KUSF features Cult With No Name

KUSF in Exile, a radio show based in Portland, Oregon features several songs from Cult With No Name
 on their Friday night show.

http://www.kusf-archives.com/2011/12/kusf-in-exile-120911-7-8-pm-set-of-dj.html

Cult With No Name airplay

Cult With No Name will be on air Friday night 7PM on KUSF in Exile, along with another UK experimental 'pop' band Sweet Billy Pilgrim.

Tune in 7PM pst and go to Eurock web site for more INFO + links regarding the programs.

Cult With No Name are releasing their next album January 1, 2012. Check their facebook page for more details.

17 Pygmies launch Kickstarter project

17 Pygmies is looking for support to complete the final episode of the Celestina series. Part 3, "CIII: Even Celestina Gets The Blues (A Tale of Love and Quantum Physics)" is slated for release January 1, 2012.

They are in the final stages of recording and will be in the mastering phase by December 15, 2011. The artwork has gone to the printer and hand assembly of the project will be completed the last week of December.

Help donate to the cause by clicking on this link. Any donation greatly appreciated!

Kickstarter

Robustfellow posts about 17 Pygmies "CII: Second Son"

Robustfellow posts a note about 17 Pygmies "CII: Second Son"

The blog's mission statement is to support heavy underground music worldwide and spread a word about such genres as stoner, sludge, doom, psychedelic, southern and other sonic bound music genres.

Music IS What Matters posts about 17 Pygmies and CII: Second Son

Background: 17 Pygmies officially began in 1982 when then Savage Republic member Jackson Del Rey (aka Philip Drucker) began jamming in a garage with keyboardist and guitarist Michael Kory (Radwaste) and drummer, soon to be singer, Debbie Spinelli from Food & Shelter and Radwaste. The group's first composition was an odd, kind of surf-a-delic, Emerson Lake & Palmer inspired cover version of the theme music to David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia. Since no one was around to say stop, the band quickly devolved into a kind of spooky instrumental and 80's style techno-pop band, and by the time the Pygs, as they were now known to the five people including the band members who knew them, started covering Brazilian sambas (and just before the release of their first EP) Robert Loveless, now a member of Savage Republic, signed on as bass player/keyboardist.

The band are described as  - partly symphonic prog rock, partly experimental, partly sci-fi, partly indie rock, partly space rock, partly electro-acoustic, (you get the picture) the Pygmies utilize the Brian Wilson ?whatever works? aesthetic to get their musical vision(s) across.

On January 1, 2011 "CII: Second Son" was released, part two in a three part series based on the original short story ?Celestina?  The story picks up with our hero, Captain Mora and fellow astronaut and scientist/love interest, Isabel, waking up after traveling through a black hole, only to discover a colony of robots who have changed their chemical ?mix? to cope with a beautiful but mysterious world in which nothing ever changes. While adapting to their new surroundings, they learn some astonishing news from Herod, leader of the robots, and know they have no choice but to find a way to return home. Musically, CII: Second Son is a tribute to all of the unique 1950-60?s era science fiction motion pictures (think The Day The Earth Stood Still), but this time the music is a bit darker, perhaps reminiscent of early Tangerine Dream, with the Pygs using more experimental sounds to reflect the more somber, stark moodiness of the storyline. Heather Lockie (Audio Distructinators) was invited to play viola for this project to add a mysterious and beautiful sound.

2011Candy Says: The mention of prog rock seems to put me on cautious alert these days however 17 Pygmies are far more than just prog rock and even that aspect of them is superb. This is a wonderful album.
Listen: CELESTINA XIII Web: MySpace.

