Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy (Season 1) |
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yam yam
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814 |
Topic: Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy (Season 1) Posted: August 16 2012 at 21:06 |
To me this is steeply rooted in Hard Rock/AOR and will not go down well at all with the prog purists (we actually already have it on our sister site, Metalmusicarchives: http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/dockers-guild.aspx), but it sounds great, and I know there are plenty of folks on here like me who don't listen exclusively to prog, and who will enjoy it enormously...so here goes.
From the Lion Music website: http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/mystictechnocracy.htm "Docker's Guild is the solo effort of Douglas R. Docker, who put his talent and writing skill into The Mystic Technocracy, an opera which unfolds over 5 seasons. The first season, called “Season I: The Age of Ignorance”, sees the participation of worldwide acclaimed musicians like Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth / Joe Satriani), Magnus Jacobson (Miss Behavior), Tony Franklin (Blue Murder), Guthrie Govan (Asia), Jeff Watson (Night Ranger), John Payne (Asia), Göran Edman (ex Yngwie Malmsteen, Karmakanic), Amanda Somerville (Avantasia / Epica), Tony Mills (TNT/ Shy) and many others and sees release through Lion Music in June 2012. Docker's Guild, even if inspired by progressive masters like Yes, ELP, Dream Theater and Genesis, lives on its own sounds which is a very personal mixture of progressive roots played and crafted by mainly AOR musicians. The Mystic Technocracy is a new and exciting science-fiction story and music project that has been in development for a number of years. It is the fictional outcome of a very simple observation: for 4000 years man has tortured, murdered, waged warfare and committed genocide in the name of the same God worshiped by Christians, Jews and Muslims, the three monotheistic religions. It is not a story against religion, but it is a story about the madness of man when he falls under the influence of fanatical dogmatic faith. This religious premise has then been plugged into a science-fiction universe, in which religion was created by a silicon-based life form, the Mystic Technocracy, in order to control, manipulate and eventually destroy humanity. The sound of The Mystic Technocracy results from the mixture of several music styles. Progressive rock is the main driving force, with Yes, ELP, Dream Theater and Genesis being particularly influential. The songwriting and vocal arrangements have also been inspired by melodic rock and AOR acts, mostly Asia and Journey. More subtle and unusual influences come from Duran Duran, David Bowie, Jean-Michel Jarre and obscure French space-rock act the Rockets. The project therefore contains complex multi-section suites, more straightforward rock songs or ballads, as well as more unusual instrumental or groove-oriented tracks. The music is mainly keyboard-oriented and Douglas's fine instrumental work is inspired by musicians like Geoff Downes, Gregg Giuffria and Keith Emerson. The album is a 79 minutes long opera, 10 songs among which 2 long suites, in the perfect tradition of progressive masters’ albums from the past. Musicians: Douglas R Docker: Keyboards, lead vocals, backing vocals, spoken voice. John Payne: Lead and backing vocals. Göran Edman: Lead and backing vocals, spoken voice. Tony Mills: Lead and backing vocals. Amanda Somerville: Lead and backing vocals. Guthrie Govan: Guitars. Jeff Watson: Rhythm and lead guitar, 12-string guitar. Gregg Bissonette: Drums. Magnus Jacobson: Drums. Tony Franklin: Bass. Donald D. Docker: Alto and tenor sax, clarinet, spoken voice. Additional spoken voices: Silvana Momigliano / Touria Nouri / Andrea Rampa / Janthana Rodjakkhen / Davide Ronfetto. Album Sampler: Album was released 15th June 2012 Get it here: Or buy the CD direct from Lion Music (PayPal) for €12.90 Edit: (6th Sept 2012), three full samples I originally found from this album on YouTube have been removed due to "multiple copyright infringements' by the uploader... Edited by yam yam - September 06 2012 at 06:37 |
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Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 23 2009 Location: Czech Republic Status: Offline Points: 3968 |
Posted: August 17 2012 at 04:05 |
Well the names itself sounds interesting, so I'm definitely going to check this out. We'll see (hear).
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There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"
-Andyman1125 on Lulu Even my |
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Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 23 2009 Location: Czech Republic Status: Offline Points: 3968 |
Posted: August 17 2012 at 04:53 |
Oh boy, oh boy, oh ... boy, this won't be easy. Certainly not, but one thing I'm sure of that it's very melodic album. Other than that ? Well. It's a lot of elements put together. * melody, strong melody present at most of times |
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There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"
-Andyman1125 on Lulu Even my |
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yam yam
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814 |
Posted: August 17 2012 at 05:28 |
A good summary. I definitely believe it should be included on the site - folks are certainly going to come looking for it here as word gets out over the coming months. I can only see it fitting in either Crossover or Prog-Related though.
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Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 23 2009 Location: Czech Republic Status: Offline Points: 3968 |
Posted: August 17 2012 at 06:00 |
What about Neo ? Neo can be heavier too, have a lot of synths and this kind of melody Docker's Guild features suits the genre quite well.
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There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"
-Andyman1125 on Lulu Even my |
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yam yam
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814 |
Posted: August 17 2012 at 07:10 |
^ It's a possibility, I suppose - the only problem I see is that the Neo Prog in this album is so heavily diluted with other styles that I'm not sure it would get sufficient votes from that team to clear it. Steve (lazland) will be along later, I expect, and he will be the best to judge on this, and probably the one to send it to the team who will get the first stab at it.
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Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 23 2009 Location: Czech Republic Status: Offline Points: 3968 |
Posted: August 17 2012 at 07:16 |
Exactly, let's wait for our favourite Neo Prog member to have his call too.
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There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"
-Andyman1125 on Lulu Even my |
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yam yam
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814 |
Posted: September 06 2012 at 06:42 |
Thought I'd refresh this topic since it doesn't appear to be going anywhere fast.
Here's lasercd.com's take on the matter: http://www.lasercd.com/Products/Dockers-Guild---Season-1--The-Age-Of-Ignorance__LMC325.aspx "Docker's Guild is a large scale sci-fi
conceptual project from keyboardist Douglas R. Docker (who I apologize for not
knowing anything about). Mr. Docker has assembled an interesting supporting
cast. Amanda Somerville, Tony Mills, Goran Edman, and John Payne handle vocals.
Contributing musicians are Tony Franklin, Guthrie Govan, Jeff Watson, Gregg
Bissonette, and Magnus Jacobson. The best way to describe the music is pretty
simple: Asia meets Ayreon. This is pure AOR laced with progressive rock elements
through out most notably from Docker's deft keyboard work. Its the first of a
futuristic five part story about Christianity, Judaism, and Islamic faiths being
created and controlled by the "Mystic Technocracy"...well it actually gets kind
of complicated. No metal here - just over the top bombastic keyboard driven AOR
with some familiar voices." Seems a fairly significant project to me, which I still think we need to acknowledge on the site somehow, somewhere... See what you think, guys... |
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yam yam
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814 |
Posted: September 20 2012 at 20:50 |
Another fortnight and still no takers? Last bump, then I'll let it drop.
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Andy Webb
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: June 04 2010 Location: Terria Status: Offline Points: 13298 |
Posted: September 21 2012 at 14:27 |
Checking now
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Andy Webb
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: June 04 2010 Location: Terria Status: Offline Points: 13298 |
Posted: September 22 2012 at 20:15 |
Toss up between Heavy and Neo. Plenty of "lush" synth work and it's heavily melodically based, but those riffs are pretty damn heavy. Then comes the songs that have practically no riffs entirely. Sheesh.
I will report back once I listen to the whole album.
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Andy Webb
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: June 04 2010 Location: Terria Status: Offline Points: 13298 |
Posted: September 23 2012 at 08:35 |
I'm going to go with Neo first. While the first half of the album is heavily heavy prog based, the latter half is very Neo/Crossover.
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Smurph
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 11 2012 Location: Columbus&NYC Status: Offline Points: 3167 |
Posted: September 23 2012 at 12:38 |
It's pretty good. I honestly hear Neo or Prog-Related. Not really completely sure. It's like AOR with prog.
And no offense to this guy but he studied music in the 70s and 80s at a music conservatory and this is what he comes up with? After years and years studying music... I would expect something a bit less eighties butt rock sounding.
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yam yam
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814 |
Posted: September 27 2012 at 10:18 |
For anyone who is interested in having a listen to this, and adding their twopenn'orth to the debate: http://www.airs-arockopera.com/Media/Audio.aspx (full album stream). You can also read the book and lyrics to "Airs - A Rock Opera" while you listen to the stream of the album (you will find the link for this near the top of the above-linked audio streaming webpage, & it opens in a separate window).
Edit: One 'yes' vote and one 'move' so far in Neo: http://progfreak.com/Docker-s-Guild-154351.html?path=pa/recent. Three
more team members who could possibly yet vote...this one could go right down to the wire...
Edited by yam yam - September 27 2012 at 10:34 |
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lazland
Prog Reviewer Joined: October 28 2008 Location: Wales Status: Offline Points: 13173 |
Posted: September 28 2012 at 03:06 |
Two yes votes in neo now. Decision will be made soon.
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Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org
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yam yam
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 16 2011 Location: Kerberos Status: Offline Points: 5814 |
Posted: September 28 2012 at 09:40 |
And you were indeed spot-on there, Steve...Three yes votes, and cleared!
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Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 28 2006 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 11400 |
Posted: October 13 2012 at 18:19 |
and added.
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Websites I work with:
http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
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