I Am The Manic Whale (UK) for Symphonic Prog
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=105133
Printed Date: April 29 2024 at 11:24
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: I Am The Manic Whale (UK) for Symphonic Prog
Posted By: Komandant Shamal
Subject: I Am The Manic Whale (UK) for Symphonic Prog
Date Posted: December 09 2015 at 00:42
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I Am The Manic Whale is an English symphonic prog band from Reading. The members are John Murphy (keyboards, vocals), Michael Whiteman (bass, synths), Ella Lloyd (flute), Ben Hartley (drums, percussion, vocals) and David Addis (guitars, vocals). at December 6, 2015, they're released a fantastic debut "Everything Beautiful In Time" - the full-lenght album in the best tradition of English symphonic prog.
i suggested them to the PA' Symphonic section due to their long and complex epic tracks, great musicianship skills, amazing keys / guitars interplays, pleasant vocal harmonies and decent experimental approach.
Important links:
http://iamthemanicwhale.bandcamp.com/album/everything-beautiful-in-time" rel="nofollow - http://iamthemanicwhale.bandcamp.com/album/everything-beautiful-in-time
https://www.facebook.com/iamthemanicwhale" rel="nofollow - https://www.facebook.com/iamthemanicwhale
http://iamthemanicwhale.com" rel="nofollow - http://iamthemanicwhale.com
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Replies:
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 09 2015 at 02:50
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This is good! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 09 2015 at 03:14
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Yep, a no brainer for me, this one. They cite Neal Morse as an influence and there are definite touches of Morse and the Beard here. Excellent stuff for an amateur band. |
Posted By: Komandant Shamal
Date Posted: December 09 2015 at 07:42
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^^i'm glad that you like this MASTERPIECE of "awful" prog! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 09 2015 at 07:45
Who said it was "awful"? |
Komandant Shamal wrote:Posted By: PH
Date Posted: December 09 2015 at 07:49
| Fantasic debut full of unbridled creativity! IATMW is one of the most interesting new progressive groups to emerge from the UK for recent years. Definitely, we have something BIG coming up here. |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: December 09 2015 at 14:18
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Maybe, more Crossover tr me, but will send the link to the team. Good stuff ------------- 
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Posted By: PH
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 00:01
It's a sheer prog in classic traditions. I don't hear any type of "crossover" here.
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Posted By: Komandant Shamal
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 00:49
"crossover"? 
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 10:44
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 11:03
This kind of behaviour is unbecoming and unwelcome here. Play nice or play in someone else's playground.  ------------- What? |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 18:36
Who cares? The team will decide. I'm ready to say yes if they believe so. But guys as Kommandant Shamal hurt new bands, just because he proposes it i would like to say no, luckily I won't harm a band because of one jerk.
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 18:40
Crossover is a full Prog genre. -------------
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Posted By: rdtprog
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 20:18
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If Big Big Train is in the Crossover genre, than I am the manic whale should be, less symphonic than Neal Morse, even for those long songs. Very good, but to me i hear more the Big Big Train sound , which is not too far from the symphonic prog genre, though call! I don't hear much Pop influence but more mainstream rock along the style of Flying Colors maybe, but they are more "proggrier" in many more passages. ------------- Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness. Emile M. Cioran |
Posted By: Komandant Shamal
Date Posted: December 10 2015 at 22:12
and really, to push those modern English symphonic prog bands like I Am The Manic Whale in that artificial "crossover" PA genre where are the bands and solo artists like Talk Talk, Radiohead, Bjork, David Sylvian and Robert Plant, it would be a ridiculous decision and therefore a very bad precedent for the Archives.
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 11 2015 at 06:25
Of course it's up to you and the other genre teams.
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Posted By: O666
Date Posted: December 11 2015 at 09:47
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Great suggestion Komandant Shamal. I got this album 6 days before and I decided to suggest it. This is a exact Progressive Rock album and I no dubt about that. I listened many times to it to find Sub Genre of it for suggestion. In first meet , it's seem completely "Symphonic Prog" in my ears. After more listening , I dubt about Symphonic!
It can be Symphonic Prog or Neo Prog and "Ofcourse" it can be Xover prog (as many great "Full Prog Rock Bands" ). Honestly "Sub Genre" is not important for me and I don't want to fight for Subjective things. IMO "What is I Am The Manic Whale sub genre" is Subjective because you can find "Some of Genres" elements in their music clearly.
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: December 11 2015 at 11:40
Being that we have two votes (Including mine) for no, I will send them to Eclectic ti see if they accept them. Due to the some complex passages, may fit well there.
What you agree or disagree doesn't matter at all, due to your endless list of doubious bands suggested, we have no reason to trust in your suggestions. Is true that Yes and Genesis had some mainstream influences (Specially Yes), but the whole concept was 100% Prog, in this case this excellent band adds clearly blend importante mainstream passages with Prog.
Crossover also has Prog Icons as Peter Gabriel, Mike Oldfield, Alan parsons Project, etc And if you don't like it, bad luck.
