Obscured by Clouds

Portland, OR based art rock band Obscured by Clouds clearly took their name from Pink Floyd's 1972 album of the same name. Their sound also reflects the spacy, electronic-induced psychedelia of that era with modern sound reinforcements and technological digital enhancements. William Weikart is the brain trust and founder of the ensemble, initially inspired when he saw Pink Floyd's Live at Pompeii, and took cues from the dreamy vocals of David Gilmour and sparse musings of guitarist Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters. He has also been influenced by progressive artists like the Doors, Tangerine Dream, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Morphine, and Soundgarden. Playing guitars, Fender Rhodes electric piano, synthesizers, and oscillators, Weikart formed a new personalized approach to Pink Floyd's music without covering their material, but instead attempting to expand on it from his own perspective. Initially with bassists Phil Baker and Ben Brown, and evolving with additional members Kevin Cozad on piano and synthesizers, Reinhardt Melz playing drums, Ian Wengs on bass, guitarist Matthew Bradley, and drummer Jeff Norton, Obscured by Clouds have played and toured in Canada as well as on both the U.S. east and west coasts. Weikart also goes by the pseudonym Thee Slayer Hippy, a fictitious lover of all musics on Earth. In 2007 the album Psycheclectic was issued on the Psycheclectic label. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide