Eric Simpson and Don Stagg

The Timeless Legacy of Don Stagg and Eric Simpson: Pioneers of Sonic Exploration

In the realm of Canadian music history, few collaborations have captured the imagination quite like those of Don Stagg and Eric Simpson. Spanning decades, their artistic partnership has given rise to some of the most innovative and emotionally resonant projects in progressive rock and experimental electronic music.

In the late 1970s, Stagg and Simpson joined forces on groundbreaking projects such as Majik, 7th Temple, and Drama, where they explored complex instrumentation and pioneering electronic sounds. Their creativity found another peak in the mid-1990s with Within Gothic Towers, an atmospheric and deeply evocative recording that cemented their shared reputation for pushing artistic boundaries.

Simpson continued his journey with Glamorcult, formed in the early 1980s as a natural evolution from his experimental electronic group Drama. This project aimed to combine rhythm-oriented electronic music with ambient and instrumental pieces. Over the years, Glamorcult became a recognized name in underground music, with their releases celebrated as rare collector’s items for their innovative textures and timeless appeal.

Meanwhile, Don Stagg expanded his horizons as the creative force behind Dream Aria, a band that defies categorization. Partnering with Ann Burstyn, an extraordinary vocalist with a four-octave mezzo-soprano range, Stagg helped shape Dream Aria into a progressive rock phenomenon. Known for blending genres as diverse as gothic, ambient, world music, and electro-pop, the band’s music resonates deeply with fans of innovative female-fronted acts like Magenta and Mostly Autumn.

Dream Aria’s debut album, In The Wake (2005), set the tone with its eclectic style and was met with critical acclaim. They followed this success with Transcend in 2008 and the conceptual masterpiece Fallen Angel in 2011. These albums showcase Stagg’s genius as a composer, weaving lush keyboard arrangements with dynamic guitar riffs and intricate rhythms. Tracks like “Gypsy Heart” and “Winter Storm” highlight Burstyn’s ability to glide effortlessly between delicate whispers and soaring operatic heights, creating an emotional landscape that captures listeners worldwide.

The band’s achievements have been celebrated globally, topping ReverbNation’s overall chart and MySpace’s Canadian rock chart, with a steadily growing fanbase of hundreds of thousands. Their work has been described as “a rich tapestry of exciting audio entertainment,” and their albums, praised for their layered complexity, are cherished by fans and critics alike.

A Collaboration That Shaped Canadian Music
The synergy between Don Stagg and Eric Simpson remains a cornerstone of their shared legacy. While Simpson’s work with Glamorcult laid the groundwork for modern electronic experimentation, Stagg’s contributions to Dream Aria elevated progressive rock to new heights. Both artists share a vision of breaking musical boundaries, crafting soundscapes that are as unpredictable as they are captivating.

Many of their works, including Within Gothic Towers, Dream Aria, and Glamorcult releases, are curated by Citizenfreak, preserving their legacy for future generations.

An Artistic Philosophy That Endures
At the core of Don Stagg and Eric Simpson’s work is an unrelenting pursuit of artistic freedom. Their projects are invitations to explore uncharted musical territory, where the lines between genres blur and emotions take center stage. For listeners seeking music that challenges conventions and celebrates creativity, the legacy of Stagg and Simpson offers an unforgettable journey.

From the gothic towers of their early work to the transcendent realms of Dream Aria, these visionaries have redefined what it means to create music that inspires and endures.
-Robert Williston

