There are multiple bands named Touchstone: 1. A modern Progressive Rock band from England. 2. One of the forerunners of the traditional Irish music craze in the USA, formed in Chapel Hill, NC in 1979. [1] Touchstone, based in Hertfordshire are a UK band whose music is a crossover of melodic and progressive rock. Their first industry-standard four-track EP, Mad Hatters,was released in July 2006 and has received much critical acclaim from the music press. Tracks include - Misguided Fool, One Shot, Hear Me and The Mad Hatters' Song. Further releases include the recent full-length album Discordant Dreams, recorded in July 2007 at Outhouse Studios, Reading with John Mitchell of It Bites fame. Mastered by Tim Turan, the album is a stunning melée of texture and feel, ranging from the quite agressive side of heavy rock to the delicate frames of arty and progressive music. [2] Called “the most compelling sound in Irish music”, Touchstone combined the subtle mysticism & driving energy of traditional Irish songs and tunes with the earthy exuberance of old-timey American country music and the relentless thrust of rock and roll. Together they played the music they loved- from Ireland, from the mountains of Carolina, from Brittany, from Maritime Canada, from their hearts & souls. The band stayed together for 5 years recording 2 award winning albums on Green Linnet, “The New Land” and “Jealousy.” Band members included Zan McLeod, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Claudine Langille, and Mark Roberts.
