“…The kind of music I wish I was doing…”
TONY BANKS

“The CD is a fantastic trip and every time that I've played it the journey has been always different.
It's a simple, but grand concept album in the style of the generous and magical early seventies, when people like Bowie, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, VDGG and Floyd made me dream in the combination of art and music.”
ARMANDO GALLO

“A compelling freshness and originality and a fantastic voice.
The best thing I’ve heard for years.”
PHIL COLLINS

“Cerulean Blue is a contemporary masterpiece. An album that mixes exquisite music, emotional poetry, human nature in two of its most extreme but common views (the optimism of a youngster that is discovering a colourful world / the pessimism and bitterness of an older man that has lost all hope in life). All this is done with mysticism and utter brilliance.”
NUNO LOURENCO

“A wonderful album. I’d almost gave up looking for quality modern progressive music until a fan (of mine and yours) sent me your album. Love the production and (quite rarely these days) your voice makes me want to listen again and again.”
BRUCE SOORD
(Pineapple Thief)

“Thank you for this GLORIOUS music!!!!
An incredibly tasteful blend between beautifully-wrought lyrics and music”
FRED LESSING

“There is nothing in my CD collection I could compare it to. This is art rock at its finest!”
ERIC BAILLARGEON
(New Ears)

“Oh god this album is so wonderous. It fills me with awe, joy, and sadness in turn every time I listen to it. The last song and Rick's final monologue is incredibly moving for me.

It's one of the most emotionally involving albums I've heard.”
ARAN
(New York)

“This is a little gem of an album. Rain has a tremendous singing voice. The production is superb. Rain is a very talented guy who has achieved what he wanted to achieve: a truly progressive album. At times the string section make the music seem like a chamber piece, whilst the choral sections add otherworldliness. Elsewhere the rock music is very melodic and excellently crafted. Overall, quite stunning.”
REVIEW – CRS MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2005

“Profoundly beautiful and totally engrossing.”
ANDY DE EMMONY
(Bafta Award winning director of Canterbury Tales, Father Ted, Red Dwarf etc)

“Emotional music that is beautiful and refined with a sumptuous voice. Redraws the contours of progressive music while bringing pop colours to the genre… Very beautiful packaging… The strong points of the disc lie in the beauty of the voice and the arrangements and the intense emotions that are conveyed to the listener”
REVIEW - WWW.PROGRESSIA.NET - EDITORS CHOICE

“Cerulean Blue is outstanding. No album has been more creative and outlandish in its musical ideas and concept within the past five years. Solo artist Rain outdoes himself with lush harmonies, brilliant arrangements, thick, deep-rooted conceptual philosophies.
Rain approaches Cerulean Blue, a concept album, in a graceful way, taking special care to construct mood with music while developing the plot with lyrics and narration and the concept itself is uniquely unscathed by the grandiose clichés that dominate the typical "rock opera."
Cerulean Blue is crafted in a way that sets it apart from concept albums and progressive rock in general. The independent music scene has not seen anything as incredible since the debut of Spock's Beard.”
REVIEW - WWW.PROGRESSIVEEARS.COM

“Cerulean Blue is truly unlike anything I’ve ever heard.”
TOM MacMILLAN
(Tollbooth.org)

“After reading several reviews I felt that this should be something very special. YES, IT IS!! During the first session I was quickly touched by the breathtaking beauty of this CD, what an emotional experience! One moment you feel fragile and alienated, the other moment you feel warm and safe, like in a womb. All seven compositions start with narration, followed by atmospheric music, embellished with wonderful musical ideas. THIS IS PURE, MOVING AND VERY ORIGINAL!!”
ERIK NEUTEBOOM
(Background Magazine Netherlands)

“The most beautiful music I have heard this year”
FRODE GARNES
(Norway)

“Probably my greatest discovery of the year. One of my more beautiful surprises since Radiohead’s “Kid A” or even Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”. The narration is so outstanding that you feel a certain sadness when the CD finishes. Moreover, the marketing (with the free download) is brilliant!”
JEAN DOYON

“An outstanding album that will have a huge emotional impact on all who hear it... This album is pure musical honey... I was knocked out by it - it is something very unique that I haven't heard before...I really enjoyed the musical soundscape and imagery that it conjured up - thank you for such an amazing album.”
SHANE CARLSON

