MORPHINE

                                                                  MORPHINE

Alternative rock

Experimental rock

USA

Morphine was an American alternative rock group formed by Mark Sandman and Dana Colley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. They disbanded in 1999 after frontman Sandman died of a heart attack.

Morphine combined blues and jazz elements with more traditional rock arrangements, giving the band a very unusual sound. Sandman's distinctive singing was described as a "deep, laid-back croon" and his songwriting featured a prominent beat influence. When asked by reporters to describe their music, the band created the label "low rock". One critical appraisal suggests that "Morphine immediately established a minimalist, low-end sound that could have easily become a gimmick: a 'power trio' not built around the sound of an electric guitar. Instead, with sly intelligence, Morphine expanded its offbeat vocabulary on each album."

Although Morphine was critically lauded throughout their career, it is difficult to measure their success commercially. In the United States the band was embraced and promoted by the indie rock community, including public and college radio stations and MTV's 120 Minutes (which the band once guest-hosted), but received little support from commercial rock radio and other music television programs. This limited their mainstream exposure and success in their home country, while internationally they enjoyed mainstream success and support, especially inBelgium, Portugal, France and Australia.

ALBUMS:

1992 - GOOD

Members:

Mark Sandman - 2-string slide bass, vocals, organ, guitar, tritar
Dana Colley - baritone sax, tenor sax, double sax, triangle
Jerome Dupree - percussion
Billy Conway - percussion (tracks 5 & 6)

Tracklist:

"Good" - 2:36
"The Saddest Song" - 2:50
"Claire" - 3:07
"Have A Lucky Day" - 3:24
"You Speak My Language" - 3:25
"You Look Like Rain" - 3:42
"Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave" - 3:21
"Lisa" (Dana Colley) - 0:43
"The Only One" - 2:42
"Test-Tube Baby/Shoot'm Down" - 3:11
"The Other Side" (Sandman, Colley) - 3:50
"I Know You (Part I)" - 2:17
"I Know You (Part II)" - 2:45



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1995 - YES

Tracklisting:

"Honey White" – 3:06
"Scratch" – 3:13
"Radar" – 3:28
"Whisper" – 3:28
"Yes" – 2:00
"All Your Way" – 3:04
"Super Sex" – 3:53
"I Had My Chance" – 3:05
"The Jury" (Sandman, Swart) – 2:07
"Sharks" – 2:22
"Free Love" – 4:14
"Gone for Good" – 2:52



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1997 - Like Swimming

"Lilah" – 0:59
"Potion" – 2:00
"I Know You (Pt. III)" – 3:31
"Early To Bed" – 2:57
"Wishing Well" – 3:32
"Like Swimming" – 4:00
"Murder For The Money" – 3:34
"French Fries with Pepper" – 2:53
"Empty Box" – 3:54
"Eleven O'Clock" – 3:19
"Hanging On A Curtain" – 3:48
"Swing It Low" – 3:16

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1997 - B-Sides and Otherwise

Track listing:

"Have a Lucky Day"
"All Wrong"
"I Know You-Part Two"
"Bo's Veranda"
"Mile High"
"Shame"
"Down Love's Tributaries"
"Kerouac"
"Pulled Over the Car"
"Sundayafternoonweightlessness"
"Mail"
"My Brain"
"Virgin Bride"



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ZERO HOUR

                                                                       ZERO HOUR

Progressive Metal

United States

A young progressive metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area, ZERO HOUR is largely the product of two brothers: Jasun Tipton (guitars) and Troy Tipton (bass). Drummer Mike "Mikey" Guy joined early on, but the band went through a number of singers and keyboardists in their early days. Finally the band discovered computer programmer Eric Rosvold, whose powerful voice and commanding technique was a perfect match for ZERO HOUR's powerful, dark, and complex progressive metal.

Their debut CD was recorded in 1997, despite losing a keyboardist to carpel-tunnel syndrome. Session players Matt Guillory (DALI'S DILEMMA) and Phillip Bennett (ENCHANT) were brought in to do keys on the debut, which featured progressive metal easily recognizable to the DREAM THEATER/FATES WARNING fans. Despite the familiarity, ZERO HOUR made themselves stand out with top notch writing and performances, including an epic suite that truly showed of Erik Rosvold's strong vocal talent, reminding of both Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN) for power and Maynard Keenan (TOOL) for intensity. The debut was released independently and sold so well that the band was out of copies and had to re-press it a few times. The band also placed the album on their website to strengthen their exposure, and sold many copies of their debut CD this way.

