The Entire Collection (4CD Boxset)

• A NEW 3 CD/1 BLU RAY REMASTERED BOXED SET EDITION OF THE CLASSIC BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST ALBUM.• FEATURING A NEW REMASTER OF THE ORIGINAL ALBUM MIX, ALONG WITH NEW 5.1 SURROUND SOUND AND STEREO MIXES BY STEPHEN W. TAYLER.• PLUS A RARE BBC JOHN PEEL CONCERT APPEARANCE FROM 1971,RARE OUT-TAKES AND THE 1972 SQ QUADROPHONIC MIX.• INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH ESSAY BY KEITH AND MONIKA DOMONE.Released in February 1971, Barclay James Harvest’s second album was recorded at Abbey Road studios and was produced by Norman Smith. Widely regarded as one of the band’s early masterpieces, ‘Once Again’, the album was critically acclaimed upon its release and featured the Barclay James Harvest symphony orchestra and eventually attained Gold disc status.This new expanded edition features three CDs and an all-region Blu ray disc and comprises 44 tracks. The set features the original UK stereo mix remastered from the original master tapes and also includes stunning new 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo mixes by Stephen W. Tayler, a new remaster of the 1972 SQ Quad mix of the album and a multi-channel version of the 1972 Quad mix.In addition, there is also a rare live performance recorded for BBC Radio One’s John Peel in February 1971, and seven further rare bonus tracks, including an early version of ‘Mocking Bird’ and the full version of the unreleased piece ‘White Sails (A Seascape). The set also includes a lavishly illustrated booklet with a new essay Barclay James Harvest experts Keith and Monika Domone and a replica of a 1971 promotional poster.Track Listing:DISC ONEOnce Again – The original stereo mix remastered1 She Said2 Happy Old World3 Song for Dying4 Galadriel5 Mocking Bird6 Vanessa Simmons7 Ball and Chain8 Lady LovesBonus tracks9 Too Much on Your Plate10 Happy Old World (Take One)11 She Said (BBC John Peel Concert 1971)12 Mockingbird (BBC John Peel Concert 1971)13 Dark Now My Sky (BBC John Peel Concert 1971)DISC TWOOnce Again – The new stereo mixes1 She Said (new stereo mix)2 Happy Old World (new stereo mix)3 Song for Dying (new stereo mix)4 Galadriel (new stereo mix)5 Mocking Bird (new stereo mix)6 Vanessa Simmons (new stereo mix)7 Ball and Chain (new stereo mix)8 Lady Loves (new stereo mix)Bonus tracks9 Mocking Bird (first version – May 1970)10 Too Much on Your Plate (new stereo mix)11 White Sails (A Seascape) (complete version)DISC THREEOnce Again – The 1972 SQ Quadrophonic mix1 She Said (1972 SQ Quad mix)2 Happy Old World (1972 SQ Quad mix)3 Song for Dying (1972 SQ Quad mix)4 Galadriel (1972 SQ Quad mix)5 Mocking Bird (1972 SQ Quad mix)6 Vanessa Simmons (1972 SQ Quad mix)7 Ball and Chain (1972 SQ Quad mix)8 Lady Loves (1972 SQ Quad mix)Bonus tracks9 Galadriel (non-orchestral version)10 Mocking Bird (non-orchestral version)DISC FOUROnce Again96 kHz / 24-bit new 5.1 Surround Sound mix / new Stereo mixes /original stereo mix & 1972 Quadrophonic Mix1 She Said2 Happy Old World3 Song for Dying4 Galadriel5 Mocking Bird6 Vanessa Simmons7 Ball and Chain8 Lady LovesBonus tracks9 Too Much on Your Plate10 White Sails (A Seascape) (complete version)

