All Soniq Theater songs in youtube, commented by Gary Hill of Music Street Journal. For listening click on the links. If some links don't work let me know. Enjoy!
Soniq Theater - HEROES OF THE PAST (2014)
Soniq Theater – Robin Hood: http://youtu.be/179PRC-CSks This comes in feeling a bit like science fiction music. As the pounding, electronic rhythm section enters the whole feeling is altered. Then, when the keyboards driving the melody join we’re taken into something that feels a bit like Vangelis mixed with Rick Wakeman. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Pioneers and Heroes: http://youtu.be/nKyd-4G_MWk There is more of a jazzy vibe as the keyboard sounds start things here. The feels meatier and more serious. There’s a real air of majesty to this one. The Rick Wakeman reference is again valid, though. There are some great melodic excursions on this number. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Lemuria: http://youtu.be/ycKWw00cryM As this opens it feels more magical and mystical. There is a real sense of adventure and mystery to it. Later sections get quite majestic. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Sailing Columbus: http://youtu.be/FsD7wVIc4ic Gentle keyboard tones start this one and the cut moves out gradually from there. Then around the thirty second mark it gets an energized rhythm section and the piece starts shifting and changing. This is quite a diverse and dynamic number and one of the most effective of the whole disc. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Richard the Lionheart: http://youtu.be/wizZ4luSxK0 This hard rocker really makes me think of Emerson, Lake and Palmer quite a bit. Some of the melodic moments lean more towards Wakeman, too. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Maharajah: http://youtu.be/qed2nQnE2XE Starting mysterious and ominous, this grows out keeping those elements in the mix. It has some cool melodic lines and really is one of the better pieces here. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Uther Pendragon: http://youtu.be/SNBh3laPPnA The section that opens this feels a bit playful. Again I’m reminded of Rick Wakeman’s solo work. It has some majestic moments later. A more rock and roll like jam ensues further down the road, too. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Ancient Dreams: http://youtu.be/spVpcVx4s0s A slower piece, this just oozes class and cool. It’s got some great melody and is one of the best pieces of the whole disc. I really love this one. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Time loves a Hero: http://youtu.be/a-W6awrPLJ4 Bouncy and more rocking at the start, there is a lot of jazz in the mix on this one. It drops to a mellower interlude before the opening melody line returns and eventually powers it back up into being. It alternates between mellower sections and more driving ones, but the main melodic structures persist throughout the piece. There are some killer keyboard soloing moments on this number. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Little Cowboys: http://youtu.be/J4It2QQfKM0 A more gentle piece, this has some jazzy moments. Again, it makes me think of Rick Wakeman a bit at times. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – The Gold Diggers: http://youtu.be/jgv-z9SC-xI After a cool electronic introduction this bounds out into something not that far removed from disco. Still, this is more electronic prog than it is disco. It just has some leanings in that direction. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Ruins of Xanadu: http://youtu.be/LbkYUtSAQdI This musical exploration is quite tasty. It just feels so much like the rest of the stuff here that it seems to lose a bit of an edge. There are some dramatic moments here. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - STARDUST MEMORIES (2013)
Soniq Theater – Alien Ambassador: http://youtu.be/rleVCLVKvKw A symphonic prog flourish opens this cut and then the tune works out from there. At points it reminds me a bit of Genesis and at other times there are other sounds driving it. There’s mellower section with retro keyboard textures later that’s cool. There are definitely hints of ELP on this number, too. Fusion is also a valid reference point at times here. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Lunar Sea: http://youtu.be/PANQ6lSrsS0 Starting off with a mellower, intricate section, this works out from there. That intricate nature remains, but in a bit different form. This is sort of a mellower cut, feeling almost New Age. It’s also a good tune. It’s definitely not as dynamic as the opener, and is more atmospheric and ethereal in some ways. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Elysian Fields: http://youtu.be/peDQFdiWlLM There’s more of that New Age element here, but mixed with something more akin to mainstream progressive rock. This one is bouncy and fun. There are more shifts and changes to it and at times, it wanders towards fusion. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Venus Transit: http://youtu.be/uG9msy-NBCs Spacey keyboards opens this. Then an insistent, pounding drum beat joins. From there, it launches out into a killer jam that’s part progressive rock and part fusion. There are quite a few changes and alterations here and at points I’m reminded of Emerson Lake and Palmer. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Globular Cluster M55: http://youtu.be/P6Mxmv28HWA Mellower, this is suitably spacey. It’s one of the mellowest pieces on the disc. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Hyperion: http://youtu.be/Hl9N9zxlBzc There’s a space vibe here, but a lot of fusion, too. This does feel a bit too much like the previous piece, though. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Break the Frame (guitar version): http://youtu.be/IiJ_CrnHzG4 A hard rocking tune, this has vocals. It’s kind of like a weird prog meets space rock kind of jam. It’s more guitar oriented than some of the other stuff. In some ways, this reminds me of the harder rocking side of Klaatu. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Alien Civilisation: http://youtu.be/UD0RNoVm_rM There is some Asian influence on this, but overall it’s electronic progressive rock meets fusion. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Some Things never change: http://youtu.be/YsTkz17udX8 Bouncy and rather playful, this is one part fusion and one part progressive rock. It’s good, but by now too much of the album is starting to sound the same. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Stardust Memories: http://youtu.be/StZpZavie7E There’s a bit of a funky vibe to the title track and in some ways it reminds me a bit of Spryo Gyra. It’s a cool energetic number with a good combination of electronic prog and fusion. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Metropolis on Mars: http://youtu.be/Tei6bLJk2gE We get a cool Latin vibe to this thing. It’s a tasty number that’s a step back in the right direction in terms of variety. It’s definitely more fusion than it is anything else. Somehow it reminds me a bit of the modern electronic stuff Herbie Hancock did at one point in his career. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Toccatina: http://youtu.be/_Nl8vNxC_Hk This is a relatively short keyboard dominated piece that reminds me a lot of something Rick Wakeman might do. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Infinity: http://youtu.be/HTIBbVqMbaA The closing piece is less than two minutes in length. It’s fairly mellow and rather pretty. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - OVERNIGHT SENSATION (2012)
