NEAL MORSE BAND: L.I.F.T.

[KingsGene]

NMB Feat. NEAL MORSE, MIKE PORTNOY To Release L.I.F.T. Album In February; Music Video Posted For First Single “Fully Alive”​

"... For over a decade, NMB has stood as one of progressive rock’s most enduring and unified collectives. With their latest studio album L.I.F.T., set for release on February 27, Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Eric Gillette, Bill Hubauer, and Randy George return with a work that embodies vision, passion and inspiration. Written and recorded during a period of major transition, L.I.F.T. captures the band’s creative chemistry at its most instinctive and inspired.

To coincide with this announcement, the band has launched the first single from the album, and you can watch the video for “Fully Alive” (directed by Industrialism Films) below.

Conceptually, L.I.F.T. stands toe to toe with NMB’s greatest works like their much-acclaimed concept album Similitude Of A Dream, combining emotional depth with the band’s trademark progressive rock grandeur. Morse explains:

In short, L.I.F.T. is a prog concept album that follows the journey of someone seeking to belong to something greater than themselves. It starts with feeling connected to the world and life, then there is a break in belonging, after which comes the turmoil and desperate cry, leading to a return to that place of profound connection.

The album title came late, though its meaning remains intentionally vague. Randy says:

We thought it could stand for different things. It’s kind of whatever the listener wants it to be.

True to the band’s collaborative spirit, L.I.F.T. began with the usual whiteboard full of ideas, with columns under each member’s name filled with riffs and snippets. However, few of them made it onto the final album. George says

We hardly used any of the ideas on the board. Most of it was written right there in the room, more so than in the past.

While Bill Hubauer contributed a few early sketches, and Morse improvised piano pieces that evolved into key themes, much of the music took shape spontaneously.

... With artwork created by longtime collaborator Thomas Ewerhard, L.I.F.T. will be available as a Limited 2CD Digipak (incl. instrumental versions), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 2LP & as Digital Download. Pre-order here...."

Tracklisting:

“Beginning”
“Fully Alive”
“I Still Belong”
“Gravity’s Grip”
“Hurt People”
“The Great Withdrawal”
“Contemplation”
“Shame About My Shame”
“Reaching”
“Carry You Again”
“Shattered Barricade”
“Fully Alive Part 2”
“Love All Along”