The Beatles, Brand X, King's X, Laurie Anderson, Mike Oldfield, Peter Gabriel, Al Di Meola, Daniel Amos, Allan Holdsworth, Genesis, Be Bop Deluxe, Stevie Wonder, Franz Liszt, Gentle Giant, Django Reinhardt, Kitaro, Igor Stravinsky, Duncan Browne, Yes, Paco de Lucia, Maurice Ravel, Kate Bush, Camel, Frank Zappa, Bernard Herrmann, Jeff Beck, Earthworks, Bela Bartok, Queen, Gustav Mahler, Thin Lizzy, Jerry Goldsmith, Joe Walsh, Pat Metheny Group, Paul Hindemith, Derek & the Dominos, SuperTramp, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Todd Rundgren's Utopia, Tony Williams Lifetime, Johnny Cash, Alex North, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Astor Piazzolla, Dean Street, Roger Powell, Vangelis, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Led Zeppelin, Claude Debussy, PFM, Steely Dan, Fred Frith, Sergei Prokofiev, Michael Kamen, Larry Fast ( Synergy ), Virgil Thomson, UK, Elmer Bernstein, Kittyhawk, John McLaughlin, Triumvirat, Carl Stalling.
Sounds Like
THIS...
The term progressive is ever more widely used to mean just about anything to catch your eye. it's one of the buzz words thrown around to hype nearly anyone, just to make them stand out. Even pop and hip-hop artists adopt it, as mainstream as those genres can be.
But we maintain it's early '70's definition and use the common abbreviation: prog rock (or is that prog-rock with a hyphen?...maybe to you it's just plain ol' progressive rock). Progressive music to us isn't about today's trends and musical fashion statements, but about exploration, experimentation. So we claim the right to swerve into alternative and experimental genres, dabbling in ambient music, swinging into the big guitar sound, and sometimes getting all the way out there into the avant-garde.
We're also not insulted by the term Art Rock, although it seems to have taken on an air of negativity; groups are afraid of being called pretentious, but isn't that what critics call bands they don't get? We're determined not to insult the intelligence of our audience by over-simplification.
Of course we're indie - isn't almost everyone these days (including some folks on rather big labels!)? We're not offended by whatever genre or category you call us, and any comparisons to famous bands are almost always complimentary.
There have to be comparisons, and we've had many. The Gravity Tree sound has been described by others as sounding like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Furslide, Mastermind, Jethro Tull, Roger Chapman, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Huffamoose, Flower Kings...and I'm sure you'll add something to that. We get comparisons to Primus and Rush and many other artists as well. We've also been called jazz or metal, which is flattering if not completely accurate to our ears. How those 2 genres get mixed in or confused might be an indicator that we're a bit hard to classify. Check out our music on this page and see what you think...with emphasis on that last word.
Here's what some of the critics - some of those who get what we're doing - have said:
"This is a very thought provoking album by a duo who definitely punches a hole through the more established forms of Prog and creates their own sound..."Conversing With The Dead" is a fantastic Prog classic." (USA Progressive Music, on the CD ULTIMATE BACKWARD)
"Gravity Tree is one of the more interesting progressive bands around, a duo who covers all the instruments of a four piece band, plus vocals; and they do this live too...The result is an amazing full band sound from just two players...Their material bears a stamp of currency, yet also features the conceptual ideals of classic progressive rock. Their influences likely include Zappa, Happy The Man, Van der Graaf, and Gentle Giant, which they assimilate well as they explore new musical territory; most of the songs are long and labyrinthine, and rarely settle down into a pattern for very long...This is a solid second effort." (Expose Magazine)
"...pure progressive music, with unquestionable originality and very pleasant sound; a group to be discovered." (Prog-Mania)
"...strong stuff, not heavy, but certainly progressive rock '70's style with a guitar rather than keyboard lead...Not for anyone of a nervous disposition, this is the rock of intense thinkers, driven by intense rhythms." (Wondrous Stories Magazine)
"Gravity Tree is progressive like Rush and King Crimson are progressive - truly free from the chains of modern pop standards and expectations - free to explore and let the creativity flow from within and not be channeled from the outside..." (Warren)
"No band other than a progressive-rock outfit would be so bold as to open its second CD with a song called “No Rest Part III"...This is dense, majestic stuff...Consider “Conversing With the Dead” Gravity Tree’s foray into progressive punk — albeit with a retro, British new-wave vibe and an acoustic-guitar break. It’s one of the coolest tracks... If you’re seeking modern, indie prog with traditional influences...you might want to set your ears underneath Gravity Tree and wait for something special to fall." (Michael P., Sea of Tranquility)
"Obviously incredibly talented players...“Motion Sickness” does exhibit some very hot playing during its instrumental sections. “Wind” offers up some nice Jethro Tull-like acoustic pastoral moods, which evolve into a slightly more traditional classical feel during the short instrumental interlude. “Aim To Please” opens with heavy synth organ and powerful drum/bass interplay before pulling back to vocals and acoustic guitar in a comfortable and natural manner. And “Interference” feels very much like a Flower Kings track, with its mid-tempo groove, prominent keyboards, and anthemic, chiming guitars..." (ProgScape)
". . ..There are some big moments here, big anthemic moments..." (ProgressiveWorld, on the CD LIFE OR DESSERT?
Gravity Tree is an experimental, progressive rock duo hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, in California. What we play is referred to sometimes as Art Rock or Prog Rock or Avant-Prog or Math Rock or Fusion or any number of other titles - although no one's mistaken our brand of noise for hip-hop or country...yet. Our influences come from all over the musical map: rock bands of the '60's and '70's, film soundtrack composers, performance artists, game music (which Alan also writes), and the "classics". We play what sounds right to our own ears; call it what you like. You can find out more about us and what critics, reviewers and fans have said, in the column to the right.
The latest Gravity Tree CD is ULTIMATE BACKWARD, now available at iTunes, CDBaby, IndieRhythm, the downloads offered here; or get either (or both) of our CDs using the shopping cart and links on this page. But don't forget to get on our mailing list to receive the Gravity Tree e-newsletter...
How do we do it? How do 2 musicians sound like a 4 piece band? Here's a short clip of Gravity Tree LIVE; Linc covers Bass AND Guitar, while Alan's on Drums and Keys (and Bass under Linc's solo!). We swear, no drum machines or sequencers were used here, and the sound is right off the video...
Linc and Alan (the only members of Gravity Tree - it's a duo, despite what you hear performed) had worked together in several groups and performing situations before Gravity Tree. After losing their drummer and violinist in a previous group, they experimented with using drum machines and sequencers to enhance their live show. But the results were felt to be too restrictive at the time. Linc set about having custom instruments made which would allow him to play bass and guitar parts simultaneously. Alan, who already had a long history of work on electronic percussion (including the original Simmons kit), decided to simply enhance his acoustic set with electronic triggers. When this proved limiting, he added a keyboard to the kit!
The result was Gravity Tree, whose musical influences range from King Crimson to Gentle Giant, from Fred Frith to Al di Meola, and from Laurie Anderson to Frank Zappa. The instrumentation drives the music in different directions, the limitations becoming opportunities to view the music in new ways. It's a decidedly guitar focused modern experimentation with old school prog rock foundations.
It's their long-awaited, new music experiment: an entree of sound design sprinkled with 16th note triplets, served up on a hot plate full of guitar-drenched progressive flavor.
It is a new noise, a 21st century flavor that bears little resemblance to the sounds of modern radio airwaves. Why? Could be many reasons, but we're betting mostly because everything you hear is performed and generated not by machines, but by 2 human beings. Those aren't drum loops. That's not a sample riff. And they're not playing anything that can be easily categorized by today's industry. This ain't pop. Listen if you dare.
The previous Gravity Tree CD, "LIFE OR DESSERT?" is available at Amazon, Buy.com, CDBaby, and many other fine online stores.
*****LIVE SHOW***** KING CRIMSON tribute by THE GREAT DECEIVERS Friday, July 31st. 9:00 PM at VERSAI 351 N. FAIRFAX AVE., Los Angeles, California 90036 (click on us for more details please) Special 1 hour and 30 minute set with guest musicians and our new violin player, Paula. Doors open at 7pm. We play at 9pm. This is our last show for a long while because our guitar player Nacho will be leaving the country. Come join us in celebrating his friendship and musicianship!!! Thank you very much! -TGD
Hey Gravity Tree! Come take a ride on a rocket ship with me to the outer reaches of the cosmos. We can take the time to look around and find out all the great and magical things about Einstein and physics and the world we live in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyjofnE6dM4
Thanks for the comment! I definitely like experimentation in music, and I'm digging that you have the cajones to do something unique :)
As far as our production, most of the recording, mixing and mastering was done at Winterland Studios. It's a very fine place. I have many fond memories of recording there. One of the cool things about playing drums is that I get done tracking first, so I can just kinda hang out, make suggestions and hear it all coming together, while enjoying a few bottles of wine. But I digress... the point is that I highly recommend Winterland Studios.
thanks for the add & for the nice message,appreciated.We like your style,is interesting and refreshing.....we play live one song of an italian prog-rock band,Pfm,do you like them?we love it!The thing you said about playin'live is true:we hate all those djs trash and rubbish playback bands!Think:we are the only orchestra who plays live in our small town Arezzo,'cos the others orchestras play with pre-recorded tracks and the people don't recognize it!But we'll continue to play live,we're against trends!Thanks so much and have a nice week!
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