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“Proximal Distance” to be featured on radio show!

“Proximal Distance” will be featured on a Aural Moon Radio program this coming Monday, August 9th at 8:00 p.m. Central Time!

They will be playing a couple songs from the CD and there will also be commentary from the deejay!!

Woo hoo!

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Majestic’s “Arrival” Get’s Another Great Review From Progressor!!!

Majestic – 2009 – “Arrival”

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MerlinProg Reviews: Proximal Distance – it definitely belongs in every decent collection of prog!

Link to article

Here is the review via Google translator (original text below):

Proximaldistance is based on cooperation among musicians Jeff Hamel and John Gregg. It says most people may not so much, but when we mention our bands Slychosis and Majestic is possibly someone that it rings a bell to. Well, John is from the Canadian ensemble Slychosis, while Hamel from Majestic. Both plays numerous instruments and are driving forces in their respective bands, and these bands makes the usual pretty good prog alloy music. The music is classical prog with certain sensors to space rock with some innsmett of disharmonious notes that freshens up the whole. Apart from certain influences to the Majestic and Slychosis his music influences worth mentioning in bands like Pink Floyd, Saga, King Crimson, Genesis and Yes. The music on this debut alternates between atmospheric parties and parties with really full of gas and fine intensity. Intense instrumental sections alternate with vocal parts which include the fine vocals of Jessica Rasch let him hear. The epic song “Gupsy” can be definitely hear, and our “friend” Jessica Rasch make an effort and colors sounded superb here. Keyboards are often in a space mode, and guitar lines are something that can best be described as gorgeous, playful and beautiful. We hensettes to 60 and 70 the number of the fine alloy psychedelic song “Flash Back To Now (A Hippy’s Lament)”. Jessica Rasch’s voice and acoustic guitars and dreamy keyboards are the main ingredients in the beautiful and exciting “Fall Leaves”. Also “Algol” recently mentioned type keyboard first, but eventually convert the song to dirty music. The music can best be described as a heavy prog, and the bass and guitar encourages scene with pretty intense game play before the song calms down and flows into the “The Shaman”. A “flow” that makes these two songs almost make a musical symbiosis and in any case hang naturally together. “The Shaman” offers also on vocals, Sarah Hamel who seems to be hand-picked for just the song. A song that the course is about a something special if the traditional professions, and where a reasonable degree of savagery and dramaturgy course is required. Such obtained here from, among other vicious vokalsamplere and agile and innovative guitar and bass lines, lines. As a compelling final disc gives us 14.16 minutes long “Expanding Universe”. The song has a dark undertone, and the musical range is so wide that it is a pleasure. Yet the song very much accessible and not an exercise in showing off a wealth of good. Right there and not have to show off is of the gentlemen Hamel and John their forces on this album. With two multi-instrumental sites together on a board, so to speak, had enough people fell for the temptation to show off. Instead, it is a great commitment to make good musical ideas into creative, highly audible and exciting music. A msuikk where elements and inspiration from many styles melted together into a smoothly functioning whole. Hard rock, symfonsik, metal, prog, neo, artrock, electronica, prog metal are some of the sources used. That such a broad inspiration could be both unfocused and messy, we avoid here, and instead we get really tasty and good music made. An example of these skills is the duel between the two guitar solos that is alternately lyrical and raw, challenging and constantly supported by really fat and varying keyboard lines. When we also get cover art by Russian artist Vladimir Mold Aversion who is from the top drawer, we are obviously not the less positive of this work. As the preceding text clearly says that this album is best described in the Norwegian as well “a must”, and it definitely belongs in every decent collection of prog!

