Album Notes

\"The BEST progressive rock CD I\'ve heard so far this year.\" --Greg Allen, Right Balance radio

\"SECRET SPACE is one of the most compelling instrumental prog-rock platters that I can recall.\" --Dutch Progressive Rock Page.com

\"One of the most satisfying instrumental albums of the year!\" --www.dailyvault.com

\"Strap on some headphones and prepare to take an adventurous ride on the latest from Guitar Garden\" --Pete Pardo, Sea of Tranquility.com

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If you like serious progressive guitar, then Guitar Garden is for you. On its brand-new CD, SECRET SPACE, the volume is cranked up and the beats are heavier, making for a potent and melodic instrumental experience from Guitar Garden\'s lead guitarist, Pete Prown.

“I spent a lot of the last year listening to vintage and new progressive rock bands, notably Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, and the Flower Kings,” says Prown. “That music is so melodic and cleverly arranged that it drove me to push Guitar Garden in that proggier direction. At the same time, I was also listening to vintage ’70s jazz-rock, like Return to Forever, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and those early, jazz-influenced Santana records. Those bands still blow me away. All of the this gives SECRET SPACE its unique sound...prog-fusion, for lack of a better name.”

Key tracks on the new album include the ferocious guitar rocker, “Evolution X,” which pays homage to great players like Al Di Meola and Carlos Santana in a series of blistering solos from Prown and guest guitarist, Rich Maloof. Meanwhile, the moody title track, “Secret Space (Blues for R.S.),” is an homage to Flower Kings guitarist Roine Stolt. “Roine reminded me that it’s okay to play blues guitar in a prog context. And he does it so brilliantly—he’s such a soulful player. I just had to pay him back, even just a little bit, for that bit of inspiration.”

Mastered by longtime Al Di Meola engineer Rich Tozzoli, SECRET SPACE also involves a few “surprise” tracks, like the country-flavored (and wryly titled) “Proggy Mountain Breakdown” and also “Mandolin Blue,” a refreshing track featuring an angelic mix of mandolin, echo-laden electric guitar, and lush acoustic melodies.

On the production end, Prown is especially proud of “War Echo,” which bears its space-rock influence on its sleeve, and slowly builds to a dramatic crescendo and guitar solo. There is plenty of improvisation on the album, too. “Suddenly” was composed of four improvised guitar parts, laid on top of either other, in under an hour. “Everything you hear on that song is either electric guitar or guitar synthesizer—even the piano and string parts,” says Prown.

In all, SECRET SPACE is one of the most compelling instrumental-rock platters of recent memory. Notes Prown, “When I finished the sessions, I realized that no one is making records like this anymore. Most bands seem more concerned with airplay or sales, but I decided to make a record that I would want to listen to in my free time. One that rocks, but at the same time, has strong melodies and dramatic arrangements. I think SECRET SPACE will be the blueprint for all Guitar Garden records to come.”