Now Playing Thread

[Nicky007]

NP  Kalisia:  Cybion

If you guys want to be challenged by something that both lyrically and musically pushes the limits in all ways, but still is melodic, atmospheric, and evocative, than here it is. It's mindblowing in the truest sense of the word.

The story, or rather stories, take time to fathom. One of the main stories is about an advanced civilisation, the Arkens, who travel to Earth to help us out, but we refuse their help, as we want to work things out for ourselves. Anyways the Arkens keep an eye on us and guard us.

One of the side stories that I find very intriguing is about a Japanese dude, superintelligent, who developes a technology to make humans immortal, tho with some unfortunate side effects. He uses this tech on himself, but then gets thrown out of his nerdiness by falling in love with a wonderful woman - French of course, as the Kalisia guys are French. A love affair between an immortal and a mortal, quite dramatic. We've seen this before, in Anubis Gate's The Detached - also interestingly from 2009 - but here it takes a quite different course, e.g it's strictly forbidden by the Circle of Immortals to get close to mortals.

I hear you guys thinking Ayreon, and yes, there's a lot that reminds one of Ayreon, and Arjen is even in on this project, but Cybion is heavier and edgier - more to my taste, of course.

And yes, surprising: These are Frenchies. The French have really taken the lead!

This epos has clearly brewed long in the head of mastermind Brett Caldas-Lima, altho I understand that several of the other guys in Kalisia were vitally in on it too.

Wikipedia writes: Kalisia is a French progressive metal band founded in 1994. In 2009 the band released their first full-length album, Cybion, originally planned for 2003, mainly consisting of a one-hour song. It features guest appearances by Angela Gossow, Paul Masvidal and Arjen Anthony Lucassen.

Reminds me a lot of Wintersun's Time, has the same grandness, vastness, and perfection, and both take the mind to new vistas.

Guys, do yourselves a favor and get into these two albums. I'll be the first to admit that there's a tremendous amount of great music around these days ... but these two albums go further ....

See if you dare. Tip: Requires a full listen. Several in fact. And get into the lyrics

- Nicky

[Teunis]

Fischer-Z Word Salad

Wish I was going to a gig tonight!

I did and it was awesome. The big hits were played: 'So Long', 'The Worker' and 'Marliese' and many tracks from my favourite album 'Red Skies Over Paradise'. A great set, though a bit short: 1 hour and 20 minutes.

pp: Mystery - Delusion Rain
jp: Fischer-Z - This Is My Universe
np: Long Distance Calling - TRIPS

[PH]

NP  Kalisia:  Cybion

Interesting. I'll check it out and let you know.

Today I listened to some Radiohead and Bjørn Lynne albums on spotify.

[Nicky007]

Interesting. I'll check it out and let you know.

Yes, do that. I actually think you'll enjoy it, once you get properly into it. You like scifi philosophic stuff, and you can take some growl and harshness, as long as most of it rocks, which it does

Today I listened to some Radiohead and Bjørn Lynne albums on spotify.

Yeah, I heard that Radiohead is out with a new album. Lookin forward to listenin to it. This is something that Ms 007 and I share


Played:  Wintersun Time  &  Kalisia Cybion

Just to make sure that I didn't use too big words. I didn't 


Images at Twilight:  Kings

The IaT guys are active members of the Starfire Fan Group and have become friends of mine, and Kings is very much influenced by Sagoth. Quite an epos. I find the lyrics intriguing. The music: I don't know yet, it seems somewhat monotonous at first listens. Let's see ...


NP  Faith No More:  Sol Invictus

Their latest, from 2015 ...

- Nicky

[PH]

Yes, do that. I actually think you'll enjoy it, once you get properly into it. You like scifi philosophic stuff, and you can take some growl and harshness, as long as most of it rocks, which it does

I tried Kalisia's "Cybion" on YouTube today, and it was not bad! I've been listening to it for aprox 30 minutes then I got a bit bored and switched to:

Steve Hackett - "Wolflight"

Really love this guy's style. I think he's a perfect example of a Prog Legend of the golden age who still knows how to make good prog. There are not many like him!

@Nicky, don't worry, I'll give Kalisia another spin soon.

[Teunis]

jp: The Cry featuring John Watts - Quick Quick Slow
np: Profuna Ocean - In Vacuum

[PH]

Discipline. - "To Shatter All Accord"

What a pleasant listen. Does this band still exist? This album dates back to 2011...

[maddox]

Discipline. - "To Shatter All Accord"

What a pleasant listen. Does this band still exist? This album dates back to 2011...

They have released a live album in 2015, This One's for England.
The majority of the songs are from To Shatter All Accord and Unfolded like Staircase.

When you take a look at their discography, you see that it's not really strange that the last studio album dates from 2011.
The album before To Shatter All Accord is Unfolded like Staircase and was released in 1997. 

They released a re-issue of their first album Chaos out of Order, which isn't noted in their discography, in 2013.
Haven't heard that album yet.

All you ever wanted to know about the band Discipline.

Fun fact: There is a well known american hard core band who has the same name.
And apparently there is a Dutch Discipline as well.

Personal note: To me the song When She Dreams She Dreams in Color is a modern day masterpiece.

[Steve Jones]

DeeExpus - King Of Number 33

A while since I last played this and I'm wondering the heck why!

[Teunis]

Nine Stones Close - Leaves

[Teunis]

Long Distance Calling - TRIPS

[PH]

Marillion - "Seasons End"

Still a very good album. One of their best.

