eclipsed No. 114 / 10-2009

PORCUPINE TREE
The next big thing

The new album is here! It's called "The Incident." As with every new recording of Porcupine Tree, the expectations of fans and critics are enormous: The band has long since earned a reputation as an innovator of art rock. Will the album be the next big thing? Or is it a lot of smoke for nothing? According to bandleader Steven Wilson, "The Incident" is one of the best things he has ever created.

FLEETWOOD MAC
Metamorphosis of a Band

From crusaders of the British blues scene to superstars in the seventh rock heaven, from desert stage shows in small clubs to completely stylish performances in the big halls of the world - probably no other group has undergone such a fundamental change in the course of their career as Fleetwood Mac. In October the band comes to Germany for two concerts.

THE BEATLES - THE HOLY GRAIL

On 9.9.09 the Fab Four once again wrote music history - with the release of their back catalogue in two elaborate box sets. And this in a sound quality that puts all previous Beatles CDs in the shade. Claims at least Allan Rouse, chief technician at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. And he needs to know.

U2
Dublin, Croke Park, 24.07.2009

Three U2s in her hometown of Dublin on July 24th, 25th and 27th! Days before, the city is already getting into the mood for the concert event of the year: In and around O'Connell Street, in the lively Grafton Street or in the Temple-Bar-District you can meet people in U2-shirts, the local press outdoes itself with pre-reports, record shops have stocked up with additional U2-material, pubs attract with warm-up parties - the air in the Irish capital glitters with anticipation..

MUSE
riot! Resist!

They are unpredictable: Muse, a trio from nowhere in the UK that doesn't fit into any pigeonhole, oscillates between electronica, classical music and prog - and yet is mega-successful. Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard have sold over ten million copies of their four albums to date. And with "The Resistance," it's probably gonna be a few more. Despite the class-struggle claim of the work.

YO LA TENGO
Three heads, two bands

On their latest album "I'm Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass" Yo La Tengo, the progressive heroes of alternative rock, showed what multi-stylistic means. The CD sounded like a compilation from very different creative periods. Their new album not only carries the much more catchy title "Popular Songs", but also forms a stylistic unit again. However, a surprising one for the trio from Hoboken.

MARK KNOPFLER
Mark does not like any more

Although he likes to play the old songs: Mark Knopfler does not want to get involved in a reunion of the Dire Straits. On the one hand because he continues to successfully walk solo paths with his new album "Get Lucky", but also because he still hasn't worked through the material battles of the 80s and 90s. So eclipsed finds himself at the interview appointment in London rather involuntarily in the role of a hobby therapist.

SYLVAN
Where does the DAX stand?

The expectations after the brilliant double hit "Posthumous Silence" and "Presets" were huge. But even three or two years later Sylvan can easily hold their own at the top of the German art rock scene with their seventh studio album "Force Of Gravity". We talked to the Hamburg band about the pressure to succeed, gravity and stock prices.

LAZULI
Peace on stage and a pleasure for the fans

Three years after his brilliant work "En Avant Doute..." the French fusion prog sextet Lazuli presents his third album. With "Résponse Incongrue À L'inéluctable" the unmistakable band gives itself even more "world music". It also comes up with some new stylistic devices. We talked to frontman Dominique Leonetti about pain and joy, war and peace, progress and identity.

Keep the text up! Cult songs and their meaning
SUPERTRAMP - THE LOGICAL SONG

LIKE "SCHOOL", "THE LOGICAL SONG" IS ALSO CLOSELY LINKED TO THE EXPERIENCES SUPERTRAMP SINGER ROGER HODGSON HAD DURING HIS TIME AT AN ENGLISH BOARDING SCHOOL. AFTER YEARS OF BEING TRICKLED INTO KNOWLEDGE, HUMANS END UP KNOWING LESS THAN BEFORE.

eclipsed shopping list
IRON MAIDEN - EDDIES ERBE

For almost ten years (from 1980 to 1990) Iron Maiden were the most important metal combo on the planet. Each of her first seven albums is still a musical gem from today's point of view. From the raw, still slightly punky "Iron Maiden" and "Killers", to the gigantic "The Number Of The Beast", "Piece Of Mind" and "Powerslave", to the almost progressive "Somewhere In Time" and "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son", refined by guitar sythis: for each of these classics you can find hosts of fans who defend it as the best album of the Iron Virgins.

RADIOHEAD: Looking back to the future

They never made it easy for themselves and their label. Not even with the publication of their back catalogue, which is now entering its second round: with elaborate new editions featuring a series of bonus tracks, a DVD and exemplary packaging. Great class from a big band.