HipKnosis is a rock’n’roll band hailing from the American Midwest - based at the legendary recording facility Junior’s Motel near Otho, Iowa. HipKnosis has performed to wide acclaim primarily in concert settings, including multiple times at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, at the NewBo Arts Festival in Cedar Rapids, with REO Speedwagon, and at other venues around the Midwest. Featuring the acutely personal but smooth, distinctive lead vocals of songstress Heather Kelly, HipKnosis is a versatile recording act, powered by the accomplished songwriting of pianist and violinist Kelly, bassist Kirk Kaufman and multi-keyboardist Dave Hearn. Melvin James fills the guitar slot with inventive use of electric and acoustic guitars, and Jon Passow provides a solid foundation for the band on drums and percussion. “Brand New Game” took nearly three years of writing, arranging and recording to produce the eight original songs the CD contains. Each song is a separate musical journey, complete in itself. Ranging from Hearn’s radio-ready power pop confection, Big Girl Now, to the moody and reflective I’ll Never Let You Down, the band’s wide ranging influences keep popping up throughout the album. Kelly’s Hurt, which catapults forward at breakneck speed features the incredible lightning-fast Flamenco playing of guest guitarist Jeremy Ober from Brutal Republic. Kelly’s Therapy harkens back to late period Beatles with a spooky Mellotron. Beautiful, with a breath-taking vocal from Kelly is an absolutely timeless love song from Kaufman. The title song, from Kaufman, is pure fantasy writing. The album is rounded out by two rockers from Hearn, Call My Name and Set Me Free.