Winter (Irish band)
Encyclopedia
Winter were an Irish
progressive rock
/ metal band, who received critical acclaim for their live performances in the 1980s and 1990s. They released a debut EP
titled Across The Circle's Edge which in both vinyl format (by Circle's Edge records in 1990) and in CD format (by SI Records in 1992).
This EP has become sought after collectors item among some - progressive rock fans.
. The artwork was created by Phil Murray and was deliberately left to appear like a rough, first draft image, since the EP was effectively a first vinyl demo designed to attract record company attention. The idea was that once a recording contract was in place, the artwork then to evolve into a fully illustrated final piece for the inaugural Winter album. The artwork was completed but never used because when the songs were re-released by SI Records, Holland in 1992 in CD format, the band line up had changed and they decided to use a different image for the cover art. The original master tape from the vinyl recorded was re-mastered for the CD version.
By the time of the CD release, Winter had a different line, up so other players are credited on the album, but all songs were written and performed by Beggs, Lennie, Loyer, Murphy, Murray. The recordings were produced by Lawrence Thomson and recorded at Level One Studios, Newtownards
and Dove Studios, Belfast. There were elements of the tracks, particularly some keyboard parts, that had been omitted on the vinyl and CD recordings but these have now been added back into the MP3 versions that appear on the band's web site http://www.winteronline.co.uk.
Track Listing:
In 1993, SI Music released a compilation CD of various progressive rock bands, titled Progressive and Melodic Rock, which included the track CLOSE YOUR EYES by WINTER.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
/ metal band, who received critical acclaim for their live performances in the 1980s and 1990s. They released a debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled Across The Circle's Edge which in both vinyl format (by Circle's Edge records in 1990) and in CD format (by SI Records in 1992).
This EP has become sought after collectors item among some - progressive rock fans.
Members
- Johnny Lennie: vocals / lyrics
- Rab Beggs: electric / acoustic guitars
- Phil Murray: keyboards / additional vocals
- Rick Loyer: bass guitar
- John Murphy: drums / percussion
Discography
Across The Circle’s Edge
Released on Circle’s Edge Records in August 1990 in vinyl format, this was a six track EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. The artwork was created by Phil Murray and was deliberately left to appear like a rough, first draft image, since the EP was effectively a first vinyl demo designed to attract record company attention. The idea was that once a recording contract was in place, the artwork then to evolve into a fully illustrated final piece for the inaugural Winter album. The artwork was completed but never used because when the songs were re-released by SI Records, Holland in 1992 in CD format, the band line up had changed and they decided to use a different image for the cover art. The original master tape from the vinyl recorded was re-mastered for the CD version.
By the time of the CD release, Winter had a different line, up so other players are credited on the album, but all songs were written and performed by Beggs, Lennie, Loyer, Murphy, Murray. The recordings were produced by Lawrence Thomson and recorded at Level One Studios, Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
and Dove Studios, Belfast. There were elements of the tracks, particularly some keyboard parts, that had been omitted on the vinyl and CD recordings but these have now been added back into the MP3 versions that appear on the band's web site http://www.winteronline.co.uk.
Track Listing:
- Side 1:
- "Technocracy" [4:27]
- "The Betrayal of Reason" [4:38]
- "Close Your Eyes" [4:56]
- Side 2:
- "Evengate" [2:33]
- "Toybox" [8:46]
- "Winter…" [4:23]
In 1993, SI Music released a compilation CD of various progressive rock bands, titled Progressive and Melodic Rock, which included the track CLOSE YOUR EYES by WINTER.