Dark Aether Project Reviews

Also see: ProgDay 2002

From: Adam Levin <>
The Dark Aether Project features Adam Levin (Warr 8 String Touch Guitar/Keyboards/Loops), Ray Weston (Vocals), Allen Brunelle (Drums/Percussion/Keyboards/Vocals) and Steev Geest (Guitar/Guitar Synth/Loops). Their music has been described as "..intense and blistering...amazing loops and shimmering textures that are at once haunting and dreamlike...worthy of attention." by Expose. The Dark Aether Project will perform in support of their latest album _Feed The Silence_ of which Progression writer Larry Nai writes: "Dark Aether Project hits a lot of progressive rock pleasure points with Feed the Silence, but make no mistake: this is not another derivative band with little new to say...this is an absolutely fabulous album." You'll also get a preview of brand new material in the works for their next CD. See http://www.DarkAether.Net/

From: Adam Levin <> Subject: New Dark Aether Project music online
We're pleased to announce that we have excerpts from three new tracks from the new album "The Gentle Art of Firewalking" as well as a full track listing and cover art available on The Dark Aether Project Web Site at http://www.darkaether.net/
"The Gentle Art of Firewalking" is due for release on January 26th, 2002.  Will you be able to stand the heat?

From: Adam Levin <>
Subject: REMINDER: Dark Aether Project/Matthew Parmenter in Baltimore Saturday
[...] After nearly three years of preparation, The Dark Aether Project is releasing their long awaited new CD "The Gentle Art of Firewalking." The album features 8 songs which show a group with a fuller, more diverse and extreme sound - from quiet melodic ambience to full tilt adrenaline pumping displays of technical instrumental prowess. Four vocal tracks are balanced by four instrumental tracks. The lyrical subject matter deals with the ups and downs of interpersonal relationships experienced by certain band members in their personal lives during the writing and recording of the CD.
The music, while occasionally being reminiscent of classic artists like King Crimson's 73-74 and 80's eras, as well as others such as Pink Floyd and Mahavishnu Orchestra at times - is not a throwback to the past. It is very much forward-looking and contemporary featuring elements that stray into the realm of post-rock, world music, ambient music, math rock, space/psychedelic rock and modern rock. It's hard to pin a label on the music appearing on "The Gentle Art of Firewalking" because it is such a unique and diverse blend of styles and influences.
The Dark Aether Project, in addition to founding member Warr 8 String Touchstyle Guitarist/Keyboardist Adam Levin is filled out by a lineup that may be unfamilliar to those who only know the band from its previous two CD releases. The lineup on "The Gentle Art of Firewalking" is rounded out by drummer/keyboardist Allen Brunelle who joined the group in 1999 shortly after the release of "Feed the Silence" and was previously a member of fellow Baltimore progressive rock group "Iluvatar" and currently has his own electronic music project "Tempustry"; vocalist Jennifer Huff who joined in the summer of 2000 and cut her teeth on a capella vocal work performing and recording with the group "The Treblemakers"; guitarist John McCloskey who joined in the Fall of 2000 and is also a member of the jazz band "On the Rocks"; and finally keyboardist Marty Saletta who joined in early 2001 and was a member of Baltimore progressive rock groups "Chaos Code" and "The Web." See http://www.darkaether.net/  for more information.
Matthew Parmenter has long been hailed as a dark visionary as the singer/songwriter/leader of Michigan's progressive rock master's "Discipline". Discipline's 1997 epic "Unfolded Like Staircase" was loudly praised by critics and fans alike as one of the top progressive rock releases of the 90's. Belgium's Stage Magazine wrote "..twenty years from now Unfolded Like Staircase will be seen as a milestone of the prog-revival. Heaven!" Matthew is currently working on a solo project called "astray" which will be released later this year. The CD features new songs as well as some songs that he has performed in solo spots at Discipline concerts over the years. His performance will feature music from this new CD. See http://www.strungoutrecords.com/  for more information.

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