http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/161611
Dean Peer's Airborne takes Bass Intrumentals to Another Level
Kendra Rae Beltran
June 09, 2010
Dean Peer has been crafting art in the musical form for years. He released UCROSS in 1991 and never turned back three years later, Travelogue happened and Peer´s back with his latest Airborne. This album is strictly instrumental, showcasing the electric bass guitar with Bret Mann on taking on the drums.
Airborne has a 70´s psychedelic feel mixed with a bass funk topped with soothing vibes. "1 Speed" has the aforementioned 70´s inspired sound. And the best example for the funk is "Waimanalo Ohana." That Hawaiian prize is the most upbeat of the Airborne crowd. Its lively nature encompasses the idea of Hawaii in a nutshell.
The lead single and title track, "Airborne" is making a dent in radio from coast to coast and even overseas with stations spinning the record weekly from Spain to California. "Airborne" is a new age gem and has even found a home on the Zone Music Reporter chart due to his radio accolades. For a complete list of stations you can hear Peer on, check out his MySpace and/or website.
Like "Airborne," many of the other tracks sound as if they were lifted from scenes of classic P.I. shows from back in the day. They have a mysterious connotation that causes instant interest. "Lucy Blue" has an immediate intro that pulls you in and keeps your interest all the way through. One can see the protagonist walking through the streets looking for his next crime scene to investigate.
Dean Peer´s Airborne is the kind of music you put on when you need a much needed break from reality. The absence of lyrics allows fans to interpret the songs as they see fit. One can put this record and be moved by the pluck of each bass chord to use their imaginations to their full potential. Fans of Jeff Beck and Steven Morse will want to pick up not only Peer´s latest Airborne but his previous releases as well.
Kendra Rae Beltran
We´re all tiny books in one big compellation called life. Some of us will wait for what seems like forever for our climactic part to come. Others will have a romance novel their entire life. Or maybe one filled with just adventure. Or one that is a poetic tragedy. Then, there are those that will have best sellers. You know, the ones that everyone wants to read and base their versions on? Don´t forget the little paperbacks sold at the carwash that only a select few will ever lay eyes on. We´re all born with the power to either take what was written for us or choose our own adventures.-
If Jimi Hendrix had played bass, he might have sounded like Dean Peer. Joined by drummer Brett Mann, Peer creates sonic vistas that have more in common with heavy metal than any jazz. Using a vast array of pedals and devices Peer turns his bass into an entire sonic environment. p.126 VINTAGE GUITAR JULY 2010 Steven Stone
STATIONS AIRBORNE IS PLAYING ON...
Hey everyone! I'm getting airplay across the board 
So if you live in any of these cities...call up and request some tracks from "Airborne"
.. ..
....Barcelona.., ..Spain.... Radio Despi 107.2 FM
....Edmonton.., ..AB-.... CKUA 96.7 FM
....Santa Rosa.., ..CA-.... KRCB 91.1 FM
....Melbourne.., ..FL-.... WFIT 89.5 FM
....Lewiston.., ..ME.... WRBC 91.5 FM
....Traverse City.., ..MI-.... WNMC 90.7 FM
....Rolla.., ..MO-.... KMST 88.5 FM
....Keene.., ..NH-.... WKNH 91.3 FM
....Oneonta.., ..NY.... WRHO 89.7 FM
....Rochester.., ..NY.... WXXI 91.5 FM
....Syracuse.., ..NY-.... WAER 88.3 FM
....Kent.., ..OH.... WKSU/WKRW 89.7 FM
....Toronto...., ON Galaxie CB
....Chattanooga.., ..TN-.... WAWL 91.5 FM
....Albilene.., ..TX-.... KACU 89.7 FM
....Wausau.., ..WI.... WWSP 89.9 FM....
We have a lot of great things happening with AIRBORNE. The album continues to gather steam and we are picking up new radio stations, positive reviews, and distribution everyday. I'd really like to thank everyone in the audiophile community for coming out and supporting us. I'm sure we will be seeing many of you at our show in Boulder Co April 30th sponsored by Cardas. Look for our ads in "Stereophile" and the "Absolute Sound" in June and July issues this year. We also have reviews and mentions in many other magazines in June and July so keep a look out. Thanks for checking in
The Sounding Board by R J Lannan
RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board.
The Sounding Board by R J Lannan
Label: ILS Records
Off the Deep End
Bassist extraordinaire Dean Peer has several albums to his credit, which is no mean feat for on
guitar as a lead instrument. Along with long-time veteran percussionist, Bret Mann, Peer's late
Airborne is a thrill a minute ride on a jazz-rock infused roller coaster. Peer is not just your ave
He is well known for the total utilization of his instrument that may include tapping, plucking, sc
incredible harmonics that just seem to come out of nowhere. Airborne is a hodgepodge of style
all of it is good. The compositions are quite clever and you kind of wonder if Peer’s art has any
1Speed is a very dramatic opening to a unique collection of songs. It is energetic to the point o
frenzy, but eventually settles down into some haunting 80's riffs reminiscent of Jefferson Airplan
became confused. Mann keeps a steady cadence as the music grows into a driving two-man orc
and drum kit. It is a wild ride.
The title tune Airborne makes you wonder how far down the fret board Dean can play. Probab
the pickup. There are some stratospheric harmonics all over the song. I guess that accounts for
tune turns into a funky blues melody that is astonishing as it sounds like something between an
and a Theremin.
One of the more complex and satisfying tunes on Airborne is called N'est-ce Pas. Translated fr
means many things, but basically it is saying "And why not?" There is a lot of patting on the str
grooving percussion. It is another tune where Dean becomes a one-instrument band with great
Brett. It turned out to be a favorite.
Twin Peaks starts out with a deep bluesy rift and sounds like it has some electronic enhancem
probably more of Dean's superb tinkering. The melody is only identified half way through the se
crazy fret-boarding going on. There are so many kinds of mountains...
On the southern coast of Oahu, Hawaii is the city of Waimanalo. It is adjacent to the beryl-colo
white sandy shore of Makapu'u Beach. It is a place of much beauty, community, and inspiration
Waimanalo Ohana (ohana is Hawaiian for family) puts out a funky rift that reminds me of the
palm trees and the miles of sand. He also Anglicizes the feeling of "ohana" the most important
in Hawaii, the family.
Peer has made his mark on the music industry by his unique style of bass harmonics and his fu
genres. He has numerous awards on his wall, contributes often as a guest recording artist and
albums under his belt Ucross and the noteworthy Travelogue, which garnered an album of the y
Jazz Times. I can only remember one other duo that had such rapport and synergy. Back in the
was duo called Silver Apples. Electronic and drums. They only had two albums and their remark
rock music went unheeded by most. Airborne is going to make people take notice. It is unavoid
- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 3/3/2010
AIRBORNE on last.fm
Listen to AIRBORNE on last.fm
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