THE JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS WORK IN PROGRESS
MINDAy 5th OCTOBER FULL FORMAT TO BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK
Unleashes an unprecedented collection of artefacts from our Journey To Atlantis, including re-recorded versions from our source cassettes of the 'Rough Mix' and 'Sentinel Demo' plus hours of previously unheard versions of tracks during their writing phases in the band's farm rehearsal studio.
The Track List runs in reverse chronology with the Rough Mixes (re-digitised) at the start, followed by The Demos (again re-recorded from the original source material.
Then we present developmental sessions from 1983 and 1982 recorded at the band's farmhouse hideout, plus a long section where the original concept is talked and played though!
Also here's also a very different track - a jam from the farm m 1983 with Niall and Ronnie plus Mike B on Roland Space Echo!
Plus we've added a mix some 21st Century re-visits including a small extract from an early version of 'Ghosts Of Atlantis' from the soon to be released 'Fragments Of The Sun' 'Cinematic CD'
With over 50, yes that says FIFTY, tracks you will see that the released album is but a shadow of what should have been had it not been for severe 'commercial' pressure from EMI
This week we are compiling extensive notes and lyrics about the various periods covered in this release!
This really is an immense collection from a very productive time and your buying it will aid the production of the new full-band CD and help mitigate possible additional costs of the now rescheduled tour in 2021
It is a matter of record that both the band and EMI were not happy with the final mix that was made by Eddy Offord after the band had left the studios in Atlanta.
Eddy had been approached to mix a Police live album and subsequently rushed ours.
In the UK that mix was released but a new mix with a considerably different sound was completed for the US mix on Capitol Records and subsequent reissues.
Here is "Track By Track" breakdown from band members of the original release
EARLY PERIOD WRITING SNAPSHOTS
After the release of Arrive Alive the band spent much time in their rented farmhouse rehearsal and recording facility deep in the Aberdeenshire countryside and then gave up their day jobs as record company interest was growing.
This gave them time to develop tracks for what was intended to be a double album based around a concept, though it was not intended to be one of those 'one track a side' affairs, but more a collection of tracks in various styles and lengths.
As can be heard the grandiose plans for a double album were tempered by the record company executives along with the imperative for the snappy radio play oriented material...these demo tracks hint at what could have been and contain the intended framework for the detailed storyline for the concept.
Sentinel Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 2, when the band introduced the Atlantis Concept.
A gallery of images from the recording of the Sentinel LP in Atlanta