New Review and News

Thanks to Amplified magazine for the review:

SHECKLEY
SUNBURST
INDEPENDENT
Sheckley are basically a duo, created by Phil Jackson (keyboards, percussion, also in Paradox One) and Richard Gorman (guitar, vocals, percussion), although they are joined by Thierry Sportouche (Silver Hunter) on one song where he provides keyboards and vocals. This is music with a great deal of space within it, and a rawness that one rarely finds within progressive rock. At times I am reminded of Gong, at others Robert Wyatt, while Hawkwind have also been an influence. It also has a lot in common with the more ambient workings of Brian Eno, but never falling into the trap of New Age. This isn’t always easy music to listen to, with songs such as “Solar Flares” channeling a RIO feel to proceedings with repetitive and contradictory musical themes, with drums that make an appearance here and there almost as an afterthought, but having an important part to play. By the time I had finished playing it the first time I couldn’t actually say that I enjoyed the album, possibly more “endured”, but there was something about it that did make me go through it again. There really is something quite compelling about this, even though it is hard to put it into words. With this one it really is a case of listening to it and everyone making their own decision. Available as a cut-price CD, it is also possible to stream through Bandcamp where you can hear the songs.

ALSO SOME NEWS:
Richard and I have made some progress with the ‘Liveships’ project- haven’t decided on a title yet. It should be released around Easter time. This will be the second Sheckley release. Any reviewers interested in a copy please e-mail phil@paradoxone.co.uk

7 Records anniversary / Sheckley News

‘7’ RECORDS REACHES ITS 1Oth ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR AND A 15 TRACK PROMOTIONAL CD HAS BEEN MADE MOSTLY FOR RECORD SHOPS WHO STOCK THE CDs. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE DROP ME A LINE OR TWO: phil@paradoxone.co.uk

THE CD COVERS LATTER PARADOX ONE, SHECKLEY, DRUNKEN DALEK, URBMON 116 AND ORAC 2 WITH A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY THE OTHER HALF OF SHECKLEY RICHARD GORMAN WITH 4 TRACKS FROM HIS ‘POP ART’ ALBUM WHICH TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY. ‘POP ART’ CLEVERLY COMBINES AD HOC CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ON THE STREET WHICH LINK THEMATICALLY TO THE SONGS AND IT WORKS BRILLIANTLY IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS INTERESTED IN RICHARD’S MUSIC PLEASE CONTACT phil@paradoxone.co.uk SO I CAN PASS ON HIS E-MAIL. THE MUSIC CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON BANDCAMP UNDER PARADOX ONE AND RICHARD GORMAN RESPECTIVELY.

 

SHECKLEY IS WORKING ON SOME NEW MUSIC AND I AM GOING INTO DUNDEE THIS AFTERNOON TO DROP A DEMO OF SIDES 1 AND 2 OF A FANTASY ‘LP’ (WE’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET ONE PRESSED!!) THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT FROM ‘SUNBURST’ EQUALLY EXPERIMENTAL WITH HINTS OF JAZZ. PROG ROCK AND EVEN TECHNO. IT IS INSPIRED BY ROBIN HOBB’S CAPTIVATING ‘LIVESHIPS’ TRILOGY OF BOOKS AND WE ARE BOTH HAVING A LOT OF FUN WITH IT- WHEN WE GET THE CHANCE!!

FESTIVE FAVOURITES TO FOLLOW

New Sheckley album underway – Liveships

RICHARD AND PHIL ARE WORKING ON A SECOND SHECKLEY ALBUM WITH THE WORKING TITLE OF ‘LIVESHIPS’, IT IS A CONCEPTUAL ALBUM INSPIRED BY ROBIN HOBB’S TRILOGY OF BOOKS WHICH HAVE PLEASURABLY OCCUPIED A SIZABLE PART OF PHIL’S LIFE RECENTLY. ALWAYS SIDESTEPPING CONVENTIONALITY RICHARD AND PHIL ARE WORKING SLOWLY AND ORGANICALLY TOWARDS MUSIC THAT IS IN PARTS EXPERIMENTAL, PROGRESSIVE AND ELECTRONIC. MELODY AND RHYTHM ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND THE QUEST IS NOT FOR PERFECTIONISM BUT FOR EXPRESSIONISM. WE ARE NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE RELEASED BUT IF INTERESTED IN A REVIEW COPY/ WHATEVER DROP US A LINE AT phil@paradoxone.co.uk

WE ARE ALSO DOING SOMETHING RARE FOR US- REHEARSING! IN FACT WE HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH DRUMMER HARVEY WALLER TO DO SOME IMPROVISATIONS AROUND NUMBERS LIKE ‘BLUE TRAIN’, ‘I AM THE WALRUS’ AND ‘SET THE CONTROLS FOR THE HEART OF THE SUN’. MAYBE SOME DAY OUR OWN ORIGINAL JAMS CAN FORM A RELEASE OF SOME KIND.

UNTIL THEN THERE IS NEW MUSIC ON BANDCAMP TO EXPLORE; RICHARD HAS BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THE STUDIO PRODUCING LOTS OF CDs. HE REALLY IS PROLIFIC AND WRITES GREAT SONGS WITH GREAT LYRICS- PLEASE CHECK OUT HIS SOLO WORK ON BANDCAMP. AS FOR PHIL THERE IS THE DRUNKEN DALEK PROJECT FOR SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISED PIECES SUCH AS ‘PREMONITION BLUES’ WHICH CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY IN AS A VOCAL VERSION IN BITE SIZED SEGMENTS ON BANDCAMP. WHY THE DRUNKEN DALEK i HEAR YOU SAY- WELL THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU IS IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LATE, GREAT SPIKE MILLIGAN.

ANYWAY THAT’S ENOUGH FOR NOW- PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH VIA E-MAIL OR CHECK OUT PHIL’S FACEBOOK PAGE AND BANDCAMP.

Sheckley review by Kev Rowland

Sheckley review by Kev Rowland :

Sheckley are basically a duo, created by Phil Jackson (keyboards, percussion, also in Paradox One) and Richard Gorman (guitar, vocals, percussion), although they are joined by Thierry Sportouche (Silver Hunter) on one song where he provides keyboards and vocals. This is music with a great deal of space within it, and a rawness that one rarely finds within progressive rock. At times I am reminded of Gong, at others Robert Wyatt, while Hawkwind have also been an influence. It also has a lot in common with the more ambient workings of Brian Eno, but never falling into the trap of New Age.

This isn’t always easy music to listen to, with songs such as “Solar Flares” channeling a RIO feel to proceedings with repetitive and contradictory musical themes, with drums that make an appearance here and there almost as an afterthought, but having an important part to play. By the time I had finished playing it the first time I couldn’t actually say that I enjoyed the album, possibly more “endured”, but there was something about it that did make me go through it again. There really is something quite compelling about this, even though it is hard to put it into words. With this one it really is a case of listening to it and everyone making their own decision. Available as a cut-price CD, it is also possible to stream through Bandcamp where you can hear the songs. https://paradoxone.bandcamp.com/album/sunburst-full-album-by-sheckley

Paradox One – Radio play and interview

Radio play news

Playlist 654
The Overflow hosted by Garry Lee is playing ‘The Unknown Unknowns’ by Paradox One

In other news:

Phil has been interviewed by Acid Dragon on his music as Paradox One, his collaborations with Stone Premonitions, with Richard Gorman and Thierry Sportouche in Sheckley and much more.

ADVENT 40- here it comes again!

ADVENT 40- here it comes again!

Although you won’t see this until the new year I thought it would be fun to share this list. I have been doing this since not long after John Peel died and it appears on my paradox one website. What I’d really like to know is what 2016 was like to our readers and contributors!

In random order:

The first 29:

MARTIN ARCHER  STORYTELLERS       DISCUS          PROGRESSIVE JAZZ

ASTRAL SON  MIND’S EYE          SULATRON               PSYCHEDELIC SPACE ROCK

VASIL HADZIMANOV BAND  ALIVE     MOON JUNE            JAZZ FUSION

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE   VISIONS OF….SPACE ROCK PRODUCTIONS   SPACE ROCK

SANGUINE HUM    WHAT WE ASK IS WHERE WE BEGIN  ESTOERIC ANTENNA          PROGRESSIVE ROCK

17 PYGMIES                        ISABEL 11: ABADDON RISING  TRAKWERX   COLDWAVE

GLODBLUG  GLOBULE      STONE PREMONITIONS   SPACE ROCK

GANDALF     TO ANOTHER HORIZON  ESOTERIC      (Reissue)

GANDALF     MAGIC THEATRE   ESOTERIC      (Reissue)

JIM WELLMAN       DAWN TO DUSK    ACID JAZZ/ SOUL/ FUNK

KEVIN HEARD         CYDONIA     STONE PREMONITIONS   SPACE ROCK

NAIMA         BYE                 CUNEIFORM                        PROGRESSIVE JAZZ ROCK

OSSICLES      OSSICLES                  KARISMA      PROGRESSIVE ROCK

WEST SPACE LOVE            WEST SPACE LOVE                        PROGRESSIVE ROCK PRODUCTIONS

SEVEN IMPALE                   CONTRAFAGGIO               KARISMA      PROGRESSIVE ROCK

PANZERPAPPA       PESTROTTEDANS   AVANT PROG

SISYPHOS     AGAINST THE GRAIN       MOON C       PROGRESSIVE ROCK

VARIOUS ARTISTS             THE FRUITS DE MER GUIDE TO HITCH-HIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

TANGERINE DREAM         THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG SERIES VOLUME 2  ESOTERIC ANTENNAE (reissue)

ANTHONY PHILLIPS          WISE AFTER THE EVENT  ESOTERIC BOX SET (reissue)

TONY PATTERSON                        EQUATIONS OF MEANING         ESOTERIC ANTENNA

EDEN SHADOW      MELODIES FOR MALADIES        WHITE KNIGHT RECORDS            PROG METAL

P J HARVEY              THE HOPE SIX DEMOLITION PROJECT                        VAGRANT

DAVID BOWIE        BLACK STAR                        COLUMBIA

GONG            REJOICE, I’M DEAD!                      PROGRESSIVE/ PSYCH/ CANTERBURY

THE RESONANCE ASSOCIATION          PILGRIM       BANDCAMP             ELECTRONIC/ EXPERIMENTAL/ DRONE

CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER        CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER        ELECTRONIC/ SYNTH/ STEREOLAB SIDE PROJECT

ELECTRIC MOON   THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE       SULATRON   SPACE ROCK

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR             WILD              BLUES

EMPIRICAL              CONNECTIONS                   CUNEIFORM RECORDS

THE ONES I HAVEN’T CHECKED OUT YET?

ANDERSON- STOLT           INVENTION OF KNOWLEDGE

NEAL MORSE BAND         SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM

DREAM THEATER  THE ASTONISHING

DUNGEN      HAXAN

OPETH           SORCERESS

Sunburst by Sheckley – the fabulous new album

Sunburst by Sheckley – the fabulous new album is out now at Bandcamp.

• Comes in CD case with stunning artwork and pictured and designed by Richard Gorman. Solar flare photograph courtesy of NASA. Postage rates for EU and rest of world are approximate- please enquire.

  Includes unlimited streaming of Sunburst (full album) by Sheckley via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

  ships out within 2 days

  	1.	Launchpad 02:12
  	2.	Red Ghost a Sharik 02:05
  	3.	Red Ghost: Poyekhali! 04:14
  	4.	Red Ghost: Kirzach 02:16
  	5.	Lament 01:33
  	6.	Sunspots 04:06
  	7.	Sunburst 10:33
  	8.	Dawn 03:04
  	9.	Solar Flares 04:23
  	10.	Sunset 02:09

  

NEW MUSIC ON ‘7’ RECORDS PROJECT ONE ORAC 2- SPACE NEEDLE- LIMITED CASSETTE AND DOWNLOAD

• NEW MUSIC ON ‘7’ RECORDS

  PROJECT ONE
  ORAC 2- SPACE NEEDLE- LIMITED CASSETTE AND DOWNLOAD
  TRACKS
  1 CHI
  2 TWI
  3 FLI
  4 SPACE NEEDLE
  5 GHOST OF THE TORNADOS
  7 TMPL
  8 SKY TRAIN GHOST

  ORAC 2 IS AN IMPRESSIONISTIC CONSORTIUM DEDICATED TO KEEPING MUSIC AS
  IMPROVISATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL AS POSSIBLE WHILE PROVIDING ENOUGH HOOKS TO CATCH A DOZEN SALMON AND KEEP THE CASUAL- EST OF LISTENERS ENGAGED. WE TRUST IT AVOIDS FLATULENCE OR VACUOUSNESS AND THAT, DESPITE THE BRUTAL REALISM IT DEPICTS, IT WILL RETAIN AN AUTHENTICITY THAT DEMANDS YOU MAKE A CONNECTION.
  (PSEUDS’ CORNER JULY, 2016)

  THE IDEAS CAME DURING A VANCOUVER/ SEATTLE HEATWAVE IN JULY, 2016. ON
  RETURNING HOME A FILM WAS MADE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE MUSIC.
  IT IS HOPED THAT THE MUSIC AND FILM WILL APPEAR ON BANDCAMP AND
  YOU TUBE SOON AS WELL AS THE PARADOX ONE WEBSITE. MEANWHILE,
  CURIOSITY- SNEAK PREVIEWS,REVIEW CDRS CAN BE REQUESTED IN THE USUAL WAY.
  TAGS- EXPERIMENTAL, SPACE ROCK, PROGRESSIVE.

  PS BEN MAKES HIS DEBUT ON CHIMES, SYNTH AND FILM.

  PROJECT TWO
  ORAC 3- THE SUN, OUR WONDERFUL STAR DOWNLOAD ONLY
  TRACKS
  1 THE SUN, OUR WONDERFUL STAR
  2 THE SUN, OUR WONDERFUL STAR- EXTENDED MIX
  3 CODA

  ORAC 3 (LIKE ALL ORACS) IS A MALLEABLE EXPERIMENTAL FRAMEWORK INHABITED BY HUMANS AND MACHINES LIVING IN PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE. THE MUSIC IS SPACE ROCK MIXED WITH KRAUT ROCK WITH HOOKS, IMPROVISATION
  WITHIN A CLEAR STRUCTURE AND THEME. PHIL PLAYS THE SYNTHS, THE BASS RIFF UPON WHICH NEARLY 20 MINUTES OF THE MUSIC IS BASED AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES TO HAND INCLUDING A BRIEF DALLIANCE WITH AN IRISH
  WHISTLE FROM THE GUINNESS WAREHOUSE. GUITARIST, POET AND WRITER EXTRAORDINAIRE RICHARD GORMAN PERFORMS A ONE OFF TAKE ON ELECTRIC GUITAR WHILE THIERRY SPORTOUCHE OF FRENCH BAND SILVER LINING PROVIDES THE DIALOGUE AND CODA. ALL IN ALL “A FASCINATING ORAL JOURNEY” SAYS ASTRAL TRAVELLER MAGAZINE.

  THE IDEA CAME WHEN DRIVING ON A LONELY COUNTRY ROAD ONE EVENING AND PASSING TWO UNHAPPY LOOKING PEOPLE WHICH SEEMED AN ANACHRONISM WITH THE SUN BEATING DOWN AS IT WAS. THEN I THOUGHT…WAIT A MOMENT…THE SUN ISN’T GOING TO BE THERE ONE DAY…AND NEITHER ARE THEY. SO ‘THE SUN, OUR WONDERFUL STAR’ IS BOTH A TRIBUTE AND A WARNING.

  PROJECT THREE
  SHECKLEY

  OUR ADMIRATION FOR THE WRITING OF ROBERT SHECKLEY IS WELL KNOWN IN PARADOX ONE LAND. IT WAS RICHARD, MY COLLABORATOR WHO SUGGESTED THE NAME AND IT IS MOSTLY RICHARD’S AMAZING SONGS WE ARE WORKING ON. THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE LONGER BUT WILL HOPEFULLY BE WORTH THE WAIT.
  WATCH THIS SPACE!

Radio play for Paradox One

RADIO PLAYS

“When Prog and Metal Unite”

Thanks to ‘The Flying Dutchman’ for playing Paradox One music on  http://www.rockliveradio.de/DSLlisten.m3u
Stream http://server8.digital-webstream.de:27815/listen.pls

More music from Paradox One

Reality Quake / Dimension Of Miracles

2 disc CD-R containing both albums and EPs. New downloads will be available every week, CD-R orders will receive all the music on 2 discs.  There is another free tune available over at Bandcamp.

The first CD ‘reality Quake’ (2000) was well received and got much radio play as did the second, ‘Dimension of Miracles’ (2002). Start anywhere you like. Side one of ‘Reality Quake’ is intended as a suite followed by a reinvention of some of Schumann’s music. ‘Childhood’s End’ is based on Arthur C Clarke’s story, ‘Urbmon 116’ on Robert Silverberg’s ‘The World Inside’ while ‘Crompton’s Divide’ (also a mini suite) is based on Bob Sheckley’s book. ‘The End Of All Things’ is old fashioned organ riff rock while the rest is largely progressive synth scattered with wild guitar, organ and piano breaks and hook-lines, as is all the music. 

‘Dimension of Miracles’ awaits with more sci-fi references, mostly Bob Sheckley. There is a guitar based riffer with a salutary message, ‘Big Brother’ and a ‘tragic realm’ of Elizabethan 
proportions inspired by Giles Milton’s depiction of adventurers of the time. Or you might prefer an eerie evocation of ‘Quatermass’ or another Schumann interpretative piece ‘Out of The Void’. The past is presented with additional organ, piano, vocals and judicious edits.

On CD 2 you can take an escalator to Mars or gaze at a Martian mountain or even visit ‘Lindisfarne’ inspired by a sunny day there, a piece of which I am particularly proud. Among the crazy organ, synth and piano solos and extemporisations there are- acoustic guitars! You can feel the electronic pulse of ‘An Orison of Somni’ (based on part of ‘Cloud Atlas’) or hear an extended version of the synth mayhem that is ‘Son of Little Green Men’ with additional organ. ‘Angel Song in Neon’ has additional Wurlitzer and coruscating organ and guitar. You can listen to the group stuff on ‘Dimensions’ and ‘Regeneration’ and an improvised ‘Black Hole’. Drop in on alien conversations or hear a heart wrenching piano ballad (‘Invisible’). Hear synths that are analog or think they are, remembering that despite the somewhat uncompromising nature of 
some of the music, there is always melody and structure and dark- and light.