TRANSATLANTIC announce ‘The Final Flight: Live at
L’Olympia’ for release 17th February 2023
TRANSATLANTIC - the Prog
Supergroup of Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt & Pete Trewavas – are
pleased to present a new concert set entitled ‘The Final Flight: Live At
L’Olympia’. It was recorded and filmed in France on the last stop of a tour to
promote the band’s fifth and most audacious album to date, ‘The Absolute
Universe’. This was the multinational group’s first outing in eight
years.
Watch the band performing ‘Owl Howl’, a highlight from ‘The Absolute
Universe’ album, here: https://youtu.be/7kHEtZNPtsQ
Released in February 2021 to unanimous praise, ‘The Absolute Universe’
came in two alternate formats; an abridged 64-minute record known as ‘The
Breath Of Life’, and a companion piece entitled ‘Forevermore’ that added a
further four songs, clocking in at an hour and a half. Though the foundations
of both were shared, each format featured lyrics and music independent of the
other.
However, when Transatlantic finally hit the road they opted to perform a
third format of the album, a full-bells-and-whistles, 96-minute Blu-ray
culmination of both takes known as ‘The Ultimate Edition’ that had been
released in 5.1 surround sound. Following that segment of the show
Transatlantic took a short intermission and returned to the stage for a
rollercoaster trawl through the remainder of their lavish catalogue. From the
first note of ‘Overture (The Absolute Universe)’ through to the medley based
around the first two Transatlantic albums that closes the evening, the
performance comprised 3 hours of music in total.
“Ever since the start of this band we have played for three hours, so
that’s something we’re all used to,” states drummer Mike Portnoy, who grins
whilst describing his own experience as “butt-numbing”. However, Roine Stolt is
ready to admit that this time felt very slightly different.
“It was a great tour,” acknowledges the guitarist and multi-musician,
“but when you include our spot at Morsefest [where besides performing ‘The
Absolute Universe’ the band also revisited their 2009 album ‘The Whirlwind’ and
revised a cover of Procol Harum’s ‘In Held (’Twas) In I’ that had featured on
their debut from 2000, ‘SMPTe’] I felt the challenge of learning, or
re-learning, three-and-a-half hours of music before leaving Sweden. Now that I
am getting slightly older, I was a little worried about playing for that long –
it requires a lot of concentration: ‘Is this one in 7/8 or 9/8? Maybe we’ll
play it in 13/8 and in a different key?’ But of course, once we got out there
onto the stage, those thoughts went straight out of the window.”
With a chuckle, vocalist and keyboard wizard Neal Morse reveals that as
the tour found its feet Transatlantic threw an additional curveball. “We
started playing songs slightly differently to the way you've heard them on ‘The
Ultimate Edition”, he grins. “So what you get with this live album is similar,
but essentially it’s a fourth version [of the record]. When you play live, from
night to night it helps to keep things fresh by jamming a bit and changing
things up as you go. There are a few examples of that, for instance, the
beginning of the last section that starts with ‘Belong’ is quite different than
the record – partly because we couldn’t remember it! So we made up a new
structure.”
“We’re always as well prepared as we can be but in a way Transatlantic
is kind of a show band” points out bassist Pete Trewavas. “Playing alongside
Mike who is a powerhouse on the drums, there is this raw power. If he wants to
raise the energy that’s what we do. We’re all taking solos here and there,
though we get the songs across we’re all showing off as much as we can”.
Filmed by Paul Green (who also shot their ‘Whirld Tour 2010: Live in
London release), and mixed by longtime collaborator Rich Mouser, this set will
be available as a Special Edition 3CD+Blu-ray Digipak (incl. 5.1 surround
sound) & as a Gatefold 180g 4LP release. Both feature artwork by Thomas
Ewerhard & photos by Nidhal Marzouk. Pre-order now here: https://Transatlantic.lnk.to/TheFinalFlight-LiveAtLOlympia
Tracklisting:
1. The Absolute Universe Intro
2. Overture
3. Reaching For The Sky
4. Higher Than The Morning
5. The Darkness In The Light
6. Take Now My Soul
7. Bully
8. Rainbow Sky
9. Looking For The Light
10. The World We Used To Know
11. MP Intro
12. The Sun Comes Up Today
13. Love Made A Way (Prelude)
14. Owl Howl
15. Solitude
16. Belong
17. Lonesome Rebel
18. Can You Feel It
19. Looking For The Light
(Reprise)
20. The Greatest Story Never
Ends
21. Love Made A Way
22. The Whirlwind Suite
23. NM & RS Intro
24. We All Need Some Light
25. The Final Medley
Line-Up (on this recording):
Neal Morse - Keyboards,
Acoustic Guitar & Vocals
Mike Portnoy - Drums &
Vocals
Roine Stolt - Guitar &
Vocals
Pete Trewavas - Bass &
Vocals
With:
Ted Leonard - Guitar,
Keyboards, Percussion & Vocals
Transatlantic online:
https://www.transatlanticweb.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TransatlanticMusic/
www.instagram.com/transatlanticofficial
www.twitter.com/transatlantic99
INSIDEOUTMUSIC online:
http://www.insideoutmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic
https://twitter.com/InsideOutUSA