UK prog rockers, CIRCU5, have announced that their second album, Clockwork Tulpa, will be released on March 7, 2025.
The album is now available to pre-order at https://www.circu5.com/. Pre-order supporters gain access to bonuses, including posters, early-access downloads and ‘The Vault’: a boxed flash-drive collection featuring behind-the-scenes demos, lyrics and concepts from the album’s creation.
Clockwork Tulpa is CIRCU5’s first album release as a full band, with Tin Spirits frontman Mark Kilminster and drummer Lee Moulding joining founder Steve Tilling. “With Mark and Lee in the band, CIRCU5 can now establish its own unique identity,” says Steve. “I’m excited about where we can take the band next.”
The 10-track album comes nearly eight years after CIRCU5’s eponymous 2017 debut. The extended gap was due to Steve contracting Long Covid and committing to projects with ex-members of UK rock band, XTC. “The songs reflect life’s ups and downs during that time. But I learned a valuable lesson: don’t be swayed by the plans of others. Stay true to yourself and your goals.”
Clockwork Tulpa continues the story of ‘Grady’: a troubled character moulded from birth by the mysterious CIRCU5 organisation. “It’s not just storytelling,” says Steve. “It’s a reflection on how people navigate the trauma of tough childhoods without falling prey to isolating belief systems. But ultimately, it’s about making the best songs we can.”
Ahead of Clockwork Tulpa’s release, CIRCU5 have made two album tracks – Freakshow Train and Skin Machine – available on streaming services. To pre-order Clockwork Tulpa, visit https://www.circu5.com/
Cult Swedish progressive rockers Beardfish began playing their first live shows together this year since breaking up in 2016, and now they are very pleased to announce the release of a brand new studio album titled ‘Songs For Beating Hearts’ on the 1st November 2024 (InsideOutMusic). Coinciding with this announcement is the launch of a brand new single titled ‘In The Autumn’, a piece of music that some may recognise from their recent live dates. This song is a duet between Rikard Sjöblom & guest vocalist Amanda Örtenhag. Watch the video now here:
“I think the reunion became an idea in 2021, a few years ago,” explains Rikard Sjöblom. “We started talking about doing something. People had made amends, and I guess everyone started missing being in a band together, and missing each other! We all kept in touch, and things ended up on the right foot in many aspects, and then we started talking about maybe meeting up and trying to play something. I had a couple of new songs written, and they really sounded like Beardfish, and I had some instrumental doodles that I was working on. So we met up and tried to play. The first thing we played was Without Saying Anything from Mammoth, and we started jamming and it felt like home, even after many years. I felt like, ‘These are my brothers!’
With strong echoes of past glories but a whole new vibe of wistful wonderment, Songs For Beating Hearts is a glowing testament to the magic that happens when these four musicians join forces. From the dreamy melancholy of the opening Ecotone and the intricate opulence of five-part sprawl Out In The Open, to the prog-friendly pastoralism of bittersweet 11-minute epic Beating Hearts, and the sobering prog-noir of the closing Torrential Downpour, Beardfish have not just made their strongest work to date, but also their most emotionally resonant. Loosely held together by thoughts of love, loss, friendship and finality, Songs For Beating Hearts is the sound of four kindred spirits laying their hearts bare.
‘Songs For Beating Hearts’ will be available as a Limited CD Digipak (including one bonus track), Gatefold LP & as Digital Album, all featuring artwork from longtime collaborator Spencer Keala Bowden, and can be pre-ordered now here:
Beardfish originally formed back in 2001, and today are made up of Rikard Sjöblom, David Zackrisson, Magnus Östgren and Robert Hansen. They released eight studios albums up until their disbandment in 2016 The band are confirmed for 2025’s edition of Cruise To The Edge.
London label Transmission have announced a new edition of Porcupine Tree’s Grammy-nominated 2007 album Fear Of A Blank Planet. With a 112-page hardback book, five CDs, and a Blu-ray disc, the new edition includes remasters of Fear Of A Blank Planet and the Nil Recurring mini album, approximately 55 minutes of previously unreleased demos, an early live performance of a still work-in-progress version of the album, as well as BBC and instore session recordings – the most complete collection of the album and related material to date.
