Goes Wrong" Indiegogo Campaign

Hello fellow progheads and welcome back to The Closet Concert Arena!  In case you are scratching your head with a confused look in your eye...no--today is not Tuesday and yes--this is a new post coming from the Concert Closet.

The Aaron Clift Experiment is set to go into the studio to work on their third album "If All Goes Wrong."  The album promises to be as diverse as the prog garden; tracks ranging from intricate prog epics to crushing hard rock and delicate ballads...

If I may be so bold as to offer some first-hand personal experience with The Aaron Clift Experiment, let me simply say that this is a band that walks the width and breadth of the prog garden.  Their first two albums were extremely well done and offered the listener quite a prog experience.  I first discovered The Aaron Clift Experiment back in 2014, and was fortunate to interview Aaron in 2015 following the release of the band's second album, "Outer Light Inner Darkness."  Aaron is dedicated to his craft and his band is both a credit and testament to that end.

The Aaron Clift Experiment released their debut "Lonely Hills" in 2012, and followed up in 2015 with their second album.  Both were well received in the prog world, with rave reviews here in the Closet Concert Arena as well Progression Magazine and  Progradar.  Prog Magazine nominated the band for a a prog award in the Limelight category in 2016 and  for the Indie Prog Award by Friday Night Progressive.

The Aaron Clift Experiment hails from Austin, Texas and is deeply entrenched in the local prog music scene.  They are running an Indiegogo campaign from today September 15th through October 27th, 2017.  You can contribute to the campaign at www.aaronclift.com/indiegogo.  There are some fantastic rewards being offered by the band for contributing and helping make "If All Goes Wrong" a reality.

You can also connect with the Aaron Clift Experiment on their website http://aaronclift.com/,  Facebook ACE Facebook, Twitter @AaronCliftMusic and Instagram aaroncliftmusic.  The band also has a YouTube Channel ACE Youtube.  Lots of options, lots of great prog.  I simply ask you to check the band out for yourself and if you believe great prog needs to be kept alive, and the next generation is honoring the standard bearers that forged this genre, then please make a contribution.

I post the clip below to allow Aaron Clift Experiment to explain personally about their campaign to make "If All Goes Wrong."

So fellow progheads, the gauntlet is dropped, the challenge made, the request genuine...please help keep the prog garden flourishing.  The Aaron Clift Experiment is offering great rewards for your contributions, including album download, signed CD's, a signed bass, music lessons, and more.

In keeping with tradition, the search for all things prog continues on...and The Aaron Clift Experiment Indiegogo campaign is but one example of the plethora of talent coming from the prog garden today.  I know the prog faithful will step up, and the search for all things prog will continue the journey...until next time...

Barock Project "Detachment"

As always welcome back fellow progheads!  Mother Nature has been wreaking havoc across the US; hurricanes, wildfires, floods...seems like Armageddon at times.  So to avoid being swept up in
out-of-control weather, the search for all things prog travels beyond domestic borders this week as the journey continues to find prog music the world over.

Hopefully many of you will remember the Barock Project, a symphonic prog band from Italy I discovered two years ago.  Time to set the GPS for the Modena region and check back in with this remarkable band.  Barock Project recently released their fifth album "Detachment" and this seems the perfect time to put the headphones on and check it out...

The album opens to what sounds like a dreary day; you can almost feel the rain as the piano sets a sobering mood.  The canvas is streaked with gray to dark hues as you are swept through a barrage of emotions culminating in the second track on the album, "Promises."  This piece echoes through your head gently as the songs comes to full bloom; top notes of Spock's Beard permeate the mind. Barock Project come at you in a subtle way; tiptoeing through the prog garden as they set up a burst of sound that suddenly strikes from all sides.  Filling the headphones with an energy level that seemingly came from nowhere, Barock Project abruptly hammers the lining of your skull a la Dream Theater.

Moving through the album, I come across what starts out as a gentle albeit somber piece called "Broken."  Continuing to paint with primarily darker shades, Barock Project hits the canvas with splashes of color--just enough to pique your interest and draw you in deeper.  There is a stillness to the music that belies an ornate, calliope-like energy level sulking under the surface...just waiting to ooze through your pores.

Liner Notes...on this album Barock Project is founding member Lucca Zabbini on piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Marco Mazzuoccolo on electric guitars, Francesco Caliendo on bass, and Eric Ombelli on drums.  Guest and additional musicians include Peter Jones performing lead vocals on "Broken" and "Alone," and Alex Mari and Ludovica Zanasi adding additional vocals.

Barock Project has five albums in their repertoire including this release.  You can find out more about all of them, listen, and make a purchase at one of these sites;  BarockProject, BP BandCamp, and
BP Stars of Italy. The band also has a Facebook page where you can keep current with all things Barock Project Barock Project FB, as well as Twitter @BAROCKPROJECT

The final serving for review this week is called "Twenty Years."  A soft acoustic opening melts away the darkness for a moment; there are top notes of early Kansas and perhaps a hint of Gentle Giant flowing through the headphones.  Lucca's voice is gentle as the canvas begins to fill with Monet-like pastels...and then the tempo picks up--hard--and the hues get brighter, the images louder, and the aura starts to swing the pendulum back toward the ornate.  Barock Project stay true to their inner being as guitars tilt the mood meters hard right and drums echo across the room.

The clip below is the earlier reviewed "Broken."  I chose this cut because it gives a glimpse of all Barock Project is...opening with that trademark soft piano, it slowly raises the temperature without going ballistic. There is an atmosphere of a "Victorianesque" attitude among the commoners, much like serving white truffles with fried chicken.  However; the crashing of these two opposing classes results in a piece of music that pours out a soul that you would otherwise miss...much like a subtle taste of tupelo honey lost among the jalapenos...

And so my fellow progheads, the curtain has drawn to a close on another masterful work of art. Barock Project has traipsed through the prog garden in grand style once again, expanding the boundaries, expectations, and abilities of their symphonic capabilities.  The album blazes through  an ornate set and leaves the listener wanting more.  Listening to the Barock Project grow and mature from one album to the next gives me reason to expect even more from album #6...but let's savor "Detachment" for now...

Of course this can only mean one thing; the search for all things prog continues the journey.  More new music awaits the anxious ears of the prog faithful...until next time...