MP3 Rain - Cerulean Blue

Intensely emotional, atmospheric progressive post-rock; richly produced and beautifully crafted.

7 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Modern Rock, POP: British Pop



Details:
The CD "Cerulean Blue" by Rain consists of seven tracks, each introduced by a section for narrator, string quartet and sound effects. The narrator, Rob Brown, has appeared in the major BBC adaptation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Other contributors include the saxophonist Iain Ballamy, winner of the BBC Award for Innovation in Jazz.
The narration and lyrics tell the story of a young man's once-in-a-life-time journey across America; the characters he meets and experiences he has. The story is told through a series of postcards that have been received by the mysterious Mr. Jaeger who is following the young man's trail. The story comes to a dramatic and emotional conclusion on the slopes of Mount McKinley in Alaska, where Mr. Jaeger's secret is finally revealed.
The CD also includes a 5 minute accompanying DVD film "ASHES", starring Rob Brown, along with text files of the lyrics, "Ashes" script and a 40-page discussion of the CD with the author.
Musical comparisons have been made with Peter Gabriel, Blue Nile, Radiohead, Elbow, Brian Eno, Sigur Ros and Pink Floyd.

Information and samples are available @ WWW.TELOSMUSIC.NET

"I love this album - I've never heard anything like it."
TONY SMITH
(Tour promoter - The Beatles and Manager - Genesis/Phil Collins)

"Cerulean Blue is outstanding. No album has been more creative and outlandish in its ideas and concept within the past five years."
REVIEW

"I honestly believe that what you and several artists like you are doing is breaking ground to a whole new genre of music."
KENNY SOLOMON
(Soundscapes Radio)

"The Epitome of 21st Century Progressive Music can easily be described with one word - "Rain".
BEN SMITH
(XM Satellite Radio)

STEVE HACKETT has been playing the album as pre-show music on his current tour of the UK and Europe.

There is also an interview giving some background to the making of the album @ http://www.nucleusprog.com.ar/ingles/r-rain.htm


"A compelling freshness and originality and a fantastic voice.
The best thing I've heard for years."
PHIL COLLINS

"There is nothing in my CD collection I could compare it to. This is art rock at its finest!"
ERIC BAILLARGEON
(New Ears)

"...The kind of music I wish I was doing..."
TONY BANKS

"The CD is a fantastic trip and every time that I played it the journey has been always different.
It's a simple, but grand concept album in the style of the generous and magical early seventies, when people like Bowie, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, VDGG, Floyd made me dream in the combination of art and music."
ARMANDO GALLO

"Profoundly beautiful and totally engrossing."
ANDY DE EMMONY
(Bafta Award winning director of Canterbury Tales, Father Ted, Red Dwarf etc)

"Cerulean Blue is a contemporary masterpiece. An album that mixes exquisite music, emotional poetry, human nature in two of its most extreme but common views (the optimism of a youngster that is discovering a colourful world / the pessimism and bitterness of an older man that has lost all hope in life). All this is done with mysticism and utter brilliance."
NUNO LORENCO

"Thank you for this GLORIOUS music!!!!
An incredibly tasteful blend between beautifully-wrought lyrics and music"
FRED LESSING

"Cerulean Blue is outstanding. No album has been more creative and outlandish in its ideas and concept within the past five years. Solo artist Rain outdoes himself with lush harmonies, brilliant arrangements and thick, deep-rooted conceptual philosophies.
Rain approaches Cerulean Blue - a concept album - in a graceful way, taking special care to construct mood with music while developing the plot with lyrics and narration and the concept itself is uniquely unscathed by the grandiose clichés that dominate the typical "rock opera."
Cerulean Blue is crafted in a way that completely sets it apart from concept albums and progressive rock in general. The independent music scene has not seen anything as incredible since the debut of Spock's Beard."
REVIEW - WWW.PROGRESSIVEEARS.COM

"Emotional music that is beautiful and refined with a sumptuous voice. Redraws the contours of progressive music while bringing pop colours to the genre... Very beautiful packaging... The strong points of the disc lie in the beauty of the voice and the arrangements and the intense emotions that are conveyed to the listener"
REVIEW - WWW.PROGRESSIA.NET - EDITORS CHOICE

Thank you for your wonderful music....I'm so glad I found it."
KEN STOKES
(Canada)

