"Mitchell’s latest album ‘Under Stars’, billed as the third album under his project moniker ‘Lonely Robot’, is the final chapter in the loose sci-fi story of an astronaut and his various cosmic experiences. But the albums are less space stories than they are thematic presentations of various topics seen through the astronaut’s eyes. The theme of the first album, ‘Please Come Home’, was that humans may have originated from an alien race. The themes of the second, ‘The Big Dream’, included philosophical musings on awakening from comatose sleep, and the confusion between reality and dreams. This one contemplates the digital and social media detachment of the millennial generation, from real life. The astronaut, of course, is omni-present.

It is no surprise that first-choice drummer Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson, Frost*) confers his usual supernova drumming on the album, and live band member Steve Vantsis (Fish) contributes his excellent bass-playing on some songs. Mitchell does everything else.

Everything we have come to love from Mitchell is here: intentionally cinematic (read sci-fi movie) sound-scapes, searing and heart-wrenching guitar solos from a man who really can play with precision and emotion (yet still sound like no-one else), lush choruses, innovative composition, superb production and a voice that, though baritone, has an unwavering sadness and sweetness in its delivery. For the Proggier readers out there, it should be noted that this album has fewer scattered time signatures and Prog leanings, and even features an ‘80’s synth-pop feel in places (there’s nothing wrong with that – Prog fans are in any event usually fans of Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones and other leaders of that genre, who were in fact Proggers in disguise.)" PM-TPR



Essential Track: ‘Authorship of Our Lives’ will be considered by many to be the best song on the album. Orbital and ethereal, it is yet another innovative John Mitchell melody based on a beautiful and sad keyboard riff, accompanied by Blundell’s inconceivably tasteful drumming. Proggy enough, emotional enough, lyrically intense, and with an imperious guitar solo, this is simply a great song. PN_TPR



Read the complete review on The Prog Report.

Listen to samples on YouTube and buy the CD from InsideOut Music or wherever great prog music is sold.

---

Click on the following link for a complete list of bands that have played for the NewEARS Art Rock Series

---

2019-05-24
Tobias Sammet's - Avantasia at The Palladium - Worcester, MA at 08:00 PM
$22.50 - $400.00

2019-05-31
The Musical Box: A Genesis Extravaganza at Wall Street Theater - Norwalk, CT at 08:00 PM
$30.00 - $58.00

2019-06-05
Thank You Scientist with Bent Knee at 3S Artspace - Portsmouth, NH at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Bent Knee
$13 - $18

2019-06-06
Thank You Scientist with Bent Knee at ArtsRiot - Burlington, VT at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Bent Knee
TBD

2019-06-11
Todd Rundgren – The Individualist Tour at Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT at 08:00 PM
$90 - $150 (VIP)

2019-06-19
Thank You Scientist with Bent Knee at Space Ballroom - Hamden, CT at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Bent Knee
$16.50 - $20.00

2019-06-20
Thank You Scientist with Bent Knee at The Met - Pawtucket, RI at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Bent Knee
$15 adv, $18 day of show

2019-06-21
Thank You Scientist with Bent Knee at Port City Music Hall - Portland, ME at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Bent Knee
$15 adv, $18 day of show

2019-06-22
Thank You Scientist with Bent Knee at The Palladium - Worcester, MA at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Bent Knee
$15 - $18

2019-06-29
THE ROYAL AFFAIR TOUR - YES - ASIA - JOHN LODGE & CARL PALMERS ELP LEGACY at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion - Gilford, NH at 06:00 PM
$28.25 - $145.75

2019-06-30
THE ROYAL AFFAIR TOUR - YES - ASIA - JOHN LODGE & CARL PALMERS ELP LEGACY at Bold Point Park - Providence, RI at 05:30 PM
$29.50 - $200

2019-07-25
SkolHamm Asylum - Alex Skolnick & Stu Hamm& at Penuche's Music Hall - Manchester, NH at 09:00 PM
$35 - $55

2019-08-02
The Aristrocrats - You Know What ...? Tour at The Middle East - Cambridge, MA at 08:00 PM
With Special Guests Travis Larson Band
$25

2019-09-05
Dweezil Zappa "Hot Rats & Other Stuff" at Casino Ballroom - Hampton Beach, NH at 08:00 PM
$24 - $59

2019-09-06
Dweezil Zappa "Hot Rats & Other Stuff" at Stateside Amphitheater - Jay Peak, VT at 08:00 PM
$30

2019-09-10
Dweezil Zappa "Hot Rats & Other Stuff" at Infinity Music Hall - Hartford, CT at 08:00 PM
$39 - $79

All Events ...>>

The wait is finally over! Tobias Sammet has released the AVANTASIA masterpiece Moonglow on February 1, 2019 through Nuclear Blast. The band announced they will be heading to the US and Canada for select dates in the spring to promote the new album Moonglow.

Comprised of 11 tracks, the new opus once again features several guest vocalists. This time round, Tobias worked not only with well-known faces such as Ronnie Atkins, Jørn Lande, Eric Martin, Geoff Tate, Michael Kiske or Bob Catley but also with new singers like Candice Night, Hansi Kürsch as well as Mille Petrozza who help to vitalize the new AVANTASIA record. Its cover artwork was created by Alexander Jansson.

