Sonic Tapestry "Aftermath"

Welcome back to the Closet Concert Arena fellow progheads!  Setting the A/C on "yes please" as the dog days continue to beat down on the prog garden.  In an attempt to escape the sweltering heat, the Concert Closet kept the search for all thing prog in the UK another seven days as I discovered a still "green around the edges" prog band.  If I had an official mission statement it would include something about bringing new and undiscovered gems found in the prog garden to those eager to expand their appreciation of the genre...to offer aspiring musicians and artists a platform to expose their sound...

With those thoughts rattling around my cranium, I set off to check out a band I stumbled across almost by accident; Sonic Tapestry and their release "Aftermath."  The focus of this week's journey  begins with a cut called "Mystic Void."  The high energy instrumental opening has top notes of Transatlantic; the entire piece washes over you like a cool summer sun shower...the guitars are understated, allowing gentle vocals to seep through the headphones and bounce gently inside your head.  Meanwhile the keyboards lead the charge--but not so much that everything else is forced to run for cover.

If a title cut exists I tend to search it out...gives a bit more insight to the goings-on behind the curtain; a single song "concept" if you will.  "Aftermath" delivers a strong message as Sonic Tapestry shows a bit of an edge on this song, coming out of the gate more like Marillion with a touch of Spock's Beard standing on the rim and aiming loud speakers across the abyss.  The decibel level keeps you alert--but the heat is turned down just before the anticipated explosion.  The band moves pointedly through the prog garden as the song plays out; tempo, mood, and time changes splattering the canvas like an Andy Warhol/Peter Max event out of control.

Liner Notes...a relative new comer to the prog garden, Sonic Tapestry started in Cheshire, England somewhere around 2010.  Founded by Steve Forster on vocals, flute, keyboards, synthesizers, and bass, the band includes Giles Ashley, John Byrne, and Sean Byrne.  "Aftermath" is the band's self-released debut EP, coming out in 2015.  As with many a new comer to the prog garden, details of the Sonic Tapestry family history are a bit cloudy, but suffice to say the trajectory looks good.

One more slice from the buffet; "Divinity in Stone."  Sonic Tapestry is starting to peel back the layers and reveal their inner metal edge.  Top notes of Rush start to waft through the headphones and aromatics of Camel begin to swarm inside my head.  The guitar work breathes new life into the band's sound as Sonic Tapestry seems to feel at home toeing the threshold of the metal section in the prog garden; I believe I detect a tinge of Mountain starting to make its presence known...

You can look behind the curtain for more about Sonic Tapestry on Facebook
Sonic Tapestry FB.  Although they have a Twitter handle @SonicTapestry, I don't see much activity there as of press time...still in the growing phase...of course the music can be purchased at their website
Sonic Tapestry.  Tour dates are listed and while the page appears to be in the "some assembly required" phase, your support will go a long way in helping Sonic Tapestry take root and prosper in the prog garden...

To that end, I offer for your listening pleasure this week "Caged Lions of Old."  I chose this cut because it paints a varied picture using mainly dark colors.  The piano opening is stark...then the vocals begin to seep in.  Sonic Tapestry makes it rain in your mind; the mood is somber yet you feel a warmth on your face as light begins to burn through the fog shrouding your entire being.  True to form, guitars and keyboards take the tempo up a notch or two and Sonic Tapestry once again
hop-scotches across the prog garden like a kid enjoying summer vacation...


                  

So fellow progheads, a relative newcomer to the prog garden has been exposed to the light.  Sonic Tapestry has done it the old fashion way, putting an EP together and releasing it on their own.  The prog garden is filled with artists that wear many hats; several have been reviewed right here in the Concert Closet.  Bands with the determination and desire to succeed need more in order to make it; talent and access to an audience are key--of course a little luck never hurt anyone either.  The search for all things prog continues to be a most exciting adventure as we scour the planet...and as I like to say, the journey continues...until next time...