KNRK 94.7 Radio Portland will play our CD WED AUG 20th @ 8 PM.
08/10/2008 9 PM - KUFO CLASSIC ROCK PORTLAND OR - Viva-La-Luna Show - Lisa Wood 2040 SW 1st Avenue Portland, Oregon 97201 KUFO Lisa Wood (local music) Viva-La-Luna Show Debuts Obscured By Clouds CD “Psycheclectic” 10 PM on AUG 10th, 2008. http://www.kufo.com/Viva-La-Luna/1147867 CALL: 800-344-5836
Influences
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September, 2008:
WITH THE RELEASE OF THEIR CD, “PSYCHECLECTIC”, OBSCURED BY CLOUDS BENDS GENRES TO FORM A UNIQUE BLEND OF RESONANCE AND TRANSCENDENCE
With the Cooperative Efforts This Quintessential Quattro Creates a CD That Truly Stands Out From the Standard Formulas of Rock Music
The world of rock music devotes itself to a certain quasi-preconscious and mostly unconscious fickleness that has yet to be proven actually functional to the vast continuum of music. In rock’s reiterations and reinventions searching for a new azimuth, from the uncommon new music outside the standard formulas – Obscured By Clouds (OBC) and Psycheclectic Records offer hope for the future of creative original music. People could view the world of music as a setting sun and a dwindling source of access and potential. OBC unassumingly reaches out to connect with their listeners in a highly personal way as approachable, functional and as a resource for their audience. Their music stands out as a source of abundance beyond the untoward, to ward the continuum of the possibilities for music, music lovers, and the future of music. This is a band who would not particularly want to throw a television off a balcony or end up dead from an overdose of pride in a hotel room. They don’t have enough capacity for vanity required to hold anyone back, especially all the people they are trying to free from the limitations by ingathering their audience to move forward.
How willing is music today to stand outside the formula of comfort and chaos? For the most part it’s difficult to find music that’s both inspiring and original today, but there is great music waiting to be discovered. In conceiving the band, guitarist and song writer, founder, William describes their approach as a group.
“The reason I started Obscured By Clouds was to share the concept of a band together, not to espouse the William Weikart experience. It was the camaraderie of a band we had in mind with a grander view of what a band could create together. I wanted to have the strength of a focused group, not the indulgence of an individual.” When listening to their music, one realizes this inclusive approach of OBC’s music today does sound welcome and promising for change. The OBC sound is interwoven and has a real group feel. Let’s go back to the genesis to see the source of this obscure self-imposed exile.
William continues, “Pink Floyd…was really responsible for my love of music. And I don’t throw that band name down loosely. I mean I delved deeply into their music, as I did with so many more bands in an exhaustive passionate inculcation. Standing alone, Pink Floyd was everything that made music amazing. I would say…if I were lying on a beach with crashing waves in a half conscious state, there would be no better music floating across the sand than Relics, More, The Madcap Laughs, or even early Tangerine Dream.” The separate parts of a band never truly surpass the whole. It is within this gestalt from where this passion is also summoned for Obscured By Clouds. The listeners’ inclusion in the band’s performance, psychedelic effects, and light-show is essential for the connection they produce. We would offer the same potential connection exists for the audiences of Obscured By Clouds in the days ahead.
“One of the most synchronistic moments in the history of Obscured By Clouds happened when I received an e-mail from Tube Records.” William discovered there was someone who wanted to connect. Apparently, Tube Records was releasing some of David Gilmour’s and Andy Jackson’s works.
“You can’t imagine how excited I was when I determined it was David Gilmour and long time Floyd engineer, Andy Jackson who were the source of the outreach. It was a moment of reflection that was a threshold experience for me.” They traded email back and forth. Andy was acting on behalf of Tube Records, who wanted a copy of the bands first demo “Bleed”, as well as other new material. “We sent it off, along with some of our other stuff too. It was great to hear that they really liked our work. William talked on the phone with Andy Jackson about music and various Floyd conceptual sound effects. “We hope to have an opportunity to work with Dave and Andy in the future, maybe even on the old house boat studio on the Thames. …The kingdoms’ heaviest boat on the river -- relative to its vast musical intent.”
“I still miss the concept album and the extended attention span it encompassed,” says William. In the midst of all of this connection, conversation and inspiration came the ideas for a new sound—new music with a killer identity of its own from the album “Psyheclectic.” It blossomed out of the hard work and dedication of some impressive artists, instrumentalists, and producers. Namely, this is the line-up of Obscured by Clouds.
