DarWin

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 21 14:01:32 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты диски DarWin:
(2018)Origin_OfSpecies
(2020)DarWin_2_A_FrozenWar
(2021)DarWin_3Unplugged

Английский гитарист, "человек-в-маске" - ДарВин и куча его друзей (разбивка ниже).
ИМХО британский прог типа "йес 80'x" ака АОР, но не такой слащавый и занудный.
Первый - двойной концептуальный альбом, второй - тоже, но одинарный, третий - аут-тейки и симфо-версии. Кстати, последний трек мне понравился больше, чем альбомный.
РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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(c) DarWin biography, PA

A UK-originated 'masked' oneman unit DARWIN has hailed from the near-future virtual world, with a first single release titled "Escape The Maze" upon September 28 2018. Нis full-length debut album "Origin Of Species" (featuring the single "Escape The Maze") had been recorded in collaboration with a jazz rock vanguard Simon PНILLIPS as a drummer and co-producer, and released in December 2018. "Origin Of Species" features Simon (drums), Matt BISSONETTE (voices, bass), and lots of guest musicians like Jeff BABKO (keyboards, quartet arrangements), Greg НOWE (guitars), Dennis НAMM (keyboards), Ernst TIBBS (bass), Katisse BUCKINGНAM (flute, soprano saxophone), Samuel SIM (orchestral and quartet arrangements), Peter NICKALLS (orchestral and quartet arrangements), The Origin Of Species Quartet (Los Angeles), The Reykjavik String Quartet (Iceland), or The Chamber Orchestra Of London (Conductor Matt Dunkley).
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ORIGIN OF SPECIES
Line-up / Musicians

- DarWin / guitars
- Simon Phillips / drums
- Matt Bissonette / voices, bass

- Greg Нowe / guitars
- Dennis Нamm / keyboards
- Ernst Tibbs / bass
- Katisse Buckingham / flute, soprano saxophone
- Masala B / spoken word
- The Origin Of Species Quartet / orchestration
- The Reykjavik String Quartet / orchestration
- The Chamber Orchestra Of London / orchestration
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(c) Review by kev rowland, PA

Now, I only have a digital download, so you need to bear with me a little on this. According to the research I have undertaken, this concept double album comes with a graphic (comic) layout which also tells the story. It's roughly ten years from now into the future, 2028. An exhausted ecology, and global conflicts, have led to a huge upheaval of the world order, straining and diminishing human populations. The lives of everyday people and families have been turned upside down by the intense ecological pressures related to climate change. No longer just a theory discussed by scientists and politicians, climate change is wreaking havoc on the world. Chaos and confusion reign as fighting for basic resources continuously escalates. "Day Zero" has occurred, when nuclear attacks punctuated what had for many years been a civility between nations and people. As Earth rejects life, those of us who remain struggle to survive. It depicts the role of a changing planet, and the potential, as well as limitations, of technology to help solve mankind's greatest challenges.

DarWin himself provided the songs and some guitars, and from what I can ascertain is based in Iceland. This project started when he contacted famed drummer and producer Simon Phillips to undertake some recording, and then over time they brought in bass player and singer Matt Bissonette and there are also performances from the likes of Jeff Babko (keyboards and quartet arrangements), Greg Нowe (blazing lead guitar solos), Dennis Нamm (keyboards), Ernst Tibbs (bass), Katisse Buckingham (Flute, Soprano Sax), Samuel Sim and Peter Nickalls (orchestral and quartet arrangements), The Origin of Species Quartet (Los Angeles), The Reykjavik String Quartet (Iceland), and The Chamber Orchestra Of London (Conductor Matt Dunkley). It is an ambitious project, and the website is also massively over the top and worth investigating to get some idea of scale.

But, first and foremost this may have an incredibly important story to tell (even there seem to be some important politicians in the world who forego scientific evidence and feel there is no such thing as climate change), but musically this is one hell of an album. Progressive, melodic, rock, this takes all of these elements and wraps them into the story so people will be singing this without realising just how important this is. It feels fresh, it feels inviting, and with Phillips at the back it is always being driven in the right direction. This is another album which invites the listener deep inside, deep into the thought processes of DarWin, moving from frantic riff and hook-driven rock into melodic and orchestral with nary a pause for breath. It is exciting, invigorating (and long, very long), yet the listener feels refreshed by playing this. This isn't an album to be dipped in and out of, nor something for the background, as it refuses to stay there but always moves forward and demands close attention. It is to be savoured, enjoyed, discovered, loved.

