Herd of Instinct "Incantation"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Label: Firepool Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 21, 2019 (digital), October 31, 2019 (CD)
Tracklist: 
1. Sun Gun (5:48)
2. Incantation One (6:38)
3. Coin Locker Babies (4:31)
4. Prey 4 Winter (5:52)
5. Myth And Ritual (2:52)
6. Abaddon (4:33)
7. Pavement Grey (6:17)
8. Temples (4:24)
9. Incantation Two (5:35)
10. Torture Garden (3:38)

Total Time 50:08

Line-up: 
Mark Cook (Spoke of Shadows) – Warr guitar, fretless bass, guitar, keyboards, and string arrangements
Bill Bachman (Spoke of Shadows, Neil Morse) – drums and percussion
Mike McGary – piano and synth
Rick Read – Chapman Stick, bass, and keyboards
   With
Elaine Di Falco (Thinking Plague) – vocals and lyrics
Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree, Ork) – fretless bass and ebow
Gayle Ellett (Djam Karet, Fernwood) – Mellotron, Rhodes, Moog, Hammond, harmonium, guitar, and tambura
Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson) – Rhodes, Moog, Mellotron, and Hammond
Stephen Page (Stonebriar String Quartet) – violin
Craig Shropshire (Impending Bloom) – hand percussion and gong
Dave Streett – Warr guitar

Description/Reviews: 

Herd of Instinct’s fifth album, Incantation, is the band’s most dynamic and radical release yet. The music explores the band’s progressive rock vocabulary mixed with excursions into densely layered post-rock compositions and hybrid orchestral styles.
Incantation moves through pieces that fit neatly with the band’s previous work. The band also travels into new areas that take their music into new directions. It’s this “otherness" that makes this collection such a unique and challenging album.
The minimal orchestral piece Myth and Ritual is a homage to avant-auteur Scott Walker, written a short time after his death, that references his stark and brutal compositional style. The two-part title track is a trip into avant-prog featuring a superstar list of players who help produce one of HOI’s most adventurous pieces. This is also the first album that features vocals since their self-titled debut release, back in 2011.

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp (from release date)
Incantation One
Myth and Ritual
Trailer 1
Trailer 2

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Hillmen "The Whiskey Mountain Sessions, Vol.II"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Jazz, Fusion, Jamband, Psychedelic
Label: Firepool Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 16, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. The Long Way Home (20:19)
2. The Mestizo Insect Frog Jam (10:07)
3. Fire Breather (8:58)

Total Time 39:24

Line-up: 
Peter Hillman: drums
Gayle Ellett (Djam Karet): keyboards (Rhodes & Minimoog)
Lito Magana,jr: guitar
Jeff Smith: bass

Description/Reviews: 

The band performs in a style called Free Improvisation, which means Hillmen just tune up and play with absolutely no predetermined structure, rhythm or key and without the benefit or burden of a written score. All of the music on this second Hillmen offering was captured during one unparalleled evening session and is presented in the order in which it was recorded. This album is raw, authentic and totally honest – even down to the inclusion of band banter. You get the feeling that you are sitting in the room as the music is being formed right before your ears!
With the opening track, “The Long Way Home,” listeners are treated to an epic 20-minute excursion into the authentic world of a real Hillmen jam. As the whiskey begins to flow, so too do the dreamy synth stylings of Gayle Ellett’s Minimoog. These expressive sounds are supported by Jeff Smith’s powerful basslines, and are backed by the incredible polyrhythmic Jazz drumming of Peter Hillman. On “The Mestizo Insect Frog Jam” listeners literally ride waves of sound as they rise and fall, progressing into the album’s culmination, the energetic and powerful waling guitar solo of Lito Magana Jr. on, “Fire Breather.” 


