HEMISPHERES A panoramic view over the world of prog rock.

From page 14 of Classic Rock Magazine July 2003



Cover of July 2003 issue.
Liked this article? Bookmark it and save it for later.
Click here to add it to your favourites.

Noticed an error? Help us improve the Classic Rock Archive by reporting any articles that seem have errors.
Please click here to report it.

HE FLOWER KINGS ARE

about to set out on a US

tour, but as ever there are various side-projects going on. Firstly, current bassist JONAS REINGOLD and former drummer JAIME SALAZAR have formed a new quartet with singer PETE SANDBERG and guitarist JOHAN REINHOLDZ called OPUS ATLANTICA . However, I wasn’t overly impressed by this debut, which scores low points for both quality and quantity (a mere 35 minutes). Meanwhile, Kings leader ROINE STOLT has been working on a new KAIPA album to follow last year’s ‘Notes From The Past’ with keyboardist HANS LUNDIN and RITUAL vocalist P ATRIK LUNDSTROM . It should be released through Inside Out after the summer. Stolt is also finalising the ‘Tangent’ project with PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES ’ frontman ANDY TILLISON-DISKDRIVE , with Reingold assembling a second KARMAKANIC project. A Flower Kings DVD should be out in September too. PALLAS expect a July release for their live DVD/double CD package ‘The Blinding Darkness’ which was recorded last September at Zoetermeer in the Netherlands. The encore features a 20-minute version of the ‘Atlantis Suite’ and a special guest appearance by former vocalist EUAN LOWSON on two tracks, including ‘The Ripper’. Make sure you check out Cyclops’s best release for a while, namely ‘Variations On A Dream’ by PINEAPPLE THIEF . The band – masterminded by VULGAR UNICORN ’s BRUCE SOORD may currently be low profile, but could be on the verge of greater things. Having previously attracted some major label interest, ‘Variations...’ is chock full of great modern prog that will appeal to fans of PORCUPINE TREE in particular. They are also set to play their first UK gig at the Whitchurch Festival on the weekend of August 1-3. Other bands added to the Whitchurch bill are American act OXYGENE 8 and NO-MAN singer TIM BURNESS , alongside CARAVAN, IQ, THE STRAWBS and SPHERE . And staying with Sphere, the all instrumental quartet are playing the Exotic Underground Festival at Camelot Castle Hotel (yes, really) in Tintagel, Cornwall on July 19.

Also out on Cyclops is ‘Puppet Show’ an entertaining double live album from under-rated Americans SALEM HILL , featuring former KANSAS violinist/guitarist DAVID RAGSDALE , and a reissue of Dutch quartet ODYSSICE ’s 1996 debut album ‘Moondrive’ with bonus material. Other imminent Cyclops product includes TRANSCIENCE , a side-project led by LAND’S END bassist FRED HUNTER , and a reissue of ‘Art & Illusion’ by TWELFTH NIGHT .

MAGENTA are making good progress on their second album, confusingly titled ‘Seven’, which should be released later in the year through the F2 label. With final recording underway at Abbey Road in London and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra also appearing, the album should represent a significant step forwards from their debut ‘Revolutions’. The band have now expanded from their core duo of keyboardist ROB REED (CYAN) and vocalist CHRISTINA to a sextet. They also support SLEEPING GIANT at the Herringthorpe Leisure Centre, Rotherham on July 12. Thanks to Malcolm Parker at GFT (020 8339 9965), this column’s official CD supplier. Nick Shilton can be contacted by email at: nshilton@shiltonsharpe.com

BY NICK SHILTON

HOUSE OF LORDS
Clutching at cash






Privacy | Terms and Conditions | Contact Us | Contributors