News from the world of Prog

[Prog Head]

BIG BIG TRAIN have announced that founder member Andy Poole is to leave the band.
Poole founded BBT with Greg Spawton in Bournemouth in 1990, where he originally played bass, and has been in every incarnation of the band since.
In a short statement, Poole says: 'Dear All, it has been a long old trip aboard this train and now the time is right for me to disembark: I am ready for new and exciting adventures. Thank you to my fellow crew and passengers. I wish you a fabulous and fulfilling journey. Warmest regards. Andy.'
The band's own statement reads:
'Andy Poole will shortly be leaving Big Big Train. Big Big Train would like to thank Andy for the significant part he has played in the band’s journey and we wish him well in his future endeavours. BBT will continue with the seven-piece line-up of D’Virgilio/Gregory/Hall/Longdon/Manners/Sjöblom/Spawton alongside the five-piece brass band led by Dave Desmond.'

[Prog Head]

A long-awaited PYLGRYM album is finally going ahead. If work will proceed according to the schedule, 'The Divide' can be released later this year. It's really interesting to hear what these gentlemen bring after their debut CD 'Pilgrimage' (2004).

[Prog Head]

... Prog Head! I'm breathlessly awaiting your next release,
from what has to be your new band.

You just have to have some more patience, John.

[Prog Head]

Essex based prog group TAMARISK will release a brand new record 'Breaking The Chains' in February. It should be their first new album for 33 years! The band, who formed out of the ashes of Chemical Alice in 1984, released two cassette EP's during their original incarnation. Singer Andy Grant has teamed up with original keyboard player Steve Leigh, who also worked with Quasar and helped form Landmarq in 1990. Thunder guitarist Luke Morley appears on the new record, as well as drummer Graham Cutill, guitarist Ed Rome and bassists Matt Black & Chris Davis.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=VQclhuA24kk

[Prog Head]

I see your professional recording act limitations,

My humble aim is very simple. On Magle territory, I am trying to inform about really good music which deserves to be heard by a wider prog audience.

[Prog Head]

Guitarist Alex Lifeson shared an update on the current status of RUSH. - 'We have no plans to tour or record any more. We're basically done. After 41 years, we felt it was enough.'

[Prog Head]

Singer/drummer Simon Collins and guitar player Kelly Nordstrom have left SOUND OF CONTACT. The group was working on a follow-up album, but earlier this month announced that they would not be appearing at 2018's Cruise To The Edge citing 'logistical difficulties beyond our control.'

[Prog Head]

Really interesting story, John. Thanx for that.

[Prog Head]

STRANGEFISH are putting the finishing touches on their newest album titled ‘The Spotlight Effect’ which should be the group's first studio release in 12 years. This CD isn’t a conceptual piece of music although the seven songs (including 19 min epic) do have a theme of sorts.

[Prog Head]

LANDMARQ announce they are parted company with Tracy Hitchings, after 20 years as lead vocalist. Whilst the band remains UK-based, Tracy has been living, and married, in Australia for the last three years. This has inevitably presented a range of logistical difficulties in keeping the band together and maintaining a long-distance working relationship. Landmarq is now actively seeking a new lead singer to join the group and become involved in the writing and recording of the next studio album and future gigs.

[Prog Head]

DUKES OF THE ORIENT will release their self-titled debut album on February 23rd via Frontiers Music Srl. This band has its origins in 2007 as Asia Featuring John Payne, that continued on after Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes left to re-form the original 1982 line-up. John Payne recruited Erik Norlander to join Guthrie Govan, Jay Schellen, Jeff Kollman and Moni Scaria for tour dates in the US and initial recordings, some of which endured to appear on the Dukes of the Orient studio album... Following the death of original Asia vocalist, John Wetton, in early 2017, Payne and Norlander decided that these recordings should give birth to a new group, both out of respect for Wetton and for clarity with the Downes-led Asia.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7etF...ature=youtu.be

[Prog Head]

Legendary US sympho-proggers STARCASTLE are now focused on writing material for their new studio album, follow up to CD 'Song Of Times' (2007). While I'm not able to provide many specific details at this stage, the band do have a goal of releasing later this year.

[Prog Head]

Below you can see a front cover for the upcoming Spock's Beard album entitled 'Noise Floor'.



The new album will be released as a 2CD digipak (featuring an EP of material from the same sessions), gatefold 2LP + 2CD and as digital download.

Track-listing is as follows:


Disc 1 – 'Noise Floor'.


1. To Breathe Another Day
2. What Becomes of Me
3. Somebody's Home
4. Have We All Gone Crazy Yet
5. So This Is Life
6. One So Wise
7. Box of Spiders
8. Beginnings


Disc 2 – 'Cutting Room Floor'.


1. Days We'll Remember
2. Bulletproof
3. Vault
4. Armageddon Nervous.

[Prog Head]

THE PROGNOSIS who previously performed on stage a varied set of classics from Pink Floyd, Genesis, Camel, Supertramp, Focus, Caravan, King Crimson, ELP, Jethro Tull etc, will release their debut album 'Still Waters" in May.



There should be five tracks of original material.

[Prog Head]

The brand new Arena album 'Double Vision' will be released to coincide with the tour towards late April 2018. Seven compositions (including 22-min. epic 'The Legend Of Elijah Shade').