Dreamscape

Disc: 1

1. Nostalgia - Yanni

2. On American Shores - John Tesh

3. In the Blue Distance - Mark Isham

4. Starfinder - Liz Story

5. Hotel Luna - Suzanne Ciani

6. Engravings - Ira Stein, Russel Walder

7. Child's Eyes (Jenny's Song) - Scott Cossu

8. Her Kansas Sun - Nightnoise

9. Premonition - Paul McCandless

10. Road to Hanna - Shadowfax

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. After the Sunrise - Yanni

2. Olympus 8008 - John Tesh

3. October Wedding - Montreux

4. Western - Alex de Grassi

5. World Turning - Leo Kottke

6. Hopeful - Michael Manring

7. Sitting in Limbo - Tuck & Patti

8. Silverplume Waltz - Bill Mize

9. Prelude from the Bridal Suite - Eric Tingstad

10. But She - Andy Summers

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Dreamscape,Various Artists,Delta,Adult Alternative,Chamber Jazz,Contemporary Instrumental,Crossover Jazz,Ethnic Fusion,Meditation,Neo-Classical,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Progressive Electronic,Solo Instrumental,World Fusion

Average customer rating:

Solid Sophomore Relase

Very
Dreamscape
Manufacturer: Avalon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000023Y4D
Release Date: 2007-03-19

Tracks:

When Shadows Are Gone
Lost Faith
Thorn in My Mind
Reborn
Voice Inside
Winter Dreams
Fearing the Daylight
I Leave the Past Behind
Alone [Panterei Pt. 1]
She's Flying [Paterei Pt. 2]
New Beginning (Paterei Pt. 3)
Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
Fateful Silence [Japan Only][*]
99-1 [Japan Only][*]

Album Details

Their second album.

Customer Reviews:

Solid Sophomore Relase.......2007-04-22

Obviously, Dreamscape is one of the less known progressive acts in the music industry right now. But try to think of them as one of those hole-in-the-wall restaurants that you never even know existed, but has the best food in town. I've gone through a lot of obscure prog metal bands (meaning non-Dream Theater, Symphony X, or Queensryche), and Dreamscape has got to be one of the best, if not engaging ones out there. Along with Circus Maximus and Vanden Plas, Dreamscape assures that a new generation of progressive metal is indeed coming.

So let's talk about this album, "Very," in detail. Don't be fooled by its simple, childish title. This album is a huge step up from their debut release, Trancelike State. Not only is the musicality kicked up a few notches, but their new vocalist reminds me of James LaBrie (Dream Theater). But forget about musical technicality, or vocal talent. The key element that makes this album stick out is its amazing songwriting. Several bands such as Ark, Stride, Redemption, and Zero Hour have proven that it is no longer impossible to play at an extremely technical level; The new age of musicians seem to be just as capable as the legends of prog ressive music- Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci/Myung, Jordan rudess, etc...But if the songwriting sucks, who cares how fast you can shred? Well, Dreamscape proves with their sophomore release that even the most minimal instrumental parts, if incorporated into a well-written song, will always outweight sheer technicality. Not only does each song on "Very" lead you on a diverse and structured journey, but the album as a whole seems to flow perfectly, like several parts of a puzzle. There are slow songs, fast songs, heavy songs, sweet songs, technical songs, and the list goes on. I consider about 5 of the tracks on "Very" to be my personal favorites, and there are only 2 or 3 weak tracks. I've been asked before, "If you liked the album so much, why did you only rate it 4 stars?" Please note that in all of my reviews, a cd must be gold in order to achieve 5 stars; the fifth star is only reserved for the highest caliber of albums, and should not be given lightly. In my opinion, an honest 4-star cd is a MUST-HAVE in anyone's collection. And what's more, Amazon has lowerd the price of the imported version of this cd (with 2 decent bonus tracks).

So on the whole, there is no reason not to pick up a copy of "Very" if you are a fan of this type of music. If you're merely music hunting, give Dreamscape a try; I guaentee you'll find something you like about them. And get this- Their letest release, "End of Silence" is even better and more organized than "Very." This band shows some true promise for the future of progressive music. (By the way, you can check out their website for several audio samples before you make any decisions).

