From: Bill Berends bberends@mosquito.com
Subject: Mastermind
Date: 11 January 1997
Greetings!
1996 was a good year for Mastermind and things are off to a good start in 
97.
Our new release UNTIL ETERNITY is gathering momentum worldwide and our first
tour of Japan takes flight later this month. The 2nd album BRAINSTORM was
re-mixed and released in Japan in October '96 and will be re-issued in Europe
in the coming months. We are currently booking dates for our first 
ppearances
in Europe for May and June and will have more domestic shows in the coming
months ahead.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the band over the last
decade; 1997 is our 10th Anniversary recording and performing as MASTERMIND
and it looks like it will be the best year for us yet.
For more info about MASTERMIND recordings and concerts:
http://www.mosquito.com/~bberends/mastermind
If you would like to be removed from this list or are receiving multiple
copies, please send email and you will be accomodated. Thanks.
All the best in '97!
Bill Berends
c/o MASTERMIND
==========================================
 Bill Berends bberends@mosquito.com
 http://www.mosquito.com/~bberends/
==========================================
Reply to this message in Gibraltar
From: Acid Dragon Magazine
Subject: New Issue
Date: 8 February 1997
hello, new acid dragon issue out soon... Thanks for mentionning it in 
Gibraltar. All the best, ts
IQ INTERVIEW
PENDRAGON INTERVIEW
MARGELICHT INTERVIEW
DARK SUN INTERVIEW
THINKING PLAGUE INTERVIEW
40 REVIEWS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
... AND MORE !
Reply to this message in Gibraltar
From: Jeroen wieldop@worldaccess.nl
Subject: Odyssice
Date: 27 January 1997
My name is Jeroen van der Wiel and I live in The Netherlands. I play 
eyboards
in an instrumental symforock band called 'Odyssice'. We are about to release
our first (mini) CD and just setup a website where people can read about us,
hear bits of music from us and order the CD. I was wondering if you could
print the following in your next news letter.
>'Odyssice' is a Dutch Symphonic Rockband and just released their first CD.
>The music can be compared with 'Camel', 'Rush', and 'Pink Floyd' and is
>instrumental. If you would like to know more about this band and hear bits
>from their new CD, check; http://www.worldaccess.nl/~wieldop/odyssice.html
>This is something you don't want to miss!
Thanks,
Jeroen
Rick Wakeman Fan Page
http://www.worldaccess.nl/~rwfp
rwfp@worldaccess.nl
also check:
http://www.worldaccess.nl/~wieldop/odyssice.html
the progressive rockband I play in, you gonna love it...
Reply to this message in Gibraltar
From: Gary Davis artshop@artist-shop.com
Subject: Synergy, Mike Pinder, Gongzilla and more
Date: 20 January 1997
[This is actually a compilation of several messages dating from November
through January....MT]
Hello Friends:
Lots of exciting news at The Artist Shop.  First of all, we now have SSL
Secure Transaction Processing!  We're delighted to be able to offer you this
new ordering alternative through which you can do secure credit card 
urchases
from the website.  I hope you'll check it out.
Mike Pinder has finally emerged from his studio with the second installment 
n
his series of children's stories, "A People with One Heart."  This is a
wonderful collection of stories told by the same voice responsible for most 
f
the Moody Blues poetry tracks on their Core 7 albums.  The music underneath
these stories is absolutely wonderful and will transport you to another 
orld.
 Check out the soundbite for this in the Shop.
The monster is back and this time he's tripping!  Gongzilla returns with the
brand new recording, "Thrive," an ambient swirl of jazz, rock and fusion. 
his
album includes guitarist Bon Lozaga, bassist Hansford Rowe and mallet
percussionist Benoit Moerlen from the first Gongzilla album teamed up with
David Torn on guitar and loops and drummer Gary Husband from Allan
Holdsworth's band.  I tell you, this one sneaks up on you.  Also new from 
oLo
records guitarist Geno White's new album, "Standing in Stereo."  You can hear
soundbites from both in the Shop.
Fans of Mike Keneally needn't be alarmed to find Mike missing from the New
Label page.  He hasn't left us.  In fact, we've given him his own area of the
store, so check out his new page.
Here's some news that will be of interest to Synergy fans.  As you know, 
arry
Fast has regained the rights to his music and has re-released his first two
albums, Electronic Realizations and Sequencer.  He has been bombarded with
requests from his die-hard fans regarding his other titles. Seems not 
veryone
can wait for the re-release schedule.  To accomodate those people who just
cannot wait, Larry has decided to make a very special offer.  All Synergy
albums will eventually be re-released, but if you can't wait for that to
happen, then go to http://www.artist-shop.com/newlabel/synergy.htm to check
out Larry's special offer.
