Mu
Richard Pinhas & Barry Cleveland with Michael Manring & Celso Alberti
Cuneiform Records (2016)

 

“Similes of a scenic tour into a Black Hole star with grooving pulses come to mind. Hence, the guitarists’ streaming and phase shifting notes and the rhythm section’s undulating cadences along with melodic overtones and ghostly apparitions are other sensations that prevail throughout the production … Think of space rock with a college education as the band paints a dexterous, intertwining sonic-scape from start to finish.” —Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

“Mu is an entirely improvised, yet extremely focused effort that explores the intersections between myriad genres and influences … Incredibly strong stuff.” —Anil Prasad, Innerviews

“This cinematic collection of tone poems … evokes strange and alluring terrains of atmospheric imagery. It’s the perfect sonic partner for those days when you just want to look out a window at something beautiful.” —Michael Molenda, Guitar Player

“Mu is fearlessly powerful, rich, and HUGE—the sounds of heavy metal jazz meeting electronic maximalism, guitars as freed by Jimi Hendrix in orchestrations rivaling Led Zeppelin’s, rock-solid drumming supporting it all. The effect is oceanic.” —Howard Mandel, Jazz Beyond Jazz

“Nothing short of a masterpiece, beginning to end.” —Peter Thelen, Exposé Online

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Hologramatron
Moonjune Records (2010)

An avant-rock 21st Century protest album featuring Robert Powell, Michael Manring, Celso Alberti, and Amy X Neuburg, with Harry Manx, Deborah Holland, Erdem Helvacioglu, Artist General, Rick Walker, and Gino Robair.

“There are a handful of albums in my life that hit me the way this album did. For me it sits in a small group of very special musical experiences: David Byrne and Brian Eno’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, Bill Bruford’s Feels Good to Me, NIN’s Downward Spiral, and King Crimson’s Discipline.” —Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie, The Cure)

“A fantastic, essential rock album. Several of its ten mini-epics explore the precarious state humanity finds itself at the present moment, with deep insight, humor, and wit—not to mention some ferocious playing from an avant all-star ensemble.” —Anil Prasad, Innerviews

“An imaginative progressive rock-oriented release … The songs are rich in sonic texture, and with panoptic social political messages that require a close listen … a delightful milestone.” —Mark Redlefsen, All About Jazz 

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Volcano
Supersaturated Records (2004)
An explosive mixture of African and Afro-Haitian rhythms and progressive, jazz, ambient, and world music elements, featuring Michael Manring, Michael Pluznick, Norbert Stachel, Michael Masley, and other outstanding artists.

“A series of rhythm-based pieces that draw on inspirations from a multitude of sources to create a sonic landscape that becomes an entity unto itself. It’s an album that leans towards Eastern harmonies and yet clearly comes from players with a Western background. And, in the end, it’s an appealingly multilayered aural experience that continues to reveal new things with every listen.” —John Kelman, All About Jazz

“Cleveland’s third album as a leader finds the renowned guitarist and composer exploring the nuances of rhythm. Drawing from a varied palette of traditions, timbres and tonalities, Volcano bridges the impressionist leanings of his previous releases with a more audacious, kinetic approach. Listeners will appreciate the disc’s pulsing rhythms, inter-weaving melodies, and layers of evocative atmospheres.” —Anil Prasad, Innerviews

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Memory & Imagination
Supersaturated Records (2003)
This double-CD compilation contains the best of Cleveland’s Mythos and Voluntary Dreaming albums, six guitar and percussion pieces from 1992, two ambient guitar pieces from 1981, and an entirely improvised solo guitar piece recorded live on the Echoes radio program. Featured artists include Michael Pluznick, Michael Masley, Robert Powell, Kat Epple, Bob Stohl, and Carl Weingarten.

“”Much of Cleveland’s music doesn’t sound like the work of your conventional guitarist at all, but rather a far-reaching compositional visionary who uses whatever instruments and processes necessary to achieve his ends.” —Peter Thelen, Expose’

“I was immediately struck by the prominence of percussion and world music influences on several of the tracks, elements that have apparently informed Cleveland’s work through the years. The effects and sound processing that made Volcano such an interesting and beautiful experience are present, though the earlier music is characterized by more mellow, floating journeys, with a powerful ambient soundscape element.” —Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations

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Voluntary Dreaming
Scarlet Records (1990)
Originally slated for release on the Audion Recording Company, this disc has a more electronic feel than than Cleveland’s other albums. It features Michael Pluznick (acoustic and electronic percussion), Michael Masley (bowhammer cymbalom), Robert Powell (pedal-steel guitar), and Anastasia Johnson (soprano voice).

“The contrasting balance of electronics, the old European earthiness of the cymbalom, the familiar croon of pedal-steel guitar, and the global percussion mix gives Voluntary Dreaming a depth that one finds all too rarely. The song sequence holds the varying styles together and rewards the listener with a challenging, compelling listen.” —Richard Price, BAM

“Voluntary Dreaming is an intricate, multi-layered work full of subtleties and inventiveness, an imaginative blend of unusual instrumentation, delicate textures, bright rhythms, and plenty of inspiration.” —Lloyd Barde, AllMusic

All but one of the tracks on Voluntary Dreaming are included on the 2-CD compilation Memory & Imagination.

Mythos
Audion Recording Company (1986)
Supersaturated Records (2012 Remaster)
One of the debut releases on Larry Fast’s Audion Recording Company, Mythos combines layers of guitar with Michael Masley’s otherworldly bowhammer cymbalom and Bob Stohl and Kat Epple’s woodwinds, synths, and light percussion.

Chosen as one of The 25 Best New Age Compact Discs (alongside such other “new age” albums as Dark Side of the Moon, Autobahn, Dig It, and Thursday Afternoon.)
—Stereo Review 1987 Compact Disc Buyer’s Guide

“The five hypnotic songs on Mythos engender a dreamy tranquility, yet remain interesting enough to hold your attention. Obscure ethnic instruments ground the guitar/synthesizer songs with an ancient earthiness.” Performance: 8 Sound: 10  —CD Review

“Cleveland himself does everything but play the guitar straight; he uses Ebow, violin bows, Thumbo, and Bowhammers to elicit long droning chords from his instrument. Side two is a 19-minute Frippertronics loop, with flutes, bells, and cymbalom floating in and out. Very empyrean.”—Electronic Musician

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Stones of Precious Water
Deep Tracks (Restored and remastered 2014)
Originally recorded 1981-1983
An experimental ambient album representing Cleveland’s first forays into multi-track recording, and featuring Bob Stohl (flute, synths, Lyricon), Kat Epple (flute, synths, voice, bells), and Kathy House (voice).

 

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