Average customer rating:

So ethereal as to lack any content
Massively underrated and ignored
3 vocalists & an excellent producer
Drum and Bass with feeling
A nearly flawless album

Flux
Love Spirals Downwards
Manufacturer: Projekt Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Temporal
Ever
Idylls
Ardor
Windblown Kiss

ASIN: B000009OL4
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

City Moon
Alicia
Sound Of Waves
Psyche
Nova
By Your Side
Ring
I'll Always Love You
Sunset Bell

Amazon.com

Love Spirals Downwards wouldn't sound out of place in a dance club; languorous synthesizer chords and spookily sweet melodies are complemented by electronic beats at a tempo just fast enough to dance to. On Flux, this is overtly demonstrated by tracks like "Nova," where the repeating tones that open the piece become syncopated with the main beat. The female vocals throughout the album are all appropriately ethereal, but solid enough that they never sound superfluous, especially on "City Moon" (featuring long time vocal collaborator, Suzanne Perry) and "Psyche." The closing song, "Sunset Bell," is the longest on the CD, clocking in at nearly eight minutes, but composer Ryan Lum keeps things interesting by starting simply and becoming progressively more complicated. This style of music is all too often bland, but Love Spirals Downwards opt for a more refreshing, and rewarding, approach. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

So ethereal as to lack any content.......2004-08-01

I purchased this CD on the strength of one track and that turns out to be a mistake. Almost the entire album is so etheral and breathy that it makes no impression. Even ambient, soothing music needs to have enough susbstance to impress a mood and this one fails to meet that standard. This CD is so weak that I would slot it in below ambient. Call it "background music for background music."

Massively underrated and ignored.......2004-06-04

Ignore the weeping LSD fans still trying to get over the fact their favourite band went in a new direction they didn't like.

This album fuses together my favourite elements of music- melodic guitars, brilliant percussion and dreamy soaring vocals. Nova is by far the best track on this album, though they are all good quality, and seemingly unique these days (if anyone knows of anything like this album get in touch!). Sunset Bell is also brilliant provided you listen to it sparingly.

If you enjoy drum and bass- you will like this. If you enjoy spanish guitar- you will like this. If you like strong, but not grating female vocals- you will like this. It's an album that appeals on many levels. So go and buy it and ignore the LSD fans who don't like the electronic feel of the album.

3 vocalists & an excellent producer.......2002-07-06

Many listeners don't seem to realize that there are 3 vocalists on this disc. I actually think that guest vocalist, Kristen Perry, is the real vocal star of this disc, having co-authored and sung two of the most well-formed and poppy numbers -- "Psyche" (which appeared on "Dawson's Creek" in 2001), and "Ring." Suzanne Perry (Kristen's sister and the usual vocalist for LSD) turned in 3 pleasant, though somewhat under-developed performances with "City Moon," "Alicia," and "By Your Side." A third vocalist, Jennifer Ryan Fuller, appears on "Sunset Bell," which is simply a remix of a track from the 1994 LSD album, "Ardor.) Ryan Lum craftily used various samples to fill in the rest of the album -- some even run backwards, as on "Sound of Waves". "Flux" really illustrates how responsible he was for creating the vocal sound for the band, regardless of who he had to work with. All in all, I think Suzanne gets way too much credit considering the acutal input she had on this album. Ryan worked overtime to create these dreamy soundscapes, and he deserves more props!

Drum and Bass with feeling.......2002-06-22

Anyone familiar with the drum and bass style of music knows that one thing it is not usually known for is feelings and emotions. Generally, the goal of the drum and bass musician is to pack the dance floor, not make you contemplate the universe or go drifting away into dreamland.

That is why an album such as "Flux" comes as such a welcome surprise. Many of the songs here fall into the drum and bass style of electronica, with multi-instrumentalist Ryan Lum crafting elegant, if forceful, electronic textures to most of the songs. The keyboards and acoustic guitars build up to an odd combination of sterile, techno beats and lush, emotive musical arrangements, similar to Everything But the Girl's "Tempermental". And, much like Tracy Thorne of EBTG, the true star of this disc is vocalist Suzanne Perry, who adds her unique, beautiful voice to the electronic backdrops.

Perry's vocals seemingly meander in from nowhere in tracks such as City Moon, and carry other tracks such as "Sunset Bell". Rarely can a vocalist achieve a successful mix of emotion, range, and style in their singing, but Perry accomplishes it quite easily on Flux, adding a layer of warmth and comfort to many of the songs throughout the disc.

LSD have managed to create a meaningful, emotional album out of a style of music known more for its beats than its substance, which is no small achievement. Though some of the songs tend to fall into a predictable pattern, the ease and grace with which they bring out the feeling and emotion in each track more than makes up for any deficiencies in the song structures.

A nearly flawless album.......2002-05-13

God knows how I managed to get this great album, but Im glad I did. Being a fan of groups like Lamb, Hooverphonic and Massive Attack I was looking for an album with gorgeous female vocals, but with a more drum n bass approach. So whulst i was looking on the site I noticed a reccomendation for LSD, and i read a few reviews of Flux. It sounded very interesting, and despite having little money I decided to purchase the album - and im glad I did. This is probably my best music buy of 2002 (its much better than that pile of rubbish they called Come With Us by the Chemical Brothers)and just about every song on here is great. My favourite two are 'Nova' which is just sublime, and I love the textures and guitar/ambient sounds. perfect for a relaxing evening/night. The most gorgeous song Ive ever heard finishes the album (bar The Orb's 'Star 6/7/8' which is well worth a listen) is called Sunset Bell. This tune is stunning and is like a wake up call rather than a sunset. Simply a lovely voice crooning 'da da da da - da da da da' it sounds childlike and it is but its much more sophisticated than that. The only part that i dont like in the song is where it almost breaks down into 808 states 'Olympic 90' halfway through - then it carries on in the same earleir vein and is stunning. I cant believe what the world is missing, this duo are very talented. This is showcast on the first two songs 'City Moon' and 'Alicia' - and while the former is really good the latter seems 'Spanishy' mixed with Drum n Bass and doesnt work that well for me ( but i suppose for earlier fans a lot of whom ive seem mention its the best thing on 'Flux' like it the best cos its the most representative of their older material) so I gave the album 4 stars cos of that. Its not bad at all just not as good as the other 8 tracks. Another track that many will see as a standout is 'Ring' - if you like this stuff I reccomend 'Hooverphonic' , 'The Orb', 'Talvin Singh' and 'Lamb' - this is a very worthy CD which takes pride of place in my Cs collection

Average customer rating:

4 1/2 stars--Rocking melodic/modern EP
:-~
VELOCITY - STAY 'n ALIVE!!!

Activator
Velocity
Manufacturer: Dreamscape Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Impact

ASIN: B00005CP0I
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Tracks:

Stay
Beautiful And Useless
Alive
You
Stranger

Album Description

Dreamscape Music Group is an independent label distributed by Select O Hits in North America.

Customer Reviews:

4 1/2 stars--Rocking melodic/modern EP.......2006-03-30

I happened to discover these guys on the Internet in late 1997 or early 1998. Their debut album "Impact" was an absolute melodic rock monster true to the sounds of the 1980s. Well, on this follow-up EP, the sound is quite different but still rocking.

Nowhere on the album is there a melodic anthemic gem like "Supernatural Lover" (from the "Impact" CD), and the EP as a whole is only 21 minutes. These two facts cause me to reduce my grade by half a star. Nonetheless, I love the overall vibe of this CD.

I will highlight the lead track "Stay", which is a monster of a track. This song should have been all over the radio when it came out in 2001. Where was it?? This is a gem of a track that ultimately showcases David Victor's vocal range. While his voice remains very melodic as it was on the first Velocity CD, the style of the track has a very modern vibe. For sure, this track sets the tone for the rest of the EP, right through the last track "Stranger"--which has a slightly slower, moodier vibe than the rest of the CD but with harmonies on the chorus that are spine-tingling.