The set consists of:
112-Page Hardback Book: The centrepiece of this collection is a 112-page book, with an in-depth examination of the process of creating the album by Stephen Humphries with interviews, alongside rare photographs from photographers Lasse Hoile & Carl Glover.
Disc 1 (CD): 2024 remaster of Fear Of A Blank Planet.
Disc 2 (CD): 2024 remaster of Nil Recurring EP.
Disc 3 (CD): Approx 55 minutes of previously unreleased demos by both band and Steven Wilson, offering a rare insight into the creative process for the album, including 2 tracks not recorded for the final album.
Disc 4 (CD): A live recording of a work-in-progress version of the album made at The Garage, Saarbrucken on 23rd September 2006, while the band were still refining and developing the material. This has been mixed from the multitrack tapes for the first time for this edition.
Disc 5 (CD): A 5 track BBC radio session (Maida Vale Studios, 13th April 2007) plus an 8-song acoustic / unplugged in-store performance from Park Avenue, Orlando (4th October 2007).
Disc 6 (Blu-ray): Includes remastered stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes of Fear Of A Blank Planet and Nil Recurring, as well as a new 2024 documentary – ‘The Making of Fear Of A Blank Planet’. Also features 3 music videos, 3 songs performed live on film at The Palladium, Koln (4th December 2007) and 2 live visual films (‘Sleep Together’ and ‘Anesthetize’).
“an aggressively modern merger of Rush’s arena art rock, U.K. prog classicism —especially Pink Floyd and King Crimson — and the post-grunge vengeance of Tool”
Rolling Stone
Originally released in 2007, Fear Of A Blank Planet is Porcupine Tree’s ninth studio album and both band and fans alike consider it to be a high point in their catalogue. Their biggest selling album at the time, it was the band’s first album to break into the Billboard Top 100 in the USA as well as charting significantly across Europe, earning them a Grammy nomination in the process. The album includes guest appearances from Robert Fripp (King Crimson) & Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson and featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s Greatest Prog Albums Of All Time as well as being named Classic Rock’s Album of the Year in 2007.
A concept album inspired by the Bret Easton Ellis novel Lunar Park, Fear Of A Blank Planet’s lyrics address how the adolescent protagonist battles his terminal boredom and attention-deficit disorders with a regimen of prescription drugs, TV, computer gaming, mindless violence, empty sex, and self-harm.
Following the release of Fear Of A Blank Planet in 2007, Porcupine Tree solidified their reputation as one of the rock’s most celebrated bands with their 2009 release The Incident garnering critical acclaim and earning the band another Grammy nomination. After a significant hiatus while members moved on to other projects, 2022’s highly anticipated return with Closure/Continuation demonstrated the band’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of their sound.
FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET DELUXE TRACKLISTING
DISC 1
1. Fear Of A Blank Planet (2024 Remaster) [07:28]
2. My Ashes (2024 Remaster) [05:09]
3. Anesthetize (2024 Remaster) [17:52]
4. Sentimental (2024 Remaster) [05:26]
5. Way Out Of Here (2024 Remaster) [07:37]
6. Sleep Together (2024 Remaster) [07:28]
DISC 2
1. Nil Recurring (2024 Remaster) [06:15]
2. Normal (2024 Remaster) [07:08]
3. Cheating The Polygraph (2024 Remaster) [07:10]
4. What Happens Now? (2024 Remaster) [08:24]
5. Fear Of A Blank Planet (Tour Live intro) [02:02]
DISC 3
1.Fear Of A Blank Planet (Demo) [07:01]
2. My Ashes (Demo) [05:09]
3. Anesthetize (Demo) [16:49]
4. Sentimental (Demo) [05:03]
5. Cheating The Polygraph (Demo) [07:07]
6. Sleep Together (Demo) [07:26]
7. Always Recurring (Demo) [03:49]
8. Hey Sleeper (Demo) [03:36]
DISC 4
1. Fear Of A Blank Planet (Live at Garage, Saarbrucken, 23 September 2006) [09:05]
2. My Ashes (Live at Garage, Saarbrucken, 23 September 2006) [05:44]
3. Anesthetize (Live at Garage, Saarbrucken, 23 September 2006) [17:12]
4. Sentimental (Live at Garage, Saarbrucken, 23 September 2006) [05:07]
5. Cheating The Polygraph (Live at Garage, Saarbrucken, 23 September 2006) [06:58]
6. Sleep Together (Live at Garage, Saarbrucken, 23 September 2006) [08:11]
On their fourth album, The Weever Sands take their listeners to the gentle, soothing, and peaceful side of the ocean. The magnificent title track follows the beautiful Moonfish on a day’s journey from the sunlit surface to the deep waters and back again, starting by daybreak until the soft whale song lays him to sleep. The main track is framed by two tracks that act like siblings, drawing their inspiration from literature and flowing like crystal-clear rivers to the sea. Combining elements of Folk, Prog, Minimal, Ambient, and classical music and dealing with the issue of inner peace and self-love, The Weever Sands provide a listening experience full of elegant tunes, delicate and fragile acoustic fabrics, friendly and sometimes dreamy moods, a grain of humour, and high-class virtuosity.
UK progressive rockers Frost* are pleased to announce the release of their brand new double concept album ‘Life In The Wires’, due out 18th October 2024 via InsideOutMusic. “Every prog band worth their salt really should do a double album, shouldn’t they?” asks Frost* frontman Jem Godfrey. “We’ve always kind of had this idea of wanting to do one. So I sat down last summer and thought, well, I’m just gonna have to get my head down and go for it.”
Today also sees the launch of the first track taken from the album, the first part of the album’s epic title track. Watch the video for ‘Life In The Wires, Part 1’, created by Christian Rios/Ray of Light Films, here:
“It’s actually a continuation from Day and Age” explains Godfrey, “the first track on the new album starts with the end of the last track from that album “Repeat to Fade,” where the static comes up and a voice says “Can you hear me?”. I remember putting that in when we did Day and Age as a possible little hook for the future; a character somewhere out there in Day and Age land trying to be heard. What does he want to say? Can anybody hear him? Day and Age kind of sets up the world that this character lives in and Life In The Wires tells his story”.
The story revolves around the main character Naio, an aimless kid heading for a meaningless future in an A.I. run world. He hears an old DJ talking on the ancient AM radio his mother once gave him and decides to trace the source of the signal and find “Livewire” to see if there’s a better future out there. However, the All Seeing Eye is less than impressed at this bid for independent thought and fights back. Soon Naio finds himself pursued across the country by an outraged mob as he tries to locate the home of Livewire and his freedom. Tune in at www.lifeinthewires.com and see if you can hear Livewire on the radio.
Helping create this parallel world are the “classic” Frost* lineup of guitarist John Mitchell, bassist Nathan King, and returning drummer Craig Blundell.
Fans of the band’s masterful debut album Milliontown (2006) will enjoy the band revisiting the style that made that debut album one of the most successful prog rock albums of the last 20 years, a fact that was not lost on Godfrey as he was writing this new record.
“With Day and Age, we made it a very specific point: we’re not doing any solos, we’ll do clever arrangements. And we enjoyed that discipline, but this time I thought it might be good to row back on that position a bit. Plus, I wanted to have a little bit of a nod to Milliontown with this album, because it’s been nearly 20 years since Milliontown came out and I’m still proud of it. The 15-minute title track has a few of those Milliontown moments in it which were great fun to do again.”
‘Life In The Wires’ will be available as a Limited 2CD, Gatefold 180g 2LP & as Digital Album, with subtle difference across the 3 formats for added interest. The album features artwork design by Carl Glover, who also designed the cover of ‘Day And Age’. The full track listing is as follows:
A DEEP-DIVE INTO THE AVANT-GARDE FROM TWO OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK’S MOST INNOVATIVE MINDS
As two of the leading figures in contemporary progressive music, Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt have treated their fans to all sorts of thrillingly unconventional and atmospheric sounds over the years. But even by their own talismanic standards, the duo’s 2012 collaboration as Storm Corrosion exists in its own psychedelic lane of peculiarity, throwing listeners into a world of haunting and unsettling ambience like no other.
