Danialou Sagbohan: "Kakagbo" (live at Sacred Island)

purchase here: 
https://7dmedia.bandcamp.com/album/prog-noir

With riveting performances by the modern prog-rock legends Stick Men – Tony Levin, Markus Reuter and Pat Mastelotto – , "Prog Noir" is ambitious, achieving and immediately essential. Cinematic themes, towering grooves and intricate arrangements are all on tap, and shower down in abundance. Proving conclusively that the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts, this herculean effort exceeds any perceived limitations of the trio format -- satisfying even the most devout and demanding of listeners. 

Long-time fans of Stick Men and King Crimson will revel in ecstasy, as the three sonic adventurers gleefully waltz to the outer fringes, while remaining sure-footed through every scene. The chemistry of Levin and Mastelotto has never been more evident, keeping a solid, propulsive undercurrent flowing beneath the soaring presence of the ingenious 'mad scientist' antics of Reuter. ... and a profound presence Markus Reuter does prove himself to be. One could be quickly forgiven for mistaking his avid, searching, convicted playing for that of Master Fripp, if administered under blindfold! 

The album's ten compositions showcase Stick Men at their most versatile and enterprising; there's even some superb vocals (and vocal arrangements). While most of the large following the band has amassed will undoubtedly be surprised by the more structured and preconceived nature of the tunes, the revelation is a pleasant one. The album triumphantly succeeds on every level, with the group even displaying a playful sense of humor, clearly enjoying and savoring the moment. 

From the overpowering to the sublime; from an organic, instinctive avant garde, to intricate, Crimsonesque tapestries, to rich cinematic themes and potent melodies, the album embodies the go-for-it, pioneering spirit that fans of the genre have long savored. A modern prog epic!

Tony Levin: Stick and Voice 
Markus Reuter: U8 and AU8 Touch Guitars and Voice 
Pat Mastelotto: Acoustic and Electronic Drums and Percussion 

Prog Noir

Memento (DiN52) by Markus Reuter & Ian Boddy
Release date 19th May 2017

“Memento” (DiN52) is the fifth DiN CD collaboration between label boss Ian Boddy & renowned composer and touch guitarist Markus Reuter. They were there at the birth of DiN in 1999 with their inaugural release Distant Rituals (DiN2) and this latest work not only affectionately looks back to that album but forges ahead into new musical territory.

The album opens with the powerful tour de force of “Gyroscope” with its ever evolving guitar arpeggios and thunderous percussion. The following track “Spindrift” has a mysterious harmonic feel highlighted by Reuter’s beautiful guitar playing & Boddy’s ambient production. “Linger” & “Stay”  form a pair of soundscapes where Reuter’s guitar loop ambiences are intermingled with extraordinary analogue textures from Boddy’s Serge modular synthesiser. The former provides a breathing space within the album after the two opening tracks whereas the latter brings the CD to a gentle, drifting close. The title track hearkens back to the duos first collaborative album with it’s pulsing cut up treatment of a Reuter guitar loop soundscape and perhaps informs the listener as to the nature of this “Memento”. Although Boddy often keeps in the background in terms of lead solo work when working with Reuter the track “Deadlock” features an Ondes Martenot style synth line that soars above this dark emotionally laden piece.

Once again Reuter & Boddy have proved to be a potent musical team with their balance of styles producing a complex, deep album. Effortlessly crossing genres between prog and ambient electronica it not only looks back to their roots but creates new sonic landscapes for the listener to explore.

Memento

Buy on CD or download

Memento Demo Mix

Recording label for the genre-busting artists
Security Project, Trey Gunn & Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson, Stick Men, Phurpa, KTU, TU, 3Below, Inna Zhelannaya, Markus Reuter, Crystal Beth, DeepEnergyOrchestra(DEO), 
Matte Henderson, Under The Psycamore and more.

Prog Noir

7d Media

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