AIRBRIDGE 4 TRACK E.P. 'RETURN'
FIRST RELEASE BY REUNITED BAND IN 30 YEARS SET TO WIN OVER NEW FANS AND REIGNITE INTEREST IN CULT PROG BAND
Way back in 1983 Norfolk based prog band Airbridge released an album entitled 'Paradise Moves' which won great critical acclaim. Since then, those in the know realised that there was something special about Airbridge, and have gone to great lengths to track down copies of their long lost album. Recently, it has been bought on eBay for more than £150.
Come forwards to 2007, a chance meeting led to band members Lorenzo Bedini and Sean Godfrey resurrecting the band. In 2009 the final piece of the jigsaw returned to Norfolk some 24 years after departing; Dave Dowdeswell-Allaway had been the band's sound engineer in the early years. It turns out that he was also an accomplished guitarist, pianist, vocalist and drummer, and it didn't take long for the duo to become a trio, revive elements of the past, and set about creating something new for the future.
But let's bring you up to date with what happened in the interim years: where have they been, and what have they done musically since those heady days? Well, Lorenzo succumbed to a 60s covers band for a while, he ran music workshops in a prison, played session guitar for Arabella Rodriguez on her albums, and played on the soundtrack for what turned out to be David Carradine's final film, 'Detention'.
Dave moved away to study and work during which time he played drums in a couple of bands and began writing songs in the early 2000's, something that Airbridge are now benefiting from. Following the demise of Airbridge, Sean co-founded the prog inspired La Host who went on to tour the U.K, release albums and singles, and play some of the same, prestigious venues as Airbridge had during the early 1980s, such as the Marquee Club in London. Sean also formed the Sonic City Rocker Squad who caused a minor stir on both sides of the Atlantic, after which he retreated to live a quiet rural life in Norfolk.
Airbridge's first release as a reunited unit brings 4 songs from different eras, and in different styles. The e.p. opens with 'Return of the Light' with hints of Jethro Tull mixed with Asian influences that are rustic but not folky. Next comes 'Who Pays the Ferryman?' which has undertones of early Caravan with a flowing melody and a strongly harmonised chorus. Third up is 'To Absent Friends' which brings a harder rock edge. Finally, is the epic 'Quiet Sky' which is a beautiful atmospheric blues/jazz piece complete with a soaring Bedini solo. All in all, a true prog mix.
Airbridge's first release as a reunited unit brings 4 songs from different eras, and in different styles. The e.p. opens with 'Return of the Light' with hints of Jethro Tull mixed with Asian influences that are rustic but not folky. Next comes 'Who Pays the Ferryman?' which has undertones of early Caravan with a flowing melody and a strongly harmonised chorus. Third up is 'To Absent Friends' which brings a harder rock edge. Finally, is the epic 'Quiet Sky' which is a beautiful atmospheric blues/jazz piece complete with a soaring Bedini solo. All in all, a true prog mix.
The e.p. gets an official release on Monday 8th July, and they play 3 concerts, 1 in Norwich an e.p launch at Bedfords on Friday July 12th, and 2 in Lorenzo's native Italy where the band still have a following.
The Italian concerts are in the market square in Roccalbegna, Gr, in southern Tuscany on the 20th and 21st of July.
An album of new material is due for release in late 2014, and the band is available for interviews to talk about the past, the present, and the bright looking future.
--Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
