Stoker

Here is a gem from the Early British Progressive Rock Movement, unfortunately it was both a painstaking as a hardly impossible task to find information from this elusive band. Bram Stoker was a one shot band that released their album in 1972 under the title Heavy Rock Spectacular…

Francis Ford Coppola took an inspired gamble in hiring the Polish composer to realise his Gothic stage production made for the cinema screen. Nothing about Kilar conforms to Hollywood. His classical works and earlier European films for the likes of Polanski and Zanussi, show a style based upon a repetitive form that insinuates itself upon the ear until it becomes unforgettable. "Vampire Hunters" is a superb example, being a cyclic string and brass motif that develops an exciting dynamic by revolving between keys. A pounding drum keeps time and rhythm for a flawlessly edited scene of destroying the vampire's lair. There is also the exquisite theme for Mina and Dracula, which in "Love Remembered" is presented on the composer's favoured instrument, flute. Again, it's through instrumental interchange across repetitions of the theme that the piece achieves its effect. A little sound design ("The Ring Of Fire") offers pause before the tender choral dénouement. Despite the tail-end pop song, this was a blockbuster debut without precedent.

After many months, many hours and many miles travelled our new album 'No Reflection' is finally available. The album contains 8 tracks including 3 from the Bete Noire EP. The album comes in a gate-fold cover with an impressive retro vinyl style CD. The band BRAM STOKER was formed in Brighton, England, UK, in the summer of 1969 by Hammond organist Anthony Bronsdon, guitarist Peter Ballam and drummer Rob Haines who then recruited bass guitarist John Bavin, all of whom were based in their south coast home town of Bournemouth, England. In writing and composing their own material and experimenting with new musical styles, Bram stoker were choosing their own musical direction. Although the band was heavily influenced by the Gothic image, its music varied, and ultimately the band acquired the "Progressive-Classical-Rock-Gothic-Psychedelic Rock" label it is so famously identified by…