February 2006 was recorded, filmed, and released as Transformations: Live for the People that July. Featuring guest appearances by experimental rap duo Blackalicious, Robby Krieger of The Doors, guitarist Joe Satriani, and DJ Logic, the album showcased the band exploring vocal-based music as well as incorporating more overt rock and hip hop influences. In late July 2006 Scott Metzger had to leave Particle due to a family emergency that required his long-term attention. In October 2007 Ben Combe announced his departure from Particle and pursued a Biotech degree until April 2012. A July 2008 side project, PUJA, brought together Combe and Darren Pujalet of Particle, as well as Melvin Seals of The Jerry Garcia Band and Cristian Basso of Leo Nocentelli and Little Hercules. In 2008 Molitz also played in the supergroup Agents of Mayhem. Particle shows since 2008 have featured Josh Clark of Tea Leaf Green, Michael Kang of The String Cheese Incident, Dan Lebowitz of Animal Liberation Orchestra, Lucas Bingham of Free Band Radio, Pete Wall (sax) of The Motet as well as former Particle members Ben Combe and Charlie Hitchcock. Musical style The band is regarded as a jam-band with progressive rock roots. They have described their music as "space porn funk", a term coined by one of their early fans, and "funktronic". Allmusic writer Hal Horowitz, reviewing Launchpad described their music as having "a loose '70s feel that mixes elements of Pink Floyd's prog rock and Return to Forever-styled jazz fusion with insistent dance beats that shift from funk to near disco". Philip Booth, reviewing Launchpad for CMJ New Music Monthly described their music as "fusion in the non-jazz sense", commenting on the "trance, house, and drum 'n' bass rhythms heard throughout", and calling the album an "unstoppable blast of gritty electronic jam". A review by Nicole Keiper in The Tennessean described the band's sound as " jam-rock standards that make smart use of dance music's lush textures and well-placed, good-and-solid dancefloor thumps". Chris Nelson of The New York Times described them as "disco-flavored, instrumental jam music". Discography Albums Launchpad (2004), Or Music Transformations Live For The People (2006), Shout! Factory Live at Wanee Festival 2012 (2012), MunckMix Accelerator (2018), Particle Records Videos Transformations Live For The People (2006) (DVD-V), Shout! Factory Singles "The Track Inside" (February 3, 2004 United States) Launchpad Remixes (November 9, 2004 United States) References External links Particle collection at the Internet