MIKE MORTON - vocals, 6 / 12 string acoustic guitar, piano and string arrangements.
LEROY JAMES - lead and rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, samples, effects and programming, piano and string arrangements.
JIM THOMAS - digital and analog synths, organ and mellotron.
ROD HAVERHILL - bass guitar and backing vocals.
DAVID STOREY - drums and percussion.
Influences
Pink Floyd, early Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Yes, The Enid, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Waterboys, Counting Crows, Jethro Tull, Free, Bruce Springsteen, Japan, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Burt Bacharach, T.Rex, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Tangerine Dream, Massive Attack, U2, Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Police, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rush, King Crimson, Air, Rage Against The Machine, Prince, Muse, Pendulum, Radiohead, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree
Sounds Like
A giddy cocktail of sounds and influences from now and then. Like 1973 meeting 2010.
The Gift started as a chord progression that had nowhere to go in a 3min pop song. Mike Morton and Leroy James happened on this phenomenon while messing around on a piano and in a moment of clarity thought ‘why not!’ The only rule was there are no rules as they were not bound by contracts, trends or delivery times and the freedom was soon to become addictive. Leroy jumped at the chance to get out from in front of the computer screen, dust down the guitars in the corner and play like he used to! From Mike's initial concept the project steadily took shape over a sporadic couple of years, constantly refining the sound and themes. A rough demo was sent out to various sources to gauge the reaction and - though initially there were some polarised responses - the vibe was generally good. Encouraged by the fact that they weren’t disappearing completely up their own backsides they pressed on and managed to secure a deal with Cyclops. The album initially consisted of one multi-themed piece but at the request of the label a slightly extended finish morphed into another 30min multi-themed work! .......When you’re on a roll!! Along the way they enlisted the not inconsiderable talents of Jim Thomas on keyboards, Rod Haverhill on bass and David Storey on drums to complete the line up.
The Gift play modern progressive rock. They blend hard riffs with classical elements and a pastoral song style. The Gift's music wrestles with contemporary sounds and issues; adventurous, awake and alive.
The band members enjoy complex time signatures, unexpected key changes and ambitious concepts. They also love strong melodies and sprinkle them over all that they do.
Their lyrics want your attention, too. You’ll hear about the stuff that counts…. the leaders who lie, the children who get lost, and the hearts that still beat briskly beneath the wounds of years.
The Gift's new album, Awake and Dreaming, was released on the Cyclops label on 9th October 2006. It contains 2 epic suites of music, 19 tracks in all. The first - and title work, is a 42 minute concept piece about the savagery of war and the final triumph of peace. Inspired and fuelled by the present world situation, it ends in a very different way; as a hymn of hope. NICK SHILTON of CLASSIC ROCK called it "a work of great beauty, similar to the solo material of Roger Waters but more accessible.....unbelievable power and potential”. Considering how curmudgeonly that old goat is, they're grateful for the distinction!
The second piece, Fountains of Ash, is a 30 minute tale of domestic violence, again seeking solace in the human spirit. It takes the listener on an uncomfortable ride through love, alienation, madness and recovery, all to a soundtrack which veers from acoustic lullabye to electrical storm. MARTIN HUDSON at THE CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY says: "The Gift have a way of making the hairs at the back of your neck stand up.” KOID9 in France has described it as "Magnificent from start to finish". HARMONIE MAGAZINE says it is: "Destined to take its place at the top of the progressive ladder with the likes of Genesis and Yes," and PAPERLATE RADIO (Netherlands) claims it is: "A wonderful piece of work." ................................... This is the Album 'AWAKE AND DREAMING' .........This is THE GIFT
CD AVAILABLE NOW FROM HMV AND ALL GOOD MUSIC STORES (UK); KINESIS, LASER's EDGE, SYMPHONIC (USA/CANADA); JUST FOR KICKS MUSIC (EUROPE), WORLDWIDE THROUGH AMAZON AND CYCLOPS RECORDS WEBSITE...................www.gft-cyclops.co.uk ..........................................'NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES UK, USA, EUROPE, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN'http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=253012273&s=143444
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Process thread of input which Holds the fabric of optional decree, together strong .. same for mankind .. many shape, influence, even ultimately control... The numbers Reach for the destiny afforded your lives in this time .. Life so fleeting & precious, to be given a gift to live in virtual paradise, Yet such this period of time you have made few worthy discoveries. When layer that told your tale 20,000 yrs from now, ..will it be filled with the apathetic trash you were ? Count for some thing you cherish ..... count for nothing and perish .. Attempt immortality .... it is your destiny !!!!!
