From the artist's press release:
The new download-only live album by Philadelphia avant rock band Red Masque and signed to RER USA, "Stars Fall On Me" is now available through iTunes, eMusic, rerusa.com and other online distributors. It will also be available to sites like amazon.com imminently......
Please note, there was a typo made by the aggregator and the album is being billed as "Stars FELL On Me" not "Stars FALL On Me" but we are working to correct this..... ;)
The live album was recorded on Nov. 1, 2008 at Orion Sound Studios in Baltimore and features a mix of songs spanning the course of three albums: "Carbon 14", "Das Snail", "Passage", "House of Ash", "The Spider is the Web", "Birdbrain", an Improvisation and "Tidal".
Front cover and back cover artwork (featuring credits and photo) are available for download at http://theredmasque.com/starsfallonme.html
Lineup for this album is:
Brandon Ross: bass, echo theremin
Lynnette Shelley: vocals, percussion
Vonorn: drums, theremin, keys
with guest musician
David Pym: guitar
Links to downloads:
ReRUSA: http://rerusa.downloadcentric.net/app?page=Product&service=external&sp=SD06036E80G1MOMX0E2E1B
eMusic: http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Red-Masque-Stars-Fell-On-Me-MP3-Download/11696808.html
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/carbon-14/id338932376?i=338932508&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Reviews:
The Tangent
Shadow Gallery
Redemption
Makajodama
Neal Morse
Magma
Bosch
Robin Taylor
The Red Masque
General looks/not quite reviews:
Blackfield
Porcupine Tree
The Pineapple Thief
Interviews:
Who knows?
You have all been very patient. More patient that perhaps deserved. It is appreciated, even when I haven't quite been able to say so.
Hi all
We've uploaded some mp3 files of our recent Feb. 22 gig at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia. They are free for you to enjoy.
MP3s include:
"Tidal" (with soundcheck! )
"The Spider Is The Web"
"Birdbrain"
"Carbon 14"
Link is here: http://theredmasque.com/downloads.html
Thanks to Alan Benjamin from Advent for recording the show for us.
We hope you can make it out to our next show on March 29 with Thee Maximalists and Igor's Egg as part 2 of the new progressive rock series at the North Star Bar. For more information visit www.theredmasque.com/shows.html
We are also have an imminent announcement for a very exciting and rare show in the spring with a UK band but dates are still being finalized....
FREE All Ages Concert Dec. 14 (Sunday)
12.14.08 | The Rotunda at the University of Pennsylvania, 4014 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104; 215-573-3234. 8 PM. All Ages. Free admission but donations for the bands are accepted at the door. Band order: Offshore Drilling, The Red Masque, Radio Eris.
About the Bands:
The Red Masque
The Red Masque is an original avant rock band from the Philadelphia area. Part art, part alchemy, the group's experimental songwriting style is both angular and eerie, accented by free-form space rock improvisations, intricate acoustics, dark atmospherics and chunky riffs. Unconventional and eccentric in musical form, the sophisticatedly sinister The Red Masque fuses together such disparate musical references as horror movie soundtracks, rock-in-opposition, progressive rock, experimental, zeuhl, heavy rock, gothic, psychedelia, space rock, and kraut rock.
"From Pennsylvania hails a quartet without limitations to their purposes and without shame regarding norms and dogma within new rock." - Tarkus Magazine
"In the Nu-progressive rock underground, few bands are as respected and feared as Philadelphia's The Red Masque. Without irony or kitsch, the whirlwind that is Masque ... stalks the darkness of Hammer Horror ambience and cursedly complex musicianship (think Gong meets Bauhaus) with only feedbacking noise, sound-collage clustering and the howl of vocalist Lynnette Shelley to light its way." - Philadelphia City Paper
Founded in February 2001 by bassist/keyboardist Brandon Ross and vocalist Lynnette Shelley, the Red Masque went through several lineup changes over the years, but its intent and integrity has always remained the same. The band's goal was, and is, to create original music that pushes the envelope of the listener's expectations. With such influences as Magma, King Crimson, Hawkwind, Gong, Pink Floyd, Bauhaus, Art Bears, and Van Der Graaf Generator, The Red Masque's compositions are as intense as they are unique.
One of the group's first concerts was at the Prelude to the North East Art Rock Festival (NEARFest) in 2001. Other notable shows include the 2005 Rogue Independent Music Festival in Atlanta, the 2001 World Con Science Fiction Convention, the New Jersey proghouse series, Orion Studios in Baltimore; the Philadelphia Landing Pad Space Rock Festival; and The Gate to Moonbase Alpha concert series at the Rotunda in Philadelphia. The Red Masque also organized and performed in the 2002 and 2003 Philadelphia Underground Music and Culture Festival. The Red Masque have also opened up for notable performers and musicians such as Chris Cutler (Henry Cow, Art Bears), The Muffins, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and Present. They have also performed on stage with such well-regarded drummers and percussionists as David Kerman (5UUs, Present, Thinking Plague) and Paul Sears (The Muffins, Thee Maximalists).
Steadily growing an audience within the underground progressive and psychedelic music communities for their uncompromising and intense style of music, The Red Masque have released to date one EP ("Death of the Red Masque" in 2001), and three albums ("Victoria and the Haruspex" in 2002, "Feathers for Flesh" in 2004, and "Fossil Eyes" in 2008), as well as one single (2003). "Feathers for Flesh" was released through the Big Balloon Music label out of Washington state and garnered critical reviews in the press, including Wire Magazine, Harmonie Magazine, Progresiste Magazine, iO Pages, Colussus Magazine, Tarkus Magazine, Progression Magazine, Expose Magazine, the Philadelphia City Paper, Metro Philadelphia, and various online newsletters, blogs, and review sites. Interviews in various progressive music media also followed, including Progression Magazine and Expose Magazine.
The band is currently signed with RER USA / Ad Hoc Records and released their highly anticipated third album, "Fossil Eyes" in August 2008. "Fossil Eyes" is widely considered the band's most daring release to date is garnering critical reviews in the media and radio airplay amongst the more independent radio stations.
The Red Masque is:
:: Brandon Lord Ross: bass guitar, moog, echo theremin
:: Lynnette Shelley: vocals, lyrics, noises & percussion
:: Brian "Vonorn" Van Korn: drums, keyboards, theremin
with David Pym, guitar www.theredmasque.comwww.myspace.com/myredmasque
Radio Eris
"Radio Eris craft discordant loveliness from poetry and sound. Founded by shamanic poetess Lora Bloom and studio visionary Matt Stevenson, their live shows are cathartic and overpowering, a vibrant wall of sound incorporating dance, improvisation and spontaneous anarchy into a heady mix. " Adam Fieled, Philadelphia Independent.
Eris is a lost goddess in Greek Mythology: the goddess of discord, known for only one story: the throwing of a golden apple that began the Trojan War. Philadelphia psychedelic band Radio Eris channel this discordian spirit in their music, bringing her back to life in their own image as a powerful symbiotic force, a source of transcendence. The Radio Eris mythos is a series of fortunate accidents leading to a magical bond, something a little more than just a band.
Began as an ambient poetry project between Matt Stevenson and Lora Bloom, two flawed but driven artists who knew little about music but nevertheless possessed the holy fire, Radio Eris has matured to become a band with a powerful energy and unusual sound. Radio Eris can be ambient and ethereal, as loud and harsh and any noise punk band, or psychedelic and offbeat like a reincarnated 60s space rock band. They utilize improvisation along with non-ordinary song structures to accommodate free-verse poetry and often incorporate lighting, costumes, dance, performance art and other theatrical elements into their live shows, creating a surreal atmosphere.
Radio Eris consists of five elements: Matt Stevenson, genius mastermind and sound engineer, plays both keyboards and bass in the band, plus provides the sound direction; vocalist Lora Bloom illustrates her strange poems with inhuman wails, odd vocal experiments and breathy chants; legendary lead guitarist Dan "Redbeard" Baker pumps energy and passion, "sets the stage aflame with piercing garage-style blue notes" (A. Fieled); drummer Lisa Sunshine a guiding light of driving momentum, yet ready at a moment's notice to collapse into formless ambience; and Kenny the Extremist, sound terrorist and mad experimenter, hides behind his massive machine of keyboards, effects, purcussion and theremin.
In accord with the DIY spirit, Radio Eris has recorded and self -released 4 full albums: "Loralaii", "Beautiful Losers", "Strength" and most recently, "Monkey Island" (at their new gallery/studio/living space Eris Temple). They have also released a track on an Orange Entropy Compilation, and recorded the critically acclaimed "Apesma" on the Captain Beefhart tribute album "Mama Kangaroos" from Genus records.
Radio Eris has performed everywhere from warehouses (Killtime, Highwire Gallery, C.O.D.E.) to coffee houses, bars (The Fire, The Khyber, J.C.Dobbs) to basements, and from after-hours strip clubs to afternoon arts festivals. They have participated in West Philadelphia's legendary Clark Park Festival and are regular performers in the Landing Pad, Doug McMahon's annual space rock festival hosted in the University of Pennsylvania's spacious Rotunda. The also often appear in A.D. Amorosi's Monday Night Club at The Balcony and have performed at events hosted by October Gallery, Pink Hanger Presents, Orange Entropy and Genus Records. Most recently they played a European tour and festival.www.radioeris.comwww.myspace.com/radio5eris
Offshore Drilling
"Offshore Drilling is a drummer and a guitarist fighting and dancing like old friends on a good gin drunk."