Phil Baker (bassist) has toured with everyone from jazz legends Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson to the very popular Portland indie act, Pink Martini (Heinz) and even Diana Ross. Having appeared on hundreds of jazz, rock, pop and blues albums, Baker is one of the West Coast's premiere bass players.
Thee Slayer Hippy (drummer), co-produced and co-recorded the first two Elliot Smith’s Heatmiser albums for Frontier Records. TSH has played with Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age), played with Ben Shepherd of Soundgarden. Lastly for ten years THS wrote, produced, and recorded with Poison Idea touring the world.
Kevin Cozad (piano/synthesizer) has performed live with John Taylor (Power Station, Duran Duran) for James Angell’s first album. He has produced, recorded and played with groups (Neros Rome/AutoBahn) all over the northwest.
In summing up, Nick Moon (Mixing Engineer: Obscured By Clouds, Ani DiFranco, amongst others) seems to eloquently encapsulate it the best. “This CD has some wild vibrations going on. You can hear a lot of influences, but everything has been taken out further…to the 9th degree.” Nick’s enthusiasm is almost infectious. “Musically it is so tonally rich and competent. It was such a great project to work on, because there were so many dynamics to it. This makes Psycheclectic that much more enjoyable to listen to…you know how much work was put into the writing, recording and the mixing. And the coolest thing about this new record is that it is such a great amalgamation of members, sounds and recording techniques. It includes people from all different walks of life and different genres of music.” The recording was done in various studios, starting in a basement on a Digi 001 and ending on “a sick API board.” In the making of this album, the band has been through so many different places in their lives, and gone through a span of time.”
Joe Lambert (Mastering Engineer/Black Label Society/Ted Nugent/V2/Nonesuch Records, etc.) also described the album as meaningfully original, “I enjoyed mixing this album. And I have never heard anything like it before, I mean that in a very enthusiastic way.”
Obscured By Clouds are in it for the long haul. The album is far and away unique to the standard rock formula, and being weird is a compliment in OBC’s book. So fear not the strangeness and willingness to accept un-acceptance. With not only the drive, ambition, ethic, and the sound, they do have the talent to back it up. And isn’t original, unique, and creative new music what the future is all about?
Obscuredbyclouds.net
(c) 2008 Psycheclectic Records
Sounds Like
OBSCURED BY CLOUDS:
At The Whisky a Go-Go - AUG 28 2009 Obscured By Clouds CD Release Party. http://www.obscuredbyclouds.net
Summary Reviews for Obscured By Clouds "Psycheclectic"
Obscured By Clouds 2009-2010 Tour Dates:
· AUG 28 2009 Whisky a Go-Go!!! Obscured By Clouds in Los Angeles, CA Friday Night!
· OCT 2009 @ TBA Seattle, WA.
· SEPT 12 SAT 2009 @ Berbati's Pan in Portland, OR.
· AUG 12 SAT 2009 @ The Doug Fir in Portland, OR.
· JULY 29 2009 Studio Seven Obscured By Clouds in Seattle, WA.
· JULY 3 2009 Friday The Comet Tavern Obscured By Clouds in Seattle, WA. w/ WitchBurn, Valis & Stone Axe.
· JULY 1 2009 Dante’s Obscured By Clouds w/ Echo Helstrom & ARZ.
· JUNE 26 2009 Laser-Light Show: Columbia City Theater Seattle, WA Friday Night! Obscured By Clouds w/ Echo Helstrom & Dream Tiger. (Laser Light Show w/ Austrailian Floyd's lighting director.)
· JUNE 6, 2009 6:00 PM (EST) RADIO Interview: WSHC 89.7 West Virginia w/ Olivia Maxwell. Online: www.897wshc.org. Past guest: Richard Lloyd, Gary Lucas , Koko Dozo.
· MAY 2009 Honda Motors and Yahoo select our song "Cast Close The Gate" to stream 120 Million listeners estimated hearing our music via the Honda Music Widget. Thank you Honda & Yahoo!
· APRIL 2009 Review in Classic Rock Magazine, London.
· APRIL 20, 2009 Interview in Progression Magazine.
· MARCH 2009 Interview in Ink19.
· JAN 22, 2009 Columbia City Music Theater Seattle, WA.
· DEC 2008 Review in Shindig! Magazine, London.
· SEPT 2008 Review in Creem Magazine.
· AUG 22, 2008 The Aladdin Theater Portland, OR Obscured By Clouds CD release party.
· AUG 21, 2008 Music Millennium (East) Free In-Store Performance Portland, OR.
· AUG 20, 2008 8 PM KNRK 94.7 Radio Portland, OR played our new CD.