The best way I can describe this album is melodic vocals (although a little "rougher" in spots, with some distortion included) over modern guitar chords and an overall modern vibe. The vocals are generally based in the '80s, but the music itself fits well right next to any mainstream, straight-ahead rock album of the past decade. Would love to hear more from David Victor and whatever lineup of Velocity he might put together in the future, but I haven't heard any news on these guys in a few years now. A shame for sure, as this is a top-notch outfit based on the two CDs from them I have heard.

:-~.......2003-04-30

In comparison to the previous album "Impact", this new album sounds like a weekend recording job. Overall songwriting skill is purely mediocre and immature. Lyrics are self-pitying and childish, corresponding well to the thoughts of an infatuated teenager.

VELOCITY - STAY 'n ALIVE!!!.......2001-05-03

Well if you're a fan of SOLID QUALITY - 'melodic rock' then you MUST buy this cd! David Victor's talent shines through once again in Velocity's latest release!

I for one was quite impressed with the 'updated' sound of VELOCITY. David's songwriting has always been solid, but he seemed to capture the essence of 'his' sound (WOW...that VOICE!!!) adding a bit more testosterone with an even bigger chunkier sound (if that's possible).

I think ACTIVATOR is the answer to TODAY's music fans as well as the 80's fans that are looking for a new band that ROCKS TODAY but isn't stuck in the 80's! I myself am both an 80's fan and a fan of current rockin' bands! This is the FIRST cd that I've played for friends that like both eras that I've gotten the SAME reaction from - EVERYONE LOVES THIS CD!!

`STAY' - is a classic example of Victor's vocal talents and shows off his incredible pipes - it's `radio ready' and WHY isn't this on the radio yet - somebody in radioland PLEASE WAKE UP!!!!??? IT ROCKS!!!!! `BEAUTIFUL and USELESS' - is a song that I think most of us can relate to...we ALL know someone that fits this song and the lyrics just kick A$$! `ALIVE' is a solid hit that will have you rockin' out, like most VELOCITY tunes! `YOU' - makes you want to get up and dance - I can't sit still in my car when this tune kicks in! `STRANGER' - how does Victor do it? You will be signing along with this before you know it and you can't get it out of your head!!!

This EP is just hit after hit! 5 songs that you can't get enough of and want to hear over an over again! I got this cd for my friend and it hasn't left her car since (well...until her boyfriend stole it from her!!!) I'm telling you BUY THIS CD....YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

Lotus Mind
Average customer rating:
Lotus Mind

Manufacturer: Dreamscape
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA6X9U
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Super Heavy Dreamscape
Average customer rating:

SWEEET!

More Info

Excelent but it's hard to find

This is a sweet CD.

A good cd, but a little too raw at times

Super Heavy Dreamscape
Blackball
Manufacturer: Metro One
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Christian Alternative | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002G02
Release Date: 1996-07-16

Tracks:

Doesn't Matter
One More Sucker
Get Outta Here
Wither
Everything Is Good
Not The Way I Want To Be
There Goes The One
If You Were Mine
Super Heavy Dreamscape
Chasing Everyone Away
Heart, Soul, Groove
Wish I Didn't Know

Customer Reviews:

SWEEET!.......2003-04-06

Blackball is a sweet band! i recomend getting all their cds if you have the money for it! although since their chords and chord patern are different than that of pop rock it may take a while for the avg. person to get used to it but once you do youll listen to them a lot!!! other bands i recomend are Precious Death (obviously...) and Klank, although klank is not the same genre they have a couple albums that are pretty good, one of my favorite songs is downside [Bleeding-born mix]

-----------------------------------------------------------------
listen and enjoy
~jess

More Info.......2000-07-09

I have not heard the eintire CD but i believe that i did hear some of the songs on our radio station and ive been one of their fans for a while. You might look into another CD called PRECIOUS DEATH in actuality this group IS Blackball ( rather Pre-Blackball) only with a diffrent guitarist. It is much more heavy than Hope is (around the level of Stavesacre) but has that distinct Blackball quality to it.

