Nov. 16, 2023
Story: Slade Rand
Metamorphic rockers Booster coax heavy bass and drum solos out of poignant melodies throughout their latest instrumental concept album ‘Terraglyphs.’
The Colorado rock duo was forged by Mike Lehman on drums and Alex Vouri on bass guitar, who played together for years before solidifying their identity as Booster. The group released ‘Terraglyphs,’ its second full-length album, at the end of October.
The sonic story has come alive with video liner notes and original art accompanying each track released weekly since the album dropped.
“We consider it bridging the gap between the vinyl days and the YouTube days,” Lehman said.
Booster released its video liner notes today for ‘Valley,’ the third track in the ‘Terraglyphs’ saga. Watch and listen to the package on Youtube here, and stream the full album on Spotify here. The album was mastered by Doug Krebs and features cover art by Andrew Hibben.
Booster’s musical alchemy flows between genres and moods. High-soaring waves emerge one after another from the duo who gel into one when they play. Lehman and Vouri bounce ideas off each other and move the story forward organically.
Written storylines join Booster’s instrumental epics on ‘Terraglyphs,’ honoring the band’s memories of lying on the floor reading liner notes while spinning records like The Who’s ‘Quadrophenia’ growing up.
For this project, Lehman wrote most of the liner notes text while exploring themes with Vouri. On Booster’s first album featuring video liner notes released in 2021, ‘The Coasts,’ the roles were swapped. Also this time around, Lehman learned to create the digital art featured with each track.
“When we’re coming up with these albums the music really comes first,” Lehman said. “I would say the music informs the narrative rather than the other way around.”
‘Terraglyphs’ tells the story of a modern man who lost his wife, child and home in a destructive tidal wave caused by the Climate Diaspora. It’s the second in an ongoing trilogy of Booster albums that began with ‘The Coasts.’
Our hero is on the run through an environment that feels like western Colorado’s foothills, though the land’s been ravaged by malignant oligarch Sterling Stone. The ‘Terraglyphs’ hero uncovers new purpose while seeking shelter from disaster, and he begins a journey to restore water, peace and life to his world.
The written story tightly follows the music that swings from energetic triumphs to moments of spiritual self-reflection.
“We’re all dealing with climate change wherever we live, we’re all feeling the effects of war no matter where we live,” Lehman said. “Anybody could imagine this happening in their world.”
Photo courtesy: Booster
‘Valley’ begins with birds chirping over Lehman’s crisp drum beat and patient playing from Vouri. It’s a moment to catch your breath and prepare for the sonic climb ‘Valley’ takes next.
Booster has found its identity in creating this ever-changing “metamorphic rock.” The duo says the name for its stylized metal allows Booster to evolve and reach in new directions.
“We can basically play whatever we want. It can be heavy, it can be pretty, it can be melodic – it gives us the ability to be in a constant state of change,” Vouri said.
The tracks on ‘Terraglyphs’ build intensity and fade back to calm, weaving together with a narrative that sticks with you.
Vouri and Lehman have played together for a decade, refining their sound down to its core as a bass and drum project through the years.
“After playing together for so long we’ve become very much of one mind when we play,” Vouri said.
Photo courtesy: Booster
Booster provides a way for Lehman and Vouri to slow down and fine-tune complete thoughts. The two friends have bonded over writing the combined musical and literary stories Booster creates.
“We really wanted to take our time and get back to the fun of writing and creating music again instead of putting out a project quickly to get onstage,” Vouri said.
‘Terraglyphs’ concludes its story with a meaningful collaboration from the two artists.
Lehman speaks the only words featured on the album, reciting a poem written for his daughter born in February 2023.
“Alas I see myself in you;
Or is it you in me?”
Lehman’s poem begins.
Vouri wrote a special bass solo to play underneath Lehman’s words, and while tracking the album in January the concept grew legs. The duo considered playing the poem in reverse to offset it further from the music, but then Vouri saw an opportunity to use one of his favorite tricks.
On that track, ‘A Rainbow in the Darkness,’ Vouri’s multilayered bass solo plays backwards underneath the spoken word, creating a “tone poem” as the pair describes it.
“I love what it’s become,” Lehman said. “It’s so great to have on its own, and in the scope of the whole album it’s at the moment of redemption and renewal meeting remembrance and honor, and it’s almost like a ‘Shavasana’ moment.”
Booster will publish video liner notes for the remaining tracks off ‘Terraglyphs’ each Thursday at noon MT on its YouTube channel. Stream ‘Terraglyphs’ here and watch Booster’s video liner notes for ‘Valley’ and other tracks here. Video liner notes for track four, ‘Mesa,’ are slated for next week – subscribe to Booster’s channel on YouTube here to stay in the loop.
After Midnight 
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