Happy New Year - time for my annual recap thread - let's run down the TFK related releases for 2021
as usual in the order they showed up in my mailbox
February
Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe - (TFK Connection: Roine Stolt)
The big release of the year was the the first one out of the gate in 2021. Lots already written on this. Personally I loved it and think it is their definitive statement as a band (so far). Perhaps not as many of the emotional peaks as Bridge Across Forever which remains my favorite but I think it tops The Whirlwind. About the different versions - well we can all make our own versions using the two sources. I did so and it included some from all 3 versions (including Mike's Ultimate version on the blu-ray) so in a way this turned out great. I do wonder what it means for the future of the band that they could not find a way to agree on song selection and production choices. But as fans I guess we oddly win this time cause we got even more to listen to. But I doubt we will get a new TA album anytime soon which is OK for me, I think this should be a every 7-10 year project - keep it special.
Ana Patan - Spice, Gold and Tales Untold - (TFK Connection: Zoltán Csörsz drums)
Cool jazz rock album from Ana. All original material performed as if in a live setting with simple instrumentation. Sultry vocals nightclub feel. Zoltan in the pocket doing his thing. Good stuff
March
Lifesigns - Altitude - (TFK Connection: Zoltán Csörsz drums)
3rd album from Lifesigns and the first with Zoltan. I found myself quite moved by this album. There are some very beautiful passages with lush symphonic arrangements. Very emotionally moving music. I really loved this album and Zoltan gives a great performance, obviously more restrained than on Unfold the Future but just right for this music. Glad he has found a new prog home.
Transatlantic - INNER CIRCLE MARCH 2021: THE MAKING OF THE BREATH OF LIFE - (TFK Connection: Roine Stolt)
DVD release from Neal's Inner Circle membership. I love these type of behind the scenes making of releases. This one was a little tough to watch though as Neal is quite an emotional person and the making of this album seemed to be a very trying experience for him. These are times where he says it is almost done but then there always seems to be something else that needs to be worked on and it truly becomes the album that never ends. It is funny at one point he laughs saying that the "Making of Documentary" is complete but the album itself is no where near done. The decision to release 2 albums seems like it finally frees Neal to complete his vision for the album.
April
Nad Sylvan - Spiritus Mundi - (TFK Connection: Jonas Reingold Bass 1 song, Mirkko DeMaio drums 4 songs)
Using poems from William Butler Yeats set to new music created by Nad and Andrew Laitres this is a dramatic change from the prior Vampirate trilogy. This took me a few listens to warm up to, I first tried to listen in the car and it isn't really suited for that, it is more contemplative, for long walks or late nights while reading the lyrics. But I kept being drawn back to it and sections caught my ear one by one until it became whole. Beautiful album.
Jordan Rudess - Rockestra (TFK Connection: with Zach Kamins)
This year we have learned a lot more about Library Music - what with the Yes/Downes/Monkman incident. Well Library Music is still being created and here we have some from Jordan Rudess (with Zach Kamins who is on his team for this) Rockestra is an album as advertised designed specifically for use in Film, TV, Advertising and any other media. I can imagine if one of these tracks got licensed for use by the NFL, Olympics or a movie it could make Jordan quite a bit of money so this makes sense to do and I hope it happens. I'm not exactly sure which pieces Zach plays on or helped with but you can listen to it here and who knows maybe in 20-30 years, just like the Yes thing, some of these themes will show up on a Dream Theater or Flower Kings album - lol:
It is kind of fun to listen to check out with the titles and descriptions: For example "Rush" (The excitement starts with a classic sports theme, tough and inspiring with strings, electric guitars and a feeling of invincibility.) "Epic Journey" (Cinematic, sweeping and emotional. A hero returns home, proud and deserving of glory, but not with out some scars and heartache.)
