Prolific progressive rock musician Neal Morse has announced the formation of his new project, Neal Morse & The Resonance. This collaboration features a selection of younger local musicians, including Chris Riley on bass, Andre Madatian on guitar, and Philip Martin on drums, with Johnny Bisaha taking on the lead vocal duties. The group's debut album, titled No Hill For A Climber, is set for release on November 8 through InsideOut Music.
Morse elaborated on the inspiration behind this new venture, stating, "I started thinking about what I was going to do in 2024, and my wife suggested that I should think about doing something with the amazingly talented younger guys that we have here locally." This initiative aims to blend the freshness of youth with Morse's extensive experience in the progressive music scene.
The project has already released its first music video for the track "All The Rage," which was one of the first songs recorded with the band. Morse noted the track's live feel, as they recorded much of it without a click track, promoting a naturalistic energy throughout the song.
No Hill For A Climber will consist of five tracks, including two lengthy pieces that each exceed 20 minutes, as well as three shorter offerings. The album's title is inspired by a line from Barbara Kingsolver's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Demon Copperhead. The complete tracklist is as follows:
- Eternity In Your Eyes (20:51)
- Thief (05:22)
- All The Rage (05:32)
- Ever Interceding (06:29)
- No Hill For A Climber (28:49)
Furthermore, No Hill For A Climber will be available in several formats, including a limited edition 2CD digipak featuring a second disc of instrumentals, a standard CD jewelcase, a gatefold 2LP, and a digital album. Pre-orders are currently available here.
For more updates on Morse and his new project, visit Prog Magazine's website.