· AUG 10, 2008 10 PM KUFO 101.1 CLASSIC ROCK Radio Portland, Viva-La-Luna Show w/Lisa Wood.
· JULY & AUG 2008 Review in BlogCrtics.com via online Seattle Examiner.
“Floyd devotees set the controls for arty grunge. …Although obviously conversant in UK 70’s prog, Portland’s William Weikart also knows his way round a doomy riff and a grunge melody. Switching from the sedated bad-dream drone of Zoe Zolofft to the lofty bombast of Cast Close the Gate, contemporary touchstones are Type O Negative and Mastodon’s artier moments. …When they stick to the more straight forward heavy psychedelia however, the results are exceptional and impressive.”
- Tim Batcup Classic Rock Magazine (UK) April 2009
"An ambitious prog-rock album where surface-sutured layers of trippy textures and trances melt into ominous simmering swatches of deep-seated psychotronic sensations before slowly coalescing together again."
- Jeffrey Morgan Creem Magazine September 2008
“Tough, fervid and intense, at various times over the course of Psycheclectic they resemble a more inspired Soundgarden with a bigger paintbox (‘Cast Close The Gate’, ‘Consider This A Message’), a characteristically glowering Thin White Rope (‘Zoe Zolofft’) and an even more raucous Nomeansno (‘Hot Little Box’). …It’s surprising and instructive to discover how well their brawny, muscular, scruff-of-the-neck acid rock offsets and complements Mooch’s birdsong, sitars and British pallor. It’s an aural entente between UK and US psych templates, no less…”
- The Reviews Editor Shindig! Magazine London, UK December, 2008
“There is so much going on within this album that it takes many plays to fully explore the multi layers and sometimes disguised dimensions it contains. The production…is first class. …Both psychedelic and eclectic drawing from not only Floyd influences but releasing those energies and letting them go on their own journey…not only rewarding but is also fascinating and compelling. It is a brave move… “Cast Close the Gate” which opens with strident guitar work before developing into an extraordinarily accomplished track underpinned by some clever and effective drumming. “Love’s Love” appears with a wonderfully rich opening section and highly evocative lyrics.”
- Jeff Perkins Blog Critics Magazine August 25th, 2008
“…The album takes great inspiration from Pink Floyd, but really stands with its own persona. …Obscured By Clouds takes what they heard and learned from Pink Floyd and adapted it to their own play. And the thing is, these kids rock. Using "psycheclectic" as a portmanteau of "psychedelic" and "eclectic" very much describes the album itself. …Different songs (would) be described as everything from classic rock to feedback experimentation to folk to perhaps even Celtic in its epic descriptions of landscape and emotional impact. “Soft Cheeked and Worried," …flows from stark acoustic guitar emulating the barren desert with splashes of piano and moves to electric guitar playing just on the edge of feedback. "Zoë Zolofft" works as an homage to Syd Barrett in a "song about a girl, a sitar, and modern pharmakinetics", creating the "sonic imagery of the splintered spokes of a broken and wobbling wheel." "Love's Love" calls up images of love personified "with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment."
- Jeff Provine Blog Critics Magazine July 27th, 2008
“Portland, Oregon based art rock band Obscured by Clouds… Their sound also reflects the spacy, electronic-induced psychedelia of that era with modern sound reinforcements and technological digital enhancements. William Weikart is the brain trust and founder of the ensemble, initially inspired when he saw Pink Floyd's Live at Pompeii, and took cues from the dreamy vocals of David Gilmour and sparse musings of guitarist Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters. Playing guitars, Fender Rhodes electric piano, synthesizers, and oscillators, Weikart formed a new personalized approach to Pink Floyd's music without covering their material, but instead attempting to expand on it from his own perspective. In 2009 the album Psycheclectic was issued on the Psycheclectic label.”
- Michael G. Nastos All Music Guide
“Dark, ambitious, brooding and atmospheric, it’s a bold and unique statement from a band that’s gotten the stamp of approval from Pink Floyd mastermind David Gilmour himself. The record is attention-grabbing from start to conceptual finish. You can bet money the record release show will be a brilliant affair.”
- Barbara Mitchell The Portland Tribune August 21st, 2008
“Obscured By Clouds…employs a hefty dose of Pink Floyd influence as a launching pad…into space/psych/prog realms, which also summons hints of Nick Drake, Bowie on barbiturates, and Hawkwind. The band deftly dabbles in acoustic texturing amidst flowing symphonic atmospheres…. The sonorous, echo-laden “Faiths’ Soul” even brings Jimi Hendrix to mind at his most heavily psych-ic. All is delivered with melodic panache, save for the trippy ambient closer “Drip Feed.”
