June 23 - Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun

Sometimes side projects have interesting outcomes - and sometimes these outcomes come in the shape of cover versions. One of the prog bands I really don't have much of a relationship with is Fates Warning, but they tend to be rather big in prog/prog metal circles, and their guitar player, Jim Matheos, decided to get together with ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin More and then current (now ex) drummer of Dream Theater, Mike Portnoy to start the prog super group OSI. They included Sean Malone of slightly less known (but not less solid) band Cynic on bass and the very interesting intstrument Chapman Stick to record their first album, which was called Office of Strategic Influence. Mike Portnoy left the band following the recording of the album (although he played drums on their second album as well), so the band is really Kevin Moore on keys and vocals and Jim Matheos on guitar - and whomever they would want to include when they feel like doing something again.

Anyway, I really like the first album, and it has a bonus disc with three extra songs on it, two covers and one original instrumental. Today, the song will be a cover version of one of my favorite early Pink Floyd songs: Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, the first track on the bonus cd.