Technology. “If only a hundred years passed and technology developed so quickly, what kind of crafts will civilizations be using? Something we can’t now imagine. There are sounds and colors we can’t hear and see, there are probably dimensions we can’t touch because we don’t have the means to do so.” It’s this “sci-fi” view that brings another level to the music of Sonic Pulsar. What we envision we can create and Sonic Pulsar creator Hugo Flores can envision much!

With his feet in his home country and eyes towards the world it brings a great deal of inspiration which is channeled into music. In the case of Sonic Pulsar this is an unusual mix of Dream Theater, Rush, Pink Floyd Alice In Chains, Black Sabbath with a bit of Pearl Jam, Tori Amos and Steve Vai mixed in. They’re familiar and yet unique.

The most western of European mainland Europe, Portugal sits between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. It is considered one of the mot peaceful and globalized countries in the world. There is a variety of music here influenced by America and the UK and among the native bands is one to give a listen to no matter where you are from. Sonic Pulsar was formed when band mates Hugo and Carlos met in Belgium. In 2001 Sonic Pulsar was created.

Hugo Flores is the creative force behind a progressive sound while Carlos Mateus adds his talents as well. In the mid 1990s Hugo was writing and releasing music as a solo artist but when they joined forces for Sonic Pulsar’s Out of Place it provides outstanding musicianship and takes things to a new level. It’s been called light metallic technical and just good music and they created this cd beginning writing in February and wrapping it in December. Talented writers, talented guitarists, solid music…what more can one want when putting a cd into the player?!

With innovation and solid playing combined with enough guitar riffs to excite the ear this is a band to listen for no matter where you live. The first cd, “Prolusion”, was outstanding but with “Out of Place” it features Nuno Ferreira on bass guitar, bringing the music to another level. This is music you must just listen to – it can’t be compared to existing popular entertainers as it’s quite unique.

Hugo Flores commented “Regarding the concept, I’m a sci-fi fan. Sonic Pulsar’s essence is mainly Space and the Universe, blending these themes with actual social-political issues, but using sci-fi to do so.” 

While for some technology is a bad thing Flores embraces it. “I visit Sea Of Tranquility and other fine prog related webzines very frequently, usually on a daily basis if I manage to. I really like to be up to date regarding news in the progressive rock genre. Today the internet plays the most important role promoting the progressive genre and music in general.”

For many music isn’t just a job but a lifestyle of sorts. Dedication is key to being successful in any business. Flores says “I always need to do something connected to music everyday. Whether it’s writing lyrics, music, experimenting new sounds, or just listening to new music, it’s a basic function in my life. I’m almost incapable of working during the day without listening to a CD.”

With a full time day job there’s always time for music. “During the day I gather new ideas, and later that day I put those on the multi-tracker. To try and tell you more about me, I’m very critical of myself and my work. I’m too much of a perfectionist, to the point of spending hours over a specific sound. I also try to seek my own answers.”

For many writers inspiration is what happens around them and to this end Hugo Flores is in that ‘place’. He noted “both Sonic Pulsar’s albums and Project Creation’s Floating World also speak about society’s hypocrisy, politicians and greed, etc. So it’s sci-fi, but very critical of our current way of life. To be more specific, there are influences of Star Trek, the film Dark City and Solaris on Floating World.”

Hugo is working with a new venture called Project Creation. “Well, from the start I wanted this to reach a wider audience. I knew that the Sonic Pulsar fans would enjoy this project as well, since it captures part of that style.”

There are differences between the two and it’s intentional. Sonic Pulsar has got lots of synthesizers but it’s the guitar work that really stands out while Project Creation was created for a different sound without changing the core of Sonic Pulsar or the music that fans love. Keeping the two separate is something Flores is attentive to. “But as far as I'm concerned, has a listener myself, I find Sonic's music more aggressive, and it touches the edge of prog metal with a lot of odd parts and complex structures.” The songs from Sonic Pulsar are long and really let the musician, especially the guitars, “speak”. 

Sonic Pulsar is alive and well, with plans to expand into a full band rather than a studio project. “My idea is to have a more “band-like” sounding album with the new musicians.”

Flores adds of the next album “It’ll be more down-to-earth, more socially critic, obscure and city based. It will follow a day in the life of a normal citizen, and see that there’s more to one dull day than meets the eye… In terms of sound, I want to keep Sonic’s 2nd album’s sound, but giving it a more natural or free sound, if you will.”

For Sonic Pulsar fans the future looks bright indeed. The mix of genres and sound is distinctive and with more on music the horizon there’s good reason to anticipate a new release.