The Neal Morse Band will release L.I.F.T., their latest album, on 27th February through InsideOutMusic. Ahead of that, and out now, is the second single and video, ‘Hurt People’, from the album.
Together over a decade, the progressive rock band featuring Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Eric Gillette, Bill Hubauer, and Randy George wrote and recorded L.I.F.T. under what’s been described as “a period of major transition”, while comparisons are being made with their earlier concept album Similitude Of A Dream.
“At some point in my life, I heard the phrase ‘hurt people hurt people’, meaning that those who are doing damage to others are damaged themselves. Anyway, the phrase always stayed with me,” Morse reflected.
“When we were writing L.I.F.T., we were at the point in the story arc where the person has his or her break in belonging, and we were working on this heavy section. Mike and Eric were playing this heavy stuff and I started singing ‘hurt people hurt people’ over what they were doing. It didn’t fully come to life until Eric sang it (what a vocal! Not to mention that guitar solo!), which didn’t happen till months later, but when it all came together, wow.”
You can check out the video here at RAMzine.
“In short, L.I.F.T. is a prog concept album that follows the journey of someone seeking to belong to something greater than themselves,” Morse revealed. “It starts with feeling connected to the world and life, then there is a break in belonging, after which comes the turmoil and desperate cry, leading to a return to that place of profound connection.”
“We thought it could stand for different things,” said George of the album’s title, which arrived late in the recording with its acronym left unexplained. “It’s kind of whatever the listener wants it to be.”
“We hardly used any of the ideas on the board,” he continued. “Most of it was written right there in the room, more so than in the past.” The exceptions were sketches by Hubauer and improvised piano pieces by Morse.
Engineered by longtime collaborator Jerry Guidroz, all drum tracks were recorded on-site before each member continued working individually from home studios. George commented on this change in approach: “Hearing the final mixes, it all came together beautifully.” The mixing role again fell to Rich Mouser, with George noting: “We just let him do his thing.”
L.I.F.T. will be available as a limited 2CD digipak (including instrumental versions), standard CD jewel case, gatefold 2LP with artwork by Thomas Ewerhard, and as digital download.
Tracks featured on the album are: ‘Beginning’, ‘Fully Alive’, ‘I Still Belong’, ‘Gravity’s Grip’, ‘Hurt People’, ‘The Great Withdrawal’, ‘Contemplation’, ‘Shame About My Shame’, ‘Reaching’, ‘Carry You Again’, ‘Shattered Barricade’, ‘Fully Alive Part 2’, and ‘Love All Along’.