The Artist Shop now has Mike Keneally's new video, Soap Scum Remover.  This 
s
a video of live performances with his band, Beer for Dolphins, shot at the
Burbon Square in Van Nuys.  These performances are not the same as are on his
live CD, Half Alive in Hollywood (which, of course, we also have) and even
includes some songs not found on the CD.  You'll find both at
http://www.artist-shop.com/immune.  Mike recently finished an American tour
with Steve Vai.  I caught the show at the Odeon in Cleveland.  It was great! 
Mike and Beer for Dolphins opened the show, then he joined Steve for his set. 
Word has it Mike only gets a very short break before heading back on the road
with Steve, this time to Europe.  As soon as I get those dates, I'll post 
hem
on the bulletin board.
A number of people have inquired about laserdisc versions for King Crimson's
Live in Japan video and Yes' Keys to Ascension video.  Presently these are
only available as expensive Japanese imports which we can get.  The King
Crimson laserdisc is $74.99 and the Yes laserdisc (last years perfomance at
SLO) is $134.99.  The latter is about 150 minutes.  As far as U.S. release,
Discipline has only released the VHS version of the Crimson video and has no
plans at this time to release a laserdisc in the U.S.  It is my understanding
that Keys to Ascension will get a U.S. release in laser disc format sometime
this year, possibly spring or summer.
We've got several new members in The Artist Shop and I couldn't be more
excited to have these two aboard. A big welcome to Keith Emerson, Kitaro,
Patrick O'Hearn and Peter Hammill!!!
Keith Emerson from the early days of The Nice to ELP to film scores and solo
albums has always been one of rocks greatest keyboardists.  With special
thanks to his manager, Will Alexander, you'll now find Keith and his 
hristmas
Album on our New Label page.
Kitaro comes to us by way of the independent Domo Records.  Kitaro draws
deeply on his ancestral roots in Japan for a music that is very spiritual. 
ot
only is Domo releasing new Kitaro material, but are making their business to
gather together his entire back catalog and remastering those albums with 20
bit digital processing.
Before begining a very successful solo career, Patrick O'Hearn was a member 
f
Frank Zappa's band as well as Group 87 (with Mark Isham) and Missing Persons
(with other Zappa alumni).  Patrick began his solo career on Private Music
which, at the time, was a label owned by Peter Baumann, formerly of Tangerine
Dream.  I remember when I bought my first CD player I asked the owner of my
favorite record store for some CD recommendations.  I wanted not only good
music, but a clarity that would really highlight what a CD player could do. 
One that he recommended highly was Patrick's first album, Ancient Dreams, a
very good recommendation as it turned out.  I don't think Peter Baumann is
still associated with Private Music.  Anyway Patrick began to feel that
Private was neglecting his work.  Eventually he started his own label, Deep
Cave.  His very first release on Deep Cave, Trust, earned him a Grammy
nomination!  You'll find Patrick on our New Label page
http://www.artist-shop.com/newlabel.  Much thanks to his label manager,
Doreen D'Agostino for helping to make this happen.
Peter Hammill started his music career in the band Van der Graaf Generator.
This band has developed a very strong cult following as has Peter's solo 
ork.
 He has also appeared on albums by Robert Fripp (check out the track, 
hicago,
on exposed...sheer ecstasy!) and Peter Gabriel.  Gabriel included one of
Hammill's tracks on the excellent Plus from Us collection and also on the
earlier WOMAD collection, Rhythm and Music.  Peter is a musician who does not
feel at home in any one style and his diversity, although welcome to his
legion of fans, is viewed as anathema by the corporate heads who strive to
make us all one big homogenous consumer.  Thank God he started his own label,
Fie!, to make his music as he sees fit.  Unfortunately Fie! Records have not
been very easy to find, not even as imports.  So that makes us all the 
appier
that Peter is making his catalog available to The Artist Shop.  That catalog
also includes his fellow Van der Graaf band member, David Jackson.  Be sure 
o
check these out at http://www.artist-shop.com/fie.
Gary
**************************************************************
                              Gary Davis
The Artist Shop                              The Other Road
http://www.artist-shop.com       OtherRoad@aol.com
       SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENT ARTIST!!!
**************************************************************
Reply to this message in Gibraltar
 
                                       CHAT
From: Peter Cole pcole@sseyod.demon.co.uk
Subject: Eno's Music on the Web
Date: 5 February 1997
Hi folks,
Following on from Sandy's post about Brian Eno's diary in Gibraltar, I 
hought
I should point those of you interested in his music to http://www.sseyo.com :
the SSEYO Koan Music web site. For those of who don't know, on the site there
are a number of free generative Koan Music pieces by Brian Eno, similar to
those on his mould-breaking Generative Music 1 (published by SSEYO, and also
available on the site); together with free software with which to play the
pieces.
