"It’s tempting to say that we think it’s our best album yet." Downes Braide Association release Celestial Songs

(Image credit: Tina Korhonen)

Melodic prog duo Downes Braide Association, the band featuring Yes keyboard player Geoff Downes and singer and producer Chris Braide, release their fifth studio album, Celestial Songs, through Spirit Of Unicorn Records today, September 8.

“It took a few years to make this new DBA album, through the various trials and tribulations of life, and Geoff and I are excited to finally share it with the world," exclaims Braide. "It’s tempting to say that we think it’s our best album yet, but we will let the listener decide. Hope you enjoy the journey.”

"I am super excited about the release of our forthcoming new album,” adds Downes. “Chris and I worked really hard to create something that was special to both of us, and the result – Celestial Songs. We are certain that if you liked our previous albums, then you are going to love this one. Please sit back, listen and enjoy the DBA journey. All best, Geoff."

At the same time the duo have shared a video for their brand new single Look What You Do, the opening track from Celestial Songs, which you can watch below

"It starts with a lovely minor key piano piece, written by Geoff and has a mournful, yearning guitar part," Braide explains of the new single. "It then opens up into the major key of the song which is like the dawn after the darkness.

“I started the idea in Los Angeles at the piano and just sang a phonetic kind of lyric on the mic, one take. I thought I’d go back and re-sing it with a more structured lyric, but I just loved the emotion of the (original) vocal. Plus, the lyric ‘Give me time, that’s all I want ‘cause nobody knows’ seems to mean so much to me. I couldn’t better it really. It says what I wanted to say without me even realising it. It’s quite Beatley, I suppose. The second verse has those big Abbey Road-type strings blocking out the chords. I wanted to write a Something or a Let It Be - no small ambition then! The song returns to Geoff’s piano motive, but this time it’s major. It’s like the sun has risen and we are looking back at a life with love."

Celestial Songs will be available in three different formats: a deluxe vinyl box set, a two LP version and on CD.

Pre-order Celestial Songs CD.

Pre-order Celestial Songs vinyl.

Pre-order Celestial Songs deluxe box set.

Artists

Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.