"I have fallen in love with this album, believe me. It is intoxicatingly beautiful and poetical - one the most enchanting records that I have heard over the past years. The music, the poetry and the singing - the things that I cherish most - have been accomplished particularly well on this album. Especially the lyrics, an often neglected (and negligible) component, were crafted with great care. But Cerulean Blue offers more than this: the arrangements, choirs and composition with their references to chamber music are simply beautiful, in fact so beautiful that they literally intoxicate me, taking me on a 'musical road movie'. If there were still a mass market today for music like this, I'd bet on Rain for this year's 'next big thing'."
SAL PICHIREDDU
(Review - BabyBlaue Seiten, Germany)

"I really loved this album ever since I first heard it. The narration is incredible! It ties the whole album together... Powerful, dramatic, and moving!"
MARK STEPHENS
(PP Radio Station and newsgroup USA)

"Cerulean Blue is refreshingly unusual. Not just in its music, but in the storyline, the way it's told, the way it's distributed - and particularly, the impact it has on the listener. Rob Brown's relaxed and husky delivery is pleasing, and although narrated vocals always get old after a while, this one has far more staying power than you might expect.
It's a total audio/visual and emotional experience."
REVIEW - WWW.SEAOFTRANQUILITY.ORG CD of the week

"Cerulean Blue is truly unlike anything I've ever heard...
This is a truly incredible album. The music's not virtuoso...but Cerulean Blue is unique in that it doesn't need to be. It's progressive rock without the pomposity and all the meat."
TOM MacMILLAN
(The Baker St. Muse.com)

"Simply amazing... wow!"
"Every now and then an album comes by that totally blows my mind and that is certainly the case with "Cerulean Blue". With his angelic voice, RAIN and his cast of top musicians have written some simply beautiful music. I must say Rain has a great voice - truly a gift."
JAMES UNGER

"I absolutely love Cerulean Blue and am airing songs on each air-shift, talking up the project to very appreciative listeners. You've got a winner there, my friend!"
"It's a fascinating combination of ambient, minimalist and progressive influences. I honestly believe what you, and several artists like you, are doing is breaking ground to a whole new genre of music."
KENNY SOLOMON
(Progressive Soundscapes Radio)

"Thank YOU, Rain! One of the greatest gifts in this world is music. I love concept albums, and this one is as well put together as any I have ever heard. Considering the company that puts you in, I can give no higher praise! The song "Jerusalem" is one of my favourites, I can't stop playing it!
Thanks again for giving me a chance to hear this great work, and I look forward to future endeavours from you."
DOUG LEBLANC
(Canadian Progressive Music Society)

"Very nicely constructed, intelligent music and an intriguing blend of influences. Also liked the vocal a lot."
BILLY BUDIS
(Kudos Management - Steve Hackett)

"Stunning!!! I am off to buy right now!
Thanks to Rain for such a shimmering and gorgeous piece of work."
CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOU
(Etherfysh)

"You have produced a fantastic album there my friend! Just finished listening to it properly and it's transcended any pigeon hole I've tried to place it in."
TIM MARTINDALE

"I've listened to it at least 5 times now, ignoring several other promo CD's I've received. Cerulean Blue is just wonderful. I love the music, the narration and the quality of the studio work. I even love the packaging and cover art. I laughed out loud when I realized that you used the opening Mellotron chords of "Watcher of the Skies" for "Light and Magic", and even have a voice (which old SF movie is that anyway?) saying "Watch the Skies!" at the end just so I know it was no accident.
But what really makes it for me is the story. I've been a "spiritual seeker" all my life too, like Rick. When I was younger, I would have taken a "spiritual journey" like Rick if I had only had the guts to do so. But now I'm old Mr. Jaeger, too old to climb Mount McKinley any more (yes, I recognized it in the photo on the table in the "Ashes" film also, what a great bonus track to add to the CD). I hadn't guessed until the end that Rick ********* (the dénouement of the story!). Great story-telling!
Cerulean Blue is great, and I intend to bump it to the head of the line for review in the GEPR. If I was to go in the normal sequence, I'm currently reviewing CD's I received 2 years ago ... I get more CD's every month than I can possibly review, so they stack up. However, when I get a gem like Cerulean Blue, I bump it to the head of my queue and it gets a mention in the "Editor's Choice" section on the front page of the Gibraltar Encyclopaedia.
By the way, I put on Cerulean Blue for my wife last week as we were driving home from a dinner. She made me bypass our freeway off-ramp and keep going just so we could stay in the car long enough to finish the album (we were in the middle of "Parsifal" (track two) at the time). That's high praise!
FRED TRAFTON
(Gibraltar Encyclopaedia of Progressive Rock)