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Posted By: PH
Date Posted: December 11 2015 at 12:04
| To each his own... I am absolutely sure that "crossover" may be associated with something like PT and the ilk. As for AITMW, their music sounds in the vein of pure sympho-prog. |
Posted By: Komandant Shamal
Date Posted: December 11 2015 at 19:03
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Posted By: kvaca
Date Posted: December 16 2015 at 05:24
for me its simply the best new sympho-prog album of this year...after many dissapointments with latest Yes or Glasshammer albums this is like fresh air...I even hear some Queen or Aviary influences!
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Posted By: samueldelrussi
Date Posted: December 18 2015 at 19:00
| I am no expert by any means and merely an Artist who is getting along in years who has been "there" since the beginning of the Progressive Music movement and has even contributed some Artwork to said "movement" and to these very devoted ears this album sounds a lot like excellent, classic Symphonic Prog. Just one man's opinion but man, what an enjoyable album. I take my hat off to them and would love to see them added to Prog Archives. From concept to execution this outstanding album has really touched me on many levels and I suspect that I'm not alone. Thanks PA for allowing me to stick my two cents in concerning this end of the year, most pleasant surprise. Happy Holidays to all of my fellow lovers of Prog Music. |
Posted By: O666
Date Posted: December 20 2015 at 09:17
You are not alone. I like them so much and I'm sure they have many fans because their album is perfect. There are many Progressive Rock huge fan like me and you. Happy Holidays to you.
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: December 20 2015 at 11:32
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Well it's official. The Symphonic Team by unanimous vote has rejected the band, for Symphonic. We are sending a copy of this link to Eclectic. I suggest you modify the name for the Eclectic Team to notice better. Iván -------------
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: January 14 2016 at 06:21
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*bump* This album is brilliant - reminiscent of Transatlantic and Spock's Beard in place. We need to get this lot on board ASAP! |
Posted By: addictedtoprog
Date Posted: January 14 2016 at 08:54
^^ Its very very gud..needs to be added soon. Sub-genre doesn't matter much. But yes, they indeed sound better than Spock's Beard/Transatlantic. |
Posted By: PH
Date Posted: January 21 2016 at 12:03
Currently, the band isn't included to a Prog Archives data base. That's why I'm going to put my humble article here, in this Forum thread. A bit later...
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 21 2016 at 12:22
Unless it is directly related to the suggestion of the band for inclusion I recommend that you don't. Put your "humble article" in a new thread in General Music or Unsigned Bands - just not here and not in one of the main Prog Music Lounge.  ------------- What? |
Posted By: PH
Date Posted: January 22 2016 at 12:54
Have done. http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=105610
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Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: January 22 2016 at 17:52
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I listened to the album a few days ago and thought they were not eclectic. Sound to me like crossover prog but with longer songs, kinda remind me of A.C.T only less heavy. We'll have to wait and see what the other team members think of them. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 25 2016 at 00:54
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I think Crossover would be an absolutely brilliant place for this professional band, in fact it would be a perfect fit. Full prog with a tasteful touch of mainstream. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: O666
Date Posted: January 25 2016 at 08:13
| Crossover is the best sub-gen for them (IMO) |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 04 2016 at 06:42
| *bump* |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 11 2016 at 09:04
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*bump* again. This band now have a track included on this month's free Prog magazine CD. They're getting more and more exposure and I feel we're missing out by not having them here. |
Posted By: addictedtoprog
Date Posted: May 11 2016 at 09:21
| Should have been added already..,anywhere on PA..Symphonic/Eclectic/Crossover. |
Posted By: yam yam
Date Posted: May 11 2016 at 12:08
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Won't be long now guys - two 'yes' votes in Crossover, and just Thomas left to vote: http://progfreak.com/I-Am-The-Manic-Whale-165165.html?path=pa/recent" rel="nofollow - http://progfreak.com/I-Am-The-Manic-Whale-165165.html?path=pa/recent . The band was only added to their chart just over a couple of weeks ago, so probably not their fault for the delay. Enough info to make the bio can be found at http://www.iamthemanicwhale.com/about.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.iamthemanicwhale.com/about.html , choose a band pic from http://www.iamthemanicwhale.com/photo-gallery.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.iamthemanicwhale.com/photo-gallery.html , and the info below will help with the album addition: Tracklist: 1. Open Your Eyes (6:37) 2. Pages (9:04) 3. Princess Strange (5:05) 4. Circles (Show Love) (16:28) 5. Clock Of The Long Now (9:16) 6. The Mess (6:12) 7. Derelict (21:28) Total time 74:10 Line-up: - Ben Hartley / drums, percussion, vocals - David Addis / guitars, vocals - John Murphy / keyboards, vocals - Michael Whiteman / bass, vocals, keyboards, guitars, drums - Ella Lloyd / flute Released December 2015 - digitally on iTunes, Bandcamp etc - and also as limited edition CD (250 copies) in double gatefold digipack with 12 page full colour lyrics booklet containing beautiful photography by Sarah Joy, Rolfe Horn and Steve Squires. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 03:25
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That's good news. The band have agreed to do an interview for PA which I will publish as soon as I've thought up some questions. If we can tie that in with their addition to PA, that would be fantastic! |
Posted By: addictedtoprog
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 10:28
Thats fantastic news guys 
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Posted By: O666
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 12:27
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 29 2016 at 05:34
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Not really my kind of music, but I do think they'd fit nicely in xover ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 29 2016 at 05:43
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So what's the hold up? Two yes votes on a three man team is enough is it not? ------------- What? |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 29 2016 at 05:46
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It is unless I am missing something. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: yam yam
Date Posted: May 29 2016 at 08:18
Crossover have several bands/artists still in their 'New' chart who are actually already technically 'Cleared':Progarchives Genre Chart: Crossover Prog Chart: New
Some of them have all three votes as 'yes'. Thomas hasn't logged into progfreak for around a month, & I already pm'd Scott a 'ready to use' bio for these guys - capitalised where necessary so that it could be just pasted in - to save him time editing the available info himself, if he wished to use it. A selection of band pics is available on the official website: http://www.iamthemanicwhale.com/photo-gallery.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.iamthemanicwhale.com/photo-gallery.html , and the album details are in my previous post on page two of this thread: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=105133&PID=5324887#5324887" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=105133&PID=5324887#5324887 . Shouldn't be too difficult to put this one to bed really. The Crossover den thus seems to be a bit quiet at the moment...