[Bupie]

DeeExpus - King Of Number 33

A while since I last played this and I'm wondering the heck why!

Yes, a great album and a brilliant artwork. Unfortunately, the man dressed as a king on the picture, who appears to be Andy Ditchfield's father, passed away last year and the singer of the band quit music due to illness a few years ago. A third album is still theorically on its way but it could take a while before it is released 

Marillion - "Seasons End"

Still a very good album. One of their best.

Indeed.

NP The Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment

I am playing the bonus CD at the moment and really enjoying it a lot  Well worth the extra euros. Actually, the two original songs that feature on this bonus CD -New Jerusalem and Doomsday Destiny- would fit nicely on the main CD ... which would allow some space for more live songs on the bonus CD. Not that I am complaining, only feeling sympathetic for the people who bought the regular edition and are missing some great songs.

[PH]

NP The Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment

I am playing the bonus CD at the moment and really enjoying it a lot  Well worth the extra euros. Actually, the two original songs that feature on this bonus CD -New Jerusalem and Doomsday Destiny- would fit nicely on the main CD ... which would allow some space for more live songs on the bonus CD. Not that I am complaining, only feeling sympathetic for the people who bought the regular edition and are missing some great songs.

I absolutely agree. New Jerusalem and Doomsday Destiny are both really good songs. And since the regular cd is just over 50 minutes, they could've fit these songs in easily. Though I have to say that for me, the ideal lenght of a single album is between 45-60 minutes. With these two added it would be 65 minutes.

Still, two wonderful songs that really add to the experience/experiment.

About more live songs: these songs are from the MorseFest 2014 live dvd/cd, which was not yet released at that time. If you don't have it yet, please do yourself a favour and buy it. It focuses on "Testimony" and "One" full albums. It's the best Neal Morse related live dvd I have seen. And I've seen them all!

And while we're at it, I really really hope they filmed MorseFest 2015 for dvd release: The whole "?" and "Sola Scriptura" albums. That should be fantastic!
Also coming up MorseFest 2016: The whole "Snow" album with Neal Morse + Spock's Beard, they better film that too!!

[Teunis]

jp: Antimatter - The Judas Table
np: Moon Safari - Himlabacken Vol. 1

[Nicky007]

... bored ...

There you sure surprised me, Paxi, I hadn't exactly expected that word used on Cybion

But I'm aware that with such intense music and lyrics, if one aint used to it, one has to initially take it in smaller portions.

You could well start next time with Part 2 (Track 6). There you have the very touching dialogue between the immortal, Keiji, and the mortal, Stephanie. There's some nice music attending it.

@Nicky, don't worry, I'll give Kalisia another spin soon.

Played:  ELO:  Eldorado 

There's some real magic in ELO. This is the album with the wonderful "Can't Get It Out of My Head". Also the title song and Boy Blue are superb.

I just need Xanadu now, then I have the (for me) essential series from Eldorado to Time, plus Jeff's latest Alone In The Universe.

Many people call ELO "commercial". I'd say that they haven't listened properly to'm. If one listens attentively, there's so much wonderful melody, compositional mastery, variation, lyrical depth, surprising details, small twists and humor. Jeff really took the flame from the Beatles.


Cloudscape:  I 

Their debut album has some super songs, particularly Under Fire and Aqua 275. Some of the songs were very hard to find on the Net some years ago. The cd is also rare, and expensive. I'm real happy that I have it now. I have an additional three Cloudscape albums.

- Nicky

[Bupie]

About more live songs: these songs are from the MorseFest 2014 live dvd/cd, which was not yet released at that time. If you don't have it yet, please do yourself a favour and buy it. It focuses on "Testimony" and "One" full albums. It's the best Neal Morse related live dvd I have seen. And I've seen them all!

Thanks for the recommendation. Actually, TGE makes me eager for more Neal Morse but I know I could easily end disappointed since Neal tends to repeat his own formula ad libitum.

So far, it still may sound rather "fresh" to my ears because I am far from completeness with Neal Morse, especially on his own name. I have the four Transatlantic (and not liking the last one much), the two Flying Colors (mixed bags for me), SB's V, Neal's Sola Scriptura and TGE. I also listened twice to Songs From November but did not like it at all.

So I think that I have a pretty good idea of Neal's music while lacking any listen of some consensual great albums as Snow, ?, One or Testimony to name a few. So maybe it's time for me to investigate those ?

PP Peter Gee - Songs From The Heart

I am quite impressed by this compilation. Actually, I am more pleased listening to it than to most of the Pendragon albums that I own. Is it prog rock ? Probably not but it's nevertheless very good. But don't expect pyrotechnics or heavy riffing, this is mostly muted classic rock. For your quieter moments.

NP Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura 

[Steve Jones]

JP Genesis - Foxtrot
NP Genesis - Nursery Cryme

Back to my roots

[Teunis]

jp: Fischer-Z - This Is My Universe
np: Leprous - The Congregation

[Teunis]

Katatonia - The Fall Of Hearts

'It takes a few listening before this album unfolds its beauty', I've read in a review. Just heard the album for the first time and I think I have to agree . It's a fine album but is it just me or do (almost) all of the songs look like each other? But I will definitely play the album more often.

[Teunis]

Subsignal - The Beacons Of Somewhere Sometime 

[Teunis]

Agent Fresco - Destrier 

My discovery of last year .

[Teunis]

Katatonia - The Fall Of Hearts

[Teunis]

Circus Maximus - Havoc 

[maddox]

Dante ~ When We Were Beautiful...