New US progressive rock group, Ascher, release their debut album ‘Beginnings’ today, March 16th. The album, containing five instrumental pieces and four songs, clocks in at fifty-seven minutes. From the opening instrumental title track to the bonus track closer, “The Instrumental Divide,” the album flows seamlessly through a sonic landscape of guitar-driven rock, vintage keyboard wizardry, and a lofty hook-laden ballad. The instrumental pieces power through enough time signature and meter changes to keep the die-hard prog fan happy while the thought provoking songs reveal a more grounded down to earth feel.
The band features Doug Bowers (Guitars/Keys/Bass/Vocals), Blake Dickeson (Rhythm Guitars), Rob Perez (Lead Guitar), and Kyle Graves (Lead Vocals).
Beginnings will be available via the band’s Bandcamp page as well as all digital music retailers and streaming sites. Lyrics are also available on Ascher’s Bandcamp page. https://ascher1.bandcamp.com/album/beginnings
To coincide with the release of the album, Ascher has released video for the track, “What the World Can’t Give,” which you can see here:
The band released their first single, “The Great Divide,” in February accompanied by a video.
Doug Bowers (Ad Astra, KDB3, Vertical Alignment) and Rob Perez (Visual Cliff, Bluesyndrome) have been collaborating on one another’s projects for years. A short-lived band formed in 2021 and disbanded in early 2022 yielded many co-written instrumental pieces that never saw the light of day. Toward the end of 2022, Doug began collaborating with guitarist, Blake Dickeson, fleshing out some musical ideas that Blake had developed over the years, Rob was brought in to add tasty lead guitar to the effort. When Rob suggested that the trio revisit some of the unfinished instrumental pieces, it was decided that a band might be the best expression of their growing repertoire. Thus Ascher was born. It quickly became apparent that Doug was not up to singing the melodies he was writing for his lyrics and the search for a proper singer was soon underway. Rob suggested a singer that he had recently encountered. Kyle Graves was writing lyrics for an upcoming album for Rob and Rob felt he would be a perfect fit for Ascher. Rob was right and the band was complete.
Tracklisting:
1. Beginnings (6:03) 2. In the Clear Distance (5:07)
3. The Great Divide (7:44) 4. Ransom For the Righteous (6:19) 5. De Profundis (7:58) 6. Nail Soup (5:27) 7. What the World Can’t Give (6:03) 8. Wheels Turning Now (4:12) https://ascher1.bandcamp.com/album/beginnings
Starting February 15, you’ll be able to watch the short film “Outside the Dream” online via YouTube or Vimeo and purchase a CD of the soundtrack which is available through Melodic Revolution Records. The instrumental musical short film is ten and a half minutes of thought-provoking eye candy while the 10-minute “Epic Edition” of “Outside The Dream” goes far beyond the original version. The music takes you deeper on a voyage with newly added arrangements and instrumentation. The film and soundtrack make up the perfect companions to “Charging The Electric Dream,” the ultimate acoustical trip.
This EP contains 16 minutes of content consisting of music that was recorded during the last quarter of 2022 with some additional material recorded in January of 2023. “Outside the Dream, Epic Edition” is an expansion and rearrangement of the piece by the same name from the “Charging The Electric Dream” album. The second song on the CD is “Alternate Frequencies” which is found as is in the album “Charging The Electric Dream”. Both songs in this EP were composed and recorded during sessions between October and November of 2022. Although the music directly relates to the “Charging The Electric Dream” album, the artwork for the CD follows its own path resembling the style of illustrated artwork found in science-fiction posters from the ’70s. Being heavily influenced by the music from those days, Leon thought a touch of nostalgia depicting a “future that might have been,” would be appropriate for this particular project.
OUTSIDE THE DREAM (SOUNDTRACK) Release date: February 15, 2023
Tracklisting: 1. Outside The Dream – Epic Edition 10:02 2. Alternate Frequencies – Single Version 5:52
Personnel: Leon Alvarado, all instruments Engineered by Leon Alvarado Mastering by Maor Appelbaum Label: Melodic Revolution Records
Prog music artist Leon Alvarado will be releasing his new album “Charging The Electric Dream” on December 15th! According to Leon, “‘Charging The Electric Dream’ is a very personal record without any collaborators or guest musicians. If I were to describe it, I would say that it is an album of what I like to call headphone music, because it plays out more like a soundtrack that stimulates the listener’s imagination. Like many of my other records, you can hear my inspirations throughout the album. There are definitely nods to Brian Eno, Wendy Carlos, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, and Jean Michel Jarre. It is not a Prog album per se, but definitely something that Prog fans can appreciate.”
Says Leon, “‘Charging The Electric Dream’ refers to revitalizing material I recorded in response to the electronic music that influenced me throughout the years. I am giving it a new life by releasing it for the very first time.”
The music on the album was recorded periodically over a span of several decades. To reflect this, the artwork shows a collage of Leon’s face constructed of passport photos taken over many years. A video for the title track will be released concurrently. A short film titled “Outside The Dream” will follow the release.
Primarily known for his record label and music promotion artwork, in 2008 Leon Alvarado released his first album, “Plays Genesis and Other Original Stuff” as an ode to one of his favorite bands. Since then, he has released several records and worked alongside an impressive list of well-known musicians such as Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford, Billy Sherwood, Jon Davison (Yes), John Goodsall (Brand X), Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, KC), Jerry Marotta, (Peter Gabriel), John Helliwell (Supertramp), Tony Franklin (The Firm), Johnny Bruhns, (Circa), Edoardo Scordo, Damian Darlington (Brit Floyd), Ty Tabor (King’s X) to name a few.
Leon’s musical output can be categorized as a blend of Prog Rock with Ambient, some Classical, and a measure of Fusion. Each piece, as well as his library as a whole, is a constantly evolving musical landscape that can simultaneously embrace the listener in familiarity while embarking on exciting and experimental journeys of sound.
Release date: December 15, 2022 Leon Alvarado all instruments Engineered by Leon Alvarado Engineering Assistance by John Douglass Mastering by Maor Appelbaum Label: Melodic Revolution Records
Tracklist 1. Alternate Frequencies 05:51 2. Megapolis 07:43 3. Space Glitter 04:03 4. Orion 05:01 5. The Rising Sun 05:17 6. The Electric Dream 04:07 7. Outside The Dream 05:50
Previous Releases Launch Overture (Alternate Edit) – 2016 The Future Left Behind – 2016 Persistence – 2015 2014 Music From An Expanded Universe – 2014 Strangers In Strange Places – 2014 Plays Genesis and Other Original Stuff – 2019
Leon Alvarado releases Charging The Electric Dream, the first official music video from the upcoming album of the same name due to be released worldwide on December 15th, 2022 by US Progressive Art-rock label Melodic Revolution Records.
Charging The Electric Dream is Alverado’first new album in six years and features seven new tracks clocking in at just under 40 minutes.
About Leon Alvarado Leon is an artist and composer who has recorded with an impressive list of musicians such as Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford, Trey Gunn, Billy Sherwood, John Goodsall, and Jerry Marotta among others.
When not making music, Leon is a successful graphic designer and illustrator who has worked for many record labels, and concert promoters and occasionally works directly with bands. Among the distinguished artists that Leon has done work for are: Jethro Tull, Yes, Jeff Beck, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Brand X, Deep Purple, John Entwistle, King’s X, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, and many more.
Leon sees both his graphic work and his musical output as part of a greater picture that encompasses all of his disciplines within the arts.
For fans of Brian Eno, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, and Jean Michel Jarre.
Previous Releases Launch Overture (Alternate Edit) – 2016 The Future Left Behind – 2016 Persistence – 2015 2014 Music From An Expanded Universe – 2014 Strangers In Strange Places – 2014 Plays Genesis and Other Original Stuff – 2019
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius have launched an IndieGoGo campaign to fund two new releases; a live box set and a new studio album, both due out in 2023.
All the rewards are related to Stratospheerius’ music, starting with a $10 pledge that grants the fans project updates and early mixes, to $2000 for the band to play a concert anywhere in the United States. (Out-of-country performances, please email us).
Melodic Revolution Records will be releasing the live double CD/DVD& Blu-Ray box set in early 2023. The box set is called “Behind the Curtain: Live at ProgStock.”
Later in the year, the band will release their next studio release, the working title “Impostor,” which features many guest stars including Saga’s Michael Sadler, Porcupine Tree’s Randy McStine, Bill Hubauer (Neal Morse Band), multi-instrumentalist Rachel Flowers, cellist Ruti Celli, singer Chloe Lowry (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), and Echo in the Canyon’s Fernando Perdomo.
Along with social media, live shows, and appearances and workshops at music events, Joe says crowdfunding is a way he and the fans have connected through the years. “These days, artists have more creative control and can bypass the middleman and build a beautiful relationship directly with their fans. We are beholden to no one but the people that love and support our music. I love the fact that fans get a chance to follow an album as it is being written, recorded, and mixed. They feel more vested in the project and it becomes a collaboration between the band and the fans.
“The band is grateful for the love and support they have received for their music in recent years, especially in the progressive rock community, and is very excited to release the new projects.”
Led by electric violinist/vocalist Joe Deninzon, who has been called “The Jimi Hendrix of the violin,” Stratospheerius has showcased their “frenzied mélange of progressive rock, jazz fusion, and funkabilly” throughout the world.
Band members are Joe Deninzon-electric violin/vocals (Bruce Springsteen, Renaissance, The Who, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Jason Gianni-drums (The Ultimate Queen Celebration, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Rock of Ages, Neil Morse Band), Michaelangelo Quirinale-guitar (Thrilldriver), and Paul Ranieri-bass (Mark Wood, Circuline, Riot Act).
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