Smoldering Ashes new release gets a nod from Mick Mercer

Mick Mercer reviews "Songs In The Key Of Mountain Birds Blue". See his Feb. 23rd post.

Thanks Mick for paying attention to us!

REVOLVER SELLS TRAKWERX

Go to Revolver USA's mail order page midheaven.com to purchase any Trakwerx release including all 5 of the NEW RELEASES.

Mick Mercer reviews The Outlaw J.D. Ray

You will find an interesting in depth Outlaw review by Mick Mercer in the February 17th entry.

We like being called strange and lovely all in one. 

The Outlaw J.D. Ray available on CD Baby

After a long wait, CD Baby has just added The Outlaw J.D. Ray to their storefront. Other than our own label store this is the only place you can purchase the physical CD, a limited edition, hand assembled run. Digital downloads also available. 

27 Leggies posts a blog about "The Outlaw J.D. Ray"

Thanks to 27 Leggies for posting about 17 Pygmies' new CD: "The Outlaw J.D. Ray", a limited edition Trakwerx release, which contains a hand assembled journal including pics of the band members and a story behind the music.

Available in iTunes and coming soon on CDBaby 

Sepiachord adds Trakwerx songs to Playlists

sepiachord continues to add new Trakwerx songs to their playlists:

Week ending 1/31/10

17 Pygmies: Half Moon Bay

Week ending 2/1/10

17 Pygmies: Your Smilin' Eyes

Smoldering Ashes: Le Locataire Diabolique

plastelin.com reviews The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari DVD

Nije neobično da se pop-muzičari dohvate ozvučavanja klasika nemog filma. Neki skorašnji radovi su imali globaln(ij)e ekspozicije (Pet Shop Boys - Krstarica Potemkin na Trafalgar Skveru uz logistiku grada Londona), ali su većina (Mum, KTL, Nine Rain...) nakloni nečemu što ih je kao persone i umetnike gradilo.   Cult With No Name su (još uvek) čuveno ime iz departmana dobro iskrojenih pesama; ako iko upita zašto (?), odgovori se nalaze na dva albuma objavljena za etiketu Trakwerx (Paper Wraps Rock - 2006, Careful What You Wish - 2008). Grehota jeste što to više ljudi ne zna, kada u (među)prostoru alternative ima dovoljno širina/dužina da budu obrani od-tamo-negde gde počinju Tuxedomoon brazde, Associates usevi, pa sve dokle god pogled puca u današnjicu. Ovako su konzumirani od malobrojne, ali cenjene sile poštovalaca gde su najglasniji (muzički novinar) Mick Mercer, (muzičar i producent) Krammer (Bongwater, Shimmydisc) ili (magičar) Blaine L. Reininger ( TuxedoMoon). Konstatacijom da su CWNN u današnjem pop svetu sav onaj anticoldplay ukus, Mercer (im) je i dao najveću preporuku.   Trakwerx etiketa, preko Del Rey and The Sun Kings (Jackson Del Rey, ex Savage Republic) lagano gradi tradiciju izdavanja albuma na kojima se muzikalijama dopunjavaju nemi filmovi. Onda, nije iznenađenje da su se CWNN latili klasika nemačkog ekspresionizma "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari" koji je Robert Wiene režirao 1919. godine. Ovo delo retke izrade pomerilo je misaonost mnogih, a nesporan je uticaj na ljude popularne muzike. Mnogi su od Pere Ubu, Bauhaus, In The Nursery (etc, etc...) (is)koristili Caligarija da podupru svoju estetiku. Ni kačenje muzičkih draperija na "Das Cabinet..." nije incident, no, kao kuriozitet treba spomenuti sjajnog Billa Nelsona koji je 1981. uradio svoj soundtrack i kasnije to spakovao kao album za Cocteau etiketu, a upravo je Robert Wiene tridesetih godina prošlog veka pokušao sa angažovanjem Jeana Cocteaua oko ozvučenja filma. Ima se i utisak da su Britanci svakojako inspirisani filmom, pa su prošle 2009, na devedesetogodišnjicu snimanja, skor za film uradili i elektro-jazz duo Cipher i visokopoštovani džentlmen Steven Severin (ex Siouxsie and the Banshees, Glove).   Cult su iskustva gledanja filma opisali kao unikatna sa uvek drugačijim utiscima i verovatno je to razlog što su im zvuci raznovrsniji u odnosu na regularan rad. Od znaka za početak pa do zadnje slike, Erik Stein i Jon Boux (uz asistenciju Jeffa Brennemana) prate radnju bez tenzije koja bi posmatraču razbila pažnju i/li ugođaj praćenja filma. Muzika je(ste) nesumnjivo za njih univerzalni jezik, pa se ne osećaju disforično, a ugodno je naslađivati se ovom muzikom i kada nije dopuna. Dr. Caligari dijagnostikuje da CWNN-DVD ne reciklira svoj rad, već razvija i nove uticaje, pa smo (u)čas (u)sred nečega što priziva Eno+Budd ambient, čas nas dostigne gotski-trip-hop-pop i nešto od prijatnog (polu)industriala. Nisu zanemarili sopstveni zaštitni znak, piano prepariran za nas koji preferiramo žurku usamljenika. Bez tako iritantne užurbanosti i bezrazložne pretencioznosti.   Ima ljudi koje odbijaju ovakve tvorevine i ovaj OST bi mogao da im bude izazov za skidanje čari. Stein je rekao da ne može da zamisli muziku odvojenu od filma i eto prednosti nama konzumentima nad umetnicima. Naravno, valja uzeti ono što je dobrovoljno ponuđeno i tako se audio-separat Caligarija može skinuti džabe sa CWNN stranice:   www.last.fm/music/Cult+With+No+Name/The+Cabinet+Of+Dr.+Caligari a može se i pazariti kao DVD   www.maryattmusic.com/store/cd_info.php?id=MMG+477   Svakom po volji i po afinitetu. U kabinetu Dr. Kaligarija.   Autor: Mileta Okiljević

 

 

Cult With No Name - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari DVD (Trakwerx/Lightwerx, 2009)   These days, it's not unusual to hear 'pop' musicians add their sound to silent movies. Some are subjected to worldwide exposure, such as the Pet Shop Boys' performance of Battleship Potemkin in London's Trafalgar Square, but most (Mum, Ktl, Ninerain) are something more personal to the individual artists.   Cult With No Name retain one of the best reputations as classic songwriters. Those seeking evidence need only to check out their two albums on the Trakwerx label, 'Paper Wraps Rock' (2007) and 'Careful What You Wish For' (2008). It's just a shame that more people aren't aware of them. There's more than enough space in alternative music for a band that whose roots lie in Tuxedomoon, but whose fruits hint at a modern version of The Associates. Still, they have a small but respectable group of noisy admirers, including Mick Mercer (renowned post-punk journalist), Kramer (Bongwater, Shimmydisc), and Blaine L. Reininger (Tuxedomoon). Perhaps Mercer provided them with the biggest accolade when he dubbed CWNN "the anti-coldplay".   The Trakwerx label, under the guidance of Jackson Del Rey (ex Savage Republic), have slowly built a tradition of releasing new soundtracks to old silent movies. It's no surprise, then, that CWNN have taken hold of the German expressionist classic 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari', directed in 1919 by Robert Weine. The movie is a persistent influence on the aesthetics of a range of popular musicians, including Pere Ubu, Bauhaus and In The Nursery. A mention must also go to the great Bill Nelson, who released his soundtrack in 1981, as well as the musical score released by electro-jazz duo Cipher and Steve Severin (ex Siouxsie and the Banshees) in 2009, to coincide with the film's 90th anniversary.   The experience of watching the film is unique each time you watch it. Perhaps this is why CWNN's soundtrack is more diverse than their previous two albums. From the opening moments to the closing bars, the music of Erik Stein and Jon Boux (with assistance from Jeff Brenneman) seamlessly follows the plot, adding to the satisfaction of watching the movie. Dr. Caligari doesn't see CWNN recycle their previous work, but invoke new influences. One moment the music recalls Brian Eno/ Harold Budd ambience, whilst the next we find ourselves caught in gothic trip hop pop and semi-industrial sounds. Of course, they haven't neglected their trademark, with plenty of piano for us loners. Everything is perfectly placed, perfectly timed, without any hint of pretension.   Of course there are people who are hostile to such modern soundtrack takes on movie classics. And CWNN have said that they cannot imagine the music separate to the movie. However, it is we as consumers that have the option. Either buy the DVD or simply download the music alone.   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cwnn3   http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lightwerx-cabinet-dr-caligari/id351228902

BLOW UP Magazine reviews new Trakwerx DVD releases

Jackson Del Rey

Tarzan Of The Apes • DVD Trakwerx • 60:00 ca.

