We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

National Steam

by National Steam

supported by
Christian Mumford
Christian Mumford thumbnail
Christian Mumford when i created the cover art for this CD back in 1998 i had a Dream realized: in print. Now... its on Spotify but what about Tidal? Like some prog magazine wrote (i agree): "Reminds me of Clearlight!". Also these vocal tracks: very Peter Hammill. Satan is my poker buddy (best lyric ever). I am also grateful for getting to do the Electric Sepulcher CD by Church of Hed! Favorite track: The Sutler.
/
1.
2.
3.
Orion 03:09
4.
The Sutler 08:27
5.
6.
Ode To Death 06:38
7.
8.
9.
10.
Tribute 04:50
11.
Quinn Martin 03:53

about

The debut National Steam album - a side project from Quarkspace's Paul Williams and Dave Wexler - features some top-rank outer space instrumental works. Some of the vocal tunes are pretty cool as well. However, those trippy, trippy instrumentals - most of which were recorded direct to stereo soon after the Korg Prophecy showed up at our studio -- make this release worthy, especially tracks 2, 5, 7, and 8. Notably, the album garnered a 4-star review from the All Music Guide.

credits

released March 4, 1998

Paul Williams: Drumming, Synth, Keyboards, Loops, Vox
Dave Wexler: Guitar, synth

Special Guests:
Theresa Owsley: Vox (track 4)
Angelica Wexler: Vox (track 3)
Patrick Wise: Vox (track 4)

All Music by National Steam
Produced by Lance Starbridge
Cover art by Christian Mumford

National Steam is an offshoot project by Quarkspace's Dave Wexler and Paul Williams. This self-titled 69-minute CD was released in 1998. Six of the eleven tracks are improv pieces, applying that sparkling fire found on the Quarkspace releases.

Jump aboard the National Steam express, departing for the interstellar void with a full load of astral tuneage. Lively keyboards fill the air with tumbling riffs and burbling electronic effects. Percussion scampers through the mix, punctuating the flowing melodies with locomotion. But the emphasis is on the electronics: sweetly sing-song pitches, cyclic loops, intricate keys and sultry sequencers. Then suddenly, four songs in, the guitar marks its entrance with a twisted spinning fury, tearing its way through the keyboard dominance like . . . a train achieving escape velocity. Some vocals exist in this music, but their presence is infrequent.

Remarkably spacey, the compositions are delightfully entertaining. The music explodes with epic ascendance, reaching cosmic proportions with melodic ease. - Matt Howarth, Sonic Curiosity


Dave Wexler on guitars and freaky vox teams up with Paul Williams on keys, electro-percussives, vox, and freaky vox to make space-trance rock magic. Serious cool, head-trippin' tunes here. They hit the Tangerine Dream/Hawkwind/improv rock nail, squarely on its cosmick head. Quality cerebral voyages? Inquire within. This CD is the ticket. Williams' electro-mayhem zapped me into Tim Blake spaces wherein dwelleth the happy void. Wexler's guitar and Williams' atmospherics on "Orion" and "The Sutler" brought to mind little-known Bark Psychosis and Spaceman 3. "The Third Wheel" is deliciously ominous improv suitable for any cyberpunk, sci-fi flicktrack. Well done, robotically speaking. "Ode to Death" is a Larry Fastian behemoth rising from the depths, the stars of forgotten millenia coalesce, its frame glistens as a freaky vox incantation of doom proceedeth. "In the Caverns of Spacezilla" is Synergy battles Rubycon. "Alfred's Flashback" is echoes, drones, phased psycho-chatter, channel-to-channel ping-pong as in a Wendy Carlos nightmare. Pinhead of Hellraiser would enjoy this as he oils the Lament Box. Wexler waxes Oldfieldish as Williams lifts Maxfield Parrish soundvisions all around the epic/saga, guitar voyage. I could've stood another 10 minutes of this one. Of 11 tracks ranging 1:39 to 10:03, many over 7:00, there is plenty of material to satisfy any space-rock/ambient synth fans. - John W. Patterson, All Music Guide


On the heels of two cassette releases National Steam introduces its first full length CD. A companion project to label mates Quarkspace, the band consists of Paul Williams on percussion, loads of keyboards, effects, and vocals, and Dave Wexler on guitars and effects. This self-titled debut offers up eleven tunes, six of which are improvised space journeys and sound experimentations.

The opening track, "Pennsylvania Special" is a reworking a the same song from their Steamdreams 1 cassette. At the heart of the tune is the repeated pounding piano melody and the competing keyboard and guitar work that accompanies it. A much fuller sound on this version transforms the train journey feel of the original into a galactic Siberian Railway.

"Orion" and "Ode To Death" both feature vocals by Paul Williams. "Orion" with its funky head-bopping beat and wah wah guitar also has some great mellotron-sounding work. "Ode To Death" opens with an intense orchestral sound and screaming guitar lines and then is accompanied by the most Peter Hammill vocals I've heard since Peter Hammill. A powerful tune.

"The Sutler" is somewhat different from the rest of the CD and will appeal to prog rock fans as much as space fans. Guests Pat Wise and Teresa Owsley's sharply contrasting vocal styles make for welcome variety throughout the song. Wise's vocals are dark and perhaps somewhat evil sounding while Owsley has a style that is operatic and not unlike Kate Bush. An intense, hard driving song, the music takes a turn during the last two minutes during which Dave Wexler's guitar takes front and center. His solo finale is speedy, soaring, and beautiful in a way that will make prog fans drool.

The remaining tracks are all instrumental and mostly improvised. For those who are new to the Quarkspace / National Steam camp you should know that all the Eternity's Jest musicians have been playing together for a long time and it was an affinity for improvisation that lead to Quarkspace's development. On this recording, Williams and Wexler offer space soundscapes that are subtly busy in that I could easily close my eyes and be carried away, but close listening often reveals many layers of interesting experimentation with keyboards and guitars.

One of my favorites is "Cavern Of Spacezilla", a cosmic journey that combines industrial space soundscapes and dreamy guitars and keys. This tune is followed by "Alfred's Flashback" which is much like the former but a galaxy or two to the left. Across all the improvisations on this disc I sometimes felt like I was in a small underwater craft crawling along the ocean floor, and at others felt like I was floating through space all alone. - Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Church of Hed/Quarkspace Columbus, Ohio

Church of Hed is the solo electronic space prog project of Quarkspace drummer/synthesist, Paul Williams. RIYL: Floyd, the Orb, Stereolab -- Quarkspace is an American band together since the mid 80s. Known for combining spacerock and electronics with folk and progressive songwriting, their influences straddle the American and English psychedelic scenes of the late 60s with more modern influences. ... more

contact / help

Contact Church of Hed/Quarkspace

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Church of Hed/Quarkspace recommends:

If you like National Steam, you may also like: