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cacha71 View Drop Down
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Points: 326 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Stepan Project - Progressive Folk (?)
    Posted: January 01 2013 at 11:30
Stepan Project is the creation of Romanian musician and composer Ilie Stepan, bass guitarist in TM Progresiv http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3709  and guitarist in Pro Musica http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3255

In November 2012 Stepan Project released "Lumina" a set of 3 CDs and a DVD which concludes the trilogy
"Sensului Vieţii", "The Meaning of Life" in translation.  The trilogy consists of "Sensului vieţii", (1996), "Undeva in Europa" a double CD album (2001), and now "Lumina" (2012), distributed by Soft Records.

As Ilie Stepan states, the material for the album "Lumina" has 3 directions : the spiritual, old traditional music, and urban, day to day music of the present.  the pieces have themes relating to love, protest, and hatred in the world.  and this is because to feel the beauty of something one has to know its opposite (Soft Records).

"Lumina" is excellently produced, and presented in a case which contains the three CDs, DVD and an 80 page booklet. Currently only "Lumina" is available, but I have it on good authority that the other two works of the trilogy will be re-released in due course.

Ilie Stepan is a prominent, influential and well respected musician in the Romanian  Rock/folk scene and, in my opinion, has produced some excellent work which deserves to be included in PA.

Links: http://www.softrecords.ro/onoutate.php?id=59

http://adevarul.ro/entertainment/muzica/cel-mai-grandios-proiect-muzical-romanesc-lumina-ilie-stepan-1_50a92c017c42d5a663790508/index.html

http://www.mycd.ro/product.php?id_product=1236

Videoclips (taken from various albums)
http://www.last.fm/group/Progressive+Folk
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2013 at 11:50
As a long time fan and follower of Ilie Stepan and all of his projects, I definitely second this proposal. Stepan Project's latest album Lumina is a musical masterpiece which should be getting much more international recognition.
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Andy Webb View Drop Down
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Points: 13298 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2013 at 16:50
Interesting folk rock, but they have no place here, I'm afraid. 
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2013 at 01:21
Full 2006 show based on their second album to give a better view on the band's music:

Part I:

http://www.tvrplus.ro/editie-integralele-remix-75391#.UOPewyHtksN


Part II:

http://www.tvrplus.ro/editie-integralele-remix-75392#.UOMj1zA8q0k
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 04 2013 at 16:08
The first 2 albums "Sensul vietii" and "Undeva in Europa..." can be freely streamed on Grooveshark:

http://grooveshark.com/#!/artist/Stepan+Project/479595




Edited by amatala - January 04 2013 at 16:09
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ClemofNazareth View Drop Down
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Points: 4659 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2013 at 11:50
I listened to 'Undeva in Europa' and part of 'Sensul vietii' over the weekend.  I'm not sure the YouTube samples above present the best picture of Stepan Project, or at least they don't demonstrate the same level of progressive arrangments and folk infusion as some of the earlier albums.
 
In particular I felt these tracks were strong and encapsulated the prog folk leanings of the band, although admittedly there are jazz, symphonic, rock and just plain folk-rock sounds throughout the first two albums as well:
 
"... De Toamna"
"Piatra Scrisa"
"Chira Chiralina"
"Sus in Deal la Viflaiem"
 
The second album is a bit less progressive than the first, but in many ways is more folk-leaning so there's sort of a balance between the two.  I'm going to finish listening to 'Sensul vietii' and see what I can find online of the latest CD/DVD package (won't be buying it since the only copy I could find is almost $50 USD). 
 
Anyway, I respect Andy's opinions but in this case I think Stepan Project is worth exploring a little further and will be taking them to the PF team to get additional comments.
 
Thanks!
 
"Peace is the only battle worth waging."

Albert Camus
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2013 at 15:02
The you can hear previews of all the tracks from the new album on the band's official website:

http://stepanproject.com/discografie/

The 3CD+DVD pack can now be ordered from the band's official website also and it's the best price I could find:

http://stepanproject.com/comanda/

List price is 100 RON which is roughly 30 USD, but I don't know how much they'll charge extra for international postage...


Edited by amatala - January 07 2013 at 15:07
http://www.last.fm/user/amatala
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cacha71 View Drop Down
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Points: 326 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2013 at 03:12
Originally posted by ClemofNazareth ClemofNazareth wrote:

I listened to 'Undeva in Europa' and part of 'Sensul vietii' over the weekend.  I'm not sure the YouTube samples above present the best picture of Stepan Project, or at least they don't demonstrate the same level of progressive arrangments and folk infusion as some of the earlier albums.
 
