Xixa - Genesis

Monday, a new week and it's time to present "Record Of The Week".

"Genesis" is the sophomore album by the mystic desert rock XIXA. Formed in the heart of the deep American Southwest, XIXA is a guitar-slinging six-piece, uniquely attuned to the desert and their Latin roots. Combining gritty guitars, the bumping grind of chicha, and desert blues into a mesmerizing stew. They're also a band whose time had come to define what they call "The New Southwest"-intense, sun-bleached music shot through with an inky gothic horror that scans like the long-lost soundtrack to a cult, macabre B-movie Western.

Their debut record, 2016 "Bloodline," saw them inject heavy fuzz guitars and Latin pulses into sandy rock and roll, a potent mix that took them all over the world for two whole years. For 2019s EP "The Code" they blended psych-rock, cumbia, goth rock, cowboy folk, and windswept desert blues into a dark, simmering occult.

On "Genesis" we find that XIXA delving deeper into their admiration for Peruvian chicha, extracting and refining their core, and giving voice to their most primal instincts. Informed by the band's rich history as songwriters and storytellers, they've carved a wider space for their psychedelic rock to swell, a place where scoundrels and coyotes roam free, and magic runs deep in the earth. It is the ultimate desert trip.

"Genesis" contains ten magical tunes with a playtime of forty-two minutes. It's a wonderfully sprawling story, Morricone feeling that lies over the album like a piece of silk, from the opening tune "Thine Is The Kingdom" that serving an atmospheric and epic landscape, soaring and summoning vocals. Throughout the album, the band has a great balance in the musical roots of the modern Americana and the Latin rhythms where they serve us a "smörgårdsbord" of liveliness, dance-friendly rhythms, with very great creativity that gives a wide and innovative result. "Land Where We Lie" gives us some singing by the Uummannaq Children’s Choir, the summer Latino inspired "Eclipse", the psychedelic rocker "Soma", the high tempo world music piece "Eve Of Agnes" featuring Imarhan (Algerian Tuareg desert rock quintet), that species of the tune with some Saharan desert vibes. "Velveteen" is a far-out psych beauty that follows up by the Latino galloping "May They Call Us Home", a spaghetti Westerns with Morricone floating in the space. The half-paced Tom Waits-sounding piece "Nights Plutonian Shore" is a real beauty of the blackened post-apocalyptic world and the vocals from Gabriel Sullivan are so deep and powerful and with Sergio Mendoza on piano. The album closes up with the country's slow-burner "Feast Of Ascension" in the best possible way. The album is a thrilling ride for those rockers and poppers with open minds. I really dig this and I have always been weak for bands that dare to take the turns a bit. So I do recommend this!

The lineup of XIXA consists of twin percussion (Winston Watson on drums and Efrén Cruz Chávez on Timbales and percussion), keyboards (Jason Urman), bass (Hikit Corbel), alongside twin guitar leads (Gabriel Sullivan and Brian Lopez who both share lead vocals).

Sum: This is the long-lost soundtrack to a cult, macabre B-movie Western.

Today's tune "May They Call Us Home", taken from "Genesis". Written and Directed by Charlie Stout - http://www.charliestout.comFeaturing Howe Gelb as The Enlightened OneMystic Bolo-Ties by Heliotrope - http://www.heliotropemetal.com, Enjoy!



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Robert Plant - In The Mood

A few days ago a legend put his soulful body on the stage at Gröna Lund and delivered a truly  magical evening. Mixing his solo work with is heritage regarding LED ZEPPELIN, but in his own absolutely stunning versions. He is out on the road for some festivals here in Europe, my buddy Bill is traveling with him, something i really envy, well i hope he gets a great time.

See all the tunes he played below and the upcoming tourdates. Robert have released the first Episode of 'Digging Deep, The Robert Plant Podcast', available on iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Acast, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts - listen now

Setlist from Gröna Lund

Rainbow
Turn It Up
Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song)
The May Queen
Going to California (Led Zeppelin song)
Poor Howard (Lead Belly cover)
Carry Fire
Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You (Joan Baez cover)
Little Maggie ([traditional] cover)
Fixin' to Die (Bukka White cover)
Gallows Pole ([traditional] cover)

Encore:
In the Mood
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin song)

Today's tune "In the Mood" is a song by English recording artist Robert Plant from his second solo studio album, "The Principle of Moments" (1983). "In the Mood" was written by Plant, guitarist Robbie Blunt and bassist Paul Martinez. The drummer on the recording was GENESIS Phil Collins.

