Magenta is thrilled to announce the release of Live at Real World, the 3 disc set of its acoustic performance at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studio recorded in November 2009. This special package features a 2 CD recording of the concert, with the addition of three additional songs also recorded at Real World the following day. A DVD is also included featuring NTSC format video of the entire concert with audio in stereo and 5.1 mixes. Extras include a 5.1 mix of 'Joe' from 'Home', the promotional video of 'Blind Faith' and two photo galleries.
The whole package costs £14.99+ p&p and is available EXCLUSIVELY now from the Magenta shop via www.magenta-web.com
"Saturday 21st November 2009 will linger long in the memories of around 60 lucky Magenta fans as Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios near Bath, UK, played host to the band's first live acoustic recording.
This is a visual record of a remarkable event. With Rob Reed making use of the Wooden Room's superb acoustic piano, and the band supplemented by a string quartet and oboe player, Magenta present beautiful new arrangements of many of its best known pieces. As well as extensive excerpts from both the Home and Metamorphosis albums, there are rare outings for 'Greed' (from Seven) and both 'Cold' and 'Lemminkainen's Lament' (from The Singles).
This is an opportunity to appreciate the charm and subtleties of a band best known for its high-energy electric performances, and is not to be missed. Magenta - unplugged but still the Real Deal."
Two Youtube clips are available from the performance. A promotional compilation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVlLrX6FyLg
Plus the complete video of Anger from Seven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Apv7p18d0
Track listing:
Children of the Sun
Cold
Lemminkainen's Lament
Hate You (Hanging by a thread)
Anger
Blind Faith
King of the Skies
Speechless
This Life
Moving On
Demons
Morning Sunlight
Journey's End
Greed
The Ballad of Samuel Lane
Prekestolen
Metamorphosis
CD Bonus tracks:
Night and Day
I'm Alive
All Around the World
Magenta was formed in 2001 by ex-Cyan member Rob Reed. Debut album "Revolutions" was a mixture of Yes, Genesis, and Renaissance highlighted by the vocals of Christina Booth, a former collaborator with the group Trippa who had also guested with Cyan. The success of this album led to the formation of a live band to perform it, and 2004 saw the release of their first full-band album, "Seven". With a concept based on the seven deadly sins, Seven was a large leap forward that firmly established Magenta at the forefront of the modern British symphonic prog movement. 2006 saw the release of "Home", a concept album with some shorter pieces that combined the established style of the band with a progressive pop influence that Reed has applied in other projects. Regular live performances and festival appearances at Baja Prog, Rosfest, and NEARfest has kept the group tight and their reputation growing.
In early 2008 Magenta released their fourth studio album, "Metamorphosis", on the Laser's Edge label. Upon its release, it immediately went to #1 on the Gagliarchives weekly top 20, bumping Thieves' Kitchen from the top spot. "Metamorphosis" is easily identifiable as a Magenta album but also adds more darkness and aggression into the mix, a daring evolution that has reaped success. FMPM 2009 will be the sole North American show next year in support of this album.
Magenta was originally booked for FMPM 2008, but could not do the show for a very good reason; Rob Reed had a child in mid-September. However we had no question about wanting to work together as soon as possible. We are delighted that it will be next year.
Magenta joins an announced line-up for FMPM 2009 that includes DFA (Italy), Thieves' Kitchen (England), and Rouge Ciel (Quebec). The fourth edition of the FMPM takes place next September 12th and 13th in Montreal, and you can find out more about us at our web-site, at http://www.fmpm.net
Magenta are delighted to announce the release of their new Double Live CD Live at the Point. It is available to pre-order now from the Magenta shop www.magenta-web.com for dispatch from 29th September onwards. A general release date of 27th October will follow.
The album features over 100 minutes of live music recorded at their amazing performance at the Point in Cardiff in November 2007. All but two of the tracks performed have never been on a Magenta live album before. The album includes an extended selection from "Home," the rarely performed "Sloth" and the recent show-stopping arrangement of "The Warning" from Revolutions, making this an essential purchase for all Magenta fans. A live DVD of the COMPLETE performance will be released in the near future.
