Album Notes

"Music has the ability to reach into lives and cause reflection and change. This album has the potential to do that in a very positive way"

Frank Bramante's original compositions draw you in not only by the depth of the music but by the musical imagery portrayed. Unlike so many songwriters of today, Frank doesn't write for commercial fulfillment but rather music pours out of him like a prophet with a message that has to be delivered. His life experiences are transferred into songs that cause the listener to reflect on their own purpose and direction.

Born in New Jersey in a turbulent, intense Italian family, Frank's family headed "out west" when he was in his teens. Midst the uprooting and the need to find solace, he spent much of his youth hidden away with his guitar. Frank's love for nature and the mountains caused him to migrate to northern Idaho and eventually northwest Montana where he resides today.

After the stereo is turned off or the concert hall lights are dimmed, listeners are heard saying, "Reflective, refreshing, wow, inspiring, it takes me back to a better time, an experience..." There is no doubt that Bramante has been influenced by the music of the late 60's and early 70's. These influences are heard in his music with flowing harmonies, tasteful piano seasonings, intricate acoustic guitar, moody harmonica and strong electric guitar riffs. The sounds of the Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, America and the Eagles can be heard. Frank himself has said, "There are sounds that I love in music - a tone of a guitar or the feedback in a vintage amp that becomes so entwined in me that they musically become a part of me." The influences are there but Frank more than adds his unique style not only with instrumental precision but also with vocal accuracy.

Frank has performed Montana, as well as Washington and Idaho to rave reviews for the last 10 years, but has dedicated recent times to recording this CD, "Everything Old is New Again." Frank has spent countless hours working out of his own Lone Wolf Studio, perfecting this CD that he engineered and produced. It is a collection of music he has composed spanning 25+ years. Unlike others who would walk into an existing studio, Frank wanted to record his own CD. The first challenge was to build a working studio and then learn how to operate the various equipment in the recording process. "I have always been the kind of guy who seems to avoid the classroom if possible. I have been self taught by reading the manuals, recording publications and recording courses at home and just relied on my ears by experimenting to what sounds good. Music, like most art, is feeling. But there are a lot of music principles and physics that have to be understood but ultimately you want a certain sound," states Frank. That unique sound has been captured on this debut CD.

Not only did Frank write and record his own songs, in his own studio, he sings all the lead vocals, plays acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, piano and harmonica. He muses at the "homegrown" reality of this CD because he also handcrafted two of the acoustic 6 string guitars while working for his late friend, renowned luthier R.L Givens and jokingly adds "I even helped create the bass player and drummer." They are his sons, Jake and Josiah respectively.

Frank's early training reveals vocal purity & clarity. Time spent dedicated to exploring sounds that can be extracted from a guitar amaze the listener to Frank's prowess instrumentally. His range moves from soulful intensity as he pours himself into the music with just an acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocal to complex and intricate electric tones. In this album, Frank recorded music styles ranging from folk rock, country rock with a hint of blues - both acoustic and electric. "Everything Old is New Again" is a nice mix that is easy to listen to, thought provoking and has some mesmerizing grooves.

As noted, music has always been a central part of Frank's life as writing music allowed him to capture reflections of life through its many facets. From finding out who you are, to love, to valuable lessons and meanings of life, Frank's songs reach a broad audience. The unique interaction with his sons on stage reflects the philosophy that is entwined in his songs which seems to be lost in much of today's music culture. With the young energy and gifting of his two sons, his sound becomes enhanced and multiplied as a chord with the genetic contributions giving a greater texture.

Frank 's intricate artistry paints sincere philosophical images on the minds of a culture that has drifted away from the innocence and passion of seeking truth.