Upcoming Tourdates:

Jun 15, 2019 Bergenfest BERGEN, HORDALAND
Jun 17, 2019 The Big Challenge Festival TRONDHEIM, SOR-TRONDELAG
Jun 19, 2019 Harstad Kulturhus HARSTAD, TROMS
Jun 21, 2019 Bodohallen BODØ, NORDLAND
Jun 23, 2019 Secret Solstice Festival REYKJAVÍK
Jun 25, 2019 Driv TROMSØ, TROMS
Jun 27, 2019 Svalbard Kulturhuset LONGYEARBYEN, SVALBARD
Jun 29, 2019 Svalbard Kulturhuset LONGYEARBYEN, SVALBARD
Jul 2, 2019 Fredriksten Fortress HALDEN, OSTFOLD
Jul 4, 2019 Roskilde Festival ROSKILDE
Sep 13, 2019 Harvest Blues & Jazz Festival FREDERICTON, CANADA SOLD OUT
Sep 17, 2019 Mann Center for the Performing Arts PHILADELPHIA, PA
Sep 20, 2019 Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center NOBLESVILLE, IN Outlaw Music Festival Tour
Sep 21, 2019 Bourbon & Beyond LOUISVILLE, KY
Sep 23, 2019 Surf Ballroom CLEAR LAKE, IA with special guest: Lillie Mae SOLD OUT
Sep 25, 2019 Bluestem Amphitheater MOORHEAD, MN with special guest: Lillie Mae
Sep 27, 2019 KettleHouse Amphitheater MISSOULA, MT with special guest: Lillie Mae
Sep 29, 2019 First Interstate Center for the Arts SPOKANE, WA with special guest: Lillie Mae
Oct 1, 2019 Eccles Theater SALT LAKE CITY, UT with special guest: Lillie Mae
Oct 3, 2019 Les Schwab Amphitheater BEND, OR with special guest: Lillie Mae

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Genesis - Firth Of Fifth

Sunday, time for a classic.

Firth of Fifth is a song by the British progressive rock band GENESIS. It first appeared as the third track on the 1973 album "Selling England by the Pound", and was performed as a live piece either in whole or in part throughout the band's career.

The title is a pun on the estuary of the River Forth in Scotland, commonly known as the "Firth of Forth". Though the song is credited to the entire band, most of the music was composed by keyboardist Tony Banks. He had written the bulk of the song by 1972, presenting it as a candidate for the album "Foxtrot" (1972), but it was rejected. He redesigned the piece, which the group accepted as a candidate for "Selling England by the Pound". Banks worked on the lyrics with the group's Mike Rutherford, which he later dismissed, saying they were "one of the worst sets of lyrics I have been involved with."

The song starts out with a classical-style grand piano introduction played by Banks. This section is rhythmically complex, with certain bars in the rare time signatures of 13/16 and 15/16, alternating with bars of 2/4. This section changes tempo and segues into the first section of lyrics, accompanied by Phil Collins on drums and a chord progression between the Hammond organ (Banks) and guitar (Steve Hackett). The song then features a flute melody played by Peter Gabriel, followed by a synth-driven instrumental section which restates the opening piano theme. Hackett then plays the flute melody using violin-like guitar tones. Peter Gabriel then sings a brief section of lyrics before Banks concludes the song on piano.

A legendary performance of Firth Of Fifth from GENESIS in their prime!

GENESIS In Concert 1974 "Selling England" tour 2DVD collector's item set. "Firth Of Fifth" was recorded live at Montreal Quebec, Canada April 20th, 1974 Some missing sequences were edited in from other venues to create the song in it's entirety.



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Steve Hackett - Behind The Smoke

The old school progressive rocker Steve Hackett is back with a brand new video "Behind The Smoke" to promote his latest and twenty-fifth solo release "The Night Siren" that was release on Mars 24th at InsideOut Music.

Hackett had been working on his singing "since 1981" and marks his vocals on "The Night Siren" as the first time he "actually felt like a vocalist" and cited the style of American singer Tim Rose as an influence. Hackett describes the album as "a bird's eye view of the world of a musical migrant ignoring borders and celebrating our common ancestry with a unity of spirit, featuring musicians, singers and instruments from all over the world. From territorial frontiers to walled-up gateways, boundaries often hold back the tide. But while the night siren wails, music breaches all defences".

