German Progressive Rock act Wired Ways published the official music video for “Ticket Tally Man” taken from upcoming album “Wired Ways” due out on September 09, 2022 via Waterfall Records. Watch the video through the Youtube player below:
“Wired Ways” is the self-titled album debut of the aspiring band collective from Berlin and Hamburg. Originally started as a studio project, Richard Schaeffer and Dennis Rux have brought together more than 40 musicians to create a record that pays homage to the techniques and sounds of the late 60s and early 70s, without losing a modern point of view. The result is multi-layered, Beatlesque Prog Rock with elements of Art Pop, Psychedelia and World Music. Surprising twists and exciting instrumentations unfold behind catchy melodies and imposing vocals, sending the listener on an enjoyable sonic journey.
In the inspiring ambience of Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Studios, between instruments and technology from analogue times, the songs developed their own life. Ideas, recording methods and influences constantly rewired themselves and a creative network of music makers emerged – a colourful collective of artists from many countries who share a common spirit for fresh music.
Since nearly all ideas were initially written by Richard Schaeffer in public means of transport, the complex song lyrics and stories deal with thematic worlds such as transfer, communication, connectivity, separation & letting go: Perception oscillates between reality and open dream sequences, offering the listener interwoven meta-levels of interpretation. Lines of text can be touching on the one hand because they take place on a personal, intimate level, while at the same time raise social issues and encourage the listener to investigate further, though without a moral pointing finger.
The core band on these recordings consists of multi-instrumentalist Richard Schaeffer (The Jooles, Geneses, Purple Callas and others) and producer/guitarist Dennis Rux (Angels of Libra, Hamburg Spinners, Rhonda and others), as well as vocalists Jean-Michael Brinksmeier and Daniel Albertus Brouns and drummer Lucas Zacharias. The extended line-up includes renowned musicians such as Axel “Lexa” Schäfer, Jan Stolterfoht, Sebastian Düwelt and Rocco Rossbach, who are active in bands such as Stern Combo Meissen, Berlin Boogaloo and the Baltic Soul Orchestra. A list of all those involved is best found in the lovingly designed booklet.
The cover for the album is also an outstanding work of art itself and was painted by Prog artist Frank Grabowski, who is also a loyal supporter of the project. Thanks to him, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett was able to hear a pre-release version and complimented: “It has a strong feel and is atmospheric, with a great use of Mellotron.“
In the future, the project will also be brought to the festival stages. This summer they already played a highly acclaimed concert at the Night of the Prog, alongside genre legends like Steve Hackett, Colosseum and Renaissance.
The album will be released on 9.9.22 on vinyl, CD and digitally via Waterfall Records, distributed by Broken Silence and The Orchard. The release of Wired Ways is kindly supported with federal funds from Germany by Neustart Kultur and Initiative Musik.
Pre-order the album on Bandcamp: https://wiredways.bandcamp.com/album/wired-ways
Tracklist:
- Ticket Tally Man
- Peacock on the Highway
- Lazy Daisy
- Hànội Tramway
- Mosquitoes
- Perpetuum Mobile
- When the Doors are Closed
- Another Sad Man
- Planet 9
Lineup:
Jean-Michael Brinksmeier / Vocals
Richard Schaeffer / Vocals, Tubular Bells, Glockenspiel, Shaker, Tambourine, Ching Zills, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Electric 12-string Guitar, Sitar, Fender Rhodes, Hammond Organ, Celesta, Synths, Electronic Tanpura, Recorder, Vocal FX
Dennis Rux / Electric Guitar, Acoustic Western Guitar
Daniël Albertus Brouns / Vocals, Upright & Grand Piano, Hammond Organ, Mellotron
Lucas Zacharias / Drums, Orchestral Cymbals, Orchestral Bass Drum, Orchestral Shoer Room Toms, Thunder Sheet, Wind Machine, Tambourine, Large Gong
Andreas Oelker / Timpani
Rocco Rossbach / Congas, Bongos, Shaker, Tambourine, Vibraslap, Cowbell
Ravi Srinivasan / Tablas, Koshi Chimes
Axel Schäfer / Electric Bass, Pump Organ, Celesta
Jan Stolterfoht / Electric Guitar, Electric 12-String Guitar, Acoustic Western Guitar
Horst Lietz / Electric Guitar, Electric 12-String Guitar, Acoustic Western Guitar, Acoustic Nylon Guitar, Acoustic 12-String Western Guitar
Davide Russo / Acoustic Western Guitar
Arne Reichelt / Cello
Friedrich Paravicini / Cello
Winnie Kübart / Viola
Matthias Kieslich / Viola, Violin
Ricarda Sybille Borman / Violin
Stefanie Hölk / Violin
Lê Mạnh Hùng / Monochord Gourd Lute, Bamboo Flute
Trần Phương Hoa / Plucked Zither
Dàn Nhạc Hà Nội / Plucked Zither
Rainer Oleak / Dampened Upright Piano, Mellotron
Sebastian Düwelt / Plucked Grand Piano, Hammond Organ, Organ Bass, Clavinet
Chris Haertel / Wurlitzer, Hohner Electra
Rainer Scharf / Church Organ, Harpsichord
Matthias Trippner / Yamaha Electrone
Lisa Maria Schaeffer / Soviet Children’s Hurdy-Gurdy, Baby Talk, Laughter, Counting In, Bye-bye & Gibberish Singing
Tom Lang / Celesta
Andreas Günther / Vermona Synth, Siel Orchestra, Theremin, Telephone Replacement
Martin Zitzmann / Poly Moog
Joel Sarakula / Synths
Jonas Pietsch / Trumpet
Paul Santner / Flugelhorn
Max Hering / Tenor Saxophone
Michael Götte / Trombone
Oliver Fox / Piccolo Flute, Concert Flute, Clarinet
Yael Falik / Bassoon
David John Jaggs / Scouse Phone Call
Paul Herron / Ticket Tally Man
Dirk Sackhoff / Car Sounds
Udo Geist / Car Sounds
Michael Schönfeld / Corgoň