Gabriel Olteanu is a diverse musician capable of wearing many hats. He composes in many styles, sings, shreds, and programs strings. He also does movie music and electronic music, but his musicianship shines regardless of genre classification.

“Sunset Love”, admittedly in the 80’s metal style, comes through with authentic cruch, pinch harmonics and superb riffs. This style may sound a bit dated, but the musicianship always engraved in the style is timeless. The big drums sync up well with the bass and guitars, and the vocals get the job done well enough to pass this track off as a classic from the era.

Wow - an accapella track showcasing Kristian Mikal’s vocals is the first thing you hear on his website. He has a refined, confident tenor range that he stretches and emotes effortlessly with. He’s the kind of singer (probably a choir star) with vocal chops, an ear for harmony and the skills to compose. “Enjoy This” is the title of his unaccompanied, humorous greeting song, complete with bursts of vocal layering that show Mikal’s outstanding strength as an arranger.

Something like Ke$ha meets Taylor Swift, with possibly more vocal talent than both. The music for “Scared of Me” is dance-pop, uplifting and “happy” sounding but not corny. There is also a hint of some male artists like Sean Kingston and Lil Wayne in the rapping lines. The harmonies are lush and the electronic beat is simple but actively produced. Auto-Tune is present a bit, but more for effect, and I get the impression that Stomber could hold a tune regardless.

He seems to stumble a bit over his chord changes, and the tempo fluctuates throughout the song, but that’s when he is accompanying himself. Herman Hatchett otherwise comes through with a crisp, in tune voice that resonates and speaks to the soul. “She Holds My Hand” features a guitarist keeping syncopated rhythm while Herman croons heartfelt lyrics about a friends mother. You know this guy is in for the long haul when he busts a little harmonica flourish in the bridge before returning to singing.

Surfy, twangy, instrumental blues music with a tight groove and seasoned licks. In one visit to www.beamchatter.com listeners have access to the entire Jim Martin catalog. Readily available on the front page are songs from 4 albums, proving that Martin is not running low on inspiration or riffs anytime soon. The songs are instrumental tracks, showcasing a bluesy, twangy lead guitar, often programmed electronic drums and MIDI sounding piano/keyboards.

Most of the songs are appropriately titled “Blues something-or-other”, with slight hints at the programmatic subject matter. “Blues for Dalia"sounds more upbeat and yearning than “Deep Eddy Blues”, though at some point the shuffle feels and charleston-esque rhythms all blur into one giant twang-jam.

The track “Void N Droids” will certainly get listeners revved up in any nightclub or in any other situation. Fans of techno, EBM and general electronica will certainly come to enjoy Autran. Autran offers something more than simple electro and futuristic sounds. The artist tries to blend diverse elements in the music. It is almost as if the musical tracks are telling a story in a way. In each of the songs, the tones are not monotonous, and dancers will have to switch up their dance movies based on the changing pace in the songs. The artist’s creativity shines, offering unheard beats and rhythms that will keep listeners engaged and hopeful for more. Not many understand this style of music, but for those who get will certainly not be disappointed with Autran. The songs almost have a sci-fi element, and I can picture this type of music being played in the far off future. For more information on Autran and the music, visit: https://www.facebook.com/autranmusic.

The latest brain child of legendary percussionist Bob Holz is finally ready to be released upon the ears of the world, featuring a dynamic collaboration with some of the most talented names in the business. Joining forces with Grammy-nominated artist Frank Stepanek and renowned New York bassist Mike Shoefter, the trio created a fiery set of tracks for The Bob Holz Band’s debut LP Higher than the Clouds.

Co-written by Holz and Stepanek, Higher than the Clouds descended upon the scene on March 1, 2012, featuring 10 hair-raising, energetic tracks which deliver an addictive platter of musical flavors to the listener. Experiencing moments of rock, blues and funk with a dash of psychedelic influence, the album sees a bonafide trio of musical greats at their best.

Coming at you from Elberfeld, Indiana, Vestige is a group with a distinct, lovely indie musical sound that is great on the ears. They are more than professional, and the quality of their songs is unprecedented. They have been around since 2009, but don’t let that scare you off! They are relatively new and their sound is mature, delicately penned indie rock.

The song “Wings” starts out as a slow, beautiful piece of indie music that explodes into a heavier rock song that I think really shines. It has excellent guitar, the vocals are explosive and haunting, and the drums and bass keep an even, steady rhythm that really holds up the rest of the piece. Vestige also does a wonderful cover of The Cure’s “Love Song,” that I think really stands out among their other music, not because it is a Cure song, but because it shows that the band can really come together to make great music. Vestige’s version is a little heavier, but sounds almost as good as The Cure song. I know I find myself saying this a lot recently, but I’m glad so many of the 80s rock, pop, and glam-rock songs are being covered or have influenced so many current bands today.