Gonzo Multimedia has released a plethora of titles in the last few months (April - June), all now available also from Musea. Included in that list (the rest of which appears at the end of this article) are two of particular interest to progressive rock fans, two live CD/DVD releases from Rick Wakeman:
Rick Wakeman - 1975 Live At The Empire Pool - King Arthur On Ice (CD/DVD, released April 21) -- "Rick Wakeman is one of those artists who really needs no introduction, but just in case you have spent the past four decades with your head in a bucket, or ensconced on a desert island somewhere (or both) I will provide a potted history (mostly) nicked from Wikipedia," so writes an anonymous scribbler at the Gonzo website (which means we've nicked their reprinting of a potted history (mostly) ... etc.
“'Wakeman was born in West London. He purchased his first electronic keyboard at 12 years of age. In 1968, he studied the piano, clarinet, orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music before leaving after a year in favour of session music work. He went on to feature on songs by artists including Black Sabbath, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens. Wakeman joined the folk group Strawbs in 1969 and played on three of their albums. He first joined Yes in 1971 to replace Tony Kaye, and left the group in 1974 to work on his solo career. He returned in 1976 before leaving with lead vocalist Jon Anderson in 1980. Wakeman was part of the side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, a group of ex-Yes members formed in 1989, and the eight-member Yes line-up that followed until his third departure in 1992. He returned for two years in 1995 and once more in 2002, where he was part of the band's 35th anniversary tour until its end in 2004.
"'Wakeman began his solo career during his first run with Yes. His perhaps most known records being his first three, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (1973), Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (1974) and The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table (1975). He has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies. In November 2010, Wakeman was awarded the Spirit of Prog award at the annual Marshall Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards, and in 2012 was crowned as a "Prog God" at the Prog Rock awards.'
"What Wikipedia doesn’t say is that Rick is one of the most fluid and intuitive keyboard players in the world today, whether in the rock genre in which he is most famous, or within any other genre of the broad gamut of contemporary musicianship.
"Rick writes: 'There were just three performances of King Arthur on Ice and it was “crucified” by most of the media before it had even had its opening night! Amazingly though, the demand from the press and media for tickets was unprecedented and which was met with a total refusal to all who had “pre-reviewed” the event.
"'It was undoubtedly for me, a high point of my musical career. I was pleased with the music and to this day feel that the main theme is probably the best I have written and will be hard to surpass. The shows were just great fun and were put on with virtually no outside assistance as very few people believed in it and indeed wanted it to happen. Numerous people, who will remain nameless, tried in vain to get me to do a basic show at the Royal Albert Hall and to “forget all this nonsense about an ice show”!
"'Ice skating was not popular back in 1975 and so I enlisted the help of some of the world’s greatest skaters from all over the world. To the best of my knowledge it was also the first time a PA of that size had been “hung” in a venue the size of Wembley Arena. I shipped in a Clair Brothers system from America as there was nothing in the UK that could handle the task.
"'Thanks to people like Tony Burdfield at A&M Records, my band, the conductor David Measham and the English Chamber Choir, and the foresight of Alan Yentob, who filmed much of the show for the BBC, the memory still lives on.
"'...And my thoughts now? I’d just love to do it one more time!!!'"
Track Listing: Free Song / The Battle / Catherine Howard / Anne Boleyn / Lamorak's March / Rick' Charleston / Arthur / Lady Of The Lake / Guinevere / Sir Lancelot And The Black Knight / Sir Galahad / The Last Battle
Rick Wakeman - 1984 - Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 1981 (CD/DVD, released March 31, 2014): About this release: "Wakeman teamed up with Tim Rice to write the 1984 album, a musical adaptation of George Orwell's book of the same name. The project was a flop for a couple of reasons; critics panned it because Rice's lyrics tried to give the adaptation an upbeat ending, something the book did not have. Secondly, when Wakeman wanted to tour the production in the U.S. Orwell's estate would not give clearance. The show was performed in the U.K. though and this concert features the opening overture and scattered later in the program, 'Julia' and 'The Proles.' The show overall is a mish-mash featuring 'Sea Horses' from the Rhapsodies album and then proven crowd pleasers from King Arthur, Henry VIII and Journey. In the liner notes Wakeman says that he was at a low point in his career when this show was taped; his father had just died, he was going through a divorce and he was not happy with the line-up of his band. He doesn't single anyone out but the female vocalist here doesn't live up to the work done on the record by Chaka Khan. Still the show has its redeeming values; the arrangements are changed on the familiar stuff from the three main albums and the band tackles the difficult 'Catherine Of Aragon' and 'Anne Of Cleaves' for the first time ever live. Wakeman introduces every song, joking that then the audience will have advance notice as to when to go to the bathroom."
