For those not in the know, Alan Williams’ third solo album, Floating on the Dreamline (out March 6th, 2026 via Blue Gentian Records), is a genre-fluid exploration spanning folk, power-pop, and prog. The UMass Lowell music professor let the songs emerge organically without agenda, embracing his eclectic style after years of self-doubt.

Set for March 2026 release, the album draws from influences like Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, and Sade, featuring longtime collaborators Ben Wittman and Greg Porter. Alan’s harmonic exploration and alternate guitar tunings create his distinctive sound, while lyrics contemplate life changes and future possibilities.

From Asheville, North Carolina, Alan studied at New England Conservatory and had early success with folk-rock band Knots and Crosses, which signed to Island Records in 1993. After the band disbanded, confidence issues delayed his debut solo album until 2020. He earned a PhD in ethnomusicology from Brown University and formed Birdsong At Morning before releasing Currents in 2022.

Recorded in various intimate settings, Floating on the Dreamline prioritizes process over perfection. The album ranges from acoustic contemplation (“Just Like Water”) to bossa nova (“Before My Eyes”) to bluesy Americana (“Somewhere There’s a Train”), incorporating found sounds throughout.

As Alan approaches retirement and returns to North Carolina, his March 29th, 2026 retirement concert will serve as the album’s release party. The stylistic variety aims to evoke discovery and broader possibilities amid turbulent times.

1. Somewhere There’s a Train
2. Whisper
3. Before My Eyes
4. Nobody Died
5. Out of My Hands
6. Goes Floating By
7. UdowatchUwanna
8. A Sliver of Forever
9. Just Like Water
10. The Darkness of Love
11. Feel No Pain
12. A Prayer
13. Somewhere There’s a Train

Working across many musical genres, from Folk to Power-Pop to Prog Rock, singer/songwriter Alan Williams opens his new solo recording on the melodic mid-tempo, latterly guitar rock of Somewhere There’s a Train and the beautifully, renaissance-hued, breathy balladry of Whisper, and then we are brought forth the luxuriant Before My Eyes, the drum-led rocker Nobody Died and both the delicate ballad Out of My Hands and the veritably shimmering, low and whispered Goes Floating By.

Along next is the rhythmical blues/rock of UdowatchUwanna and the elegantly demure, yet hauntingly hushed duet with Julia James on the ballad A Sliver of Forever and they are in turn backed by the impassioned Just Like Water, the emotively hushed tones of piano ballad The Darkness of Love, the prog rock of Feel No Pain, the set rounding out on the flutteringly smooth A Prayer, closing all-to-soon on a single version of Somewhere There’s a Train.

Alan Williams - Somewhere There’s a Train (Single Version) [Official Video]

Alan Williams @ Facebook