Item posted about Trakwerx in Blurbwire and Museum of Learning

Blurbwire, Current News and Events for High Maintenance Minds, and Museum of Learning, Explore a Virtual Museum of Knowledge, have posted entries about the activities of Trakwerx since its inception in 2005


You can also find this information on Wikipedia

17 Pygmies - CII: Second Son review - DPRP

17 Pygmies – CII: Second Son

Country of Origin: USA Format: CD Record Label: Trakwerx Catalogue #: TW 1020 Year of Release: 2011 Time: 44:37 Info: 17 Pygmies Samples: Click here

Review posted in DPRP, Dutch Progressive Rock Page

Tracklist: Celestina XII (3:33), Celestina XIII (3:59), Celestina XIV (2:27), Celestina XV (3:37), Celestina XVI (6:50), Celestina XVII (4:14), Celestina XVIII (3:31), Celestina XIX (5:54), Celestina XX (5:31), Celestina XXI (3:04), Celestina XXII (1:56)

17 Pygmies hails from the US and whose main composer and instrumentalist is Jackson Del Rey (guitar, synths, bass). With his partner Meg Maryatt (vocals, piano & synth), Jeff Brenneman (guitar, synth & vocals) and Dirk Doucette (drums, guitar, synth, bass & vocals) he created Second Son as the successor to Celestina (2009). The musicians are highly experienced because they have been active in the music business since 1982. Del Rey takes an exceptional interest in the Twilight Zone, soundtracks and psychedelic music from the sixties. All these influences can be distinguished quite clearly in the music of this album. It takes a certain state of mind to really appreciate this album but once you get into the music, you're 'lost' and you're well away to a voyage, a trip to cosmic psychedelica....

Haunting sounds set the tone of the music as soaring winds are followed by the gentle sound of a 'musical box' and some string arrangements. Celestina XIII is an awesome ballad carried by the sweet & soothing voice of Meg Maryatt, with its slow rhythm, subtle drumming, keyboards and violins. Celestina XIV is a melodic interlude, beginning like a soundtrack but turning into a nice psychedelic atmosphere and a melody played by flutes and accompanied by keyboards. In the same key as in Celestina XIII it's rather dark music but still melodic and the musical box is in contrast with the more orchestral passages in both Celestina XV and XVI. The low 'drone' can be heard throughout this track and several others too by the way.

Celestina XVII is partly a reprise from Celestina XIII, also nicely sung by Meg Maryatt. The first part of Celestina XVIIIis dark, ambient, like a soundtrack for a somewhat scary movie. In the second part also a piece which is full of strings and far more melodic. The drone-like E bass sound, as heard before, is the basis for some whining violins and a more melodic part with Maryatt's vocals in Celestina XIX. What a lovely voice she has! Celestina XX is a subtle chill out tune with slow drums, keyboards and some violins and guitar. Very accessible melodies and some classical influences because of the piano in Celestina XXI; the music is fading away nicely and this would have been a fine end of the album in my opinion. Instead we have this somewhat strange alternative ending with organ, synths and unexpectedly raw guitars and hammering synth sounds, to fade away smoothly fortunately.

The album comes in a lush, highly original package, nice booklet, delicately wrapped (with seal!), a feast for the eye and nothing like I'd ever seen before. Maybe a bit strange, but still a very enjoyable album combining ambient, chill out, soundtrack and symphonic music in a very original mixture with a touch of psychedelic influences from the Sixties.

Conclusion: 7.5 out of 10

MENNO VON BRUCKEN FOCK

Click here

Celestina and CII: Second Son by 17 Pygmies REVIEW

Celestina and CII: Second Son have both been reviewed in Eurock.com.

"...gorgeous and intoxicating."

"These two albums make for very cool listening, not to be missed! Be adventurous, you will be rewarded..."

CII: Second Son by 17 Pygmies REVIEW

REVIEW of CII: Second Son by 17 Pygmies has just posted on Music From The Other Side of the Room

I Sing In The Kitchen posts about 17 Pygmies

I Sing In The Kitchen publishes another great (in our opinion) post about delicious food and the music of 17 Pygmies. 

Pictures from the latest releases and a recipe of our favorite dessert are included:  

Chocolate-Almond Soufflé Torte from Bon Apetit Magazine. 

We have made this for our family and friends many times and it's always a hit. 

