Oliver Brighton has managed to get smaller, and yet get bigger at the same time.

The Ellsworth-based progressive rock group shrank from five to three members last fall. Holdovers were drummer Jeff Crossman, who founded the band in 1981, and bassist Billy Andrews, who joined two years ago. (Oliver Brighton was named after a character in a short story that Crossman wrote while as a student.) Both had played on Brighton’s first album, 1996’s “Under the Avalanche.”

“From my point of view, we needed more than what we had, needed to bring in someone who shared our vision,” said Andrews, 27, of Ellsworth.

“We knew we could do an album, but we needed someone to help us put across what we wanted to say,” added Crossman, 35, of Ellsworth.

Enter vocalist-guitarist Jeff Thibeau. A veteran of such Maine bands as Vinyl China and Bad Habit, Thibeau was looking for something new as well.

“I was really tired of playing bar music,” said Thibeau, 32, of East Holden. “I knew Billy from a previous musical association, and thought that [Oliver Brighton] would afford me the opportunity to play my own music, not somebody else’s. It was either that or get out of the music business altogether.”

The trio began rearranging existing songs and started writing new material for their next album. They began working in the studio with John Dyer of Blue Hill-based Unintentional Music in January.

The result is the album “After the Fall,” released June 16. The official CD release party will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, June 26, at the Grand in Ellsworth.

Despite having fewer musicians, Oliver Brighton’s new sound has gotten bigger.

“The result is to allow for more space, both for the songs and the instruments,” Thibeau said. “This allows the songs to carry the music, rather than focusing on all the parts.”

“It’s a lot cleaner sound,” Andrews added.

The three members of the band all say they’re working from a single vibe.

“We’ve got an incredible similarity in likes and dislikes, not just in music, but in every aspect of life,” Thibeau said. “There’s a very high level of mutual respect and admiration, and a singular vision musically.”

First and foremost for Oliver Brighton is the music.

“During the recording, I’ve never seen musicians so worried about being too ambiguous, about pulling certain parts into more prominent view,” Crossman said. “It all revolves around the song, not the individual player.”

Admission for the CD release party is $5 a ticket or $15 for a ticket and CD. For reservations, call 667-9500.

“After the Fall” is available at the following locations: The Grasshopper Shop in Bangor and Ellsworth; Video Video, Bar Harbor; Mark’s Music, Brewer; Mainely Music, Ellsworth; and Northern Kingdom Music and Borders in Bangor.

Oliver Brighton also will be playing a free concert July 18 at the Atrium in Bar Harbor, which will be broadcast live on WMDI (107.7 FM).