Two 1990s Steve Hackett albums set to make vinyl debut June 2nd 2023

March 31, 2023 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Melodic Rock, News, Prog Rock, Reissue, Vinyl

With the resurgence of interest in the good old LP showing no signs of slowing down, it’s great to see albums from the 1990s getting the reissue treatment or being released on the format for the very first time. Those of us of a certain age can remember when you might have liked to buy an LP but a CD or even the dreaded cassette tape was your only option. Steve Hackett will see two of his 1990s solo albums make the leap to vinyl for the first time on June 2nd with newly remastered, gatefold sleeve 180g 2LP releases of ‘Darktown’ and ‘Guitar Noir’

The RGM Inbox - March 2023

March 03, 2023 by David Vousden in Singer Songwriter, Instrumental Rock, Alternative Rock, Psych, Prog Rock, Folk, Indie

Welcome to the latest edition of the RGM Inbox, where we delve into a selection of recent and upcoming musical delights that caught our attention. We’ve scoured the globe to discover new music from Germany, Norway, Australia and back home here in the UK.

Caravan announce 37 Disc Deluxe Box Set for August 20th 2021 Release

May 27, 2021 by David Vousden in Box Set, Prog Rock, Jazz Rock, Psych, Folk

August 20th will see the release of a mammoth limited edition (2500) 37 disc set from English progressive rock act Caravan. The members of Caravan were at the centre of what would become known as the Canterbury scene. Canterbury in Kent proved to be a hotbed of musical activity in the 1960s and produced a host of artists who would enjoy success in the years that followed including Steve Hillage, Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt. Despite all these well-known artists, it’s Caravan that has become synonymous with the Canterbury scene via their sound which incorporated elements of progressive rock, jazz, pop, folk and psych.

The Hard Place #6

January 25, 2021 by Rich Barnard in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Metal, News, Rock, Prog Rock

If you like to hibernate over the winter then it’s likely that these words are reaching you as you continue to languish in an eiderdown-enrobed soft place. You’re cosy, you’re warm and you may well be under the impression that there is precious little to get out of bed for anyway. The Hard Place is here to tell you the f**k otherwise. The Hard place is a bucket of cold water hurled over your snoozings. The Hard Place is here, now, to drag you out of that pathetic torpor into a world where leaping from drum risers is de rigeur and staying up all night to a soundtrack of deafening guitars is a raison d’être. So, stop snivelling and get yourself dressed, preferably in something black and butt-squeezingly tight. Good. Now, ready yourself to rock.

DBA to release 'Halcyon Hymns' CD/DVD February 5th 2021

December 04, 2020 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Melodic Rock, New Single, Prog Rock

Downes Braide Association aka DBA will release their fourth studio album on February 5th 2021 as a CD/DVD set with a 2LP white vinyl pressing to follow on March 26th. DBA features Geoff Downes (The Buggles/Asia/YES) and Chris Braide who has spent the majority of his career in the USA writing and producing music for film scores, advertising campaigns and working closely with a host of big-name artists including Sia, Lana Del Rey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears and Marc Almond. If the first single from the album ‘Love Among The Ruins’ is any indication of quality then ‘Halcyon Hymns’ will be high on my list of albums to investigate in 2021. A slightly odd spoken word introduction opens out into a wonderfully melodic song blessed with intricate overlapping vocals and some gloriously expansive guitar breaks. Much more about DBA and the lyric video for ‘Love Among The Ruins’ follows:

The Hard Place #5

December 02, 2020 by David Vousden in AOR, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Metal, News, Prog Rock, Rock, Video

We all knew this winter was going to be hard. But nobody could have foreseen just how hard. Here, at the never-beating, black granite heart of The Hard Place, we’d like to think we can make it just that little bit harder. Just for you. “How hard?” you ask, expectant and not a little apprehensive. And the answer is “None. None more hard.” Walk with us now, barefoot, through the broken-bottle-strewn wasteland of rock’s best new releases.

Nick D'Virgilio will remove his cloak of Invisibility June 26th 2020

May 01, 2020 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, Prog Rock, Rock

Although probably best known for his drum prowess, and for his time in Spock’s Beard, the multi-instrumentalist Nick D’Virgilio has also played with many great bands including Big Big Train, Genesis and Tears For Fears. On June 26th NDV will release his second solo album a mere nineteen years after his first. The album features a stunning list of great players including Paul Gilbert (Racer X/Mr. Big), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) and Carl Verheyen (Supertramp). Much more about NDV and the new album including ‘Where’s The Passion’ the first track released from the record follows:

YES announce Official 50th Anniversary Celebrations

December 07, 2017 by David Vousden in Classic Rock, News, Tour Dates, Prog Rock

Iconic UK progressive rock act YES will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a host of events set to coincide with their March 2018 UK tour. The London Palladium over the weekend of March 24-25th 2018 looks like being the essential destination for the hardcore YES / prog rock fan with Prog Magazine sponsoring the YES Fan Convention. Expect to see current band members, YES alumni and Roger Dean over the weekend and I'm pleased to report that all profits from the event are going to charity which is always great to hear. So why not come along, pick up a copy of the new Drama line-up version of 'Fly From Here' and enjoy live music from SeYes and Fragile. Full details and all the links for tickets etc follow: