When the Scotsman Stuart Braithwaite founded his band Mogwai, he was still a teenager. Exactly 25 years ago, the group recorded their first single. A lot of water has flowed down the Clyde since then. Their tenth studio album, As The Love Continues, is far more than an anniversary work.
One of the great things about Glasgow band Mogwai is that they are one of the few institutions in rock music from which no album, regardless of period, sounds stale or dated. For "As The Love Continues", the latest work of the four Scots, the formula "Everything the same and yet everything new" therefore applies once again. In the interview, guitarist and singer Stuart Braithwaite talks about the special production conditions in Corona times and possible future collaborations
eclipsed: You're affected by Brexit as a Scot, and in lockdown too. What does that mean for you as a travelling musician?
Vincent Damon Furnier has always been proud of his native city: even when his musical projects were not yet under the name Alice Cooper, he saw them in the tradition of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels or MC5. His new album "Detroit Stories", recorded with such illustrious musicians as Joe Bonamassa and MC5 co-founder Wayne Kramer, is a homage to the sound of the former Motor City in the late 1960s: It celebrates early American hard rock, but doesn't forget Motown pop and soul.
The reviews are overflowing. With their fifth studio album "Imperial" the Swedish prog metallers Soen are definitely in a row with bands like Opeth or Katatonia. There has long been talk of a reference work. In the interview, band leader Martín López explains how meticulously he and singer Joel Ekelöf work on the songs and how they try to touch the listeners emotionally again and again.
Martín López seems annoyed. Also in 2021, Corona ensures that bands can't rehearse and tours have to be cancelled. Soen, who actually wanted to go on tour from April, are also affected. At least we can cheer up the drummer and bandleader with a message in the Skype interview, though.
eclipsed: First of all, may I tell you that "Imperial" is our album of the month for February!
Martín López: Great to hear! These days we can really use news like that.
Even though the recently re-formed Toto will probably not release another studio work in the foreseeable future, fans of the American AOR band currently have reason to rejoice: On February 26, both guitarist STEVE LUKATHER and singer JOSEPH WILLIAMS will release their new solo albums. The highlight: The childhood friends supported each other during the productions, and keyboardist David Paich was also involved in each case, so that both records together almost make a Toto album, according to Lukather
Ex-Japan and ex-Porcupine Tree keyboardist Richard Barbieri presents his fourth solo album with "Under A Spell". Once again, the quiet Brit has succeeded in creating an album full of unusual sounds, hypnotic grooves and an otherworldly atmosphere. In the eclipsed interview he reveals the secret of his greatest influence.
"Westend", that's the name of the promising debut of Tausend Augen. With their mix of postpunk and krautrock, the trio from Saarland is currently attracting attention. Also with us: Their track "Mana Mana" celebrated its exclusive premiere on the eclipsed website in mid-January. Time to find out a bit more about the band.
eclipsed: First of all: Who is behind the Thousand Eyes?
Max Ludwig: We are Alexander Schimetzky (drums), Oliver Becker (vocals, guitar, synth) and Max Ludwig (bass). We know each other since our school days and have already been on stage together in various constellations. Therefore the band structure feels quite natural and familiar
eclipsed: The question is probably obligatory: How did you come up with the band name?
In 1980, Tangerine Dream became the first West German rock band to perform in the GDR. That it came about was also thanks to East German composer, pianist and singer Reinhard Lakomy. As a result, he was even offered the chance to join the group. This did not happen, but there was a West-East transfer of a Moog synthesizer that had once belonged to Mick Jagger. For East German rock music fans it was a sensation in 1980, for the West German "Spiegel" editors a marginal note: "Tangerine Dream on a GDR trip". The West Berlin electronic band, which had so often "complained about poor performance possibilities at their place of residence", was now allowed to present their synthesizer sounds "optimally" in Berlin for the first time - but in East Berlin: For 31 January 1980, two concerts including a laser show in front of a total of 5800 spectators were planned in the Palace of the Republic, the Hamburg news magazine announced the historic event
Bon Scott is certainly one of the most individual and style-defining rock singers of the 20th century - even though his time with AC/DC only lasted a little more than half a decade. However, the hard rock shouter had already left his musical mark before joining the now legendary Australian outfit: After the breakup of The Valentines, he became the lead singer of the band Fraternity in 1971. The box set "Seasons Of Change - The Complete Recordings 1970-1974" now makes all their material available on three CDs for the first time.
