The Tangent, the progressive rock group led by Andy Tillison, recently announced the release of their first new music since 2015. Their new ninth studio album 'The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery' is set for release on July 21st, 2017, and today sees the release of an edit of the track 'Slow Rust' which you can listen to here:
Andy comments: "The song 'Slow Rust' is a long involved piece that looks at the whole massive set of implications of the various refugee crises around the world today. The piece tries to take on many of the points of view from different groups like The Press, Politicians, Industry, Education and all of US - but just for this section of the song we turned the camera on the people actually in the middle of this story, desperate people doing desperate things in a world that has little time to help them.
'The Actual Story' is a small section of this massive piece - a subsection of it. Marie Eve de Gaultier's voice becomes the leading instrument here in a rare Tangent acoustic section and is one of the highlights of the album as a whole, part of one of the band's most complex ever songs both in musical construction and lyrical development. The piece is challenging, dynamic and 'of its time'."
A series of track-by-track interviews featuring Andy Tillison and Luke Machin discussing the album in detail were recently launched, and you can watch the latest one here:
Listen to previously released track 'Two Rope Swings' here:
The line-up for this album once again features Tillison on keyboards, vocals (and for the first time on a Tangent record - drums), Jonas Reingold on bass, Luke Machin on guitars and vocals, and Theo Travis on sax and flutes plus new member Marie-Eve de Gaultier on keys and vocals. There are also guest appearances from author/playwright and Chumbawamba founder Boff Whalley on vocals, and upcoming DJ/producer Matt Farrow.
The album sees The Tangent in political commentary mode once again - this time often focussing on the horrendous plight of refugees from war torn parts of the world - and the way in which they are treated by the West, and in particular by the tabloid press. The album laments the new trend in building walls and defending borders across the world yet takes time to look at the breakup of friendships and other more personal issues - along with a song about the fate of wildlife in the modern consumer world.
And it's a Progressive Rock Record. Full of intricacies, long developed pieces, challenging arrangements and virtuoso playing from all members. New sounds and styles (the band have brought a DJ on board for some sections) - new voices and techniques (first female vocals in The Tangent since the "Not As Good As The Book" album 10 years ago). A new producer in the form of Luke Machin whose open and deep/clear sound is a major factor of this album, a new drummer in the form of Andy Tillison who decided at long last (after drumming for 30 years) to let his own performances guide the rest of the band rather than adding another musician later. And after 13 years of asking, Jonas finally agreed to play some double bass in a song where Luke also plays some Scat guitar and Andy does a full on drum solo.
"The Slow Rust Of Forgotten Machinery" also features stellar artwork from Marvel / DC Comics artist Mark Buckingham. The sleeve of the album is totally based on the music it contains and was especially created for this project.
The album will be available on limited digipak CD, gatefold 2LP + CD, and digital download, and you can find the full track-listing below:
1. Two Rope Swings
2. Doctor Livingstone (I Presume)
3. Slow Rust
4. The Sad Story of Lead and Astatine
5. A Few Steps Down the Wrong Road
6. Basildonxit
The band will head out on tour in support of the new record, once again joining forces with Sweden's Karmakanic to present albums by both bands. The full list of dates is as follows:
Aug 26th 2017 - Bierkeller, Reichenbach, DE
Sept 1st 2017 - 2 days of Prog +1 Festival, Veruno, Italy
Sept 9th 2017 - The Boerderij, Zoetermeer
Oct 8th 2017 - SUMMERS END Festival, Chepstow, UK
Oct 21st 2017 - Progtoberfest, Chicago, USA
Oct 22nd 2017 - Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI, USA
Oct 24th 2017 - Token Lounge, Westland MI, USA
Oct 26th 2017 - Roxy & Dukes, Dunellen NJ, USA
Oct 27th 2017 - The Regent Theatre, Arlington MA, USA
Look out for more information in the coming weeks!
THE TANGENT online:
INSIDEOUTMUSIC online:
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