(PR) Progressive Rock is alive and well and residing in Los Angeles with the eponymous debut CD release by Days Between Stations. Founded in 2003 by guitarist Sepand Samzadeh and keyboardist Oscar Fuentes, the Californians named themselves after the novel by Steve Erickson and have devoted themselves to, as they say, 'Art Rock' and 'Post Prog' music that reflects their varied influences, as well as a shared disregard for stylistic boundaries. The duo's new CD, released in October on Bright Orange Records, was engineered by Evren Goknar of the Capitol Mastering team who is best known for his work with Queensryche, Heart, Sammy Hagar and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.Although some music critics have been quick to tout the band as the new Pink Floyd, guitarist Sepand is adamant that the band's music stands on its own and Pink Floyd was barely in their mind-set when the album was conceived. Pink Floyd broke so many boundaries and introduced so many ideas, that it is near impossible not to be influenced by them
.the same would go for The Beatles.
"The influences are certainly there, but the music is Oscar and I in our purity. The range of emotions you hear are borne only from our thoughts and experiences."
It's obviously very flattering to be compared to Pink Floyd, adds Fuentes, but it's curious to me that that's all some people are hearing. We've been influenced by a lot of artists from Marillion to Nirvana to Porcupine Tree to John Coltrane to Gorecki and the music reflects that, obviously at times, but we don't try to be anyone other than Days Between Stations.
As mentioned, both Samzadeh and Fuentes have numerous influences that emerge throughout the CD, such as: Marillion, Genesis, Tangerine Dream, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Brian Eno, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Debussy, King Crimson, Bartok and countless others.