17 Pygmies are currently recording part three of the Celestina saga, slated for release Jan. 1, 2012. 

Prog-résiste reviews Celestina and CII: Second Son by 17 Pygmies

Prog-résiste, notable prog rock magazine based in Belgium reviews Celestina, part one and part two in their July 2011 Issue #65.

17 PYGMIES

Celestina / Celestina ii :

Second Son

Trakwerx - 65’06 / 44’37 – Etats-

Unis 2008 / 2011

Prog symphonique / Space Rock

BW8-LE7

celestina et sa suite, inspirés

d’un roman en latin du

15ème siècle, sont tous deux des

albums concept rendant hommage

aux fi lms de science-fi ction des

années 50 et 60 et notamment

au classique Le Jour Où La Terre

S’Arrêta de Robert Wise. Ils tirent

des infl uences aussi diverses que

A Saucerful Of Secrets de Pink

Floyd, Space Oddity de David

Bowie ainsi que des musiques de

fi lm de Jerry Goldsmith, d’Angelo

Badalamenti. 17 PYGMiES, groupe

fondé au milieu dans les années

80, combine ces références avec

un style vocal portant la marque

du fameux label indépendant

4AD (Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil)

pour créer cet univers obsédant,

évoluant sans cesse dans des atmosphères

éthérées. La musique,

principalement sous forme de

patchwork instrumental, se veut

symphonique dans le sens le plus

pur du mot : des variations aériennes

et mouvements cinématiques

autour du même thème et de

riches couches inventives de guitares

dans une orchestration synthétisée

de cordes élégiaques, à

la fois hypnotique et discordante.

Il faut dire que le leader Jackson

Del rey s’y entend comme larron

en foire pour nous fournir des

arrangements de guitare sur fond

d’effets tissant des entrelacs aussi

magiques que mélodieux, proches

de l’univers du fabuleux groupe

d’art rock australien, The Church,

période Priest = Aura. Impossible

de rester de marbre devant cette

charme entraîner

dans cet entremêlé harmonique

fi n et entêtant dans lequel

tout se superpose fi nement de

façon très délicate. L’échappatoire

de la monotonie fonctionne à

merveille sur des titres qui invitent

toujours plus au voyage, le rythme

s’intensifi e parfois mais l’envoûtement

reste intact, toujours dans un

souci de perfection harmonique,

de sonorité cohérente d’une musique

majestueuse qui n’est certes

pas très tendance. Même s’il nous

emmène dans les méandres de

l’étrange et de la sérénité relaxante,

17 Pygmies reste, avant

tout, un groupe à part, d’une

singularité exemplaire, qui défi e

les codes mais ne se perd pas

dans l’espace. «Can you hear me,

Major Tom? Yes!”

www.myspace.com/17pygmies

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

17 PYGMIES

Celestina / Celestina II:Second Son

Trakwerx - 65'06 / 44'37 - United States

U.S. 2008 / 2011

Symphonic Prog / Space Rock

BW8-LE7

Celestina and its sequel, inspired by

a novel of the Latin15th century, are both

concept albums paying tribute to films of sci-fiction

50 and 60 years, including the classic The Day The Earth

Still by Robert Wise. They draw of influences as diverse as

A Saucerful Of Secrets by Pink Floyd, Space Oddity by David

Bowie and the film music of Jerry Goldsmith, Angelo

Badalamenti. 17 Pygmies, a group founded in the middle 80s,

combines these references with vocal style marked

the famous independent label 4AD (Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil)

to create this universe obsessive constantly evolving atmospheres

ethereal. Music,mainly as patchwork instrumental aimsSymphony in the

most pure sense word variations aerial and movement kinematics

around the same theme and rich layers of inventive guitar

synthesized in an orchestration elegiac strings in

both hypnotic and jarring.