Here is the text in original form:

Proximal Distance – Proximal Distance

Proximaldistance er tuftet på samarbeidet mellom musikerne Jeff Hamel og Gregg Johns. Det sier kanskje ikke folk flest så mye, men når vi nevner vi bandene Slychosis og Majestic er det muligens noen som det ringer en bjelle for. Nåvel, Johns er fra det kanadiske ensemblet Slychosis, mens Hamel kommer fra Majestic. Begge spiller utallige instrumenter og er drivende krefter i sine respektive band, og disse bandene lager til vanlig ganske så bra proglegert musikk. Musikken er klassisk prog med visse følere til spacerock og med noen innsmett av disharmoniske toner som frisker opp det hele. Foruten visse influenser til Majestic og Slychosis sin musikk er påvirkningene verdt å nevne fra band som Pink Floyd, Saga, King Crimson, Genesis og Yes. Musikken på denne debuten veksler mellom stemningsfulle partier og partier med virkelig full gass og fin intensitet. Heftige instrumentalpartier veksler med vokalpartier hvor blant annet den fine vokalen til Jessica Rasche lar seg høre. Den episke låten ”Gupsy” lar seg så absolutt høre, og vår ”venninne” Jessica Rasche gjør en formidabel innsats og farger låt fortreffelig her. Keyboardene er ofte i et spaca modus, og gitarlinjene er av noe som best kan beskrives som lekre, lekne og vakre. Vi hensettes til 60 og 70 tallet på den fine psykedelisk legerte låten ”Flashback To Now (A Hippy’s Lament)”. Jessica Rasche sin stemme og akustiske gitarer og drømmende keyboards er hovedingrediensene i vakre og spennende ”Leaves Fall”. Også ”Algol” har nylig nevnte type keyboard begynnelsen , men her konverterer låten etter hvert til røffere musikk. En musikk som best kan beskrives som heavyprog, og hvor bass og gitar råder scene med ganske så intens spilling før låten roer seg ned og flyter inn i ”The Shaman”. En ”flyt” som gjør at disse to låtene nærmest utgjør en musikalsk symbiose og i alle fall henger naturlig sammen. ”The Shaman” byr for øvrig på vokal Sarah Hamel som virker å være håndplukket for akkurat den låten. En låt som jo selvsagt handler om en noe spesiell om enn tradisjonell profesjon, og hvor en rimelig grad av villskap og dramaturgi selvsagt er påkrevd. Slikt hentes her fra blant annet ondskapsfulle vokalsamplere og spenstige og innovative gitar- og basslinjerlinjer. Som en mektig finale gir skiva oss 14,16 minutter lange ”Expanding Universe”. Den låten har en mørk undertone, og det musikalske sortimentet er så rikholdig at det er en fornøyelse. Likevel er låten i høy grad tilgjengelig og ikke en øvelse i å vise frem et vell av flinkhet. Akkurat det og ikke måtte vise seg frem er av herrene Hamel og Johns sine styrker på denne skiva. Med to multiinstrumentalsiter samlet på et brett så å si , hadde mange nok falt for fristelsen til å vise seg frem. I stedet er det et flott fokus på å forme gode musikalske ideer om til kreativ, svært hørbar og spennende musikk. En msuikk hvor elementer og inspirasjon fra mange stilarter smeltes sammen til et velfungerende hele. Hardrock, symfonsik metall, prog, neo, artrock, electronica, progmetall er noen av kildene som brukes. At en så bred inspirasjon kunne bli både ufokusert og uryddig unngår vi her, og i stedet får vi virkelig velsmakende og dyktig laget musikk. Et eksempel på nevnte dyktighet er duellen mellom to gitarsoloer som vekselsvis er stemningsfulle og rått utfordrende, og hele tiden understøttet av virkelig fete og varierende keyboardlinjer. Når vi så også får cover art av den russiske artisten Vladimir Moldavsky som er fra øverste skuff blir vi jo selvsagt ikke mindre positive til dette verket. Som den foregående teksten klart sier så kan denne skiva best beskrives på godt norsk som ”et must”, og den hører definitivt hjemme i enhver anstendig samling av prog!

http://proximaldistance.com

1. Algol (Instrumental)
2. The Shaman
3. Gypsy
4. Contemplation
5. Flashback to Now (A Hippy’s Lament)
6. Deep Space Intermission
7. Leaves Fall
8. Journey of Truth
9. Coherence
10. Expanding Universe

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Jeff Hamel – Giatrer, keyboards, bass og vokal
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Gregg Johns – Gitarer, keyboards ,bass, mandoliner og vokal

Gjesteartister,

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Sarah Hamel – Vokal på spor 2
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Jessica Rasche – Vokal
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Jeremy Mitchell – Trommer
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Todd Sears – Trommer

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Progwalhalla gives “Proximal Distance” 4+ Stars in Background Magazine!!!