Excelent but it's hard to find.......1999-08-21

I had the tape once but I wore it out. If I could ever find it again, I would but it again. If you like heavy guitar on some songs and a lighter flavor on others, I highly recomend this album

This is a sweet CD........1999-07-19

A nice mix of songs along with a style unmatched by any other bands I give this music cd two thumbs up.

A good cd, but a little too raw at times.......1999-05-25

If you like hard guitar sounds, then you might like this cd. The only problem with it is that some of the songs can be a little repetitive, and some of the the words don't fit with the style of music. Overall, this cd is good, but you might want to look at their newer one. It fits their style better.

Dreamscape - Lullabies from Around the World

Average customer rating:

Yuck
Very Unique CD
sumptuous sound, fascinating repertoire
NOT WORTHWHILE
Lullabies from Around the World

Dreamscape - Lullabies from Around the World
Jonathan Elliott , Auréole , Heidi Grant Murphy , William Mayer , Gary Schocker , and George Tsontakis
Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Lullaby: A Collection
Christmas Wishes
Planet Sleeps
On a Starry Night

ASIN: B00000JWD5
Release Date: 1999-08-17

Tracks:

Sleep Baby Don't Cry
Hush Little Baby
Zoom-Bah
Go to Sleep
Lullaby of Crete
Mighty Like a Rose
Ver Hot Aza Yingele
En Preiere
Where Do You Sleep?
Brahms Lullaby
The Mulligan Gambol
The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
Starlighter
Brezairola, Canteloube
Palhaco
Hommage a b.b.
All The Pretty Little Horses
Puwuch Tawi Lullaby

Amazon.com

With deftness and pristine, delicate beauty, Dreamscape smudges the line between lullabies and classical works in the world of music for kids. Sure, there are other, wonderful classical lullaby collections, but Dreamscape reaches beyond the classical repertoire while staying faithful to a chamber-music-meets-art-song approach. Heidi Grant Murphy sings with an enticing mix of the standard soprano's range and a gentleness that's in good keeping with the spirit of these works. Meanwhile, Auréole offers viola, flute, and harp accompaniment, subtle enough not to steal away from Grant Murphy and assertive enough to cultivate their own, sweet sonic space. The tunes originate in Crete, the Celtic world, Hungary, and France, and with the Native American Indian Hopi. While this likely won't draw kids in with musical exuberance, it'll certainly be an evening and naptime treat for all, perfectly in line with its intentions. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Yuck.......2006-04-08

Tedious - boring - annoying vocals

If you're looking for a good lullabye cd for an infant or child - AVOID this one. I made the mistake of picking it up on the recommendations of the other reviews here. Big mistake. This is horrible.

Very Unique CD.......2002-06-25

I bought this well composed CD for my niece and boy did it calm her in the evenings before bed... she's out like a light in a short while everytime. Her mother thanks me but I thank Amazon for featuring this. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to try something different if you have the taste for unique products.

sumptuous sound, fascinating repertoire.......2001-01-27

This is not child's play, but a sophisticated collection of lullabies, both traditional and new, composed and arranged by some of the best composers working today. The musicians of Aureole and the angelic voice of Heidi Grant Murphy cooperate beautifully to create a compelling recording that reveals more and more with each hearing.

The Greek lullaby of George Tsontakis, Jonathan Elliott's plaintive Hungarian "hommage a b.b." and WIlliam Mayer's enchanting "Zoombah"; these are but a few of the wonderful selections on this unusual and enchanting recording. It would be great to hear these fine musicians collaborate again.

Please note that this is NOT a recording for "easy listening," because the pieces are challenging, but they are beautiful and lulling in the very best lullaby tradition.

As a musician myself, I must say that this is music-making of the very highest rank.

NOT WORTHWHILE.......2001-01-04

I thought this would be a wonderful addition to my niece's bedtime music collection. I'm glad I listened to this before sending it, as I am extremely disappointed with the repetitive, non-soothing, non-tender treatment by Aureole and singer Heidi Grant Murphy. I am now stuck with this horrible CD. I don't have the heart to try to give it to someone else, somehow that just doesn't seem right, so the best I can do is write this review to warn others.

