CHRIS SQUIRE & BILLY SHERWOOD - Conspiracy Live (2013)

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Today, on April 9, 2013, Purple Pyramid (a subsidiary of Cleopatra Records) is releasing a special CD/DVD combo by CONSPIRACY, the project masterminded by the giants of prog rock CHRIS SQUIRE & BILLY SHERWOOD.
Sherwood met Squire when he entered in YES at the beginning of the '90s, since then the pair had been writing songs together but the fruits of those labors would be sprinkled over a series of Yes projects, and Sherwood himself wouldn't become an official member of the group for years.
After Sherwood's eventual departure in 2000 they finally issued a two albums as Conspiracy, but there remained a star-crossed sense of unfinished business. So they recorded this private show in 2004.

First of all, "Conspiracy Live" is not a live CD in the typical way: there's no audience claps and screams, nor a stage-like sound. This is like a studio album, just with all musicians playing live together.
Of course it has that special vibe and chemistry of these truly virtuosos playing 'at once', including Billy's bro Michael Sherwood on keyboards & vocals, Scott Walton also on keys, and awesome rockin' drummer Jay Schellen (Unruly Child, Hurricane).

This was a very special and unique event, as apart of Conspiracy material, it features two Yes songs: "The More We Live" (appeared on the 'Union' album) but for the first time here featuring Squire and Sherwood on vocals sharing a soaring duet. The other is "Universal Garden", performed with a more warm feeling than the original.
Of course there's material from Conspiracy's 2000 self-titled debut ("Days of Wonder" and "Red Light Ahead), and three cuts ("Conspiracy", "New World" and "Confess") from the project second and last album The Unknown, each of them representing their trademark sound.
"Conspiracy Live" showcases as well renditions of " Hold Out Your Hand / You By My Side", songs from Squire's 'Fish Out Of Water' - the bassist's first and so far, only solo release - which as he says, 'have hardly ever been played live'.

"Conspiracy Live" shows the abilites and musicality of these seasoned monster musicians with a nice, sweet melodic sound.
The arrangements are quite accessible, enhancing the unmistakable vocals of Chris Squire and the exceptional musicianship spearheaded by Billy Sherwood. Great drum sound as well, you can clearly appreciate Schellen's precise beats.
Very Good stuff.


01 - Conspiracy
02 - Days Of Wonder
03 - New World
04 - Red Light Ahead
05 - Confess
06 - The More We Live
07 - Hold Out Your Hand / You By My Side
08 - Universal Garden

Chris Squire - bass, vocals
B. Sherwood - guitars, keys, vocals
Jay Schellen - drums
Michael Sherwood - keys, vocals
Scott Walton - keys


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FLAMING ROW - Elinoire (2011)

FLAMING ROW is a newly formed international project band that call Germany their home base.
Spearheaded by Martin Schella (Steel Protector, Cast In Silence) on guitars, bass, keyboards, lead and backing vocals, the main band is made up of Mark Arnold on keyboards; Kiri Geile on female lead vocals and Niklas Kahl on drums.
They're joined with a massive cast of high profile guests too, like Gary Wehrkamp and Brendt Allman both from Shadow Gallery, Billy Sherwood from Yes / Circa and Spock’s Bread member Jimmy Keegan.

"Elinoire" is a concept album unfolding an intricate story similar to Arjen Lucassen's projects in that a novelization is laid out before you. The storyline is really intriguing supported by well written lyrics.
It is focused in a young British family. Lea and Adam Baltwin are in the prime of their lives, having great jobs and living in prosperity.
Lea becomes pregnant. While giving birth to their daughter Elinoire, Lea dies.
Adam never overcomes the sudden death of his beloved wife and lays the blame on Elinoire. Over the years he can't build up a normal relationship with Elinoire. Adam's father, Cyrus Baltwin, takes over the role of the father figure. After some years true facts about the previous life of Lea are revealed.
Was Lea's dead really an accident?


"Elinoire" is an awesome album featuring terrific performances of all musicians involved.
The music is dynamic and spans the range from straight ahead hard rock, prog, metal, to Queen-esque pomp rock sections, but all crystal-clear arranged and nice to the ears.
The other element of this release that I was very amazed with was some of the gorgeous vocals found throughout, the singing here is quite remarkable.
Production is stunning and perfectly mixed. The best way to listen to this opus is with headphones on and following the lyrics in the booklet.
One of the best and only projects of its kind this year.
Impressive.