May
Transatlantic - INNER CIRCLE MAY 2021: THE ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE DEMOS - (TFK Connection: Roine Stolt)
The Demos Neal sent to the rest of the band before they met up. Interesting to see what made it and what was left out. In some weird way I actually prefer the closing section from the demo to what they ended up using even though it is pretty rough sounding with some scratch vocals. I made an alternate TAU version that uses it instead of "Love Made a Way".
June
Marriage Material - Marriage Material (TFK Connection: Felix Lehrmann drums)
Listen to a clip here Call it fusion, world music, modern jazz, neoclassical or even progressive rock, but the founders of Marriage Material prefer to call it ‘cinematic jazz.’ Felix is great on this but there is a lot of vibraphone on this album and that tends to induce sort of hypnotic state in me. I did like a lot of this release but not to the extent I thought I would.
Chalice of Sin - Chalice of Sin (TFK Connection: Mirkko De Maio drums)
Alessandro Del Vecchio / Frontiers Records project with Wade Black (Crimson Glory) on vocals. It's like the the old Flower Kings days when we would get all those different metal albums from Jonas and Jaime. Mirkko on drums here. It's a solid metal album for sure. Good riffs. Here is the title track and I particularly like the song "I Stand" for the great riff and lyrics with a surprising anti-poaching message in supporting animal rights.
Chunck - Super Monkey Prog DX (TFK Connection: Zach Kamins - guitar/keyboards, Jonas Reingold - bass)
Music inspired by Video Game music! From Zach: I had a blast producing and playing guitar and keyboards on this record for Cole Abramson (Chunck)! Cole reached out to me to enhance his songs that are inspired by the music of the video game, Super Monkey Ball. We had the pleasure of having Jonas Reingold play bass and Matt Graff on drums, mixed by Bradley Dujmovic Super Monkey Prog DX is available on all streaming services!
Here is a taste to check out where you can clearly hear Jonas.
September
Tillison Reingold Tiranti - Allium: Una Storia (TFK Connection: Jonas Reingold - bass)
This was such a surprise and wonderful album. I'm not really an RPI specialist so I'm sure some of the homages i'm missing out on. Wonderful back story to the album with Andy's recollections of a family trip to Italy where he saw this long lost band Allium. I'll just link to Lorne's excellent review. This was a favorite of the year.
Steve Hackett - Surrender of Silence (TFK Connection: Jonas Reingold (7 tracks), Nad Sylvan (1 track)
I saw a comment somewhere that it is like we have an endless To Watch the Storms going on 7 volumes now. That said a new Hackett album is always cause for rejoice, the guitar playing alone is worth it. I was looking forward to the one 'band' track "Devil's Cathedral" and while I didn't think the song was that great it at least offers a potential direction going forward that I hope he takes. Bring the full band in for the entire album and have everyone contribute 2-3 song ideas and have the entire band develop and play them.
October
The Grandmaster - Skywards (TFK Connection: Mirkko De Maio drums)
Another Alessandro Del Vecchio lead / Frontiers Records Metal project - this time with Brazilian vocalist Nando Fernandes and Jens Ludwig on guitar (Edguy) Hard to say if these groups are really 'bands' in the sense we are familiar with, I'm sure all parts are recorded separately and maybe they have never even played in the same room together. - But still a very solid old school style metal album. good riffs and powerful vocals, perhaps Chalice of Sin was a little better IMO.
Bad Habit - Autonomy (TFK Connection: Jaime Salazar - drums)
Bad Habit returns with their first new album in 10 years. I had sort of lost track of Jaime but here he is back with his original band that has a history dating to 1986! I don't know much of their early albums but this new album could best be described as AOR with some heavier songs as well. Think along the lines of Toto and Journey and their heavier material as a reference. So top level musicianship over catchy material. Video to check out where you can also see Jaime: "Back to Life" - trivia note the lead guitarist is Sven Cirnski who deputized for Luke Machin on one of The Tangent tours.
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That is in fact a 100% accurate transcription of the first sections lyrics !! I am not kidding. But yes it just works somehow and I also find it touching and innocent sounding! 
Originally Posted by JKL2000
6 hour drive for me.
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