Ancient Desert Ritual, formerly ADR, started in 1994 by founding member and songwriter Glenn D. Clark. Clark started the recording of the group's first album, 'WALKING IN SAND', in the Fall of 1993. He wrote the music and lyrics, arranged, produced, as well as, played bass, keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, and guitar synthesizers. Later, he was joined by drummer Greg Ryan, guitarist Matt Timberlain, keyboardist Markus Emsermann, and vocalist Bill Paugh. After their contributions to the album, Greg decided to leave the group over writing frustrations and Matt faded off. Clark, Emsermann, and Paugh continued writing together. Looking for a new guitarist, Clark incorporated Tim Kestle to continue the album's guitar work. After the completion of the album in 1996, Bill and Markus left to form the group One.
The years after the disbanding of the group, Clark started exploring the six-string bass. He wrote a number of atmospheric compositions and performed at local Denver coffee houses. In 1997, Clark opened Ancient Desert Sounds and Recording, an electronic music studio. In 1999, Raw Material, an annual electronic media showcase, made its debut.
Between doing work for clients and regular work, Clark recorded 'SPLICES 1:LANDMARK' under the name BASSBOARDS OF ANCIENT DESERT RITUAL. 'LANDMARK' is a private collection of atmospheric arrangements that span fifteen years of archived material as well as 7 six-string bass pieces. A virtual waltz around the world and through it.
In 2000, the construction of the conceptual double album named 'NOTCH' begins. It wouldn't be completed until 2014.
During the construction period of 'NOTCH', several demos track were recorded for lyrical purposes. "I had twelve tunes written using my usual 6-string bass/midi pedals combination. I was exploring various VST effects plug-ins including GRM Tools using those tracks. Before I knew it, I had created twelve completely altered atmospheres. I released it as a prelude while I was writing and recording the 'NOTCH' album". 'PRELIMINARY CUTS: A PRELUDE TO NOTCH' hit the racks in late 2000.
A live recording was produced in 2005 under 'BASSIC BEAR LIVE 9-21-05' featuring 6 live tracks and 1 extended studio track. The music is best described as Keith Emerson meets techno or gooblity gook with poly-rhythms. This live album was re-released in 2012 under the title 'ELECTRIC BEAD FIRE DANCE: LIVE IN '05' minus the tracks "Hacketteering" and "The Time Chain".
The political single "THIS IS ALL YOUR AMERICA" was released July 4, 2012 with Austin's own Patrick Boothe on vocals. A song of grave concern.
'THE COLOR ANALYSIS OF APOCALYPTIC EVENTS' was released on October 16, 2012 as a 13-song eclectic progressive instrumental guitar-oriented album.
The single "THE WORLD CAMERA" was released July 12, 2013. Lyrics by Patrick Boothe and music by Clark. The song features Boothe and Andy Units on vocals and John Duran on drums. Clark on all other instruments. A song about privacy, surveillance, and human interaction.
During a period from 2000-2014, the conceptual double album called 'NOTCH' has been in the works. An album of lyrical songwriting with a bold theme. An angry darkness flows throughout this collection of tunes. The first single, from the 'NOTCH' album, "WHY DID YOU DIG MY GRAVE SO DEEP?" was released October 28, 2013. The conceptual double album called 'NOTCH' was released April 22, 2014.
A 18-song promotional compilation release called 'PATTERNS: A RETROSPECTIVE' was released on August 12, 2014. Later that fall, the "IN THAT QUIET EARTH AT YYZ WITH THE WICHITA LINEMAN" single featuring a collage of cover tunes by Genesis, Rush, and Jimmy Webb, was released October 21, 2014.
The second BASSBOARDS OF ANCIENT DESERT RITUAL album named 'SPLICES 2: SYNTH HOLE' was released February 24, 2015. This album featured the complete and remastered 'PRELIMINARY CUTS: A PRELUDE TO NOTCH' album.
Exploring the first co-work with Patrick Boothe, Clark extended and remixed Patrick Boothe's song “CRYSTAL BLUE” into an almost 10-minute single. This was released March 15, 2016.
The first of a three self-titled EP releases, the 'ANCIENT' EP finds Clark exploring the pop-prog arena. He brings in vocalist and double bassist Toshio Alan Mana with drummer Ted Thompson. 'Ancient' explores greed, religion, wealth, obsession, and the supernatural with some lyrical help for John Farmsworth. Released on July 7, 2017.
The end of 2018 brought the release of Clark's first solo single release "THE WATERLOO SURVIVOR". This was his first release on lead vocals.
The third installment of the BassBoards of Ancient Desert Ritual's 'Splices' series was released March 29, 2019 as 'SPLICES 3: THE WATERS OF MARS'. A experimental and spiritual soundscape into the future of Mars and Earth. A continuum in song and sound.
After a couple of years from the 'Ancient' EP, Clark releases the first single from the 'Desert' EP called "BETWEEN" on November 1, 2019 with the return of Toshio Mana on vocals (with some vocal ideas from Patrick Boothe). The instrumental single "SPRINGHEELED JACK AND THE MOTHMAN ~ PART 2: THE TRANS ATLANTIS PASSAGE" was released shortly after in January 31, 2020. The year was finished off with the release of the holiday festive jam of "THIS STRANGE CHRISTMAS" on December 11, 2020.
July 2021 saw the release of the second single by Glenn D. Clark and The Waterloo Survivors, "The Survivor's Rage", as a heavier side to Clark's songwriting and production. An attack to both sides of sexuality. The third single from GDC & TWS came in September 24, 2021 as The Eagle-ques power harmony track "Stop Somewhere and Find Someone", along with non-lead Karaoke and instrumental versions of it.
Better late than never, 2022 saw the release of a Christmas song, this time, under The Waterloo Survivors name. "It's Christmas Time (So What the Funk is Wrong with You)" was a belated release on February 25, 2022. A pop-synth funk tune with a brash set of lyrics. The instrumental version was released July 2022. Glenn's Big Boy Mix of "Stop Somewhere and Find Someone" remixed by Clark was released August 26, 2022. A fuller and heavier version which includes 6-string bass.
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