In particular I felt these tracks were strong and encapsulated the prog folk leanings of the band, although admittedly there are jazz, symphonic, rock and just plain folk-rock sounds throughout the first two albums as well:
 
"... De Toamna"
"Piatra Scrisa"
"Chira Chiralina"
"Sus in Deal la Viflaiem"
 
The second album is a bit less progressive than the first, but in many ways is more folk-leaning so there's sort of a balance between the two.  I'm going to finish listening to 'Sensul vietii' and see what I can find online of the latest CD/DVD package (won't be buying it since the only copy I could find is almost $50 USD). 
 
Anyway, I respect Andy's opinions but in this case I think Stepan Project is worth exploring a little further and will be taking them to the PF team to get additional comments.
 
Thanks!
 

I agree - the YouTube clips are not the most interesting or representative - as you often find on YouTube the most "accessible" samples are posted, and you definitely need to listen to the whole album to get a sense of what it's about. Naturally some are more progressive than others, as is the case with most progressive bands.

Thanks to Amatala for providing the extra links and information, they certainly give a more accurate picture of Stepan's work Smile
http://www.last.fm/group/Progressive+Folk
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kenethlevine View Drop Down
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Points: 8854 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2013 at 21:26
I think this is a really tough one, and boy, Grooveshark could learn a few lessons from Spotify re usability.  I hear so much else besides folk in here.  It's like Stepan can't settle on one thing, although folk/world seems to be slightly favoured. To me this is definitely prog, but I don't know if we should offer him to eclectic first?

Edited by kenethlevine - January 11 2013 at 22:29
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yam yam View Drop Down
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Points: 5820 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2013 at 22:10
I hear enough in those TV shows to make me think this guy is certainly worth evaluating in Crossover. I don't know what the Eclectic boys think, but maybe they should be given 'first refusal'? Ermm
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Points: 8854 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2013 at 22:30
oops sorry yam yam, every time I listen to Stepan I get another opinion.  He is maddening!   It would be great to hear from Hugues on this.  Hugues are you there?

I have sent Mr Trane a private message (or two)  Geek


Edited by kenethlevine - January 12 2013 at 09:42
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 15 2013 at 04:31
You can download 2 free mp3 tracks from the new album Lumina here:

http://atelier.liternet.ro/articol/12483/Stepan-Project/Lumina-Ei-cei-care-Buy-Flowers-Not-Arms.html

These are radio edits, so a few minutes shorter than the actual album versions, but still, they're worth checking out.
http://www.last.fm/user/amatala
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2013 at 04:04

Any news from the Eclectic team about this?
http://www.last.fm/user/amatala
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seventhsojourn View Drop Down
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Points: 4006 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2013 at 12:39
The Prog Folk Team aren't quite finished with their evaluation yet. Thanks for your patience. Smile
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2013 at 13:01
Prog Folk or Eclectic, I'm happy either way... Thanks for the update! Wink
http://www.last.fm/user/amatala
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Points: 4659 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2013 at 15:21
We're undecided in prog folk at the moment but agree this belongs here somewhere. I see both Eclectic and Crossover suggested and am thinking we should defer at least to Eclectic for now. If Crossover wants to have a deeper listen so much the better. If both decide to pass than I think PF could find a home for him.
"Peace is the only battle worth waging."

Albert Camus
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yam yam View Drop Down
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Points: 5820 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 22 2013 at 18:18
So where next? Let's toss a coin...Heads Eclectic, tails Crossover! Tongue Your thoughts Chris?
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Points: 4006 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2013 at 03:43
Hi David. Reading through the posts again it looks like Bob and Ken are both in favour of Eclectic as the first port of call. We can take a little time for the PF chaps to ''move'' to Eclectic, although I can do it if they are busy. Either way, things are looking promising for the artist to be added.  
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amatala View Drop Down
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Points: 66 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2013 at 03:50
Indeed - that's what Prog should be: music that defies genres...  Wink
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cacha71 View Drop Down
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Points: 326 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 25 2013 at 10:10
Yes, and it's rarely 100% one thing or the other... anyway, that would be boring :-)
http://www.last.fm/group/Progressive+Folk
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