Lullabies from Around the World.......2000-06-14

Magical and soothing, that's how I discribe the music. I received this CD as a Christmas gift and am very impressed with the quality of the singing. Heidi's singing says she enjoys what she is doing and this subject is very special to her personally. I phoned a cousin and let him and his wife hear one of the songs-they were impressed and pleased. It was my cousins anniversay and this was the first opportunity they had had hear her sing professionally. What a treat for those of us who have known her for many years to be able to be able to share such wonderful music with our families, especially our young children. I have played the CD for my grandson and find that the music helps him settle down when it is time to go to sleep.

Average customer rating:

Somnium

Manufacturer: Hypnos/Soundscape
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Electric Ladder
Bestiary
Humidity: Three Concerts
Inner Landscapes
Calling Down the Sky

ASIN: B00065EL7W
Release Date: 2004-07-20

Product Description

This DVD-video contains only music. 7 hours of uninterrupted nocturnal ambient sound.

Average customer rating:

The finest prog metal i have heard in a long time.
Why does Europe Rock and the US rolls over dead
German Power!!
Better than Dream Theater
The Dream Theater of Germany

End of Silence
Dreamscape
Manufacturer: Massacre
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Imagine
The 1st Chapter
Paradise Lost
Christ 0
Far Off Grace

ASIN: B00017NVDU
Release Date: 2006-03-30

Tracks:

Clockwork
Short-Time News
The End Of The Light
All I Need
Slent Maze
Flow
More Than
Infected Ground
You Dont Know Me

Album Description

The third album from German progressive metal hopefuls. Nine tracks. Massacre Records. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

The finest prog metal i have heard in a long time........2007-04-11

This is a phenominal album. The Dreamscape members obviously have incredible playing abilities, and you can hear this in beautiful solo sections. However, they do not allow the soloing to get in the way of the songs like some prog bands do, and instead have acheived the perfect balance between hard-core prog virtuosity and melodic metal symphonic sound. They sound quite a bit like Dream Theater, and are often compared to them, but do have their own unique sound, in that they are more epic and melodic in their songwriting than DT, and also do not allow songs to get completely out of hand with bizarre time signatures and lengthy solo sections. In addition to this, Dreamscape's vocalist is superior in fact to DT's James Labrie, and although I am a dedicated Dream Theater fan, I am finding that I enjoy Dreamscape even more than DT now. You cannot go wrong with this album.

Why does Europe Rock and the US rolls over dead.......2005-08-16

I listened to End of Silence in preparation for the 2004 Prog Power Show in Atlanta. I am a big fan of Dream Theater and I was amazed by Dreamscape's EOS cd. They have a polished sound similar to Dream Theater. Their music is highly technical, expertly arranged, and flawlessly performed - not what you expect from a new band. I highly recommend this album. Prog Power 2004 had 10 bands over 2 nights and Dreamscape stole the show. Unfortunately, US radio only plays lame rap or punk garage music, so you will have to spend $$ to hear this great German band!

German Power!!.......2005-06-08

The German progressive metal band Dreamscape has been around since 1986, however due to their music being "progressive" they had a hard time finding a decent label and get their artistic messages across. They've released a total of three albums, all with a different singer, but their new one End of Silence is the only one I own. I know their second disc Very has Hubi Meisel on vocals so I will definitely check it out since Hubi's solo material is very solid stuff.

End of Silence is said to be their best release to date with new singer Roland Stoll (also in Private Secret) who reminds me a bit of earlier James Labrie with more aggression and Andy Kuntz from Vanden Plas. The album is very heavy with plenty of aggression, groove, melody and power. All three aspects of "melodic prog metal" are served here. This is prog with all the relevant time signatures, tempo changes and long interludes; metal with its relentless heaviness and melodic with the uncompromising emphasis on melody. Roland Stoll never neglects to deliver the tunes with melody, even when he's hitting the highest notes. Keyboard player Jan Vacik, who also produced this amazing disc, has a great chemistry with the rhythmic bass lines and guitar riffs. The piano and his synth orchestration is stunning! What's even better is they're never used to overpower always leaving enough room for the guitar and bass work. Wolfgang Kerinnis is an exceptional guitarist and he is perfectly backed up by bassist Benno Schmidtler and drummer Bernhard Huber whose tone is really awesome! In this respect the band is a little reminiscent of Vanden Plas, Sun Caged and Threshold although references to Dream Theater's Images & Words era are still evident. The 21-minute epic track "The End of Light" is without question the greatest moment on this disc. This song serves all the purposes of the band's musical vision to the best.

