Following that we have another Sanguine Hum announcement that won’t come as too much of a surprise for anyone who saw us on Sunday – sadly, at the end of last year our long-time drummer Paul Mallyon decided to move on to pastures new and so played his last gig with the band at the Leamington Assembly show back in Nov’2011. We wish Paul all the best for his future projects, and you should be able to hear his drumming quite soon as he has recorded his parts for the new Thieves Kitchen album (along with Brad Waissman on bass) which we believe should be coming out later this year. Filling his shoes, and already familiar to those who caught us at the Underworld or the Majestic Theater, is Andrew Booker. Andrew has had a busy music career having released music under his own name as well as performing improvised music in the groups Improvizone (with Micheal Bearpark) and Harmony in Diversity (with former Yes guitarist Peter Banks). But you will most likely have heard him recently as the drummer for the live version of Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness’ band No Man – Andrew is featured on the Mixtaped DVD and the brand new live album Love and Endings. Andrew learnt the entire 90min Rosfest set in just 3 months – a real trial by fire! And so now the four of us are looking forward to heading in to the studio to make Hum album no.2. Welcome aboard Andrew!

ESOTERIC RECORDINGS ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF A FRONT LINE LABEL FOR 2012

Cherry Red Records’ imprint Esoteric Recordings has announced the launch of a new imprint dedicated to new, front line album releases. Since its launch in 2007, Esoteric Recordings has gone from strength to strength as a catalogue label specialising in the genres of Progressive, Psychedelic and Classic Rock. Along with Esoteric’s sister labels Atomhenge (home of the Hawkwind catalogue between 1976 – 1997), Manticore and “Kraut Rock” label Reactive, the imprint has built a catalogue of 300 titles and has worked with artists such as Jack Bruce, Barclay James Harvest, Tony Banks, Bill Nelson, P.F.M., Ray Thomas (of the Moody Blues), Tangerine Dream and many more. In April 2011 Esoteric released the new studio album, “A Grounding in Numbers”, by the legendary Van Der Graaf Generator to great acclaim and success. Esoteric Recordings label manager Mark Powell said; “The success of the Van Der Graaf Generator album brought many new album projects to our door, leading us to look into the feasibility of launching a front line label. As a result, we are taking the step of establishing a label specifically for new, front line albums, ESOTERIC ANTENNA”.

The first release on ESOTERIC ANTENNA will be a new edition of the album “DIVING BELL” by Oxford based band SANGUINE HUM on March 30^th 2012, which will also include several new tracks. This will be followed by the release of the new album by SQUACKETT, the collaborative project from YES bass guitarist CHRIS SQUIRE and former GENESIS guitarist STEVE HACKETT in May. ESOTERIC ANTENNA will continue to champion the “new guard” of Progressive Rock by releasing new studio albums by PANIC ROOM in late June and THE REASONING in September. Legendary progressive acts will be further represented by the release of “PARACHUTE REBORN” in late April, a superb, newly recorded revisiting of the classic Pretty Things album “PARACHUTE” with additional material, by the XPT’s (a band featuring original Pretty Things members WALLY WALLER, JON POVEY, PETE TOLSON and SKIP ALAN).

ESOTERIC ANTENNA’s schedule will continue in the Autumn with a new album from JOHN LEES’ BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST expected in October (accompanied by a UK tour to be announced shortly and further European concerts). Further releases by classic Progressive acts are also expected in 2012. Powell added; “I’m pleased and proud to say that we have an exciting roster of releases planned for 2012 which draws on the best of the up and coming new wave of Progressive rock groups and also some new material by legendary artists with a wonderful recorded legacy. We are honoured to have such a fine line-up of artists to launch the first year of Esoteric Antenna”.

Hope to see as many of you as possible at one or all of these gigs!!

Meanwhile. we’re still on track with the Diving Bell CDs and we hope to get stock back from the factory by the end of this week! Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered!!

Sanguine Hum’s Diving Bell album is now available for pre-order.

This CD version of the record comes in a cardboard slip case with 6 page fold out booklet, all beautifully designed by Carl Glover.

Order this week using the discount coupon DIVING BELL and you will receive a 20% discount. Discount ends 4th July 2011.

Sanguine Hum are featured in the latest edition of Classic Rock Presents Prog magazine. The band are interviewed as part of the on the threshold feature, accompanying a very positive review that you can read here!