Soniq Theater – Overnight Sensation: http://youtu.be/fGoF6YEpOco The lush waves of synthesizers that open this are great. They hold it alone for a time, weaving layers of melody before the rhythm section joins. Then after a time this launches out into a jam that has a lot of fusion in this. In many ways it also feels a lot like something Rick Wakeman would do. It works through several changes and is quite lush and powerful, while maintaining a driving energy. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Muse: http://youtu.be/UpxKYEc4woE Gentle keyboards enter and then a delicate melody begins. The rhythm section joins tentatively and seems to threaten to take the track into a new level of intensity and power. However, from there it shifts instead to an energetic sound that (minus the violin) reminds me of something that Jean-Luc Ponty might do. There is some particularly effective keyboard work on this piece later and we get more of the delicate sounds in a short interlude. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - In the Dead of Night: http://youtu.be/qYHUMizp6tI There’s definitely more of an Emerson Lake and Palmer vibe to the opening sections of this. It starts out pounding away, but drops to mellower territory later before working back out from there. While the opening section might make one think of ELP, there are hints of Genesis later along with plenty of fusion. There’s also a section later that sounds a lot like theremin. I think it’s keyboards emulating a theremin, but it’s quite cool, either way. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Raindance: http://youtu.be/HY35GT9YUvg As keyboards resembling tuned percussion open this, that Ponty vibe is definite. When the rhythm section joins and the track is altered in scope, it actually feels a lot like Al DiMeola to me, but with the emphasis on keyboards rather than guitar. This is another cool track on a disc that’s full of them. It’s also another example of how flawlessly fusion and prog are combined here. I really dig the screaming keyboard solo section later. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Shake your Legs: http://youtu.be/N0Kdxs-l8eU Lush waves of keyboards open this in a rhythmically driven sound. Then it works out to something a bit like a cross between Hawkwind and Kraftwerk. This is cool stuff. It’s also a great change from the rest of the album. It’s majestic, but somehow feels a bit more lighthearted. There’s a section later that feels a bit like a dance music take on classical music. And, a lot of this feels like it would be at home in a dance club. I guess that fits the title. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Fun in the Sun: http://youtu.be/LCJjW_eBHPk An involved Island rhythm starts this (appropriate given the title). From there it builds out with a sense of mystery and there’s a bit in this that seems like a tribal shout, but I’m pretty sure it’s either a loop or keyboards. There are some vocals, though, very soulful and Carribean in nature. That could also be a loop, though. This is like a combination of jazz with Island music and it’s quite cool. There’s some keyboard soloing later that sounds rather like a violin, bringing back the Ponty reference. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Connemara: http://youtu.be/ESZx3kI92J4 Although this starts with a pretty classic prog sound, it shifts to something closer to café music. It’s pretty odd and not the strongest track on show by a long shot. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Veracruz: http://youtu.be/ZZP6zHLnHbk We’re back in the Islands for this one. It’s really playful fusion music that works quite well. Ponty and DiMeola are both valid reference points. There is definitely a tango vibe to this thing. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Balm for the Soul: http://youtu.be/GkkCMwRKifA Majesty and mystery open this, but then it works out to more proggy sounds that are pretty close to the earlier music here. Yes, the fusion is still on display, too. Some of the chordings are quite jazz-like, but many of the keyboard tones are closer to classic progressive rock. There are a number of interesting twists and turns on this. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Trance Rapid: http://youtu.be/F2oaxhfvwJw Tribal drumming is combined with mysterious and dramatic waves of keyboards as this thing powers out. Somehow this is one of the least effective pieces here. There’s a lot of energy, but it just doesn’t feel all that interesting in terms of melody or other factors. I suppose that’s in keeping with the title, but this is one of the weakest pieces on the disc. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Gondwana: http://youtu.be/vbmNOjUeFGM There’s a good helping of world music here, along with fusion and electronic sounds. It’s a good tune, but not one of the best. It might not be the best choice to end the disc, either. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - FORCE MAJEURE (2011)
Soniq Theater- In the Spirit of Things: http://youtu.be/47mrQFxTzA8 This powers in majestic and shifts to some classic fusion based instrumental progressive rock. It’s mid-paced and has some nice melody lines. In some ways this feels like something Asia might have done. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Vapor Trails: http://youtu.be/zsjc5j0PN5A There’s sort of a bouncy, lilting rhythmic structure here. As the music works over the top it’s at times quirky and at times melodic. This is sort of like something Tangerine Dream might do. Some of the keyboard soloing is particularly tasty. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Spring Fever: http://youtu.be/2cRsvzcx6dM In a nice change of pace, acoustic guitar opens this. As the track grows I’m reminded quite a bit of something from Pat Metheny. It’s definitely got more guitar on display than most Soniq Theater music does. This is an interesting tune with a little lilt in its step and some definite spring in the air. There’s a weird little twist out into something akin to circus music. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Force Majeure: http://youtu.be/TNnjkUEcrMY This fires out with the most energetic music to this point. It surely rocks out quite strongly. The keyboards solo over the type in style and this just grooves. There are some cool changes and alterations as it continues down the musical road. There’s a cool staccato section later that really takes this into a totally different direction. That gives way to a fast paced jam that is very RIO-like at first. Then symphonic waves of keyboards take over as this gets quite dramatic and powerful. From there it goes to jazz-like territory, brought about mainly through the bass work. Eventually we’re taken back to earlier themes. This is quite a powerhouse of epic scale in terms of progression and composition. At over eight minutes in length, it almost qualifies in terms of time. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Grand Canyon: http://youtu.be/WhWdaJ1RYHg Electronica merges with instrumental prog on this pounding, fast paced tune. It has some bits of strangeness and oddity here that pull it near to the realm of RIO. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Icicles: http://youtu.be/Qf4NzdjlaNI The rhythm section on this track makes me think of Rush, but the melodic music seems closer to Tangerine Dream. It’s a pretty and powerful tune that has a very organic progression and structure. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Shuffle: http://youtu.be/unugQ9bgOe4 The cool melody on this and dancing bass line are the real charms of the tune. It calls to mind Yes a little bit at times, but I also make out some ELP in the mix. This is one of the highlights of the set and although pretty mainstream, it has a lot of meat to it. That bass line has some jazz in it and gets a chance to stand out from the pack. Some of the instrumental interplay later really makes me think of Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman playing off one another. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Wasteland: http://youtu.be/7eu2kflWfBI Mysterious and sparse sounding, waves of keyboards dance over top as drums beat out an almost rhythmic pattern in the backdrop. This feels like it would have been at home on a soundtrack to a science fiction film. It’s a cool cut that really fits its title. Although it builds out, it drops way back down mid-track and the process starts again. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Travels of Marco Polo: http://youtu.be/HK8mF_crqSo This has a lot of energy with a great rhythmic groove to it. It’s a fun tune that is one of the longer pieces on show here. Around the minute and a half mark it drops way down and then rises up with a harder rocking sound. At points that section calls to mind Deep Purple a bit. The keyboards really scream over the top. There’s a more intricate segment later. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Russian Dance: http://youtu.be/Y3Ld64gaKkQ Frantic and short, this really does feel like a “Russian Dance.” There’s violin in the mix and other instrumentation, too. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Piccard’s Flight: http://youtu.be/gBLxmrio2JQ This melodic tune is good, but not great. It’s just not the most special thing on offer here. It also is not the best choice for closing things with a lot of oomph. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - UNKNOWN REALITIES (2010)
