El Kapitan -- named for the famous cliff site in Yosemite National Park -- is a duo of creative rock musicians who use the culmination of their life’s musical experience to create new stylistic blends that take you where perhaps you’ve never been. The pair, keyboardist/producer Marc Soucy and guitarist/bassist Kirk Bartholomew compliment each other with their musical backgrounds, and hammer together sound constructions that certainly turn the head, not to mention make you want to sway, tap your foot, dance, or even head bang at times. That part depends on the project, since each of their three records to date have distinctively different styles. With Batholomew coming back east after years of slinging on the LA/Santa Barbara rock and heavy metal scenes, to meet Soucy percolating in Boston, constantly developing both keyboard and production skills, the two were intent on doing something. That something can be a pretty exciting, and truly original experience. One thing that is often said about El Kapitan’s music: it belongs with imagery. Maybe it conjures up imagery on its own.

The musical laboratory that is El Kapitan has spent the last several years pushing the envelope of sound and using each cd release as an excuse to explore places they haven’t been before…. …really, hardly anyone has ever been there ! Their first cd, “Haywire”, combined post-industrial electro with metal and progressive rock in a relentless stew that took recording industry people by surprise. Tracks from “Haywire” got airplay in the US, Germany, Australia, Canada, The Czech Republic, and other countries. The second cd, “Danse Dun Backwurdz” delved into techno-house-meets-modern-rock, actually getting used for live stage dancers on both coasts of the United States. The third cd, “Retroscape – Atmospheric Rock Instrumentals for a New Age” represents the most striking departure so far. As the title explains, El Kapitan is looking inward and even backwards for the inspiration to create this record. Perhaps it is their attempt at reinventing themselves, since commercial success has been elusive. Designed to provide “background music” for rock lovers, “Retroscape” uses a lot of seventies influences and sounds, but keeps the production pretty slick. This record is extremely different from the first two, of that there is no doubt. Perhaps El Kapitan has settled into a style that suits them, and those around them. …. Maybe not.. We shall certainly see, as there is probably a new record in the plans already, knowing them.