ATARAXIA

US outfit MAJESTIC started out as the solo vehicle of composer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Hamel, and prior to 2010 a total of three productions had been issued under this moniker. As this venture has evolved, additional musicians have been added to the roster of musicians present, and the current edition of the band has vocalist Rasche and drummer Nathe added to the list of permanent members. And it is with this revised core line-up and additional guest musicians that their fourth disc "Ataraxia" was recorded and subsequently issued by MALS Records in the fall of 2010, the third of their albums to be released by this label.

If you enjoy your art rock smoothly produced, find a Pink Floyd-inspired sound to be generally interesting and don't mind a band that adds in the occasional ambient or metal-tinged theme, Majestic's latest production "Ataraxia" is one that you'll most likely hold in high regard. In addition to followers of David Gilmour and company, I'd suggest fans of acts like Porcupine Tree to spend a few minutes sampling this artist, as I'd suspect quite a few of them would find him in general and this disc in particular to be rather appealing.