Incidentally, for those who like to know these things, the picture on the
cover of "A Year With Swollen Appendices" is the same as that on the box of
"Generative Music 1" ! :)
Have fun !
Pete
P.S. For the record, I'm probably biased - I'm the technical director 
of SSEYO ! :)
- -----------------------------------------------
Pete Cole                                              
pcole@sseyod.demon.co.uk
   Moderator of Door X, the David Torn mailing list - mail me for details !
                http://ott-outreach.engin.umich.edu/torn/
- -----------------------------------------------
Reply to this message in Gibraltar
From: Dave Anastasi daanasta@student.berklee.edu
Subject: RE: King Crimson Video
Date: 5 February 1997
I, too, have the "King Crimson: Live In Japan Video".  I was surprised when I
heard it because it is the same recording as it is on the CD "The Double
Trio," which was released about a year before the video came out. It's a 
reat
recording, one of the best live recordings that I have on CD.  But the CD 
oes
not include "Matte Kudasi," "Three Of A Perfect Pair," "People," and "THRAK". 
I also believe that there is a couple other songs that are on the Video, but
not the CD.  I definately recommend the CD AND the video.  They are both
really good. . . especially the extended drums at the beginning of
"Indiscipline".
-DAve
Reply to this message in Gibraltar
 
                                     REVIEWS
From: Alan J. Mallery ajmaller@ouray.cudenver.edu
Subject: Mathematicians, Nuova Era
Date: 15 November 1996
Mathematicians:  Factor of Four
===============================
Here's a band that sounded promising, after reading a review of their first
album Irrational Numbers.  This is their newest, and described as better. 
The group is a quartet of guitar, bass, keys, and drums, with guitar in the
fore-front.  On a couple songs they have a guest violinist to good effect.  I
guess you could describe their sound as guitar lead instrumental rock/fusion. 
Their main influence seems to be the Vai/Morse camp, with some Dregs thrown
in. Well, after listening to the album a bunch of times, I came away
disappointed.  It took a few listens before I understood why.  The
musicianship isn't the problem, as all the musicians are competent on their
instruments.  The problem is, none of the compositions come away as being
memorable.  They are simply average, nothing to get excited about. The
exceptions were the second track, which is basically a cover of Edgar 
inter's
"Frankenstein," and the fifth track, which is a nice up-tempo rocker.  If 
ore
tunes had been like this, the album would be a lot better.  For an example,
take the third track.  It's a predictable minor chord progression that 
epeats
over and over as a vehicle for soloing. There is no development, or even
melody to speak of.  Another problem I have is with the production. 
Everything is recorded pretty dry, which makes it sound more like a demo in 
y
opinion.  Also the guitarist and keyboardist use pretty much the same tone a
lot, which contributes to the bland sound. I think this band has some good
chops and talent, so if they can take their song writing to a higher level,
and use a little more creativity in the sound department, they should be a
band to watch out for.
Nuova Era: IL Passo Del Soldato
===============================
To be honest, Nuova Era has been around a little while, and was one of the
first bands I heard about in the "Indie Prog" world, but I have never bought
any of their CDs.  So this, their fourth album, is my first listen to them. 
Apparently their previous guitarist/vocalist has left the band, so the music
is now primarily keys/bass/drums with a new vocalist, and the keyboardist
brother(?) to write lyrics. With this format, obviously the keys are going to
be the standout.  Walter Pini rings a lot of mileage out of that
dirty/percussive Hammond organ sound, ala "Tarkus."  In addition there are a
lot of monophonic analog sounds used.  The bass and drums are merely
competent, and don't stand out in any way.  I was surprised by the vocalist
though, he has a strong and clear voice, almost as good as Alberto Piras (of
Deus Ex Machina). Musically, the organ and synths lead the way, so this has a
mostly '70s sound, fitting in with some of the heavy Italian groups of that
decade.  It's not as crazy as some groups, like DeM, but not "neo-prog"
either.  Most songs have a couple vocal choruses, then stretch out into long
instrumental excursions, with organ as the basis.  Some odd-time, but more of
the time somewhat basic chord progressions that are the vehicle for crazy
Emerson-like synth playing. In total, this isn't a ground-breaking album by
any means, but I found it to be very pleasant.  If you like keyboard-lead
prog, or the heavy Italian 70's sound, this album would probably be to your
liking.
==============================================
Alan Mallery/aka: ajmaller@ouray.cudenver.edu\aka2: Emerson@aol.com
==============================================
Reply to this message in Gibraltar
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