The Neal Morse Band‘s latest album, L.I.F.T., is out now, along with their third single ‘Reaching’, released on InsideOutMusic.
“‘Reaching’ became a really energetic track because of the way NMB approached it,” explained Morse himself. “My original sketch changed a lot when the band began to play it and we all put our vocals on it. I sketched out a lot of the original lyrics in the hotel room that morning, and brought it in, and we banged it out pretty quickly as I recall.
“We wanted to start it off with just vocals as we always enjoyed that with NMB right from our first outing as a band on The Grand Experiment album. If you like this band, you’re gonna love this track!”
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.
“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 said. “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.”
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’.
Read our full review of L.I.F.T. here.
