Podcasts!

Astronomusic

Zózimo Rech and Adrianne Simioni have combined their efforts under the name Astronomusic. The cover artwork may suggest new age, but both musicians play guitar as well as keyboards and both combine synth music and instrumental progressive rock unlike anyone else.

Unlike some electronic musicians who have little formal training or experience in bands, Rech and Simioni have both, and they certainly can play. In addition to time spent in rock and fusion bands, they were both in Orquestra Profana in the early 1990's, an ensemble dedicated to the interpretation of classical music with electric and electronic instruments.

Zozimo Rech

The Life of a Star is by and large a loud, bombastic progressive rock album that uses a lot of synths, but electric guitar prevails. It was recorded back in 1997 but not released until 2006.

Pictures of a Solar System (2006)is considered the sequel. This one has some electric guitar and some rock but is more of a symphonic/melodic/rhythmic synth album along the lines of Synergy, though with higher energy, and sometimes touching upon the style of Fonya. It is compositionally the more mature album.

Adrianne Simioni

Simioni plays electric and acoustic guitar and electric violin. Rech has arranging, co-arranging, and/or co-writing credits on all the songs on her 2006 album The Intelligible Sky, produced the album, and took care of the keyboards and sequencers. It is an album that is more progressive rock than synth music. It has more than enough energy and complexity for progressive rock fans, yet is full of sophisticated synth textures, both symphonic and spacey.

The drums on all these albums are programmed, but they are well done; a human drummer would not have added much.

The booklet for Pictures of a Solar System is particularly beautiful, 24 full-color panels featuring astronomy images created by Frank Hettick. Progressive rock fans should probably start with The Intelligible Sky, synth music fans with Pictures of a Solar System, but those open to both prog rock and synth music will find great music on any of these.

GETTING MARRIED!!

Also, wonderful news! Zozimo and Adrianne will be married on September 18, 2009! Please help us provide them with congratulations and well wishes!