NEW CD JAN 20th, 2009
Current mood: imaginative
Category: Music

     This new pending release already has local radio support and has hit the ground running with airtime on KNRK 94.7 and KUFO 101.1 both in Portland, Oregon where this band began.  The CD is awaiting cue humbly placed in KEXP Seattle's library.  How about something completely different?  This is an unassuming progressive concept album by today's standard, and why not?  It is a refreshing indulgence after all.  This new CD is a great example of what freeform, selfless, and independent music can be accomplished with a very modest budget, delivered with solid production, and within a truly independent format.  Independent music is where all the potential is, and this album is a great example of what is possible beyond all the limitations music faces today. The live band currently features William Weikart on vocals, guitars, and synthesizers, and is fleshed out by Kevin Cozad (piano, synthesizers, vocals), Reinhardt Melz (drums), Ian Wengs (bass), and Matthew Bradley (guitars).  Their live performances create a unique blend of resonance and transcendence from their debut full-length CD, "Psycheclectic"...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

     "An ambitious prog-rock album where surface-sutured layers of trippy textures and trances melt into ominous simmering swatches of deep-seated psychotronic sensations before slowly coalescing together again." Jeffrey Morgan Creem Magazine September, 2008 

     "There is so much going on within this album that it takes many plays to fully explore the multi layers and sometimes disguised dimensions it contains. The production…is first class.  …Both psychedelic and eclectic drawing from not only Floyd influences but releasing those energies and letting them go on their own journey…not only rewarding but is also fascinating and compelling. It is a brave move…   Jeff Perkins  Blog Critics Magazine Published August 25, 2008.

     "…The album takes great inspiration from Pink Floyd, but really stands with its own persona.  …Obscured By Clouds takes what they heard and learned from Pink Floyd and adapted it to their own play. And the thing is, these kids rock. …Different songs (would) be described as everything from classic rock to feedback experimentation to folk to perhaps even Celtic in its epic descriptions of landscape and emotional impact. "Zoë Zolofft" works as an homage to Syd Barrett in a "song about a girl, a sitar, and modern pharmakinetics"…  "Love's Love" calls up images of love personified "with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment." Jeff Provine  Blog Critics Magazine Published July 27, 2008. 

     "Dark, ambitious, brooding and atmospheric, it's a bold and unique statement from a band that's gotten the stamp of approval from Pink Floyd mastermind David Gilmour himself. The record is attention-grabbing from start to conceptual finish. You can bet money the record release show will be a brilliant affair." Barbara Mitchell The Portland Tribune Aug 21, 2008.

     "Obscured By Clouds newest CD "Psycheclectic" features dreamy meditative songs and harder rockin' tunes, and has already received airplay on such stations as KNRK and KUFO.  The album veers from dreamy meditations to hard rockers, and is sure to please fans of progressive rock as well as orchestrated psychedelia."  Rob Cullivan, The Outlook August 19, 2008.

     "…Psycheclectic, (a) 21st-century interpretation of the music of the '60s and '70s. Obscured By Clouds certainly has a better grasp of their instruments and how to play them than most pop-rock groups on the market.  Psycheclectic is an album that will only be appreciated by those who already love the music of Geddy, Neil, Alex, David, and Roger and the deep catalogs of both those transcendent groups." Music In My Ears August 20, 2008.

     Obscured By Clouds steps out from behind all veils, preconceptions, or limitations here.  This new music is a very eclectic amalgam holding potential for an introspective journey waiting for discovery.  The entire album has an intriguingly measured intensity throughout. Each song yields to the subconscious undertow of lyricism and wafting effects as "The Drip Feed" theme trails throughout each segue, within the very psychedelic cross-faded cinematic imagery of each new song.  Come and check out this mysterious connection that awaits, and entrust yourself and your ears to the humble Pyscheclectic Records legacy requiring an above average attention span.

Key Points:

•  Radio Play: KNRK 94/7 Alt Portland, KUFO 101.1 Classic Portland, KEXP (Seattle) In Library

    Awaiting A Spin, College, and Specialty Radio.

•  National Press Mailing Of 500 CDs, Local Support, New World Order Bloggers, And More.

•  First Show: The Aladdin Theater August 22^nd, 2008.  Constant Touring Throughout 2008

    And 2009, West Coast First -- East Coast Next.

•  In-Store Performances / P.O.P. Available For In-Stores On Tour Route.  Music Millennium

    In-Store Portland, Oregon August 21^st, 2008.

Label Contact By:  Psycheclectic Records  -  PO Box 8133 Portland, Oregon 97207

Band: www.obscuredbyclouds.net

9:28 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Reinhold Niebuhr
Current mood: calm
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

"Nothing worth doing is (truly) completed in our lifetime, therefore, we are saved by hope.

Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore, we are saved by faith.

Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone. Therefore, we are saved by love.

No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own; therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness."

- Reinhold Niebuhr

3:19 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Obscure New Reviews Including Creem Magazine!
Current mood: Psycheclectic
Category: Psycheclectic Music

"An ambitious prog-rock album where surface-sutured layers of trippy textures and trances melt into ominous simmering swatches of deep-seated psychotronic sensations before slowly coalescing together again."

- Jeffrey Morgan Creem Magazine September 2008

"There is so much going on within this album that it takes many plays to fully explore the multi layers and sometimes disguised dimensions it contains. The production…is first class. …Both psychedelic and eclectic drawing from not only Floyd influences but releasing those energies and letting them go on their own journey…not only rewarding but is also fascinating and compelling. It is a brave move… "Cast Close the Gate" which opens with strident guitar work before developing into an extraordinarily accomplished track underpinned by some clever and effective drumming. "Love's Love" appears with a wonderfully rich opening section and highly evocative lyrics."

- Jeff Perkins Blog Critics Magazine August 25th, 2008

"…The album takes great inspiration from Pink Floyd, but really stands with its own persona. …Obscured By Clouds takes what they heard and learned from Pink Floyd and adapted it to their own play. And the thing is, these kids rock. Using "psycheclectic" as a portmanteau of "psychedelic" and "eclectic" very much describes the album itself. …Different songs (would) be described as everything from classic rock to feedback experimentation to folk to perhaps even Celtic in its epic descriptions of landscape and emotional impact. "Soft Cheeked and Worried," …flows from stark acoustic guitar emulating the barren desert with splashes of piano and moves to electric guitar playing just on the edge of feedback. "Zoë Zolofft" works as an homage to Syd Barrett in a "song about a girl, a sitar, and modern pharmakinetics", creating the "sonic imagery of the splintered spokes of a broken and wobbling wheel." "Love's Love" calls up images of love personified "with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment."

- Jeff Provine Blog Critics Magazine July 27th, 2008

"Dark, ambitious, brooding and atmospheric, it's a bold and unique statement from a band that's gotten the stamp of approval from Pink Floyd mastermind David Gilmour himself. The record is attention-grabbing from start to conceptual finish. You can bet money the record release show will be a brilliant affair."

- Barbara Mitchell The Portland Tribune August 21st, 2008

"Obscured By Clouds newest CD "Psycheclectic" features dreamy meditative songs and harder rockin' tunes, and has already received airplay on such stations as KNRK and KUFO. The album veers from dreamy meditations to hard rockers, and is sure to please fans of progressive rock as well as orchestrated psychedelia."

- Rob Cullivan The Outlook (Oregon) August 19th, 2008

"…Psycheclectic, (a) 21st-century interpretation of the music of the '60s and '70s. Obscured By Clouds certainly has a better grasp of their instruments and how to play them than most pop-rock groups on the market. Psycheclectic is an album that will only be appreciated by those who already love the music of Geddy, Neil, Alex, David, and Roger and the deep catalogs of both those transcendent groups."

- (Music In My Ears) August 20th, 2008

"Psychedelicgrunge: who'd have thought it? …Think of an album including tracks from Pink Floyd, Rush, Screaming Trees and Faith No More, and then mix all the tracks together; it would be called Psychelectic and it would be by Obscured By Clouds. …If you fancy being in a dream while being awake… Clearly influenced by Pink Floyd…the opening track Soft Cheek and Worried is a homage to the Floyds early psychedelic era… They describe themselves as a band with a sound that is truly unique forgoing the standard formulas Its no surprise, then, to catch a bit of grunge influences in the music as well. Full credit is due for producing a professional sounding record and for a band who obviously know how to handle their instruments. Front-man and songwriter William Weikart clearly understands his music to be able to write such a variety of songs. A good debut effort and likely to be loved by fans of Roger Waters and company and likely to be understood by grunge kids; other music fans might find the droning guitars, abstract synthesizers and fantastical lyrics too much to be able to appreciate."

- Rachel Butler Idio Magazine September 11th, 2008

"The band finds the right balance of hard-hitting and melodic rock on "Fatih's Soul," which will catch the ear of fans of Northwest rock heroes Floater. "Psycheclectic" takes on the persona of a concept album, with deep imagery and recurring sound effects ingrained into a running theme, called "The Drip Feed." "Psycheclectic" is a good starting point for Obscured By Clouds — at least good enough to have caught the attention of Pink Floyd member David Gilmour and longtime engineer Andy Jackson, who have expressed interest in working with the band in the future.

- Ossie Bladine Vancouver Voice September 2008

"It's easy to forget in light of Floyd's gargantuan mainstream popularity, but their music originally came from truly weird, avant-garde origins. …Fortunately, the band is at its most interesting when they drop the Floyd homage and play straightforward, propulsive rock, like "Cast Close the Gate," or the Cult-like "Faith's Soul," both from their new album, Psycheclectic, which celebrates its release tonight."