This Oregon-based unit is led by multi-instrumentalist/singer William Weikart with assistance from others on drums, bass, brass, keyboards, sitar – even something called subsonic didgeridoo synthesizer which also hints at the nature of this material.
Make no mistake, Psycheclectic emphasizes strong song structures, so despite the mind-bending space/psych flourishes in arrangement and production, accessibility isn’t an issue. If symphonic psych-drenched space is your place, Obscured By Clouds is sure to please.”
- John Collinge Progression Magazine Fall 2008
“Obscured By Clouds newest CD “Psycheclectic" features dreamy meditative songs and harder rockin' tunes, and has already received airplay on such stations as KNRK and KUFO. The album veers from dreamy meditations to hard rockers, and is sure to please fans of progressive rock as well as orchestrated psychedelia.”
- Rob Cullivan The Outlook (Oregon) August 19th, 2008
“…Psycheclectic, (a) 21st-century interpretation of the music of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Obscured By Clouds certainly has a better grasp of their instruments and how to play them than most pop-rock groups on the market. Psycheclectic is an album that will only be appreciated by those who already love the music of Geddy, Neil, Alex, David, and Roger and the deep catalogs of both those transcendent groups.”
- (Music In My Ears) August 20th, 2008
“Psychedelicgrunge: who’d have thought it? …Think of an album including tracks from Pink Floyd, Rush, Screaming Trees and Faith No More, and then mix all the tracks together; it would be called Psychelectic and it would be by Obscured By Clouds. …If you fancy being in a dream while being awake… Clearly influenced by Pink Floyd…the opening track Soft Cheek and Worried is a homage to the Floyds early psychedelic era… They describe themselves as a band with a sound that is truly unique forgoing the standard formulas Its no surprise, then, to catch a bit of grunge influences in the music as well. Full credit is due for producing a professional sounding record and for a band who obviously know how to handle their instruments. Front-man and songwriter William Weikart clearly understands his music to be able to write such a variety of songs. A good debut effort and likely to be loved by fans of Roger Waters and company and likely to be understood by grunge kids; other music fans might find the droning guitars, abstract synthesizers and fantastical lyrics too much to be able to appreciate.”
- Rachel Butler Idio Magazine September 11th, 2008
“The band finds the right balance of hard-hitting and melodic rock on "Fatih’s Soul," which will catch the ear of fans of Northwest rock heroes Floater. "Psycheclectic" takes on the persona of a concept album, with deep imagery and recurring sound effects ingrained into a running theme, called "The Drip Feed." "Psycheclectic" is a good starting point for Obscured By Clouds — at least good enough to have caught the attention of Pink Floyd member David Gilmour and longtime engineer Andy Jackson, who have expressed interest in working with the band in the future.
- Ossie Bladine Vancouver Voice September 2008
“It's easy to forget in light of Floyd's gargantuan mainstream popularity, but their music originally came from truly weird, avant-garde origins. …Fortunately, the band is at its most interesting when they drop the Floyd homage and play straightforward, propulsive rock, like "Cast Close the Gate," or the Cult-like "Faith's Soul," both from their new album, Psycheclectic, which celebrates its release tonight.”
- NL The Portland Mercury August 21st, 2008
“No obscuring new record. Drawing inspiration from Pink Floyd and the psychedelic music of the ’60s and ’70s, local band Obscured by Clouds is releasing its second album, “Psycheclectic.” It features eight tracks written by William Weikart of Camas, the progressive rock group’s guitarist, keyboardist and lead vocalist. This album is more layered than the group’s first effort, “Bleed,” (1997) said Weikart... “This has much more complexity in songwriting, (and) much more instrumentation. There is a thematic flow that runs from song to song.”
- Elisa Williams The Columbian August 22nd, 2008
“…Obscured By Clouds show a knack for keen songwriting and psychadelic, progressive and introspective themes on Psycheclectic. They keep it honest by making it quite clear that, at their heart, they're just a hard rock band who are trying to come together into one cohesive unit. And it doesn't matter which side the band is on because they pull off both the psychadelic day-tripper and blue-collar rock'n'roller sounds quite well. You'll know already if this album is for you or not, but I must stress that if you've ever heard the term "progressive rock" and figured yourself to be a fan, GET THIS RECORD ASAP. Even David Gilmour likes Obscured By Clouds, and that's no lie. Their press release says so.”
“…The heartbeat opening "Soft Cheeked & Worried" will of course bring to mind that previously-mentioned megaband's classic "Dark Side Of The Moon" album, but the bottom drops out on that quick as the band kicks into a softly-spun acoustic jam, with a bright piano melody and distant, resonating electric guitar drifting overhead. As almost every song on the album does, this closes with a return to the bass-drum/heartbeat section of it's original intro and delves into what the liner notes describe as "Subconscious murmured dialogue", more or less short moments of spacey ambience that reach their logical destination on the rather surprising and disturbing closer "The Drip Feed". In between their influences mix from a somewhat standard progressive hard rock ala King's X or the more recent output from Rush, but almost always muddled with a metallic guitar nature that brings to mind King Crimson. The one song that'll leave the biggest impression has to be "Zoe Zolofft", which snakes along with a pitch-black groove that sounds straight out of a bad trip's bad trip.”
- Kevin Sellers Music Emissions October 26th, 2008
“Portland-based art rock band Obscured By Clouds…maintain heavy influence by psychedelic and art rock of the 60s and 70s, particularly experimental bands like Pink Floyd. The first track, Soft Cheeked and Worried, was my favorite song on the album… Much like Pink Floyd’s art rock, the vocals of Weikart are slurred and dream-like, as if spoken/sang through a megaphone in an echoing empty tunnel. Combine the vocals with various electronic sound effects and synthesizers, and it becomes a brilliantly original spin on its influence. As a fan of the musical style of the Floyd, I was surprised to find that Psycheclectic had retained many of their positive elements, and how much I liked the new originality. The tracks are all masterfully orchestrated and the talent of every member of the band is obvious. Another great example of this composition mastery is demonstrated in Track 5, “Faith’s Soul”. …But there is no mistaking that Obscured By Clouds took the essence that made Pink Floyd so revolutionary and re-birthed it into a solidly innovative work of art, able to stand on its own. …As Weikart has stated in interviews, his purpose for starting the band was to enjoy the concept of the band together. The creative influences of the Floyd combined with the seamless synergy of the members of Obscured By Clouds make for a truly enjoyable experience in freeform art rock.
- Leslie Waara NW Noise Reviews September 24th, 2008
“(OBC) They provide a “unique blend of resonance and transcendence.” Indeed, this album would’ve fit in in the 1970s, as Weikart’s vocals are a mixture of Gilmour and John Wetton (King Crimson’s vocalist on Larks’ Tongues In Aspic and a few after). Musically, they’re quite interesting... Opener “Soft Cheeked & Worried” is the best track on the album... It’s a very catchy track and leads into the album successfully. “Zoe Zolofft” is a bit jolting because of its militaristic time signature, perhaps representing a bad side effect of the drug itself. “Cast Close The Gate” is a straightforward rocker with plenty of attitude. “Love’s Love” has, as they describe it, a “…mellow cadence that ascribes the duality and simultaneity in few words with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment.” It’s a pretty peaceful track. “Faith’s Soul” opens with a very heavy guitar tone... It also has a pretty hot guitar solo near the ending. “The Drip Feed” ...has some string instruments and weird noises, like water dripping, and is a somewhat successful attempt at tension filled ambience.”?
- Jordan Blum Delusions of Adequacy October 7th, 2008
“When I first received Psycheclectic by the duo Obscured by Clouds, whose name comes from a lyric from a Pink Floyd song, my first thought was that this was going to be some drone-heavy electronic NyQuil. I was pleasantly surprised when I actually listened to it. It has a little bit of everything.
The opening track, "Soft Cheeked & Worried," takes about a minute to get going, but once the acoustic guitar and piano get going, it starts to sound like the bastard child of Elton John's "Rocket Man." Then the vocals of William Weikart enter. He sounds like a darker version of Roger Waters. Especially on this track, the positive music and Weikart's cryptic voice counter each other to perfection.
"Zoe Zoloft" is intentionally plodding with the drums, played by Poison Idea's Thee Slayer Hippy (I can't make this stuff up), keeping a heavy rhythm as if he just had his Zoloft. They follow that up with "Cast Close the Gate," a straight-up rocker with an eclectically electronic twist. It's like adding the lime to a Corona. It's already good, but they made it just a little better.
"Faith's Soul" is a page straight out of A Perfect Circle's catalog. It's almost seven minutes long, filled with guitar solos, lyrics that could have come from a seedy back alley ("Statues of stone will be a witness against us/ I am a ghost, finite, and transparent... hollow") and an outro that could fill a stadium.
Psycheclectic is a record that has a little bit of everything. It starts off like it could be acoustic or even alt/rock similar to Days of the New. But once you reach track three of this eight-track, 41+ minute album, you realize that you haven't even scratched the surface yet. One listen is not enough to get everything that Obscured by Clouds has to offer on this album.”
- Tim Wardyn Ink 19 November 2008
“I think it’s fair to say that we find the defendant guilty, your honour, of being big fans of Pink Floyd. Fortunately the Oregon outfit avoids the sort of outright imitation that might generate incessant teasing, and the superb production of ‘Psycheclectic’ reveals a lot of capable musicianship. The band seems adept at shifting between the acoustic subtleties of opener ‘Soft Cheeked and Worried’ as the crunchier guitar of ‘Cast Close’. Mainman William Weikart’s forceful vocals aren’t too shabby either.
The band’s Floyd fanaticism carries on through the lyrics, with the stomping ‘Zoe Zoloft’ bearing an appropriately druggy theme. The submerged female vocals that pop up in it (and other songs) can be a trifle annoying, but at least they don’t ask if you’d like to take a bath – that would be going too far.
…At root, ‘Psycheclectic’ is a sincere act of worship and a polished update of the psychedelic prog rock of the early 1970's that fans of the era might want to check out a few tasters ... whether they’re then inspired to pick up a copy or just stick some Floyd on or in the music-playing device of their choice is up to them. (Exhibit F. Track eight, ‘The Drip Feed’ ... thathump ... thathump ... thathump).”
- Andrew Carver Penny Black Music – UK, November 2008
“It's easy to forget in light of Floyd's gargantuan mainstream popularity, but their music originally came from truly weird, avant-garde origins. …Fortunately, the band is at its most interesting when they drop the Floyd homage and play straightforward, propulsive rock, like "Cast Close the Gate," or the Cult-like "Faith's Soul," both from their new album, Psycheclectic, which celebrates its release tonight.”
- NL The Portland Mercury August 21st, 2008
REVIEWS for OBC’s previous CD ‘BLEED’ 1997-98: Now there are twenty bands with a song called Bleed or an album also named Bleed with no intention of homage as we hold true to the Floyd. I remember being excited about how there were none in 1997... Homage was the point and is the basis of the vast legacy of film and music!
"At times the vocals resemble David Gilmour and Roger Waters. But also - if you can imagine - the late, great Nick Drake...this band (is) headed to the major leagues.”
- European Progressive Rock Reviews
“This is the stuff that dreams are made of, masquerading in the warm velvety tones of William's vocal cords…”
- Nikki Brooks - Thru Her Eyes
"They describe themselves as ‘early Floyd meets early Crimson,’ a description that doesn't do them justice. They have that progressive rock sound…but have added their own sound within. But give them a viewing yourself so you can decide... “
- About.com - Weekly Music Video Pick
“Bleed…(an) amazingly cohesive album...a beautiful album of minimalist technique… makes one very curious about the future output of this trio”
- Sal Pichireddu The Progressive Rock Encyclopedia (Germany)
”Computer-fueled frequenters of the dark side of the moon long since have learned that logging into the Pink Floyd Webring can end up spacey. One safe place to start orbit: www.obscuredbyclouds.com. Yes, that is the name of a first-rate Portland band specializing in lesser-known Floydism.”
- Jonathan Nichols, The Oregonian
“The melody is really good here and the use of mellotron is beautiful... It is striking that all these tracks have been made so much their own by Obscured By Clouds...An album of pleasing music, brought in a strictly introspective way.”
- Jurriaan Hage - Hage's Axiom of Choice
"Obscured By Clouds defines art rock nouveau as music for the millennium"
- Kuenstlernetz.de
“…Obscured By Clouds unquestionably have immense potential. …Heavy psychedelic twists…The band manage to create pieces that veer from the more extreme, doom-laden riffs to the occasional lilting ballad, and surprisingly it’s a blend that works well.” - Classic Rock Magazine Presents Prog! AUG 2009 (London)
“Trippy textures and trances melt into ominous psychotronic sensations..." -Creem Magazine
Sounds like “…Type O Negative and Mastodon…the results are exceptional and impressive.” - Classic Rock Magazine (London)
“They resemble a more inspired Soundgarden… It’s an aural entente between UK/US psych templates…” - Shindig! (London)
Obscured By Clouds “Portland, Oregon based art rock band…William Weikart is the brain trust and founder of the ensemble…Playing guitars, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, and oscillators, Weikart formed a new personalized approach to Pink Floyd's music without covering their material, but instead attempting to expand on it from his own perspective.” - All Music Guide 2009
“Obscured By Clouds…employs a hefty dose of Pink Floyd influence as a launching pad…into space/psych/prog realms, which also summons hints of Nick Drake, Bowie on barbiturates, and Hawkwind. The sonorous, echo-laden “Faiths’ Soul” even brings Jimi Hendrix to mind at his most heavily psych-ic. All is delivered with melodic panache…. …Psycheclectic emphasizes strong song structures, so despite the mind-bending space/psych flourishes in arrangement and production, accessibility isn’t an issue.” - Progression Magazine
AUG 28 FRIDAY: Obscured By Clouds @ The Whisky a Go-Go - Los Angeles, CA
Honda Motors & Yahoo have selected one of OBC’s songs “Cast Close The Gate” to stream to 120 million estimated listeners via their Honda Motors Music Widget.
