About The Sounds
There was always music playing in my house. Everything from classical to 50’s Do-wop, from hard rock to electronic music. I was introduced to electronic music by my father at the age of 10 (which was 1980) with Tomita’s The Planets and followed up by Tangerine Dream’s Force Majeure and Stratosfear. The sounds and melodies immediately spoke to me, far beyond what just a guitar and or piano was able to do. But it wasn’t just the melodies, it was the endless variations of sound textures of a synthesizer that hit a nerve. It created such a feeling that I am unable to describe. Since then I have always been fascinated with synthesizers, mainly analog synths and it inspired me to create my own material.
Starting out with whatever I had available, my mother’s cheap yamaha portable keyboard and my father’s dual tape deck and graphic equalizer to create some sort of melodies Eventually I built my own home studio with guitars, drums, synthesizers and a recording console. And I have been making noise ever since.
Escaping from the Darkness
A collection of compositions built upon a dark, dystopian/post-apocalyptic concept. An eerie, suspenseful soundtrack, if you will… to no such film. Inspired by the numerous vintage synthesized scores from the small screen to the big screen of the 70s & 80s.
So many special thanks to the following for their overpowering influences: John Carpenter, Brad Fiedel, Fabio Frizzi, Barry De Vorzon, Vangelis, Giorgio Moroder, Wendy Carlos, Jerry Goldsmith, and Tangerine Dream. With an additional thanks to Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein.
The amazing software synthesizer company Cherry Audio has created a page on their website in regards to this release. Their products were a large part of this production. Special thanks to the Cherry Audio team,
NOW AVAILABLE
The Mysteries of the Infinite
Pat Cotillo, Jr.'s 2022 release of electronic music "The Mysteries of the Infinite" is now available at the following streaming sites. His first release "Astral - Eolith City" is also available.
Robbert Schuller - I/O Pages Magazine December 2022
There is a big gap in time between 1999’s debut Astral - Eolith City and this American synth player’s new throw. He used to go cosmic with a penchant for sounds by Kitaro, now it is more slightly angular synthwave that is experiencing a renaissance due to the success of the television series Stranger Things. Cotillo goes for an analogue sound with bright solo sounds. He does so in a style that combines synthpop, electro and prog rock. For comparison, think of the work of an act like Zombi. The mainstays of the album are the long compositions at the beginning and end of 9 and 12 minutes, respectively. The title track that opens reminds me somewhat of Kraftwerk’s Metropolis in terms of melody line. The closing The Elapse Of Time is the most proggy with various themes and atmospheres stuck together.
Astral - Eolith City
DARREN BERGSTEIN i/e Music in Flux - issue no. 8 (1994)
Clones of TD and Schulze are alive and programming everywhere today, and like anyone milking the Berlin school for all its worth, some simply languish while others expound. Keyboardist Pat Cotillo might not be the next Froese, but the six lengthy space excursions to be found on Eolith City fairly sparkle with the brilliant textures and swirling, incandescent sounds. Contemporaries such as John Serrie or even Pete Namlook are also in abundance here, but Cotillo weaves through his influences with exuberance and a childlike wonder. “Machines 2093” could almost be slowed-down Pinhas (minus the scorching guitar), displaying whizzing sheets of electronics amidst trickling rivulets of purring sequencers. In all, a fresh spin on the Teutonic axis , Westernized without any new age Faults.
SOUNDMIND Magazine August 1994
This is a synth album with a difference. It has all of the tell-tale synth soundscapes, without falling into any category or comparison. Not up beat like TD or Jarre, nor 100% relaxing like Aeoliah, it has a serenity and relaxing quality, but is also highly listenable. It is the brainchild of Pat Cotillo, Jr. who arranged the music, programmed the synths and made the cover illustration. A variety of sounds make this a movie soundtrack from the future, but rather than the Star Trek action music, as something is always happening, this is more a documentary of life in a future city, future anthropology if you will.
Upon a New World sets the scene admirably, you can almost see the city, and feel the confusion of its alien appearance to our eyes. Conversations appear to be going on, as the electronic music captures the spirit of the Eolith City. Some of the pieces are however very meditational, and senece, beautiful pieces of music to relax the soul
A very thoughtful and highly listenable album, crossing the borders of electronic music, and finding a nice little niche in the space section that has not really been explored, and is indeed a great album for exploring. Give this man a movie soundtrack.
FRITS COUWENBERG, EDITOR OF KLEM NEDERLANDS
“Astral managed to hit the right atmosphere of the Cosmos (the way I imagine it).”