- NL The Portland Mercury August 21st, 2008

"No obscuring new record. Drawing inspiration from Pink Floyd and the psychedelic music of the '60s and '70s, local band Obscured by Clouds is releasing its second album, "Psycheclectic." It features eight tracks written by William Weikart of Camas, the progressive rock group's guitarist, keyboardist and lead vocalist. This album is more layered than the group's first effort, "Bleed," (1997) said Weikart... "This has much more complexity in songwriting, (and) much more instrumentation. There is a thematic flow that runs from song to song."

- Elisa Williams The Columbian August 22nd, 2008

"Portland-based art rock band Obscured By Clouds…maintain heavy influence by psychedelic and art rock of the 60s and 70s, particularly experimental bands like Pink Floyd. The first track, Soft Cheeked and Worried, was my favorite song on the album… Much like Pink Floyd's art rock, the vocals of Weikart are slurred and dream-like, as if spoken/sang through a megaphone in an echoing empty tunnel. Combine the vocals with various electronic sound effects and synthesizers, and it becomes a brilliantly original spin on its influence. As a fan of the musical style of the Floyd, I was surprised to find that Psycheclectic had retained many of their positive elements, and how much I liked the new originality. The tracks are all masterfully orchestrated and the talent of every member of the band is obvious. Another great example of this composition mastery is demonstrated in Track 5, "Faith's Soul". …But there is no mistaking that Obscured By Clouds took the essence that made Pink Floyd so revolutionary and re-birthed it into a solidly innovative work of art, able to stand on its own. …As Weikart has stated in interviews, his purpose for starting the band was to enjoy the concept of the band together. The creative influences of the Floyd combined with the seamless synergy of the members of Obscured By Clouds make for a truly enjoyable experience in freeform art rock.

- Leslie Waara NW Noise Reviews September 24th, 2008

8:11 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Myspace Email Reply Still Not Working Week Three...
Current mood: Unable to Reply to Email

Well, I want to let you know, if I have not replied to your email -- myspace has made it impossible for me to report this problem or reply to emails... Nobody's fault except yet another form of technical negation...

- William

I will try using IE7, but the other browsers won't enable Myspace's simple email reply dysfunction...

6:50 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

SHAKESPEARE’S Sonnet 33: Obscured By Clouds
Current mood: luminous
Category: News and Politics

SHAKESPEARE'S Sonnet 33

Said to be an analogy of the sun being obscured by clouds just as the subject is taken away from Shakespeare's view by base individuals. ...Clouded Love.

Full many a glorious morning have I seen 

Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye, 

Kissing with golden face the meadows green, 

Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy;

Anon permit the basest clouds to ride
With ugly rack on his celestial face, 

And from the forlorn world his visage hide, 

Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace.

Even so my sun one early morn did shine
With all triumphant splendour on my brow;
But out, alack, he was but one hour mine;
The region cloud hath masked him from me now.

Yet him for this my love no whit disdaineth:
Suns of the world may stain when heaven's sun staineth.

2:53 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

REVIEW SUMMARIES FOR NEW CD RELEASE
Category: Music

REVIEW SUMMARIES FOR NEW CD RELEASE NOVEMBER 2008:

There is so much going on within this album that it takes many plays to fully explore the multi layers and sometimes disguised dimensions it contains. The lyrics are both exotic and erotic and explore a concept throughout the journey. The use of synthesizers conjures up some wonderful effects. The production…is first class. …Both psychedelic and eclectic drawing from not only Floyd influences but releasing those energies and letting them go on their own journey…not only rewarding but is also fascinating and compelling. It is a brave move and I feel sure that even the musicians involved were probably surprised at just how far they could take the original idea whilst being bold enough to let it grow. "Cast Close the Gate" which opens with strident guitar work before developing into an extraordinarily accomplished track underpinned by some clever and effective drumming. "Love's Love" appears with a wonderfully rich opening section and highly evocative lyrics. "The Drip Feed" which re-emerges on the tail of the album to conclude a journey exploring all avenues of not only Pink Floyd, in their many guises, but also the Obscured by Clouds musicians themselves.
- Jeff Perkins Blog Critics Magazine Published August 25, 2008.