The traditional-yet-contemporary Hillmen sound is achieved by combining the classic tones of Rhodes electric piano and Minimoog with vintage guitars and amps and state-of-the-art recording technology. It’s the band’s mission to seamlessly blend elements of Jazz, Fusion, Jamband and Psychedelic music from the 1960’s and 1970’s with more modern sensibilities. Experienced enough to know when to lay back and not over play, Hillmen create music that is filled with strong grooves, beautiful melodies and some truly outrageous solos.
 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Hillmen "The Whiskey Mountain Sessions, Vol.II"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Jazz, Fusion, Jamband, Psychedelic
Label: Firepool Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: March 16, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. The Long Way Home (20:19)
2. The Mestizo Insect Frog Jam (10:07)
3. Fire Breather (8:58)

Total Time 39:24

Line-up: 
Peter Hillman: drums
Gayle Ellett (Djam Karet): keyboards (Rhodes & Minimoog)
Lito Magana,jr: guitar
Jeff Smith: bass

Description/Reviews: 

The band performs in a style called Free Improvisation, which means Hillmen just tune up and play with absolutely no predetermined structure, rhythm or key and without the benefit or burden of a written score. All of the music on this second Hillmen offering was captured during one unparalleled evening session and is presented in the order in which it was recorded. This album is raw, authentic and totally honest – even down to the inclusion of band banter. You get the feeling that you are sitting in the room as the music is being formed right before your ears!
With the opening track, “The Long Way Home,” listeners are treated to an epic 20-minute excursion into the authentic world of a real Hillmen jam. As the whiskey begins to flow, so too do the dreamy synth stylings of Gayle Ellett’s Minimoog. These expressive sounds are supported by Jeff Smith’s powerful basslines, and are backed by the incredible polyrhythmic Jazz drumming of Peter Hillman. On “The Mestizo Insect Frog Jam” listeners literally ride waves of sound as they rise and fall, progressing into the album’s culmination, the energetic and powerful waling guitar solo of Lito Magana Jr. on, “Fire Breather.” 


The traditional-yet-contemporary Hillmen sound is achieved by combining the classic tones of Rhodes electric piano and Minimoog with vintage guitars and amps and state-of-the-art recording technology. It’s the band’s mission to seamlessly blend elements of Jazz, Fusion, Jamband and Psychedelic music from the 1960’s and 1970’s with more modern sensibilities. Experienced enough to know when to lay back and not over play, Hillmen create music that is filled with strong grooves, beautiful melodies and some truly outrageous solos.
 

Media/Samples 
Bandcamp

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Herd of Instinct "Drone Priest"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Firepool Records (FP007)
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 31, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. Fragments Of A Portrait (2:46)
2. Cosmos (4:17)
3. Drone Priest (5:29)
4. Slow Current (3:56)
5. Orphan (4:25)
6. Filament (4:23)
7. Count To 5 (4:32)
8. Zero Point Flow (4:45)
9. Soft Glow (6:20)
10. Almost Transparent Blue (4:42)
11. The Blood Jet Is Poetry (6:23)

Total Time 51:58

Line-up: 
Mark Cook  (Spoke of Shadows) - Warr Guitar, Fretless Bass, Fretless and Fretted Guitars, Keyboards, Samples, and Beat Construction.
Bill Bachman (Spoke of Shadows, Neil Morse) - Drums
Gayle Ellett (Djam Karet) - Mellotron, Moog, Hammond, and Guitar
Bob Fisher - Flute and Sax
Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson) - Moog, Piano, Rhodes, and Ring Modulator
Marco Machera (EchoTest) - Bass
Mike McGary - Rhodes, Synth, and Vibes
Rick Read - Chapman Stick
Ross Young - Cymbals

Description/Reviews: 

 Drone Priest takes the listener on a journey exploring mood, texture, and experimental song structures. The most dynamic and varied album the band has produced to-date, Drone Priest seamlessly layers elements of prog, post rock, ambient drones, jazz, and complex percussion, while showcasing Warr guitar and synths to create a unique blend of genres.

