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I agree with Anil Prasad's many criticisms of Spotify and its failure to pay artists a decent share of the profits. As it happens, I have a free Spotify account which is broken in that it doesn't...

Once upon a time, I'd scour the pages of fanzines, reading reviews of obscure prog albums, which I had no chance of hearing without buying, and then I'd order something and hope for the best....

Well, that's a different point to the claim that, "The duty of consumers is to find the lowest price for the products they want."

I don't think "spending thousands on dust-collecting items [you]...

Hello Ayn Rand, how are things?

You can adopt an uber-capitalist view of the "duty" of consumers. There are other perspectives. We live in a society in which money isn't the only way we relate to...

4 bands playing a summer tour. It's going to be heavy on the hits. I'd go were I local to the tour.

Yep, they blindsided me!

This is the John Wetton memorial concert line-up, but with a different rhythm section. Mitchell was in Icon and the John Wetton Band, so a sensible choice. Donati played...

The first time we had an Asia line-up with Downes as the only original member was thirty years ago. It's not exactly a novelty. Asia is Geoff plus whoever.

Has anyone read "Making it up as you go Along: A Short Social and Political History of Rock 'n' Roll in South London 1966 -1980" by Bill MacCormick, released last month? See https://amzn.to/4aH6BHX...

Yes, I think that could happen. At least to a degree.

Indeed. They are all old bands. This is what happens to old bands.

Asia first played a show with only one original member in 1993. Martin Turner is billed as a solo artist, and has been touring...

The "I recently became aware" bit sounds a little bit annoyed! But I presume Palmer wouldn't have said this if there isn't a tour actually planned, so looks like it's on...?

Yes, pretty awful.

Here is The Fizz (most of Buck's Fizz but they lost rights to the original name) working with Rick Wakeman:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6zq5rBb-GU

Someone on Yesfans.com contacted QEDG, who manages all four bands. QEDG replied that the announcement should not have been made, and I believe the listing is now gone. So, no... except maybe this...

Indeed. It'll be a hits-heavy set by each band. (Presuming this tour gets confirmed!)

I would note that Islam is as diverse as any religion. For example, Christians in Tennessee don't act like Christians in Copenhagen. Chechnya isn't Afghanistan or Pakistan and has different Islamic...

Definitely.

The Asia line-up will be Downes/Sherwood/Bonilla and it seems they need a drummer... I presume Jay Schellen, who drummed with Downes and Payne in Asia, then drummed in Asia Featuring...

Chechnya is largely Muslim, although traditionally predominantly Sufi, and the Sufis love their music. Here's a Sufi hadra from Chechnya:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aqtEWzgBxc

Chechnya...

Before the pandemic, Yes often did big package tours in N America in the summer, and then played smaller venues on solo tours at other times of the year. This is just a reversion to that pattern. OK,...

Yes, Wishbone Ash sued Martin Turner over the name. You can find the judge's ruling online: it's fascinating.

Asia (as in Geoff Downes' band), Martin Turner, Focus and Curved Air all share management (QEDG), so this would make sense.

I had not heard that 3 live album before, https://emersonpalmerberry3.bandcamp.com/album/rockin-the-ritz-nyc-1988 Thanks, you're right, it is fun.

Alpha is not the least bit offensive!

Cleopatra Records like to release multiple tracks from albums as digital "singles". That's what you're seeing there.

The full album is on Bandcamp at...

Yes. You can just about make out the full credits at https://cleorecs.com/store/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CLO5255CD-3.png

Opinions on albums change over time. Talk may have been underrated at the time, but it clearly has plenty of fans these days, whereas Big Generator today is definitely underrated.

Lots of people say it's an underrated album. This demonstrates that it is not underrated. Plenty of people rate it.

Fair point.

I am not entirely clear what the value is of having a vinyl release of an album that was originally recorded and mixed digitally for CD release...

Do you want a new song with weird time signatures and jazzy chords? Listen to...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQtVSNmYCNg

... which is, bizarrely(?), by Willow, i.e. Willow Smith, daughter...