“Thank you for your wonderful music....I’m so glad I found it.”
KEN STOKES
(Canada)

“I simply *have* to tell you how refreshingly wonderful the music is - it brings tears to my eyes with each listening! It's not an understatement to say that I am in love with this album...”
PAUL GREENWOOD

“A truly amazing work of art and a brilliant way to market it. I am spreading the word about Cerulean Blue to everyone I can.”
WILLIAM HALLEY

“I have fallen in love with this album, believe me. It is intoxicatingly beautiful and poetical - one of the most enchanting records that I have heard over the past years. The music, the poetry and the singing - the things that I cherish most - have been accomplished particularly well on this album. Especially the lyrics, an often neglected (and negligible) component, were crafted with great care. But Cerulean Blue offers more than this: the arrangements, choirs and composition with their references to chamber music are simply beautiful, in fact so beautiful that they literally intoxicate me, taking me on a 'musical road movie'. If there were still a mass market today for music like this, I'd bet on Rain for this year's 'next big thing'.”
SAL PICHIREDDU
(Review – BabyBlaue Seiten, Germany)

“Appreciate full download, made me decide to buy this masterpiece (indeed!).”
ARTHUR HAGGENBERG

“The fantastic voice of Rob Brown as the narrator is enough to give you goose bumps alone. Rain’s vocals are perfect to tell the action in lyrical glory. As Rick’s post card from San Diego “…That’s the real problem with the pursuit of happiness, the pursuit does not bring happiness”. Wow, then you have these wonderful violin, viola, and cello bridges that make you want to cry. There are some parts that hint of early Alan Parsons, maybe a taste of early King Crimson and tons of ethereal guitars that seem 100% recognizable while you never can really put your finger on if you really have ever heard anything like it before. The music gets more and more captivating with each movement and surely the listener is drawn deeper and deeper into the world Rain has wrought. A wonderful tapestry of classically styled progressive rock but it is much, much more than that. The music is almost a back drop to the story and the narration and frankly I love it. It is a great departure from both all instrumental CD’s and even traditional CD’s with lyrics. The CD at one moment fits like a glove and then the next you get all tingly and feel like someone from a fourth or fifth or even sixth dimension has just walked by you. You see nothing but a cold emotion filled breeze just flushed your cheeks. I can only speak for myself but I really like this CD even though it does not in any way “fit” into what I might normally have had anything to do with. It is truly something different if not new at all. You’ll pick up musical memories right before they are swept from your mind. Truly excellent.”
Rating: 9.5 of 10
STEPHEN ELLIS
Review music4U

“Simply amazing… wow!”
“Every now and then an album comes by that totally blows my mind and that is certainly the case with “Cerulean Blue”. With his angelic voice, RAIN and his cast of top musicians have written some simply beautiful music.”
“I must say Rain has a great voice – truly a gift.”
JAMES UNGER

“I absolutely love Cerulean Blue and am airing songs on each air-shift, talking up the project to very appreciative listeners. You've got a winner there, my friend!”
“I honestly believe what you and several artists like you are doing is breaking ground to a whole new genre of music.”
KENNY SOLOMON
(Progressive Soundscapes Radio)

“Thank YOU, Rain! One of the greatest gifts in this world is music. I love concept albums, and this one is as well put together as any I have ever heard. Considering the company that puts you in, I can give no higher praise! The song "Jerusalem" is one of my favourites, I can't stop playing it!
Thanks again for giving me a chance to hear this great work, and I look forward to future endeavours from you.”
DOUG LEBLANC
(Canadian Progressive Music Society)

“Very nicely constructed, intelligent music and an intriguing blend of influences. Also liked the vocal a lot.”
BILLY BUDIS
(Kudos Management – Steve Hackett)

“Stunning!!! I am off to buy right now!
Thanks to Rain for such a shimmering and gorgeous piece of work.”
CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOU
(Etherfysh)

“You have produced a fantastic album there my friend! Just finished listening to it properly and it’s transcended any pigeon hole I’ve tried to place it in.”
TIM MARTINDALE

“I've listened to it at least 5 times now, ignoring several other promo CD's I've received. Cerulean Blue is just wonderful. I love the music, the narration and the quality of the studio work. I even love the packaging and cover art. I laughed out loud when I realized that you used the opening Mellotron chords of "Watcher of the Skies" for "Light and Magic", and even have a voice (which old SF movie is that anyway?) saying "Watch the Skies!" at the end just so I know it was no accident.
But what really makes it for me is the story. I've been a "spiritual seeker" all my life too, like Rick. When I was younger, I would have taken a "spiritual journey" like Rick if I had only had the guts to do so. But now I'm old Mr. Jaeger, too old to climb Mount McKinley any more (yes, I recognized it in the photo on the table in the "Ashes" film also, what a great bonus track to add to the CD). I hadn't guessed until the end that Rick ********* (the dénouement of the story!). Great story-telling!
Cerulean Blue is great, and I intend to bump it to the head of the line for review in the GEPR. If I was to go in the normal sequence, I'm currently reviewing CD's I received 2 years ago ... I get more CD's every month than I can possibly review, so they stack up. However, when I get a gem like Cerulean Blue, I bump it to the head of my queue and it gets a mention in the "Editor's Choice" section on the front page of the Gibraltar Encyclopaedia.
By the way, I put on Cerulean Blue for my wife last week as we were driving home from a dinner. She made me bypass our freeway off-ramp and keep going just so we could stay in the car long enough to finish the album (we were in the middle of Parsifal - track two - at the time). That's high praise!
FRED TRAFTON
(Gibraltar Encyclopaedia of Progressive Rock)

“I ordered your CD a few days ago and just got it in the mail here in eastern USA (Vermont). Amazingly fast delivery! I must say I'm very blown away by your work. It's one of the best new things I've heard in quite a while. The production, mix, feel, playing are all top notch and it really draws me in. During a certain section in "Jerusalem" I felt like I was starting to switch consciousness.
That's what MUSIC is all about.”
ANDREW ROBINSON
( Magus)

“This record is TERRIFIC. I discovered it in at the 'official' Genesis discussion boards. People were asking about the music that Steve Hackett was featuring before his recent acoustic concerts. Well the artist himself (Rain, not Steve) chimed in and informed everyone of the details.
Anyway, Cerulean Blue tells the story of a young man's journey across America. the music is intense and emotional. The narration between songs sets the mood perfectly, and the resolution is powerful and heartfelt. Yes, it's great prog, but it's also great music. CHECK IT OUT!

I’m nuts about the record and can’t wait to get the “hard copy”. Here's a story: my friend Dave got me into Genesis many years ago. I sent him this message about Cerulean Blue:
"How many times have we heard the question (or even asked it ourselves) - What band out there today is like old Genesis? What band makes me feel like I feel when I listen to Foxtrot? Well, RAIN may not have the same musical histrionics that you hear from the great 70's prog, but the feeling, that feeling, is there, I mean it's really there. This is currently Hackett's pre-show music and it's creating a bit of a buzz at the shows because it's so f***ing good. The 'hook' is that one of the songs quotes 'Watcher of the Skies', but it's no gimmick. This is the best record I've heard in quite some time.”
So he calls me the other day to thank me for recommending the record. He was hungering for something GREAT and had read a review of the new The Mars Volta CD. Without having heard any of it, he imagined it to be quite proggy. Well, I'm not about to say anything bad about other musicians, especially when they're pushing themselves to do something different and special - BUT - The Mars Volta is not really our cup of tea. So how thrilled was Dave when he starting listening to your stuff. So different from the record he had just purchased - and so much better.
Personally, I keep coming back to the feel. It's this thing I can't put my finger on, but it really strikes a chord. Maybe it's the fine mix of a pastoral calm with the drama of, I don't know, 'becoming' (for lack of a better word).”
MICHAEL POMERANTZ
(Philadelphia)

“In general I listen to heavy and progressive music but I’ve never heard anything like this. Your music grabs me and carries me away to other spheres. There is everything in this music – grief, pleasure, fear, boldness, love. Under this music I can wake up, dream, go to bed. I’ve never heard anything similar to this. I will wait impatiently for more of such magic music.”
PAUL
(Israel)

“We have already been giving it airplay and the response has been excellent. It’s a great album!”
DON CASSIDY
(DAPR Radio)

“I love it! It’s been on my CD auto-changer since I got it.”
SIMON FUNNELL
(www.genesis-movement.org)

“I've enjoyed the wonderful reader comments over Rain's album, Cerulean Blue
and based on the samples, purchased the record. It's heartening to hear
other artists creating work in earnest that is thoughtful and
provocative.”
FRITZ DODDY

“I've got it! - Actually received it on Monday the 18th. I'm enjoying this music a lot. The mini-LP sleeve is cool, too. Congratulations on the Hackett exposure. Your music definitely gives me a Hackett-like vibe, even though it doesn't SOUND like Steve, so I think it would be very appropriate to intro into a Hackett show. I hope this will be a great success for you and that you'll want to continue to produce great music.”
SCOTT OLSON

“News of an album called CERULEAN BLUE by a new artist known as Rain has been spreading like fire around prog rock web groups. I just thought I'd pass the info around here.
If you like early Genesis, you'll love this album. Phil Collins has been raving about Rain non-stop.
The concept has something to do with a man's travels across America. Definitely check it out.”
“UNCLE HIPPIE”
(www.recordcollectorsguild.org)

“Have played the CD every day and yes… it’s brilliant!”
ANDREW RIPPON

“The CD arrived here in Oz a couple of days ago. I won't spoil the story, but I will say that I found the ending (and no, I hadn't guessed) surprisingly moving and absolutely in keeping with the music.
This is a special piece of work, Rain. Congratulations. Keep us up to date with where you go from here.”
JOHN DRAYTON
(Queensland, Australia)

“Makes everything else I hear at the moment sound like noise.”
PHIL BYRD

“Killer CD!!!!! It's a very unique piece… Very impressed...very VERY impressed!”
ROD CHAPPELL
(Lightspeed)

“There is some brilliant music to be heard and poignant, humourous,
deep and profound lyrics and insights. I love the word pictures you
paint and can relate to quite a few of them!
In my book you are exceptional as your voice passes my critical
censor! Too often for me great musicianship etc. (in any genre) is
sadly marred by the voice. There is a lot of emotional depth that
comes across and at times I am reminded of Roy Harper which is no bad
thing at all.
I particularly like the cyclic/spiral/hypnotic feel to some tracks -
"Light & Magic" for example has a really dreamy/floating feel.
I also love the percussion on "Star Crossed" & "Jerusalem" which is
extremely dynamic and drives these tracks along.”
STEVE HILLMAN

“What is exceptional about the story is the richness of it references, which are as diverse as the "Tao Te Ching" and Van Gogh's "The Crows in the Cornfield." The music has numerous influences (Peter Gabriel and Radiohead stand out most obviously to me), but aside from "Silver Apples of the Moon," which reeks of Gilmour-era Pink Floyd, Rain follows his own path, drawing on others for inspiration rather than direction. The fact that the introduction segues into the main part of each song so naturally says a lot about the care and thought that has gone into the construction of this album. Most of the instruments are played by Rain himself, and tend to the atmospheric rather than virtuosic. He makes up for a lack of instrumental fireworks with a fine voice, reminiscent of Ray Wilson. This album, with its sombre mood and sophisticated lyrics, is a breath of fresh air for the more mainstream variety of progressive rock.”
REVIEW - GROUND AND SKY.COM

“Man oh Man! I just listened to the low bitrate versions on the site… This is such a refreshingly wonderful surprise to my ears.
I would be happy to give it airplay for you.”
JOHN JARGER
(Progressive Radio Network)

“I have no doubt in affirming that this is one of best progressive albums of recent decades”
SOUNDCHASER FORUM BRAZIL

“Cerulean Blue is a must-have CD”
PROGRADIO.NET

“Essential – a masterpiece of progressive music”
PROGARCHIVES.COM

“Cerulean Blue is really great. Being a progressive fan, I truly appreciated it”
PHIL CHADWICK
(TRC Management – Elbow, Polyphonic Spree etc)

“If you are looking for something that provokes thought and introspection, you will find this a milestone "must have" album. This work is original and superbly arranged with trademark characteristics that become easily recognizable as spawned from the uniqueness of the artist. I have not found any references on the artist, although it seems this is the work of a single person, it would be a sin not to understand more on how this wonderful piece of work came to be. The sounds and arrangements are exquisitely tasteful. This is a wonderful piece of work that without a doubt defines and establishes a niche and fills one of those unique voids that you never new was there until this album was introduced. Highly Recommended.”
VITO VITALE – PROGROCKRADIO.COM REVIEW

“The music itself has elements of symphonic music as well as folk, ethereal and cinematic. All the pieces are elegant, delicately arranged and performed with a solemnity difficult to find these days. There is a choir, organ, narration, strings and a soft voice that raises the pitch only when it fits the exuberant instrumentation. The quality of the recording is very good, and it’s something that had to be that way given that the music requires this quality in the recording to be fully appreciated. "Cerulean Blue" (beautiful title by the way), is recommended for those who like refined and serious music.”
EUPHONIA.COM - REVIEW

“I have been listening to progressive music since the 70's and CERULEAN BLUE, as the reviews say, is one of the freshest pieces of music I have heard in a long time.”
KEN STOKES
(Canada)

“A very dark and haunting mood and atmosphere. The melodies are superb… The Silver Apples of the Moon is superb and one of the great moments on the CD, reminiscent of Pink Floyd. The epic Light and Magic is also one of the unavoidable songs on this work. Throughout its length of 11 minutes, it develops a music that is both hypnotic and ethereal and there is a splendid sax solo, with intense feeling, worthy of the greats in the field. One hardly notices the 11 minutes pass, it is so sublime.
I recommend this CD if you are a big fan of Radiohead or Pink Floyd. The atmosphere will carry you away. It’s unavoidable!”
JEAN-PIERRE LHOIR – REVIEW – MUSIC IN BELGIUM.NET
(Trans – David Le Merrer)

“The work and passion that went into this piece is evident.
It is certainly unlike anything else I have heard!”
JAY STOCKTON

“The great thing about Cerulean Blue is that it transcends being pigeon holed as solely progressive rock and has much wider appeal. Importantly I think, it sounds contemporary rather than a reworking of the past which is the trap so many current prog rock acts tend to fall into.”
STEVE HILLMAN

“Cerulean Blue is as good as it gets in the world of progressive rock. The dramatic is matched by the sublime which continues to intrigue and entertain you as a listener. This CD seems to follow well trodden paths within sounding dated, plagiaristic or contrived.”
ACID ATTACK MUSIC - REVIEW

“Congratulations for your beautiful music... Your music is wonderful - I hear Sigur Ros, Pineapple Thief and No Man”
PHILIPPE THIRIONET

“… But Cerulean Blue is NOT a progressive album. Prog albums are made for old ears.
Your CD is much more up-to-date!”
SERGIO MARTORELLI – EDITOR DVD TOTAL, BRAZIL.

“This isn’t a “progressive” album as such, just an album with progressive influences –
among many others.”
MIKE HOWELL - EAGLE RECORDS.

“Sounds less like a debut and more like an album by an artist who’s been established for 20 years!”
MARTIN ORFORD

“Impressive sound effects (including a very realistic opening sample of an aircraft taking off) and a haunting combination of violin and cello form the backdrop to these narratives, which serve to link the main tracks. As well as simply telling a story, the lyrics appear to raise a number of spiritual and moral questions. One of the main influences I picked up on are Scottish band The Blue Nile. Rain clearly isn’t one for shows of instrumental excess, instead carefully building songs so that they develop from sometimes humble beginnings to reach some powerful, emotional crescendos. Light & Magic, with its chiming keys and slightly haunting vocals, also has something of a Peter Gabriel feel. Parsifal, meanwhile, features effective use of a choir before developing into a song which has a more contemporary feel in the style of Elbow and (early) Radiohead. Impressively, Rain manages to weld these various influences together to create a varied yet unique style. Personally I’d recommend this album at twice the price.”
REVIEW TOM DE VAL DPRP

“The music is very emotional, lush, and atmospheric, connected to Genesis at least spiritually (one song references Watcher of the Skies, with the opening two chords first stated by the string quartet and later on Mellotron), but there is also a strong Pink Floyd feel at times, and overall it is very original and very English.”
REVIEW KINESIS
(USA)

“A stunning album and a breath of fresh air to the rock genre. I can hear influences from Blue Nile, Floyd and yet stuff which is just so original (much like the whole concept). The whole thing just left me wanting more of your music - a sign of a wonderful album and a totally gratifying sonic experience.”
DAVID SAUNDERS

“An intoxicating conceptual work that has a quiet confidence and grandeur. An extremely compelling listen.”
LASER’S EDGE

“I really loved this album ever since I first heard it. The narration is incredible! It ties the whole album together... Powerful, dramatic, and moving!”
MARK STEPHENS
(PP Radio Station and newsgroup USA)

“Cerulean Blue is refreshingly unusual. Not just in its music, but in the storyline, the way it’s told, the way it’s distributed – and particularly, the impact it has on the listener. Rob Brown’s relaxed and husky delivery is pleasing, and although narrated vocals always get old after a while, this one has far more staying power than you might expect.
It’s a total audio/visual and emotional experience.”
REVIEW - WWW.SEAOFTRANQUILITY.ORG

“A wonderful work of pure sound and meticulous detail”
FERRAN LIZANA

“Thanks again for a wonderful album; I’ve been enjoying it immensely!”
NICK MARTIN

“I have been raving about CB to a friend of mine. Joe is his name and he loved it as well. Man, talk about music that just grabs you!! I can't say enough and that was just the MP3's. Can't wait to hear it in "person".
PS. My wife even said, “Wow, Who is that?”
JEFF PAVLOCK

“This album transcends the genre boundaries and transforms into a universal artistic expression, for which words are not enough. It is so original, ambitious, creative and complex. The song “Parsifal” nearly moved me to tears, I’m in love with the song, it’s in a way the sum of the emotional tone of the album, something magnificent and transcendent.

I must truly congratulate you for such as brave and original idea, of offering your material for free but producing a much better sounding real CD with a special packaging with lots of extras at a good price. I think it’s the best and most intelligent move that I’ve ever seen to fight piracy, but using the same media to promote the music created. Fantastic, truly clever.”
ANDRES VALLE
(Mellotron Magazine)

“Moving and tremendously warm music. The lion’s share of the credit goes to the genius of Rain but it is also beautiful to hear the fantastic jazz saxophonist Iain Ballamy”
HOME OF ROCK - review

“Cerulean Blue is a contemporary masterpiece”
PROG-RESISTE MAGAZINE REVIEW

“What an amazing project--I downloaded the entire CD and realized I HAVE to buy a copy.”
JIM PENKALA

"Just to let you know I've been blown away by Cerulean Blue..."
OLLY BARNES
(U-MYX Music LTD)

“One of the most striking albums of the year. Besides being a great composer, Rain has been blessed with a strong and especially beautiful voice. The music has an addictive, hypnotising and relaxing effect, which I simply can’t get enough of. Very beautiful! What a debut!”
MAARTEN GOOSSENSEN
(Review – Progwereld)

“Sometimes you read fantastic reviews and hear wonderful stories about certain albums which you have to hear no matter what it takes. “Cerulean Blue” made by a musician who names himself Rain is such an album. I just had to check out this CD. Was it true what they wrote and said? Well to confess. Yes the album gets you by the throat right from the start. This is an amazing album. Hopefully Rain will surprise us with another great concept album very soon because he certainly understands how to tell a fantastic story.”
HENRI STRIK
(Review - Background Magazine)

“A formidable talent who has created in these pieces an escape worthy of a novel”
BRUCE WOOD
(Dreamfast Cinema)

“I'm really impressed by the album and the concept. The atmosphere of the music is great. The album get's a lot of attention in Holland. A few weeks ago I downloaded the album. What's better then the real album in a real case in much better sound-quality. So that's the reason I ordered it. So please go on to make this fantastic music.”
HANS RAVENSBERGEN

“Cerulean Blue is ....superb. Thankyou.
Loaded the MP3, liked it, so bought the CD.
Downloading is killing music? My a**e”
PAUL THOMSON

“I just listened to Cerulean Blue for the first time today
(twice). I am absolutely blown away by your fresh, inventive, creative,
meaningful music. I was emotionally moved by the beauty and intelligence of
your music. Even though I was able to download the music for free, I am
going to buy a copy. Music this amazing should be supported. Thank you for
the experience…

Just got the official 'Cerulean Blue' in the mail. I popped it into my computer to see the video and went through the text files to help clarify the beautiful, moving experience I had when I first heard your music from a free download on your website. Damn, you are talented. Your lyrics are as good as your music. And, I am deeply moved by the storyline. I've been an active progressive/classical music fan for all of my 51 years. You are up there with the best. Thanks for the music!”
PATRICK COLLINS

"I have fallen in love with this album. Thank you and deep CONGRATULATIONS!"
YANINA CARDOZA

"One of my top five releases of 2005. "Parsifal" is my personal choice for song of the year. Thank you for your brilliant music!"
SAL PICHIREDDU

"Finally I found something new and original,man!!! My sinceres congratulations for such an impressive piece of work!!! Man...you are a real impressive musician...a very gifted and talented one!!! Your technical skills are amazing..and the compositions are so damn good! Your voice is very good too!!! The production is great too!!!"
OVIDIU DUMITRESCU

“Cerulean Blue is a wonderful CD; imaginative, moving, graceful, dramatic and at times intoxicatingly beautiful, but I’m not sure about the “Progressive” tag.

Yes there are obvious deliberate musical references to Peter Gabriel-era Genesis and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” but these seem to be largely in context of the storyline which takes place in 1972/73. To my ear at least, the music has far more in common with Sigur Ros, Elbow, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Brian Eno, Blue Nile and even Philip Glass (particularly in the track “Parsifal” with its church organ poly-rhythms and chanting choir). The string quartet sections (and it is a quartet, not a trio) owe much to the late Beethoven and, in the mournful closing track, to Edward Elgar. The comparisons with the clumsy and plagiaristic 80’s “prog” acts such as Marillion and IQ are particularly baffling for this reviewer. The ecstatic, driving “Jerusalem” puts me in mind rather of tracks such as Blue Nile’s “Headlights on the Parade”, U2’s “Bad” and Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago”. “Starcrossed” with its Flamenco guitars, Indian harmonium, minimalist chanting and samba band drums is more in latter-day Peter Gabriel “Real World” territory.

Certainly the progressive ideals of experimentation, sophistication and imagination are present but there is none of the “amateur dramatic” melodrama and mindless soloing that gave “prog” such a bad name. The only true solo on the album comes from the genius of IAIN BALLAMY whose tenor sax closes the jazz-flavoured, rapturous, swirling and hypnotic “Light and Magic” (one jazz reviewer called this “the most perfect piece of sax playing” he had ever heard).

The narration and lyrics also have a depth of wit and humour and genuine insight into the psychological and philosophical motivations of characters involved that is rare in Rock music in general, not just prog. As another reviewer put it, Cerulean Blue “is uniquely unscathed by the grandiose clichés that dominate the typical "rock opera"”.

There are many more reviews and comments on the home site at www.telosmusic.net where you can also hear a lo-fi version of the entire album before you buy.”
REVIEW APPLE ITUNES SITE

"I like the CD" is an understatement ;) I really love the music, the concept and the voice of the narrator... An absolutely awesome combination! :)”
MARTA NOWOSIELSKA - POLAND

"If anybody believes that the term "progressive music" lost its meaning a long time ago, and that each new release described as such is mainly about drawing inspirations from the classic prog albums in a more or less creative way, they should definitely explore "Cerulean Blue," for there is a lot to be explored...

Rain is an artist from Guildford in Great Britain, a producer, composer, musician and lyricist, who decided on a pretty daring way of promoting his album - he put compressed mp3 versions of all the songs on the website of his label, according to the theory that if people like the material, then moderate price, beautiful artwork and bonus materials will give them a good incentive to buy the original. And while such tactics do not always spell success, in the case of "Cerulean Blue" failure is not an option.

"Cerulean Blue" is more than just an album - it is a composite masterpiece which surpasses the borders of the genre, an exceptional combination of beautiful sounds and deep, thought provoking plot. Through music and words, Rain is telling us a story about a young man's extraordinary journey across America. The places Rick visited are described in a series of postcards read by mysterious Mr Jaeger, who is following his trail, and the story has its surprising, very emotional ending on the slopes of McKinley in Alasca, where the narrator reveals a secret which binds Rick and Mr Jaeger... Exploring the lyrics will give the attentive audience a lot of food for thought and immense satisfaction connected with discovering the multitude of references, for instance to "Tao Te Ching" or to Van Gogh's last painting. As a matter of fact, the album seems to have been created especially for those demanding listeners who enjoy descovering new details on the seemingly well known releases.

Musically, "Cerulean Blue" is filled with melancholy and reverie. Instead of technical display, there are lots of magnificent musical landscapes which perfectly illustrate the story. Each of the seven tracks begins with a section for string quartet and sound effects, which are a background for the narration of Rob Brown, whose deep, warm voice outlines Rick's impressions from his journey. The way each of the compositions develops, the smooth transition between the introduction and the body of each piece, show exceptional care that has gone into perfecting the sound and structure of the whole album. Some fragments of it could be compared to the music of such bands as Sigur Rós or Pineapple Thief, however, "Cerulean Blue" is a thoroughly original release and the lack of instrumental fireworks is more than compensated by the fabulous voice of Rain, reminiscent of Ray Wilson, Peter Gabriel or Roger Waters. 

The aforementioned bonus materials, which also make the album worth having, is a 5-minute DVD film, "Ashes," starring the narrator, Rob Brown, text files with lyrics, "Ashes" script and 40-page discussion of the CD with the author.

So, if you are looking for a truly progressive masterpiece, "Cerulean Blue" is the album you should buy!"
ROCK SERWIS POLAND

"I'd just like to express my gratitude for 'Cerulean Blue' - a completley ravishing piece of music"
FROSTIG POLAND

"What a fantastic creation you guys have dreamed up. I am always on the lookout for something fresh and new and you guys just hit the mark spot on. Again thanks for following your muse and offering something so mindblowing!"
WOODY HARRIS
(The Dividing Line Radio)

“I absolutely love Cerulean Blue. I listened to it over and over after downloading it -- and I now listen to the CD over and over. Thank you, for such a beautiful, powerful, thoughtful, challenging, engaging, and haunting piece of work.”
RICKY HEISNER

“I really love the great feeling and sensibility you impress in your
music, you are making something very special”
ROBERTO LUPERCIO

“I just finished my first listen............... GOOSEBUMPS........... goosepimples........ gasp!!!!! I think I died and went to heaven!”
JEBHO

“I have just finished listening to your tracks, on your web page........... Wow they are totally AMAZING.
You have just got yourself a new fan.......... Thank you”
VISIONS OF ANGELS

“I know, everybody tells you, this is *the* album - but imagine to find an album which really is different, which really is an undiscovered masterpiece that will accompany you through the following years? Imagine... and listen to "Cerulean Blue" - then you may understand.”
LAST FM

“I've listened several times closely to the songs of that tremendous album Cerulean Blue, at the first listen i cound't appreciate a whole sharp view of the album, it seemed to me soaring, but couldn't point out one song more than another.

Then, on the second listen, i noticed how those songs are written, the string arrangements, the electrical arrangements, all are very coherently written with a classical feather, the composer of these songs seems to me have a big study of musical experience as well.
I also noticed that all songs are build in the same progression, not in the usual verse-refrain-verse-refrain way of the mainstream popular music.

On the third listen it all took shape for me, inclusive how narration and lyrics are driven by the arrangements, and i noticed those wonderfull unique melodies of each song, no other voice could fit it better than the one who sings here, and all originality of this album comes from the combination of arrangements, ambiances, voice and imho the strongest part: these unique melodies.

Not that they are completely new, nor they are hyper sophisticated, no, they are even very simple ones, everyone could sing allong - but they are written with a very particular and personal taste that adds in that way a new energy. A mature energy, a little in the moody colours of Kate Bush's Areal

In example, the one who captivates me totaly in the moment is "Starcrossed"
On another day it will be "The Lammas Lands", there is a real joy to rediscover this album, and that's a healthy sign of a good album, maybe that's why the Genesis members appreciate it, i understand that Tony Banks said it's the music he would have loved to compose.
Imho, it's even a better compliment than the one of Phil Collins, because Tony gives credit to your music.

The voice also is very expressive, sensual and sung in a very sincere way, on some point it remembers me a little the one of the singer of IQ.

Yes, i agree, Cerulean Blue is a great album and deserves to be a turn-around in the music-industry as jebho said. Very relaxing music, with a touch that is to discover by every listen, but imho can't be compared to Genesis only in the way you dare propose something completely original.

Keep on, it's great work”
PAUL (The Watch)