Fans of musicianship, new sounds, and true psychedelia have found new heroes in ATLANTIC DRONE.
ATLANTIC DRONE was founded in upstate New York by two childhood friends: Steven Cerio and Jim Drago. Founding member Steven Cerio has a long legacy of intricate and ambitious percussion on now classic recordings with Railroad Jerk, Dee Dee Ramone’s Sprocket and Drunktank; as well as live performances with Ron Asheton (The Stooges), Jad Fair (Half Japanese), and free jazz legends William Parker and Jemeel Moondoc; but it was Atlantic Drone that has held Cerio’s attention … and for good reason. You may also know Cerio’s art from posters he’s created for the likes of such diverse acts as King Crimson, The Residents, , Moe, Electric Frankenstein, Ministry, Les Claypool White Zombie, Negativland, Yonder Mountain String Band, Monster Ma
gnet, Echo & The Bunnymen, Man or Astroman? and more, or his wealth of animation and graphics for the blinkless stare of The Residents.
ATLANTIC DRONE have achieved a synthesis of historical proportions with a cast that includes: Dave Rick (Yo La Tengo, Bongwater, King Missile, Phantom Tollbooth), Michael Duane (Dustdevils), Laure Barges (Dragibus), Sal Canzonieri (Electric Frankenstein, The Thing), Greg Pier (Mandate of Heaven), Joseph Plessas and Jim Gibson (Toothfairy, Unholy Swill).
This stellar release was concocted in the band’s private studio for the seminal NOISEVILLE label which is also home to releases by Chrome, Helios Creed, Toothfairy, ST-37, Skullflower, and Gandalf Murphy.
Far from creating a nostalgic tribute to a previous age ATLANTIC DRONE contributed to a re-definition of the sonic trip, creating a sound that is both exhilarating and Zen-ful, serving up an atom to the melting molecular soup of Post Psychedelic Hypno Mantras that point more to the future than the past.
Their music holds all of the sensations open minded music fans have associated with true psychedelia: the meditative hypnotics of prog forefathers Can, the reckless propulsion of free jazz, the kinetic energy of early King Crimson, the soaring intensity of Soft Machine, the swirling throbs of early Butthole Surfers, the natural beauty of Brian Eno’s ambience and the schizophrenic scuttle of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band.
ATLANTIC DRONE’s sound began with a lysergic vision of a swirling and fitful heaven which was then sweetened with thickly layered harmonies, blissful atmospheres, and busy arrangements that arose as much from the quality of the musicianship present as to producer Cerio’s command of studio orchestration and composition.
A sound arranged with a wealth of instruments: theremin, large varieties of horns, organ voices, guitar textures and percussion varieties that each compete for the one highest form and illusion. Majestic amorphous cauldrons of melodic oddities and cosmic hymns lay twitching under clouds of swirling drones. Tantric struggles extending into the acid drenched space of post psychedelic hypno ragas. Mandalas of melodies as intoxicating as cheesecake layered with lyrics spoken in the cryptic language of psychedelia. Every sound blends ambience, rhythmic intensity, pastoral passages and lyrical lullabies. Every track bred of the soaring beauty found in all true psychedelia.
ATLANTIC DRONE is the answer to the trendy angst and dull brained aggression of today’s numbskull dribble. Sonically charged without any sign of the stereotypical passive-aggression and trendy angst everyone has come to expect from the avant-garde and commercial radio alike.
With their rock solid underground following firmly in tow, ATLANTIC DRONE has appealed to a broad spectrum of listeners. Their self titled debut on the seminal NOISEVILLE label is a set of blissful psychedelic prayers, each wrapped in its own unique galaxy. Welcome to the new universe, sit down, and enjoy!
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