Process thread of input which Holds the fabric of optional decree, together strong .. same for mankind .. many shape, influence, even ultimately control... The numbers Reach for the destiny afforded your lives in this time .. Life so fleeting & precious, to be given a gift to live in virtual paradise, Yet such this period of time you have made few worthy discoveries. When layer that told your tale 20,000 yrs from now, ..will it be filled with the apathetic trash you were ? Count for some thing you cherish ..... count for nothing and perish .. Attempt immortality .... it is your destiny !!!!!
Our new CD The Underfall Yard is released in December 2009 (we're very proud of it). You can download the title track, a 23 minute prog epic FREE at www.bigbigtrain.com
Once again the band are joined on drums by Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard, Tears For Fears, Genesis) and new passengers on this particular journey include Dave Gregory (XTC, Peter Gabriel), Francis Dunnery (It Bites) and Jem Godfrey (Frost*). The album was mixed by Rob Aubrey (IQ, Transatlantic, Asia).
The album features our new vocalist David Longdon and we feel he has made and outstanding contribution.
Please check it out and let us know what you think.
Just dropping by to let you know the new Majestic cd ARRIVAL is now available. Hope all is going well for you. Make sure to stop by and check out our samples. :)
~Jeff ----------------------
Visit the Official Majestic Web Site www.majesticsongs.com
brandnew DVD "the rpwl LIVE experience" out now!!! www.rpwl.de also added new tour dates.. love and peace watch the preview: taken from "the rpwl LIVE experience"
also watch out for: "Parcivals Eye" new solo project of RPWL bass player Chris Postl
Dear Friends, Well, it's been six months since my abdominal surgery, and finally the music is starting to flow again. I've written two new songs "Bridge Of Shadows" and something a little different for me called "Looking Glass Man"...my first song using a Strat. I've never owned a Stratocaster before, was always a Les Paul guy (still am). But my wife promised me a new Strat if I just acted brave; and survived the surgery of course. I guessed the Fender would influence me in some "twangy way", but I never imagined it would be a Johhny Cash way, (not that I'm complaining, always kind of liked him). So if you get the chance, please stop by and give them a listen. All my very best to you, and thanks for being friends through some really tough times for me, Your friend, David
Just stopping by to say hello and give you some news. The new album 'Coolgilly and the Freakshow' from Centascope is now available worldwide from CD Baby and also directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
Hi The Gift, Crash Kelly's CD, "One More Heart Attack" is in stores and on itunes now, please help spread the word and if you haven't already pick up your copy today - for a listing of U.S. store locations, check out the "Where Can I Get My Crash Kelly CD" blog on the MySpace page!!!
http://www.warriorrecords.com/crashkelly
Also, get back to your rock roots with Crash Kelly's label mates, Saints Of The Underground in stores and on iTunes now! Please help spread the word and pick up your copies today.
JOXFIELD PROJEX WISH YOU A SILENT NIGHT KRAUT-PUNK ECSTASY SUMMER 3 x Free Download Joxfield ProjeX albums at http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=joxfield%20projex
The new album 'Coolgilly and the Freakshow' from Centascope is now available worldwide from CD Baby and also directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
<br />
<br />To whom it may concern:
<br /> The Easter Bunny and I started drinking late last night and there's no sign of him slowing down anytime soon. So have a Happy Easter! The bunny will be around when he sobers up.
<br /> Dave
Hello My Dear Friends!
<br /> Sorry I haven't been in touch for so long, but over the winter I had major abdominal surgery, and though recovery has been slow, it has been steady and I'm starting finally to feel like my old self again. For surviving my wife bought me a new Stratocaster that I hope to include on some new songs in the very near future. I hope all is well with you and that 2009 is bringing BIG things your way. I just wanted to stop by and say I'm still alive ....literally!
<br /> All of my love and the absolute best to you and yours,
<br /> David England
<br />
Mrs. Gowanus
<br /> By (H+) M.S.G. (from the archives)
<br />
<br />Mrs. Gowanus, the line between us is so fine
<br />What makes people act the way they do?
<br />Mrs. Gowanus, this bar will be forever ours
<br />Why did you have to leave us so soon?
<br />It couldn’t have been the right time
<br />It couldn’t have been so soon
<br />Mrs. Gowanus, the lines between us are so fine
<br />What secrets do you hide?
<br />What futures can you tell me?
<br />Looking into the cup you hold
<br />Mrs. Gowanus, are you really so old,
<br />That you alone know,
<br />When the truth becomes lies,
<br />Through the passage of time?
<br />Mrs. Gowanus, why are you singing to the stones?
<br />Do they tell you what you need to know?
<br />Our seats are so far away
<br />Mrs. Gowanus, the line between us is so fine
<br />What makes people act the way they do?
<br />Mrs. Gowanus, are we really losing you?
<br />
Online Now!
