BARRY CLEVELAND

“Barry Cleveland takes his music to another dimension with Hologramatron. His compositions, arrangements, and guitar work are a fusion of fusions, as he masterfully treads into ambient, avant-garde metal, psychedelia—even protest music. And the layers of sonic energy that emerge are wondrous."
—Michael Dregni, Vintage Guitar
“This is 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 … Proficient technique commands attention throughout the entire CD, alongside Cleveland's writing, and arranging. The songs are rich in sonic texture, with panoptic social political messages that require a close listen … a delightful milestone from an artist with much more yet to say.”
—Mark Redlefsen, All About Jazz
“Cleveland stitches world fusion, ambient, avant metal, and psychedelia together into a glorious progressive tapestry. This is pretty amazing stuff, and one of the better prog releases this year.” (Score: 15/16)
—Warren Barker, Progression

“Hologramatron has really bowled me over, so much so that yesterday I had to remain sitting in the car long after I arrived at my destination and long after the complete album had finished playing … An artistic rock album in the best sense of that term, with multilayered influences … Exciting from start to finish … Honestly, this year I have not heard a better album.”
—Sal Pichireddu, Babyblaue-Seiten

“In other news, I recently received a copy of Barry Cleveland’s Hologramatron, new on Moonjune Records. I listened to it five times yesterday, and serial listening is rare for me. While it is not overtly avant, I think it is a great release.” (Pick of the Week)
—Mike Borellas, Avant Music News

“Layers and layers of ominous energies float and coruscate, wilding lines flit and glow, the entire affair brings back the halcyon era of Vitamin L and Mary Jane, nights given to opium dreams and cloudtripping. Cut right away to ‘You'll Just Have to See it to Believe,’ dive into the swirling patterns and wormholes, and you'll find it hard not to replay the cut ten times in a row.”
—Mark S. Tucker, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange

"Art rock with passionate intensity, like a rude new beast with Robert Fripp's body and the roaring head of Phil Ochs slouching towards Bethlehem to be born … This album yells "Theater!" in a crowded fire."
—Billy Sheppard, Billy’s Bunker

"Strong compositions always yield the winning formula. Cleveland triumphantly morphs a King Crimson-like aura with drifting themes into a mobile wall of sound to complement off-kilter deviations and world-beat treatments. The guitarist also incorporates melodic hooks into the grand schema. Simply stated, Hologramatron is an unforeseen revelation for 2010."
– Glenn Astarita , eJazz News

"I like this album a lot. It has a lot of modern progressive rock mixed with space rock and many other sounds built into the musical tapestry. I would definitely expect this disc to make it into my top ten albums of 2010 list. If you like adventurous, yet accessible, modern progressive rock, then you really need to check this out. It’s among the best."
—Gary Hill, Music Street Journal

“Cleveland's guitar work [on Hologramatron] is exceptional and vital to these songs. Whether he is cranking out metal riffs, creating atmospheric layers of sound or finessing melodic leads, it is all top notch … I guarantee you will not be disappointed.” Score: 4/5.
—Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility
“Ominous arrangements that betray hints of everyone from Robert Fripp to Tool to (even) the Residents abound on the disc, but they’re somehow presented in an accessible fashion. Hologramatron is an effective collection/synthesis of folk-protest song, rhythmic/textural explorations, soundscapes and inventive reinterpretations of classic songs from half a century ago.”
—Bill Kopp, MusicScribe

“A masterful blend of mainstream sensibilities, socially-aware lyrics, intriguing atmospheres and stunning instrumental and vocal performances, this is a unique album that is warmly recommended to progressive music fans ... definitely one of the top releases of the year.”
—Raffaella "Progmistress" Berry, Fire of Unknown Origin

“I'm sure he'd acknowledge a debt to Robert Fripp and the Guitar Craft school, though this is merely a starting point with nods to David Gilmour and Steve Tibbetts also visible in Cleveland's facile and evocative fretwork ... I commend Cleveland for having the guts to tackle sensitive political topics, as well as his ongoing instrument explorations. That this album also sounds great is gravy."
—Paul Hightower, Expose

“The music offers a blend between jazz-rock and alt-rock. Nice textural work, good vocal arrangements, interesting melodies. I WILL try to get to know Barry Cleveland’s work better after listening to this surprising Hologramatron.”
—François Couture, Les Services rédactionnels Manche de pelle

"I seriously doubt you've heard a CD as powerful as this one of late … Cleveland is totally unique and doesn't conform (in any way shape or form) to what your aural vision is for what a guitarist should sound like … Hologramatron gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, with an ‘EQ’ (energy quotient) rating of 4.97.”
—Rotcod Zzaj (Dick Metcalf), Improvijazzation Nation

“Hologramatron will appeal to prog fans on a number of levels. There will be some who really get off on the musicianship, others will really like the unique sounds and in that regard there is much to recommend. Barry Cleveland has created what is perhaps his most proggy set of tunes that has much in common with aertists like Peter Gabriel and Tony Levin, so if you are craving something a bit different this would be a really good place to start."
—Jerry Lucky, The Progressive Rock Files

"A listen to this CD is like pacing around a sharp-angled glass structure and watching the rainbow of colours morphing based on where you’re standing. You’re never quite sure what you’re going to experience next."
—Peter Hodgson, I Heart Guitar

“Buy it for 'Stars of Sayulita' and enjoy it for all the rest."
—Doug Morrissey, Prog Rock Music Talk

“Hologramatron is a fine progressive rock album. Recommended listening. I enjoyed every minute of it."
—UniMuta, United-Mutations Blogspot