Cult With No Name

Lightwerx: The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari • DVD Trakwerx • 51:00 ca.

AA.VV. (The Trakwerx Collectiv)

Lightwerx: Georges Melies • DVD Trakwerx • 15t-71:00 ca.

Dopo “Nosferatu” e “Battleship Potemkin” Philip Drucker/Jackson Del Rey si misura di nuovo con la colonna sonora di un classico del cinema muto, passione e ossessione che il polistrumentista che fu mente dei Savage Republic fa benissiomo a coltivare, visti i risultati. Anche per “Tarzan Of The Apes” (“Tarzan delle scimmie”, Scott Sidney 1918, il primo Tarzan cinematografico di sempre) il criterio valutativo e lo stesso dei due film precedenti: la musica e splendida se considerate a se ma forse non adattissima a farsi commento delle immagini, dalle quali Jackson mutua il senso pratico e immediato fornendone una sorta di parlato senza parole: la scene di tensione e lotta tramite tamburi battenti e crescendo imperiosi, quelle di dramma e mistero con suoni tesi e notturni, quando gli alberi sono mossi dal vento con un synth che lo emula, e cosi via. Si dira che sono le stesse modalita utilizzate da qualunque commentatore sonoro, solo che la personalita musicale di Del Rey e cosi forte da superare e surclassare le immagini, che restano letteralmente mute di fronte alla potenza visionaria messa in atto dal musicista, quasi che siano esse a dover commentare I suoni – insomma, come in un videoclip. Jackson per l’occasione recuper e campiona anche frasi dal primo album della sua vechcia band (“Tragic Figures”) e si dichiara “influenzato dal Prog Rock (in questo caso i Genesis), Nino Rota, il soul degli anni ’70 (guardavo sempre Soul Train e non American Bandstand) e la chitarra spagnola, a cui si deve aggiungere la mia passione per il noise elettronico; e ora se solo potessi avere a disposizione un’orchestra di 30 elementi…vabbe’, sara per la prossima volta”. Insomma, un DVD che si sdoppia e raddoppia: un classico del cinema e un (nuovo) classico della musica registrata: due al prezzo di uno.

E invece un classico dell’espressionismo tedesco, “The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari”, che i due Cult With No Name (Erik Stein “voce e piano ritmico”, Jon Boux “piano e voce ritmica”) rivedono in maniera affatto personale. Gli assassinii e il mistero, l’aura di follia e di allucianazione (accentuata dalle originalissime scenografie) che avvolgono il capolavoro diretto da Robert Wiene nel 1920 si straniscono ancor piu nell’impatto con la musica e le canzoni, alcune anche cantate, dello coppia londinese. Col solo ausilio di due pianoforti e pochi effetti elettronici curati da Jeff Brenneman, i CWNN trasportano la cup atmosfera mitteleuropea dell’originale in un mondo stralunato che stride fortemente con i loro melodismi musicali accentuando l’idea di un universo onirico e schizofrenico, del tutto staccato dalla realta del suo stesso accadere. “Magnifica” e l’unica parola che si puo utilizzare per un’operazione che, a differenza della precedente e in maniera apparentemente paradossale, lega alla perfezione con le immagini.

Infine “Lightwerx: Georges Melies”, omaggio collettivo al grande regista – nonche illusionista e prestigiatore – francese reso da una serie di band e musicisti che sonorizzano quindici cortometraggi realizzati tra il 1898 e il 1910. Assieme a Jackson Del Rey, 17 Pygmies, Cult With No Name, Meg Maryatt e Smoldering Ashes ci sono gli sconosciuti Jo Gabriel, Tommy Santee Klaws, Gods Of Electricity, Lea Reis, Sparkle Girl, Stephan Graham e Kulfi che danno ciascuno una propria colonna sonora di film come “Le Voyage Dans La Lune”, “Le Danse Infernale”, “Voyage a Travers L’impossible”, “L’homme a la Tete de Caoutchou”, “Le Locataire Diabolique”, Le Diable Noir”, “Le Melomane”, ecc. ecc. seguendo tratti del tutto diversi: paraindustrial, noise, ambient, rock, pop, sperimentale, elettronica. Alcuni pezzi si coniugano perfettamente alle immagini ma nel complesso piu che un omaggio a Melies ne viene fuori una bella compilation da ascoltare in contemporanea alla visione (i pezzi migliori sono quelli di Del Rey); che comunque non e un limite. (24) Stefano I. Bianchi

After "Nosferatu" and "Battleship Potemkin" Philip Drucker/Jackson Del Rey is measured anew with the soundtrack of a classic silent movie, passion and obsession that multi-instrumentalist who was the mind of Savage Republic has grown well and seen the results. Even for "Tarzan Of The Apes" ("Tarzan of the Apes, Sidney Scott, 1918, the first Tarzan film ever) the criterion of evaluation is the same as two previous films: the music is beautiful when viewed in itself but perhaps not very suitable to make a comment on the images, from which Jackson’s mutual practical and immediate sense provides a kind of speaking without words: the scenes of tension and struggle through drums crescendoing masterfully, that of drama and mystery with sound themes and nocturnes, when the trees are moved by the wind with a synth that emulates, and so on. Some may say that they are the same way as from any soundtrack, except that the musical personality of Del Rey is strong enough to overcome and surpass the images, which remain silent in the face of power put in place by the visionary musician, as if they have to comment on the sounds - in short, as in a video clip. Jackson on occasion recovered samples including phrases from the first album of his old band ("Tragic Figures") and states that it is "influenced by Prog Rock (in this case early Genesis), Nino Rota, the soul of the '70s (I always watched Soul Train and not American Bandstand) and the Spanish guitar, which must be added to my passion for electronic noise, and now if I could only have available a 30-piece orchestra...next time". In short, a DVD that splits and doubles: a classic film and a (new) classic music recording: two for the price of one.

Next a classic of German Expressionism, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, the duo Cult With No Name (Erik Stein “voice and rhythmic piano”, Jon Boux "piano and vocal rhythm") retell it in a personal way. The murders and the mystery, the aura of madness and hallucination (accentuated by the very original designs) that wrap the masterpiece directed by Robert Wiene in 1920, stranger still is the most impact with the music and songs, some even sung by the London pair. With the help of only two pianos and a few electronic effects contributed by Jeff Brenneman, the central European atmosphere CWNN carrying the cup of the original in a distraught world that jars sharply with their musical melodies emphasizing the idea of a schizophrenic dream world, completely detached from the reality of his that was going on. "Magnificent" and the only word that can be used for an operation that, unlike the previous one and in an seemingly paradoxical way blends perfectly with the images.

Finally "Lightwerx: Georges Melies”, collective homage to the great French director - as well as illusionist and magician – rendered from a number of bands and musicians who scored fifteen short films made between 1898 and 1910. Along with Jackson Del Rey, 17 Pygmies, Cult With No Name, Meg Maryatt Smoldering Ashes there are strangers Jo Gabriel, Tommy Santee Klaws, Gods Of Electricity, Lea Reis, Sparkle Girl, Stephan Graham and Kulfi that give each its own soundtrack in films like "Le Voyage Dans La Lune", "Le Danse Infernale", "Voyage a Travers L'Impossible", "L'homme a la Tete de Caoutchou", "Le Locataire Diabolique", “Le Diable Noir", "The Melomane", etc, etc...following traits quite different paraindustrial, noise, ambient, rock, pop, experimental, electronics. Some pieces combine perfectly with the pictures but overall more than an homage to Melies out comes a beautiful compilation to listen simultaneously to the vision (the best pieces are those by Del Rey), which however, is not a limit. (24) Stefano I. Bianchi