Soniq Theater – Longing for Freedom: http://youtu.be/pIi35h_5QTU Mysterious keyboard textures open this, but after this short introduction it powers out to some killer classic progressive rock sounds. I’m reminded of Yes quite a bit. This works through for a while and there’s a shrill sound that is either a keyboard or a voice (non-lyrical) that comes over the top for a short time. The track shifts from there to a bit less energized, but no less dramatic progression to continue. That shrill sound is heard again later and I’m pretty sure it’s a vocal, but no vocalist is credited on the set, so perhaps it’s a sample or something. The tune keeps getting reinvented and changed. This is quite a satisfying and tasty tune and a great way to open the disc in style. There’s a definite science fiction film element to it at times. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Revealing a Dream: http://youtu.be/UQ4Agfz3YiI Keyboard layers open things here and then some guitar joins. This builds out from there in fine fashion with some hard rocking, yet melodic progressive rock taking the reins and driving this beast. There’s a killer staccato section that feels closer to modern prog bands like Dream Theater. It has a lot of symphonic textures in that section, too, nearly connecting it to European epic metal. However, this is certainly not heavy metal at all. It is really an awesome piece of music that has a great progression and scorching hot instrumental work. There are a lot of different movements and modes here and this thing is possibly the best song ever from Soniq Theater. At times it comes close to ELP, but at other points there is fusion built into it. All in all, this is an incredibly diverse and dynamic tune that never fails to thrill. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Revolution Hymn: http://youtu.be/zWbnJsKU_aM Somehow this feels rather jazzy, but there’s some hard rocking sounds built into it. It’s got a lot of energy and some cool melodic ideas, but it’s probably not the strongest tune on show here. Of course, part of that’s because it had to follow “Revealing a Dream.” The mix seems a little weird, too, though. The rhythm section somehow seems a little out of place in terms of the mixing. There are some musical themes here that feel familiar, like old time melodies from some classical or folk piece of music I don’t recognize on a conscious level. There is a section later in the piece that makes me think of Yes a bit. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Cosmic Angel: http://youtu.be/3f_yQ8gGI6k Mellower sounds open this with almost a funk meets electronic vibe. Melodies come over the top as the tune continues to evolve. This is definitely mellower than a lot of the music here and feels very much like jazz. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Black Mustang: http://youtu.be/gTU33c55ejs This one powers out with a screaming energetic arrangement. In a way it feels a bit like vintage Asia, but the driving bass line really separates it from that reference. After this introductory section, it shifts to music that’s more melodically involved and it actually feels almost like heavy metal in a couple places. Still, there’s a shift towards neo-classical and other sounds as this arrangement is ever shifting and really all over the place. This is a killer tune and it includes (appropriately) the sound of a horse in the middle of it. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Pavillon: http://youtu.be/l13PIz-MB-A World music sounds open this and they really clash at points. Once this opening section works, through, though it’s more Soniq Theater melodious music. This really has an old world feeling to it and a real Latin beat. It’s not bad, but really the weakest cut on show here. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – The Nitty Gritty: http://youtu.be/XUNcfiRrxUg Bouncy and quite jazz-like, this is an energetic little tune that’s fun. The percussion seems to feel pretty odd, rather synthetic, though. That’s not bad on the sections of the arrangement that have full instrumentation. Where it’s more stripped back, though, it detracts. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Call of the Unknown: http://youtu.be/TU52TmhnTys The fairly stripped down and basic rock and roll approach of the rhythm section here leaves something to be desired. The waves of sound that come over the top at times make up for it. There are some great keyboard melodies that ensue and there’s even a jazz-like section that works out at points, too. Delivered with a more interesting backing, this would be a much stronger piece of music. Still, the killer soloing helps to elevate it despite that weakness. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Roll the Dice: http://youtu.be/uMzOVtbzStA Another cut that’s just OK, this one starts off a bit like a mix of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. A lot of the song is based in that same style. There’s a melodic bouncing jam that reminds me a bit Vince Guaraldi’s work in the Peanuts soundtracks. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Organic Food: http://youtu.be/T-Ogp0SesWs This is definitely high energy and melodic. It has a lot of fusion in the mix. Still, it’s not the strongest material from Soniq Theater. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater: Slipping into the Future: http://youtu.be/p5i8LNUpgjs A fairly mellow groove, there’s a lot of smooth jazz built into this beast. It’s not bad, but also not really a standout tune. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - VISION QUEST (2009)
Soniq Theater – Vision Quest: http://youtu.be/CzzX7wttX_E Keys open this in a repetitive pattern before more dramatic sounds are heard over the top. It grows out from there in fine fashion. Then a bouncing sort of element takes it in another direction. It evolves out from there moving through a number of changes. There are some great keyboard textures built into this number. There are some segments here that make me think of early Electric Light Orchestra, but the bulk is probably closer to something Rick Wakeman might do. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Mourning Soul: http://youtu.be/OQArjgbjmyw As this one starts it feels pretty similar to the previous cut, but it works out to a sound that’s closer to fusion. At times I’m reminded of Jean Luc-Ponty. At other points, Pat Metheny is a reference. There’s a cool piano solo section, that has other elements, too. As this works through varying changes it really becomes some killer jazz with a great groove. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Ninive: http://youtu.be/Y5eVhid5nX8 Here is an especially effective instrumental that does a great job of combining progressive rock with fusion. It’s interesting that each of the first three cuts have identities that are largely different, yet they feel consistent. It’s like the three are different faces of the same sound. This is probably my favorite of the three, though. The rhythm section is energetic and driving and the melodies are captivating. The lush arrangement is quite tasty. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – The Hobbit: http://youtu.be/a6NX8ayEzQI Rick Wakeman is definitely the most obvious reference here. This one is a cool cut that has a lot of changes and some great melody lines. It’s not completely different from the music that preceded it, but it certainly has its own sound. I think this one might be the best of the bunch so far. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Looking for the Gates: http://youtu.be/cUbOW4yKaTI This cut is good. Unfortunately, by this point, it’s all starting to feel a bit too much alike. This is certainly more in the progressive rock vein than it is fusion. It’s not bad, but just doesn’t have enough identity of its own. There is a cool timing switch segment, though. There is also an intriguing change up later with a percussion dominated segment. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Ancient Philosophers: http://youtu.be/uLDfdyy8mWY The section that opens this is a big change, feeling like Yes. Then it drops to a section that’s got some world music and classical textures. This is a number that brings real musical change when it’s needed the most. There is almost a movie soundtrack element here. As this continues to build it turns out towards more purely prog sounds and it gets quite potent. There are definitely some short bits of guitar that seem to call to mind Steve Howe at different points in this number. It’s definitely one of the high points of the set and manages to combine some pretty disparate sounds into something that’s cohesive and consistent. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Jonathan Seagull: http://youtu.be/Dj7Xniyq5K8 Appropriately this starts with the sounds of seagulls. It works out to some cool fusion from there. It’s a lot like Tangerine Dream and while not as big a change as the previous number was, is different enough from the earlier tracks to set it apart. Those seagulls return at the end. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Half Moon: http://youtu.be/qicV1KgY3pU I love the keyboard sound that starts this off. It works out into something pounding and energetic. This is a fun number that represents another bit of variety. It’s another highlight of the set and includes some tasty keyboard sounds. I particularly enjoy the retro keyboard sounds that are heard mid-track. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Heavensent: http://youtu.be/EHrqfFDUVI8 The final cut is also the strongest of the set. Of course, it’s also the only number with vocals here. It starts with a rather odd sounding segment, but then evolves to a mainstream progressive rock sound that’s accessible and tasty. There are bits of instrumental music included in the midst of the number here are there. Sections highlight guitar playing and others seem along the lines of Rick Wakeman with keyboard dominance. This is a great way to end the set in a way that has the listener poised to hit “repeat.” (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - LIFE SEEKER (2008)
Soniq Theater – Life Seeker: http://youtu.be/oARAZVkzNRs After some mysterious and dramatic keyboards start this, it powers out to a killer prog jam. There are vocals on this cut, which is a fairly rare thing in Soniq Theater. Those vocals are a bit far down in the mix, but somehow remind me a bit of Chris Squire. The cut has a more stripped back, but no less dramatic, arrangement for the vocal sections, but then powers back out into more lushly arranged music from there. A killer keyboard solo is heard as this continues. It shifts towards rather off-kilter jazz with some piano soloing. There are several more changes as this thing continues. It’s quite a dynamic and cool piece of music. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – The Big Money: http://youtu.be/k9tGxs5C7Hs While this isn’t as powerful as the opener, it’s still quite effective. It feels a bit like a cross between Vangelis and Tangerine Dream with some fusion in the mix. It’s a cool tune, but pales a bit in comparison to the previous number. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Romance: http://youtu.be/9gSV-vukjFo Vangelis is all over the opening section here. It grows out to something closer to the piece that came before it. While this isn’t all that strong, it is entertaining. It reminds me of some of Rick Wakeman’s lighter weight material. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – An Overdose of Rosie: http://youtu.be/ppHvKYYt-y4 Now, this is cool. It’s got more energy and just oozes charm. I’d still throw in comparisons to Wakeman, but Keith Emerson might be a valid reference, too. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Hot House: http://youtu.be/eSZwjmw79Og This number rocks out a bit more than some of the rest but continues the same general musical excursion. There is, perhaps, a bit more fusion on this and this and we get some mellower melodies in the background. There are also some vocals in this piece, but they are non-lyrical. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Alpine Skiing: http://youtu.be/pILEtkBbSfY While there are some cool intricate bits of melody here and there, the keyboard solo around the two minute mark really steals the show here. This doesn’t vary a lot from the other music here, but shifts later into a cool, spacey, rather free-form jam. Then an Emerson, Lake and Palmer type movement is heard for great effect. It works out in symphonic directions from there. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Gargano Vacation: http://youtu.be/6ceV7au17c0 Starting with a bit of Mambo, this turns out to a sound that reminds me a bit of Pat Metheny. It’s certainly one of the more jazz-like tracks. While it isn’t at all hard rocking, there’s still a lot of energy here. It might not be the real killer that some of the other music is, but it has a lot of charm and charisma and is one of the more unique pieces. There’s also some cool bass work, particularly at the end. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Stalker: http://youtu.be/B9RHt9fGBnU There’s a lot of mystery and just plain cool to this keyboard heavy jam. I particularly like the almost symphonic and rather like Jon and Vangelis’ “Friends of Mr. Cairo” melody line that emerges for a short time later. The more energized keyboard solo that follows it is also killer. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Odd Times and Strange Days: http://youtu.be/-z0HNy3E6F4 Starting dramatic and mysterious, this works out to a jam that reminds me a bit of some of Henry Mancini’s stuff, but with a more modern, hard edge to it. This is another cut that has some vocals in it. The arrangement is dropped way back for that vocal section. While the vocals on this aren’t all the effective, the musical progression to this is the coolest of the whole set. This gets somewhat weird at times, but it is very dynamic and very tasty. I particularly like the funky guitar and Mancini like jam that ensues later in the piece. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Madly in Love: http://youtu.be/-PY2W0xBvkg A bouncy tune, this is less intense and serious than the previous one. Of course, it’s hard to compete with the power of that number and this really serves as a nice sort of “soft landing” from there. It’s a good way to end the set in a satisfying manner. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - SEVENTH HEAVEN (2007)
Soniq theater – The Fountain: http://youtu.be/sP2yJD7oXZk After some spacey effects we’re brought into a cool arrangement that’s rather bouncy and a bit like mid-period Genesis. It gets shifted towards dramatic fusion after that. Further down the road it seems like the two musical concepts are combined, creating something that reminds me of Pat Metheny, but this thing just keeps changing. There’s a real classic progressive rock section later and parts of this remind me of UK. Yet, there’s also an almost AOR melody based section at one point, too. This is one of the best cuts from Soniq Theater and a great way to open the disc. It is just awesome. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Welcome Home: http://youtu.be/GCKsmb6RKXs Here’s a big change with a bouncy little number. This is sort of like an adult contemporary piece, but there’s enough progressive rock to keep it interesting. In fact, some of the keyboard work and sounds on this feel a bit like Rick Wakeman. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Lilly: http://youtu.be/CVXaAC5QRms This comes in with some bouncing elements, but then shifts towards some awesome fusion. We’re taken from there into a more poppy sort of structure (rather like something Toto would do) and, in a big shift from most Soniq Theater music, there are vocals. While those vocals aren’t exceptional, they work well for this cut. The only real complaint here is that it seems to drag on a bit too long. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - New Year’s Eve: http://youtu.be/p-CmM8dvryE Here we get another track with vocals, but rather than being set in the Toto-kind of sound we get on the previous one, this is more pure prog. It’s energetic and potent and includes some cool female vocals, too. There’s an interesting percussive based section later that gives way to more of a full on jam from there. It’s quite a cool song and the keyboard work is particularly noteworthy. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - But Seriously: http://youtu.be/LecnUS45LGk The mellow motif that starts this really feels like something from the 1980s. As this works out that element isn’t completely exorcised. This becomes an AOR prog kind of piece that leans towards the mellow side of the spectrum. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Lift-off: http://youtu.be/ZyjTxF0p3f0 This one’s very cool. There’s more energy and a lot of fusion textures at play, but in a more keyboard (rather than guitar) oriented style. We even get some funk here. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Trip Across the 7th Age: http://youtu.be/EhYCLMmg7Kw With quite a bit of fusion on hand, this is a great piece. It’s dramatic and powerful and quite space-like. It has a driving beat and a lot of killer melody over the top. Some of the keyboard parts are particularly effective. While it’s nothing near hard rock, it does vary a lot from more powered up and mellower sections. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Closer to Heaven: http://youtu.be/OhnexAWf1uo While still in the same general volume and intensity level, this starts off a bit like mid-period Genesis, but shifts out to more fusion oriented sounds after a short time. It’s another dramatic and powerful cut that really rocks. There are some Wakeman-like keyboard parts on this. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Silk Road: http://youtu.be/yjBJv2wQU9o The modes that start this call to mind the space rock of Hawkwind, but it quickly shifts to something more like a more purely progressive rock version of Kraftwerk. Tangerine Dream is also a valid comparison. This is fairly mellow and slow moving, but also quite powerful. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Divine Harmonies: http://youtu.be/iAx9B4TkCPw In some ways this feels like a full arrangement on music box melodies as it starts. It grows out to a different movement from there, though. It’s an effective number, but not the strongest on the set. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - ENCHANTED (2006)
Soniq Theater – Highlander: http://youtu.be/iq4XdTgowyg A keyboard flourish leads this one off. As the percussion and other instruments enter it begins to feel a lot like something from Emerson Lake and Palmer. It moves through several changes, but never really moves away from its keyboard oriented instrumental prog approach. This one is very intriguing piece of music. It's dramatic and a great choice to start off the album. It turns a little funky later in a nice changeup. At just over four minutes it's rather amazing how much is packed into this dynamic number. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Sorcerer’s Apprentice: http://youtu.be/zM1fhaRV9jw This song, like the last one, has a bit of ELP-like texture to it. It's more of a hard rocking dramatic format as it opens, though. Then it shifts into something more akin to Yes. It launches out into a fast paced prog-instrumental excursion that combines those sounds with old time cinema music and other elements to carry forward. This turns more hard edged after this playful segment, then gets very lush in its arrangement as it rounds the next corner. It drops to a neo-classical piano segment then comes up with prog fury a bit like King Crimson before dropping back to an even more impressive piano solo. This one then moves back out into a full band treatment that has both an ELP texture and more modern prog leanings like Dream Theater. This one is incredibly dynamic and moves around corners so quickly as to be hard for a reviewer like myself to keep up on documenting all the changes. Let's just say that this one is a killer instrumental with lots of great prog textures and changes. It will definitely keep you on your toes. There is even a full on jazz approach thrown into the mix. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Morgana: http://youtu.be/phCaFDXZgT0 Coming in with a folky prog approach, this one is fast paced, but not extremely hard rocking. It features a non-lyrical female vocal line and a bit of Celtic texture. With an almost new age feel to it at times, this one is less dynamic in terms of rapid-fire changes than the songs before. I'd have to say that my one issue on this one is that those vocals, that remind me a bit of the ones on Pink Floyd's "Great Gig In The Sky," are rather annoying to me. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The King’s Enchanter: http://youtu.be/oWCa2tbsXnU At over twelve minutes in length, this one is the longest cut on show here. It comes in rather tentatively, but turns to more hard-edged ELP like jamming in fairly short order. Then we are off on another fast moving series of changes, but in some ways this one is also a bit more static than the first couple tracks. It includes some exceptionally tasty musical performances. There is one section here that reminds me a bit of Asia - the band, not the continent. I really like a later keyboard dominated segment, too. It has a very interesting texture and then cuts to a somewhat dissonant jazzy piano solo. Other artists who I hear at points on this one include Yes, Styx and Jean Luc Ponty. This even includes a jazzy little vibraphone type segment that has a great retro texture. There are also some Wakeman like keyboard sounds interspersed here and there. It is definitely an entertaining ride. A horn section (synthetic I'm guessing) shows up later on this, as does several more killer keyboard solos. I particularly like the piano melodies that play over the energized segment leading to the outro. That closing segment is very neo-classical in texture. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Avalon: http://youtu.be/n92dNQbUVWY The sounds of nature are the first things heard on this track. After a time a dramatic and very beautiful keyboard segment begins to build up from there. This runs through for a while then gives way to a very solid yet rather catchy progressive rock melody line. This one has a pretty, but mysterious feel to a lot the music. The keyboards definitely dominate this piece of music. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Horus Eyes: http://youtu.be/150HMY9p4yQ Frantic and a bit hard-edged, this one is very dramatic fast paced prog. It has a bit of that ELP texture to it, but there are definitely other sounds there as well. It drops later to a mellower keyboard dominated section. This segment has a lot of Rick Wakeman type textures to it, but the more playful variety of Wakeman's sound. It turns later toward the more dramatic of Wakeman's solo work and some choral type vocals are laid over the top. Then it moves out into a keyboard solo that really feels like it could have fit in nicely on Wakeman's Journey to the Centre of the Earth album. In fact the whole arrangement here seems to fit that general concept. As it carries on, though other elements from earlier in the piece return. When you consider that this song is less than four minutes in length it's another where it's hard to believe Mueller could pack so much into so little time. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Sagittarius: http://youtu.be/eXXsUpMQJIs Dramatic neo-classical piano starts this, but after a brief intro in this style it shifts to something that is more akin to space music. Then the two elements merge to carry the track onward. This ends and a rhythm that makes the song feel like it's going to explode replaces it. Rather than exploding in the way this seems to indicate it will, it moves out into a very dramatic new segment that has elements of the earlier modes along with a good chunk of both classical and jazz music. This one turns into a staccato pattern that is very effective. It moves through a number of variations on these themes in its less than five minute length. I am quite fond of the segment where it drops to just piano and the fast paced romp that follows. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Nanga Parbat: http://youtu.be/H5CS4MRHEFI Once more keyboards begin this, laying down sheets of sound in a carpet of texture. Eventually an electro-rhythm comes in. Unfortunately, the synthetic nature of this takes away from the song a bit. However, as the keyboard solos over the top with almost Rick Wakeman like sounds it regains some of what it lost. As Mueller moves it away from there, though, the problems with the "drum machine" type sound become more apparent. Still, another melodic keyboard solo, this time feeling a bit more like Keith Emerson, helps the number regain its footing. Of the disc, though, I would have to say that this number and "Morgana" are the two that leave me the most cold. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Lizards and Wizards: http://youtu.be/lGhShtYHJjM With a title like that one can see where progressive rock's reputation of being for people who play Dungeons and Dragons is perpetuated. This starts with an enveloped keyboard sound, then other layers of keys emerge. As the song proper kicks in, though, it is one of the most effective on show. This rocker has a lot of excitement and fury as it winds through its oddly angled turns. There are moments that mind call to mind King Crimson while at other times the listener might consider the tried and true Emerson Lake and Palmer. This also has some of the crunchiest guitar that is presented here. I'd have to say that of everything on this CD, this is my favorite. I also hear some Herbie Hancock, ala "Rock It!" here. This one is really tasty. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Amazing Bells: http://youtu.be/pHqieSRv5b0 As one can imagine this one features a lot of keyboards that are textured to sound like bells. It comes in rather mellow in texture and grows organically. At times this reminds me a bit of Pat Metheny. I also hear some Mike Oldfield in the arrangement. It has some cool moments and gets more lush and powerful at times. While this track is good, I think Mueller could have chosen a better disc closer (perhaps just flip positions between this song and the last). Still, this works reasonably well in that position as sort of a cooling down mode. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - PANDROMANIA (2005)
Soniq Theater – Karma: http://youtu.be/jyETBk0-RYg The first section here is sort of space rock. That gives way to one of the most definite jazz movements ever from Soniq Theater. As it works out from there, though, this becomes energized progressive rock that’s not that far removed from some of Rick Wakeman’s music. After a while, though, it works out to a very dramatic and powerful progressive rock jam that has lots of fusion in the mix. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Miles beyond: http://youtu.be/jdulsePI8jM The sound of a motorcycle starts things here. Then a keyboard section laced with non-lyrical female vocals joins. It works out after that introductory section, though, into a more straightforward keboard-laden movement that’s a lot more “song” like. The cut works through a number of changes with the original segment returning later as an alteration. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Steve’s Dream: http://youtu.be/BJdS2rY3io8 The introduction here has an intricate, and suitably dreamy, texture to it. It is delicate. Then it fires out into harder rocking music that works quite well. It’s still definitely progressive rock, but it has more crunch and more power in the mix. It does a great job of alternating between harder rocking music and mellower, more purely melodic sounds. This feels a bit like Yes or Rush at times. It’s an especially effective piece. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Deep Space: http://youtu.be/PM21JyRy3Kg This opens fairly mellow but quickly shifts out to something a bit like Jean Michel Jarre meets Pink Floyd. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Pandromania: http://youtu.be/lSuCJQE2FCg Feeling a bit like soundtrack music, the title track is powerful and bombastic. It’s one of the highlights of the set for certain. There are many changes and alterations in place and at times this feels a bit like Emerson Lake and Palmer. It is an extremely dynamic piece shifting and turning here and there as it continues. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Lovely Lady: http://youtu.be/98PfN8g6urs With a title like “Lovely Lady” one would expect a track to be melodic, gentle and fairly consistent. Such is the case here. This is quite pretty, but not a real show-stopper. Of course, you need music like this to make the really dynamic pieces seem that much stronger. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Wheel of Fortune: http://youtu.be/ssgRynJs3bY Here’s a cool cut that has a lot of 80s musical textures in its midst. In some ways this reminds me of a proggier version of Asia. There are some vocals here, in a bit of a twist from the bulk of Soniq Theater’s music. At points this resembles Emerson Lake and Palmer. Other parts call to mind Rick Wakeman. I can even make out some Mike Oldfield at times. It is quite a dramatic and powerful piece of music that works through a number of changes. The only vocals are a repeating chorus. At over nine-minutes in length, this is epic in proportion. It’s also epic in scope. It’s arguably the highlight of the set. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Adagio in G: http://youtu.be/9Em3sJSXPos A short piece, this is both very gentle and very pretty. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Pulsar: http://youtu.be/oj96gZL_YDw There is a definite tribal energy on this cut. The keyboard elements do a nice job of conveying a sense of space. We get something closer to electronic music later in the track. In other words, it feels not that far removed from Kraftwerk. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Flamingo: http://youtu.be/tGfXtON64S0 This number is in a more mainstream classic progressive rock style. The comparisons to Wakeman’s solo work are once again valid. It works out at times into something akin to circus music. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Last Realm: http://youtu.be/ECg9lXlnyyo Slow moving in terms of tempo and changes, this one is a bit lackluster. It’s sort of along the lines of mellow fusion. It’s just not the best choice to close the set in style. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - THIS MORTAL COIL (2004)
Soniq Theater – This Mortal Coil: http://youtu.be/sjkl0aKCWpE There’s a short bit of weirdness before we’re taken into a staccato jam that’s full of drama. This is classy progressive rock. It works through a number of changes as it continues. There is some especially tasty keyboard soloing built into this thing. It does have sections that are closer to fusion. There is quite a bit of energy here and the track works pretty well. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Break the Frame: http://youtu.be/yM0HMlUg1nE With vocals throughout, this is more mainstream. It’s got a definite Rick Wakeman type feeling to it. There is a real rocking element, as well. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Minas Tirith: http://youtu.be/9lnT6xotK2s At times there are some Celtic elements at play here. Beyond that, it’s pretty much classic progressive rock instrumental music. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Flashpoint: http://youtu.be/9BbXfWeFU4M With a definite Larry Fast vibe, this is fast paced fusion that’s quite cool. There are some soaring non-lyrical female vocals at points in the piece. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Pacific Coast Highway: http://youtu.be/MfJPXRdLPSk This cut is based on a melodic and powerful progressive rock. There’s a lot of energy here, and the cut works really well. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Menuetto: http://youtu.be/WiB4eDvgw4s There’s a classical element to the general musical progression, but this is very much electronic based progressive rock. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Bridge to Eternity: http://youtu.be/fhOrWmpMhvw At just over nine-minutes in length, this qualifies as epic in scale. It has some of the hardest rocking music of the set. Yet, it’s still dramatic and tasty. It works through a number of alterations. At times it drops way down. At other points it works in some exceptionally dramatic directions. At times I’m reminded of Tangerine Dream on this piece. Other points call to mind other acts. Rick Wakeman is a frequently referenced influence. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Screenplay: http://youtu.be/3S2CYWJt9vE There’s almost a Caribbean sort of sound as this opens. Dramatic progressive rock stylings join as it continues. World music certainly plays on this in a lot of ways. It drops back to some extremely mellow tones at points. I’m reminded of Pat Metheny at times. In some respects this has some of the prettiest and most melodic sound of the set. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Mariana Rift: http://youtu.be/OX-RexljNpo Stretching to almost ten and a half minutes in length, this is the epic of the set. Spacey keyboards with sound-looped voices over the top open this, feeling almost like Hawkwind. Then it shifts to a Native American type segment. From there it works to something more like an energized new age music as it builds. Metheny seems a viable reference at times on this number. It drops later to a percussive movement that calls to mind Genesis’ Duke album, but it gets more fusion built over the top from that point. After it works through several variants and alterations, it drops back to a mellower movement that again has some hints of Native American music. Various sections leave and return as this thing keeps evolving. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - THE THIRD EYE (2003)
Soniq Theater – The Anger of Zeus: http://youtu.be/iteM1_Ntb6E Weird space sounds open this. From there it powers out into some hard edged progressive rock. As this continues there is a real classic progressive rock vibe to it. There’s almost a Deep Purple goes prog texture to it in some ways. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Bilbo is back: http://youtu.be/sogGGfwzDoA While there are some shifts and changes here, this is a more straightforward, rather mainstream cut. It’s a fairly short one. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Vamos a Ver: http://youtu.be/K8-hMT1uZOc Some smoking guitar opens this before it launches out into a smoking hot hard rock meets progressive rock movement. There are some non-lyrical female vocals on this number. That voice brings a bit of a soulful texture to the piece, but overall it’s more fusion meets progressive rock. There is quite a tasty piano solo later in the piece, too. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Skydiver: http://youtu.be/vuKxaRP3uZU Coming in with more tasty progressive rock, this really takes on some definite jazz as it continues. The rhythm section is downright funky and this is a cool tune. There is some killer keyboard soloing built into this thing. We also get some space rock elements at times here. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Once upon a Time: http://youtu.be/V_fO7qTmQDA There’s a delicate, classical nature to this short piece. It does get rather involved, but really it’s fairly restrained. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Coronation: http://youtu.be/BUs0oc2RFYY This tune powers in with all the pomp one might expect. It’s quite a dramatic and dynamic piece. At times I’m reminded of mid-era Genesis. Still, there is a Rick Wakeman like flair to it in a lot of ways. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Inner Visions: http://youtu.be/deiwmZuLw4s Spacey musical elements open this track. It moves out to more energized progressive rock, but there is still a space rock element in place. There are some synthesized vocals that add to that space rock reference. There are a number of changes and I particularly enjoy the harder rocking movement that comes in later. Still, the mellower drop back that serves as an interlude in the middle of that is intricate and rather Wakeman-like (and also tasty). (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Meta Luna: http://youtu.be/LkjH1oZr4aU I’m guessing the title of this track refers to the home planet of the aliens in the classic science fiction film “This Island Earth.” If so, it earns some definite brownie points with me. While that film does seem dated by today’s standards, it manages to hold up reasonably well and is one of my all time favorites. It starts off suitably spacey and then builds out to one of the most powerful progressive rock jams of the whole set. I love everything about this piece. It drops down here and there and rises back up again. This is one of the best tracks ever recorded by Soniq Theater and without question the highlight of this set. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Sleeping Beauty: http://youtu.be/xJYPrVpoL5I The opening section here calls to mind the more electronic side of Hawkwind. Indeed, as it rises up a little bit I’m reminded of “Void City.” It doesn’t stay there long, though, moving through a series of shifts and changes. At times there is some more world music oriented sound here, but then other points are more like fusion. The one problem about this is that it includes some vocals and at times they go very far off key, to the point of being abrasive. Still, there is also a bit of a UK (first album) vibe at points here to lend some class to it. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Desperado: http://youtu.be/pKxn6sG0xd0 Fusion meets progressive rock in a nice blend here. At times this is mellower and at other points it purely screams. It’s another highlight of the set. We’re taken through several changes and alterations as this thrill ride winds through. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Lumania: http://youtu.be/1J_r7j0MB8w The longest track on the set, this comes in with some definite classical sounds. It really starts delicate and intricate and works out from there. It becomes bombastic progressive rock with a symphonic leaning. It’s quite a diverse and dynamic piece, working through quite a few changes and varied sections. There is a rather classical element to even the construction of the piece. Yet there is also plenty of progressive rock and fusion built into this beast, too. I particularly enjoy the classically oriented piano solo that comes late in the track and takes it out. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Peace Piece: http://youtu.be/msDmpGM2Vqg This short cut gets bonus points for the clever title. There’s a bit of a playful air to it, and it’s another song that at times calls to mind Rick Wakeman. Yet there is a cool bouncy groove here. While this is certainly not a highlight of the set, it’s lighthearted and accessible nature makes it a great counterpoint to the epic type piece that preceded it. That, therefore, makes it a strong closer. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - A SECOND of ACTion (2002)