WATCH THE STORM CORROSION TRAILER:
Some 12 years on from its original release, the album will be reissued on 27th September via Kscope on LP, CD and Blu Ray forms with a new Dolby Atmos remix by Steven Wilson. It will include a bonus cut of Drag Ropes – the only song they’ve performed live to date – recorded when Mikael guested with Steven and his band at London’s Royal Albert Hall in September 2015, plus extra documentary insights and footage. Given how the album clearly holds a special place in the hearts of both of its creators, and naturally their collective army of fans around the world, the new release will be a timely celebration of the ethereal magick encased within its six ground-breaking tracks.
“In many ways it’s become the cult classic we always intended it to be”
Steven Wilson
A love letter to the esoteric and abstruse sounds of the past, crossing the mystifying noises of late 60s/early 70s German groups like Tangerine Dream and Popol Vuh with the sound of British folk heroes like Nick Drake and Bert Jansch, while also embracing the eclectic oddities of cult figures like Scott Walker, it’s the kind of album that takes you on a transcendental journey that you never really come back from. For the two friends, this kind of fierce originality is precisely what they set out to achieve…
“Storm Corrosion was the 2012 album made by myself and Mikael Åkerfeldt of the band Opeth, and one which both of us considered a deeply satisfying artistic success,” says Steven. “It remains one of my favourite releases in my whole catalogue. Part of what made it so much fun was that pretty much anything that either of us suggested, the other would agree it should definitely be pursued, no matter how crazy and off the wall it sounded.”
That sense of pride is shared by his accomplice Mikael Åkerfeldt, who feels it’s easily one of the most experimental, if not bizarre, things either of them have ever recorded, and all the better for it. For him, and countless others, these enigmatic recordings seem to exist in a genre of their own – at times sounding more acoustic and minimalistic, and others infinitely more cerebral and foreboding, but in any case, always intoxicating.
“Everything about this record is strange in the best way possible”
Mikael Åkerfeldt
“Throughout all of my years as a musician, it’s very rare for me to return to a record I have participated in myself for the sheer listening pleasure alone,” notes Mikael. “Storm Corrosion is the exception. It’s such a lovely record to me. I can distance myself from my own work on it and just experience it as a fan of its music. Everything about this record is strange in the best way possible.”
“We’d talked many times over the years about doing a project with just the two of us,” continues Steven. “In 2011 we quietly got together for a week at my studio, and started to make music, not knowing where it would take us, but knowing that the last thing we wanted to do was the obvious. Instead, we found ourselves making an album of weird psychedelic chamber folk music, almost child-like in places, with lots of dissonance, orchestral arrangements and weird bits.”
STORM CORROSION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING FORMATS:
(includes bonus track live recording of Drag Ropes from Royal Albert Hall in 2015)
Black vinyl 2LP, gatefold packaging, 8-page booklet
(includes bonus track live recording of Drag Ropes from Royal Albert Hall in 2015)
Blu-ray edition
(includes high-resolution stereo, 2024 Dolby Atmos and 5.1 DTS-HD surround audio mixes & instrumental mixes of each track. Also includes a mini album documentary, the promo video for the track ‘Drag Ropes’, alongside two demo versions and an 8-page printed booklet. Additionally, a 2015 live recording of ‘Drag Ropes’ from The Royal Albert Hall when Mikael guested at one of Steven’s solo concerts has been newly mixed for this edition)
CD edition
(digipak CD edition includes 8-page printed booklet, plus a bonus track the live recording of ‘Drag Ropes’ from The Royal Albert Hall in 2015)
Its impact was keenly felt the world over – so much so, that there have been on-going calls for a follow-up. It’s something both musicians are open to but given how busy they are in their main projects, Steven as a solo artist and Mikael in charge of all things Opeth, whether it happens anytime soon remains to be seen. And if the members of Storm Corrosion do end up working on new material, chances are it will be done behind closed doors, in a similar spirit to their brilliantly leftfield debut.