Tracks

Artist Track Title
Dream Aria Spirit In the Wake
Glamorcult Time Will Pass On By Shadows From The Past
Glamorcult Distant Memories The Stone Sessions
Glamorcult Innocense of Yesterday Early Glamour
Glamorcult Pins & Needles A Price To Paris
Glamorcult All Those Lies The Stone Sessions
Dream Aria Valhalla Out of the Void
Dream Aria Abstract Relations Fallen Angel
Glamorcult Cocktail Conversations A Price To Paris
Within Gothic Towers In My Hour Of Despair Within Gothic Towers
Glamorcult Holding Onto Yesterday Shadows From The Past
Glamorcult Tokyo Streets (Bonus Track) A Price To Paris
Dream Aria Lingua Cosmica Out of the Void
Drama Anna King (Demo) Loneliness
Within Gothic Towers I've Got A Reason And You've Got A Prayer Within Gothic Towers
Glamorcult This Is Our Story The Stone Sessions
Glamorcult Fusion (Instrumental) Early Glamour
Glamorcult Interlude Moments of Glamor 1984 - 1994
Drama Interlude (Demo) Loneliness
Glamorcult Tropical Romance (Stone Version) The Stone Sessions
Glamorcult Hope For Change To Come Shadows From The Past
Glamorcult Live for Today Would it be Over (picture sleeve)
Drama Jungle Chant Loneliness
Drama Traffic Loneliness
Dream Aria Ministry of Dance On The Other Side
Glamorcult Tokyo Streets Tokyo Streets/ A Dream Girl To Me // Anna King/ Interlude
Drama God Is a Machine Loneliness
Dream Aria Blue Lady In the Wake
Glamorcult The Light We Will Hold A Price To Paris
Glamorcult The Basis of Our Style Early Glamour
Dream Aria The Gift Fallen Angel
VIIth Temple The Reason For The Fall The Rise & Fall of Atlantis
Dream Aria Transcend Transcend
Glamorcult Mine is the Maiden Early Glamour
Glamorcult She Doesn't Believe In The Magic The Stone Sessions
Glamorcult Session 2 (Instrumental) Early Glamour
Glamorcult Theories of Modern Affection A Price To Paris
Glamorcult On The Line Moments of Glamor 1984 - 1994
Dream Aria The Professor Out of the Void
VIIth Temple Nothing Lost And Nothing Gained (Featuring Anne Burstyn) The Rise & Fall of Atlantis
Drama Electronic Pink Panther Loneliness
Within Gothic Towers I Will Lead You Within Gothic Towers
Dream Aria Uninvited Guest On The Other Side
Drama Got to Get off the Earth Loneliness
Glamorcult I Have Nothing To Say To You The Stone Sessions
Drama Loneliness Loneliness
Dream Aria Carnival of Souls Fallen Angel
Within Gothic Towers Is This My Moment Of Glory Within Gothic Towers
VIIth Temple Lost In A Daze The Rise & Fall of Atlantis
Glamorcult All That Matters Shadows From The Past
Within Gothic Towers Fanfare To Flight Within Gothic Towers
VIIth Temple Memories From Far Away The Rise & Fall of Atlantis
Glamorcult My Lady Moments of Glamor 1984 - 1994
VIIth Temple The Sky My Friend Under the Burning Sun
Glamorcult Lonely Faces The Stone Sessions
Glamorcult Anna King Tokyo Streets/ A Dream Girl To Me // Anna King/ Interlude
Dream Aria Opus Dei In the Wake
Within Gothic Towers The Cavern Of Solitude Within Gothic Towers
Drama Space Age Punks Loneliness
Glamorcult Dream Girl to Me Early Glamour
Glamorcult Jazzam A Price To Paris
Glamorcult Shadows of Regret A Price To Paris
Dream Aria The Rhythm of Now Transcend
Glamorcult If Only You Knew Early Glamour
Dream Aria The Hourglass Out of the Void
Dream Aria Fairy Dust Out of the Void
Drama Come On Over Old Hollywood (picture sleeve)
Glamorcult Cry Shadows From The Past
Glamorcult The Fight Is Over Shadows From The Past
Glamorcult Mine Is The Maiden The Stone Sessions
Dream Aria Fallen Angel Fallen Angel
Dream Aria Promise In the Wake
Dream Aria A Song of Hope Out of the Void
Glamorcult Tropical Romance Would it be Over (picture sleeve)
Dream Aria The Hourglass Out of the Void
VIIth Temple Ten Years Left In This World The Rise & Fall of Atlantis
Dream Aria Out of the Void Out of the Void
Drama Human Question Loneliness
Glamorcult Past Glory (Stone Version) The Stone Sessions
Dream Aria The Illusionist Fallen Angel
Glamorcult Would it be Over Would it be Over (picture sleeve)
Glamorcult Would It Be Over Moments of Glamor 1984 - 1994
Drama Hidden Melodies Loneliness
Glamorcult Dream Girl (Stone Version) The Stone Sessions
Glamorcult She Touched My Soul Early Glamour
Dream Aria On the Other Side On The Other Side
Glamorcult Past Glory Moments of Glamor 1984 - 1994
Dream Aria Tale of Two Wolves Fallen Angel
Glamorcult Crestfallen A Price To Paris
Dream Aria Pacis In the Wake
Dream Aria He Touched My Soul In the Wake
Glamorcult A Dream Girl To Me Tokyo Streets/ A Dream Girl To Me // Anna King/ Interlude
Glamorcult Thing Of Beauty The Stone Sessions
Drama Feable (Demo) Loneliness
Drama Anna King Loneliness
Dream Aria Rebecca Transcend
Glamorcult Lost Souls In Time The Stone Sessions
Dream Aria Out of the Void Out of the Void
Dream Aria 11th Nour In the Wake
Glamorcult The Bass of Our Style A Price To Paris

Comments

No Comments