Some sections on the album was longer than what appeared in the final version, leaving Hackett to edit them down as he noticed a "sense of let's get to the point" and had been prone to develop long sections or song introductions in the past. He intended to make a more accessible album, and after listening back to it, enjoyed making it. "Behind the Smoke" centres around the historical plight of refugees. "West to East" reflects on the effects of war and hope for a better world and features orchestral and choral arrangements. Hackett sees the two tracks as companions to each other; the former originated from a lyric that his wife Jo came up with: "Behind the smoke it's black". Hackett's brother John Hackett plays the flute on some tracks. "Anything But Love" contains a mixture of styles, opening with flamenco guitar to become a rock song with an electric guitar solo to finish. The change of style and joining them together in the studio was particularly demanding.

On the composition, Hackett adds, "we've got 20 people from all around the world all working together ... although it's a rock album there are some big differences." The album also contains influences from the Beatles' psychedelia phase and classic science fiction.

Stephen Richard "Steve" Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, songwriter, singer and producer who gained prominence as the guitarist of the English progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums and seven singles before leaving to pursue a solo career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.

Order your copy as limited coloured or black double vinyl plus CD / Special Edition CD+Blu-Ray / CD / Digital now!

- Official band store - https://store.hackettsongs.com

- Official label store - https://www.insideoutshop.de

Click here to see more stores & download/streaming platforms: http://smarturl.it/SteveHackettTNS

Today's tune "Behind The Smoke", taken from "The Night Siren".



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Mike + The Mechanics - Don't Know What Came Over Me

MIKE + THE MECHANICS will release their first album since 2011’s "The Road" this spring. "Let Me Fly", due April 7, is the eighth studio effort from GENESIS co-founder Mike Rutherford’s other hit-making band.

"Don’t Know What Came Over Me" is the first single out from the upcoming album. The band is out on tour the U.K. and Europe see the dates below.

MIKE + THE MECHANICS are an English pop/rock supergroup formed in 1985 as a side project of Mike Rutherford, one of the founding members of the band GENESIS. The band is known for their hit singles "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)", "All I Need Is a Miracle", "Word of Mouth", "Over My Shoulder", and "The Living Years".

Initially, the band included Rutherford, vocalists Paul Carrack and Paul Young, keyboardist Adrian Lee and drummer Peter Van Hooke. Carrack was generally assigned to ballads and more pop-oriented numbers, while Young handled the band's heavier work. After a successful decade, Lee and Van Hooke dropped out in 1995, and were not replaced. Following Young's death in 2000, Carrack became the band's sole lead vocalist until 2004 when the band (essentially a duo at this point) went on hiatus, with Rutherford and Carrack both later saying the band had "run its course". The band identity was revived in 2010, consisting of Rutherford and a completely new set of musicians, including new vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar.

Current members:

Mike Rutherford – bass, guitars, backing vocals (1985–2004, 2010–present)
Anthony Drennan – guitars, bass (2010–present)
Tim Howar – vocals (2010–present)
Luke Juby – keyboards, backing vocals, bass, saxophone, whistler (2010–present)
Andrew Roachford – vocals, keyboards (2010–present)
Gary Wallis – drums (2010–present; touring: 1995–2004)

Todays's tune "Don't Know What Came Over Me" is taken from the upcoming album "Let Me Fly" out 7/4/17

Pre order: https://MandTM.lnk.to/LetItFlyID



Upcoming Tourdates:

SUN 5 MARCH The New Theatre Oxford, UK
TUE 7 MARCH The Hexagon Reading, UK
WED 8 MARCH The Corn Exchange Cambridge, UK
THU 9 MARCH The Regent Theatre Ipswich, UK
SAT 11 MARCH The Cliffs Pavilion Southend On Sea, UK
MON 13 MARCH The Dome Brighton, UK
WED 15 MARCH Bridgewater Hall Manchester, UK
FRI 17 MARCH Concert Hall Perth, UK
SAT 18 MARCH His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen, UK
SUN 19 MARCH Festival Hall Edinburgh, UK
TUE 21 MARCH Royal Concert Hall Glasgow, UK
WED 22 MARCH City Hall Sheffield, UK
FRI 24 MARCH Pavilion Bournemouth, UK
SAT 25 MARCH Guildhall Portsmouth, UK
SUN 26 MARCH Royal Albert Hall London, UK
TUE 28 MARCH City Hall Salisbury, UK
WED 29 MARCH De Montfort Hall Leicester, UK
SUN 25 JUNE Aviva Stadium Dublin, Ireland
FRI 30 JUNE Barclaycard British Summer Time 2017 London, UK

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Official Mike + The Mechanics Web

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Genesis - Supper's Ready

The end of the week is here and it's time for us to give you a Sunday Classic. With a timing of the Sunday dinner, we play a true classic, a song that in time makes it through the Sunday dinner.

