Jason Blake | Infinite Fade | Self-Release

Release Date: October 17, 2024

Format: Digital

Genre: Progressive Rock, Instrumental

Country: USA

Chicago-based musician Jason Blake has become a steady name in the progressive scene, known for his skill on the Warr guitar and his tireless creativity. Between his solo material and his work with Aziola Cry, Blake has built a strong identity within modern instrumental music. Over the past few years, he’s released a series of albums and collaborations that explore different shades of progressive sound, from the cinematic textures of his work with cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne to the rhythmically intricate sessions with drummer Marco Minnemann.

With “Infinite Fade”, Blake takes another turn, crafting a futuristic and haunting concept centered around the downfall of a civilization. Using only his Warr guitar and some percussive accents, he constructs a sound world that feels distant and human at once. His approach to melody carries a strong sense of progression, with layers moving from quiet introspection to controlled chaos. The music has a certain cold beauty, like a digital landscape slowly eroding under time and decay.

There’s a continuous flow through the album’s seven tracks, each serving as a fragment of the larger vision. The guitar work is textural and intricate, giving the impression of overlapping patterns and mechanical cycles breaking apart. When Tommy Murray’s drums enter during “A Lost Beacon” and “Into Decay,” they bring a sense of finality, grounding the closing act of the story with heavier and more dramatic energy. The rhythmic drive deepens the atmosphere, turning the ending into a collapsing horizon rather than a quiet fade.

“Infinite Fade” feels like the soundtrack to an imagined world, wordless but expressive, methodical but full of emotion. Blake’s playing keeps a fine balance between technical skill and narrative flow, and his use of tone and space makes the album easy to immerse in. The production has a crisp modern sound that complements his vision, without feeling sterile or overprocessed.

For listeners who enjoy the instrumental worlds of artists such as Trey Gunn, Cynic, or Tool, this album offers a satisfying and thoughtful experience. “Infinite Fade” stands as a focused, well-realized release from an artist who continues to evolve without losing direction.

Score: 7.0

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