Michael P. Dawson: Paleozoic (A Fossil Record)

**Mister Triscuits** · 10-10-2017

San Francisco Bay Area composer and instrumentalist Michael P. Dawson presents Paleozoic, an album of musical contemplations of the period when complex life forms first emerged on our planet. The album is arranged in two distinct halves. The first part features five intricately composed pieces combining elements of progressive rock, contemporary classical, and electronica. The second part is more abstract, ambient, and atmospheric—five sound paintings of an ancient earth. The spectacular cover art by Mike Menasco reflects the album’s theme with its depiction of a teeming undersea fauna of half a billion years ago.

Paleozoic is available on CD and as a digital download now, with a vinyl version to follow. Buy it here: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/MichaelPDawson

Tracks:

• Extinction Event
• Herrings and Ingrids
• Dimetrodon
• The Heaventree of Stars
• Bone Wars
• The Burgess Shale
• Carbon-14
• Silurian Swamp
• Crinoid Drift
• Precambrian

Michael P. Dawson played concert and bass flutes, soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, Moog synthesizers, guitars, lap steel, glockenspiel, electronics and virtual instruments.

**rcarlberg** · 10-10-2017

Nice cover, Biffy. Very Stephen Jay Gould "Wonderful Life"!

**Mister Triscuits** · 10-10-2017

Originally Posted by rcarlberg

Very Stephen Jay Gould "Wonderful Life"!

In fact there is a quote from Wonderful Life as the album's epigraph.

**Steve F.** · 10-10-2017

Really lovely cover.

**JKL2000** · 10-10-2017

That's a really nice cover! I love images like that.

Any chance of having this on Bandcamp?

**Mister Triscuits** · 10-12-2017

Originally Posted by JKL2000

Any chance of having this on Bandcamp?

Two tracks are available for listening on Bandcamp:

"Herrings and Ingrids" (the hit single): https://michaelpdawson.bandcamp.com/...gs-and-ingrids

"Precambrian": https://michaelpdawson.bandcamp.com/track/precambrian

**Mister Triscuits** · 10-12-2017

Originally Posted by Steve F.

Really lovely cover.

Thanks Steve! I wanted something reminiscent of the scenes of primitive life from the dinosaur books I had as a child, and Mike did a great job. Sent you a copy--hope you dig it.

**interbellum** · 10-13-2017

Love the cover too. Reminded me of an episode of Don Lawrence "Trigan Empire" in which Trigan is transportated into a microscopic world.

**Mister Triscuits** · 10-18-2017

**Mister Triscuits** · 11-05-2017

Now available on Wayside!

http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Pr...-CD-spc-4.aspx

**Mister Triscuits** · 11-23-2017

Yay, the vinyl is here!

IMG_6236.jpg

**rcarlberg** · 11-23-2017

Pretty!

**Mister Triscuits** · 12-27-2017

"A fascinating concept record from composer/multi-instrumentalist Michael P. Dawson...Part 1 gets off to a strong start with 'Extinction Event,' a tight four-minute piece with Lalo Schifrin-esque swagger evoking a 1960s-vintage mystery film. 'Dimetrodon' delivers soaring melodic guitar over a plodding, thunderous backdrop evocatively nailing the album title. Jazzy fourth track 'The Heaventree of Stars' lowers the intensity with some sweet Chick Corea-style piano. Starting with 'The Burgess Shale,' Part 2 explores ambient and experimental territories, remaining there for the duration...Most impressive is the fact this all comes from one man's imagination and instrumental acumen." - Jim Cirile, Progression

**Buddhabreath** · 03-16-2018

Nicely crafted arrangements. I'm really enjoying this Micheal...

So far I prefer Part Two - some really nice soundscapes and little touches and enigmatic sounds like the creatures in the Silurian Swamp - curious to hear how it will sound on my big B&Ws.

More bass clarinet sez I.

- also nice packaging design!

Best,

Bill

**Mister Triscuits** · 03-18-2018

Originally Posted by Buddhabreath

Nicely crafted arrangements. I'm really enjoying this Michael...

So far I prefer Part Two - some really nice soundscapes and little touches and enigmatic sounds like the creatures in the Silurian Swamp - curious to hear how it will sound on my big B&Ws.

More bass clarinet sez I.

- also nice packaging design!

Thanks for listening , Bill! I'm very glad you're enjoying it! I haven't had much success in getting the album reviewed, so I really appreciate the feedback.

**Mister Triscuits** · 04-13-2018

New review:

http://www.expose.org/index.php/arti...leozoic-3.html

**Top Cat** · 04-25-2018

Great review Michael. Are you working on new material or taking a break?
I have to ask, it's not often you see an independent artist offering vinyl as an option, how in the heck did you do that?
For a lot of us old timers, that would be a dream come true.
I've seen singles and EP's in vinyl format, but rarely a full album. Did you master it yourself or send it out?
And the cover artwork is amazing.

**Mister Triscuits** · 04-25-2018

Originally Posted by Top Cat

Great review Michael. Are you working on new material or taking a break?

Hi TC! Thanks very much for the comments. I am currently working on material for a new album, Rats' Alley. Hoping to get it out this year. You can see the cover art in this thread.

How did I swing the vinyl offering? I just had to be willing to make the investment from my savings for these last two albums to meet my vision of a 12" product. Paleozoic in particular was very much conceived for the vinyl format, with the two sides having very distinct identities. I did my own mastering, such as it is. Rats' Alley will probably be CD only, but I'm planning to structure it in two 20-minute halves just in case a vinyl version does become feasible.

I just saw a couple of days ago that the original of the cover art won an award at an exhibition.