{"product_id":"return-to-the-red-planet","title":"Return to the Red Planet","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE EPIC RETURN TO MARS FROM RICK WAKEMAN A NEW PROGRESSIVE ROCK SUITE INSPIRED BY BOTH PAST \u0026amp; THE LATEST DISCOVERIES ON THE RED PLANET FEATURING LEE POMEROY, DAVE COLQUHOUN, ADAM FALKNER \u0026amp; MOLLIE MARRIOTT .\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eRELEASED ON CD\/BLU-RAY EDITION - INCLUDES CD OF THE STUDIO ALBUM + BLU-RAY DISC FEATURING DOLBY ATMOS, 5.1 SURROUND SOUND \u0026amp; HI-RES STEREO MIXES \u0026amp; THE MAKING OF THE 'RETURN TO THE RED PLANET' DOCUMENTARY + 20-PAGE PRINTED BOOKLET \/ CD EDITION \/ 2LP VINYL \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFollowing his acclaimed 2020 album 'The Red Planet', Rick Wakeman makes a triumphant \u0026amp; inevitable return to Mars with 'Return To The Red Planet', a sweeping new progressive work that fuses science, imagination \u0026amp; musical virtuosity into one of the most ambitious recordings of his career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt a time when space exploration has moved back to the forefront of human endeavour - with missions to the Moon, Mars \u0026amp; beyond once again capturing the world's imagination - 'Return To The Red Planet' feels both timely \u0026amp; visionary, rekindling the cosmic spirit that helped define progressive rock's golden age. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhere its predecessor opened the story, this album explores the planet's ancient lakes, vast canyon systems, shifting dust storms \u0026amp; geological epochs, drawing directly on the remarkable images \u0026amp; research that have transformed our understanding of Mars in recent years, Wakeman immersing himself in planetary research, data, \u0026amp; mission reports before a single note was written. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Once I started looking at the new data \u0026amp; photographs, I realised there was an entirely new album waiting to be written. There was simply too much more to say about Mars - musically \u0026amp; spiritually - not to return.\" - \u003cb\u003eRick Wakeman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded between August 2025 \u0026amp; January 2026, the project also marks a welcome return to full band recording, with all musicians working together at Decoy Studios - a creative approach Wakeman considers essential to capturing the spontaneity \u0026amp; energy of progressive rock at its best. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album is performed by Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble, featuring bassist Lee Pomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Adam Falkner \u0026amp; vocalist Mollie Marriott, daughter of legendary Steve Marriott. The album was mastered by renowned engineer Simon Heyworth. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This isn't just another Rick Wakeman album. It's a bloody good one!\" \u003cb\u003eSimon Heyworth - Producer of Tubular Bells\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmong the album's centrepieces is 'Bowie's Vision', a deeply personal homage to Wakeman's friend David Bowie, whose fascination with Mars helped shape popular culture's image of the planet. The connection is more than thematic: Wakeman performed the iconic piano on Bowie's 'Life on Mars?', making this tribute both musical \u0026amp; autobiographical - a reflection on a shared history, a lasting friendship \u0026amp; one of rock's most celebrated recordings. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe music was initially composed as keyboard \"templates\" at Nursery Studios, before being expanded collaboratively by the band at Decoy Studios \u0026amp; engineered by Toby Wood. Final overdubs \u0026amp; mixing with producer\/engineer Erik Jordan bring the vision into sharp focus - from sweeping symphonic passages to intricate rhythmic sequences \u0026amp; haunting choral textures. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for 'The Red Planet' (2020):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"An astonishing return to form...Wakeman at his most imaginative\" - \u003cb\u003eProg Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A richly detailed symphonic rock journey\" - \u003cb\u003eClassic Rock\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eTracklist\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTBC\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sister Ray","offers":[{"title":"Limited 2LP (Indies Crystal Clear Vinyl)","offer_id":51989893415229,"sku":"SMALP1366","price":44.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"2LP","offer_id":51989893447997,"sku":"SMALP1356","price":36.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":51989893480765,"sku":"SMACD1356","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD+Blu-Ray","offer_id":51989893513533,"sku":"SMACD1377","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0096\/1884\/9839\/files\/1b0a79ca-e3b0-e4dc-9f1f-f42750d9a22e.jpg?v=1784216934","url":"https:\/\/sisterray.co.uk\/products\/return-to-the-red-planet","provider":"Sister Ray","version":"1.0","type":"link"}