JT Bruce, an independent one-man band, makes music for free. You can download all three of his albums on his web site, just for fun. But Universica isn't any ol' freebie; this is quality instrumental prog that, as Bruce describes it, "is a relentless … journey through the cosmos." Each song is named after one of the night sky's stars, so the album opens with "Bellatrix" — an epic piece that contains more musical ideas in 18-and-a-half minutes than entire albums by better-known artists.
Bruce shines brightly throughout this 72-minute disc, which is remarkably more diverse than his previous two albums, Dreamer's Paradox and Anomalous Material. In fact, he indulges in atmospheric melodic hard rock on "Rigel," gets aggressive on "Spica" with chaotic yet majestic progressive metal, goes neo on "Capella," searches for celestial meaning on "Betelgeuse," finds a dark Southern rock vibe on "Procyon" and winds down on the lovely closer "Sol."
Through it all, Bruce — who states in Universica's liner notes that his "home studio" consists of "a patchwork amalgamation of cheap consumer electronics, pirated software and frayed speaker wire" — makes this thing sparkle.
Track Listing:
1) Bellatrix
2) Altair
3) Rigel
4) Spica
5) Procyon
6) Fomalhaut
7) Capella
8) Betelgeuse
9) Sol
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