Todays tune "Supper's Ready", taken from the fourth studio album "Foxtrot" by the English progressive rock band Genesis and the second from the band line-up which included Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Steve Hackett. "Watcher of the Skies" and "Get 'Em Out by Friday" appeared on 1973's Genesis Live, while the 23-minute-long "Supper's Ready" was omitted due to space considerations, though Tony Banks once said "we felt we couldn't have two records coming out in succession with that on it." Live versions of "Supper's Ready" did appear on 1977's Seconds Out (with Phil Collins on vocals and Chester Thompson on drums), the 1998 box set Genesis Archive 1967–75, and the 2008 box set Genesis 1970–1975.

The 'fox on the rocks' (spelled "focks" on the rocks in the original LP printed lyrics) is mentioned in the lyrics of the "Willow Farm" section of "Supper's Ready", and is featured in the album artwork. This figure in a red dress with a fox's head became one of Gabriel's earliest stage costumes.

Anyway, "Supper's Ready" is a nearly 23 minutes in length, the song is divided into seven sections. A number of musical and lyrical themes do re-appear throughout. The melody of the verse in section I reappears as a flute melody between sections II and III. The melody of the chorus in section I reappears with new lyrics in the coda to section VI. And the song that comprises the majority of section II reappears briefly in instrumental form at the beginning of section VI, and then returns to form the body of section VII, with new lyrics.

One commentator regarded the structure of "Supper's Ready" as a variation of sonata form—a musicological analysis by Nors Josephson proposes that "section VII may be viewed as a Lisztian, symphonic apotheosis" of the "cyclical fanfares that originated in section II." On the other hand, the individual components of "Supper's Ready" are much closer to traditional rock songs than they are to classical pieces, even if they contain elements of both.

As with many progressive rock suites, the song undergoes multiple changes in time signature, key signature, Leitmotif, instrumentation, and mood.

In an interview, Peter Gabriel summed up "Supper's Ready" as "a personal journey which ends up walking through scenes from Revelation in the Bible....I'll leave it at that."

Live performances of "Supper's Ready" were preceded by Peter Gabriel telling a story. This is the story told at the Rainbow Theatre on 20 October 1973 (as released on the Genesis Archive 1967–75 set):

"Old [Michael] went past the pet shop, which was never open, into the park, which was never closed, and the park was full of a very smooth, clean, green grass. So he took off all his clothes and began rubbing his flesh into the wet, clean, green grass. He accompanied himself with a little tune—it went like this." [Gabriel briefly performs scat singing over Collins's drum accompaniment.]

"Beneath the ground, the dirty brown writhing things called 'worms' interpreted the pitter-patter from above as rainfall. Rainfall in worm-world means two things: mating and bath time. Both of these experiences were thoroughly enjoyable to the worm colony. Within seconds, the entire surface of the park was a mass of dirty, brown, soggy, writhing forms.

"He was still pleased, old Michael, and he began whistling a tune this time to accompany himself." [Gabriel then briefly whistles the beginning of the hymn Jerusalem.] " 'Jerusalem Boogie' to us, perhaps. But to the birds it meant that supper was ready."

Todays tune "Supper's Ready" Live in Shepperton 1973, taken from the 1972 album Foxtrot.



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Opeth - Cusp Of Eternity

A new week, which means that we will present this week's "Record of the Week".

Pale Communion, the 11th full-length release for the Swedish progressive rock/metal band "Opeth", the album was produced by bandleader Mikael Åkerfeldt and mixed by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson.

The Swedes follows up the previous and surprising genre twist 2011's "Heritage" with the new Opeth effort, Pale Communion.The band continues on with the progressive path they made on "Heritage". The production is more expansive than before and the songs have more affinity and do not sprawl as much as it did on the last album. However, I hear more classical references now, bands like Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Genesis etc. appearing in the background.

The musicians are doing a fantastic job on Pale Communion, The most notable is Martin Axenrot who makes a huge impact on this record, he plays neat, stylish and this is probably the most well-filled drumming I've heard him do. Martin Mendez support Martin well and creates a perfect rhythm section. Joakim Svalberg on keys must really have fun on this record as he gets a lot of air and can jam freely. Åkerfeldt signs good, really good and handle his guitar excellent and his guitar partner Fredrik Åkesson handles the guitar just like that he could not do anything else, splendid in other words.

