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8/1/2011 – Los Angeles, CA - Prog fans across the globe are buzzing with excitement about the new CD release by CIRCA: featuring former YES members Tony Kaye and Billy 
Sherwood. 'And So On' is the 4th release from the innovative progressive rock ensemble and currently available at the band's official website www.circahq.com Along with veteran YES rockers Tony Kaye (keyboards) and Billy Sherwood (guitar, vocals), CIRCA: features Johnny Bruhns on guitar and Ronnie Ciago on drums. “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. This is our 3rd Studio release.”
The band was formed in 2007 by Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood. The debut self-titled CD, 'CIRCA:', also featured YES drummer Alan White and Jimmy Haun on guitar, with guest appearances by Michael Sherwood and Cole Coleman. The album includes two tracks based on material Billy Sherwood co-wrote with Trevor Rabin in 1995. A two-track download-only EP was previously available for a short period in the United States. The band's debut live show was on August 23, 2007 in San Juan Capistrano, with a set that included an extended instrumental medley of Yes tunes. A DVD of this show was released as 'CIRCA: Live' in February 2008. A few North American dates followed in early 2008, with Jay Schellen, a previous collaborator of Sherwood's and Kaye's, filling in for White on one date.
In July 2008, Jay Schellen permanently replaced Alan White, who chose to focus on his work in Yes. The new line-up recorded an album 'CIRCA: HQ' in the latter half of 2008, and was released on January 14, 2009. Early 2011 saw a band change, with guitarist Johnny Bruhns replacing Jimmy Haun and Ronnie Ciago replacing Jay Schellen, who wanted to focus on work with Asia Featuring John Payne. CIRCA's next release 'Overflow' is a collection of extra bonus material from the first and second recording sessions, available only as a digital download via iTunes. And now in 2011, after years of anticipation from fans of the band around the world, the new CIRCA: CD 'And So On' is available! In support of the new CD release, plans to tour are in the works.
“There are plans to get out there and do shows,” says Billy, “we are heading to Mexico to play Mexicali and Ensenada in September and some Southern California dates to follow... it's early going but we are working hard to get the band on the road.” Stay tuned via CIRCA's official website for any updates regarding live shows.
“CIRCA: would like to thanks all the fans who have followed us from the start, along the way... and now into the future!”
Please visit the online store at www.circahq.com and for Billy Sherwood solo works visit www.billysherwood.com where his forthcoming 5th solo CD titled 'What Was The Question?' is due out August of 2011.
http://www.facebook.com/circahq
http://www.circahq.com/CircaStore/
Lion Music has set a September 16 release date for GRÖNHOLM's sophomore album, "Silent Out Loud". Featuring 10 tracks full of infectious vocal melodies over dynamic
musical backdrops, the CD is an impressive collection of songcraft
topped off with a powerful production and mix.
GRÖNHOLM is built around the songwriting skills of Mika Grönholm (guitar, bass and keyboards), with vocals once again handled by Markku Kuikka (STATUS MINOR) and drums from Tom Rask. This core trio of musicians is joined by "special guests" Billy Sherwood (ex-YES) and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), who add some extra dynamics to backing vocals, and in the case of Sherwood, help add his trademark lush "YES-style" vocal harmony sheen to the likes of "Out From The Nest", among others.
While
the new offering, aside from a greater emphasis on guitar, has a sound
not too dissimilar to its well-received predecessor, "Eyewitness Of Life", it sees Mika take a heavier approach to his songwriting, utilizing a downtuned B tuning for all stringed instruments. Mika comments, "All the songs on 'Silent Out Loud' are tuned down to low B. Sometimes B-tuning is used for roaring vocals
or lighting fast guitar parts, but no, not this time. With this tuning I was seeking more power and energy to my riffs."
"Silent Out Loud"'s first six tracks are all up-tempo numbers where the new tuning is given a fine showing between the hard rock riffs with some prog-influenced
melodies.
As the album nears its conclusion, we see an instrumental offering in "Giant Step", which clears the minds palette for the acoustic flavor that is heard on the final three tracks, with album finale, "Away", also getting an orchestral arrangement.
Lyrically, Mika Gronhölm drew on "silent" thoughts in his head and once put onto paper in lyric form become "out loud," hence the album's title.
Writing for "Silent Out Loud" began in May 2010 and was completed four months later. Mika's approach was to "simply sit down and record riffs and ideas to an mp3
player and those riffs that maintain attention on repeated plays get
worked on into bodies of songs." Once the tracks had taken shape, the
recordings took place in January 2011. In contrast to the debut, Tom Rask's drums were recorded first this time round and Mika then built the final tracks around the drum work. Markku Kuikka recorded his vocals in his home studio in a short three-day stint. March 2011 saw the arrival of the guest vocal tracks from Billy Sherwood (chorus parts on "Cross" and "Out From The Nest") and Marco Hietala (lead vocals on "Vanity"). The band then had to wait until April 2011 for Janne Tolsa to become available to mix and master and the results show the wait was justified. Mika then mixed the last three songs at his home studio "because they were
easy and quick to do." In addition, a promotional video for the opening
track, "Cross Of Mind", has been shot and can be viewed below.
"Silent Out Loud" track listing:
01. Cross Of Mind
02. Distorted Eyes
03. Under My Star
04. Vanity
05. Out From The Nest
06. Race Is On
07. Giant Step
08. Set The Stones
09. Dawn Of A Dream
10. Away
Sherwood. 'And So On' is the 4th release from the innovative progressive rock ensemble and currently available at the band's official website www.circahq.com Along with veteran YES rockers Tony Kaye (keyboards) and Billy Sherwood (guitar, vocals), CIRCA: features Johnny Bruhns on guitar and Ronnie Ciago on drums. “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. This is our 3rd Studio release.”
