Transatlantic launch video for “The World We Used To Know”

Transatlantic – the Prog Supergroup of Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt & Pete Trewavas – are pleased to announce their fifth studio album “The Absolute Universe”, set for release on the 5th February 2021. Representing the band’s first new music since 2014’s ‘Kaleidoscope’, with “The Absolute Universe” the band have done something unique and created two versions of the record: “The Absolute Universe: The Breath Of Life (Abridged Version)” & “The Absolute Universe: Forevermore” (Extended Version)

Mike Portnoy comments:
“The 2nd release from the upcoming Transatlantic album ‘The Absolute Universe’ features our Swedish Genie Mr Roine Stolt on lead vocals (in contrast to the 1st release which featured Neal, Pete & I sharing the lead vocals).
This piece also opens with another extended instrumental intro where I get to utilize my best Keith Moon acrobatics and leads to Roine’s beautiful, melodic vocals on the verses and choruses in the body of the song and climaxes with a majestic section with Neal Morse taking the lead vocal and one of the album’s main musical reoccurring themes.
This portion of the album closes out Disc 1 of the 2 CD version of the album ‘Forevermore’.”

Each album will be available on CD, LP & Digitally. But there will also be what has been called ‘The Absolute Universe: The Ultimate Edition’, which collects both versions together in one lavish package that includes 5LP’s, 3CD’s & a Blu-ray that includes a special mix that combines both versions into a third unique version in 5.1 surround sound with visuals and a behind the scenes documentary. All editions have artwork created by Thomas Ewerhard featuring the airship by Pavel Zhovba.

As Mike Portnoy explains: “We’ve got two versions of this album. There is a two CD presentation, which is 90 minutes long, and a single one – that’s 60 minutes. However, the single CD is NOT merely an edited version of the double CD. They each contain alternate versions and even in some cases, new recordings. We wrote fresh lyrics and have different people singing on the single CD version tracks as compared to those on the double CD. Some of the song titles have also been changed, while others might remain the same, but compositionally what you’ll hear has been altered. You must appreciate that what we have done is unique. We revamped the songs to make the two versions different.” Pete Trewavas adds: “We did write some new music for the single CD, what’s more, there are also differences in the instruments used on some of the tracks across the two records.”

“The Absolute Universe: The Breath Of Life (Abridged Version)”
Available as:
Single CD Edition, Gatefold 2LP+CD, or Digital Album

Track-listing:
1. Overture
2. Reaching For The Sky
3. Higher Than The Morning
4. The Darkness In The Light
5. Take Now My Soul
6. Looking For The Light
7. Love Made A Way (Prelude)
8. Owl Howl
9. Solitude
10. Belong
11. Can You Feel It
12. Looking For The Light (Reprise)
13. The Greatest Story Never Ends
14. Love Made A Way

“The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version)”
Available as:
2CD Edition, 3LP+2CD Boxset, or Digital Album

Track-listing:
Disc 1:
1. Overture
2. Heart Like A Whirlwind
3. Higher Than The Morning
4. The Darkness In The Light
5. Swing High, Swing Low
6. Bully
7. Rainbow Sky
8. Looking For The Light
9. The World We Used To Know

Disc 2:
1. The Sun Comes Up Today
2. Love Made A Way (Prelude)
3. Owl Howl
4. Solitude
5. Belong
6. Lonesome Rebel
7. Looking For The Light (Reprise)
8. The Greatest Story Never Ends
9. Love Made A Way

“The Absolute Universe: The Ultimate Edition”
Limited Deluxe Clear 5LP+3CD+Blu-Ray Box-set – contained within a foil-finished lift-off box with extended 16-page LP booklet & 60x60cm poster. Includes both versions of the album over 5LP’s and 3CD’s, plus a Blu-Ray with 5.1 mix & documentary.

Blu-Ray Track-listing:
1.   Overture (5.1 Surround Mix)
2.   Reaching For The Sky (5.1 Surround Mix)
3.   Higher Than The Morning (5.1 Surround Mix)
4.   The Darkness In The Light (5.1 Surround Mix)
5.   Take Now My Soul (5.1 Surround Mix)
6.   Bully (5.1 Surround Mix)
7.   Rainbow Sky (5.1 Surround Mix)
8.   Looking For The Light (5.1 Surround Mix)
9.   The World We Used To Know (5.1 Surround Mix)
10.   The Sun Comes Up Today (5.1 Surround Mix)
11.   Love Made A Way (Prelude) (5.1 Surround Mix)
12.   Owl Howl (5.1 Surround Mix)
13.   Solitude (5.1 Surround Mix)
14.   Belong (5.1 Surround Mix)
15.   Lonesome Rebel (5.1 Surround Mix)
16.   Can You Feel It (5.1 Surround Mix)
17.   Looking For The Light (Reprise) (5.1 Surround Mix)
18.   The Greatest Story Never Ends (5.1 Surround Mix)
19.   Love Made A Way (5.1 Surround Mix)
20.   The Making of The Absolute Universe (Documentary)