Track Listing: 1984 The Overture (Incorporating Wargames) / King Arthur (Incorporating The Last Battle, Arthur, Lancelot And The Black Knight) / Sea Horses / Julia / Henry Medley (Incorporating Catherine Of Aragon, Anne Of Cleves and Catherine Howard) / The Proles / Journey Medley ( Incorporating the Journey Overture, The Journey, and the Recollection)
Speaking of Wakeman, he, Billy Sherwood, John Wetton, Tony Levin, Jerry Goodman, Richard Page, Geoff Downes, Alan Parsons, Chris Squire, Gary Green, Annie Haslam, Steve Hillage, John Wesley, Tony Kaye, Colin Moulding, and others have all collaborated to form The Prog Collective, and released their self-titled CD April 14, 2014. "Sherwood writes: 'The idea of assembling a collection of amazing artists from the progressive rock genre all on one record was an especially exciting concept to me. Inspired, I began writing and recording the 7 songs that would become this album. I then sent those recordings out to some of my friends and musical heroes from bands like King Crimson, XTC, Asia, Gentle Giant, and of course my former band Yes. Soon I started receiving vocal tracks and guitar and keyboard overdubs from studios all over the world, which I then mixed at my recording studio in Los Angeles. Despite the distances in geography, however, the feeling of the entire production is one of musical and spiritual unity - The Prog Collective!'"
Track Listing: The Laws Of Nature / Over Again / The Technical Divide / Social Circles / Buried Beneath / Follow The Signs / Check Point Karma
Also noteworthy: Clearlight - Impressionist Symphony (released March 24, 2014) - "Clearlight’s Impressionist Symphony focuses on the artistic style of impressionism, painting and music as well with a Ravel, Satie and Debussy influence merged with Cyrille Verdeaux’s progressive music experience and linked with the French impressionist school of painting.
"The release celebrates the 40th anniversary of Clearlight Symphony, an early classic Virgin Records release, which featured Cyrille's compositional skills and virtuoso keyboard playing, with performances by Gong family members Tim Blake, Steve Hillage, and Didier Malherbe, and others.
"For the new symphony, Cyrille is once again joined by Tim, Steve, and Didier, as well other friends, new and old, on eight extended compositions. The special package includes a 12-page color booklet that captures Cyrille’s vision, as well as pictures from the sessions that produced these works.
"Impressionist Symphony continues Cyrille’s return to the world of progressive music, which was retriggered with the release of 2013's Spirits Burning & Clearlight Healthy Music In Large Doses, which featured Cyrille and many members of the space and prog rock communities, and now continues through this release and others on Gonzo Multimedia.
"The Impressionist Symphony is now a reality, and it is ready for you to experience. Let the celebration begin!"
Tracklisting: Renoir En Couleur / Time Is Monet / Pissarro King / Degas De La Marine / Van Gogh 3rd Ear / Gaughin Dans L’Autre / Lautrec Too Loose / Monet Time (Duet)
Clearlight reissues out in the last few months are: Clearlight - Clearlight Symphony (released February 10, 2014), Clearlight - Forever Blowing Bubbles (released April 7, 2014); Clearlight - Tribal Hybrid Concept (released May 26, 2014); with Clearlight - Les Contes Du Singe Fou to be reissued on June 23, 2014.