“I get the notion that some listeners are completely and utterly in love with it,” continues Mikael. “I really understand that, since that’s how I feel myself. It’s strange and crazy in many ways. This record has got something. It’s quite unique. I’m so happy to see it available again.”
For Steven, who first started working with Opeth as the producer for seminal albums like Blackwater Park, Deliverance and Damnation, the sheer delight he takes from working with someone as utterly devoted to the surreal and obscure is something he has been continually vocal about. They are kindred spirits, and in more ways than one – this particular masterpiece demonstrating that in the most poignant of ways.
“That security in our collaboration could only have come from a place of mutual respect and admiration, even a sense of awe at what the other was capable of,” continues Steven. “We loved the finished result. It had seemed so effortless to make it.”
Once it was unveiled to the world, Storm Corrosion created just as much excitement as it did confusion. And as anyone familiar with either of these musicians will know, that’s precisely what they were aiming for.
“I don’t know what the people expecting a full-on heavy rock album made of it,” laughs Steven. “In many ways it has become the cult classic we always intended it to be…”
In August and September 2023, Norwegian rock quintet Dim Gray undertook their first extensive tour of the UK and Europe, playing 15 dates across nine countries with Big Big Train. The band recorded each show and have picked out a selection of songs and performances that will form a live digital EP to be released in the autumn.
The EP will contain live versions of songs from both Dim Gray albums to date, as well as their recent single, ‘Murals’. Each performance was recorded by front of house engineer Rob Aubrey at shows in England, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Norway and mixed by him to create a document that captures the band’s live sound in authentic fashion.
The second track to be issued from it is ‘Ashes’, the original version of which can be found on the band’s second album, ‘Firmament’ (2022). Drummer Tom Ian Klungland states that “with ‘Ashes’, I feel we really showed that we could evolve and expand our sound yet still sound like Dim Gray.”
This live version of the song was recorded at a hometown show in Oslo on 29th August 2023. Vocalist/keyboardist Oskar Holldorff explains: “‘Ashes’ is a dramatic piece that relies more on electronic sounds than many of our other songs, so we had to approach playing it live a little differently.” Guitarist Milad Amouzegar adds: “I think we managed to do the song justice live. We played it a few more times on this tour, but the energy on stage in Oslo was amazing. I don’t think it sounded any better than on that night.”
Dim Gray was formed in Oslo by the original core trio of Oskar Holldorff (keyboards, vocals), Håkon Høiberg (guitar, vocals) and Tom Ian Klungland (drums), issuing debut album ‘Flown’ in 2020 to rave reviews. Subsequently signing to English Electric Recordings, they released ‘Firmament’ in 2022 to similar acclaim. The group have promoted both records in both the UK and mainland Europe via guest slots with Marillion as well as Big Big Train. Milad Amouzegar (guitar, keyboards) and Kristian Kvaksrud (bass) joined as permanent group members in 2023.
‘Ashes’ follows the late June release of ‘The Wave We Thought We’d Ride Forever’
Legendary guitarist Steve Hackett brings his: Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo Tour to the UK for 16 dates in October. The UK tour culminates with a visit to London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 23rd October. To mark the 50th anniversary of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Hackett is including a selection of highlights from this iconic Genesis album. Tickets are onsale now:
Steve Hackett’s timeless guitar-work was woven throughout Genesis’ classic 70’s catalogue of albums. In recent years he and his outstanding touring line-up of Roger King (keyboards), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Jonas Reingold (bass, backing vocals), Rob Townsend (saxophone, flutes, additional keyboards) and Craig Blundell (drums) have brought many of these albums back to the concert hall to great acclaim. Special guest, Amanda Lehmann will be joining the whole of the UK tour on guitar and vocals. Many fans have also been asking for more tracks from The Lamb to be included. What better way to celebrate half-a-century of this remarkable album than to include a selection of Lamb Highlights alongside some of Hackett’s finest solo work and unmissable Genesis Greats.
