US rock collective BIG SCENIC NOWHERE (with members of Fu Manchu, Yawning Man, Mos Generator, The Well, plus Nick Oliveri, Alain Johannes and Per Wiberg) premiere a punchy new track today via Brooklyn Vegan. It's taken from their debut album 'Vision Beyond Horizon', out January 31 on Heavy Psych Sounds.
“Then I Was Gone” is the third excerpt of 'Vision Beyond Horizon' — a down tuned beast of fuzziness with airy melodic vocals from Ian Graham and Lisa Alley (The Well), Gary Arce on guitar, Bob Balch on guitar and bass, and Bill Stinson rocking the drums. "It’s a ripper, and you might wanna break out the lava lamp for this one" say Brooklyn Vegan.
Stream new single "Then I Was Gone" HERE
BIG SCENIC NOWHERE is the ambitious new project merging the massive riffing of Bob Balch (Fu Manchu) with the atmospheric guitars of Gary Arce (Yawning Man), also featuring high class appearance from Alain Johannes, Tony Reed (Mos Generator), Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson), Per Wiberg (ex-Opeth), Bill Stinson (Yawning Man), Nick Oliveri, Lisa Alley and Ian Graham (The Well). Debut album 'Vision Beyond Horizon' is set for release on Jnauary 31st via Heavy Psych Sounds Records.
BIG SCENIC NOWHERE 'Vision Beyond Horizon' Out January 31st on Heavy Psych Sounds - PREORDER
Anyone familiar with the terms “Stoner Rock” or “Desert Rock” have surely heard the names FU MANCHU or YAWNING MAN. While stylistically different, both bands occupy legendary status. Like many of the best things in life, the root collaboration behind Big Scenic Nowhere between guitarists Gary Arce of Yawning Man and Bob Balch of Fu Manchu started with tacos.
While the project would grow soon enough to encompass players like Tony Reed (Mos Generator), Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man), Per Wiberg (Spiritual Beggars, ex-Opeth), Bill Stinson (Yawning Man), Nick Oliveri (Mondo Generator, ex-Kyuss, etc.), Lisa Alley and Ian Graham (both of The Well), Alain Johannes (Them Crooked Vultures, Chris Cornell, Eleven) and Thomas V. Jäger (Monolord), Big Scenic Nowhere is founded on Balch and Arce tossing guitar riffs and leads back and forth, piecing together song parts one movement at a time. Jamming. Sharing music. Developing a chemistry to build something new based on their individual experiences. In this way, Big Scenic Nowhere is the heart of what collaboration should manifest. Something that grows stronger for the cohesion between those who make it happen.
Gary traveled to Bob’s place, Bob recorded the tracks and assembled what became more fluid progressions, and songs resulted, highlighting the differences of style between the two of them – Balch a fuzz-laden guitarist’s guitarist tuned to D standard, Arce a delay-drenched sonic explorer with a signature tone tuned to DAD’GAD – and the resulting cohesion from their efforts. After Balch arranged the tunes they headed into the studio to get basic tracks. Over the course of a few months musicians started to send in their contributions to the record. Vocals from Tony Reed came first, then Lisa Alley and Ian Graham from The Well and lastly Alain Johannes. Tony Reed also provided some vintage synth sounds, along with Per Wiberg, and Alain added some extra guitar parts. The end result is an album that is so dense with talent that it’s frightening. It’s a result of seasoned artists that have grown to this point. While all of their styles are different, the collaboration created a beautiful and unique album. “Vision Beyond Horizon” will echo through the ages as a document of our time, a bible to all things stoner and desert and then some. It’s a very heady album and deserves full attention. So sit back, relax, and take a trip behind the sonic curtain. Let “Vision Beyond Horizon” be your guide for years to come.