November 26, 2012, Melodic Revolution Records released the highly anticipated and soon to become a critically acclaimed debut album by International Art-rock project Corvus Stone, the album featured 6 singles in total including the hit singlrs Cinema, Ice King, Scary Movie.
Who are Corvus Stone?
Colin Tench, Petri Lemmy Lindström, and Pasi Koivu began this collaboration almost by accident. Chance meetings on Facebook!
We are all lovers of a huge variety of music. Pasi asked Colin to play guitar on Iron Pillows in late 2011. He did. Petri heard the result and asked if he could play bass on it. We KNEW what we had from that one small thing that we did. In 2012, Pasi sent Colin Ice King. That was the real start of the collaboration and album plans. After we had completed about 6 tracks, I think we were all stunned by what we were doing. The results were fun, moving, foot-tapping, and powerful. It sounded like we have been playing together for 10 years.
Pasi, composer and keyboard player, with the most original and far-ranging musical ideas I have ever encountered, has composed everything on here except Cinema. That was Petri’s. Petri is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. He also happens to be a virtuoso on bass.
Colin takes the job of arranging the music. We all play crucial roles in Corvus Stone. We also all play exactly what we want. No direction or restriction is ever placed on anything. The result (surprisingly) is total cohesion in every piece of music. It is all about the music and a combination of the sounds we chose. It is never about solos. It isn’t typical prog, jazz fusion, funky 70s TV music, or Rock. It is all of those and more.
Late in the recording process, Colin met Blake Carpenter and started playing guitar on the Road to Avalon project. Blake loved Corvus Stone. One day he asked if he could write lyrics and sing on a couple of our pieces. The first he chose was Ice King. Brilliant. Few would have the imagination to sing on what we have recorded. Blake does and he will hopefully be working as a Stone a lot more now.
There is one track on here called Jussipussi, written by Stef Flaming of Murky Red, reworked by Corvus Stone, and could be considered slightly Zappa. Stef’s voice can be heard on it and he also plays guitar.
A bonus track called “You’re so wrong”, is a cover version of a Black Widow song. We are proud to have an original Black Widow guitarist (John Culley) playing guitars on it! On drums is Victor Tassone of Unified Past. Blake is on vocals.
Colin is also a member of BunChakeze, Colin Tench Project, Oceans 5, and The Minstrel’s Ghost(with Blake Carpenter and Zoltan Csörsz Jr).
Lemmy is an ex-member of Lyijykomppania and a current member of Saturn Twilight and Progeland (he’s also included in various other projects).
Pasi has had his Psychedelic Eye music project and for some years has been the archivist for Black Widow and has been a great encouragement and help to them. They recently released their first new album in 40 years!
Our new drummer Robert Wolff joined us recently and he was previously in RAVEN and MICAH. He is also a virtuoso with a fabulous feel for music. He is now a permanent member.
Blake Carpenter. The Minstrel’s Ghost has become our very special guest on vocals. He will also be a regular guest or even a member of Corvus Stone.
Apart from Colin, nobody was asked if they would like to join this band. Everyone wanted in. A very special and talented fan and friend of Corvus Stone has been crucial to the success that has already started for us…
Sonia Mota has done all the artwork and has acted as a band member. Everything she does is well thought out and cleverly connected to the music. The quality of the art and the imagination she has is quite astonishing. Sonia was also not asked to do it. She just joined us. In the true Corvus Stone tradition.
What started as a side project for Pasi, Colin and Petri has become the collaboration of our dreams. This album is no longer due to one fact. CDs only fit 80 minutes on them. We already have 4 tracks started for the second album and Robert is now fully in Corvus Stone and recording right now.
Anyone who likes music should give this a couple of listens and we guarantee will hugely enjoy some or all of it!
Track Listing
- The Curtain Rises 01:32
- October Sad Song 04:57
- Highway To Emptiness 02:28
- Ice King 03:10
- I’ll Leave It All Behind 03:35
- Corvus Stone 08:19
- Moron Season 03:26
- Horizon 01:51
- Intermission 00:41
- Moustaches In Massachusetts 04:17
- Pilgrims 05:17
- JussiPussi 02:44
- Iron Pillows 05:17
- After Solstice 04:05
- The Rusty Wolff Attack 02:30
- Lost and Found 02:20
- Scary Movie 04:21
- Cinema 10:50
- You’re So Wrong 03:52
- The Ice King (Instrumental) 03:10
- Ten Inch Lisa 00:29
- The Stones Meet Cheryl In The Soundtrack From Hell (Bonus Track) 02:44
- Cinema (Bonus Track) Alternate Version 06:00
- Purple Stone (Bonus Track) 03:22
Corvus Stone
Colin Tench / guitars, percussion, backing vocals
Pasi Koivu / keyboards
Petri Lemmy Lindström / bass
With:
Robert Wolff / drums & percussion
Blake Carpenter / vocals (4,16,19)
Stef Flaming / guitar & vocals (12)
John Culley / guitar (19)
Victor Tassone / drums (19)
All music composed by Pasi Koivu except:
Cinema, The Curtain rises & intermission by Petri Lindström.
Jussipussi by Stef Flaming
Lyrics by Blake Carpenter
Instrumental arrangements Tench/Koivu/Lindström
You’re so wrong: Geoff Griffith/Clive Jones
Recorded in Sweden, Finland, USA, Belgium & UK
Mixed and Mastered by Colin Tench at The Stoned Bun studios
Technical assistance & additional tweaking: Blake Carpenter
Robert’s drums recorded by Rusty Dimmett at Kennesound Studios Kennesaw Georgia Atlanta. He is an amazing and dedicated musician too. He has become indespensible to Corvus Stone. Robert and Rusty are available for studio work. Contact Rusty!! rustymerci@gmail.com.
CD design layout & preparation: Yolanda & Stef Flaming
Original artwork Sonia Mota . NO effects were used to harm these incredible creations!
What they say about the debut
This is Nuggetville, with so many gems to choose from. Who cares if it’s a tad helter-skelter? That’s their style, eccentric, iconoclastic, eclectic, and adventurous. They have musical balls and so do you. 5 Stars Bewildering volcano of sound! – tszirmay Prog Archives
This is truly a wonderful addition to anyone who appreciates music that takes you into to ultimate and fantastic musical journey.
Most deserving of full 5 STARS! Sonia Mota
Listen, Love, Buy, Share.
Corvus Stone Online
Corvus Stone MRR Music Profile | Facebook | Bandcamp
Colin Tench Online
Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp
More Online Links
Pasi Koivu | Petri Lemmy Lindström | Blake Carpenter | Stef Flaming | John Culley | Victor Tassone | Robert Wolff