Greg Fox - Gradual Progression - VINYL LP

Greg Fox's Contact is an extension and evolution of the multidisciplinary artist's rigorous, virtuosic sound-making practices. On Contact, the devoted performer, intrepid composer and avid collaborator channels an alchemy of influences and ideas through the kinetic exchange of human and percussive forms. Produced and mixed by Randall Dunn, Contact sees Fox accessing ever more raw and ruminative states, processing the tumult of sentience into stick-hit-drum. Vinyl edition comes with high-quality code.

This disc is a double tribute. The first work, Pictured Within, is a collective effort conceived as a major project to mark the 60th birthday of conductor Martyn Brabbins, whose reputation in new music and British music is beyond reproach. Following the pattern of Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, Pictured Within is a series of 14 variations on a theme, each of which takes up the character of the equivalent variation in Elgar's work, the difference being that here 14 different composers have each contributed a variation in tribute to Brabbins. Also on the SACD is Jaakko Kuusisto's Symphony, a fitting tribute to the composer, conductor and violinist who passed away in 2022. Illness left Jaakko no time to complete his work, so it fell to his brother Pekka - who conducts here - and Jari Eskola to finish it. The result is a powerful piece, full of familiar themes and melodies derived from Jaakko's existing compositions, to which are added autobiographical extra-musical elements. The moving conclusion is a collage of fragmented phrases inspired by the signals emitted by lighthouses and ships, as if Kuusisto's spirit had been sent out to sea.

2017 . Stepping out with his first solo album, the songs for this project reflect the last 18 months of his life as he's developed events/conferences/touring aimed at encouraging and equipping men and families to become great leaders specifically in their homes. His #1 song InchLead MeInch was the catalyst for many of the themes included on this album. The album opens with InchHeaven KnowsInch which chronicles his decision to step down from Sanctus Real. The songs InchCould've BeenInch, InchTearsInch and InchFootprintsInch wrestle with themes of choices, life-events and circumstances that can challenge our beliefs, cause us to rethink our lifetrajectory and still remind us of the hope that all is not lost and new beginnings are waiting for anyone. The album comes full-circle with the songs InchLead MeInch which has been re-imagined with an all-new arrangement and the closer InchLife Is GoodInch which celebrates victories and faith in each other and in God.