2020 initially promised to be a busy year for Pete Jones, with an album already recorded in January and various gig commitments with Tiger Moth Tales, Red Bazar, Francis Dunnery's It Bites and his usual pub & club gigs. But, Covid-19 put paid to a lot of plans, as it did for most musicians.
‘Still Alive’ is Jones's take on the lockdown situation, and will no doubt appeal to the mixed emotions felt by many of us throughout these difficult times.
"This is not the album I had previously planned to put out, as I’d already recorded a collection of new songs at Fieldgate Studios in South Wales which, for various reasons beyond our control, is not ready for release yet. But like so many other things this year, this new mini album came out of the blue as a response to the times we now find ourselves in. There are different moods in the songs, inspired by my own alternating feelings. From visions of a doomed world and a growing tone of madness, to a desire to see the positives and the spirit of endurance and survival.
Hopefully the message is ultimately an uplifting one and will resonate with others." (Pete)
We're also happy to announce that this release will include a new bonus DVD featuring the Tiger Moth Tales band, filmed live in front of an intimate audience at the fabulous Rockfield Studios in 2018 as part of ‘The Quite Room’ sessions. www.quietroom.tv
Includes unlimited streaming of Still Alive / A Visit To Rockfield
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
...more
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lyrics
We've been here a long time
Follow the time line
Since the old king came to town
History will show
The overlords come and go
But you can't keep a good spirit down
Queuing by the chip shop
Waiting by the post box
Making the best of the day
The church and the steeple
The pubs and the people
Each one has plenty to say
In these troubled times
So much is unknown
But I still smile with pride
At the place that I call home
Well we've seen myths and we've seen legends
Recessions and depressions
We've seen happiness and hardship side by side
Until those better days arrive
This is just another reason to survive
And we're still alive
Street lights, street signs
The fields and the skyline
These places I know so well
The men and the women
The places they've lived in
They all have a story to tell
Passing by the butcher's
People waiting in the sun
I think of better days
And better still to come
Yes we've seen all the myths and legends
Recessions and depressions
We've seen happiness and heartache side by side
Until those better days arrive
This is just another reason to survive
To those who didn't make it
Even though you're gone
You're still here in our memories
Your spirit still lives on
And though the faces come and go
Well there's still one thing that I know
I will be here until the day I die
Staying safe and staying strong
Keeping calm and carrying on
Well it takes all of this and more just to survive
But we're still alive
We're still alive
We're still alive
We're still alive
In the wake of buying the Welcome To The Planet I also went for this older "EP" (clocking in on 70 minutes a rather big big EP...) as a final farewell to a very bright bright star that sadly doesn't shine anymore. Carsten Pieper
The album takes off nicely with David Longdon's "The Strangest Times", but then gets into immediate free fall and deeply underwater for the next few tracks, quite unexpectedly. Fortunately, it recovers with Nick D'Virgilio's "Apollo" (hey, this guy CAN write good music, although he hides this ability most of the time) and the remaining three tracks, one of which is another Longdon masterpiece. So in the end the final impression is somewhat in the positive range. Sven B. Schreiber (sbs)
The Long Island metal band's third album etches arena-sized hooks into their jagged compositions, deftly balancing experimental and poppy inclinations. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 12, 2022
This is a fantastic live statement from Magenta.
The Setlist is awesome. It’s hard to pick a fav.
Christina‘s vocals are outstanding.
The musicianship is top notch.
Go get yourself a treat of Magenta live 🙂 Boris Stalf