Obscuredbyclouds.net - AUG 28th Whisky a Go-Go Los Angeles, CA Friday Night!
Extended Reviews:
“…Contemporary touchstones are Type O Negative and Mastodon’s artier moments. Floyd devotees set the controls for arty grunge. ...Although obviously conversant in UK 70’s prog, Portland’s William Weikart also knows his way round a doomy riff and a grunge melody. …When they stick to the more straight forward heavy psychedelia however, the results are exceptional and impressive.” - Classic Rock Magazine (London UK) April 2009
“Tough, fervid and intense, at various times over the course of Psycheclectic they resemble a more inspired Soundgarden with a bigger paintbox. ...It’s surprising and instructive to discover how well their brawny, muscular, scruff-of-the-neck acid rock offsets and complements... It’s an aural entente between UK and US psych templates, no less…” - Shindig! Magazine London, UK
"An ambitious prog-rock album where surface-sutured layers of trippy textures and trances melt into ominous simmering swatches of deep-seated psychotronic sensations before slowly coalescing together again." - Creem Magazine September 2008.
“Portland, Oregon based art rock band Obscured by Clouds… Their sound also reflects the spacy, electronic-induced psychedelia of that era with modern sound reinforcements and technological digital enhancements. William Weikart is the brain trust and founder of the ensemble, initially inspired when he saw Pink Floyd's Live at Pompeii, and took cues from the dreamy vocals of David Gilmour and sparse musings of guitarist Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters. Playing guitars, Fender Rhodes electric piano, synthesizers, and oscillators, Weikart formed a new personalized approach to Pink Floyd's music without covering their material, but instead attempting to expand on it from his own perspective. In 2009 the album Psycheclectic was issued on the Psycheclectic label.” All Music Guide
“…Obscured By Clouds unquestionably have immense potential. “Soft Cheeked & Worried is a classy melodic track that, along with the mellow acoustics of Love’s Love, hint at their hippy-trippy affinities. Faith’s Soul and Consider This A Message add some stoner rock, heavy psychedelic twists.” “…The band manage to create pieces that veer from the more extreme, doom-laden riffs to the occasional lilting ballad, and surprisingly it’s a blend that works well.” Rich Wilson Classic Rock Magazine - Presents Prog! August 5th, 2009
(We privilege obscure homage over heteronomy any day.)
“Obscured By Clouds…employs a hefty dose of Pink Floyd influence as a launching pad…into space/psych/prog realms, which also summons hints of Nick Drake, Bowie on barbiturates, and Hawkwind. The sonorous, echo-laden “Faiths’ Soul” even brings Jimi Hendrix to mind at his most heavily psych-ic. All is delivered with melodic panache…. …Psycheclectic emphasizes strong song structures, so despite the mind-bending space/psych flourishes in arrangement and production, accessibility isn’t an issue.” John Collinge - Progression Magazine
OBSCURED BY CLOUDS’ CD, “PSYCHECLECTIC,” BENDS GENRES TO FORGE UNIQUE BLEND OF RESONANCE AND TRANSCENDENCE
The NW musician’s cooperative from a humble beginning results in CD that stands outside the standard formulas of rock music.
WHEN: CD RELEASE PARTY/SHOW @ THE WHISKY A GO-GO in LOS ANGELES, CA AUG 28th, 2009
WHAT: The convergence of an inspired group and label to produce music that transcends acceptance. Got ilk? Weird is the new Pink.
WHY:
• This band has a sound that is truly unique forgoing the standard formulas.
• The lyrical content has great dimension and intriguing flow of consciousness.
• Thinking outside the box begets form and formlessness simultaneously.
• How often do rock music icons (Gilmour) find interest in a tiny label & band?
• Inspiration is a great thing. Greed may be good -- but weird is better.