Breakdown at http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wnyesm.htm#rers I'm a bit disappointed at the bonus material. I presume the untitled Trevor Rabin instrumental is just the "State of Play" demo from the "Yes...

There are cheaper seats further back.

Being in the UK, I've not had a chance to see the Geeks show, but I saw the Rock Academy show last year, and that was great, and indeed cheaper!

It will be interesting to see how much material...

It's from Cleopatra Records, which doesn't give me much hope. They churn these things out.

What makes us a true fan community is that we can spend this time discussing albums we all agree are poor!

To the Power of 3 has "Desde la Vida", its own proggy mini-epic, and I just love their version of "Eight Miles High".

I do not share this rosy view of ELPowell. I prefer Black Moon. I much prefer 3's ... to the Power of 3.

ItHS much worse. Black Moon... not a top ELP album, but possibly better than Love Beach.

OK, I am risking serious psychological damage, but I will listen to these ones again!

"Hand of Truth": very '80s keyboard sounds, which isn't great for a '90s album. It bounces along OK, bit...

I am shaking my head in disappointment... Go on, which songs do you like from ItHS?

Agree about In the Hot Seat. People who call Love Beach "among the worst albums ever made", have you heard In the Hot Seat??? LB is a shining star of excellence in comparison.

It's not a simple reissue. It's reissuing existing material, but in a different combination. Previously to get the 2CD/1Blu-ray material, you had to buy the big artbook, or a bigger box set, or be in...

Yeah, this is just a cheaper option if you want the extra material, but it isn't new.

The only new thing is the edit of "Mirror to the Sky" as a promo single for this and the European tour.

Looks interesting. :up

At 4500 copies, it's quite a big run for a limited edition, which suggests confidence in the market.

I have absolutely zero interest in such nonsense. I have no desire to encourage Rhino to...

Warner (having inherited the Atlantic catalogue) owned everything Yes did while signed to Atlantic. That's been true for decades. However, Warner, while controlling the material and what was...

http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wnja.htm#geek

He's talking about an album of original material (although there were also some hints of a live release). The first song recorded is called "Counties and...

He is absolutely and definitely John Lodge's son-in-law. He married Emily Lodge in December 2022. "Future Memories" on The Quest and "Circles of Time" on Mirror to the Sky are about Emily. It was...

As far as I know, Lodge and Hayward are on good terms.

LOL.

And no room for "& the Band Geeks".

Hopefully that's just a hiccough and Jon & Geeks will appear. We are expecting them to tour in 2024.

As far as I can make out, while official Yes may not be entirely happy about it, they're not interested in getting into a legal fight over such matters.

It is emblematic of the state of '70s prog...

https://www.nme.com/news/music/robert-wyatts-son-shares-health-update-hes-being-well-looked-after-3583971

Quotes Sam Wyatt: "Towards the end of last year Robert’s recent memory loss was diagnosed...

This seems to be part of a mini-tour as he's doing something similar in Japan on 16 June.

Nice. Would love to see Bill, and Anil, and Mike.

The Yessonata is just going to be a medley of Yes themes, I presume. I don't know that it's going to be much to write home about!

The advert for that I've seen is for a solo show, like the other dates. Rick does have ERE shows this year, but just in the UK so far.

He explained last year: "The reason is that the arthritic hands can't take the battering that the one-man show requires anymore. I can still get through okay but back in the dressing room at the end,...

There are whispers of maybe a new Yes album this year. In other Yes-related news...

Jon Anderson has a studio album with the Band Geeks expected... although we're still waiting on 1000 Hands:...

I am uncertain of the availability of this outside the UK, but here's the recent BBC Radio 6 Freak Zone curated by VÄLVĒ: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001tsmb "VÄLVĒ bring you a playlist of...

That combined chart isn't adding things up correctly, or rather it appears to be skipping some things in my list.

Nuc is a great album. Is it prog? Meredith comes from a contemporary music...