finetune artist: Liquid Tension Experiment

This short-lived, instrumental progressive rock band were formed in September 1997 as an experimental side-project by Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy (b. 20 April, Long Island, New York, USA; drums). Originally entitled the Millennium Project, Portnoy was joined by Jordan Rudess (b. 4 November 1956, New York City, New York, USA; keyboards), Dream Theater's John Petrucci (b. 12 July 1967, Long Island, New York, USA; guitars) and prolific session player Tony Levin (b. 6 June 1946, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; bass), whose credits include performances with groups such as King Crimson and Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe. Similar to the recording sessions of Portnoy's other part-time band, Transatlantic, the material for 1998's Liquid Tension Experiment was rapidly written and recorded in a mere five days. The album contained protracted and complex passages, often inventively fusing jazz, funk and rock into a percussive backdrop of constantly changing time signatures, with "Kindred Spirits" and the 30-minute epic "Three Minute Warning" being especially potent. Apart from the articulate (if sometimes over-indulgent) arrangements, the album also showcased the intense, but never overbearing, technical ability of the individual musicians. By 1999, and the recording of the unimaginatively titled Liquid Tension Experiment 2, Rudess had joined both Portnoy and Petrucci as a full-time member of Dream Theater. Although the material on this collection was also compelling and continued in the vein of its predecessor, the quality of the writing was occasionally flawed (possibly owing to the fact that it was recorded over protracted sessions) and lacked the flair and spontaneity demonstrated on their debut. Although no formal announcement was ever made, the band's activities appear to have ceased and there are no plans for future recordings. Notwithstanding that they were never likely to appeal to a mainstream audience, they remain one of the more innovative and original acts to come to prominence within the progressive field during the 90s.

Listen to Liquid Tension Experiment at Finetune.

(1999) Liquid Tension Experiment 2
(1998) Liquid Tension Experiment

Acid Rain
Paradigm
Universal Mind
Biaxident
When the Water Breaks

cowaardvark on 2007-06-19 21:11:00.967:
Im not gonna lie, this could be the most talent in a recording studio in a long while...these guys are mind blowing and if you havent heard their stuff, check it out!