Soniq Theater – The Gold Rush: http://youtu.be/mphTTJhebu4 Starting tentatively, this eventually launches out into some dramatic and powerful keyboard laden progressive rock. It drops back for a mellower treatment that feels a bit like Genesis. As it builds out that Genesis aspect is merged with something closer to fusion. It continues to shift, change and evolve. This becomes quite powerful at times and actually shifts towards something closer to modern metal like Dream Theater at times. There’s a killer keyboard dominated jazzy movement later, though. More pure fusion takes it further down the musical road. Some of the keyboard soloing that ensues is particularly noteworthy. A real dynamic jam, this thing just keeps getting altered and shifted. If you don’t like where it’s at, just wait. Of course, if you are like me, you’ll like all of it, anyway. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Elephant Race: http://youtu.be/Cm-pfufzUHA This comes in with a definite electronica kind of vibe. As it continues it really has a lot of energy. Of course, with the word “race” in the title, you wouldn’t expect a slow song would you. This seems like the kind of fusion Kraftwerk would do, if they did fusion. It’s fast paced, fun and quite tasty. There’s a more traditional progressive rock section followed by an even more frantic jam. Moments later make me think of Yes just a little. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Marakanda: http://youtu.be/c4JkxaV1OR0 The introduction on this feels like it’s about half classical and half jazz. Then a world music inspired female voice comes over creating non-lyrical singing. That doesn’t stay around long, though, giving way to a return of the earlier musical rendition. Then the singer returns, this time with a really soulful vibe. This cut is really cool. It’s got that soul feeling to the parts with the singing and a more jazz meets prog element to the instrumental passages. It’s a great change of pace. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq theater - Centaurus: http://youtu.be/2izJVZesrnk The familiar concepts of jazz merged with progressive rock and classical are on hand here, but parts of this are hard edged to the point of nearing heavy metal territory. That makes this another place that seems more like the Dream Theater school of progressive rock than it does the more classic sounds of the 1970s. It’s a cool tune that keeps changing and moves along very well. There are really quite a few diverse sounds and concepts here. Some of the keyboard movements are very lush. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Way to Karakorum: http://youtu.be/FPB7G4KAoGw This comes in mellower and very dramatic. As it builds up it is quite powerful, and yet somehow understated. There is a killer symphonic texture and the pace is deliberate. Even the composition feels rather symphonic in the ways it builds out and some of the particular passages chosen. This is very potent stuff. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Transsiberian Railroad: http://youtu.be/gQ-yAHzB63A There’s more of a classic progressive rock feel to this jam. Still, it has some bits of space rock and some definite fusion in place, as well. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Seventh Crusade: http://youtu.be/8eygOcPPvFM Fusion merges with progressive rock on this compelling instrumental. It’s got a lot of energy and really works well. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Nocturno: http://youtu.be/2I-m-E1O5oQ This is a short piece that’s quite classical in nature. It’s intricate and pretty. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Halcyon Days: http://youtu.be/S_LpuBdiBtw Here’s an intriguing change of pace. Many of the same progressive rock tendencies are present, but there’s a real old school rock and roll vibe to this thing. At some points I’m reminded a bit of some of the music Rick Wakeman created in the 1980s. There’s a killer retro sounding organ solo later in the tune, too. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Gulliver’s Travels: http://youtu.be/9LdYzHJcO-4 Somehow the beginning of this makes me think of “Hearts” by Yes. Still, it works out to some powerful and dramatic keyboard based music that’s got plenty of classical and symphonic sound built into it. It’s classy and energetic. It gets more real rock built into it later (of course, with a progressive edge). (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Bon Voyage: http://youtu.be/36O5XPFe38g This bouncy little number seems to make me think of some of Larry Fast’s work. It’s got a lot of energy and feels rather jazzy in some ways. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Phoenix: http://youtu.be/mkzexs1nf0U Here we have a rather lighthearted keyboard based progressive rock instrumental. It’s not the best thing here, but has some changes and quite a bit of energy to make it cool. I particularly enjoy the section later where it shifts out to something a bit like mid-period Genesis. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - SONIQ THEATER (2000)
Soniq Theater – Rondeo: http://youtu.be/trlCiCf2fS4 This comes in with a classically tinged sound that gets some laughter over the top. Then it works out to smoking hot instrumental progressive rock. Emerson Lake and Palmer is a valid reference point, but so is Rick Wakeman. It works through a number of changes and alterations as it continues. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Unicorn: http://youtu.be/DVOOIU_yo4A In some ways this doesn’t vary that much from the previous cut. Still, it’s got a definite fusion element to it. Pat Metheny is perhaps worth mentioning here. There is some killer soloing on this number. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Pandora’s Box: http://youtu.be/mHnYfdehZAo Here Mueller brings things in with a more energized and hard rocking rhythm section. The cut jams pretty well. It’s perhaps more pure rock, but there’s still enough fusion and prog in play to keep it from feeling too mainstream. There are mellower movements playing counter to the harder rocking ones. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Excalibur: http://youtu.be/4fF-_mysztA There are some non-lyrical vocals on this number, but overall it’s closer to the fusion side of the spectrum. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Jurassic Classic: http://youtu.be/cBoqRBaZuBo This starts out delicate and intricate, but shifts out to something a bit closer to Yes-like sounds after that. In fact, there are some moments and some changes here that really do call to mind that band. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - The Power and the Glory: http://youtu.be/N6uMe08IFno Starting with a dramatic and majestic keyboard sound, this builds out into more rocking territory from there. Yes is again a fair reference here, particularly The Ladder period. It works through a number of changes and alterations, but still that motif is the prominent one for much of the duration. There are some moments, though, that are perhaps closer to ELP. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Tsunami: http://youtu.be/ZTT0lYK4dMc This lands more fully in a fusion sound. It alternates between a more soaring movement and a more intricate one. There’s a killer crunchy section that actually brings it quite close to heavy metal. As keyboards weave over the top it sounds closer to something like Dream Theater with a fusion elements still in place. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Palace of Glass: http://youtu.be/8yaI0eA5L7E Here we have a much mellower and more intricate number. It’s quite pretty and has a number of nice textures and sounds. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Laughing through my Tears: http://youtu.be/VG5ctQWAtx0 There’s more energy and oomph to this cut. It’s a real killer number. It’s got a lot of fusion in the mix. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – Leftoverture: http://youtu.be/bO8s4MsesFY This is just a short cut that merges classical music and fusion. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Hydra: http://youtu.be/petGQh38ZzQ Dramatic and powerful, this cut has a lot of progressive rock built into it. There is also plenty of fusion to be heard here. The keyboard soloing later in the piece calls to mind some of Wakeman’s 1980s work and sounds. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Crying Sky: http://youtu.be/8sJmQV5e3fQ More purely fusion oriented, this one seriously rocks. It’s one of the tastiest pieces on show. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater – The Riders of Rohan: http://youtu.be/b-uPUsk9jxE Dramatic and rather cinematic, this one is very cool. It’s different from a lot of the other music and yet still has both the progressive rock and fusion elements in place. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Cinemagic: http://youtu.be/kOuynJL06_I This bouncy little number is fun and it certainly makes me think of Rick Wakeman. There are some non-lyrical female vocals on this tune. (Music Street Journal)
Soniq Theater - Dans les Nuages: http://youtu.be/AcUI3Zl-WEI European café music is merged with progressive rock on this tasty piece. (Music Street Journal)