International progressive rock power trio UMÆ — singer/guitarist Anthony Cliplef, guitarist Guðjón Sveinsson, and drummer Samy-George Salib — have released the single “Turn Back Time” taken from the upcoming album Lost in the View. The music can be streamed below.
UMÆ have collaborated with several guest musicians on Lost in the View. “Turn Back Time” features former Porcupine Tree session guitarist and singer John Wesley on vocals and Haken bassist Conner Green, alongside vocalist Hulda Kristín Kolbrúnardóttir, keyboardist Magnús Jóhann Ragnarsson, violinist Eyja Ragnheiðardóttr, and Sólný Pálsdóttir on backing vocals.
Commented Anthony Cliplef: “‘Turn Back Time’ was written in a batch of songs I’d been compiling, hoping for a future album back in 2009/2010. I was listening heavily to Transatlantic’s ‘The Whirlwind’ and loved the powerful, anthemic themes and the prominent influences of older bands like Yes, Rush, and Genesis, which, to me were heavily present in their music. When the opportunity arose to go to Iceland and write and demo music with Guðjón, I proposed this track. The themes from this song ended up becoming the glue that binds this album together, both musically and lyrically, manifesting itself in different ways at various points in the album.”
“Lost In The View” Album Artwork
The trio will launch Lost in the View by the end of 2018. Mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at the Fascination Street Studios, Lost in the View is a concept album featuring a wide range of performing personnel, including vocalist John Wesley (Porcupine Tree), keyboardist Adam Holzman (Miles Davis, Steven Wilson), guitarist Eric Gillette (Neal Morse Band), and bassist Conner Green (Haken). UMÆ is an international progressive rock outfit, formed in 2017 by Anthony Cliplef (guitar, vocals), Guðjón Sveinsson (guitars) and Samy-George Salib (drums).
After meeting and performing together at a progressive rock festival in February 2017, Cliplef flew to out to Iceland to begin collaborating with Sveinsson. Demos to the full album were soon formed and forwarded to Salib, who subsequently performed drums to all tracks. Upon realizing the scope of the project they enlisted the additional performers needed to fully see their vision through. The following recording process took place at a range of locations, including Revolution Recording (Toronto), Sundlaugin Studios, Stúdíó Sýrland (Reykjavík), as well as various home studios.
Lost in the View album is set to release in late 2018, followed by plans to perform live in the following year.
