Muse Chronicle

The Swiss musician, Alex Wellkers, has just dropped his new EP, “Reach the Stars,” a 13-track collection that throws classical instruments into the rock blender and somehow makes it work. Wellkers handles vocals, electric guitar, bass, and production duties while assembling a crew of musicians to make it happen.

“Forty-seven minutes of proof that boundaries exist only for those afraid
to cross them.”

The album’s title track and overall concept represent a bold statement of artistic intent, with “reach the stars” serving as both a literal description and a metaphorical journey. The thirteen-track collection spans 47 minutes of carefully produced material that refuses to be confined to traditional genre boundaries. Opening with “We Knew It All,” you know exactly what you’re getting into from track one through Mercedes Bralo’s harp introduction, which sets an ethereal tone. The track builds methodically, incorporating Noelia Diaz’s rich cello work and contributions from string players Mariia Vakhnenko and Oleksandra Vyentseva.

Throughout the album, Wellkers is committed to organic instrumentation. He assembled a killer lineup of musicians to bring his vision to life. This decision proves particularly effective on tracks like “Give Me the Keys,” where Julia Stein’s violin and viola work interweaves with Ivan Korniienko’s dynamic drumming.

The album’s international flavor becomes evident through both its multilingual titles and diverse influences. “Alles Nicht So Schlimm” and “Tu Es Ici” suggest a European touch that extends beyond mere linguistic choices. The inclusion of German and French tracks adds cultural depth, while the music itself draws from various traditions without coming across as borrowed or fake.

Wellkers manages his role as bandleader with his responsibilities as the primary creative force. While he wrote and composed every song, the extensive credits reveal an artist willing to trust collaborators with essential parts of his vision. The closing track, “Au Revoir,” running at 6:35, provides a substantial conclusion. “reach the stars” succeeds because it commits completely to its concept without losing sight of what makes rock music work in the first place. This is the outcome of an album when someone has a clear vision and the skills to pull it off.

Rock fans looking for something different without sacrificing what they love about the genre should definitely check this out!

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