Years of shopping their debut CD to labels had made the band very angry with the music scene, and that anger led to the writing of material for a second album. Once again self-financed and produced by the band's friend Dino Alden, "The Towers of Avarice" was optioned by the new Sensory label (an offshoot of The Laser's Edge) for publishing worldwide in 2001. The new album showed a large change from the band's excellent but somewhat generic debut: a far darker, heavier edge, with little to no keyboards, supported a concept album about people fighting against oppression in a dystopian future ruled by an oligarchy. The music is heavy and quite complex, though repetition is an issue at times. Still, the album as a whole works wonderfully, producing an oppressive, powerful atmosphere that eventually gives way to relief as victory is achieved... at considerable cost.

After the band's success with "Towers," Sensory helped them re-release their debut in the form of the 2003 "Metamorphosis," which adds a few demo tracks and alternate version as well as a remastering of the original album. Since then ZERO HOUR has been working on and recording new material for a third album, predicted to debut in early 2005.

"The Towers of Avarice" is strongly recommended for fans of very complex progressive music who can tolerate very heavy guitar work.

Matthew Harper, USA

ALBUMS:

2001 - THE TOWERS OF AVARICE

Musicians:

- Mike Guy / drums, percussion
- Erik Rosvold / lead vocals
- Jasun Tipton / guitars
- Troy Tipton / bass

Tracks Listing:

1. The towers of avarice (7:52)
2. The subterranean (4:11)
3. Stratagem (8:06)
4. Reflections (3:56)
5. Demise and vestige (15:47)
6. The ghosts of dawn (5:30)

Total Time: 45:22



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SADE

                                   SADE

VERY RARE ALBUM 

1984 - A LOVE  AFFAIR WITH LIFE
LIVE IN MONTREUX 13.07.1984

01 - Why Can't We Live Together 
02 - Your Love Is King 
03 - Hang On To Your Love
04 - Sally
05 - When Am I Going To Make A Living
06 - I Will Be Your Friend
07 - Cherry Pie 
08 - Frankie's First Affair
09 - Smooth Operator 
10 - Love Affair With Life


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2011 - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

CD1

Your Love Is King
Smooth Operator
Hang On To Your Love
The Sweetest Taboo
Is It A Crime
Never As Good As The First Time
Jezebel
Love Is Stronger Than Pride
Paradise
Nothing Can Come Between Us
No Ordinary Love
Kiss Of Life
Feel No Pain
Bulletproof Soul

CD2

Cherish The Day
Pearls
By Your Side
Immigrant
Flow
King Of Sorrow
The Sweetest Gift
Soldier Of Love
The Moon And The Sky
Babyfather
Still In Love With You
Love Is Found
I Would Never Have Guessed
The Moon And The Sky (Remix Featuring Jay-Z)
By Your Side (Neptunes Remix)

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'B-SIDES / UNRELEASED (1983-1992)

1. Keep On Hanging On
2. Killer Blow
3. Love Affair With Life
4. Make Some Room
5. Paradise (Instrumental)
6. Room 55
7. Should I Love You
8. Snake Bite (Red Eye)
9. Spirit
10. Super Bien Total
11. Wired

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PINEAPPLE THIEF

                                                               PINEAPPLE THIEF

Crossover Prog

United Kingdom

The guitarist of VULGAR UNICORN starts his solo career with this band, which is inspired as much by PORCUPINE TREE as by his old group. PINEAPPLE THIEF has a mix of prog with some space rock. Balance, beauty, and modernity are all to be found in the plush sounds of PINEAPPLE THIEF ... great melodies, songs and plenty of atmospheres. This band will appeal to fans of RADIOHEAD, but other occasional influences show through that are less obvious but apparent (PINK FLOYD, U2, OZRICS and KING CRIMSON).

With their second release, PINEAPPLE THIEF (PTh for short) have reached a state of grace with their frenzy guitar drawings and acoustic sets, using Mellotron to the better effect without ever sounding retro. Indeed, and more than with the two previous albums from PINEAPPLE THIEF, "Variations on a Dream" is brimming over with its creator's talent and is impressive with its incredible commercial potential. Thus, PTh has elaborated a "double layer album", in which the prog fan will enjoy the fine-tuned production and the arrangements, while the pop rock lovers will be delighted with accessible and addictive songs. This is the type of CD that one plays over again as soon as it ends. A little miracle of balance, and a place in my Top 5 for 2003.

Highly Recommended..!

