Artist description In his first PRIMAL CINEMA release titled ONE, award-winning audio/video artist JOHN FLOMER, gives us a melodically captivating and rhythmically alive electro-acoustic music experience. This visually-charged music is aggressive in it's percussive and synthesizer orchestrations, and whimsical in its clever use of plucked instruments and bells. Never reverting to repetition, the compositions offer a colorful, dynamic panorama of depth and drama - from ethereal lightness to majestic intensity. Flomer's rich and inspiring melodic themes are often challenged and deepened by invading passages of shadow and mystique.ONE is a visually-charged excursion into traditional new age/progressive rock fusion.An adventure for those who celebrate life by dream or by dare.

Music Style Electro-Symphonic Rock/New Age Fusion

Musical Influences Wendy Carlos, Vangelis, Bernard Herrmann, The Ventures, Alan Hovhaness, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Kitaro

Similar Artists categorically - Vangelis, Kitaro, Jarre, Jan Hammer, Mike Oldfield, Spotted Peccary

Artist History John Flomer composes with the hand of a visual artist whose best work achieves that delicate balance between the powers of definition and suggestion. While he may embellish his work with a moment of crystalline brilliance or haunting tribal resonance, Flomer is an artist who understands that richness can be found in a light touch as well as in a primal punch. While he considers himself first and foremost a composer and musician, Flomer's talents have found expression in other mediums, some of which have assisted his distinctly cinematic approach to music composition. After several years as guitaristand songwriter for the Minneapolis techno-band "Archangel," John enrolled at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design where he received a media arts degree in film,video, and photography.

Instruments synthesizers, samplers, percussion

Albums ONE (1991) Primal Drone (1991) Mysterious Motions of Memory (1996), Night in the Vapor Jungle (1999), Of A Stranger Light (2002)

Press Reviews Fans of John Flomer's first release on Spotted Peccary, Mysterious Motions of Memory, should be ecstatic at what I have uncovered. Before signing with the Peccaries, John Flomer recorded a debut album (as John Flomer's Primal Cinema). The album is titled "ONE" and it is simply killer music! If you liked the more dynamic electronic keyboard work on Mysterious Motions..., you're gonna love this! Once again, John showcases his completely unique use of abrupt time signature changes, evolving melodic structure, and interpolation of the quiet and gentle with the thunderous and dramatic!"ONE" (the CD) features three songs that eventually made it onto Mysterious Motions..., but it's fascinating to hear the difference between these earlier versions and what the songs became under the gaze of Spotted Peccary. The songs are "Prelude to Rising Land" (which here has an added depth and an even greater sense of playfulness, plus the keyboards are more in an EM vein than on the later album), "A Whisper in Waiting" (this follows the Peccary version closely, but the various keyboard sounds once again emphasize the EM aspect and underplays the neo-romantic side of the song; it's also more dramatic in the crescendos), and "Voices of the Dragon" (the song is recognizable but this one went through some serious changes as it migrated to the SP album; here it sparkles more and the "mythical" side of the song is brought more to the fore; also, the drama inherent in the song is much more evident).The new songs include some tremendous pieces of work. I love "Mountain Motion" which has a rapid-fire sequencer opening counterpointed by synth strings of various keys (violas and violins, perhaps). The fast tempo of the song is nicely balanced by the soaring keyboard work which takes this song in a decidedly non-Germanic direction. Those signature time/tempo shifts are here in abundance. The next song, "Muon Maru," again starts with rapid fire notes, but this time there is an element of mystery to the song. A second keyboard melody enters and the synths twinkle like a thousand cyber-fireflies. There is an underlying bass rhythm in the song that eventually builds into a thundering crescendo midsection."Reasons for Beings" may remind Peccary fans of songs by either Greg Klamt or Jon Jenkins (from Continuum). A strong neo-classic element runs through the song and the sound is full and very dramatic, even as the song ebbs and flows in intensity. This cut is unlike a lot of John's other music. It's more cinematic and sweeping in a grandeur-style at times. Also, it has some sad or melancholic textures woven into the fiber of the song. "Tribal Anthem" is a drum-happy lively number that brings together assorted synth percussion, synth vibes and high flying keyboards. This is vintage Flomer, for sure.Rounding out the album is "Machines in the Canyon" which might be the soundtrack for a chase scene in a science fiction movie, with its high speed rhythms, synths zipping in and out of the frame, and rising and falling melody lines. As with every song here, one of the things that stands out are the excellent synth drums. Whether ferocious snares, pounding bass, thundering tom-toms, or cymbals of every possible ilk, these drums really got into my bloodstream. It's hard to explain how drums that are synth-sounding can also sound so good, but they sure as hell do.If you liked John's first Peccary release, "ONE" is a sure bet, as it's very similar in feel (most of the time). But the music is also highly original (as always is the case with John). This recording is a high octane blast of EM that showcases a non-Berlin school approach to rapid fire synth music. One thing can always be said about John Flomer. His music is never pedestrian. What can be added to that comment, in the case of this CD, is that his music is also a lot of fun to listen to. If "ONE" doesn't bring a smile to your face, you're no lover of EM. - Bill BinkelmanWind & Wire On Line

Additional Info http://www.johnflomer.com

Location Minneapolis, Minnesota - USA

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