"Much like my addiction to Swiss roll, for some people more is never enough. You’d have thought two wildly successful “day jobs” would be enough to keep some folks busy. But not so for Katatonia lead vocalist Jonas Renkse and The Pineapple Thief front man Bruce Soord. Clearly they've got too much time on their hands as they have come together to create Wisdom Of Crowds. I can tell you now, I am eternally grateful that these two chaps did a bit of moonlighting. As will you.Originally written for Renkse’s voice, Soord sought out the acclaimed vocalist to complete the compositions and release the music to the masses. In doing so, Bruce Soord has found the perfect foil for the music he has written. Which is all at once jagged, sharp, melodic, aggressive, tender, sparse and loud. What anchors it all together, what makes it a cohesive mix, is Renkse’s vocals. His delivery is sublime. But we’ll come to that in a bit…Album opener ‘Pleasure’ sets up the album with Renkse’s weary and plaintive voice stretching across the track as it morphs from electronic intro to a upbeat mix of live instruments, effects and sounds. This album is different to their respective bands yet retains enough familiarity to comfort fans of both. Title track ‘Wisdom Of Crowds’ evokes a faint vibe of early Gotan Project with its horns and sparsely placed guitar lines whilst ‘Radio Star’ leaves you haunted…. leaves you looking for something as Renkse sings "give you the lights, give you the stars, give you a sign".Standout track of the album is ‘Frozen North’. It’s simply stunning. A melancholic guitar line awash with strings coupled with Renkse’s beautifully evocative vocal melodies and lyrics transporting you to a place of reflection. When, 4 minutes into the song, we descend musically into a fantastically out-there blend of electronica with jagged shards of glitchy noise rhythmically pounding towards the conclusion of the song. It just feels right and natural. It feels magnificent.Next up we have ‘The Light’, a more traditional (as in what the uninitiated imagine it to be) prog tune that is reminiscent of Saucerful-era Floyd with its backwards guitar and drumbeats. It’s 7 minutes of pure progressive music: bluesy guitar licks on a bed of synths with again startlingly intimate vocals.  ‘Pretend’ counters this with aggressive shards of guitar playing from Soord.With that we head into the final 3 tracks on the album. The triumvirate of the album in fact. I’ve genuinely never heard an album FINISH with such breathtakingly songs. Most artists would have put these tracks at the top of the album such is their magnificence. ‘Stacked Naked’ shimmers into view with a tenderly melodic  intro backed with some wonderfully harmonised vocals. Renkse’s lyrics painfully urging "if anyone should ask how the story goes just pretend we're almost there just pretend....pretend.....". ‘Centre of Gravity’ is a song that made me think of the bond of friendship, of the shared experiences, of the sharing of secrets and hopes and dreams. It ends with Jonas repeating "hold out your hand", a plea to never let go of what once was but also as an offer of support. And finally ‘Flows Though You’ arrives with a wail of siren and simmering aggression. Renkse defiantly proclaiming "I can lose but I will never break" as the song heads towards a cacophony of drums, guitars and electronica.So. After all that what is this album like?Jonas Renkse’s vocals and lyrics are the highlight of this album. They are the lynchpin of the entire record. No matter where the music goes, no matter what genre it delves into, the guiding light is his voice, his delivery and inflection. In Soord, he has found a collaborator that can create music that uses every aspect of his voice and talent.It is a stunning album in both depth and range of emotion and music. It captures so many genres and yet defies labels. Part rock, part electronic it's all blended together to create and album that lifts you up, makes you think and most importantly makes you FEEL. There is a hypnotic use of space and dynamics from the frailest most intimate ambience to bombastic guitar driven sections that lift your spirits. It is everything you can want from an album and more." - Echoes And Dust 

"Clive Nolan (Pendragon, Arena) returns with his new solo project - ‘Alchemy – a musical”, a Victorian adventure set in 1842. Next to Clive Nolan himself, the album feature the artists well known in the world of progressive rock including Tracy Hitchings (Landmarq, Strangers on a Train), Andy Sears (Twelfth Night), Paul Manzi (Arena), Damian Wilson (Threshold), Paul Menel (ex-IQ), David Clifford (Red Jasper) as well as the leading lady of Nolan's previous musical 'SHE', Agnieszka Świta and Noel Calcaterra - a Uruguayan singer/actress and the voice of Clive Nolan South American 'Otra Vida' project from 2010. The Caamora Company musicians - Clive Nolan (keyboards), Mark Westwood (guitars), Scott Higham (drums), Claudio Momberg (keyboards) and Kylan Amos (bass) will once more take charge of the instrumental part of the project. The core members of the company will be joined by special guests and a chorus. This release will be preceded by the world premiere of 'Alchemy' show at the famous Wyspianski Theatre in Katowice, Poland on February 22, 2013, where it will be recorded and released on a DVD by Metal Mind Productions in Autumn 2013."

Wolf People are an incredible ensemble from the UK.  They channel the late 60's/early 70's British sound.  Definitely psychedelic buzz from these guys.  Folk elements crop up that will remind you a little bit of Fairport Convention but the electric side dominates and it constantly reminds me of bands like The Groundhogs and High Tide - think TS McPhee and Tony Hill blazing away.  This is guitar oriented music that is completely immersed in THAT SOUND.  Killing solos through out.  Man I love this band!!!  Highly recommended.

Hyperdrive marks a new era for Knight Area.  The long running Dutch progressive rock band had previously released four studio albums and toured Europe and USA extensively, performing at all major prog rock festivals.  1n 2012 the band welcomed guitarist Mark Bogert as well as legendary bassist Peter Vink (Q65, Finch, Ayreon) into the fold. With these newcomers onboard, Knight Area introduced a heavier element and fuller sound to their repertoire.  All the classic symphonic rock traits of their previous albums are still clearly evident but the songs on Hyperdrive are more immediate and concise.The band invited noted prog guitarist Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One) to participate as a special guest on one track.  Joost van den Broek, who is known for his production work with Epica, Mayan, and After Forever, mixed the album.   Rounding out the package is startling artwork by Gustavo Sazes.

Quatermass were a killer "one and done" prog trio from the UK.  Consisting of John Gustafson (bass, vocals), Peter Robinson (keys), Mick Underwood (drums), Quatermass' music had a heaviness about it that could almost (but not quite) classify it as hard rock.  In fact Gustafson and Underwood went on to play with Ian Gillan.  Of course the star of the show is Peter Robinson, who you are probably more familiar with his later work with Brand X.  Hammond organ is the focus here and Robinson rips the hell out of it.  If you are a fan of ELP you should probably be checking this one out.The previous CD incarnation was released on Repertoire and has been unavailable for years.  This is a new CD/DVD edition.  It features a new stereo mix by Peter Robinson and includes 2 singles tracks as well as 2 previously unreleased tunes.  The DVD features the album in a 5.1 mix.  Highly recommended.