Comments Tobias Sammet, "It's alive! After more than two years of hard work - and what felt like 71 overnight shifts back to back recently - we're ready to unleash Moonglow upon the universe. I believe it's the most adorned and detailed album we've ever produced. Not over ambitious, but there is a lot of love for detail in there. AVANTASIA is the ultimate playground for a musician's wildest fantasies to come true: Celtic elements, world music elements, big choirs, atmospheric stuff, amazing guest vocal performances and of course all that wrapped up in what I consider to be the typical AVANTASIA sound. Someone in the music business just told me that the embellished nature of the sound makes it hard to market it, it doesn't fit in the contemporary musical landscape and "if you take a look around, no one really sounds like that." - EXACTLY! THANK YOU! I can't wait to release Moonglow, take my friends of the AVANTASIA family and hit the road for the big Moonglow World Tour."

Tobias Sammet, hailing from Fulda, created the rock event AVANTASIA in 1999 and celebrated its live premiere in 2008. With over 3,5 million records sold, he is one of the most successful musicians from Germany and has worked with Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker(THE SCORPIONS), Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer (KISS), Eric Martin (MR. BIG) as well as many other stars from the international music business. For a long time Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA has been considered an insider tip. But after countless headline performances at some of the world's largest rock festivals (Sweden Rock Festival, Québec Music Festival, Barcelona Rock Fest etc.), gold awards and several top 10 positions in the world charts, the upcoming AVANTASIA - Moonglow World Tour 2019 can only be considered the biggest rock event of the year!

---

2019-05-20: Yes Celebrates 50th Anniversary With 50 Live Set
As fractured as the YES experience has been over the last decades, there’s still enough strong original talent in the official YES to make a genuine YES album. For many, the Howe-led team with Alan White, and newer members (O

2019-05-20: David Byrne Announces ‘American Utopia’ Broadway Run
David Byrne announced that his acclaimed American Utopia live show would be adapted for a Broadway run later this year. The performances will take place in the 1,500-capacity Hudson Theatre for 16 weeks, from Oct. 4 to Jan. 1

2019-05-19: AAJ Review: Bruford-Borstlap: Sheer Reckless Abandon
One of the great joys of music can be that of distance: coming back to a piece of music, a musician/group or a discography, even, years later to rediscover it anew. While returning to music after a break of months, years...ev

2019-05-18: King's X added to Cruise To The Edge 2020
Please welcome to Cruise to the Edge for the first time.... King's X! Book your cabin now at: cruisetotheedge.com

2019-05-18: 45 Years Ago: Rush’s First U.S. Show Becomes a Complete Disaster
Rush's first show in America ran a promoter out of the business and infuriated local officials to the point that they established new legislation. There were as many as four overdoses, too. Promo ads promised a 12-hour music

2019-05-17: SOTO: launch "HyperMania" single/video & Pt. 1 of EPK; "Origami" out next week!
SOTO, the modern Heavy Metal / Hard Rock group featuring vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (ex Yngwie Malmsteen / Talisman / ex Journey, Sons Of Apollo, TSO, etc.), are soon to release their third album and InsideOutMusic debut “Origa

2019-05-17: Eloy to release The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre (Part II) later this year
Eloy will release there new album, The Vision, The Sword And The Pyre (Part II) later this year. It is the fulfilment of mainman Frank Bornemann's dream of bringing the Joan Of Arc story to the rock opera form. Eloy released

2019-05-17: Faith No More’s Mike Patton teams up with Jean-Claude Vannier for Corpse Flower
Mike Patton has teamed up with French composer Jean-Claude Vannier for a new album titled Corpse Flower. The record will be released on September 13 through Ipecac Recordings – with the pair releasing the first single On Top

2019-05-17: Listen to New Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow Song ‘The Storm’
Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow have released a new song, "The Storm,” which is described as a “rocked-up remake” of 2001 Blackmore’s Night track “Fires at Midnight.” The new release is credited as having been composed by Blackmo

2019-05-16: Review: Five things we learned from last night's Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa show
So we went to see The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa show at the London Palladium last night, the much-talked about 'hologram' tour that has drawn as much ire from some quarters as it has anticipation from others. On stage, a c

2019-05-15: French Music Legends Magma To Release New Album “Zëss” June 28th!
Much to the excitement of Magma fans worldwide, the legendary French ensemble will be releasing a new album titled “Zëss” on June 28, 2019! The CD is now available for pre-order and features a 40-page deluxe CD book which inc

2019-05-15: Henry Cow: The World is a Problem Paperback – 6 Sep 2019
In its open improvisations, lapidary lyrics, errant melodies, and relentless pursuit of spontaneity, the British experimental band Henry Cow pushed rock music to its limits. The band’s rotating personnel, sprung from rock, fr

2019-05-14: “Folly Bololey: Songs from Robert Wyatt’s Rock Bottom” by The North Sea Radio Orchestra feat. John Greaves & Annie Barbazza Limited Edition CD & Vinyl Available May 17th!
Critically acclaimed as one of the best records ever, Robert Wyatt’s 1974 masterpiece “Rock Bottom” has been re-arranged by Craig Fortnam for his amazing North Sea Radio Orchestra. Featuring long time Wyatt’s collaborator and

2019-05-13: Kansas Announce Special New York Show, Plan New Music
Kansas have announced a special show at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Dec. 14 that will find the group, for the first time, performing its classic albums Leftoverture and Point of Know Return back to back for one night on

---