Looking out into the crowd of five thousand music fans at Sunken Gardens Theater in San Antonio, Texas it was impossible to see everyone due to the blinding stage lights. The excitement level was very high as we were about to go into our set opening for Bob Dylan. Having met Mr. Dylan earlier in the day during the sound check we were already on cloud nine and thankful for the opportunity that we had been awarded by winning battle of the bands contest sponsored by the promoter of the concert, Stone City Attractions.
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LYNN STOKES & SOL SURFERS - "Terra Nocturne"
The Sol Surfers were formed in 2007, Boerne, Texas, by Lynn Stokes to showcase new original material. All members of the group have extensive professional experience performing live for many years. The band plays original songs with a classic rock feel blending the sounds of soul music with the rhythms and chord structure of surf-rock and new-age, retro-psychedelic. Spending his early days in Austin, Texas in the 1970’s allowed hin to experience and witness a wide variety of exceptional musicians and musical trends; from the Cosmic Cowboy country scare to the electric blues revival of the Vaughan brothers. Concentrating mainly as a guitar player led me to playing with a variety of bands and musical styles throughout his career and working with talented songwriters whose songwriting crafts did not go unnoticed. One of the highlights of those days was opening for Bob Dylan in 1991 in front of 5000 people and getting great reviews in the music press. Lynn Stokes has been successfully making a name for himself throughout the USA prog music circuit, as a talented musician and a exceptional songwriter. Clearly his music is so versatile and deliver various musical aspects, developed under a superb orchestration, we can find elements of Progressive Rock, Aor, Symphonic Melodic Rock, Classic Rock, New Age and Space Music. After two considered albuns, his new work titled as "Terra Nocturne", is the story of a journey through the emotions and transcendental experiences, which transpire during the course of one particularly lucid evening. The musical style written on this album, draws a magnificent demonstration of Melodic Symphonic Progressive Rock, Space Music and Classical Rock, full of exciting guitar's solos, amazing keyboards sounds, accompanied by atmospheric instrumental section, where the musical arrangements reminds me some thing very near to "Pink Floyd's" albuns "Wish You Were Here", "Animals" and "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason". "Terra Nocturne" was produced by Lynn Stokes, recorded by Spencer Ramzel at 6th Street Studio, San Antonio, Texas, mixed and mastered by Roland St. John Perez, all songs written by Lynn Stokes, except Sacred Moon´s Light lyrics by Stone Bryson and Dream Sequencer by Lynn Stokes and Roland St. John Perez. Including nine tracks, among 53 min, really full of pure emotions. A special and particular attention to and my favourite songs are: "Sacred Moon's Light", (was selected by the Progressive Rock Hall of Fame to be included in their forthcoming compilation CD, Soundscapes Volume One, and was mailed to 1000 record labels, reviewers and radio stations around the world), "Terra Nocturne", "Where Have You Gone", "Let Go" (This song has been selected by Versailles Records to be included on their upcoming compilation CD 'Road TRIP Rock Vol. 1/2.), "Open Door", "American Dream" and "Across the Barrier". In fact, "Terra Nocturne" will be enjoyed by fans of progressive rock music with the symphonic atmosphere in the same line of "Pink Floyd", "David Gilmour", "Roger Waters" and "Yes". You can visit Lynn Stokes & Sol Surfers at Sonicbids.com. RadioIndy is pleased to present Lynn Stokes & Sol Surfers with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Terra Nocturne". The musicians on this project are: Lynn Stokes - Guitars and Vocals, Mike Orbelo - Bass Guitar, Roland St. John Perez - Keyboards and Sythesizers, Kevin Cooley - Drums, Jerry Savoy - Saxophone, Dean Evans - Flute, Lisa Stokes - Vocals Chorus and Phil Grota - Flute on "The Crossing". Brilliant and indispensable work, highly recommendable... (Comments by Carlos Vaz)

Published on: 22 Apr 2009
Lynn Stokes and the Sol Surfers album Terra Nocturne is so floydian in sounds and structure that it could genuinely be taken for a lost Pink Floyd album recorded somewhere between Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. It is also near, in atmosphere, to the first solo project of David Gilmour. This implied a mellow and slow music, not the more experimental and punchy side of the band such as shown on the Ummagumma album. That said, and even though it is almost a copycat of the original, I have found it incredibly good, and I prefer it to what Pink Floyd did after the Wall. The musicianship is simply superb and the ambiances created made me realize that I have lately missed the mind blowing and meditative qualities of that strand of progressive rock. It has been a long time, since I had so much pleasure listening to an album. I float listening to it.
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3 stars I'll have to say this about Terra Nocturne - it is a strong and well thought out atmosphere Lynn Stokes and his Sol Surfers are exploring on this production.

The musical style explored is a dark one; as fits the title of the album; but also one that is mellow, slick and highly melodic. Acoustic guitars and piano are the main melodic providers, serving distinct themes on which the rest of the instruments can play upon; with floating synths in the back adding texture while sax, flute and melodic guitar soloing are given the limelight in the front; besides the highly pleasing and relaxing vocals of Stokes.

In style I'd describe this as a mellow Pink Floyd from the late 70's approaching a new age type of music - the dark atmospheres and light melodic explorations in a rich and textured setting are highly comparable to Gilmour and company, and the guitar soloing just as much - but the compositions are slower, not at all as adventurous or creative but very well performed though.

Those who like Pink Floyd at their most mellow as well as finding new age-tinged music interesting should get out and sample this creation - chances are good it'll be regarded as a treasured acquisition.

This next band is for anyone who can’t seem to get enough of David Gilmour or Pink Floyd. Down in that massive state of Texas, we have Lynn Stokes & Sol Surfers playing that mellowed out, quasi-psychedelic and spacey rock that the aforementioned artists carved in stone. If you’re not careful, you may just think that you’re listening to Gilmour sing the lyrics to songs like “Let Go” or “Sacred Moon’s Light.” The tunes on their album, Terra Nocturne, are of the most mellow variety and nothing ever really starts kicking your ass in a true rock ‘n roll sense, but that’s not what this music is about. It’s so much more introspective and soulful. The guitar solos are rich with flavor and deep in tone. This is great music to chill out to. Highly recommended.

Terra Nocturne
Album Review
Lynn Stokes & Sol Surfers come from Boerne,Texas,USA with the release of this nine track album it seems to have a lot of heavy Pink Floyd influences but the quality and musicianship is top class, some of the guitar work from Lynn on the album is superb some very nice licks and high standard playing, one song stuck to me like glue is called "Let Go" I like the ghostly piano work in the intro and it's psychedelic/blues feel, Lynn has captured a beautiful ambient sound on Terra Nocturne and well worth checking out....
Review by T.Halpin • RANK - 5 out of 6

Attention Pink Floyd lovers! This album from Lynn Stokes will certainly interest you. 'Terra Nocturne' is packed to the rim with songs that remind you of PF…the atmosphere, the songs, the singing and even the vocal timbre. That all important Pink Floyd guitar sound can be found here as well. There is, however, not enough of those Floydian guitar solos to declare the whole thing as a Pink Floyd album. The solos are there, but they are mostly played by saxophone or by classical guitar. From: Prog-Nose Full review click here

Lynn Stokes is a life-long musician from the Texas scene. A guitar player with many bands over the years, he's seen space cowboys and the Vaughan Brothers and even opened up once for Bob Dylan. After a musical awakening while researching his family heritage, Stokes began writing his own songs in earnest. In 2007 he formed the Sol Surfers in order to showcase these tunes, and the end result is a lovely little album called Terra Nocturne."
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Because they're probably pretty tired of it by now, I'm not going to draw the comparison of Lynn Stokes and Sol Surfers to the hit rock band Pink Floyd. I'll only say that I had a strange compulsion to watch "The Wizard of Oz" while listening to this disc. The beauty of this album is in its thematic simplicity while using complex rhythms and tried and true instrumentation in innovative ways. There's a flow to the disc that is lost if you press the 'shuffle' button on your player, so don't.
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That is one of the best records I've heard in a long, long time. The recording is top-notch and the songs are killer. Really good lyrics and storytelling.
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Thanks for sending in the music. These are all excellent tracks, and they all seem very much of a piece. The execution of the arrangements is impressive, from the PINK FLOYD-like vocal approach & swimming murky vibe to the excellent playing and production.
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"Terra Nocturne" by Lynn Stokes & Sol Surfers is a musical journey
through many moods and emotions, highlighted by well-crafted songs,
thoughtful arrangements and exceptional musicianship. Each piece is
very symphonic and orchestral in nature, representing a single
movement in the overall album, which is meant to be a cohesive and
interrelated piece of music.
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