Astral (band)
Encyclopedia
Astral is a dream pop
group based in San Francisco, California
. Astral was formed by singer-guitarist
Dave Han and drummer
Shawn in 1999; bassist
Amy Rosenoff joined them in 2001. Their vocals are frequently compared to those of The Cure
; other influences include My Bloody Valentine and Joy Division
. Their music is of an ethereal, melodic nature; this ambient sound is created largely by heavy use of distortion
and feedback effects
in Han's guitar. Astral are also notable for incorporating improvisation into their live performances. In 2002, Astral released a self-produced EP, "Only Sometimes". In 2003, Astral released an LP, entitled "Orchids". Two songs from that album, "Raining Down" and the title-track instrumental
, were preloaded in the Rio Carbon
MP3 Players. In 2008 the band released their second album Sleepwalker.
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
group based in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Astral was formed by singer-guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Dave Han and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Shawn in 1999; bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Amy Rosenoff joined them in 2001. Their vocals are frequently compared to those of The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
; other influences include My Bloody Valentine and Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
. Their music is of an ethereal, melodic nature; this ambient sound is created largely by heavy use of distortion
Distortion
A distortion is the alteration of the original shape of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. Distortion is usually unwanted, and often many methods are employed to minimize it in practice...
and feedback effects
Audio feedback
Audio feedback is a special kind of positive feedback which occurs when a sound loop exists between an audio input and an audio output...
in Han's guitar. Astral are also notable for incorporating improvisation into their live performances. In 2002, Astral released a self-produced EP, "Only Sometimes". In 2003, Astral released an LP, entitled "Orchids". Two songs from that album, "Raining Down" and the title-track instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
, were preloaded in the Rio Carbon
Rio Carbon
The Rio Carbon is a line of digital audio players that was produced by the now defunct Rio from 2004 to 2005. It was similar in size, capacity, and cost with Apple's iPod Mini which debuted earlier the same year...
MP3 Players. In 2008 the band released their second album Sleepwalker.
Original Lineup
- Dave Han - Vocals, Guitars
- Shawn - Drums, Percussion
- Amy Rosenoff - Bass (currently bass player for Veil Veil Vanish)
Discography
- Only SometimesOnly SometimesOnly Sometimes is the first EP from the San Francisco-based dream pop group Astral, released in 2002. The EP was self-produced and the first recording that the band released. The EP charted on some college radio stations. It is considered indicative of the direction that the group would take...
(EP) 2002 - Second Stitch (EP) 2002
- OrchidsOrchids (Astral album)Orchids is the debut album of dream pop band Astral. It contained ten songs and was released in 2003. The title track, Orchids, is a highly melodic instrumental slightly reminiscent of space rock...
2003 - Transmitter (EP) April 2007
- Turn Me Around (7" single) 2002
- Sleepwalker 2007
- A Lullaby from Amsterdam (7" single) 2008
- Excerpts from Down the Rabbit Hole (EP) 2010
- Forever After 2010