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 29 2016 at 13:49
You're right, I failed to take Xover's workload into account. Apologies guys - all in good time.  ------------- What? |
Posted By: yam yam
Date Posted: July 15 2016 at 22:49
Cleared about a month ago, and I sent Scott a ready to use bio via private message on 12th May to help speed up the addition once the deed was done (if he felt it was fit enough to use, that is  ).Anyhow, I really don't know what the hold up is now, so if any other SC wants to intervene here and lay this long-running saga to rest, then here is a copy of that bio: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I AM THE MANIC WHALE is a progressive rock band formed in Reading, United Kingdom, in 2015, consisting of Michael WHITEMAN (bass guitar and lead vocals, plus occasional keyboards and guitar), David ADDIS (guitars and backing vocals), Ben HARTLEY (drums and backing vocals), and John MURPHY (keyboards and vocals). Michael and David met at secondary school and have been making music together in various guises for over 20 years. They met Ben a few years later and John relatively recently. Michael began writing music over ten years ago while he was at university, and had been looking for an outlet for it ever since. In 2015 he decided to record a solo progressive rock album under the name I AM THE MANIC WHALE, but after completing the first song it became apparent that he would need some help from his other musician friends, and this gradually evolved into them playing on the whole album. Rob AUBREY was persuaded to take on the mixing duties, and the debut album "Everything Beautiful In Time" was released in December 2015. The music of I AM THE MANIC WHALE is inspired by many of the great progressive artists, particularly GENESIS, THE FLOWER KINGS, BIG BIG TRAIN, SPOCK'S BEARD and Neal MORSE. Since completing the album the band have begun rehearsing together with a view to some possible future live performances. Michael has also begun working on some ideas for the second album. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not perfect, I admit...But I've seen worse!
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Posted By: yam yam
Date Posted: August 19 2016 at 21:41
Lol! There are more 'bumps' in this thread than on a roll of bubble-wrap...but here's yet another one!  Two months now since being cleared, and I still think that bio above will do to get them on the site (it gives all the basic facts, and you can always improve on it later if needs be ).Anyone with enough stars over his/her head want to do the honours?
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Posted By: rdtprog
Date Posted: August 20 2016 at 05:05
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http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=9890" rel="nofollow - I Am The Manic Whale added ------------- Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness. Emile M. Cioran |
Posted By: yam yam
Date Posted: August 20 2016 at 07:46
http://www.sherv.net/" rel="nofollow"> http://www.sherv.net/" rel="nofollow"> http://www.sherv.net/" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: August 20 2016 at 08:15
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Woop. I shall tell them immediately. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: August 20 2016 at 08:16
I hate to be picky but there are two typos in the title - Everyting Beautilful In Time |
Posted By: rdtprog
Date Posted: August 20 2016 at 08:28
 Nothing picky here, when it's the album title. I had made the correction------------- Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness. Emile M. Cioran |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: August 20 2016 at 08:56
Good work. I suppose I'd better get round to reviewing the album then. |
Posted By: Second Endeavour
Date Posted: August 27 2017 at 09:07
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It's time for IATMW fans to help this wonderful prog-band get their second album finished. You can pledge to pre-order the new CD now, or (if you fancy it) there's some other stuff you can get as well...
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: August 29 2017 at 08:28
They have reached the target now but I believe you can still order some goodies.
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Posted By: Second Endeavour
Date Posted: August 30 2017 at 01:45
Firstly, IATMW need to get the new album to everyone who pledged... Soon after that (perhaps, in October) general release will come.
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