Port Mahadia CD Press Release

Posted January 7, 2008 by William

Press Release

Port Mahadia; A New Flavor of Progressive Rock

Giordano Entertainment is proud to announce the 2007 release of Echoes in Time from the band Port Mahadia. This album not only features some of the best musicians in the world of progressive rock but also marks a new step forward for some American musicians who have finally received the opportunity to explore their love of the progressive genre.

Echoes In Time was written by guitar virtuoso Cameron Castle alongside bassist and lyricist Erinn Waggoner. This first collaboration of the two resulted in an album with dramatic musical shifts from the sublime and upbeat song, "Distant Shores," to the dramatic and heavy sound of the track, "Requiem of the Mind".

Lyrically the interwoven story tells an exciting tale while leaving room for the listener's mind to discover their own meaning at the conclusion of the album. Waggoner states, "I have never done anything more complicated than this, writing an album that leads the listener and yet forces them to resolve the story in their own mind."

There are some true musical heavyweights that appear on this album which is sure to tweak the curiosity of even the casual progressive rock listeners. Rusty Clutts joins Waggoner in the rhythm section and provides a wonderful mix of technical drumming as well as tasteful dynamics. Chicago keyboard wizard William O'Connell performs throughout the works providing interesting lead, backing and accent pieces. The bulk of the albums vocals are provided by Damian Wilson(Threshold, Headspace, Aryeon) who's strong and clear voice tells the story wonderfully. Making guest appearances on various tracks throughout are David Ragsdale of the band Kansas on violin(David has also appeared on albums with Smashing Pumpkins, Quensryche and Motherland) and Hugh McDowell of Electric Light Orchestra fame on cello.

Echoe's In Time features radio friendly tracks as well as tradition elongated progressive centerpieces that are sure to please diehard fans. Look for Port Mahadia's, Echoes In Time to be a must have for any lover of progressive rock. Tunes may be sampled at www.myspace.com/portmahadia Available at CDBaby.com and soon at Amazon.com, ITunes.com and other online outlets.

EDIT....And visit the official web site, www.portmahadia.com

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William wrote at March 21, 2008

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Some Reviews of the CD:

ProgGnosis Review

Category: Music

The following was published on: 17 Mar 2008 by Michel F. at Proggnosis.com

Echoes in Time by Port Mahadia is a very strong dbut album. The style could be qualified as symphonic prog with hints of metal or progressive melodic rock with metal spicing, anyway I love their stuff. This opus is a concept album about a mariner voyage toward uncharted seas, the glory and the perils of his endeavor, his longing for the loved one he left behind, his survival. From a musical standpoint, first of all, the guitars of Cameron Castle rule superbly. He is not a mere shredder髻, but an inspired guitar virtuoso with a great technical mastery. The second strong point is the drumming, not the dull performance many times found with melodic metal. Rusty Clutts is a powerful, but subtle and versatile drummer & percussionist. He does here an impressive performance. The bass of Erinn Waggoner blends in quite well as do the keyboards of William OConnel, the violin of David Ragsdale and the cello of Hugh McDowell when they are heard. The third strong point is all the vocals, mainly by Damian Wilson & Dave Gilbert, but also the beautiful voice of Natalie Grace Chua. They add color and dept to this energetic project, whether singing or narrating. The production and the recording appear to me of the highest quality. The jacket cover of my CD is in the spirit of the project with its great sailing ship in the tempest (it is not the jacket shown here).

"Prologue (Beach Discovery)" as a beginning is a great rҩsum of this concept album. It starts with the loud sound of the waves and the seashore birds cry, and then the heavy guitar riff enters with its nostalgic, but powerful presence. The violin is also very effective. As with all that they propose here, this composition shows good complexity and nuance as it unfolds. "Sirens Call" is a ballad presenting the grounds for the departure of the mariner; the guitar melodic line is very catchy. This song could well be played on commercial radio. "Log Entry" is a brief narration. "Horizons" is my personal favourite; I set sail willingly with them. I love particularly the melodic line which is like the sun on the high sea, exquisite and energetic at the same time. This piece evolves superbly and is the occasion for excellent musicianship from the band. It is a really great progressive tune. "Requiem of the Mind" offers a solid beat and a classic heavy rock structure. I don钒t know why, but it made me genuinely think of Iron Maiden. "Times Companion" is another great ballad, the song of the lonely sailor remembering his love. "Riding the Wind" is a short and interesting piece dominated by the violin. "Distant Shores" presents a dialogue between the guitar and the violin in a good prog structure. "I of the Storm" is the near epic length composition of the band and is the musical climax of the CD. It is, of course, one of the two most interesting and complex prog pieces here. Dont get me wrong, this is not math rock, there is a strong emotional overtone present and the music at times is simply beautiful to hear on account of its melodic quality. The choir adds a ҫje-ne-sais-quoi which complements well the musical story. "Epilogue (Beach Realization)" is a final ballad which returns us to the sounds of the beach.

I strongly recommend this CD for all lovers of progressive symphonic rock who are not shy of metal hints. All in all, it is a very convincing d۩but album and Port Mahadia is a group I will from now on follow closely. A very pleasing discovery indeed.

