GOURISHANKAR 2003 CD CLOSE GRIP AVAILABLE APRIL 15 2008

The Gourishankar have made their entrance in the Progressive Rock world with a BANG with the release of 2nd Hands on Unicorn Digital in 2007. The Band had previously recorded and independently released an album called Close Grip in 2003. CLOSE GRIP will be re-released on UNICORN DIGITAL on the 15th of April 2008. The album contains 7 songs plus a Bonus Track. The Band is currently looking for a new Singer and work for a new CD is in the work.

Close Grip Available April 15th 2008

QUEBEC PROG BAND DIRECTION SIGNS WITH UNICORN DIGITAL

Unicorn Digital is proud to announce that Quebec Progressive Rock band DIRECTION has just signed a deal with the label for the release of their new album entitled “EST” This is the fourth album by Direction and it will be released on may 10th 2008.

SNARLING ADJECTIVE CONVENTION JOINS UNICORN DIGITAL

The first CD from Snarling Adjective Convention entitled Bluewolf Bloodwalk will be released on Unicorn Digital April 25th 2008

Snarling Adjective Convention was originally the brainchild of William Kopecky and Roger Ebner. During listening sessions for their dark ambient project Yeti Rain, the duo discussed the possibilities of forming a sinister avant-garde funk ensemble that would combine elements of free jazz, metal, prog, ambient, and groove. The band also features Joe Kopecky on guitars, Craig Walkner on drums and Dan Maske on keyboards, trumpet, flute and percussion.

SPACED OUT TO PLAY FMPM 2008

World-class fusion trio Spaced Out will hit the stage this September at FMPM 2008. Formed by bassist Antoine Fafard and originally having the name Cortex, several different line-ups came and went before the group were signed to Unicorn Digital to release their first (self-titled) album in 2000. They were the first band on Unicorn Digital, apart from label founder Michel St-Père’s own Mystery, and are to this day one of its most popular and best-selling groups. Drummer Martin Maheux has been there since 1998, while guitarist Mark Tremblay has been with the group since the live dates following their second album, entitled Eponymus II. Two studio albums have followed in recent years, 2003’s Slow Gin and 2006’s Unstable Matter, which was the heaviest to date, allowing touches of metal to fuse with the jazz and rock influences already present. During this time the group has stayed active in a live setting, performing at NEARFest, as well as the Crescendo Festival in France. Two live DVDs are available to demonstrate their prowess. The music of the group is a heavy instrumental fusion that is compared to everything from Return to Forever to Planet X, with Fafard’s own bass style reminiscent at times of Jaco Pastorius.

The 2008 edition of the FMPM will take place September 13th and 14th of next year at the Salle Pierre-Mercure of the Pierre Peladeau Centre, in Montreal. Musique ProgresSon (ProgQuebec) and Unicorn Digital are now pleased to present the complete lineup for this year’s edition, which includes four international groups: Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (Italy), Univers Zero (Belgium), Riverside (Poland), and Knight Area (Holland), and three groups from Quebec: Charles Kaczynski, Spaced Out, and Interference Sardines, all performing on Saturday September 13 and Sunday September 14, and also Premier Ciel who are performing on Friday September 12, as part of the FMPM pre-show. More info at www.fmpm.net

Source: www.progmontreal.com

The material for the next Spaced Out studio album has been composed and is now being recorded. The new pieces will offer the high energy music that you might expect from the band. Funky elements are more present than ever and the production will be at a top level. The album will be released by the end of 2008.

www.spacedoutmusic.com

JELLY FICHE RELEASES FIRST ALBUM

It was with much anticipation that I went to see Jelly fiche at the Lion d’Or on Tuesday, March 18 2008. Mid-week shows are always a bit complicated for me to attend, but I would not have missed this one for the world! This performance was in honor of the official launch of their first album, entitled Tout Ce Que J’ai Rêvé. I was looking forward to see what the Jelly fiche folks had in store for us. All I can say is that I wasn’t disappointed because It was just a magnificent concert… but I expected no less from them, judging by the quality of their acclaimed performance at FMPM 2007. I was most happy to see the Lion d’Or packed with over 150 people, the atmosphere was truly electric!

The evening began with the opening act, renowned pianist André Delage, playing Genesis classics on the piano. He presented only three numbers, One For The Vine, Firth Of Fifth and The Musical Box, for a mesmerizing half-hour that was worthy of an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd at the end. André played with passion, giving his own twist at times to the legendary tunes. What a great start to the evening!

Around 8:30, time for Jellyfiche, two screens with back projection at each side of the stage, presenting spellbinding images throughout the performance. They performed their new album in its entirety, including Tout Ce Que J’ai Rêvé, Les Arbres, Caché au Fond Plus Haut, Source Infinie, In Vitro, Dans La Peau D’un Autre, parts 1 & 2, La Fontaine and La Cage des Vautours/Liberté. A brilliant performance from the very theatrical Syd, wearing different costumes that represent the various themes of the songs. Their music, highly melodic, psychedelic at times, is inspired by the songwriting of Harmonium, and the eerie musical arrangements of Pink Floyd. The musicianship is impeccable, from Éric Plante’s exquisitely precise keyboard and saxophone work, to Jean-François Arsenault’s Gilmour-inspired, blistering guitar solos and Syd’s powerful and emotional vocals. Kudos also go to Sylvain Auclair on bass and Matt Bergeron on drums for their excellent work accompanying the trio. One of the few prog bands in Quebec to sing in French, Jellyfiche brings back the glorious atmosphere of the era when Harmonium, Contraction, Morse Code, Maneige and Pollen were masters of the airwaves, packing auditoriums where they played! What a satisfying show, and what a privilege to have seen the band bring all these songs to life in front of us! This is a show you have to see!

Source: www.progmontreal.com

MYSTERY PREPARES 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF DESTINY?

This summer will be the 10th anniversary of the release of Destiny? The third album by Montreal band MYSTERY and last one recorded with singer Gary Savoie. After the release of MYSTERY’s latest album Beneath the Veil of Winter’s Face, Tracks from the Destiny? Sessions were transferred into Illusion Studio’s computer and the new mix was in the work. Michel St-Pere says about this project: Not only this album brought MYSTERY to a new level, but it also started the whole Unicorn Records adventure. But I was not satisfied with the mix and after mixing Beneath the Veil of Winter’s Face, I knew I could bring Destiny to a new level. The new mix sounds great and this album deserves to be heard the way it was meant to be. The 10th anniversary edition of Destiny will be released in the summer of 2008, while the band is recording a new album and prepares to do some live shows.

CELESTIAL OEUVRE NEW CD

New York band Celestial Oeuvre’s new studio CD is being mixed right now at Studio Illusion by Michel St-Pere. The mix is almost finished and the CD entitled “This Mortal Coil” will be released in the summer of 2008. Celestial Oeuvre first CD Second Chance released independently was very well received in the Progressive Rock Community. More news about this new Celestial Oeuvre CD coming soon.