InsideOut Music have confirmed an April 27th street date for the first SAGA studio album featuring new singer Rob Moratti titled The Human Condition. Moratti replaces former singer Michael Sadler who had fronted the band for over 30 years.

Tracklisting: 'The Human Condition', 'Avalon', 'A Number And A Name', 'Let It Go', 'Now is Now', 'Crown Of Thorns', 'You Look Good To Me', 'Hands Of Time', 'Step Inside'.

Samples of the tracks 'Step Inside', 'A Number And A Name' and 'Crown Of Thorns' are available at this location (click tracklist and MP3s link).

Saga is rounded off by Ian Crichton (guitar), Jim Crichton (bass, keyboards), Jim Gilmour (keyboards) and drummer Brian Doerner.

The Human Condition is 100% Saga, and much more. Or, as Ian Crichton comments: “It’s still us, of course with a different twist, some of the ideas on the CD are more prog than before.”

Crichton comments on the addition of Moratti: “We found Rob after searching for a singer for a year. As it ended up, Rob is from Toronto. There were international singers, too, but Rob was it. Rob’s voice is different than Michael’s, but he cuts the older tunes really great. On the new CD you must check him out in full Saga stereo!! He’s awesome!”

With Moratti on board, Saga got together on December 8th 2008 in Orillia, Ontario, and arranged the material they had been individually writing for six months. The Human Condition was produced by Saga and mixed by Pat Regan at the Sound Image studios in Van Nuys, California, in February 2009. The result is a spirited recording, featuring vocal melodies consisting of several voices, Crichton’s unmistakable staccato guitars and sweeping solo passages which extend into the spheres of fusion and jazz. Ian Crichton: “We’re proud of all of them, we like all the tracks on this record, it sounds really refreshing and new.”

The cover artwork for The Human Condition was created by highly respected Hungarian artist Balasz Papay, who was also responsible for the cover art of the SAGA album Trust. Initial pressing available in high class digipack version.

The Human Condition Tour 2009 dates:

April

16 - Worpswede, Germany - Music Hall
17 - Worpswede, Germany - Music Hall
18 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
19 - Purmerend, Netherlands - P3
22 - Hamburg, Germany - Fabrik
23 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
24 - Hildesheim, Germany - Berghoelzchen
25 - Geseke, Germany - Stadthalle
26 - Aalen, Germany - Stadthalle
28 - Woerg, Austria - Komma
29 - Remchingen, Germany - Kulturhalle
30 - Metzingen, Germany - Stadthalle
1 - Speyer, Germany - Halle 101
2 - St. Wendel, Germany - Stadthalle
3 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
5 - Augsburg, Germany - Spectrum
6 - Nürnberg, Germany - Hirsch
7 - Giessen, Germany - Hessenhalle
8 - Eich, Germany - Altrheinhalle
9 - Bonn, Germany - Brückenforum
12 - Appeldorn, Netherlands - Gigant
13 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos-Saal
15 - Rottweil, Germany - Stadthalle
16 - Schweinfurt, Germany - Stadthalle
17 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Garden Club
20 - Ulm, Germany - Ulmer Zelt

July

3 - Bad Arolsen, Germany - Outback
4 - Mössingen, Germany - Mössingen Rockt Open Air

(with IT BITES from May 1st - May 20th)