Pale Communion does really fill me up with exciting moments and keeps my interest flowing. The compositions are magnificence and full of dynamics and contrast. The sound on the Vinyl is amazing, a hell of  good pressing and It's a thrill and enjoyment to play this and I do enjoy playing this from the start to finish.

Mikael Åkerfeldt said of the album, "I wanted to do something more melodic with this album, so there's stronger vocal melodies and more melodies overall for this album." .

Deluxe Pale Communion Box Set

7” sized foil stamped double slipcase housing:
7” of bonus track “Solitude” recorded live at Stockholm Södra Teatern in April 2012
7” of bonus track “Var Kommer Barnen In” recorded live at Stockholm Södra Teatern in April 2012
7” of “Cusp of Eternity
Pale Communion CD and Blu Ray of 5.1 audio mixes housed in gatefold jacket
Oversized booklet
Download of exclusive commentary by Mikael Åkerfeldt on the making of Pale Communion
Download of live bonus tracks


Todays tune "Cusp Of Eternity" is taken from "Pale Communion" by Opeth, enjoy!



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Beardfish - Voluntary Slavery

Monday! That means it's time to present this week's album! Today it's the Swedish progressive rock band "Beardfish" and their latest album "Void" that receiving the honor to take place on the Tune Of The Days Record of the Week.

But first some history, Beardfish is a Swedish progressive rock band formed in 2001. Their style resembles progressive rock bands from the 1970s, such as Yes and Genesis. The band was signed by InsideOut Music after releasing two albums independently; they have since released five more albums, so seven in total!

Beardfish is comprised of Rikard Sjoblom (vocals/guitars/keyboards), David Zackrisson (guitars), Magnus Ostgren (drums) and Robert Hansen (bass).

The band is out touring atm, the started Sept. 9 2012, Beardfish will be the support act for all European dates for the band Flying Colors.

This weeks album "Void" As previous releases a unique experience which gives the listener memorable melodies, brilliant playing, often very clever lyrics. Since 2006, the band has released seven albums, more than one each year, pretty good in my eyes! And every album is very good in their own way. The Void is just another excellent album in the band’s ever-expanding catalogue.

I will not be particularly deep about this album, but will leave you to dig down in it. It's is released on Spotify, to hook it up and listen. The Void demands attention. Each song differs from the last, offering focal points of an endless variety to keep you interested throughout. The Void is born in to a line of great albums with fantastic reputations, and fails to break tradition. Beardfish push the boundaries of progressive rock delivering their most hard-edged and ominous record to date. Seven albums deep and keeping the musical dialogue going strong!

Studio albums:

Från En Plats Du Ej Kan Se (2003)
The Sane Day (2006)
Sleeping in Traffic: Part One (2007)
Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two (2008)
Destined Solitaire (2009)
Mammoth (2011)
The Void (2012)


Todays tune "Voluntary Slavery" taken from The Void, kicks off with heavy metal guitar playing, thumping bass lines, wailing drum fills and enticing vocal harmonies. Enjoy!



Beardfish plays "Voluntary Slavery" at Crescendo Festival 20/08/2011



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Genesis - Mama

You will not forget it's Mother's Day today?, especially if you live in Sweden.

Important to remember! We do not forget it anyway, a tune for Mama on the Tune Of The Day is today's choice.

A band that we know most mothers love and a song we think works well for this day.

Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. Past members Peter Gabriel, Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett also played major roles in the band in its early years. Genesis are among the top 30 highest-selling recording artists of all time with approximately 150 million albums sold worldwide.

Todays tune "Mama" was the first single from Genesis' 1983 self-titled album (often referred to as the "shapes album" or simply The Mama Album, after the first track). Instantly recognizable from its harsh drum machine introduction composed by Mike Rutherford, which leads into minimalist synthesizer lines in minor keys and finally Phil Collins' reverb-laden voice, "Mama" serves notice that the album which follows will be considerably darker than previous efforts.

The track also has a powerful final verse punctuated with a live drum kit (modified with the trademark "gated reverb" effect), comparable to Collins' earlier solo recording "In the Air Tonight”. The song has resurfaced in 2007 as part of the Turn It On Again tour, albeit transposed down a tone to account for the deepening of Phil Collins' voice as he grew older.

This is for you Mama!



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