Focus "Focus 12"

Country: Netherlands
Genre(s): Symphonic
Label: Spirit of Unicorn Music
Format: CD, digital, vinyl 
Release date: July 5, 2024
Tracklist

01. Fjord Focus (4:24)

02. Focus 13 (5:09)

03. Bela (4:08)

04. Meta Indefinita (4:36)

05. All Aboard (4:31)

06. Born To Be You (1:48)

07. Nura (3:57)

08. Bowie (3:24)

09. Positano (3:28)

10. Gaia (4:16)

Total Time – 39:40

Credits

Thijs van Leer - keyboards, flute

Pierre Van Der Linden -  drums

Menno Gootjes - guitars

Udo Pannekeet - bass

Produced by Udo Pannekeet and Menno Gootjes at Wisseloord Studios and Wedgeview Studios, Netherlands

Artwork by Roger Dean

Description/Reviews:

...there’s no confusion about the music, which channels the band’s classic 1970s sound – 10 powerful and melodic instrumentals packed full of electric guitar pyrotechnics, swelling Hammond organ, nimble piano and trademark flute. Sadly, there is no yodelling but, on the plus side, band founder Thijs van Leer has refrained from indulging in the groaning vocals that marred one of the tracks on the previous album.

Read the full review by  Kevan Furbank at theprogressiveaspect.net

Media/Samples
Fjord Focus

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Tony Kaye "End of Innocence"

Country: UK
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Spirit of Unicorn
Format: CD
Release date: September 10, 2021
Tracklist

1 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/Twilight Time

2 911 Overture

3 NYC Blues

4 Battle Cry

5 285 Fulton Street

6 Let’s Roll

7 Tug Of War

8 Flight 11

9 Towers Fall

10 Sweetest Dreams

11 Aftermath

12 Heroes

13 The Battle

14 Hope And Triumph

15 Homecoming

16 Ground Zero

Line-up
Tony Kaye (Yes, Detective, Circa:) - all instruments

   With
Dani Torchia - vocals

Jay Schellen (Circa:) - drums

Description/Reviews:

Kaye’s wife, singer-songwriter Daniela Torchia opens the album with a haunting “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” before “NYC Blues” and “285 Fulton Street” take us to the streets of the city itself, with Kaye’s bluesy piano and organ reflecting the ordinariness of life before the attacks. The intensity rises with a beautiful, affecting piano and keyboard piece called “Let’s Roll,” that leads us to “Tug of War” and “Flight 11” – the latter featuring current Yes touring member Jay Schellen on drums, in an intense piece that suggests elements of the “Gates of Delirium” and the “Ritual” drum solo.

The vocal center of the album, “Sweetest Dreams,” sung by Torchia is a tribute to the first responders on the day. “Heroes”, “The Battle”, and “Hope & Happiness” illustrate the subsequent activity to bring closure to such a tragic event and Kaye’s compositional and performance skills bring themes and melodies that closely align to the narrative before the reflective “Ground Zero”’s choral tones bring the piece to a close.

Read the full review by Geoff Bailie at progreport.com

Media/Samples
Flight 11

Hope and Triumph

Deezer

Links:
Proggnosis