Del Rey & The Sun Kings

Battleship Potemkin is Jackson Del Rey's homage to director Sergei Eisenstein’s classic silent film. In his writings, Eisenstein stated that he hoped a new score would be written for the Battleship Potemkin every ten years. Eisenstein felt that although the imagery of the film would remain vital and vibrant, new music would help “update” the film and thereby aid its introduction to subsequent generations of moviegoers.

The Battleship Potemkin was originally screened in Moscow in October of 1925. Interestingly, in 2005, (the 80th anniversary of Potemkin) the Pet Shop Boys (I’m not kidding) were commissioned to compose a new soundtrack thereby “fulfilling” Eisenstein’s wishes. However, the score by the Pet Shop Boys fails to capture and/or convey any of the unique drama or historical context that led the valiant sailors aboard the Potemkin to mutiny against the tyrannical rule of Czar Nicholas. And quite frankly, the ‘80s era Pet Shop Boys apparently haven’t bought any new synthesizers lately and their score sounds, well, dated. Perhaps they could write the score to the next David Hasselhoff movie…

Eisenstein kept notes about what kind of music he wanted to see behind “Potemkin.” He wrote that he was not very interested in melodies that followed the action on the screen and that instead, the songs should be structured in such a manner so as to build tension between the five parts or chapters he designated as the “inner” construction of “Potemkin.” Eisenstein’s only other recorded thoughts regarding the musical score was that he wanted the ending sequences as rhythmic as possible.

To this end, Del Rey & The Sun Kings chose to blend classical instruments including live violins reminiscent of Samuel Barber, with nylon stringed guitars and rather cool trumpets (think Miles Davis) together with an “industrialized” background of purposefully synthetic sounding Tangerine Dream inspired keyboards and various rhythmic, mechanical samples (Morse code/echo sounder/machine press.)

“Potemkin” also pays homage to several of Del Rey’s favorite film composers, most notably Ennio Morricone (Vakulinchuk Acts) and Jerry Goldsmith (A Happy Day In The City.)

With the recent interest in 80s music, and with original Savage Republic member Del Rey’s “other” 80s band, 17 Pygmies simultaneously releasing its first new recordings in 17 years, “Potemkin” would seem to be in the right place at the right time.

Visit www.trakwerx.com to hear audio samples and pre-order CDs!!!

The Spirit Girls DEBUT RELEASE "Forever Free"

Forever Free is the debut album by LA’s favorite avant-rockers The Spirit Girls. The band has an interesting origin – it grew out of “The Spirit Girls: Songs that Never Die,” a rock opera created by noted LA artist Marnie Weber. The opera follows a group of ghost girls on a fairytale-like journey as they search for a place to perform their songs and tell their stories.

Forever Free chronicles the lives and deaths of the Spirit Girls through expressive, multi-dimensional vocals, powerful, melodic guitars, thick psychedelic synths, and mournful cello riffs. The Spirit Girls’ sound has been described as something of a cross between Sonic Youth, King Crimson and 17th Century French Romantic paintings.

After performing “Songs That Never Die” to sellout crowds, Marnie decided to expand her original concept into a separate, but unique musical group. As an original member of LA’s legendary ‘80s band The Party Boys, Marnie had little trouble recruiting the musicians she needed. Such notable musicians as Dani Tull (Polar Bear), Tamara Sussman (Bertha Mason and The Polio Kids), Tanya Haden (Silver Sun Pickups & the Haden Three) and Debbie Spinelli (Rad Waste, 17 Pygmies) all signed on as active members of the Spirit Girls.

And so the saga of this band of ghost girls continues, as they wander through a series of imaginary landscapes similar to those in the collages and films of Marnie Weber. With the renewed interest in ‘80s “post-punk” music, Forever Free is sure to play well to today’s “alternative” audience while still appealing to the original punk set that still like to take a walk on the wild side.

Visit www.trakwerx.com to hear audio samples.

17 Pygmies rides again

After a "brief" 17 year absence, '80s icon band 17 Pygmies strikes back with not a one, but a two disc set of new and unusual compositions that not only enompass the elements that made the band a cult curiosity, but in fact includes and expands upon those sounds in a manner assuring them of yet another foothold (but a stronger one) in the world of musical obscurity.

Visit the Trakwerx label site to hear audio samples and pre-order CDs. www.trakwerx.com
Other releases from Jackson Del Rey and The Spirit Girls are available on this site.

Visit the parent company, Maryatt Music Group Inc., website to hear audio and order CDs and inquire about music licensing. www.maryattmusic.com.

17 Pygmies has a myspace site at www.myspace.com/17pygmies including audio samples and downloads from the lastest new 7" Vinyl single release "Last Train". Due out December 1st, this single release includes a song Jackson Del Rey (founding member of Savage Republic & 17 Pygmies) wrote as 17 Pygmies were going their separate ways.