Jon Samsworth, Audio Technical Specialist at Royal Holloway, University of London, is celebrating the success of his new album, Dream On, which was independently released in July and has been receiving positive reviews and radio play within progressive rock circles.
Several years in the making, Dream On is an ambitious collection of compositions that brings together a wide range of instruments, musical influences, and guest performers. Primarily instrumental, the album also marks Jon’s first exploration of song-form.
Reflecting on the project, Jon said: “It’s a love letter to acoustic instruments and human performance; there are lots of guests on it and my arrangements are ambitious and uninhibited.”
The album combines rock instrumentation with grand pianos, clavichords, and more unusual sounds, including a percussion robot. Its adventurous arrangements and distinctive approach to sound make Dream On a project that embraces musical curiosity and experimentation.
Sid Smith of Prog Magazine described the album as full of “quirky Canterbury vibes”, adding: “what’s not to like?” Adrian Bell of The Progressive Alternative on Brooklands Radio was equally enthusiastic, saying: “I absolutely love it... this is brilliant.”
Steve Petch of The Progmeister, on Progzilla Radio, praised the record as “something off the wall” and “like nothing I've heard in quite a while”, while Andrew Young of Terrascope called it “a fabulous record”.
Jon added: “I’m really pleased it has found an audience within ‘progressive rock’ circles and has had some positive reviews and radio play.”
Listen and buy now
Dream On is available to stream or download via Bandcamp: https://jonsamsworth.bandcamp.com/album/dream-on
