PROTOS: Into the Mouth of the Tiger

Protos

Into the Mouth of the Tiger

© 2007 Rory Ridley-Duff, Stephen Anscombe, Iain Carnegie, Nigel Rippon (5060101490945)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Live recordings from the UK prog rock band formed in the late 1970s. Includes live performances of tracks recently re-issued on 'One Day a New Horizon'

tracks

1 The Maiden
2 The Fugitive
3 Thing of Beauty
4 A Bit Blue
5 Superpowers
6 Aftermath
7 The Rally
8 Departures
9 Panamor
10 Hunting Extremely Large Animals
11 New Horizons - Protos

notes

PROTOS have a unique story to tell. After playing live for only two years, their members pursued musical and civilian careers with no idea their recordings had started to gain an international reputation. In 2006, they re-issued their studio album, One Day a New Horizon, on CD and received praise from around the world. Their second offering celebrates their emerging status as "the top progressive rock group since England (Garden Shed, 1977)" (Marquee Magazine).

The new release is the result of a careful search through all Protos's archive recordings for their best live performances between 1982 and 1984. Unlike many contemporary 'live' albums that have playing errors removed (or covered up) and sound-quality 'improved' by overdubbing in a studio, Tiger is the genuine article - a 69-minute tour-de-force based on their original live sets: raw, untouched and sparingly edited, and quality checked with music industry specialists before release.

Already two tracks from the album ("Protos" and "The Maiden") have topped charts at SoundClick (www.soundclick.com).

This pearl amongst the oysters adds to the history of progressive rock by showing how 1970s-style composition/performance was being actively supported in England well into the 1980s by Airship Recording Studios.

Nobuhisa Nakanishi (purchaser for a Japanese distributor) says:

"The sound quality is better than I expected...very listenable. Another positive side is that it captures the band in more energetic form than the studio recordings..."

Iain Carnegie, a producer for the Phil Collins 'Little Dreams Foundation', was the drummer on some of the original recordings. When asked for comments, he commented:

"It's exactly what I was expecting both in terms of the music and the sound quality (which is not too bad at all). Ultimately I think it's a great addition to the Protos arsenal of recordings and it captures the live experience very well indeed. There is a very warm sound to the Regis recordings..."

What will you make of The Tiger?

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Live tracks from talented instrument rock band. Pick up a copy today!
    author: RadioIndy.com staff

    “Into the Mouth of the Tiger” is a live recording that highlights the musicianship of this fine instrumental progressive rock band. The recording provides a flash back into live performances of a very talented band. Considering that these are live performances of complex songs, the band is very tight. The recordings, which apparently are over 20 years old, capture the energy of the live performances nicely. “Hunting Extremely Large Animals” is a track that highlights the interesting sounds of the different instruments, and also features impressive drum fills. The virtuoso skill level of all of the members of the band is apparent throughout. If you enjoy instrumental rock music and big-name bands such as Genesis and Yes, you will enjoy this CD. Pick up a copy today!

  • It has all the elements that make the genre so appealing...
    author: Peter Pardo

    Protos were a little known progressive rock band from the UK who were together from 1977 to about 1984, and recorded One Day a New Horizon, a fine example of 70's flavored symphonic prog-rock. After the band's breakup, interest from fans continued through the years, enough for the band to release their debut on CD, and now comes this collection of archival live recordings called Into the Mouth of the Tiger. Culled from performances from 1982-1984, this latest release is a fantastic example of the music of Protos, and while the recordings are raw and for the most part a cut above bootleg quality, there's no denying the musical genius here. After you get through the music on Into the Mouth of the Tiger, you'll wonder why Protos never got the record deal that many of their contemporaries got, like Marillion, IQ, Pallas, and Pendragon. The band here was made up of keyboard player Rory Ridley-Duff, guitarist Steve Anscombe, drummer Iain Carnegie, and bassist Nigel Rippon. While the music is very symphonic and at times quite bombastic, being instrumental, there is lots of room for solo flights, giving the music a slight feel of bands like Camel, Finch, Sebastian Hardie, Brand X, and even Yes. The keyboard work of Ridley-Duff is outstanding, especially on epic tracks like "The Maiden", "The Fugitive", and "New Horizons-Protos", and he trades lethal bursts with Anscombe on the dramatic"Superpowers". The guitarist has a very fluid style, much like the greats of the 70's prog genre, and forms a stellar team with Ridley-Duff-listen to him churn out a killer solo on "The Aftermath", which is immediately followed by a scorching synth solo from Rory. While these two trade leads, the busy rhythm work of Carnegie and Rippon just keep cookin'. If you like less frantic, more "dreamy" styled prog, there's the melodic "Departures", and the Genesis flavored "Panamor". Fans of rare progressive rock recordings of the 70's and 80's need to check this archival release from Protos out-can't get much more simpler than that. It has all the elements that make the genre so appealing-stellar musicianship, soaring melodies, complex passages, virtuoso solos, and that vintage sound. Now these long lost recordings are available for all to enjoy.

email

Please log in to email this artist.