Shineback "Dial"

Greetings from the eye of the Polar Vortex fellow progheads!  Most of the tundra covering the planet is frozen; I've seen so many "boiling water frozen in midair" videos and lake effect snow photos I'm beginning to think it's a NASA conspiracy.  Fear not; The Closet Concert Arena remains warm and inviting.  So much so that I thought I would stay stateside this week and visit with a band I was fortunate to connect with courtesy of this blog and some mutual prog rock appreciation.

Shineback is a band in the sense that one person has an idea, some talent, a record label, courage, desire, and a greyhound...did I mention talent?  Simon Godfrey is the "man behind the curtain" bringing this album to life.  Shineback's latest release, "Dial," is a wonderful collection of prog music all conveniently gathered in one place for your listening pleasure...and it is my good fortune to present it to you now...

Finding refuge in the electronic, cinematic section of the prog garden, Shineback is a very reflective band...much the way Big Big Train, Seconds Before Landing, and Gaillion crawl inside your head and refuse to come out.  As an opening course, I opt for "The Gentlemen."  A trademark on this album is the fade-in; here it is done beautifully with a simple telephone ring and an almost "Close To The Edge" like mini-soundscape leading to quick, elaborate keyboards rolling into a guitar riff that spills out of the headphones accompanied by a vocal style reminiscent of 10cc or The Neal Morse Band; neat, clean, and thought provoking...

Shineback hits a nerve; the music cuts through the curtain like a scalpel through softened butter revealing an expansive sound that needs to be heard to be fully appreciated with a sense of humility in the vein of Dreadnaught running rampant through the entire recording.

Moving a bit farther down the playlist I discover a cut called "Without Words."  Simon seems to enjoy toying with your senses...the song opens leaning toward the cinematic section of the prog garden, with a dark background splayed across a canvas hit randomly with brighter hues, bringing a funky contrast to a somber melodic outpouring.  With topnotes of Lifesigns and perhaps a touch of Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate blending seamlessly, Shineback rides across the garden kicking up dust.

Liner Notes...Currently residing in Phildelphia PA, Shineback is Simon Godfrey.   Simon composed, performed, and produced "Dial" along along with longtime 
co-writer and lyricist Robert Ramsay.  Several artists you might recognize from the prog garden also had a hand in making "Dial" a reality; Dec Burke, Hywel Bennett, Joe Cardillo, Tom Hyatt, Ray Weston, Matt Stevens, Karl Eisenhart, Daniel Zambas, and Henry Rogers all contriubuted their talents to this latest Shineback release.  Don't forget Dora, the world's slowest greyhound; she made major "behind the scenes" contributions as well I am told...

Shineback records on Bad Elephant Music and "Dial" is the second full length album in their catalog.  The 2013 debut "Rise Up Forgotten, Return Destroyed" was followed by "Minotaur," a 2017 EP release.  Simon also has several solo albums in the Bad Elephant Music catalog.

Learn more about Shineback as well as Simon Godfrey's other works and purchase all of his music at the Bad Elephant Music website Shineback.  You can dig a bit deeper at Facebook and follow along on Twitter @simonsimple.

My final selection to feast on this week is actually my favorite cut from the album, "I Love You From Memory."  As the song opens and the old Victrola gets cranked up, I feel as though I've been transported to my favorite smoke filled hole-in-the-wall nightclub, kind of a prequel to CBGB's.  The keyboards are wrapped around lyrics that puncture the lining of your cerebelum separating logic from emotion.  

Shineback moves slowly across the prog garden with this song, caressing your face like a distant lover who realizes this is the last time you'll be together.  The mood elevator continues to stay on both extremes, avoiding the neutral zone like hot asphalt in the summertime.  Let this one play on repeat a few times just so you can feel yourself fall into a song without fear of hitting your head... 


For your listening pleasure I chose "Consider Her Ways."  A bit more uptempo, this tune conjures up the bright lights of the boardwalk in Atlantic City while Simon stokes an emotional fire with his guitar.  Shineback plays well in the prog garden, moving across subgenres as smooth as singlemalt on a crisp fall evening...


                     

And once again fellow progheads we have reached the end of the rainbow...another week winds down.  Shineback brings a funky vibe to the prog garden, shuffling from poignant to witty to
hard-hitting to laid back, and with every mood swing you feel refreshed.

The prog garden continues to bring forth an exciting crop, even in this frigid weather.  The search for all things prog continues on its random path, searching out more new and as yet undiscovered prog gems.  Until next time...