Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment

Liquid Tension Experiment is an instrumental progressive rock / metal project initiated by Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy.
Mike Portnoy invited Jordan Rudess (keyboard) and progressive rock icon Tony Levin of King Crimson (bass, Chapman Stick) to join him. In his instructional video Liquid Drum Theater, Mike Portnoy said that his first choice for the guitar was Dimebag Darrell, but he was unable to join because of conflicting schedules. Portnoy then turned to fellow Dream Theater member John Petrucci to fill the position. The combo was formed as a side project to Dream Theater in 1998. Some theorize that Rudess was asked to join Dream Theater a second time largely because of the success of Liquid Tension Experiment. He had already declined a previous offer to join in 1994 and instead became a member of the Dixie Dregs. The band played fast, fusion-based pieces similar to those of Dream Theater, if somewhat more jazzy, and devoid of vocals.
Liquid Tension Experiment was released in 1998 (see 1998 in music) by Liquid Tension Experiment through Magna Carta. The group is formed by John Petrucci (guitars), Mike Portnoy (drums), Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick), and Jordan Rudess (keyboard). The album was written and recorded within one week of studio sessions.

Three Minute Warning" is a reference to the recording sessions where Levin wanted to improvise as opposed to Petrucci and Portnoy wanting to carefully write songs. Levin eventually told the others that if they didn't start to jam in three minutes, he'd just go home. The song "Three Minute Warning" is a recording of what followed. The recording was so unexpectedly fluent that the recording tape ran out after about 27 minutes into the jam, but luckily Portnoy's DAT recorder archived the ending as well. The back cover of the CD says: "CAUTION: "Three Minute Warning" is not for the musically faint-hearted, impatient, or critics of extreme self-indulgence. If you fall into any of the above categories, please hit the stop button on your CD player after track # 8.

Personal:
- Tony Levin / basses
- John Petrucci / guitar
- Mike Portnoy / drums
- Jordan Rudess / keyboard

Songs:
"Paradigm Shift" – 8:54
"Osmosis" – 3:26
"Kindred Spirits" – 6:29
"The Stretch" – 2:00
"Freedom of Speech" – 9:19
"Chris and Kevin's Excellent Adventure" – 2:21
"State of Grace" – 5:01
"Universal Mind" – 7:53
"Three Minute Warning (Part 1)" – 8:20
"Three Minute Warning (Part 2)" – 4:02
"Three Minute Warning (Part 3)" – 5:18
"Three Minute Warning (Part 4)" – 4:20
"Three Minute Warning (Part 5)" – 6:31

Link: http://lix.in/ce6aad