Italy's BLOW UP Magazine reviews 2 Trakwerx CD releases

AMERICANA

17 Pygmies

The Outlaw J.D. Ray •  CD

Trakwerx • 11t-44:30

Smoldering Ashes

Songs In The Key Of Mountain Birds Blue • CD • Trakwerx • 12t-38:00

Nuovo album per il mai dimenticato Philip Drucker aka Jackson Del Rey, a suo tempo tra le menti dei Savage Republic e da qualche anno nuovamente attivo con il suo progretto collaterale (e oggio principale) 17 Pygmies nonché come abilissimo autore di colonne sonore. Come e piu delle altre, quest’uscita dei Pygmies e all’insegna del-l’eccentricita: un concept basato su “ambizione, decadenza, amore perduto e ritrovato, le basi di ogni tragedia”  e ambientato negli USA di “un’epoca imprecisata dopo la Guerra Civile ma prima del ‘900”, secondo le parole del responsabile principale che, adottato il nom de plume di Blind Lemony Pledge Fresh Jackson e accompagnato da Maggie Mae (Meg Maryatt) e Rib-Eye (Jeff Brenneman) alle chitarre acustiche e D-Bone (Dirk Doucette) alla batteria, mette in riga dodici monocrome, lentisime ballate country e le impacchetta nel consueto capolavoro d’artigianato DIY: una confezione cartonata e infiocchettata manco fossimo nel 1880. L’atmosfera complessiva e simpatica e il suono piacevole ma di canzoni realmente memorabili non ce ne sono molte (si ricordano le buone She’s Gone e Half Moon Bay); il consiglio per Philip sarebbe di dedicarsi alle colonne sonore, dove sortisce risultati veramente eccellenti (vedi sezione DVD in questo stesso numero). (6)

A un anno e mezzo di distanza da “Nervous Constellations” tornano anche gli Smoldering Ashes, outfit dei due Pygmies Jeff Brenneman e Dirk Doucette con Veronica Ashe alla voce e Tory Troutman al basso. Non cambia molto rispetto all’esordio: ballate pop-rock a mezzo tra roots americane, evanescenze da chanson francese (Move The Clouds) e modulazioni wave (Shake an Etch-a-Sketch) condite da piccole tentazioni avant fino a sfiorare cose che rimandano persino ai Savage Republic (Birds No Cage). Decisamente meglio del primo disco. (7) Stefano I. Bianchi

Loose English Translation:

AMERICANA

17 Pygmies

The Outlaw J.D. Ray •  CD

Trakwerx • 11t-44:30

Smoldering Ashes

Songs In The Key Of Mountain Birds Blue • CD • Trakwerx • 12t-38:00

New album to never forget Philip Drucker aka Jackson Del Rey, in his time in the minds of Savage Republic and over recent years with its active collateral projects (that is main) 17 Pygmies as well as skilled author of soundtracks. And this is more than the others, the Pygmies and the banner of eccentric output: a concept based on "ambition, loss, love lost and found, the foundation of every tragedy" and set in the U.S. of an "age unknown after the Civil War but before the '900", in the words of the chief who adopted the nom de plume Lemony Pledge Fresh Blind Jackson, accompanied by Maggie Mae (Meg Maryatt) and Rib-Eye (Jeff Brenneman) on acoustic guitar and D-Bone (Dirk Doucette) on drums, brings twelve slow monochromatic country ballads packaged in the usual DIY masterpiece of craftsmanship: a cardboard and beribboned box that you would find in 1880. The overall atmosphere is friendly and sounds nice but really memorable songs, there are not many (remember the good She's Gone and Half Moon Bay); the council for Philip would be to dedicate to the soundtracks, which yielded very excellent results ( See the DVD section in this issue). (6)

A year and a half away from "Nervous Constellations" Smoldering Ashes is back, too, the two Pygmies members Jeff Brenneman and Dirk Doucette with Veronica Ashe on vocals and Tory Troutman on bass. Not really changed at onset: ballads, pop-rock cross between American roots, reminiscent of French chanson (Move The Clouds) and modulation wave (Shake an Etch-a-Sketch) served by small temptations to touch things on until that point even the Savage Republic (No Birds Cage). Definitely better than the first disc. (7) Stefano I. Bianchi