Online magazine for symphonic & progressive rock

Proximal Distance - Proximal Distance (CD 2010, 74.24, Own Production) The tracks: 1- Algol (7:52) 2- The Shaman (8:03) 3- Gypsy (11:22) 4- Contemplation (3:17) 5- Flashback To Now (A Hippy’s Lament) (4:40) 6- Deep Space Intermission (5:36) 7- Leaves Fall (3:50) 8- Journey of Truth (7:33) 9- Coherence (7:54) 10- Expanding Universe (14:16)

Proximal Distance is a collaboration of two American progressive rock groups: Slychosis and Majestic, featuring multi-instrumentalists Gregg Johns and Jeff Hamel in that order. They asked Jessica Rasche from Majestic to do the vocals and from the Slychosis-camp Jeremy Mitchell for the drums. The progressive influences of Proximal Distance are many: Yes, Rush, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Saga and Eloy, just to name a few.

What kind of music does Proximal Distance make? The first track Algo, is a beautiful heavy instrumental opener in the same style as Canadian heavy prog rockers Rush. The middle-section is a bit more relaxed with synths, space sounds and a lingering kind of bluesy guitar chords: Pink Floyd meet Eloy. The Shaman is up-tempo with mysterious dark and distorted vocals in the vein of Maryson, a great contrast to the heavenly voice of Jessica Rasche. Many changes in tempo and breaks held my attention all the time. The beginning of Gypsy strongly reminds me of Renaissance especially the Annie Haslam- like voice. Furthermore, we hear electric and bass guitar playing in the vein of Steve Howe and Chris Squire (Yes). ‘Talking’ guitar solos interact with heavenly voices building slowly to a climax and ending with dramatic singing and an acoustic guitar. Gypsy is a rather long piece that contains plenty of good musical ideas. It’s a perfect piece for daydreaming, but also for playing your ‘air guitar’.

Contemplation Harsh is a short song beginning with ‘attacks’ on the acoustic guitar, then accompanied by high and heavenly singing in the vein of Iona and Renaissance. This song is a welcome rest after all those impressive and tremendous symphonic rock pieces. Flashback To Now (A Happy’s Lament) starts with an Eloy-like bass plucking theme, but you can hear influences of Dutch prog icon Ayreon as well. It’s a rather odd song with strange vocal chords and a weird structure. This one certainly doesn’t belong to my favourites and is in fact the only disappointing track on this album. Fortunately Deep Space Intermission is another instrumental highlight with a spacey and dark start, directly followed by the Pink Floyd/Eloy guitar licks. This piece is brilliantly floating through my speakers while slowly building to a climax. The lyrics and the vocals of Jessica Rasche perfectly fit in the tuneful music. Leaves Fall is a song about sad memories set to music with acoustic guitars and dramatic voices, just like the overall feel of autumn. In Journey to Truth you hear over seven minutes of rocking guitars reminding me of Deep Purple’s Space Trucking with nice interludes of dreamy and spacey Moog-synths and catchy lyrics ending with a dreamy guitar solo. Coherence has a typical Hawkwind-sound starting with news flashes, followed by dark vocals and music in the vein of Dutch prog rock/gothic bands like Within Temptation, Ayreon and After Forever. The middle-section of this song is rather hectic, but the final part is much more interesting with its fast and spacey rhythms and well-played pinball music.

Expanding Universe is the longest piece of the album that starts again with that typical spacey Eloy-sound: howling guitars and bluesy rhythms. This song contains all the elements a good prog song needs: good lyrics and fine guitar, synth and Hammond-solos. This epic piece ends in the same way as the first song Algol began. You will be surprised about the end, but I won’t reveal it. Just buy this album and you will be amazed, because Proximal Distance succeeded in creating a 70-minute debut album containing perfect and powerful progressive rock. This album will certainly belong to one of my favourites this year.

****+ Cor Smeets (edited by Peter Willemsen)

www.progwalhalla.com

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Majestic Newsletter – June 2010

The Majestic Experience

News Of A Progressive Journey

June 2010

Contents:

• Proximal Distance Project
• Majestic’s New CD
• Other News
• Free Music Download
• Links

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