Cyan (band)
Encyclopedia
Cyan is a British
progressive rock
band original formed by Rob Reed in 1984, but which split up after a few performances and one demo tape. In 1991 Rob Reed (Magenta
, Trippa) received a letter from a French fan who had received the original demo from Nick Barrett (of Pendragon
and a fan of the band) and was amazed that there was still an interest in Cyan.
Reed re-recorded the five original tracks in his own studio, playing all instruments and singing, which attracted label interest from the Dutch
label SI. During early 1993 Rob recorded new material, and included some of the previously re-recorded tracks from the last demo for the release of For King And Country in May 1993. It was very well received and resulted in various TV and radio appearances.
Pictures From The Other Side, through a mutual friend (while working on a cover version of "I Know What I Like" by Genesis
). Reed asked him to guest on one track for the new album but was so impressed that Nigel took over all the vocals on the album with Reed and female vocalist Christina Booth
(previously known as Christina Murphy) on backing vocals.
Voyle had previously worked with the band, Just Good Friends, who were signed to Polydor and played at the Reading Rock Festival in 1983. Nigel was also invited to audition as Marillion
’s new singer before Steve Hogarth was recruited. He is currently working as a session vocalist, producer and an actor with the Welsh National Opera.
Reed explains, "The writing for ‘Pictures From The Other Side’ took about three months. I then made demos of all the tracks with me singing and with all the instrumentation worked out which took another two months. Next we recorded and mixed finished versions of the tracks with Nigel’s vocals and other backing vocals and effects. We did up to eight different mixes of some tracks, and this took another four months. Finally we picked the best mixes and running order, got the cover sorted out, sent the whole lot to SI and hoped that they liked it! The CD was written and recorded at home.'
The closing track "Nosferatu" received radio play in Canada
and Russia
, mostly on dedicated prog rock stations, and more fans became interested in Cyan. Then came the demise of the Dutch SI label, leaving many bands stranded without a label, and the availability of the two Cyan albums become scarce. In late 1995 Rob was invited to work on a new project by the band, Fyreworks, who were signed to Festival Records (now F2 Records), who were very impressed with Reed's music. With new interest and a growing demand for Cyan, F2 Records approached Rob for permission to release a Cyan compilation CD. Reed wanted to make the music available again but to make it more interesting he felt that some of the tracks should be remixed and reworked. He did so during April 1997, and the compilation, simply called Remastered was officially released worldwide on July 21, 1997. By now Cyan fans were eager for more new material.
and Pink Floyd
stand apart from other progressive rock
bands of the 1970s.
Reed experimented with new instruments like saxes, flutes and bagpipes as well as different musical styles, while still staying in touch with the roots of Cyan. Lots of moog
solos, low bass pedals, mellotrons, demanding time signatures and heart-rending guitar can be found on the album. Reed had used a drum machine
during the Fyreworks project, but rediscovered real drums and bass and began to appreciated what other players could bring to a track. So, he re-recorded all the rhythm tracks with drummer Tim Robinson of Fyreworks, and bassist Pete Hurly (ex-70s band Lone Star) and enlisted the help of some of the guitarists he admired, including Danny Chang, Andy Edwards and Nick Barrett of Pendragon
.
F2 Records released the third album by Cyan, The Creeping Vine, in April 1999 to positive reviews and sales.
. With the overwhelming success of Magenta, it is unclear what will happen of Cyan.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band original formed by Rob Reed in 1984, but which split up after a few performances and one demo tape. In 1991 Rob Reed (Magenta
Magenta (Welsh band)
Magenta are a Welsh progressive rock band formed in 1999 by ex-Cyan member Rob Reed. Reed takes his influences from bands like Genesis, Mike Oldfield, Yes, Eurythmics and Björk.-Current Lineup:*Christina Booth: lead vocals....
, Trippa) received a letter from a French fan who had received the original demo from Nick Barrett (of Pendragon
Pendragon (band)
Pendragon are an English neo-progressive rock band established in 1978 in Stroud, Gloucestershire as Zeus Pendragon by guitarist and vocalist Nick Barrett. The Zeus was dropped before the band started recording as the members decided it was too long to look good on a t-shirt...
and a fan of the band) and was amazed that there was still an interest in Cyan.
Reed re-recorded the five original tracks in his own studio, playing all instruments and singing, which attracted label interest from the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
label SI. During early 1993 Rob recorded new material, and included some of the previously re-recorded tracks from the last demo for the release of For King And Country in May 1993. It was very well received and resulted in various TV and radio appearances.
History
In 1994 Rob meet Nigel Voyle during the making of the second Cyan albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Pictures From The Other Side, through a mutual friend (while working on a cover version of "I Know What I Like" by Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
). Reed asked him to guest on one track for the new album but was so impressed that Nigel took over all the vocals on the album with Reed and female vocalist Christina Booth
Christina Booth
Christina Maria Booth is a Welsh progressive rock vocalist and singer-songwriter.Since its inception in 2001, she has been the lead vocalist for the Welsh progressive rock band Magenta, in which she collaborates with Rob Reed....
(previously known as Christina Murphy) on backing vocals.
Voyle had previously worked with the band, Just Good Friends, who were signed to Polydor and played at the Reading Rock Festival in 1983. Nigel was also invited to audition as Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
’s new singer before Steve Hogarth was recruited. He is currently working as a session vocalist, producer and an actor with the Welsh National Opera.
Reed explains, "The writing for ‘Pictures From The Other Side’ took about three months. I then made demos of all the tracks with me singing and with all the instrumentation worked out which took another two months. Next we recorded and mixed finished versions of the tracks with Nigel’s vocals and other backing vocals and effects. We did up to eight different mixes of some tracks, and this took another four months. Finally we picked the best mixes and running order, got the cover sorted out, sent the whole lot to SI and hoped that they liked it! The CD was written and recorded at home.'
The closing track "Nosferatu" received radio play in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, mostly on dedicated prog rock stations, and more fans became interested in Cyan. Then came the demise of the Dutch SI label, leaving many bands stranded without a label, and the availability of the two Cyan albums become scarce. In late 1995 Rob was invited to work on a new project by the band, Fyreworks, who were signed to Festival Records (now F2 Records), who were very impressed with Reed's music. With new interest and a growing demand for Cyan, F2 Records approached Rob for permission to release a Cyan compilation CD. Reed wanted to make the music available again but to make it more interesting he felt that some of the tracks should be remixed and reworked. He did so during April 1997, and the compilation, simply called Remastered was officially released worldwide on July 21, 1997. By now Cyan fans were eager for more new material.
Creeping success
With new material being prepared, the overwhelming philosophy for writing the tracks was to concentrate on the melody, an ingredient sadly lacking in most prog bands of the time, a quality that made GenesisGenesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
stand apart from other progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands of the 1970s.
Reed experimented with new instruments like saxes, flutes and bagpipes as well as different musical styles, while still staying in touch with the roots of Cyan. Lots of moog
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
solos, low bass pedals, mellotrons, demanding time signatures and heart-rending guitar can be found on the album. Reed had used a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
during the Fyreworks project, but rediscovered real drums and bass and began to appreciated what other players could bring to a track. So, he re-recorded all the rhythm tracks with drummer Tim Robinson of Fyreworks, and bassist Pete Hurly (ex-70s band Lone Star) and enlisted the help of some of the guitarists he admired, including Danny Chang, Andy Edwards and Nick Barrett of Pendragon
Pendragon (band)
Pendragon are an English neo-progressive rock band established in 1978 in Stroud, Gloucestershire as Zeus Pendragon by guitarist and vocalist Nick Barrett. The Zeus was dropped before the band started recording as the members decided it was too long to look good on a t-shirt...
.
F2 Records released the third album by Cyan, The Creeping Vine, in April 1999 to positive reviews and sales.
Trippa and Magenta
In 1999 Reed began a side project with Christina Booth, called Trippa. The collaboration ultimately led to the creation of MagentaMagenta (Welsh band)
Magenta are a Welsh progressive rock band formed in 1999 by ex-Cyan member Rob Reed. Reed takes his influences from bands like Genesis, Mike Oldfield, Yes, Eurythmics and Björk.-Current Lineup:*Christina Booth: lead vocals....
. With the overwhelming success of Magenta, it is unclear what will happen of Cyan.