"I ordered your CD a few days ago and just got it in the mail here in eastern USA (Vermont). Amazingly fast delivery!
I must say I'm very blown away by your work. It's one of the best new things I've heard in quite a while. The production, mix, feel, playing are all top notch and it really draws me in. During a certain section in "Jerusalem" I felt like I was starting to switch consciousness.
That's what MUSIC is all about."
ANDREW ROBINSON
(Magus)

"This record is TERRIFIC. I discovered it in at the 'official' Genesis discussion boards. People were asking about the music that Steve Hackett was featuring before his recent acoustic concerts. Well the artist himself (Rain, not Steve) chimed in and informed everyone of the details.
Anyway, Cerulean Blue tells the story of a young man's journey across America. The music is intense and emotional. The narration between songs sets the mood perfectly, and the resolution is powerful and heartfelt. Yes, it's great prog, but it's also great music. CHECK IT OUT!"
MICHAEL POMERANTZ
(Philadelphia)

"We have already been giving it airplay and the response has been excellent. It's a great album!"
DON CASSIDY
(DAPR Radio)

"I love it! It's been on my CD auto-changer since I got it."
SIMON FUNNELL
(www.genesis-movement.org)

"I've enjoyed the wonderful reader comments over Rain's album, Cerulean Blue and based on the samples, purchased the record. It's heartening to hear other artists creating work in earnest that is thoughtful and provocative."
FRITZ DODDY

"I've got it! - Actually received it on Monday the 18th. I'm enjoying this music a lot. The mini-LP sleeve is cool, too. Congratulations on the Hackett exposure. Your music definitely gives me a Hackett-like vibe, even though it doesn't SOUND like Steve, so I think it would be very appropriate to intro into a Hackett show. I hope this will be a great success for you and that you'll want to continue to produce great music."
SCOTT OLSON

"News of an album called CERULEAN BLUE by a new artist known as Rain has been spreading like fire around prog rock web groups. I just thought I'd pass the info around here.
If you like early Genesis, you'll love this album. Phil Collins has been raving about Rain non-stop.
The concept has something to do with a man's travels across America. Definitely check it out."
"UNCLE HIPPIE"
(www.recordcollectorsguild.org)

"Have played the CD every day and yes... it's brilliant!"
ANDREW RIPPON

"The CD arrived here in Oz a couple of days ago. I won't spoil the story, but I will say that I found the ending (and no, I hadn't guessed) surprisingly moving and absolutely in keeping with the music.
This is a special piece of work, Rain. Congratulations. Keep us up to date with where you go from here."
JOHN DRAYTON
(Queensland, Australia)

"Makes everything else I hear at the moment sound like noise."
PHIL BYRD

"Killer CD!!!!! It's a very unique piece... Very impressed...very VERY impressed!"
ROD CHAPPELL
(Lightspeed)

"There is some brilliant music to be heard and poignant, humourous,
deep and profound lyrics and insights. I love the word pictures you
paint and can relate to quite a few of them!
In my book you are exceptional as your voice passes my critical
censor! Too often for me great musicianship etc. (in any genre) is
sadly marred by the voice. There is a lot of emotional depth that
comes across and at times I am reminded of Roy Harper which is no bad
thing at all.
I particularly like the cyclic/spiral/hypnotic feel to some tracks -
"Light & Magic" for example has a really dreamy/floating feel.
I also love the percussion on "Star Crossed" & "Jerusalem" which is
extremely dynamic and drives these tracks along."

"The great thing about Cerulean Blue is that it transcends being pigeon holed as solely progressive rock and has much wider appeal. Importantly I think, it sounds contemporary rather than a reworking of the past which is the trap so many current prog rock acts tend to fall into."
STEVE HILLMAN

"Man oh Man! I just listened to the low bitrate versions on the site... This is such a refreshingly wonderful surprise to my ears.
I would be happy to give it airplay for you."
JOHN JARGER
(Progressive Radio Network)

"In general I listen to heavy and progressive music but I've never heard anything like this. Your music grabs me and carries me away to other spheres. There is everything in this music - grief, pleasure, fear, boldness, love. Under this music I can wake up, dream, go to bed. I've never heard anything similar to this. I will wait impatiently for more of such magic music."
PAUL
(Age 23 Israel)