Clepsydra - More Grains Of Sand (released May 19, 2014) - "Clepsydra is a Swiss neo-progressive band that was formed in 1990 by Aluisio Maggini (vocals), Lele Hofmann (guitars), Philip Hubert (keyboards), Andy Thommen (bass) and Pietro Duca (drums).
"In 1991 Clepsydra released their first album Hologram, which was followed by the EP Fly Man in 1993. Clepsydra then signed to InsideOut, who released their second album More Grains Of Sand in 1994. This CD included the song 'Moonshine On Heights,' which by many is regarded as neo-prog classic. 1994 also saw them performing two songs on national Swiss TV, a rare occurrence for a progressive rock band at that time." (you can read more at the Gonzo website).
Tracklist: The First Grain / Moonshine On Heights / Birthday Party / Eagles / Hold Me Tight / No Place For Flowers / Darkness / The Return Of The Light / The Outermost Bounds / Fly Man / The River In Your Eyes / Grain Dance / The Prisoner's Victory / Vienna / The Last Grain / Bonus Track: The Missing Spark
Clepsydra - Hologram (released April 14, 2014) - Included in the bio/commentary is: "The thing which I think is most impressive is that these albums were made on – comparatively – primitive equipment; the first album – for example - was recorded on 12-track analogue tape, which – as Andy wryly pointed out – is like something out of ancient history technology wise.
"[...] Andy described the process of recording these early albums as a labour of love. They made music purely for the innate joy of doing so, with no commercial considerations whatsoever. [...] 'All four albums span a decade of technology, so the process required different tools and tweaks for each of the albums,' wrote Thommen to the commenator. 'Consider Hologram, produced in 1991! 22 years ago we hat much more limitations than today. This album has become brilliant and shiny.'"
Track Listing: Sunrise / New Day (part One) / 4107 / Fleeting Moment / Fading Clouds Of Time / Poem For A Rainy Day / New Day (Part Two) / Sandflow / For Her Eyes / Steve And Jane / New Day (Part Three) / Hologram / Sunset / Bonus Tracks: No Place For Flowers / Into My Cartoon / For Her Eyes / The Nineteenth Hole
Though released back in November 2013, lets mention Sky Architect - A Billion Years Of Solitude - Dutch prog rockers Sky Architect return with their brand new album A Billion Years Of Solitude. "Two years after their ambitious A Dying Man's Hymn, Sky Architect are now back with A Billion Years Of Solitude.
"Prepare for a launch into space. Prepare for wormholes. Prepare for planet eaters, supernovae and lots of unexpected twists and turns.
"This time heavily inspired by the vintage science fiction classics, Sky Architect boldly venture into new territories, once again proving themselves to be pioneers within the genre.
"On A Billion Years Of Solitude Sky Architect sound heavier, are more daring and inventive, and have challenged themselves more than ever before. In every step in the process, including the cover artwork, the band have taken full creative control.
"The result: a stunning outburst of creativity, featuring typical Sky Architect elements such as surprising changes, crazy rhythmic devices, polyphonic arrangements and extensive song structures.
"Fans of Gentle Giant, The Flower Kings, Beardfish and Pain Of Salvation take note."
Tracklisting: The Curious One / Wormholes (The Inevitable Collapse of the Large Hadron Collider) / Tides / Elegy Of A Solitary Giant / Jim's Ride To Hell / Revolutions / Traveller's Last Candle
Mick Abrahams - Novox and Mick's Back, Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Live From Harpo 1980, Andy Colquhoun - Pick Up The Phone, America, The Deviants - Have Left The Planet, The Doobie Brothers - The Doobie Brothers' Collection, Will Jackson & Roy Webber - What It Is, Percy Jones - Propeller Music, Joey Molland - Demos Old And New and This Way Up, Felix Pappalardi - Don't Worry, Ma, Pink Fairies - Chinese Cowboys Live 1987, Quicksilver Messenger Service - Hawaii 1970, Sprits Burning & Bridget Wishart - Make Believe It Real, Mike Westbrook & The Village Band - Waxeywork Show
And also from Musea, but not via Gonzo, is Jean-Claude Oleksiak Quartet - A Ciel Ouvert
[Source: Musea Records/Gonzo Multimedia]