Production-wise I am reminded of Pagan's Mind, but moreso sonically than musically. Pagan's Mind is definitely on the more power/prog side of the equation while Dreamscape plays a more complex, detailed, sharper kind of prog metal with immense emphasis on melody. Still the sonic similarity is there, though I definitely prefer Dreamscape, as much I may be in the minority here.

One of the funniest things I experienced listening to this CD the first time was on the eighth track "Infected Ground" when the song kicked in with an excerpt from a traditional Turkish song titled "Donulmez Aksamin Ufkundayim" and I wonder where they got that inspiration from but that was totally unexpected and interesting. "All I Need" is the only ballad on this 72-minute record and although it isn't the strongest song on the album it gives the listener his time to catch his breath. I am highly impressed by "Silent Maze" as well as "You Don't Know Me" which are both great songs displaying the emotional and lyrical depth of Dreamscape.

This band is playing ProgPower USA soon along with many other talented bands. I think more people will discover them shortly, cause they are too good to go unnoticed any longer.
CHECK OUT VANDEN PLAS AS WELL

Better than Dream Theater.......2005-01-24

I just recently discovered this band and I think their music and especially the singing is better than Dream Theater hands down. I own some Dream Theater cds,but they have been suplanted by this one cd. I would recommend this cd for anyone who loves Progressive metal music!

The Dream Theater of Germany.......2004-11-12

It seems when talking about Progressive Metal bands it seems impossible to avoid mentioning the Progressive Metal Gods, Dream Theater. It almost seems heretical to discuss this genre and ignore these giants, sort of like talking about baseball and ignoring the Yankees.

In the case of German Prog Metal prodigies, Dreamscape, I'm not only going to mention Dream Theater, I'm going to compare the two. Taking a name like Dreamscape, one might assume that was their intention, like they were saying to the world, look at us, yeah Dream Theater is good but so are we!

I will admit one thing, Dreamscape is not exactly prolific. End of Silence is well named for this is their first recording in five years and is only their third overall. Their first recording Trance-like State(which I haven't heard) was released in 1997 and raised many eyebrows. The followup in 1999, simply titled Very, was no sophomore flop and had many progheads clamoring for more but unfortunately Dreamscape did a Rip Van Winkle (some would say Boston) routine and went into hibernation. Well folks, the wait was worth it. Wolfgang Kerrinis and Jan Vacik have holed themselves up in Dreamscape Studios in Germany and created a literal masterpiece, I kid you not.

Dreamscape now has a new singer (surprise - three albums three singers) in Roland Stoll but not a new sound. Oh yes, they've evolved, are more polished and maybe a little tighter but side by side there isn't that much difference between Very and End of Silence style wise. Even though all the songs (except "All I Need") are long to very long, they have inherent melodies that are enhanced by Roland Stoll's powerful vocals. The rhythm section often use complicated time signatures, but they never use it as a primary element, but rather as a way to bring the melodies out even more. The production, co-ordinated by keyboarded Jan Vacik, puts emphasis on the synth work, but leaves enough room for the guitars to break through.

This album would probably appeal to true progheads more than pop/rock/alternative/metal aficionados but for anyone that is looking for something a little more complex than your average tinny sounding Garage Band, Dreamscape may be your your vehicle to true enlightenment.

As I mentioned Dreamscape sound eerily like Dream Theater. Other similar bands would include Vanden Plas, DGM, Symphony X, Adagio, Threshold, Superior, Redemption, Frameshift and Mastermind.

Looking back on all these great Progressive Metal bands, I can't help but wonder, that if there never was any Dream Theater, would Dreamscape then be the Prog Metal standard to which all these other bands are compared?