"I'm nuts about the record and can't wait to get the "hard copy". Here's a story: my friend Dave got me into Genesis many years ago. I sent him this message about Cerulean Blue:
"How many times have we heard the question (or even asked it ourselves) - What band out there today is like old Genesis? What band makes me feel like I feel when I listen to Foxtrot? Well, RAIN may not have the same musical histrionics that you hear from the great 70's prog, but the feeling, that feeling, is there, I mean it's REALLY there. This is currently Hackett's pre-show music and it's creating a bit of a buzz at the shows because it's so f***ing good. The 'hook' is that one of the songs quotes 'Watcher of the Skies', but it's no gimmick. This is the best record I've heard in quite some time."
So he calls me the other day to thank me for recommending the record. He was hungering for something GREAT and had read a review of the new The Mars Volta CD. Without having heard any of it, he imagined it to be quite proggy. Well, I'm not about to say anything bad about other musicians, especially when they're pushing themselves to do something different and special - BUT - The Mars Volta is not really our cup of tea. So how thrilled was Dave when he starting listening to your stuff. So different from the record he had just purchased - and so much better.
Personally, I keep coming back to the feel. It's this thing I can't put my finger on, but it really strikes a chord. Maybe it's the fine mix of a pastoral calm with the drama of, I don't know, 'becoming' (for lack of a better word)."
MIKE POMERANTZ

"What is exceptional about the story is the richness of it references, which are as diverse as the "Tao Te Ching" and Van Gogh's "The Crows in the Cornfield." The music has numerous influences (Peter Gabriel and Radiohead stand out most obviously to me), but aside from "Silver Apples of the Moon," which reeks of Gilmour-era Pink Floyd, Rain follows his own path, drawing on others for inspiration rather than direction. The fact that the introduction segues into the main part of each song so naturally says a lot about the care and thought that has gone into the construction of this album. Most of the instruments are played by Rain himself, and tend to the atmospheric rather than virtuosic. He makes up for a lack of instrumental fireworks with a fine voice, reminiscent of Ray Wilson. This album, with its sombre mood and sophisticated lyrics, is a breath of fresh air for the more mainstream variety of rock."
REVIEW - GROUND AND SKY.COM

"This is a little gem of an album. Rain is effectively a one-man outfit, playing guitars, bass, drums and Jerusalem pipes, along with a tremendous singing voice. Guests on saxophone, viola, violin and cello, with backing vocals and even a choir, help him out. There's a narrator too, to lead you through the storyline. The production is superb - the aircraft opening sound effect will have you diving for cover! Don't be fooled by all this though. This is no big budget extravaganza, it's a labour of love, I'd guess. Rain is a very talented guy who has achieved what he wanted to achieve: a truly progressive album. At times the string section make the music seem like a chamber piece, whilst the choral sections add otherworldliness. Elsewhere the rock music is very melodic and excellently crafted. Care has been put into the booklet too, and the CD contains video and lyric files that you should be able to read on your computer. Overall, quite stunning."
REVIEW - CRS MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2005

"I have no doubt in affirming that this is one of best progressive albums of recent decades"
SOUNDCHASER FORUM BRAZIL

"Cerulean Blue is a must-have CD"
PROGRADIO.NET

"Essential - a masterpiece of progressive music"
PROGARCHIVES.COM

"Cerulean Blue is really great. Being a progressive fan, I truly appreciated it"
PHIL CHADWICK
(TRC Management - Elbow, Polyphonic Spree etc)

"If you are looking for something that provokes thought and introspection, you will find this a milestone "must have" album. This work is original and superbly arranged with trademark characteristics that become easily recognizable as spawned from the uniqueness of the artist. I have not found any references on the artist, although it seems this is the work of a single person, it would be a sin not to understand more on how this wonderful piece of work came to be. The sounds and arrangements are exquisitely tasteful. This is a wonderful piece of work that without a doubt defines and establishes a niche and fills one of those unique voids that you never knew was there until this album was introduced. Highly Recommended."
VITO VITALE - PROGROCKRADIO.COM - REVIEW

"The music itself has elements of symphonic music as well as folk, ethereal and cinematic. All the pieces are elegant, delicately arranged and performed with a solemnity difficult to find these days. There is a choir, organ, narration, strings and a soft voice that raises the pitch only when it fits the exuberant instrumentation. The quality of the recording is very good, and it's something that had to be that way given that the music requires this quality in the recording to be fully appreciated. "Cerulean Blue" (beautiful title by the way), is recommended for those who like refined and serious music."
EUPHONIA.COM - REVIEW

