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ROBERT REED

Crossover Prog • United Kingdom


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Robert Reed biography
Born in Ferndale, Wales, UK in 1968

Robert Reed needs little introduction, a talented multi-instrumentalist that has been creating delightful prog music since his early days with CYAN as well as the THE FYREWORKS, then forming the brilliant and still strong MAGENTA, as well as the recent KOMPENDIUM project featuring a busload of prog superstars (HACKETT, HARRISON, DONOCKLEY, DUNNERY, BEGGS, COLLINS, BARRETT, JAKSZYK, MITCHELL among many others).

A thorough multi-instrumentalist on both guitars, bass and a vast variety of keyboards, as well as adept on percussion when needed, REED is also a composer and producer of high repute. So when he considered the solo album option and figuring out that a true solo album is when you do everything yourself, Reed had the challenge of saluting one of his heroes, the mighty and legendary Mike OLDFIELD (also still going strong what with his recent "Man on the Rocks" release). "Sanctuary" is his first solo album and as such, he plays each and every instrument with obvious glee and mastery, fueled by the Tubular Bell inspiration.

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ROBERT REED discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

ROBERT REED top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.96 | 192 ratings
Sanctuary
2014
3.90 | 120 ratings
Sanctuary II
2016
4.04 | 94 ratings
Sanctuary III
2018
3.84 | 32 ratings
Cursus 123 430
2020
4.09 | 25 ratings
The Ringmaster - Part One
2021
3.93 | 20 ratings
The Ringmaster - Part Two
2022
4.00 | 4 ratings
Sanctuary | Covered
2024

ROBERT REED Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ROBERT REED Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.20 | 21 ratings
Sanctuary Live
2017
4.05 | 2 ratings
Sanctuary Live At Newbury
2024

ROBERT REED Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ROBERT REED Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.81 | 16 ratings
Willow's Song E.P.
2014
4.50 | 8 ratings
Marimba E.P. (excerpt from Santuary II)
2016
3.33 | 12 ratings
Variations on Themes by David Bedford
2017
4.00 | 4 ratings
Theme From Doctor Who
2018
5.00 | 2 ratings
Tubular Bells - A Minor Tune (with Les Penning and Tom Newman)
2020
3.43 | 7 ratings
Cursus: A Symphonic Poem
2020
4.75 | 4 ratings
Chi Mai
2020
4.00 | 3 ratings
The Defeated Army E.P.
2021

ROBERT REED Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Sanctuary | Covered by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2024
4.00 | 4 ratings

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Sanctuary | Covered
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Prog Reviewer / Special Collaborator

4 stars The latest in the 'Sanctuary' series of albums finds Robert Reed revisiting thirteen tracks from his favourite composers, arranged and performed by Robert alongside guests Les Penning, Tom Newman, Terry Oldfield and Angharad Brinn. When I say "revisiting" I mean we get versions here of songs written and recorded by others, but I believe that all these versions (apart from, I think, "Telstar") have already been available on EP's. I am pretty sure both "Willow's Song" and "Scarborough Fair" come from the 2014 'Willow's Song EP' where Robert provided all the instruments and vocals were by Angharad Brinn who has been involved in the Sanctuary project for some time as well as Cyan, plus there have been a number of other EP's over the years.

But this is just a minor quibble, as when working in this format Reed continues to channel his inner Oldfield, and to hear what Oldfield might have done to the "Doctor Who" theme is just delicious, while any excuse to listen to David Bedford material should always be taken. His version of "King Aeolus" is a masterclass and that Bedford these days never seems to get the kudos he deserves is awful as he had such a huge impact on others, his album 'Nurses Song with Elephants' featured both Kevin Ayers and Oldfield among others and the title track is one of three Bedford songs included here. Brinn has a wonderful vocal style, providing sheer class to any song she is involved with, while Reed continues to have a very clear direction of what he wants to achieve with his music and his delight at being able to work with Oldfield luminaries is palpable.

 Sanctuary Live At Newbury by REED, ROBERT album cover DVD/Video, 2024
4.05 | 2 ratings

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Sanctuary Live At Newbury
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by tszirmay
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Robert needs no introduction, as he remains a pillar of Progressive Rock for over 2 decades now, his career with Cyan, Magenta, Kompendium, and vast array of solo albums there for the choosing. As a Rogue rule, a recorded concert review should stay away from the concept of track-by-track analysis, because after all, either you witness the entire performance or walk back home from the get-go. Here, Robert has gathered together some trusted friends to create a live rendering (also DVD) of a gig that would incorporate a wide variety of pieces from the first 2 albums of the Sanctuary trilogy, as well as The Ringmaster and a few sundries. Everyone knows full well that Robert has a powerful admiration of Mike Oldfield's long career, a passion that cannot be criticized as the 'Ommadawn Man' is a musical icon.

From the opening twinkling of "Sanctuary Part One", the musical die is cast, and the magic begins in earnest, exuding melodic charm, tonal seduction and a magnificent respect from time and space. A trio of guitarists (Reed, Fry, Elliot) weave an intoxicating string strong brew, a duo of percussionists (Griffiths and Brittlebank) hammer the drums and timpani, Nigel Hopkins' piano and the Dan Nelson bass steering the score subtly. Les Penning narrates when needed and uses his trusted recorder accordingly, while Tom Newman negotiates the 'crowd-pleasing' megaphone and bodhran. That being stated, the voices are absolutely a highlight of any Celtic-tinged output, and Angharad Brinn on lead vocals, with backing provided by the mercurial Christian Booth and Kirstie Roberts elevate this entire recital to starry celestial levels. The drop-dead beauty of the main melody is surely a timeless example of music that even Mike would applaud earnestly. To expertly recreate this complex piece in a live setting is all the testimony one needs to convince the judge, the jury and even the odd misfit executioner out there in highly opinionated critic land.

After such an epic beginning, a long series of pieces follow that span a wide variation of sounds and textures, keeping the audience rapt, absorbed and ultimately conquered. Highlights include immense ambient atmospheres such as on the ornate piano intro on the avian flutter of "Albatross", with a lament vocal to expire over. Electronic modernistic expanse on the echoing anthem "Rio Grande" or a pastoral rural romp on Mr Penning's recorder, your choice! The positive Celtic vibes on the rhythmically playful "Swan Feathered Girl" or "Marimba " (featuring, you guessed it, marimba !), the Tyrolian feel of the enchanting "Salzburg" that would make the spirit of Mozart surely giggle with glee. How about the enigmatically reverberating science fictive "Dr Who"? or the sweeping "Sendlinger's Song", where Angharad channels some incredible vocal moments (as she does throughout this set list), propelled by a rippling percussive association. Before the stunning encore ("Willow's Song") which is an absolute masterpiece vocal presentation that would easily rival the works of Brightman, Haslam, Bush, Hogg etc?, "Sanctuary Part 2" will culminate the prog sandwich, consolidating the sheltering wholeness as well as the intrinsic ingredients proposed. As some meddling prog band from the darker side once claimed:" Wish You Were Here".

A world class concert that begs to be heard, over and over again. 4.5 sheltering skies

 The Ringmaster - Part Two by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2022
3.93 | 20 ratings

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The Ringmaster - Part Two
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by Heart of the Matter

3 stars As much as the Part One was primely devoted to the musical universe of Mike Oldfield in style and sound, this Part Two plays the same role, but taking as the object of devotion the enchanted folk pastoralia of Anthony Phillips, mimicking mainly the orchestral-like setting of his first solo album, The Geese And The Ghost.

The album begins with a few spoken words by the narrator, who will come back later, but fortunately ocupying very little space on the record. After that, you have to wait a few minutes for the music to soar and to build momentum, but don't worry, because when it does, it really does. And it's primarily thanks to the electric lead guitar that it does so. Don't misunderstand me, each and every instrument and voice here leave an essential stroke in a production carefully planned and arranged, but it's the guitar the one which fuels the music with enough gas as to take it on air.

Summarizing, this is a really okay album, specially if you enjoy a ride through the forest with elves and celtic nymphs singing melismatic spells, and from time to time, to be lifted in guitar wings to fly... well, yes, with Ant's geese.

 Cursus 123 430 by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2020
3.84 | 32 ratings

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Cursus 123 430
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Prog Reviewer / Special Collaborator

4 stars I have known Robert for the best part of 30 years, ever since SI Music sent me the Cyan album 'For King and Country' and I have followed his career with great interest since then. Apparently, when he was eight years old, he received a couple of albums for Christmas, including 'Tubular Bells', and while that set his own musical path in many ways, that same year his brother was given Jean Michel Jarre's 'Oxygene', which he soon borrowed and played to death. While working on his lates project he felt he needed a break and to work on something totally different to clean his palate and started thinking about electronic music and what an impact it had on him over the years from Jarre to Vangelis, from Ultravox to Depeche Mode, and from John Carpenter to Tangerine Dream. Feeling inspired, he went out and purchased some analogue synthesisers and this is the result.

Vangelis has undoubtedly been the main inspiration for this album, with some wonderfully layered synths with strong direction, although the more ambiguous and ethereal elements of JMJ have also made their presence felt. This is a type of music I do not play very often these days to be fair, and the first time I played this all the way through I was somewhat uninspired but there is no doubt that this grows on you. Robert has an innate sense of melody, one of the reasons why his bands have been so popular over the years, and here he has used that to create music which has more purpose than many working in this style of music. Add to that his prodigious keyboard skills, and here is an album which I found I enjoyed far more than I initially expected.

It does feel very "space" like, almost as if it is tied in with a science fiction novel and I was not surprised to see that the deluxe version of this contains a detailed novella. For those who enjoy this style of music then this is well worth investigating further.

 The Ringmaster - Part One by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2021
4.09 | 25 ratings

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The Ringmaster - Part One
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by Heart of the Matter

4 stars Have to say that I am a bit divided here. On one side, the listener in me tells me that this is a masterful recording, complete with great compositions, sky-high production values, and the principal thing: every musician involved performs to the outmost perfection, without any excess or shortness. But, on the other side, the critic in me tells me that this is hardly an original piece of music, since it's so overly based on the legacy of Mike Oldfield, and maybe also some drops of Anthony Phillips here and there. Adding on this side of the balance, we have a clear air of Fleetwood Mac's Albatross gracing The Defeated Army, one of the coolest moments of the album, probably my favorite track.

Concluding, if you are not easy to put off with influences that sound so utterly recognizable, you might enjoy quite a bit this excellent album.

 Cursus 123 430 by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2020
3.84 | 32 ratings

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Cursus 123 430
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by alainPP

4 stars ROBERT REED, ROBERT REED! Known by chance with CYAN, then on MAGENTA, a little with KOMPENDIUM but above all with his covers, his mixes, finally his personal digressions with the "Sanctuary". Robert is a multi- instrumentalist and one of the best keyboard players, owning analog synthesizers like "in the days when we took the time". He has just composed this concept opus with Les PENNING who works as narrator. Album coming out with graphic plates telling the story of these aliens trying to restore the depraved and polluted world we have created; album available as CD, DVD, limited edition.

- Part 1 course: "Erthhynge" where the nod to Jean-Michel JARRE in the line of "Oxygène" then to that of VANGELIS and "Spiral", a velvety atmospheric synth on a story that ends at Stonehenge, a sound that also recalls the soundtrack of "Blade Runner", it starts well. "The Hawk and the Harbinger of Dawn" and the dark interlude, on a step, a fatal ode in the middle of the church and "Stoneborn Watchers" arrives on a techno rhythm à la NEW ORDER which denotes and does not only make a souvenir album, a bit of "Concerts in China"; a title that exudes regressions just to make you revise your electronic classics, a beautiful melody; "The Man of Sight and Feathers" continues with a grandiloquent sound à la VANGELIS then we go back to "Blade Runner", a few touches of Mike OLDFIELD with his tubular bells then of the scriptwriter and instrumentalist in his spare time that is John CARPENTER for a piece blending cheerfully intimate and optimistic atmospheres. "Witness" ends this first part with new-wave synths straight out of an ORCHESTRAL MANEUVRES IN THE DARK track; it's kitsch, dancing, synthetic with analog parts of JARRE from the beginning coming out of this melting pot.

- Part 2 course: "Stoneglow Warnings" with always the voice of Les in the preamble as on the music of Mike OLDFIELD: announcement of programmed memories of "Chariots of Fire" and "China" with its music of mandarins at the time of the Mellotron, it is beautiful over the listening especially that I also find there fragments of "Magnetic Songs". "Stalemate" for a remix, voice of Les reminiscent of the famous bells, of the synth you want some here, it goes in all the directions and the basic rhythm and bassist of TANGERINE DREAM literally explodes on this title giving it a catchy tune; "Dust and Flowers in a Lost Eden" for the second dusting interlude flirting with science fiction which rests a little and then "Gatherings at Farewell Places" arrives, I think of "Chariots of Fire" with its immense melodic line, then dark tones of the "Albedo"; finally it turns on a "Spiral" or a "Pulsar", it leaves to scratch our electronic memories yes. "Erthsheelde" and the long finish bringing together the mythical atmospheres of the 70's and 80's: a scraping melting pot between VANGELIS, TANGERINE DREAM and Jean Michel JARRE, more complex title, almost tortured, nods to these three precursor electronic entities hitting our minds with basic two finger sounds mixed with other symphonics seeming to come out of several keyboards.

Robert REED has this ability to combine the minimalist sound of a JARRE with that of a bombastic VANGELIS, new-wave keyboards from OMD or ULTRAVOX; symphonic arias form the basis of its titles and evoke the genesis and destruction of humanity, just that! It gives new life, not it transcends the electronic music which bathed our youth, it makes us revise to avoid Alzheimer's; He brings with this album two distinct sides, on the one hand the immersion of childhood electronic groups, on the other the retranslation of songs and arias that are no longer heard but still spinning in our heads. He is in fact a musical alchemist who at first puzzled me, very quickly melted in front of this delicious crucible. The 19-minute bonus version gives classic retranslations of some titles.

 Sanctuary III by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2018
4.04 | 94 ratings

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Sanctuary III
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by Hastengas

5 stars A little late to the party on Sanctuary 3. Sanctuary 1 was music that Oldfield should have been putting out rather than some of the past Poppy type efforts like Man on the Rocks. which joined Earth Moving and Heavens open in the I've got the album, but never listen to it" basket. Im a huge long standing Oldfield fan, Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn rate as the best two Albums ever for me. So Sanctuary 3......well Sanctuary 1 was good, Sanctuary 2 Ive never really got into it reminds me a bit of Amarok which is not one of my favourites, but Sanctuary 3 is just indescribably excellent.

Rob has captured the best of all the Oldfield sounds imaginable and added his own brand and style. Its an amazing piece of music and evokes those goosebump moments from early Oldfield themes. Ive played it over and over again since it arrived. Its far superior to Return to Ommadawn which I like but I dont love. This album, I adore

Rob if you read this, please keep on making the music we all crave.....along with the Magenta and Kompendium styles...an amazing talent, youve filled the gap Mike left gaping open. Thank you for the music.

 Cursus 123 430 by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2020
3.84 | 32 ratings

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Cursus 123 430
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by mr Emilio

4 stars Several weeks ago I read about Robert Reed's new album Cursus 123 430. Knowing his great Sanctuary records and his work with Magenta, I just ordered the special edition of Cursus 123 430 (cd and 5.1 dvd), which goes along with Cursus, A Symphonic Poem and an autographed booklet. A new synthesizer based album inspired by the music of Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis and others would sure be interesting enough to order without pre listening.

Last week I received the package and after a few listens of both cd's and the dvd I can assure you I have no regrets buying this special edition at all. Knowing the music of the artists who inspired Rob (and personally having a favor for the music of Vangelis above JMJ's music), I just love this new JMJ record! JMJ record? Yes, when I listen to this, it's mostly inspired by his music. And it's very well done. In my opinion Cursus 123 430 has no weak moments. It's a very coherent and enjoyable album from start to end with some great moments. I don't always like narrated albums, but the voice of Les Penning fits in very well. I'm curious what JMJ would say about this one!

If you have a surround set at home I would recommend buying the dvd as well. This surround mix is also very well done, as are previous albums of Rob Reed. It's not hard pretending you're viewing one of those majestic SF movies of the 70's listening to this album in surround sound.

The booklet holds the story by Les Penning along with beautiful drawings. My booklet signed by Rob Reed is a very nice extra.

Because the extra cd Cursus, A Symphonic Poem has it's own page on Progarchives, I won't describe it here. But believe me, it's great as well.

That leaves me to give a rating to this album. I can easily give this 4 stars with halve a star extra because it's an honest ode to the music of those great artists of the past. So, 4,5 stars really.

 Sanctuary II by REED, ROBERT album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.90 | 120 ratings

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Sanctuary II
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars UK composer and musician Robert REED have been around the block a few times, and is well known for bands such as Magenta, Kompendium, Cyan, Chimpan A and others. For the past few years he's also been an active solo artist where he is already clozing in fast on a dozen albums. "Sanctuary II" is his second solo album, and was released through his own label Tigermoth Productions in 2016.

If there are any packages left of the special edition of "Sanctuary II" with bonus CD and DVD, that is the edition to go for here. With more than 3 hours of material that is a good deal no matter how you look at it. This is a case of the bonus material being of the same or similar quality as the main album, which probably indicates that Robert Reed is quite the perfectionist. Otherwise, this album in general is one that have Mike Oldfield fans written all over it in terms of a main target audience. Other than that, those who tends to enjoy music where folk music and rock music meet inside a progressive rock general context of the kind that veers towards atmospheric laden and ambient landscapes should find this album to be a rewarding experience.

 Sanctuary Live by REED, ROBERT album cover DVD/Video, 2017
4.20 | 21 ratings

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Sanctuary Live
Robert Reed Crossover Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Prog Reviewer / Special Collaborator

4 stars Following on from the success of the two 'Sanctuary' albums, a decision was made to bring a band together to perform both albums in their entirety and to record that for posterity. The event took place on October 8th 2016 at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios, and it was then released as a CD/DVD set. There was no way that Rob could provide all the instrumentation, so brought in friends to help out, including Chris Fry, Martin Shellard, Dan Nelson, Jiffy Griffiths, Tim Lewis, Nigel Hopkins, Simon Brittlebank, Angharad Brinn, Christina Booth, Fran Murphy, Lorraine King and Ffion Wilkins. Now, this is music to be taken in and enjoyed, so although there is audience noise between the songs, everyone is calm and collected during the performances themselves. That everyone does a great job, nailing all their parts so that it comes across as very close to the original studio versions comes as no surprise, so it only leads to the question "so what was the point?".

But, the point of this was showing that music isn't just a studio creation but can be taken out and performed. True, that does mean having quite a few guitarists all playing at the same time at certain points, but I don't really have a problem with it when the music is as solid and strong as it is here. Oldfield also has to surround himself with musicians when he tours just because there are so many layers, and that same is true with Rob Reed. That he isn't spoken about in the same context apart from those in the know is nothing short of sacrilege, as I have enjoyed this and Robert's other albums just as much, if not more, than many of those by Oldfield. Plus any album that has Christina singing on it will always be something to relish. Yet another truly glorious album from the Welshman.

Thanks to tszirmay for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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