It must be said that the leader Jackson Del Rey hear it as thief

at the fair to provide us arrangements of guitar background

effects also weaving interlaced magical melodious close

the world of fabulous group Australian rock art, The Church,

Priest = Aura period. Impossible to stay in front of this marble

charming lead intertwined in this harmonic fin and heady where

any overlaps ment of fivery delicate. The loophole the monotony

of work to Wonder of titles that invite increasing travel,

the pace e sometimes, but intensifies the spell remains intact,

still in a striving for perfection harmonic of coherent sound of music

which is certainly majestic not very likely. Although we

take in the maze of the strange serenity and relaxing

17 Pygmies rest before all, a separate group of

singularity copy which challenge e codes but not lost in space.

"Can you hear me, Major Tom? Yes! "

www.myspace.com/17pygmies

iO Pages reviews "CII: Second Son" by 17 Pygmies

Prog Rock Music Magazine based in The Netherlands has published a review of "CII: Second Son" by 17 Pygmies in the July/August 2011 issue.

In Dutch:

17 pygmies is een Amerikaans gezelschap dat draait om jackson del rey (gitaar, synths, bas) en meg maryatt (zang, piano, synth) . samen met jeff Brenneman (gitaar, synth, zang) en dirk doucette (drums, gitaar, synth, bas, zang) maakt de band uiterst gevoelige muziek die is geworteld in de psychedelische sfeer van de jaren zestig, maar met een hedendaags geluid . de bandleden zijn lang actief in de muziek, want 17 pygmies werd al in 1982 opgericht . cii: second son, fraai verpakt in een verzegeld envelopje en met een mooi boekje, is de opvolger van celestina uit 2008 dat losjes is gebaseerd op het middeleeuwse La celestina . del rey is niet alleen geïnspi- reerd door filmmuziek uit de jaren vijftig en zestig, maar vooral door de psychedelisch progressieve muziek, waar je het geluid en vooral de zang van artiesten van het roem- ruchte 4Ad-label bij moet denken . het resul- taat is een mijns inziens schitterend, gevoelig en dromerig album met zweverige, maar niet al te gecompliceerde melodieën, prach- tige soundscapes en minimale begeleiding van vooral toetsen . tijdens het lezen van het boekje kun je je eigen film erbij fantaseren . mooi orkestraal klinkt celestina Xviii met de zeer aangename stem van meg maryatt, die slechts in enkele tracks te horen is . op het einde hoor je wat kraftwerkachtige geluidjes van telefoontoetsen en gastmuzikant heather Lockie op viool . het enige stevige stukje zit in de laatste minuut van dit krap drie kwartier klokkende schijfje . een aanrader voor fans van dromerige en zweverige muziek! Website: www.trakwerx.com.

Menno von Brucken Fock

English Translation:

17 pygmies is an American company that revolves around Jackson Del Rey (guitar, synths, bass) and Meg Maryatt (vocals, piano, synth). with Jeff Brenneman (guitar, synth, vocals) and Dirk Doucette (drums, guitar,synth, bass, vocals) the band is extremely sensitive music that is rooted in the psychedelic atmosphere of the sixties, but with a contemporary sound. The band members have been active in music since 17 pygmies became established in 1982. CII: Second Son, beautifully packaged in a sealed envelope and with a good book is the sequel to 2008 Celestina from which is loosely based on the medieval La Celestina. Del Rey is not only inspired by film-configured from the fifties and sixties, but the psychedelic progressive music, you sound and especially the songs of artists from the 4AD label illustrious fame when to think. The result is a brilliant in my opinion, sensitive and dreamy with soaring album, but not too complicated melodies, Prácheň-like soundscapes and minimal supervision, especially keys. While reading the book you can imagine their own movie. Beautiful orchestral sounds Celestina XVIII with the pleasant voice of meg maryatt, only a few tracks can be heard.In the end you hear what sounds like Kraftwerk telephone keypad and Heather Lockie guest musician on viola. The only solid piece is in the final minutes of the tight three quarter flared disc.A must for fans of dreamy floaty music! Website: www.trakwerx.com.
Menno von Brucken Fock