A phoenix from the ashes, United Progressive Fraternity (UPF) are a tour de force with ex-Unitopia members Matt Williams on guitar, Dave Hopgood on drums, Tim Irrgang on percussion and the ever magical voice of Mark ‘Truey’ Trueack, whose vision this juggernaut is. Added to this, as the first album was made up of songs that Sean Timms and Mark Trueack wrote in 2012/2013, Mark wanted to change directions on the next project.
After the 2014 promotional tour which included keyboard player, guitarist, vocalist and song-writer, Guy Manning, bass player Daniel Mash and sax-keyboardist Marek Arnold, Mark decided for the next project to have an all Australian touring band. It was very difficult decision as Guy, Dan and Marek all contributed to the birth of the project.
In 2015 Mark and his wife Cheryl decided to pay a visit Rhode Island to meet with Steve Unruh who was one of our brilliant guest musicians. As I made a strong bond with Steve during the Unitopia days, I felt that he could be more than just a guest on the next album , so I invited him to be a full member in both touring and production. In October 2015 we recorded a song together called “What Happens Now” along with laying down vocals for two other projects. The new album arrangements for Planetary Overload are now in full swing and like the last album Fall in love with the World we have selected some wonderful guest musicians and over the next 12 months we will update you on the workings of each track and what they represent.
BACKGROUND:
On 31 March 2014, UPF formally announced their existence with the video release of “The Water”, from the debut album ‘Fall in Love with the World’ (released in November 2014) and which includes a collaboration with very special guests: ex- Yes front man Jon Anderson and input from former Genesis guitarist, Steve Hackett. Steve Unruh also appears as a special guest on the album, playing the violin and flute.
The context of the songs is largely unchanged from the Unitopia days; thought provoking and meaningful lyrics with an emphasis on the human condition, the state of the environment and how we as the human race arrived at where we are today. All sung with feeling and passion – a hallmark of all that is best in progressive music, but the music itself has taken on an edgier, grittier sound than that of Unitopia, which makes it quite breath-taking!
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