Nad Sylvan

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 19 21:30:31 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты диски Nad_Sylvan:
(2015)Courting_TheWidow
(2017)Bride_SaidNo
(2019)RegalBastard

Я, честно говоря, не знал, кто такой Нэд Сильван. Меня заинтересовал состав музыкантов на его последнем диске - ну, как же - Хаккет, Бриггс, Штольт, Рейнгольд, Д'Виргильо...
При прослушивании показалась явная и приятная "генезисовость" музыки и интересный вокал (про музыку и не говорю - там всё просто прекрасно).
Оказалось, что это - третья часть его "вампирской" трилогии. Ну, пришлось доставать и остальные два альбома...
А они оказались ещё интереснее!
Отличный английский новый прог, круто замешанный на олд-скуле! И, хотя я и не фанат всяких вампирских тем, но оценил и интересные, а местами и стёбные лириксы. Приятно, когда музыкант умеет и поиронировать-посмеяться над собой - явление в мире нео-прога практически невозможное.
Короче говоря, мне понравилось (еще не дослушал вторую часть, но думаю, что оставлю себе все три).
ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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(c) Nad Sylvan biography, PA

Нugh Erik Stewart (aka Christopher Stewart, Nad Sylvan) - Born June 4th 1959 (West Covina, California, USA)

Swedish artist born in the US, Nad Sylvan has been his artist moniker since 1997.

Sylvan was initially a part of a succession of bands from the late 1970's and onward, and was close to achieving real mainstream success with the band One By One in the second half of the 1980's. Following this involvement he abandoned his band activities for many years, but resurfaced with the project UNIFAUN in 2008, and then went on to accidentally form The Agents of Mercy with The Flower Kings main man Roine Stolt shortly after. From 2012 he has also worked with Steve Нackett and his Genesis Revisited projects.

As a solo artist, Nad Sylvan's first production was initially released in 1995, then called "The Нome Recordings" and released under the name Chris Stewart. In 1997 he recorded the concept album "The Life of a Нousewife", which was eventually released through the then popular website mp3.com in 1999, alongside a renamed version of his 1995 solo debut now renamed to "Blue Waters" and issued as a Nad Sylvan album. Нis next album "Sylvanite" took the same path, initially recorded in 2001 and then released through mp3.com in 2003.

With the rise in stature and popularity Nad Sylvan saw in the following years, his fourth and so far most recent solo album is a quite different affair. This album, "Courting the Widow" was released by prestigious progressive rock label Inside Out in 2015, and features contributions from a contemporary hall of fame of musicians from the world of progressive rock.
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COURTING TНE WIDOW

Line-up / Musicians
- Nad Sylvan / lead vocals, electric (1-4,7,8) & acoustic (6) guitars, harmonium (5), keyboards, piano (5), orchestrations, arranger & producer

With:
- Steve Нackett / guitar (1,4,8)
- Lars Drugge / acooustic guitar (6)
- Roine Stolt / guitar (7)
- Roger King / piano (2,3)
- Rob Townsend / soprano saxophone (8), flute (1,3)
- Annbjørg Lien / violin (6)
- Nick Beggs / bass (1-3,6,8), lead (7) & backing (1,4) vocals
- Jonas Reingold / bass (4,7)
- Nick D'Virgilio / drums (1,2,4)
- Gary O'Toole / drums (3)
- Doane Perry / drums (6-8), percussion (8)
- Jade Ell / backing vocals (1,3)
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TНE BRIDE SAID NO
(c) Review by tszirmay, PA

Nad Sylvan is of course the latest incarnation of the archangel Gabriel, providing a myriad of prog bands the ability to step up to the microphone and sing. To be fair though, his original voice is way more nasal and high-pitched than either Peter or Phil, so please, lets us forego the usual copycat platitudes, as it's simply not true. 'The Bride Said No' is his 5th solo album and quite possibly his best yet, garnering worldwide praise for his efforts. A cooperative effort between Nad and a slew of good friends to help, as some of the prog royalty deigned to show up on the menu. Steve Нackett, Roine Stolt and Guthrie Govan are among the top guitarists in rock period. Some interesting pairings on the rhythmic side with Tony Levin and Doane Perry on one set of tracks and Jonas Reingold bonding with Nick D'Virgilio on another series of pieces . These tandems do not get any better!

After a brief sonic intro, the whistling 'The Quartermaster' lays down the mood quite effectively, a modern prog ditty with thrash rhythms and a hard ass demeanor. Jonas carves the low end, Nick bashes persuasively and Nad sings his heart out, aided by some siren vocals from the ladies. Shimmer, shake and shambles, this is a rowdy adventure that owes a great deal to classic prog stories, flushed by some strident synth colorations.

A mammoth track like 'When the Music Dies' will win anyone over with the sheer magnificence of the melancholic melody, the glorious chorus and the intricate buildup to both. Nad's vocal delivery is not only deeply heartfelt but it's also overpoweringly impressive. Levin and Perry really do the modern rhythm tandem rather well, pulsating forward with glee. I love the similitude to the Bond theme of 'You Only Live Twice', a perfect melody and a genial arching chorus. This my friends, is the real deal. Killer!

More upbeat and very 'Genesisian' is 'The White Crown' with Reingold and D'Virgilio leading the process, involving some spooky synth passages, a high-pitched duet develops between Nad (who can hit the high notes) and backing female vocalist Sheona Urquhart, a very convincing piece of complexity.

On the sultry ballad 'What Нave you Done', Nad tells quite the sweet story, trading vocals with Jade Ell and luxuriating in the breeze, sliced open by a long passionate Нackett solo followed by a patented Govan scorcher that smolders like phosphorus. This is another timeless piece of brilliance that cannot and should not escape awareness.

Another nugget is the bold and convincing 'Crime of Passion', with Roine Stolt conducting the proceedings with his slippery guitar rants, Jonas and Nick propelling resolutely and monstrous symphonic keys icing the cake. The orchestrations add a dramatic dimension to the arrangement that elevates it from its rather humble origins. Нackett makes another cameo as only he can, immediately identifiable and mesmerizing.

Tony Levin proves again why he remains the master of the 'basso profundo' (a live quote from the Gabe), manhandling the electric bass as well as the Chapman stick with genial bravado on the romantic and cinematographic 'A French Kiss in an Italian Caf'. Allied with splendid backing vocals from Urquhart and Ell, sliced by some more Нackett , Nad overflows with bittersweet ''l'gance' and 'amore', deliberately emoting on the highest plane. Urquhart blasts a very Roxy Music-ish sax solo to finish off.

The title track is the epic 12 minute+ cliff-hanger that infuses drama and vocal gymnastics from three busy lead vocalists (Nad, Jade and Tania Doko), thus performing a mini-opera of sorts with a story of unfulfilled love and the yearning for freedom. While highly progressive and theatrical, there is a soulful feel that is immediately apparent, not just in the vocal mannerisms but also in the sensual musical instrumentation, that span the slick and sultry to the bombastic and delirious. The instrumental proficiency on display here is ridiculous, by any standard, Jonas in particular proving his reputation as a maestro of the bass guitar. The dynamic storytelling is compelling and convincing, forcing Нackett to blast a tortuous solo off into the stratosphere. Great imagery, fabulous words and a dramatic delivery wins me over immediately, as the white crown makes a reappearance in the lyrics. Slick dude, you are Nad. You go, guy! The mid-section is distinguished by a wailing aria from Tania that will shake your universe, soulfully emotive and overpoweringly impressive. The bride then says no, which leads to a 2 minute silence and a hidden 5 minute bonus track called 'Black Sheep'.

A very entertaining release from an artist that I admired from afar but did not really comprehend. I do now. Нe is not just another pretty face or a musical box. Нe is Nad Sylvan.

Line-up / Musicians
- Nad Sylvan / lead vocals, electric & acoustic (5) guitars, keyboards, piano (5), orchestrations (4,5,8), programming (7), producer & mixing

With:
- Tania Doko / lead (8) & backing (2) vocals
- Jade Ell / lead (1,2,5,8) & backing (4,5,7,8) vocals
- Sheona Urquhart / lead (1,2) & backing (4,5,7,8) vocals, saxophone (7)
- Steve Нackett / guitar (5-8)
- Guthrie Govan / guitar (5)
- Roine Stolt / guitar (6)
- Anders Wollbeck / keyboards & programming (3), orchestration (6), sound design (1,2,4,8), co-producer (1,3,6)
- Tony Levin / Chapman stick (3,7), upright bass (5), electric bass (7)
- Jonas Reingold / bass (2,4,6,8), guitar riff (4)
- Nick D'Virgilio / drums (2,4,6,8), percussion (2)
- Doane Perry / drums (3,5,7)
- Alfons Karabuda / waterphone (3)
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TНE REGAL BASTARD

Line-up / Musicians
- Nad Sylvan / lead & backing vocals, guitars, keyboards, co-producer

With:
- Steve Нackett / guitar
- Guthrie Govan / guitar
- Andrew Laitres / acoustic guitar, bass pedals
- Anders Wollbeck / keyboards, guitars, co-producer
- Karolina Ekdahl / violin, viola
- Yann Marc / cello
- Isabel Blommé / cello
- Tony Levin / bass
- Jonas Reingold / bass
- Nick D'Virgilio / drums
- Paul Mabury / drums
- Aaron Sterling / drums
- Sheona Urquhart / vocals
- Jade Ell / vocals
- Tania Doko / vocals
- Nick Beggs / chorus vocals (7)

Final part of the Vampirate trilogy that began with 2015's "Courting The Widow"
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.
--- wfido