La Caja de Musica Review

Category: Music

We have had many reviews of Echoes in Time. Many good reviews from Poland, Czech Republic, Brazil, France, Germany, as well as others. Some do not translate well to english, but we wanted to translate and publish this one from Mexico. This review can be found at http://www.dlsi.ua.es/~inesta/Prog/LCDM/discos.htm...

Neither the more nor the less, we were with one of the important projects the more of ends the 2007 and principles of the 08, this group of extraordinary musicians seated in Kentucky, have given us one of the interesting works the more within the scope of the Progressive Meldico Polimtrico. These professionals of music, with ample experience in the scope of the good rock, as it is the case of Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace, Ayreon, etc), David Ragsdale (Kansas, Smashing Pumpkins, Queensryche and Motorhead, among others)y Hugh Mc Dowell (ELO), give magnificent 㩡lbumn to us - concept which tour in winch of a metafrica history of the life of a man to the control of a boat which suffers an accident and between its rest finds the binnacle of the sailor, as well as details of the critical moments that step and their hopes. The disc perfectly grants an elaborated music with reminisencias of Rush and Dream Theater. Prologu㒩, opens this one magnificent work. It initiates with environmental sounds given by the marine surge and the quack of the gulls, to take agreed step to a powerful guitar with good interpreted by Castle, as well as a magnificent violinstica interpretation on the part of Ragsdale, excellent arpegios on the part of the guitarist and we listened to a marked influence of the Rush in the handling of the keyboards, a good symphonic passage and at the end of track is pronounced acoustic guitar. Sirens call풒, we as much found the interpreted guitars acoustic as electrical in separated tracks with a good support in the drums on the part of Cluss, in the average and final part of the piece, electrical guitar and sintetizadores in a magnificent closing, Log entryҒ. it is constituted in a brief narration on the part of David Lee about which it happens at those moments in the boat, we also listened to ambientacin with sound of waves. Horizons㒒, Is excellent track, esplendidamente worked, in which the group is listened to connection perfectly, sobrenmanera emphasizes the technique and virtuosity of touched Cameron Castle with either arpegios, are magnificent changes and nanejados sintetizadores or. 4 03 Ғ, we listened to an extraordinary rythmical change maintained by the battery of Cluss and under Wagonner. The violin of Ragsdale and the hoop of Mc Dowell give robustness him to the piece. One of the best ones of ҡlbumn. Totally instrumental piece. Requiem of mindҒ, great group interpretation, electrical guitar interpreted good, the voice of Wilson gives a vibrant touch him since it shows the anguish of the lost man in the immensity of oceno, To the 3 20ᒒ, catches a change to us towards a beautiful symphonic passage that is made accompany by esplendidos arpegios guitarrҭsticos. Times companionҒ, is a combination of excellent voice on the part of Gilbert and the additional voice of Natalie Grace along with beautiful the agreed ones of the sintetizadores. Riding the windҒ, is the second instrumental piece, is listened to requinto enter to be accompanied by a magnificent interpretation of the violin on the part of Ragsdale, that per moments more than to look oneself like Kansas is resembled the Dixie Dregs. Very good the support of the rythmical section, standing out under Wagonner, brief Track. Distant shoresҒ, its base is structured in the handling of the cords, mainly the violin and to bottom one it shows electrical guitar, the context of the piece has an important Rush influence. Single Mgnifico of Castle. I of the stormᒒ, is the best piece of lbumn. Excelsa presents/displays one vocal interpretation of Wilson as well as of Grace, impeccable agreed of sintetizadores that culminate with a guitar heavy in all their splendor, very interesting changes and some ruptures. Wagonner stands out noticeably in the interpretation of the low one. The voice of the narrator in the end tells to the fight of the man with the sea and distant bells us and the surge. Epiloguᒩ, is a gorgeous interpretation of voice accompanied by acoustic guitar as well as hoop and violins. A end glorious for an excellent work. We are before an excellent manifestation of creativity of excellent musicians. A true Jewel in the scope of the Progressive Meldico Polimtrico. 26 of January of the 2008 From Xalapa, Eqz, State Capital of Veracruz in Mexico.

UMBC/WMBC Review

The following is a review from UMBC/WMBC AM Radio

Port Mahadia - Echoes in Time: Totally switching gears, Port Mahadia is a great new progressive rock band that proves that the genre is not dead by any means. They incorporate a bunch of string instruments, including violin, to make them sound a lot like really good Electric Light Orchestra and Kansas. In fact, a member of Kansas appears on track 8! A fantastic concept albums, with some real gems, check this out if you like any of ELO or Kansas㩒 stuff, or if youre into prog rock along the lines of Rush and Dream Theater.

ThatҒs it for this week, keep playing your station spins!

-Your Friendly Neighborhood Music Director

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

A World Thanks

Current mood: enlightened

Category: Music

Port Mahadias Echoes in Time is now played on 7 continents around the globe and featured on 1909 radio stations. We would like to thank all who have supported us and who have helped make Echoes in Time a success.