…The album takes great inspiration from Pink Floyd, but really stands with its own persona. Each track of the concept album stands on its own… …Obscured By Clouds takes what they heard and learned from Pink Floyd and adapted it to their own play. And the thing is, these kids rock. Using "psycheclectic" as a portmanteau of "psychedelic" and "eclectic" very much describes the album itself. Like the old fable of the blind men describing an elephant by only its trunk, legs, or tail, taken at different points… …Different songs (would) be described as everything from classic rock to feedback experimentation to folk to perhaps even Celtic in its epic descriptions of landscape and emotional impact. …Masterfully rides the warbling wails of feedback. "Soft Cheeked and Worried," …flows from stark acoustic guitar emulating the barren desert with splashes of piano and moves to electric guitar playing just on the edge of feedback. The rest of the album follows suit in its own style. "Zoë Zoloft" works as an homage to Syd Barrett in a "song about a girl, a sitar, and modern pharmakinetics", creating the "sonic imagery of the splintered spokes of a broken and wobbling wheel." More mellow, almost to the point of an ode, "Love's Love" calls up images of love personified "with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment."
- Jeff Provine Blog Critics Magazine Published July 27, 2008


…Psycheclectic, 21st-century interpretation of the music of the '60s and '70s. …This five-piece has put together an eight-track concept album that seeks to recreate the glory days of Pink Floyd and Rush and to do so without any hint of irony. Obscured By Clouds certainly has a better grasp of their instruments and how to play them than most pop-rock groups on the market, and they most likely aren't hoping to make a dent on the Billboard charts with their rock epic. (Yep.) Nevertheless, dedication to the purity of their chosen art form aside, Psycheclectic is an album that will only be appreciated by those who already love the music of Geddy, Neil, Alex, David, and Roger and the deep catalogs of both those transcendent groups.
- (Music In My Ears) August 20th, 2008 at 9:50 am http://www.dryvetymeonlyne.com/category/music-in-my-ear


Band painting the town Pink... Obscured By Clouds newest CD "Psycheclectic" features dreamy meditative songs and harder rockin' tunes, and has already received airplay on such stations as KNRK and KUFO. The album veers from dreamy meditations to hard rockers, and is sure to please fans of progressive rock as well as orchestrated psychedelia. The members veer from speaking polysyllabic verbiage that makes you feel like you're at a New Age conference to suddenly cracking jokes like a bunch of junior high delinquents. Their rehearsal space is a cross between a Zen temple and a Christmas lighting display and looks like a grown-up version of the room to which you escaped as a kid, headphones on... Weikart's stellar lineup will take the stage this Friday at the Aladdin Theatre in Portland to promote Obscured By Clouds newest CD "Psycheclectic." "Every song kind of dictated its own mood," Weikart says. "Some songs are about relationships, religion, individuation …" Hold on now, will the average young popster appreciate such weighty subject matter as "individuation" set to a sound you don't hear on commercial radio much these days? "I don't find this band to be very retro," says Ian Wengs (bass), "It's kind of a whole new rebuilding of retro ideas."
- Rob Cullivan The Gresham Outlook, (Oregon) Aug 19, 2008.

6:01 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Obscured By Clouds Live at The Aladdin Theater AUG 22
Current mood: animated
Category: Music

Obscured By Clouds Live at The Aladdin Theater AUG 22! Guests: The Slants & Chris Tsefalas. AUG 21 Free show 7 PM at Music Millennium. Check out www.bscuredbyclouds.net - William

4:58 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

RADIO KNRK 94.7 Radio Portland will play our CD WED AUG 20th @ 8 PM
Current mood: luminous
Category: Music

RADIO KNRK 94.7 Radio Portland will play our CD WED AUG 20th @ 8 PM KNRK 94.7 Radio Portland will play our CD WED AUG 20th @ 8 PM. Request line: 503.733.5470 or 800.777.0947 Portland, Oregon 97239.

4:27 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

KUFO CLASSIC ROCK PORTLAND OR - Viva-La-Luna Show w/ Lisa Wood AUG 10 @ 9 PM
Current mood: thankful
Category: Music

KUFO CLASSIC ROCK PORTLAND OR - Viva-La-Luna Show w/ Lisa Wood AUG 10 @ 9 PM - 2040 SW 1st Avenue Portland, Oregon 97201. Request More Play: 800-344-5836. http://www.kufo.com/Viva-La-Luna/1147867 Thank you for promoting out show on the air for AUG 22, 2008 at the Aladdin Theater Lisa!

4:00 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Obscure By Clouds New Music Uploaded Samples -- Pending Release October 14th, 2008...
Current mood: awake
Category: Music

Obscure By Clouds New Music Uploaded Samples -- Pending Release October 14th, 2008...

Do you know a music writer at your favorite Music Magazine who likes this kind of music and genre? Our music would be Floydishly conceptual and a form of psycheclectic music...the album is mixed with very eclectic segue pieces between each song...very thematic and unique to today's formula...

Please consider sending your favorite music writer a link to our new music that is still unrelased as yet...we are gathering steam and interest...reviews are on the way along with early radio play of this unreleased new music...

We appreciate your microcosmic grass roots...join us.

Next show: August 22nd, 2008 at The Aladdin in Portland, Oregon...come hang out with us this summer.

- William

11:21 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment