A great followup to "Luna Waves"... Unique and exciting guitar based space/ambient with flares of progressive rock sounds. All guitar fans should have this one in their collection.

Mason Stevens - Guitar, Bass, Synthesist, Sound Design, Programming and Production

Drift off into a blue ambient dream world where the darkness of night rules, interrupted only by the mysterious forces of the swamp and the soulful glimmer of the moon. Space Blues that dips into the progressive rock and jazz genres.

"It's dreamy and good for the soul."
Ella Blame

Mason Stevens is primarily a guitarist who uses synthesizers to create a mystical aura around his compositions. His earliest influences were 60s soul and blues. In the early 70s he visited Spain, and accidentally landed in the town of Moron de la Frontera where legendary flamenco guitarist Diego del Gastor mentored a small group of dedicated guitarists. For about 6 months Mason was able to absorb first hand flamenco at it's best in the small cafes there, which turned out to be a great inspiration for him. A couple of years later he decided to make a serious committment to music by enrolling in Berklee College of Music, where he earned his degree in composition. In the mid-80s, while living in Nashville, a friend named William Linton introduced him to "Space Music." He, needless to say, got hooked and eventually recorded with William and fellow Nashville space musician Tony Gerber, the space classic "Cosmic Flight." "Luna Waves" is Mason's first solo CD. There are, however, several more already recorded waiting to be edited as we speak.

Mason Stevens - Guitar, Bass, Synthesist, Sound Design, Programming and Production

One Step into the Unknown

Mason Stevens is an electronic guitarist with a unique twist. He combines an electric guitar with processed guitars and sequenced percussion (or so it seems). One Step into the Unknown is a set of very cool space music compositions tinged with Mason’s sense of humor. His titles are – generally – tongue in cheek, or – more appropriately – “pick in pocket.” With titles like “Chili Peppers in Orbit” and “Matador on Mars,” listeners expect and get some bounce for their bucks. Mason’s style and technique give the compositions flair and panache. The joy of the music makes the set seem like one gigantic scherzo. Succinctly, this CD is lots of fun!  

Luna Waves

Luna Waves is a set of electronic funk and blues from Mason Stevens, an expert at combining traditional electric guitars with modern processed and electronic guitars. He surrounds rock and roll riffs with huge atmospheres and contrasts steamy blues with dynamic soundscapes. The unique perspective is quite refreshing and makes deep listening a challenging experience. This CD, on the SpaceForMusic label, is an instant classic!

Cosmic Flight

Cosmic Flight is a dynamic collab from Mason Stevens, Tony Gerber and William Linton. It is also a testament to Mason’s “guitartistry.” Tony has a reputation as one of e-music’s finest guitarists. On this  disc, however, Mason handles ALL of the guitar work! Tony and William handle the synths.

And it is an awesome CD! It is much more ambient and atmospheric than listeners expect from Tony and he handles it well! Mason’s guitar is smooth and it flows around and through voluminous cloudy atmospheres and soundscapes. This is a very cool and relaxing sound.

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts for Ambient Visions.

MASON STEVENS
Luna Waves
SpaceForMusic.com Records (2001)


With Mason Steven's album Luna Waves, I think we finally have the first true "space blues" album. This man can PLAY his '63 Fender Jazzmaster, folks. You'll be able to tell that about one-minute in on the first cut, "blue cat swamp." Yow! The snazzy Hammond organ (played on one of two synths that Stevens credits in the liner notes) and the gut-wrenching thumpety-thump bass (an Ibanez Roadstar II) certainly don't hinder the mojo-workin' feel of the track either! Yes, I do believe this is both bluesy AND spacy!

Obviously, if you don't like electric guitar, this is not going to clean your solar (or lunar) clock. Granted, other textures abound throughout the CD (synths galore in a variety of styles and tones, usually used for coloring and atmosphere but not always subdued either). But many times Stevens places that axe way up front (such as on "primal awakening" - with the emphasis on "awakening!"). Jeff Pearce billows of ambience this CD ain't! But it sure is fun and funky and cool and even dark and mysterious at times.

Having said this is not Jeff Pearce-like music, there are some more mellow cuts (relatively speaking), like the smoky and haunting "mist before dawn," the synth-shimmering "morning calm," and the closest thing to a more ambient vibe-sounding "reflections" (which, I suppose, could be compared to Jeff Pearce's first album, Tenderness and Fatality). However, most of the fun on Luna Waves comes from the more revved-up tracks, such as the jazzy/bluesy "solo wings" and the creepy/spooky "cavern's end."

My favorite song, though, is the title track which is also the last cut on the album. That shuffling back-alley beat drives me crazy (in a good way) and those stinging yet subdued bluesy lead lines really gets my spacy groove thang going full steam ahead. I'll wager that this is what they'll listen to on Mars on a Saturday night (at a bar like Minneapolis's Stand-Up Frank's where the booze is always cheap!). People will peel out of their atmosphere suits, cozy up to the thermal heaters, and feel the bitterness of the work week slaving in the ice-cap hydroelectric plants melt away as the bourbon hits the back of their throats.

Man, this is one cool CD. Electric guitar lovers (such as fans of Jon Durant - although this is nothing like his work) - this one is mo' definitely custom-made for you!

review by Bill Binkelman