TCP is a project based around the core collaborative spirits of Henry Tarnecky, Blake Tobias and Jack Wright. TCP (aka Temporal Chaos) was formed when these three progressive songwriters met while collaborating via an independent music website early in 2008. Magnetically drawn together by their mutual love for the inherent freedom of progressive music, their music has bonded in a wonderful synergy. They are joined by special guests (Glenn Arpino, Gary Carciello, Ange DiGeronimo, Glenn Liljeblad, Tom Shiben, Desiree Stisi, and Reid Tobias) who help to forge the unique TCP sound, blending elements of classic-era progressive rock with a healthy dose of modern sensibility.
In February of 2009, TCP signed with 10T Records who will release TCP's debut album entitled "The Way". The album consists of eleven innovative tracks laced with dazzling multi-styled guitars, bountiful and brilliant keyboards, uncommon rhythms and uniquely dramatic vocals. Their music has evolved naturally and magically into something unchained and freshly new. Totaling over 70 minutes, it showcases the band’s dynamic blend of dark, melodic vocals with extended instrumental interplay. Epic, soaring, beautiful, intricate, hard-edged and melodic are just a few ways to describe their works.
unded in 2008 as a studio project, TCP was initially based on the collaboration of Henry Tarnecky (vocals/keyboards), Blake Tobias (keyboards/bass), and Jack Wright (guitars/drums). In 2011, Glenn Arpino (keyboards) was inducted into the group after his significant involvement with the band's second album release, Fantastic Dreamer. All four members are progressive composers.
TCP is the abbreviated and preferred form of the band's formal name, Temporal Chaos Project. The project aspect of the group implicates the inclusion of special guests which is typical policy. The band’s original logo is symbolic of a world dichotomy - the forces of division between those who work towards general advancement and those who perpetuate conflict via power and control. It seems reasonable to assume most people agree this dichotomy exists. The word temporal has dual meanings: temporary in nature, and - having to do with world affairs.
TCP Logo Horizontal - Print Size
TCP released their first album, The Way, in May 2009 to a surprising amount of worldwide critical acclaim for a debut album, while also winning spots on several 'best albums of 2009' progressive web site lists. The album took eleven months to complete and culminated in the band signing with 10T Records. A sophomore release came in mid 2011, entitled Fantastic Dreamer, which enjoyed both enthusiastic fan and music critic support. The band hit 'best progressive albums of 2011' lists in Spain, Netherlands, UK, and the US, garnering acclaim from numerous music writers worldwide. One enthusiastic critic wrote: "After the amazing The Way (2009), these brilliant 'Yankee' minds have delivered a masterpiece. Fantastic Dreamer is a treasure chest full of well-crafted rich progressive music". In 2016, TCP released their third album, Temporal Chaos, currently in its initial phase.
Without a doubt, TCP is easily recognizable by the unique refined grittiness of its talented front man Henry Tarnecky, leading to most frequent voice comparisons with Genesis-era Peter Gabriel and Marillion-era Fish. Henry is also an accomplished keyboardist heard mostly in TCP songs he has personally composed. In addition, word duties fall solely on Henry as the band's resident poet. He is revered for churning out lyrics listeners connect with, but often have a pronounced depth of meaning. His combination of contributions lead to critic comments such as, "Henry literally splashes the album with his talent, whether with his compositions, his lyrics or his voice." As a vocalist who pens all his vocal lines, Henry makes just about any musical landscape fertile and alive, often working turf few vocalists would consider viable. His syncopated vocal line preference and sense of drama is a fundamental and endearing trait, as is the ability to offer a "completely unique aspect to his voice that is simultaneously unnerving and beguiling".
Blake, who doubles on keyboards and bass, could be considered the founding member of TCP. After meeting both Jack and Henry on the internet in late 2007, he put forth the proposal in early 2008 to form a legitimate band and aim at producing their first album. On keyboards, Blake is known for his twisting leads, rhythmic style, and an acute knack for melodic counterpoint, widely ranging from subtle to bombastic; an attitude that "continually moves the music along and pushes its boundaries". His favorite sounds come from mellotron, Hammond C3, Moog synths, and pipe organs, although he considers no sounds off limits. In the low-end department, Blake favors the six-string bass and tends toward the melodic role, although is equally at home with rhythmic and poly-rhythmic support roles. He is also responsible for TCP's audio mixing and engineering.
Jack provides a very uncommon dual role for the band, contributing both guitar and drum performances. One critic notes: "enter the second point of note in TCP's arsenal - the guitar work". Jack's math-rock orientation favors odd time signatures, often translating into addictive forays and a vast progressive landscape. His schizophrenic playing ability leads to baffling descriptions of style: "Wright’s intelligent guitar work owes a debt to Steve Howe (circa Topographic Oceans) although overall his technique is difficult to pigeon hole, cross cutting between prog, blues, and hard rock". Another critic notes a "spacey vibe, and David Gilmour style guitar", while another just proclaims "the guitar of Jack Wright sings and sears". Many don't know that he is also a trained drummer, and the same creativity and versatility shown on guitar also appears in Jack's drumming. Ranging from austere to complex polyrhythms over odd time signatures, he routinely "reveals himself to be a more than competent drummer."
TCP's newest member, Glenn, first appeared as a special guest on The Way where he played mellotron on the song Sheep, and in four different tracks on the Fantastic Dreamer album. It caused one confused music critic to complain, “why Glenn Arpino is not a permanent member of the trio is beyond me. He plays on three tracks, but is also the composer of the nearly 14-minute finale ‘Vision’, which incidentally is an exciting track that deserves more than its length". Critic comments such as, “[Vision] should genuinely be held up as a progressive rock classic and is everything you could want in an epic closer. So far my favorite song of the year", caused quite a stir, generating significant positive sentiment- as the band hoped it might. These strongly positive reactions became a key impetus for Glenn to make a continuing commitment to the band. He is an excellent keyboardist and a prolific writer who for many years has collaborated with numerous musicians, including Jon Anderson, former front man for Yes. Glenn is now a key fourth composer and player in TCP.
Band members place a premium on close collaboration and joint production decisions and have been credited for combining "the best characteristics of the legends in prog music with astonishing original compositions and superb craftsmanship", along with a style where "the new and old are greatly united, as this classic prog gets a good injection of more modern musical ideas". So too is their unique way of musical expression amid changing landscapes, focused melodies, and twisted time signatures, prompting Progression Magazine to state: "Shallow thinkers need not bother". Other critics' descriptions attempt to pinpoint and define the band's style and sound:
"Dark and light, moody and joyful, simple and multifaceted, dissonant and melodic, these ambiguities and more could be used to describe the music of TCP and even then I would be barely scratching the surface"
“TCP enchants the audience for various reasons: an excellent sound, original compositions, superb flights, Mellotron...a unique sound exploring the depths of art and progressive rock"
"TCP is a band to be looked upon as really moving this 'neo' genre forward"
All quotes above taken from:
Progpulsion (France)
Dutch Progressive Rock Pages (Netherlands)
Sea of Tranquility (US)
Merlinprog (Norway)
Progressive Area (France)
Sinfomusic (Spain)
Progression Magazine (US)
Ytesjam (US)
Rock Review (Finland)
Progwereld (Netherlands)
Since their inception, TCP’s artistic efforts have been concentrated in the recording studio. Their musical compositions have reached the airwaves and the world through independent music-driven US and foreign radio stations.
Short bio. and write-up courtesy of Blake Tobias