"I have been listening to progressive music since the 70's and CERULEAN BLUE, as the reviews say, is one of the freshest pieces of music I have heard in a long time."
KEN STOKES
(Canada)

"A very dark and haunting mood and atmosphere. The melodies are superb... The Silver Apples of the Moon is superb and one of the great moments on the CD, reminiscent of Pink Floyd. The epic Light and Magic is also one of the unavoidable songs on this work. Throughout its length of 11 minutes, it develops a music that is both hypnotic and ethereal and there is a splendid sax solo, with intense feeling, worthy of the greats in the field. One hardly notices the 11 minutes pass, it is so sublime.
I recommend this CD if you are a big fan of Radiohead or Pink Floyd. The atmosphere will carry you away. It's unavoidable!"
JEAN-PIERRE LHOIR - REVIEW - MUSIC IN BELGIUM.NET
(Trans - David Le Merrer)

"The work and passion that went into this piece is evident.
It is certainly unlike anything else I have heard!"
JAY STOCKTON

"Cerulean Blue is as good as it gets in the world of progressive rock. The dramatic is matched by the sublime which continues to intrigue and entertain you as a listener. This CD seems to follow well trodden paths without sounding dated, plagiaristic or contrived."
ACID ATTACK MUSIC - REVIEW

"Congratulations for your beautiful music... Your music is wonderful - I hear Sigur Ros, Pineapple Thief and No Man."
PHILIPPE THIRIONET

"Sounds less like a debut and more like an album by an artist who's been established for 20 years!"
MARTIN ORFORD

"Impressive sound effects (including a very realistic opening sample of an aircraft taking off) and a haunting combination of violin and cello form the backdrop to these narratives, which serve to link the main tracks. As well as simply telling a story, the lyrics appear to raise a number of spiritual and moral questions. One of the main influences I picked up on are Scottish band The Blue Nile. Rain clearly isn't one for shows of instrumental excess, instead carefully building songs so that they develop from sometimes humble beginnings to reach some powerful, emotional crescendos. Light & Magic, with its chiming keys and slightly haunting vocals, also has something of a Peter Gabriel feel. Parsifal, meanwhile, features effective use of a choir before developing into a song which has a more contemporary feel in the style of Elbow and (early) Radiohead. Impressively, Rain manages to weld these various influences together to create a varied yet unique style. Personally I'd recommend this album at twice the price."
REVIEW - TOM DE VAL - DPRP

"The music is very emotional, lush, and atmospheric, connected to Genesis at least spiritually (one song references Watcher of the Skies, with the opening two chords first stated by the string quartet and later on Mellotron), but there is also a strong Pink Floyd feel at times, and overall it is very original and very English."
REVIEW KINESIS
(USA)

"A stunning album and a breath of fresh air to the rock genre. I can hear influences from Blue Nile, Floyd and yet stuff which is just so original (much like the whole concept). The whole thing just left me wanting more of your music - a sign of a wonderful album and a totally gratifying sonic experience."
DAVID SAUNDERS

"An intoxicating conceptual work that has a quiet confidence and grandeur. An extremely compelling listen."
LASER'S EDGE

"After reading several reviews I felt that this should be something very special. YES, IT IS!! During the first session I was quickly touched by the breathtaking beauty of this CD, what an emotional experience! One moment you feel fragile and alienated, the other moment you feel warm and safe, like in a womb. All seven compositions start with narration, followed by atmospheric music, embellished with wonderful musical ideas. THIS IS PURE, MOVING AND VERY ORIGINAL!!"
ERIK NEUTEBOOM
(Background Magazine Netherlands)

"The most beautiful music I have heard this year"
FRODE GARNES
(Norway)

"Probably my greatest discovery of the year. One of my more beautiful surprises since Radiohead's "Kid A" or even Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". The narration is so outstanding that you feel a certain sadness when the CD finishes."
JEAN DOYON

"An outstanding album that will have a huge emotional impact on all who hear it... This album is pure musical honey... I was knocked out by it - it is something very unique that I haven't heard before...I really enjoyed the musical soundscape and imagery that it conjured up - thank you for such an amazing album."
SHANE CARLSON