VAST

VAST is an American alternative rock band based in Seattle, Washington. The acronym VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater and is the main creation of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Crosby. The band is signed to 2blossoms, an independent record company created by Crosby himself.

VAST's sound is identifiable as ambient electro-rock with considerable industrial and acoustic influences, usually made with Crosby's traditional acoustic guitar, electronic instruments and processing, drum-driven tracks, and heavy bass. Vocally similarities range from classic rock to post-grunge. In recent years, however, VAST's sound has been more identifiable with acoustic rock in releases such as April and Me and You.

History

Early years

Crosby's musical endeavors began at a young age of 13, where he was noted in Guitar Player Magazine as a promising guitarist of the future. He often recorded home demos with nothing more than a guitar and a drum machine, sometimes a bass player with him as well. He nearly signed onto a guitar-based label Shrapnel, but turned it down to work on his budding songwriting skills. Crosby eventually left Rancho Cotate high school in Rohnert Park, California, to do home study and begin his own band, which he dubbed VAST. Much like fellow alternative rock/industrial band Nine Inch Nails, Crosby was the only member but found a touring band who knew the songs well enough to play with him live.

Visual Audio Sensory Theater

Visual Audio Sensory Theater is the debut album by the band VAST, released on April 28, 1998 by Elektra Records. The album mixed samples of Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint-Maur and Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares, with an 18-piece orchestra, guitars and electronics.

Jon Crosby originally signed onto Elektra Records when he was only 17, and recorded his demo EP, VAST Is... which featured certain songs to be featured on their debut in an unfinished form. He also traveled across the world and recorded demos of world choirs that he used in various songs on the album, which gave the album its trademark world-music theme.

The first single released from the album was "Pretty When You Cry". Led by a supporting music video, it gained modest success on the music charts. However, the band's and the album's popularity didn't skyrocket until the second single, "Touched", was featured in a film soundtrack and the music video was put in play on MTV. No other singles were released for the disc, and "Touched" is still VAST's most famous song, it being featured in the Angel soundtrack, Angel: Live Fast, Die Never the companion CD to the Everworld book series, and as a song featured in WrestleMania XXV. The track also appears in the movie The Beach but is not featured in the soundtrack.

Visual Audio

Visual Audio is the debut studio album by English dance music DJ and music producer State of Bengal, released on 29 March 1999 by One Little Indian.

Critical response

John Bush of AllMusic rated Visual Audio 3.5/5 and described it as "...a full-length of intriguing fusion, the harnessing of British club culture's drum'n'bass breakbeats with more traditional Indian sounds." Rob Evanoff of All About Jazz said, "If you are into an adventurous combination of both ancient and new world music mixed with the continuous energy of modern beats then strap your mind in and let the flight begin."

Vinita Ramani of Exclaim! said, "...Zaman manages the transition and mood as the myriad instruments drop out and allow for his talents as a DJ/producer to emerge." Biz of EthnoTechno said of the album, "Folk instrumental melodies, phat beats, mesmerizing loops, and swirling flourishes of sonic waves. Have yourself a taste!"

Track listing

References

External links