The new Bon Ton Key Club track "Dialtones" is available at www.facebook.com/bontonkeyclub  or www.reverbnation.com/bontonkeyclub

  The page for "Bon Ton Key Club" is backgrounded with black & white pictures of Richard Dickson, the sole musician in the act. There are various pictures of Rich in various poses, all of which are not aggressive, nor obtuse. Rich claims in his bio that he's "working on staying outside the box", and trying "different styles of arranging, mixtures of sounds and genres…" This seems to be the case with Bon Ton Key Club, as his own description is right on the money. Rich has spent much of his life involved in music, both being a band teacher and a performer. His influences range from country & blues to rock, jazz, and even disco.

    The opening song for Bon Ton Key Club is called "Give and Take". It opens with a seductive edge, percussion & synth, easily gripping the listener and walking you through a trance-like realm of melodic sound. The truly moving piece in my opinion is called, "Polish the Dull Side/Solitaire". This piece especially depicts Rich's ability to transpose the music in his head, to the music on his keyboards, or synthesizers. The piano solo in this piece is significantly moving, and leaves the listener in a state of positive wonder. By the third song, "Nightwalk", I was able to suspect that software might be used in production. Modern synthesizers are able to produce most instruments, so I was a little surprised that Rich could be using software. However, it blends very nicely, so I'm not taken aback or dismayed. The song "Freedom on the Fly" has one of the best guitar solos I've heard in a disco-tech song, andI felt a little thieved when Reverbnation cut the song short. The true disco influence of Rich's music appears in the song, "Down at the House". Along with what can only be a software version of a clavinet, the song takes a firm ride across the scales.

    Bon Ton Key Club has listed "other/ electronica/ electro-lounge" as it's genre. In my opinion, "Other" has always meant experimental. If Rich has been experimenting, his results are superior. As far as electronica, Rich has that edge. "Electro-lounge" is the best description, because none of the songs I listened to had the typical dance/stomp-beat. All of the percussion was authentic, perhaps software, but certainly his own. The piano & key solos prove Rich's abilities & talent, and define Rich as an artist. All of Rich's tunes would certainly be heard or mixed in the "lounge" atmosphere. (…and the type of lounge that sells martinis, no beer) Rich's music is that of a time since past, now returned with a modern edge and a talent that certainly has more to give. I find the electro-lounge genre consistent with Bon Ton Key Club, or vice-versa.

    At the time of this blog, there are 15 songs, and zero videos. In this case, videos are not needed. I get plenty of imagery in my head. It appears this act appears on various podcasts and internet radio shows, and occasionally live.

    If you like electronica composed entirely by hand, this is your act. The only thing I might add to this music is vocals, but that might take away from the power & edge of these tunes, and may have been what Rich decided in the first place. The song, "Checkin' Round" has vocals. As I suspected, the vocals DO take away from the amazing composing that Rich is capable of. This is not to say it's a bad song. Not one of Rich's songs stay in one place, which is certainly something I approve. The textures and movements get you moving, the blends have feeling, and the variety keeps you interested. Bon Ton Key Club is rich in atmosphere, rich in variety, rich in textures, and totally…Rich.

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