New Album from Me: Festival of Change

[battema]

Hi folks.

So, I made a new album thing this year. It's not a "for sale" thing, it's a gratitude thing. It's called "Festival of Change" and I decided to have fun with pseudonyms so I hid behind The Mountain Village in Autumn for this one.

I initially made this album as a thank you gift for some friends who became incredibly important lifelines during the pandemic, with regular Zooms and just nice reminders that I was in fact still part of the human race. With their OK, I'm sharing it with whomever else may be interested.

It's not really "new" new but rather old new. Most of these tunes were built from old motifs, demos and ideas I had sitting around in the mid 90's...back when I still foolishly thought that combining the sound of 90's Yes or Genesis with Bruce Hornsby would be a HUGE hit (they were simpler times, and I was a different sort of simple person).

It's not really what I do anymore, but I'm still really happy with how it turned out and it was a ton of fun to make. A little comfort food from time to time can be fun, n'est ce pas? Anyway, maybe some of you will enjoy it too.

Here are the first couple of tracks. I'll drop the other three as soon as I can. I can also share a download version with anyone who might be interested. Given the "not for sale" nature of the thing I'm a little hesitant to use Bandcamp as a vehicle but maybe I'll change my mind at some point.

As ever, thanks for listening!
JB

[aith01]

Hey man, that's awesome! I would love to have a download version of this please, if/when you get the time. Any new (or "new") music from you is always welcome.

[rcarlberg]

I can also share a download version with anyone who might be interested.
JB

Color me very interested.

[Shadow]

Color me very interested.

Does Crayola make that color.

[aith01]

Gracias, John! I'm looking forward to digging into the rest of this album.

[Ridge]

Really enjoyed the track, thanks for posting.
I would be very interested in the album. Hopefully there is some more interest and you can put it up on Bandcamp. I'll be on the lookout for it.

[battema]

Hi folks - cool, thanks for the interest. And OK: I can get it on Bandcamp. It'll still be as close to free as possible (I may set it to $1 just so that folks can have it available in their collection for streaming if they want). The low cost isn't meant to be reflection of how I feel about the musical quality: it's because I did this as a gift for friends and it feels wrong to charge $$ for a gift

In the meantime, here's the title track. It's a bit episodic in nature but I think it hangs together fairly well. Again, enjoy! And thank you for the kindness

[Top Cat]

This is wonderful John, I'm so happy you've decided to share it.
A sign for me of good music is if it affects me emotionally, and there are moments in a couple of songs that touch me deeply.

I love how this is a bit different for you, and it just proves you write good music, period!

[battema]

Thanks Richard

Oh!! I can't believe I almost forgot...Ian Beabout mastered the album really, really well. In case that name rings a bell, that would be zombywoof formerly, now shedsounds here at Prog Ears. He's a great guy and a really talented mastering engineer who got it right

[Lopez]

Hello John,

I've been listening to your new CD. Love it. Great stuff! Many thanks for the copy.

Great to see you and talk about this and that at ProgDay.

[aith01]

Yeah, I gave the whole thing a spin the other day and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to many more listens in the future.

[EBES]

Really enjoyed the first track you posted here. Expansive and rich with some wonderful layering of synth and piano sounds to create a very full sound. Rhythmically kinetic but complex at the same time. Didn't listen to the second song posted because it sounds like it's coming to Bandcamp and I thought I'd wait until the whole thing is up

[battema]

You want Bandcamp things, you get Bandcamp things

I'm really happy folks have enjoyed it! Feel free to share it freely and widely

[EBES]

Just picked it up on Bandcamp; looking forward to spending some time with it. Thanks again for sharing!

[battema]

Hey, I'm seeing Bandcamp sales happen, and just wanted to say a big thanks for giving the album a listen I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

[Proglodite]

The CD was great hiking music for me the other day; oftentimes reminded me of instrumental IQ. Modern prog is solely lacking in solid melodic music, so feel free to keep exploring this side of your musical psyche! --Peter

[battema]

The CD was great hiking music for me the other day; oftentimes reminded me of instrumental IQ. Modern prog is solely lacking in solid melodic music, so feel free to keep exploring this side of your musical psyche! --Peter

Oh cool....thank you Peter! I'm glad you've enjoyed it

One more track on YT for those who just want to browse. Minor apologies for an overly-melancholy video image; I was in a mood that day and this particular image worked well. Not THAT sorry though...it's actually maybe my favorite tune of the bunch for various reasons



I'll drop the last song sometime soon-ish....still mulling over the video part of the tune.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to listen!

[Mt. Pleasant Farm]

Absolutely beautiful arrangement John. I love the entire cd. See you next Tuesday for dinner and the Nick Mason gig. I'm seeing Aussie Floyd this evening in Lancaster, tomorrow evening in Bensalem and Sunday evening in Wilkes Barre! Have a wonderful weekend.

[battema]

Absolutely beautiful arrangement John. I love the entire cd. See you next Tuesday for dinner and the Nick Mason gig. I'm seeing Aussie Floyd this evening in Lancaster, tomorrow evening in Bensalem and Sunday evening in Wilkes Barre! Have a wonderful weekend.

Oh awesome, and thanks Looking forward to catching up as well!

[Top Cat]

I love this song, and the video image as well.
It's good to read all the positive comments for this wonderful EP.

[Polypet]

Well done, John. Thanks for sharing this with us

[Shadow]

If you are coming to Orion Saturday bring one for me.

[Klonk]

Good stuff, John! Just downloaded this and Between the Axiom and the Sigh (which I've had in my BC wishlist for a while and completely forgot about )

[battema]

Oh wow, all sorts of lovely things here!!

Good stuff, John! Just downloaded this and Between the Axiom and the Sigh (which I've had in my BC wishlist for a while and completely forgot about)

Thanks dude!! I hope you dig Festival and especially Axiom, which is still one that I am crazy proud to have done

If you are coming to Orion Saturday bring one for me.

Sounds good, Ed

Well done, John. Thanks for sharing this with us

Oh man, thanks!!

I love this song, and the video image as well.
It's good to read all the positive comments for this wonderful EP.

As ever, thanks so much I also have to chuckle...only in 2022 can an album with a 20 minute song and a length roughly the same as an old vinyl record be an EP

[Top Cat]

I also have to chuckle...only in 2022 can an album with a 20 minute song and a length roughly the same as an old vinyl record be an EP

great point John..

I think most EPs are usually 20-30 minutes, usually with 4-6 short songs.
Festival of Change pulls me in whenever I listen, and does not feel like a 20 minute song, it just flows.