Media/Samples 
Drone Priest
Count to 5
Fragments of a Portrait
Teaser

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Spoke of Shadows "II"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Firepool Records (FR008)
Format: CD, digital
Release date: October 9, 2017
Tracklist: 
1. Under The Veil (4:27)
2. Cities Of The Interior (4:33)
3. The Creature's Gaze (5:04)
4. Face In The Window (3:47)
5. Pendulum Swings (4:35)
6. Letting Go (8:06)
7. Strata (3:30)
8. Born Into This (2:55)
9. Metamorphosis (9:18)
10. Satiate (3:36)
11. Under The Skin (6:10)

Total Time 56:01

Line-up: 
Mark Cook (Herd of Instinct) - Warr guitar, fretless bass, guitars, keyboards, programming
Bill Bachman (Neal Morse) - drums & percussion
   With
Bob Fisher - flute (2, 3, 8)
Michael Harris (Vitalij Kuprij) - guitar solo (4)
Mike McGary - synth (6)
Shannon Wickline - piano (6)

Media/Samples 
Under the Veil
Pendulum Swings

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Herd of Instinct "Manifestation"

Country: USA
Genre(s): Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Firepool Records
Format: CD, digital
Release date: February 2016 (digital), March 2016 (CD)
Tracklist: 
1. Manifestation Part Two (5:54)
2. Gridlock (3:37)
3. Baba Yaga (4:35)
4. Manifestation Part One (5:16)
5. Saddha (7:00)
6. Nocturne (1:48)
7. Dybbuk (6:08)
8. Time And Again (3:26)
9. Shatterpoint (6:34)
10. Waterfalls And Black Rainbows (3:46)

Total time 48:04

Line-up: 
Mark Cook: Warr Guitar, Fretted and Fretless guitar, Fretless Bass, Mellotron, Thumb Piano, Synth, Samples
Gayle Ellett (Djam Karet): Mellotron, Moog, Hammond Organ, Guitar
Mike McGary: Mellotron, Rhodes, Organ, Clavinet, Synth, Piano, Bells
Rick Read: Chapman Stick, Fretted and Fretless bass, Taurus pedals
Ross Young: Drums
   With
Bill Bachman: Drums (1, 3, 7)
Bob Fisher: Flute (4-7), Saxophone (2, 8)
Stephen Page: Violin (2, 6, 9, 8)

Description/Reviews: 

Herd of Instinct’s third album, Manifestation, is a transitional phase for the group. The group has expanded its sound from the original three-member unit to a larger ensemble. The music’s densely layered sound gives the listener a “textural” listening experience with pieces ranging from the bombastic Dybbuk to the somber flute/violin piece Nocturne. Many songs are based around Mark Cook’s Warr guitar and Rick Read’s Chapman Stick combined with Ross Young’s detailed drumming to create a clock-like precision of a layered polyrhythmic machine. Keyboardists Gayle Ellett (from Djam Karet) and Mike McGary play a crucial role in adding mood and texture to the music. Ellett also adds rhythm guitar to a few tracks and a poetic guitar solo on Shatterpoint. Bob Fisher, flute and saxophone, and Stephen Page, violin, are featured soloists who add diversity to the sonic palette of the band. Drummer, Bill Bachman, came on board towards the end of the recording process to add another element of intensity to the mix.

Media/Samples 
Manifestation Part 2
Trailer 

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Spoke of Shadows "Spoke of Shadows"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock
Label: Firepool Records
Release date: February 25, 2014
Tracklist: 
01. Dominion
02. Images
03. One Day
04. Harbinger
05. Lost One
06. Pain Map
07. Persona
08. Splendid Sisters
09. Tilting at Windmills
10. Accord
11. Dichotomy
12. Drama of Display

