Out now is Corona Time in Amerika from Fascination Curve, a prog-rocking super group featuring legends from the likes of Asia, ELO and Toto appearing across seven tracks.
Reflecting on the turbulent times that have ensued since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, documenting America’s current social structure and the global political climate in a manner that has been describe as akin to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, the album was conceived by Fascination Curve mastermind Karl Lundeberg.
“The album comes from a long-standing concern about racism in all its forms, and the fact that the lives of my two mixed race daughters changed the moment Trump was elected,” said Lundeberg, noting further “In a time of separation, the band was brought together by social unrest. The album takes on the subjects of Ukraine, Roe vs Wade, racism, and the continuing drift towards civil war.’
This social commentary should come as no surprise given Lundeberg’s politically charged upbringing. Born in Washington DC, hel was raised against the backdrop of the 1968 Civil Rights Riots. His parents were members of the first completely racially integrated church in DC whose minister was a colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and participated in the Selma Alabama protests.
Karl Lundeberg remains active in both artistic and social communities. The artist was a protestor during 2020’s BLM riots and wrote and performed the musical scores for Sir David Hare’s indictment of the Bush Administration’s involvement in the Iraq War, Stuff Happens, as well as the Jon Robbie Baitz anti-Trump work Vicuna.
Corona Time in Amerika has been described as “dancing between sounds in its epic, almost operatic journey”. Listeners will find explosive valleys of choruses and swelling electric guitar solos lead into slower and more tender jazz influenced passages that together form the dynamic soundscape needed to reflect the current political climate.
With Corona Time in Amerika, Lundeberg has assembled a super group as Fascination Curve – They are drummer Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Star All Star Band, Toto), lead guitarist and vocalist Marc Bonilla (Asia, Toto), vocalists Ken Stacey (Elton John, Michael Jackson) and Amy Keys (Phil Collins, Ringo Starr), bass player Mha Bhatti (Elton John, Electric Light Orchestra), saxophonist Tim Ries (The Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow), and of course Lundeberg himself on piano, organ, keyboards, guitar, vocals, who composed and arranged all the tracks featured.
