For those unaware, bassist Mick Paul, best known for his work with the David Cross Band, is releasing his new album Parallel Lives on June 9th, 2021.

This wondrous, and highly creative new album features guest appearances by David Cross (King Crimson) and David Jackson (Van Der Graaf Generator).

Says Mick about the new album, I am interested in the way our lives tend to mirror each other without us realizing it, hence the title Parallel Lives.

Two of the songs relate to my children who are now grown up, I can see how their lives echo mine and of course how my life has parallels with my parents and the way they saw things and reacted to events - and how it goes on through the generations.

It is not a concept album in the traditional sense of having a story as such, but I think there is cohesiveness to the overall content of the lyrics that tell some of my story.

I also feel that the moods and general feel of the album very much reflect how I felt when I was writing it.

1. Your Days (6:14)
2. Light Of Silence (4:55)
3. No Horizon (4:03) 5. Beneath The Gate (4:27)
6. Uncharted Course (4:18)
7. One Way Conversation (5:02)
8. Cypher (2:35)
9. Swallows (3:25)
10. Comfort Zone (5:39)
11. Frozen Perspective (4:00)
12. Name On You (4:28)
13. Consigned To Reality (4:42)
14. Morning Skyline (4:32)

Opening on the free flowing synth prog magnificence of Your Days and the lighter fare of Light Of Silence, Paul then backs those up seamlessly with the rockier guitar work of No Horizon, the ornate piano work of the title track Parallel Lives, and then we get the building, and slap bass-enhanced work Beneath The Gate and the prog-imbibed stance of Uncharted Course.

Next up is the simply heavenly flow, and twinkling piano work of One Way Conversation and the short, but sweet solo bass lines of Cypher, before the adventurous synth escapade Swallows is brought forth, which is itself followed by melodic hipsway of Comfort Zone, the ethereal Frozen Perspective, and then the album rounds out with more funky slap bass on Name On You, the mid-tempo AOR of Consigned To Reality, closing on the expansively rangy synth prog and rock guitar work of Morning Skyline (4:32).

During a career going back to the 1970s Mick Paul has played with many established artists and done numerous tours and TV sessions.

In the early eighties he was was produced by Mike Ratledge and Carl Jenkins from Soft Machine, then became an in house session bassist for a studio in London, around 1983 started writing his own material with mixed success.

But it was not until 1995 when Mick joined the David Cross band that he found his feet as a writer, working with David Cross, Robert Fripp, John Wetton and Peter Hammill.

It was in 2015 whilst recording the album Another Day for Cherry Red Records with David Cross, David Jackson and Craig Blundell that he found there was a lot of material that was very personal to him that felt more cohesive as a solo project rather than as band ideas.

Mick worked closely on these with Paul Clark and Craig Blundell on the initial tracks and later on as the album developed found that Sheila Maloney, the original keyboard player from the David Cross band was instrumental in setting the ambience for later tracks.

Mick has also toured Europe with Mr. Big vocalist Eric Martin and is also part of the recently formed Fae.

In closing Mick has this to say, I would be very happy if everyone who listens to the album finds it a positive experience. Although the album goes through many different moods and styles, I hope the overall experience is one of exploration and hope.

What I also hope is that they find out that the bass itself is such a flexible and interesting instrument and not just there for the low notes.

There are some very different ways of playing the bass heard on the album that include melodies, tapping, solos, and textural accompaniments as well as all the low stuff!

Official Purchase Link

Official Your Days Sampler Video

Official Mick Paul Update Video