Line-up: 
Bill Bachman (Neal Morse, Michael Harris) - drums
Mark Cook  (Herd of Instinct) - Warr guitar, ADG fretless bass, guitar, and keyboards
    With
Joe Blair - guitar
Gayle Ellett (Djam Karet, Fernwood, Ukab Maerd) - rhodes and mellotron
Bob Fisher (Herd of Instinct) - flute
Michael Harris (Thought Chamber, solo artist) - guitar
Jeff Plant (Alex Acuna, Conundrum, Thought Chamber)  - fretless bass
Tony Rohrbough (Byzantine) - guitar
Dave Streett (Herd of Instinct) - Warr guitar
Shannon Wickline (Charlie Daniels Band) - piano

Description/Reviews: 

Spoke of Shadows was born when Mark was finishing the mixes of the latest Herd of Instinct release “Conjure”. After completing two Herd of Instinct's CDs in two years he wanted to focus on writing music that was moodier and had more dynamics than what Herd of Instinct usually create.  He began recording pieces by layering Warr guitars, an 8 string fretless bass, drums, guitars, and keyboards.  After 6 tracks were written the project took another turn when a friend introduced Mark to Bill Bachman.  Mark stripped away his percussion parts and gave the tracks to Bill with only one direction “play what you normally would not be allowed to play in other bands”.   The goal was to create a hybrid progressive music that covers a wide range of moods and styles. No rules! After finishing the majority of the writing they began looking for collaborators to help add some sonic variation to the music.  The approach was to find players from diverse backgrounds to help create a unique vocabulary that takes the listener on a sonic journey.  All of the guests magically fell into place on the recording and added immense depth to the tracks.

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming
Dominion
Tilting at Windmills
One Day

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Djam Karet "The Trip"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Fusion
Label:  Firepool Records
Release date: April 23, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. The Trip (47.08)

Line-up: 
Gayle Ellett: analog & digital synths, organ, Mellotron, Greek bouzouki, flute, field recordings and effects
Mike Henderson: electric guitars, Ebow and effects
Aaron Kenyon: electric bass and effects
Mike Murray: electric guitars, acoustic guitar, Ebow and effects
Chuck Oken, jr.: drums, analog & digital synths and effects

Description/Reviews: 

"The Trip" is the first studio release of all new music from Djam Karet in 8 years! It features one single 47 minute-long track, a psychedelic journey through your mind's eye, the soundtrack of a trip to places both familiar and otherworldly.

Media/Samples 
Sampler
Excerpt at bandcamp

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Herd of Instinct "Conjure"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Eclectic, Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Firepool Records
Release date: January 22, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. Praxis (5:14)
2. Dead Leaf Echo (3:18)
3. Brutality of Fact (3:17)
4. Alice Krige pt.1 (5:54)
5. Solitude One (4:25)
6. Ravenwood (3:27)
7. Mother Night (4:23)
8. Vargtimmen (4:59)
9. Malise (3:15)
10.New Lands  (4:12)
11.A Sense of an Ending (5:30)
12.The Secret of Fire (5:16)

Line-up: 
Jason Spradlin:  drums and programming
Gayle Ellett: Moog, Mellotron, Hammond organ, Rhodes, and Dilruba
Mike Davison: guitar, 12 string acoustic, and guitar synth
Mark Cook:  Warr guitar, ADG fretless bass, guitar, and programming

Special Guests:
Lisa Lazo: keyboards on track 5
Bob Fisher: flute on tracks 1 & 4
Colin Edwin: fretless bass on tracks 1 & 11
Joe Blair: lapsteel guitar track 4
Joel Adair: trumpet on track 4

Description/Reviews: 

While the debut featured vocals on two tracks out of 10, with Conjure Herd of Instinct have chosen a completely instrumental format. The album expands on the ideas presented on the debut, introducing subtle adjustments to the band’s distinctive sound rather than opting for a dramatic change in style – though avoiding the all too common syndrome of the sophomore effort being an inferior copy of its predecessor.

Read the whole review by Raffaella Berry at progmistress.com

Media/Samples 
Progstreaming
Preview

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