“I’m thrilled with the response to my latest tour, “Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo” which has already received fantastic reactions in Europe! I’m hugely looking forward to bringing this tour to the UK, culminating with the special Royal Albert Hall show…” Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett – Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo tour dates 2024:
Wed 2nd October Aylesbury Friars Waterside SOLD OUT
Steve Hackett joined Genesis at the beginning of 1971 and gained an international reputation as the guitarist in the band’s classic line-up alongside Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. Hackett’s intricate guitar work was a key element of Genesis’ albums from Nursery Cryme (1971) to Wind And Wuthering (1977) including the iconic Selling England By The Pound.
After leaving Genesis at the end of 1977, Hackett’s solo career, which now spans more than 30 albums, has demonstrated his extraordinary versatility with both electric and acoustic guitar. Hackett is renowned as both an immensely talented and innovative rock musician and a virtuoso classical guitarist and composer and this was recognised in 2010 when he was inducted into the Rock And Rock Hall Of Fame. He has also worked alongside Steve Howe of YES in the supergroup GTR.
Hackett’s compositions take influences from many genres, including jazz, classical and blues. For his studio works The Night Siren (2017) and At The Edge Of Light (2019) Hackett has also explored the influences of world music. Recent tours have seen Hackett celebrate his time with Genesis including a spectacular 2018 tour in which he realised a long-held ambition to perform the works of Genesis live with his band and an orchestra.
The lockdown enforced by the 2020 global pandemic has proven to be a particularly creative period for Hackett. He began by releasing Selling England by the Pound & Spectral Mornings: Live at Hammersmith, a live recording of 2019’s hugely successful tour celebrating that Genesis classic together with the 40th anniversary of one of his most-loved solo albums. Lockdown also gave Hackett the opportunity to write and record two new studio albums in 2021: the UK Classical Chart hit Under A Mediterranean Sky and the hit rock album Surrender of Silence.
Hackett and his band enjoyed a return to touring with Genesis Revisited – Seconds Out + More! (2021) and Genesis Revisited – Foxtrot At Fifty (2022). Subsequently, the live album Genesis Revisited – Seconds Out + More!, released in 2022, became Hackett’s most successful-ever live album reaching number 28 in the UK Album Chart and achieving highest-ever chart positions in several European countries. He recently released the live album from the 2022 tour – Foxtrot at Fifty + Hackett Highlights – Live in Brighton. In January 2024 Steve released his current studio album, the first since 2021 – The Circus and The Nightwhale, which received critical acclaim and great reviews. The fans in Europe are loving the new material some of which Hackett performs in the first half of the show.
Guitarist Steve Howe releases his new solo album Guitarscape on 27th September on his own HoweSound label. The album will be available on CD, vinyl and digitally as Dolby Atmos. Pre-order the album here:https://lnk.to/hkKdov
Guitarscape marks a new chapter for the YES and ASIA legend as he presents, what amounts to, a guitar masterclass. “What I’m doing,” said Steve, “is focusing on what I do well and what I love to do.” Guitarscape features 14 new instrumental tracks in a host of musical styles, from rock through to acoustic and classical, each bearing that unmistakable Steve Howe sound. Steve plays acoustic, electric, steel and bass guitars along with keyboards and is joined by his son Dylan on drums. Steve has written all of the tracks and produced the album.
“This album has given me the opportunity to do something different,” says Steve. “I bought a Novatron Summit keyboard and found that it had a wealth of inspiring sounds. It gave me a golden opportunity to create my own keyboard structures – chordal movements and structures that I thought were a bit different. I think differently on a keyboard, I don’t see the chords looking the same but then I had fun playing around with the guitar to see where that goes.
“I’ve utilised most of the colours, as I like to I think of my styles, and I’m always pleased when I hear them running through and it moves from a steel, maybe, to a Spanish guitar. Because it’s a different sort of album, I’m not using terribly conventional chord sequences but things that give me a fresh feeling and opportunities to improvise and stretch out as well as be melodic and make this a nice tuneful experience.
“I began feeding the tracks to Dylan. We get on great and he seems to know what to play around my guitar, it’s almost instinctive. Dylan and I fit together really beautifully. We’ve had the chance to do this together, so it’s wonderful.
“The bass parts and the keyboards are pretty interesting, everything had to be interesting but also work together. I like doing things that are super fresh and this album says what I am today.”
Steve Howe – Guitarscape is released by HoweSound on 27th September 2024.
In August and September 2023, multi-national progressive rockers Big Big Train undertook their longest ever tour to date, performing 17 shows over 21 days across nine countries in the UK and Europe, and concluding with two triumphant concerts at London’s prestigious Cadogan Hall. Those two concerts are now immortalised as ‘A Flare On The Lens’, released on 13th September 2024 via InsideOutMusic.
This new concert film package includes every song performed by the band over those two evenings and is available as a Limited 3CD+Blu-ray media book, with the concert film audio mixed in 5.1 surround sound and stereo. A gatefold 180g 2LP vinyl version is also available, which features a carefully selected range of material from the Cadogan Hall shows.
To mark the announcement, you can now watch a video of the band performing ‘A Boy In Darkness’ here:
Lead vocalist Alberto Bravin comments: ’’A Boy In Darkness is one of the most emotional and difficult Big Big Train songs to sing and interpret. It’s amazing how the mood of the song changes completely from a very dark place to a crowd-pleasing clapping section that leads to a tragic and powerful finale.”
Bassist Gregory Spawton says: “A Boy In Darkness takes the listener – and the band – on a historical and musical journey. We had never played it live until last year and it was a bit overlooked within our back catalogue. I always thought that it was one of David Longdon’s most accomplished songs and deserved greater prominence. The audience reaction every time we performed it reinforced that view.”
Violinist Clare Lindley comments: “There is a weight to A Boy in Darkness, a held tension, which is there right from the start and builds throughout the song to the magnificent final chorus. It’s a tremendous song to play live, full of interesting lines and melodies and, for me, an exciting instrumental section where I play all the violin and flute solos. I think the music carries the subject matter perfectly.”
Pre-order ‘A Flare On The Lens’ and stream ‘A Boy in Darkness’ here:
‘A Flare On The Lens’ features the band’s full show at Cadogan Hall from the second of their two nights there last year and also includes seven songs which were played only on the first night.
As such, the Blu-ray film runs to around 3 hours and contains no fewer than 17 songs, including both back catalogue favourites such as ‘East Coast Racer’, ‘Hedgerow’, ‘Folklore’, ‘Judas Unrepentant’, ‘Curator Of Butterflies’ and ‘Victorian Brickwork’, live instrumental tour de force ‘Apollo’ and future classics ‘Love Is The Light’ and ‘Oblivion’, plus a 3 song acoustic medley. ‘Love Is The Light’ and ‘Oblivion’ have subsequently been available on the band’s acclaimed studio album, ‘The Likes Of Us’, released in March this year.
The full tracklisting is:
1. Folklore*
2. The Connection Plan*
3. Curator of Butterflies*
4. Summoned by Bells*
5. Drums & Brass 2023*
6. Love Is The Light*
7. A Boy In Darkness*
8. Apollo*
9. Acoustic Medley
10. East Coast Racer*
11. Victorian Brickwork*
12. Oblivion
13. Swan Hunter
14. Keeper of Abbeys
15. Brooklands
16. Hedgerow
17. Telling the Bees
18. Judas Unrepentant
*included on 2LP vinyl release
‘A Flare On The Lens’ is the sight and sound of Big Big Train back on an upwards curve and re-establishing itself as one of the rock music scene’s most compelling live bands.
Big Big Train headline the final Night Of The Prog festival in Germany on 21st July before making their debut at the renowned Cropredy Festival in the UK on 9th August. The band then undertake their own headline tour in September and October, before returning to co-headline Cruise To The Edge in April next year.
21st July – Night of the Prog, Loreley, Germany
9th August – Cropredy Festival, Oxfordshire, UK
17th September – Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, UK
18th September – The Riverfront, Newport, UK
19th September – Playhouse Theatre, Whitley Bay, UK
21st September – Queens Hall, Edinburgh, UK
22nd September – Palace Theatre, Newark, UK
24th September – Stables Theatre, Milton Keynes, UK – SOLD OUT
25th September – The Stoller Hall, Manchester, UK – SOLD OUT
27th September – Stadthalle, Weinheim, Germany
28th September – Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
29th September – Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
