People have been looking at the planets and stars for millennia. The planets in many ways hold the secrets to the things that we here in earth are forever curious about. Such as the big bang theory and many other elements of our history. The mystery of what we know and don’t know about the planets is one of the inspirations for the piece and by using and developing the material from Slonimsky’s Thesaurus, Valera creates harmonic and melodic sequences that have as much in common with Arnold Schonberg as they do with John Coltrane’s compositions. Slonimsky’s book has been a source of influence for composers such as Coltrane, Allan Holdsworth and Frank Zappa. Valera has been working and developing the concepts from the Theausrus from the past 15 years in New York and The Planets marks a new period in Valera’s deepening and never-ending studying and understanding of Slonimsky’s masterpiece. — Manuel Valera
1 Sun Prelude I 1:43
2 I. Mercury: The Messenger 4:54
3 Sun Prelude II 2:10
4 II. Venus: Peace 3:23
5 Intro to Earth 1:32
6 III. Earth: The History of Us 4:32
7 IV. Mars: Ancient Warrior 5:18
8 Sun Prelude III 1:10
9 V. Jupiter: Joyous Thunder 5:17
10 VI. Saturn: The Wise One 4:51
11 VII. Uranus: Morphing Skies 5:49
12 VII. Neptune: Prophet of the Seas 5:49
13 Llora 4:20
14 Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters 5:01
Hans Glawischnig - bass
E.J. Strickland - drums