ALBUMS:

2008 - TIGHTLY UNWOUND

Musicians:

- Bruce Soord / vocals, guitar
- Wayne Higgins / guitar
- Steve Kitch / keyboards
- Jon Sykes / bass
- Keith Harrison / drums

Tracks Listing:

1. My Debt to You (5:19)
2. Shoot First (4:12)
3. Sinners (4:52)
4. The Sorry State (4:11)
5. Tightly Wound (6:35)
6. My Bleeding Hand (4:20)
7. Different World (10:44)
8. And So Say All Of You (4:05)
9. Too Much To Loose (15:12)

Total Time: 59:30


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THE MIRACLE

                                                                  THE MIRACLE

Progressive Metal

Indonesia

The embryo of this band was a cover band named as "X-Part" in 1998 when they played classic rock music. They made an effort to change their music direction into progressive rock vein and won some festivals in Indonesia. They disbanded in 2000 because some members of the band continued studying overseas.

Four years later, Reza who was the drummer for "X-Part" during classic rock era of the band invited Faisal (guitars) to reform "X-Part" with a new concept being a Dream Theater cover band and changed their name to "The Miracle" (Well, I believe it's inspired by Dream Theater's song) . I personally saw them playing a gig at local Barbados Café at Kemang, Jakarta, Indonesia, sometime in 2004, I think. I was stunned watching them covering long tracks of Dream Theater almost flawlessly. It's truly awesome. I could not believe a local band could ever cover complicated and fast speed music of Dream Theater excellently.

Having seen their virtuosity in playing progressive metal music, the rock community (i-Rock!) where I get involved with, made an attempt to present a Dream Theater Nite at a café in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia on April 13, 2007 with The Miracle as headliner. Again, I was satisfied with the performance of the band. The crowd was crazy during the gig - they sung along as the band played Dream Theater songs and also they did head-banging all night long 'til dawn! What a fabulous show! What made the event memorable was the fact that there were many crowd who came from Jakarta (110 miles away from Bandung) for the show only! (and I was one of them). By that time they had new line-up: Chemmy (vox), Reza (drums), Vedy (bass), Faisal (guitar) and Yessi (keyboard).

Another gig was performed by The Miracle during the 1st Anniversary of i-Rock!, August 17, 2007 as part of "One Loud Nite" event at Mario's Place, Jakarta, Indonesia. The Miracle appeared as headliner out of four bands who contributed in the anniversary party. Again, they made the crowd crazy. It was a successful concert with crazy crowd. And I know since then that the band played in various events which I could not attend.

What surprised me was: in relatively short period (less than 6 months) I was informed that the band was recording their own album with their own material. JRENG! What a great news for me as prog lover. So I was curious about the new album. Yeah! Their debut album is called "The M" which has significant influence from Dream Theater but they have their own identity that is worth enjoying. The album is released under Quadrann label, produced by Fadhil Indra (keyboard player of Indonesian well known prog band - Discus) and co-produced by Yessi Kristianto & The Miracle, with Manarissan as Executive Producer. Recommended!

ALBUMS:

2008 - TheM

Musicians:

- Faisal / guitars
- Reza / drums
- Yessi / keyboards
- Chemmy / vocals
- Vedy / bass

Additional & guest performances:
- Santi & Nita / women's choirs on 8
- Fadhild Indra / Choir composition, score & virtual orchestration (8), co-arranger (9)



Tracks Listing:

1. Chapter One : Mawarhitam (7:03)
2. Chapter Two : Bebas (4:12)
3. Chapter Three : Bertemu (7:10)
4. Chapter Four : Matahari (6:36)
5. Chapter Five : Dosa (6:16)
6. Chapter Six : Pergi (3:32)
7. Chapter Seven : Kembali (5:36)
8. Chapter Eight : Selesai (6:48)
9. For Their Reprise : Bertemu (2:22)

Total Time: 48:12



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THE D PROJECT

                                                                THE D PROJECT

Neo-Prog

Canada

Better known as founder and leader of the progressive Canadian band "Sense", Stephane Desbiens makes no compromises on Shimmering lights, offering us an exceptional and unconventional musical experience. Calling on its various influences, from blues, hard rock to jazz and classical music, this amazing guitarist makes no excuses as he proposes a very personal and alternative view of progressive rock music.

Tomas Bodin from Flower Kings, Martin Orford from IQ and Fred Schendel from Glass Hammer have all contributed to this very special project

Two years after the "Shimmering Lights" album, a new D Project is in the making. In "The Sagarmatha Dilemma", STÉPHANE DESBIENS explores new musical horizons as he interprets the EVEREST EXPERIENCE in his own special way. Once again, he calls upon author and producer FRANCIS FOY to put words on his inspired music. Special guests such as DEREK SHERINIAN (ex DREAM THEATER), STU NICHOLSON (GALAHAD), BRETT KULL (ECHOLYN), and JOHN GREEN (SINGULARITY).

ALBUMS:

2006 - SHIMMERING LIGHTS

Musicians:

- Stephane Desbiens / vocal, acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, mellotron

Guest musicians:
- Mathieu Gosselin / bass, stick
- Danny Robertson / drums
- Sandra Poulin / violin
- Alyssar back / vocals
- Francis Foy / back vocal on "Hide from the sun"
- Tomas Bodin / mellotron, Taurus and Fender Rhodes keyboards, solos
- Martin Orford / Moog Voyager synthesizer
- Fred Schendel / Mini Moog, Nord Electro keyboards through a ring modulator, Leslie simulator

Tracks Listing:

1. Shimmering lights (8:54)
2. They come and grow (6:23)
3. Hide from the sun (8:00)
4. What is done is done (Rat) (3:32)
5. End of the recess (3:55)
6. September solitude (10:08)
7. That's life (7:39)

Total Time: 48:31



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2008 - THE SAGARMATHA DILEMMA



Musicians:

- Stephane Desbiens / vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Mathieu Gosselin / bass, Chapman Stick, backing vocals
- Jean Gosselin / drums
- Sandra Poulin / violins
- Alissar / backing vocals
- Francis Delisle / cello
- Francis Foy / backing vocals

Guest musicians:
- Stu Nicholson / vocal (2)
- Brett Kull / guitar solo (2)
- Derek Sherinian / keyboard (6)
- John Green / vocal & keyboard

Tracks Listing:

1. Closer To My Soul / Closer To Heaven
2. The Sagarmatha Dilemma
3. The Red Mountain
4. Thin Air
5. Even If I Was Wrong
6. Radio Sherpa
7. I"m Coming Down (I Shall Go Back)



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SUNCHILD

                                                                            SUNCHILD

Crossover Prog

Ukraine

SUNCHILD is yet another prog project from talented and prolific Ukrainian musician Antony KALUGIN. KALUGIN currently records under three band names, KARFAGEN, HOGGWASH and SUNCHILD. Under the SUNCHILD name, he brought together a plethora of other Ukranian musicians to supplement his impressive keyboard and writing talents. The music is an all out prog feast with many varied tempos and loads of keyboards washing over everything. A wide array of horns and woodwinds are used to great extent as well. KALUGIN does the bulk of the singing (in English) with perhaps a slight accent. He also brings in guest vocalists, both male and female to add even more dimensions to the proceedings. The debut album is a double that features three songs over 16 minutes.

KALUGIN is young (born 1981) but his already wide experience as a professional musician has propelled him to a high place among young artists recording prog today.

ALBUMS:

2009 - THE INVISIBLE LINE

Musicians:
Antony Kalugin - keys, vocs, tamb, shaker, rainstick, triangles
Sergey Balalaev - drums, percussion, tamb.
Kostya lonenko - el. bass, ac. fretless bass
Alexey Khorolskiy - el. guitar
Bogdan Gembik - el. guitars
Artem Vasylchenko - tenor sax
Dmitriy Bondarev - trumpet, flugel horn
Yulya Bilchuk - bandura (ukr. trad, instr.)
Helen Bour - oboe
Alexander Pastuchov - basson
Olya Kaganyuk - voc, back voc, choir voc.
Sergey Kovalev - bayan, voc.
Roman Gorelov - ac & el. guitar
Victoria Partincho - shakers, back voc.
Lesya Kofanova - penny flute

Tracks Listing:

1. Postcards from the past (pt1) (1:40)
2. The invisible line (pt1) (6:22)
3. Raindrops (6:29)
4. Amalgama (5:08)
5. A moment in time (5:13)
6. Time & the tide (11:20)
7. Fading light (3:31)
8. Recolections (1:33)
9. Line in the sand (14:36)
10. Postcards from the past (pt2) (5:20)
11. The invisible line (pt2) (8:21)

Total Time 69:33


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NEMRUD

                                                                         NEMRUD

Psychedelic/Space Rock

Turkey

NEMRUD has its roots in Istanbul/Turkey and was founded in 2008 by Mert Göçay (guitar), Harun Sönmez (percussion), Aycan Sari (bass), Alpaslan Altun and Adil Giyici. None of them were professionally engaged in the music business. The band underwent several lineup changes furthermore passing through weekly studio tests which eventually ended up with a conceptual progressive rock album.

Guest musicians joined, Dogaç Titiz, winner of 2008 Drum Contest, Hakan Süersan (bass, fretless bass) and Mert Topel for the whole keyboard additions. The recordings were fully completed in November 2009 and 'Journey Of The Shaman' was finally released in 2010, going beyond the standard Turkish rock respectively popular line-chorus structured songs.

The album is reflecting the golden 1970s era and made up of reminiscences to Pink Floyd, Eloy and other bands with psychedelic and symphonic leanings. The three episodes are written by Aycan Sari, telling the story of the physical and spiritual journey of 'Mitos', a Shaman living somewhere in Central Asia. Mert Göçay is responsible for lyrics and compositions. Harun Sönmez has completed the conceptual design of the album booklet.

Since 2011 a modified line-up features keyboard player Mert Topel and Mert Alkaya (drums).

ALBUMS:

2010 - JOURNEY OF THE SHAMAN

Musicians:

- Mert Göçay / guitar, vocals
- Harun Sönmez / drums, cymbals
- Aycan Sari / bass

guest musicians:
- Mert Topel / keyboards
- Hakan Süersan / bass, fretless bass
- Dogaç Titiz / drums

Tracks Listing:

Part I : (15:50)
- a. In The World Of Dreams
- b. Beginning Of Divine Inspiration
- c. Revival
- d. A Stone In The Ocean

Part II: (12:00)
- a. A Farewell To Sun
- b. Fly To Underground Without The Past
- c. Fight With The Evil Spirits

Part III: (17:20)
- a. A Journey To Innerself
- b. Scourge Of Nemrud
- c. In All Stages Of Immortality
- d. Jump To Final Dimension Through The Seventh Sky

Total Time: 45:10


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KAIPA

                                                                              KAIPA

Symphonic Prog

Sweden

In their early years, KAIPA was one of Sweden's best seventies symphonic prog bands. Roine STOLT from THE FLOWER KINGS was a member of KAIPA. Their albums contain a mostly instrumental music, drawing its influences from Progressive music (CAMEL, YES, GENESIS...), classic music (BACH) or Swedish folklore.

The first three albums ("Kaipa", "Inget Nytt Under Solen" and "Solo") are a beauty and probably most indicative of their style - dreamy symphonic rock with simple, yet very effective melodies and a great deal of emotion. "Notes From The Past" is their 6th studio album since 1975 and the first one since 1982. All colours of the unique KAIPA-music from the 70's are present but with a brand new collection of masterpieces. With the new album "Keyholder", Hans LUNDIN and Roine STOLT perform some new music, searching for a new level of progress, yet echoing fragments of the glorious 70's, trying to bring the new Kaipa-sound to a higher level. The melodies linger on and will probably stay with you for decades to entertain and to thrill. AN ESSENTIAL CDS for fans interested in symphonic progressive rock!

ALBUMS:

2010 - IN THE WAKE OF EVOLUTION

Musicians

- Patrik Lundström / voice
- Hans Lundin / keyboards and vocals
- Jonas Reingold / basses
- Morgan Ågren / drums
- Per Nilsson / electric and acoustic guitars
- Aleena Gibson / vocals

Guest Musicians:
- Fredrik Lindqvist / recorders
- Elin Rubinsztein / violin

Tracks Listing:


1. In The Wake Of Evolution (10:57)
2. In The Heart Of Her Own Magic Field (5:12)
3. Electric Power Water Notes (17:51)
4. Folkia's First Decision (2:33)
5. The Words Are Like Leaves (5:36)
6. Arcs Of Sound (8:22)
7. Smoke From A Secret Source (9:24)
8. The Seven Oceans Of Our Mind (10:09)

Total Time 70:05

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D'ACCORD

                                                                 D'ACCORD

Heavy Prog

Norway

Norwegian band D'ACCORD formed early 2008 and really appeared on the scene in Summer of 2009 when they released their eponymous debut album.

Critically acclaimed it has received great reviews so far even outside Norway with music which is reflecting their influences adopted from several heavy rock and prog bands like Uriah Heep, Deep Purple and Jethro Tull, to name a few. The songs are rendering an authentic 70`s sound with great vintage keyboard work.

ALBUMS:

2009 - D'ACCORD

Musicians

- Daniel Maage / vocals, flute
- Bjartü Rossehaug / drums
- Martin Sjøen / bass
- Stig Are Sund / guitar

additional musicians:
- Fredrik Hådn / keyboards, sax (4)
- Ingvild / backing vocals (4)
- Marit / backing vocals (4)

Tracks Listing

1. Play By The Hall Rules (12:13)
2. This Is The One (4:42)
3. BiN (5:44)
4. Time To Play (8:31)
5. Capitale Venditio (13:24)

Total Time: 44:34


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