The Gatekeepers for Avant/RIO or Crossover

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   The Gatekeepers is a project of composer Alex Wroten in which Alex recruited the participation of a cornucopia or Who's Who list of seasoned artists from the Avant Garde/RIO and Eclectic domains of progressive rock (many of his heroes). 
https://thinklikeakey.bandcamp.com/album/the-gatekeepers-2

The album, released November 11, 2022 on Bandcamp, is a part-musical, part-concept album about an artist trying to get their work out in the world but facing a series of sardonic, disinterested gatekeepers. A 15-song cycle exploring the creative process from beginning to end, including the cynical aspects of marketing art to the public and the toughness of deciding your own artistic fate.With a sophisticated blend of progressive, left-field rock, jazz, folk, and an authentic lo-fi spirit, the Gatekeepers creates a captivating musical contrast. Occasionally hypnotic, sometimes turbulent, the eclectic mix is reminiscent of The Lamb Lies Down Broadway, Kurt Vile, Of Montreal, and the Canterbury sound with a nod to Zappa. The album's composer and mastermind Alex Wroten is joined by an array of highly acclaimed and unconventional vocalists to bring the story to life: The Residents, Shawn Phillips, Brian Poole (Renaldo & The Loaf), R. Stevie Moore, Elaine di Falco (Yugen, Caveman Hughscore), Mont Campbell (Egg, National Health), Bob Drake, Amy Denio, Deborah Perry (Thinking Plague) and CHEER-ACCIDENT (Thymme Jones).

Other performers in this musical's ensemble include: drummers Morgan Ågren (Mats/Morgan Band, Frank Zappa), Jacopo Costa (Loomings), Brian Wnukowski (Salvation, Haymarket Riot), Rob Allum (Add N To (X)); guitarists Frédéric L'Épée (Shylock, Philharmonie, Yang), Alan Jenkins (Deep Freeze Mice, Ruth's Refrigerator), Bill Brovold (Larval, Rhys Chatham Ensemble, East Village Orchestra), Paul Lai (Upsilon Acrux), Ty Citerman (Bop Kabbalah, Gutbucket); multi-instrumentalists Dave Willey (Hamster Theatre), Robert Webb (England), Dan Britton (Deluge Grander, Birds & Buildings); flautist Emily Hay (U Totem, 5uu's); keyboardist Duncan Mackay (Cockney Rebel, 10cc); violinist Matthew Parmenter (Discipline); and additional vocalists Molly Harvey (The Residents), Wally Scharold (miRthkon), and Blaine Reininger (Tuxedomoon). 
credits
released November 11, 2022
On YouTube there's a fun intro video featuring interviews of many of the all-stars who participated (a virtual prog/RIO hall-of-fame list): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ezOjQhjWC0&ab_channel=ThinkLikeAKeyMusic
Because the concept album flows with greater musical accessibility than one might expect from an Avant/RIO album, I offer as an alternate suggestion that it be submitted to the Crossover team as well. Really a fun and beautiful album--especially if you like words!

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BrufordFreak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 25 2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 8227	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrufordFreak Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: The Gatekeepers for Avant/RIO or Crossover Posted: February 22 2023 at 06:40
	The Gatekeepers is a project of composer Alex Wroten in which Alex recruited the participation of a cornucopia or Who's Who list of seasoned artists from the Avant Garde/RIO and Eclectic domains of progressive rock (many of his heroes). https://thinklikeakey.bandcamp.com/album/the-gatekeepers-2 The album, released November 11, 2022 on Bandcamp, is a part-musical, part-concept album about an artist trying to get their work out in the world but facing a series of sardonic, disinterested gatekeepers. A 15-song cycle exploring the creative process from beginning to end, including the cynical aspects of marketing art to the public and the toughness of deciding your own artistic fate. With a sophisticated blend of progressive, left-field rock, jazz, folk, and an authentic lo-fi spirit, the Gatekeepers creates a captivating musical contrast. Occasionally hypnotic, sometimes turbulent, the eclectic mix is reminiscent of The Lamb Lies Down Broadway, Kurt Vile, Of Montreal, and the Canterbury sound with a nod to Zappa. The album's composer and mastermind Alex Wroten is joined by an array of highly acclaimed and unconventional vocalists to bring the story to life: The Residents, Shawn Phillips, Brian Poole (Renaldo & The Loaf), R. Stevie Moore, Elaine di Falco (Yugen, Caveman Hughscore), Mont Campbell (Egg, National Health), Bob Drake, Amy Denio, Deborah Perry (Thinking Plague) and CHEER-ACCIDENT (Thymme Jones). Other performers in this musical's ensemble include: drummers Morgan Ågren (Mats/Morgan Band, Frank Zappa), Jacopo Costa (Loomings), Brian Wnukowski (Salvation, Haymarket Riot), Rob Allum (Add N To (X)); guitarists Frédéric L'Épée (Shylock, Philharmonie, Yang), Alan Jenkins (Deep Freeze Mice, Ruth's Refrigerator), Bill Brovold (Larval, Rhys Chatham Ensemble, East Village Orchestra), Paul Lai (Upsilon Acrux), Ty Citerman (Bop Kabbalah, Gutbucket); multi-instrumentalists Dave Willey (Hamster Theatre), Robert Webb (England), Dan Britton (Deluge Grander, Birds & Buildings); flautist Emily Hay (U Totem, 5uu's); keyboardist Duncan Mackay (Cockney Rebel, 10cc); violinist Matthew Parmenter (Discipline); and additional vocalists Molly Harvey (The Residents), Wally Scharold (miRthkon), and Blaine Reininger (Tuxedomoon). credits released November 11, 2022 On YouTube there's a fun intro video featuring interviews of many of the all-stars who participated (a virtual prog/RIO hall-of-fame list): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ezOjQhjWC0&ab_channel=ThinkLikeAKeyMusic Because the concept album flows with greater musical accessibility than one might expect from an Avant/RIO album, I offer as an alternate suggestion that it be submitted to the Crossover team as well. Really a fun and beautiful album--especially if you like words!
	Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/

Cristi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Crossover / Prog Metal Teams Joined: July 27 2006 Location: wonderland Status: Offline Points: 44168	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cristi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 22 2023 at 06:44
	avant/RIO or crossover? That's a long stretch

octopus-4 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams Joined: October 31 2006 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14191	Post Options Post Reply Quote octopus-4 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 05 2023 at 08:52
	It has Avant elements, but not only. Anyway it's a very interesting album. Track #2 sounded to me like "Nina Hagen singing Bertolt Brecht". Leater I hear some Carterbury feel, some avant-jazz in Carla Bley vein and more Maybe Xover should go first.
	I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

CrazyFace Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: June 22 2006 Status: Offline Points: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote CrazyFace Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 02 2024 at 20:22
	FYI, there's another one out: https://thinklikeakey.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgia-for-the-great-american-monoculture

yam yam Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Crossover Team Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 6432	Post Options Post Reply Quote yam yam Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 02 2024 at 22:35
	The thing is, do we evaluate The Gatekeepers to be added to PA as a separate standalone project, or simply add these two albums to Alex Wroten's existing solo discography on here, since The Gatekeepers is essentially his baby, albeit delivered with the help of an impressive collection of guest musicians? Alex Wroten was added to Eclectic Prog back in May 2010. @CrazyFace: I added Alex's most recent solo album 'Unsolicited Communications' (2016) to his page, but I have no info whatsoever regarding what he played on it, whether any other musicians were involved, if a physical CD was released etc, so if you could provide that info here in this thread, I'll update the album accordingly.