FLYING COLORS: 'Mask Machine' Video Released
August 20, 2014
FLYING COLORS- the band featuringMike Portnoy(drums, vocals),Dave LaRue(bass),Neal Morse(keyboards, vocals),Casey McPherson(vocals, guitars) andSteve Morse(guitar) - will release its second album,"Second Nature", in Europe on September 29 viaMascot Label Group'sMusic Theorieslabel.
The official video for the CD's first single,"Mask Machine", can be seen below.
The music press acknowledged the eponymously titled debut album fromFLYING COLORSamong the most compelling releases of 2012. Executive producerBill Evansassembled a team of virtuoso players, a pop singer/songwriter, and the right producer to create sophisticated music that was accessible. Over 100 singer/songwriters were considered for the role.Portnoypitched the idea of approachingMcPherson, a member of the groupALPHA REV, whose 2010 album called"New Morning"dominated theBillboardTop Ten for 17 weeks.
After an hour-long phone call withEvans, the band found their man. AsMikehad quite rightly hoped,McPhersonwent on to prove the "X Factor" that elevatedFLYING COLORSabove the norm. "The idea of having an actual singer as opposed to a musician that also sang, really opened up a whole other world,"PortnoytoldProgmagazine.
Classic Rockmagazine hailed the band's debut as "fearless", praising its "JOURNEY-sized choruses" and referencing artists as diverse asTHE BEATLES,RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS,THE DOORS,MUSE, and evenFrank Sinatra. In late 2012, the band toured America and Europe, dazzling fans withFLYING COLORSoriginals and selections from the catalogues of the five members.
Schedules allowing, the protagonists had always viewedFLYING COLORSas a genuine band as opposed to a side project, hence they began writing a second studio album. From the first writing session to final delivery of the masters in July 2014, the process took almost a year and half, in four distinct stages: writing sessions viaSkypein January/February 2013, another burst of writing and recording atNeal Morse's house in Nashville, a trip toPortnoy's home that spawned five additional songs, and finally individual recording/arrangement over the Internet throughout the spring of 2014.
This time the band opted to self-produce, withEvans, the man responsible for the concept ofFLYING COLORS, reprising his role as executive producer and co-engineer. Besides offering a finely tuned set of ears,Evanswould remix a track each time an amendment was made, before sending it onto each band member, allowing closer collaboration by the band. "There was no repudiation of producerPeter Collins," clarifiesEvans, "but the guys had become a family and they wanted to try something different."
Sporting stunning artwork from the legendary designerHugh Syme(RUSH,AEROSMITH,DEF LEPPARD,WHITESNAKE) and bookended by two tracks of truly epic stature -"Open Up Your Eyes"and the multiple-part"Cosmic Symphony"- the album is every bit as breathtaking as the debut.Portnoystresses that the music's proggier path was "not conscious at all."
"Direction was never even discussed," continuesPortnoy. "We just did what we do. I think perhaps not having a producer to 'trim the fat' possibly led to the songs breathing and expanding a bit more."
"This is an album full of many layers," concludes guitaristSteve Morse. "The more you listen, the more you can hear. It's an album to keep listening to."
"Second Nature"showcases a compelling and thought-provoking collection of songs written and performed by musicians at the top of their game.
"Second Nature"track listing:
01.Open Up Your Eyes
02.Mask Machine
03.Bombs Away
04.The Fury Of My Love
05.A Place In Your World
06.Lost Without You
07.One Lost Forever
08.Peaceful Harbor
09.Cosmic Symphony
I. Still Life Of The World
II. Searching For The Air
III. Pound For Pound
Photo credit:Jim Arbogast
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