journal

More formal reviews from the progressive e-zines will be forthcoming in the coming days, weeks, and months. Below are some nice notes I've gotten in my email. Some of these people are ones I see at NEARfest every year or have had other contact with, while others I don't know at all personally.

And if are buying or already have a copy please feel free to let me know what you think of it.

Dave,

I got your CD a few days ago, and I've listened to it quite a few times
already; it's great! I particularly love the epic; the only complaint
I can give is why did you break it into 5 tracks?! (I'll just have
to combine them myself, I see... *smile*)

Anyhow, this CD will definitely be in heavy rotation for me for the next
few weeks. Thanks so much for an amazing album!

Ken

Dave!!! Thanks for the copy of the new cd that you gave to me at NF. NICE!!!! I really mean it! Very enjoyable stuff. I want to turn some friends onto it.

Good to see you again this year, too!!! See you next year!

Dale

[ed note: not my actual Uncle]
Uncle Norm from Chicago here. My Buddy Dale borrowed me your CD Notes In The Margin last night. I have played in 4 times in my office today. Very, very, nice CD.

I am buying it shortly.

Have a great weekend,

Uncle Norm

Got it! Thanks, it's great. You really achieved much greater clarity in the mix compared to the demos you posted. It's amazing. Based on your blog, it's clear that you spent a huge amount of time on it and it paid off! And I know I was skeptical of you putting vocals on your music, but in the end it works very nicely. It kind of has a Magenta feel to it in places, if you've ever listened to that band.

Congratulations on creating another excellent album. This will be in heavy rotation in my iPod!

T. R.

Posted on NewEars mailing list
My copy just arrived in the mail today, and I gave it a first spin while hanging drywall on our porch.

Very nice album. Will appeal to fans of the last two Thieves' Kitchen efforts, with a very similar vibe from the female vocals and more sedate, somber music, particularly in the ~30 minute track.

There are also some tasty and melodic instrumental workouts ala Dave's previous album Abstract Expression, which I spun last night as a refresher and found myself enjoying quite a bit. Dave does a really nice job of balancing elements and dynamics, keeping things interesting while retaining strong melodies. I recommend both these albums, and I'll enjoy exploring the new one.

Bill

Hi Dave, I received the album "Notes in the Margin" yesterday, the best I've heard this year, keep doing great music, all the best!!!! =)

Alex

Hey Dave,

I listened to the Half Past Four and your CD and both almost made me fall out of the car.

I really like the propulsion on Europa, sort of like Rush meets Ozrics...and Know Again is one of your best songs...

The theme in "the Bridge" that repeats itself at the end of the big track is really catchy, that acoustic guitar...and the riff on Lawn...great stuff.

Like this one even better than the last one. I want to play it all on the show next week, will let you know when it airs...hope you get some buzz on this one, you deserve it!

See you around...

Rick
[ed Note: Rick hosts the radio program "the Rickter Scale" on Delicious Agony]

Posted on Tangerine Dream message board

- Dave Kulju : Notes in the Margin.
Underrated American multi-instrumentalist (guitars, keyboards and drums) who did two albums with his instrumental band Electrum, and a previous instrumental solo album... all available on www.cdbaby.com

This one mixes space rock, Rush influences (very noticeable in Electrum's music), classical music influences, folk. This one features a very good female vocalist on a very long suite in 5 parts. This is progressive rock ... but not the usual prog rock. Very well-produced, anyway. He is a good pianist and guitar player, with a versatile style, lyrical, acoustic, heavy... . Dave uses a few great orchestral samples and spacey futuristic textures, plus the inevitable bit of mellotron !

Marc

Listening Now! Beautifully done Dave!
What an honour!

Thank you
so glad my poems found their way to your music.

warmly
Amanda
[ed Note: Amanda wrote the poems the lyrics for A Poet's Talespin are based on]