OBSCURED BY CLOUDS’ “PSYCHECLECTIC”
A CD Release From A Band Outside the Standard Formula …
RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 20th, 2009
The album “Psycheclectic” opens with a building conceptual segue between each song throughout the entire CD, and includes subconscious murmured dialogue that cross fades into each song. The first segue opens the CD with the subsonic rumbling and thunderous warbling that lead to the whispered murmurings of a faint female voice softly musing in her subconscious dialogue. This thematic flow of consciousness stands out to be the conceptual running theme throughout the CD from beginning to end. The opening song Soft Cheeked and Worried flows out of the introduction with the sonic imagery of drifting desert clouds. The song begins starkly barren with only acoustic guitar, grand piano, and the warm tones of an endless sustain of electric guitars just on the edge of feedback. This song concludes with a droning wall of sound of beaming guitar sustain and oscillating synthesizers. Zoë Zolofft, holds true as an obscure Barrett-esque song in homage -- a song about a girl, a sitar, and modern pharmakinetics; and concludes with the sonic imagery of the splintered spokes of a broken and wobbling wheel. Cast Close the Gate is what would be the friendly three minute song with the obligatory grand ending of feedback unlike anything you may have heard before. Love’s Love has a more mellow cadence, that ascribes the duality and simultaneity in few words with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment.
When you hear the rhythmic strikes and fateful lyrics of the song Faiths’ Soul, Cast Close the Gate, or Consider this a Message -- what initially comes to mind? The sounds of Pink Floyd? Maybe Jane’s Addiction (some say) with some Sabbath/Ozzy and Soundgarden? For the more acoustically-driven songs on the album, maybe even the lyricism of Nick Drake? No matter what you try to compare their music to or what similarities you may find, all preconceptions are not from the formula of which you are thinking. All likenesses will remain elusive, undefinable, and hard to put your finger upon. This new music is truly unique and is a very personal outreach from the heart of the unassuming independent music evolution.
Obscured By Clouds steps out from behind all veils, preconceptions, or limitations here. This new music is a very eclectic amalgam holding potential for an introspective journey waiting for discovery. The entire album has an intriguingly measured intensity. Each song yields to the subconscious undertow of lyricism as The Drip Feed theme trails throughout each segue, within the very psychedelic cross faded themes of each new song. This is an unassuming progressive concept album by today’s standard. And why not? It is a refreshing indulgence after all. This CD is a great example of what freeform, selfless, and independent music can be accomplished with a very modest budget, delivered with solid production, and within a truly independent format. Independent music is where all the potential is, and this album is a great example of what is possible beyond all the limitations music faces today.
The band began in a local microcosmic Oregon pub. On a Saturday night you could find your way to your old haunt-tavern that set a great scene to hear “obscure” originals and the relics of Floyd. But even from the start, one didn’t have to be overtly perceptive to notice the band has something to offer for intrigue and interest, something almost ethereal in nature. In Obscured By Clouds’ present incarnation, this fact is far more evident in the sound of such otherworldliness and developed lyrical focus.
William also launched the very independent record label Psycheclectic Records in 2002 with James Angell’s first release that has held out great critical acclaim. Could it be possible that the concept of psycheclecticism exists? “We spoke with and met with quite a few major labels who expressed interest, and eventually we just chose to release ‘the underground album of the year’ by ourselves,” as William describes the humble campaign for their first release. “I have worked with so many close margin circumstances with major labels, that eventually you just have to accept your own volition and move forward regardless of the shrinking support for independent music.”
The bassist Phil Baker is one of the West Coast’s finest, having worked with everyone from Pink Martini to Diana Ross among other great musicians including jazz legends Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson. Drummer, Thee Slayer Hippy – certainly one of the hardest hitting drummers around - has played with the likes of Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age) and Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden). Kevin Cozad is the wizard of synthesizers and keyboards who has played with (Neros Rome), and lately played with John Taylor.
Radio play for Obscured by Clouds has truly extended around the world, to both commercial and public radio…and they even debuted on Radio Poland. One of OBC’s first invitations to perform outside North America came from the Rio de Janeiro Art Festival. OBC has been invited to perform at concerts in Brazil, France, The Netherlands, England, Spain, Belgium and around the USA.
What would you do if someone inside Pink Floyd sent you an e-mail? Read on and you will find out. Give the album a listen at night on your favorite dark highway, and decide for yourself. Are limitations a bad thing? Often today we limit the potential for what could be part of a solution. But in the case of Obscured by Clouds, it really is worth your while to check it out and hear for yourself.
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