Since
1996, Quarkspace has pursued the sonic expression of space music with a
fervor that has made the band a fixture in the Columbus, Ohio, region.
Blending elements of space rock, ambient, psychedelic and electronics,
Quarkspace utilizes guitars, keyboards, drums, and effects to produce a
lively sound that explores the more fantastic reaches of the universe
with (mostly) instrumental space music.
Quarkspace
is Chet Santia, Jay Swanson, Dave Wexler, Paul Williams and Darren
Gough. These human beings achieve an interstellar flair with a
surprisingly minimal use of synthesizers. It is through the ethereal
fusion of more traditional instruments that Quarkspace conjures their
sonic evocations, immersing the listener in a cosmic void that quickly
fills with the band's inspiring compositions.
Imagine if you
will: the experimental passion of the Sixties psychedelic rock scene
supplanted to modern sensibilities and infused with a fascination for
outer space and cosmic riffs -- the sonic beast you get when you
gene-splice the Grateful Dead with Hawkwind. This band also excels at
improvisational brilliance, jamming like a coalescing stellar mass
teetering on the brink of galactic ignition.
"Analog
hippie meets digital space" describes Dane Carlson of Expose Magazine.
"The new spacerock star" raves Francois Coutere of the All Music Guide.
Cuneiform Record/Wayside music calls them "one of the best American
spacerock bands. Combining songs, short and epic, with a communal knack
for improv rarely seen in music, quarkspace rules the mystic galaxy.
1 Close to the Whipping Post 2 Air 3 Siren Space 4 In My Lost Mind 5 Dead Raven Space 6 Don't Stop the Levee 7 Quarkital 8 Faerienot Space 9 Dancing Swan 10 Whitehawk Space
Quarkspace : Chet Santia: Bass, Guitar, Guitar Synth, Vox, Percussion Jay Swanson: Keyboards, Percussion Paul Williams: Drums, Keyboards, Loops, Samples, Percussion Darren Gough: Guitarist Reunitus Stan Lyon: Stunt guitar and bass Emeritus Dave Wexler: Guitarist Emeritus Deux
From Aural Innovations #2 (April 1998) Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz
The
Live Orion CD illustrates how important it is to experience this type
of music in a live environment, and how this band in particular shines
when performing live. Quarkspace is somewhat unique among the current
crop of spacerock bands in that they aren't from the hard edged
Hawkwind camp, nor can they be firmly categorized in the dreamier
ambient space camp. What stands out on this CD is a band whose roots
are very much in the classic jam rock camp, but add enough elements of
space in their sound, and ambience in the atmosphere to make them a
space band. When they really start to cook they have been compared to
the Allman Brothers, and there are tracks here that feature this sound.
Like the Allmans, each instrument is clearly distinguishable from the
others, yet all play cooperatively to produce some kick ass rock music
that has the added benefit of blasting the listener into the cosmos. On
other tracks I'm reminded of the the glory days of psychedelic
stretching out, but with a higher level of instrumental proficiency
than was characterisic of many bands in that genre.
Vocal
numbers are interspersed with the instrumentals and Chet Santia's voice
reminds me of a harder edged Peter Gabriel. This release will mark the
first Quarkspace vocal numbers since their 1996 debut CD, and those
familiar with that release should note how the music, though in a
"song" context, is often just as busy and interesting as on the purely
instrumental tracks.
For those not familiar with Quarkspace this live performance is an excellent starting point.
Main
Registration
Login