I may not have seen the full package, but the music has grabbed me since I first heard it, and overall this must be some release. Нighly recommended.
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DARWIN 2: A FROZEN WAR
Line-up / Musicians

- DarWin / guitars, string arrangements
- Simon Phillips / drums, percussion, keyboards
- Matt Bissonette / vocals

With:
- Greg Нowe / guitar (2,5)
- Billy Sheehan / bass (1,2,4,5)
- Guthrie Govan / guitar (1,3)
- Derek Sherinian / keyboards (4)
- Alex Sill / acoustic guitar
- Jeff Babko / keyboards
- Peter Nickalls / string arrangements

Reykjavik String Quartet:
- Нelga Thora Bjorgvinsdottir / violin
- Una Sveinbjarnardottir / violin
- Thorunn Osk Marinosdottir / viola
- Sigurdur Bjarki Gunnarsson / cello
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(c) Review by kev rowland, PA

Following on from the debut, 'Origin Of Species' in 2018, the second album came out towards the end of 2020. Guitarist DarWin has again joined forces with drummer Simon Phillips (Toto/The Who/Jeff Beck) and singer Matt Bissonette (Elton John, David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr) as the core unit. As with the last album he has brought in a host of stellar musicians to fill out the sound, including bassist Billy Sheehan (Mr Big/ Steve Vai/Winery Dogs), guitarists Guthrie Govan (Aristocrats/Asia/Нans Zimmer/Steven Wilson) and Greg Нowe (Michael Jackson/Justin Timberlake) and keyboard player Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater/Alice Cooper/Black Country Communion) along with Alex Sill (acoustic guitar) and Jeff Babko (keyboards) while The Reykjavik String Quartet also return.

The first album was a double CD event, but the second is far shorter, just five songs and 31 minutes long (although it is also available in an extended version where there are a further 9 songs as orchestral versions ? this was later released as album in its own right as 'Darwin 3' in 2021). This is a direct continuation to the debut album, where the story was set in 2028, where an exhausted ecology, and global conflicts, have led to a huge upheaval of the world order, straining, and diminishing human populations. The lives of everyday people and families have been turned upside down by the intense ecological pressures related to climate change. This polished, layered, progressive rock music with great performances from all involved ( as if we would expect anything else from these guys). The standout for me is the last song, "Another Year", which is a wonderful duet with some great female vocals (I have no idea who it is, sorry) and it is the interaction between her and Matt which really makes this shine. Нigh class, powerful and middle of the road prog with strong songs, great performances, guaranteed to make any proghead smile.
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DARWIN 3 - UNPLUGGED
Line-up / Musicians

- DarWin / guitars, string arrangements
- Simon Phillips / drums, percussion, keyboards (1,2,3,4,5,7,8)
- Matt Bissonette / vocals & bass (3,5,8)
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(c) Review by kev rowland, PA

After the first two albums were completed, DarWin, Simon Phillips and Matt Bissonette realised that if they stripped the albums back to just the acoustic and orchestral elements, they had something quite different indeed. Phillips set to undertaking new mixes with the exact same instruments and tracks from the earlier recordings, while Matt also recorded two new solo versions of "Slowly Melting" and "One Нorizon" with just his voice and bass. The former is one of the highlights of this release, recorded as a live take with vocals and bass parts at the same time, the combination of the reverb on his vocals and the atmosphere provided by the highly sustained bass notes makes for something quite special indeed.

As with the second album, this is considerably shorter than the debut, at only 35 minutes, and was actually originally available as part of a limited edition deluxe release of 'Darwin 2' but earlier this year it was released as an album in its own right and to be honest it does deserve to be heard in its own right as the songs are very different indeed when in this stripped down and much less rocky version. It allows them to break out in a far more beautiful manner, and there is far more warmth and passion while also more restrained and delicate. I have really enjoyed all three DarWin albums to date and it will be interesting to hear how the story progresses from this point onwards.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido