Just Dreams by Blue Flux

Light and shade, splash and ripples, the deep breath before the plunge - it all helps to sustain that visceral throb, deep inside, like an expertly bowed string. Meticulously crafted and brimming with new ideas, Just Dreams is a splendid showcase for a band at the height of their musical creativity.

Blue Flux was formed in the UK around the early 90s, initially with the aim of producing soundtrack material for emerging markets. Following various changes in its line-up, the band soon found its true home in the resurgent genre of Progressive Music. Frustrated by the persistent ignorance of the mainstream music business, Blue Flux founded its own independent record label, Enthalpy Records, which together with a longstanding web presence and forward-thinking outlets like cdbaby has become the conduit for the band's output.

Various critics have loosely compared the Blue Flux sound to the likes of Pink Floyd (inevitably), Peter Gabriel, Pat Metheny (pre-commercialised) and Porcupine Tree, whilst invariably stressing the band's uniqueness. With a polite and appreciative nod at the above icons, Blue Flux continues to put its very own stamp on the music before you.

After their critically acclaimed and passionate guitar-only album Sugarbeat (2002), Blue Flux has triumphantly returned to the progressive fold with the 2004 release of their new album "Just Dreams". Previous releases include the classic "The Beach" (1999) and "The Riddle" (1997).

"The relaxed atmosphere within the band makes it the perfect vehicle to convey a multitude of new musical ideas," says Tom, founding member of Blue Flux. "The recent revival of progressive and atmospheric music, though just a pigeon hole, has helped to provide a useful platform to get our music out to a receptive and committed audience."

"Being independent means we feel no interference, pressure, or boundaries, which allows our compositions to be as creative as they want to be. This makes all the long hours spent inside the studio worthwhile."

Reviews:

"The production throughout is excellent ... a fine use of space and depth giving great clarity to each of the recordings."

"This isn't pop, this isn't muzak. In fact, I'm buggered if I know what it is, but it's good!"

Andrew Jones, Home and Studio Recording Magazine

"Ambient guitar with lots of reverb sits well against the synthesized backing, and the solos all demonstrate a high standard of musicianship."

"All the sounds have been well chosen, the arrangement is good, and obviously a lot of thought has gone into the excellent production"

"The standard of mixing ... is consistently excellent ..."

"The second feather in Blue Flux's cap is their sheer musicality. They bring dynamics into their writing, so that the compositions are full of light and shade."

John Harris, Sound on Sound Magazine

"The Big Sleep sounds in fact like some giant primordial being sleeping. In addition to the slow in-and-out breathing we have a piano that twinkles along... Then the acoustic guitar sets in, and the peaceful clear vocals..."

"What I was hoping for, for progressive (rock) fans, this album of Blue Flux is more appealing than their later album Sugarbeat, which, although nice, was very acoustic guitar oriented. The acoustic guitar also features prominently on this one, but the electronics present on The Beach do add a new dimension, especially where it concerns mood building... A varied and really likeable album."

Jurriaan Hage reviewing the 1999 Blue Flux album "The Beach"

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