A promotional video for the CD which also features footage from the DVD can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cze9Oawm6qk or at www.magenta-web.com
Track listing:
Disc 1
1. Opus Three
2. Speechless
3. Envy
4. Hurt
5. Moving On
6. The Journey
7. Towers Of Hope
8. Demons
9. Morning Sunlight
10. The Dream
11. The Visionary
12. Anger
Disc 2
1. Man The Machine
2. Genetesis/The Warning
3. Sloth
4. The White Witch (excerpt)
Summers End is delighted to confirm Quidam and Abarax as the latest additions to the Festival.
Quidam were one of the first Polish progressive bands to gain international prominence in the mid 90s. Their music has always been highly melodic, with flute a major part of their sound, but their recent material has introduced a strong contemporary feel, with great song writing accompanying epic instrumental passages. Their latest album, "Alone Together", released in 2007, has been hailed as their finest yet. The band will take the third Saturday slot, just prior to Magenta's appearance.
Having had to postpone their appearance at the festival for a year Abarax, from Germany, will finally take their place in the line up. The band play symphonic progressive rock with its feet in Pink Floyd territory, typified by the fabulous, fluid guitar of Dennis Grasekamp. Their album, the concept piece "The Crying of the Whales" is highly recommended. The band will play in the second slot on Saturday afternoon.
We also have exciting news about the headline appearance of the Tangent. Guy Manning will now take his place in the line up for the festival, meaning that Summers End is likely to be the only live appearance by the full band anywhere in 2008!
From the band:
Magenta are delighted to announce that pre-orders on their 4th studio album Metamorphosis have begun via the Magenta shop at : www.magentamembers.co.uk/catalog
The album, will retail at £10 with free postage anywhere in the world. All pre-orders placed via the Magenta shop will be despatched from 22nd March, prior to the album's general release on April 21st. A North American edition released via Lasers Edge will come out on May 6th.
Sound clips of the album will shortly be available from our website and can now be heard via the Magenta myspace page at www.myspace.com/magentauk
We also pleased to announce that we have a special treat for Magenta fans. The Metamorphosis Collection DVD contains over 3 hours of fascinating material filmed over the last few months during the making of the album, including a Dolby 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire album. The DVD contains the following:
1. Making of Metamorphosis Documentary. (52.55)
This includes footage filmed during the recording of the CD and interviews with the album's key contributors
2. Inside the Mix with Rob Reed (55.34)
Rob Reed behind the mixing desk revealing what makes each track tick.
3. Interview with Rob and Steve Reed (21.00)
Rob and lyricist Steve Reed talk about the origins and concept behind the album
4. Interview with Steve Reed (9.09)
Steve Reed talks about the lyrics and concepts behind each track
5. Complete Dolby 5.1 Surround Mix (53.00)
The whole album presented exclusively in glorious Dolby 5.1 surround sound
6. Prekestolen Video (3.43)
Studio Montage video of the Prekestolen track
The DVD will be in one format - NTSC - and will cost £13, with free postage worldwide. For the time being it will ONLY be available via the Magenta shop, prior to a general release later in the year. The DVD can be pre-ordered now, and will be despatched from 22nd March, at the same time as the album.
..and we've now added a download of the first 12 minutes of The Ballad of Samuel Layne, available from the front page of the Magenta website at www.magenta-web.com or by following this link:
www.magenta-web.co.uk/mp3/samuellayne.mp3
Dutch band Knight Area replaces Magenta at FMPM in Montreal. At the same time, "Knight Area currently is a 5 piece band. Rinie Huigen - one of the guitarists - has left the band and I (the one who started the whole thing) has left too, but started a new project Brandaris '78. I'm still doing some promotion and web maintenance for the band (my brother is in it you know...)," according to founder Joop Klazinga.
As has been discussed ad nauseum in a load of places, The Flower Kings have stepped down from their headlining spot at this year's ROSfest. They have been replaced by Maryland art rockers Crack the Sky, featuring original members John Palumbo, Joey D'Amico and Joe Macre.
Porcupine Tree has announced the release of a new live EP recorded in Orlando FL at a record shop in-store. Titled We Lost the Skyline, the EP features founder Steven Wilson and touring guitarist/vocalist John Wesley on 8 songs performed acoustically, including several rarely or never played. A highlight for this writer is a performance of the opening vocal section of "The Sky Moves Sideways," the lyrical source for this release's title.
The EP can be ordered HERE. US residents may be better served ordering from HERE in order to save on shipping costs (thanks to FZDolfan for reminding me about this link/site...it's the actual store the performance was recorded at).
