| Description: | The Dark Aether Project has been an ever-mutating musical entity since the concept for the group first revealed itself to multi-instrumentalist Adam Levin during an early Spring 1997 weekend of work with the Seattle Guitar Circle - a group that traces its origins to the work of King Crimson mainstay Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft seminars.
The first solid lineup featuring Levin on Chapman Stick/Loops, Yaman Aksu on guitar and Brian Griffin on Drums made its performance debut on November 2 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland. This trio recorded the group's self-titled debut CD during a weekend recording session in January of 1998. The CD featured guest vocalist Jason Wilson on three songs. Wilson performed in concert with the band during their 1998 concert schedule which saw them touring with several well known European and US based artists.
In the late summer of 1998, Wilson was replaced by Ray Weston (Echolyn). During this time Levin switched from Stick to a custom built 8 string touchstyle guitar built by luthier Mark Warr of Warr Guitars. The band's second CD Feed the Silence was released in March of 1999 featuring the addition of keyboards to the band's sound, two songs featuring Weston's vocals and a guest appearance by German Warr Guitarist Markus Reuter (Europa String Choir).
During touring following the release of Feed the Silence, drummer Allen Brunelle (Iluvatar) and guitarist Steev Geest (Solaris Guitar Trio/Fingerpaint) replaced Griffin and Aksu. The revamped lineup made their debut at the 5th Annual Progday International Progressive Rock Festival held on Sep 4-5 1999, representing the US amongst several international acts. |