1 - Elinoire's Theme
2 - Initiation Fugato
3 - Overture
4 - First Day
5 - Nightingale's Chirp
6 - Do You Like Country Grandpa ?
7 - Lea's Delivery
8 - Elinoire
9 - Rage Of Despair
10 - Adam's Theme
11 - Neglected Garden
12 - Time Mirror
13 - Watershed
14 - Review
15 - Unearth The Truth
16 - Father's Theme
17 - Farewell
18 - A Place To Review Your Soul


Kiri Geile - Lead & Backing Vocals
Martin Schnella - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals
Niklas Kahl - Drums, Percussion
Marek Arnold - Keyboards, Synths
Guests:
Andreas Schock - Guitar solo
Jost Schluter - Guitar solo
Chrissy Muller - Guitar solo
Gerrit Schwerthelm - Guitar solo

Vocals (Characters):
Lars Begerow (RAW) as 'Adam Baltwin'
Billy Sherwood (Circa, Ex-Yes) as 'Past'
Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) as 'Conscience'
Brendt Allman (Shadow Gallery) as 'Liberty'
Michaela Auer (Acoustic Schock) as 'Lea Baltwin'
Jessica Schmalle (Steel Protector) as 'Elinoire Baltwin'
Sascha Habich ( Elements Of Change) as 'Cyrus Baltwin'
Denis Brosowski (Iron Fate) as 'Zachary “Zac” Jones'
Jimmy Keegan (Spock’s Beard) as 'Season'
Michael Lowin (Cast In Silence) as 'Death'
Kim Spillner (Worst) as 'Rage'
Kiri Geile (Steel Protector) as 'Destiny'
Martin Schnella (In Silence, Steel Protector) as 'Spirit'
Anne Trautmann (Seven Steps) as 'Love'
Sandra Thielemann (No Case In Point) as 'Time'
Markus Funke (Markus Funke Band) as 'Forgiveness'








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CIRCA - And So On (2011)

For those unaware, CIRCA: is a neo melodic prog super-group founded by four musicians associated with Yes: drummer Alan White, Tony Kaye (keyboards), Billy Sherwood (bass, vocals), and guitarist Jimmy Haun, who played on the Yes album 'Union'.

Billy Sherwood continued an on/off association with Yes over the years, joining the live line-up for the Talk tour in 1994, with Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire, Alan White, and Tony Kaye.
After this, in 1995, Sherwood and Rabin did some writing together, and two tracks on the Circa self-titled debut album (2007) are based on this material.
In July 2008, monster drummer Jay Schellen permanently replaced Alan White, who returned to Yes. The new line-up released 'Circa HQ', in 2009.
An Italian tour with former Toto singer, Bobby Kimball, was announced for February 2009, playing a set consisting of music by Circa, Yes, and Toto.
Kimball and Circa then joined to create a new band; YOSO (already presented here at 0dayrock).

In early 2011, Circa lost two members; guitarist Jimmy Haun had withdrawn to concentrate on his work providing music for commercials, and Jay Schellen, who wanted to focus on work with Asia and Marcie Free's Unruly Child.
Both were replaced by Yoso's guitar man Johnny Bruhns and drummer Scott Connor, and with this line-up Circa recorded their brand new album "And So On".
So, Circa now basically is Yoso with Billy Sherwood's vocals.

"And So On" is a neo melodic prog commercial disc with many modern YES elements, that said; their classic '80s sound with Rock&pop twists.
You'll hear here songs in the vein of YES '90125' and 'Big Generator' eras, as the haunting "Til We Get There", the easy listening and melodic "Notorious" (great guitar work), or the title track.
The midtempo "Cast Away" is in the style of Billy Sherwood's solo albums, "Half Way Home" has an articulated structure like Yes 90's works, while "In My Sky" is an intimate acoustically based mellow tune.
On "Life's Offering" is where the band displays all their individual technical skills, with dynamic instrumental passages, all melodic and entertaining.


"Although the album was not written as a concept record, the songs are somehow tied together and are all symbiotic," Billy Sherwood explains, "it's really just an evolution of Circa: music."
I really like Circa's previous albums, and enjoyed "And So On" as well.
These veterans know how to write good material in this genre, maintaining their prog roots but making their music accessible and melodic to wider audiences.
Good melodies abound, harmony and perfectly pitched vocals and obviously, great musicianship. Maybe the production is a bit more 'ascetic' than their previous works, but it is crystal clear and the album is consummately well mixed.
"And So On" is expected to be released through an european record label to be announced, meanwhile it's only available via the band's website.


1. And So On (9:07)
2. Cast Away (4:48)
3. 'Til We Get There (6:35)
4. Notorious (5:36)
5. Half Way Home (4:56)
6. In My Sky (3:30)
7. True Progress (7:42)
8. Each To His Own (4:40)
9. Life's Offering (10:07)


Billy Sherwood - Vocals, Bass
Tony Kaye - Keyboards
Johnny Bruhns - Guitars
Scott Connor - Drums
Ronnie Ciago - Drums



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