The Tangent, Andy Tillison‘s Progressive/Jazz Rock project, are proud to announce the release of their new album “Songs From The Hard Shoulder,” out June 10, 2022, once again for InsideOut Music. The new album sees the Dutch band mainly focused on very long tracks and epic suites, with just one tracklisted under 16 minutes!
Listen to the first single and opening track “The Changes (single edit)” through the YouTube player below:
Andy Tillison‘s comment: “‘The Changes’ was written in the midst of the first Covid lockdown. During this very strange time there was a constant emptiness in all of our lives and this song explores my feelings from that time. I began to wonder if the band would ever meet again, and more importantly, how long it would take before I could see my family again. Part of the song is all about the minutiae of being on tour with a band … not so much the lack of concerts, stages and playing, but the lack of those crazy little things like not being able to find a hotel, getting lost around the world. and the general camaraderie that is all when a band is on the road. It is important to say that this single is only 5 minutes of what a 17 minute song is, it is just a hint of what you will find in the full version… with an amazing guitar solo Luke Machin!“
Preorder available at this link: https://thetangent.lnk.to/SongsFromTheHardShoulder
Tracklist:
- The Changes (17:06)
- The GPS Vultures (17:01)
- The Lady Tied To The Lamp Post (20:52)
- Wasted Soul (4:40)
- In The Dead Of Night (Bonus) (16:11)
With “Songs From the Hard Shoulder,” the band (who are celebrating their 20th year in the business) have audibly focused on the compositional structure of this album which in the case of the three long pieces is also highly complex and “thought out” – from a luscious and uplifting song about loneliness in Covid lockdown, to a full on 17-minute long Jazz/Prog/Canterbury Fusion instrumental, to a darkly Electronic story of a homeless woman with shades of Nine Inch Nails, Po90, Japan and Van Der Graaf Generator lurking within. The album’s final track is the 4 minute bouncy Motown-style track “Wasted Soul,” where the band anticipate a wonderful day in the future when the pandemic is over forever. Early editions and the Vinyl Edition will include the bonus track “In The Dead Of Night” which is of course a cover version of the classic song by UK. The band lineup remains from the previous 2 albums as Andy Tillison (Vocal / Keyboards), Jonas Reingold (Bass), Luke Machin (Guitar / Vocals), Steve Roberts (Drums) and Theo Travis (Sax & Flute).