Artist description dark alternative rock w/female vocals

Music Style gothic ethereal rock,

Musical Influences Siouxsie, Nico, Dead Can Dance, Fields of Nephalim, Ennio Morricone

Similar Artists Faith & The Muse, Sky Cries Mary, Hooverphonic, Heather Nova

Artist History In the tradition of The Creatures, Dead Can Dance and Led Zeppelin, Amber Spyglass invokes a variety of sounds and rhythms from world music and dark-rock sub-genres. From the Kashmir-like riffs of Catalyst Groove and Nu-Metal leanings of Higher to the flamenco influenced Pearls of Blue and the succinct ethereal pop of Hand In Position exists a common thread which is the seductive vocals of Kelly Godshall accompanied by a chameleon of guitar, John DeGregorio. Since forming in 2000, Amber Spyglass has played only a handful of shows to Bostons underground music scene. Having recently come off a couple of tours including stops in Austin TX(SXSW), Tampa FL, Tallahasse FL and Charlottesville VA, they're now gearing up for the release of their first full-length LP in Sept '03 and a west coast tour. The group is also available for wine-tastings, Beltane parties, private film-screenings and soundtrack work :-)

Group Members Kelly Godshall - vox, John DeGregorio - guitars, samples

Instruments vox, acoustic & electric guitars, Yamaha A5000 sampler, Korg XR, flute, bass, drums

Albums Amber Spyglass (self-titled debut EP CD)

Press Reviews Starvox magazine - Nov 2001 ~reviewed by Matthew~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bostons Amber Spyglass takes an interesting approach to alternative/gothic music. They succeed in keeping the listener on their toes and blend genre specific elements found in post rock and college alternative, not to mention a brief, tasteful, and controlled dabbling into progressive metal. The band does a good job at sounding fresh and stands apart from other bands performing similar styles. The band is a primarily a duo, the creative core of the band being vocalist Kelly Godshall and guitarist John DeGregorio. Her vocals are deeper, reminding me a bit of Anneke from The Gathering and other strong alto vocalists. The guitar and bass work has a slightly bluesy approach at times, and other times the music meshes together beautifully to create an almost psychedelic hypnotism. This is Goth with a decidedly different kind of groove, but perhaps only because I am probing so deep into the constructs of the music. The overall result is extremely listenable and catchy. The opening track Higher reminds me of the surreal exotica of Norwegian cult act 3rd & The Mortal, with a suspenseful build up to a climactic and the unexpected metallic aggression I mentioned earlier to draw the song to its close. The third track Going Down is a more down tempo and swirly track, with a nice variation to the vocals, expressing both the lower and higher abilities of Ms. Godshalls range. Simple To Say is carried by a strong bass line and some jazzy percussion, jangley guitars, and twinkling pianos. This is a very nice, laid back and sophisticated song. The closing track Creep is probably the song most firmly rooted in the classic rock/psychedelic tradition, with some interesting flute passages that I could not help but think of Jethro Tull. But this is obviously much darker and more Goth friendly. Amber Spyglass is a tight and vastly talented band. I imagine elder Goths, with a penchant toward more depressive plain-clothes college rock of the mid to late 80s and early 90s would be a good audience for this. But then again, any lover of female vocals and good musicianship will consider this a treasure as well. This debut EP is available through Projekts Darkwave store as well as Amazon.com. This is definitely worth checking out.

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Location Boston, MA - USA

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