DREAMER

Born to Dutch father and Belgian mother on Persian ground in 1969, life of Anton Roolaart was destined to be adventurous from his first second on Earth.Spending time in Holland and Spain, he finally settled down in the USA, where he studied at University of North Carolina in Charlotte, taking a deegree in electronic engineering.Developing into a multi-instrumentalist and influenced by 70's Prog Rock, Anton became a member of cover bands, before taking things seriously in the 90's and starting composing hiw own music.The attempts on a solo album begin in 2004 and were finished two and a half years later.Inbetween he established the ProgRockRadio.com station and even participated in the Spanish band Jesdat's ''City lights'' effort.''Dreamer'' was released in 2007 on the British label Umbrello with Rave Tesar on keyboards, Vincent Puryear on bass, Rich Berends-Charles Descarfino on drums, a few guests mainly on vocals and Roolart responsible for guitars, programming, keyboards and singing lines.

Roolart's first album is a good introduction in the world of melodic Progressive Rock with symphonic tendencies and some obvious leanings towards the 70's, drawing influences from acts such as CAMEL, PINK FLOYD, GENESIS and early KING CRIMSON.The album has no signs of fillers or overstretched ideas with Roolart insisting on creating mid-length, compact pieces with a balanced guitar/keyboards sound and some great moments of grandieur, performed on Hammond B3, Mellotron and piano by himself and Rave Tesar .But the bulk of the album features some well-executed multi-layered synths with an orchestral, atmospheric aura, which combine nicely with the deep sense of melody created by the guitar chords of Roolart, either coming from his electric or his acoustic side.He has a style somewhere between ANDY LATIMER, GARY MOORE and STEVE HOWE with some notable jazzy touches among his melodic, emotional moves.In addition some sampled flutes and vibraphone show how deep this work is.The arrangements are lush, elaborate and symphonic with a slight Neo Prog edge at moments due to the constant use of synths with Roolart focusing on sensitive plays and atmospheric textures with dreamy acoustics, although some impressive, dramatic and rich passages are still in the menu.

Another fine addition in the endless list of modern bands/artists, influenced by the unforgettable masters of the 70's.Very nice music, great production and decent vocals, relying on the more melodic side of Symphonic Rock, so ''Dreamer'' comes warmly recommended.