Leon Alvarado is all about Progressive rock. He has worked with John Goodsall (Brand X), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Billy Sherwood (Yes, CIRCA) and Trey Gunn (King Crimson). On his work, he has featured Bill Bruford (Yes, Earthworks) and Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel) and on his first album covered several Genesis songs as well as original pieces.

His second album included his first foray into fusion and other projects have included soundtracks for art shows, and even more progressive music, of curse. Currently working on several projects, this is his latest to come forth to his masses of adoring fans: 2014: Music From an Expanded Universe.

Released on Melodic Revolution Records, 2014: Music From an Expanded Universe features Alvarado throughout on keyboards, sequencing, drums, and percussion; Trey Gunn on Bass, Warr Guitars on all (except 'Cinemania 'Alive,' the bonus track; and Jerry Marotta on Taos Drums on both 'Irreverence, Pat 1' and 'The 2014 Microcosm.'

Alvarado has acknowledged that the album was never one he had in mind when putting all his new projects together, and that it actually fell into place as he was putting together two other, completely different full albums of work.

Thankfully for us, he wanted to release a new album in 2014, and so we are presented here today with work alongside ex-King Crimson men, Gunn and Marotta (although the latter is more well known for his work with Peter Gabriel's band, one assumes.)

Indeed, the cover art itself was something Alvarado thought long and hard about. So, he created it himself, but the original cover art by Synergy Design/Leon Alvarado is actually dedicated to the memory of Hans Rudolph Giger. The departed Swiss artist, H.R. Giger, was always someone Alvarado liked work-wise, and so decided that something of his ilk would also bring an air of futuristic surrealism to the project.

As for 2014: Music From an Expanded Universe itself, once listened to you instantly recognize that it is simply an expansion of the musical reach of the great man. Very different from anything he has ever put out before, it still has some of the DNA found in other works from Alvarado, for sure.

A shout out should also be given to Andy Jackson, the long-time Pink Floyd sound engineer and a producer on the latest Pink Floyd album. For it is he who did all the mastering work for 2014: Music From an Expanded Universe.

Alvarado tries to also create music that he would like as a fan, and with 2014: Music From an Expanded Universe he has done just that, once again. Fans everywhere are already falling in love with this unique album, its influences transmitting their original sound and vibe from 2014 well into 2015 - and beyond, one imagines.

Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk