Wonder 2017

Welcome to P52, Prog magazine's second cover CD for 2017. You don't get much bigger than Steve Hackett, here with Hungarian jazz band Djabe, lending a new twist to Steve's own The Steppes. Or Oceans Of Slumber, who boldly take on the Moody Blues' Nights In White Satin in emphatic style. Or Japan/Porcupine Tree keysman Richard Barbieri, with new, jazz-flecked solo fare, and of course Touchstone and Ghost Community, who weigh in with some grand, melodic music. Elsewhere, the UK's Beatrix Players add melancholic beauty, and Multi Story complex intrigue. New Australian bands Anubis and Hemina show there's some exciting new music being made Down Under, and Jug Bundish do the same for Costa Rican prog.

There's a certain humility and attitude of reverence that has long been giving birth to the undeniable excellence of Hillsong UNITED's music, and this has never been more evident than it is in the band's brand new album Wonder. Filled with pulsing tempo, bright tones and colorful melodies, Wonder is a departure sonically from the band's contemplative 2015 release, Empires. Following a theme of awe and 'wonder,' the new album finds Hillsong UNITED more amazed by the awesomeness of grace than by their storied career and on-going list of accolades. The RIAA multi-platinum artists have been named Billboard's Christian Artist of the Year (2015 & 2016), received the American Music Award for Favorite Artist: Contemporary Inspirational (2016), and is the most followed Christian artist across all social media platforms with a collective total audience of over 9.1M. Teeming with the lyrical imagery and vocal prowess that fans have come to expect from UNITED, Wonder is sure to be an instant classic. Featuring songs 'Future Marches In,' 'So Will I' and the energetic title track 'Wonder' fans are sure to be listening to this album for years to come.

Frore is Paul Casper an electronic musician from Virginia Beach VA. Frore is music that evokes a dark thoughtful, primitive, atmosphere for reflection and/or dreaming. Paul thinks it's music that connects with "something", but he has yet to figure out what that is… Oh well, one more mystery is always welcome.
Nearly 70-minute "Last Place Of Wonder" is another exceptional recording by Frore, a wizard at electro tribal ambience, who is always distinguishing, consistent and triumphant.