Experimental/Noise band Offshore Drilling is a new project by guitarist Brandon Morsberger (of the Philadelphia band Drums Like Machine Guns) and drummer Gray Hender. Offshore Drilling consists of melody and noise clashing, and exchanges of soft then brutal passages. http://www.myspace.com/offshoredrillingband
The Red Masque are a Philadelphia based avant/space/I'm not sure how to describe/label them progressive band. They embrace so many different styles of music, from the fragile and beautiful to the primal and aggressive...often within the same song. Each album builds from the successes of the previous, and they are always pushing their musical boundaries on each release.I became a fan of theirs based on a single song..."Beggars and Thieves," released as a single a few years back as a teaser for their 2004 album Feathers for Flesh. That album got a huge amount of play at my place, and if I had been putting together top ten albums of the year lists back then, it would have easily earned a spot. It's been four years since that album came out, but the band has finally unveiled their latest opus, Fossil Eyes, released on adHoc/ReR USA Records.
I was pleased when vocalist Lynnette Shelley agreed to pen some replies to my questions for this blog. She's a professional designer when not working with them band, and in fact much of the band's visual style on record is the result of her art and design work (the debut EP, Feathers for Flesh and Fossil Eyes all feature her cover art). Her replies are expansive and insightful, and my hope is that they will help you, Constant Reader, get a better feel for this unique, boundary pushing band.
1) Can you give us a brief history of how The Red Masque came together?
LS: Brandon and I started The Red Masque in February 2001. Previously, we had played together in a few bands in Delaware, where we are both originally from. I moved to Philadelphia in 1999 for a job, and Brandon followed a few months later. We auditioned musicians for a while (even playing with some others in Baltimore, MD, for a while, before forming the prototype The Red Masque band lineup in 2000. Brandy of the Damned (from the George Bernard Shaw quote) featured original TRM guitarist Steven Blumberg, and keyboardist/concert harpist Nathan-Andrew Dewin, and another drummer. That drummer quit before our first gig, and we eventually replaced his spot with Kevin Kelly in February 2001. Our first gig as The Red Masque was less than two months later.
2) How would you say your recent album Fossil Eyes departs from or expands upon the previous release?
LS: Well, I think this album is the first album of ours that is true concept album. We specifically structured the album with “intercessionals” situated between the main material. These intercessionals can be considered like mood pieces or mini-soundtracks to carry over between major album pieces (“Carbon 14”, “Das Snail”, “The Spider Is The Web”, “The Anti-Man”, “Polyphemus” and “Carbon 13.”) As for the album theme, lyrically, the songs use the natural world to explore various human philosophical/moral questions. For example, “The Anti-Man” is about war, told through the point of view of the rebels. In this case, the rebels are insects warring against humans. Or, in the case of “Das Snail”, the protagonist wonders who he or she is. Do past events and current circumstances define a person or is there an innate sense of self that breaks free from these boundaries? Is a person like a snail, whose body conforms to the shape of the shell it inhabits or does he or she have his or her own unique mental structure?
From an auditory point of view, Fossil Eyes is definitely sonically denser and, in my opinion, the songs are better written. The song production also has a more organic approach.
3) Your first two releases, Death of the Red Masque and Victoria and the Haruspex, came out on CD-R. Is there any chance that they will be reissues, perhaps by ReR?
LS: I doubt it. Physical CD sales are going down across the board while downloads are going up, and many predict the death of physical cds in the next few years. From a monetary point of view, it wouldn’t be worth it to release them as physical CDS. However, we are releasing them for “pay what you want” digital downloads from theredmasque.com.
I do hope to re-record “Tidal” (from DotRM) and “Birdbrain” (from VatH) at some point though, and release them as bonus tracks on album album perhaps.
4) You've provided cover art for almost all of your album releases. How do you feel the artwork ties the package together?
LS: Well, I am a professional artist and a graphic designer so I like making artwork for the albums (though I would redo the album covers on the first two albums as they look a bit amateurish at this point. But I was an amateur designer back then, and the first two albums were very DIY projects.) It ties the package together in that I think the artwork matches the music and makes it seem a little more ‘complete’ as opposed to a collection of electronic files. I don’t like CDs for artwork as much as an actual LP cover, but with the right budget, you can make some really beautiful booklets and packaging.
5) There was a long period between the release of Feathers for Flesh and Fossil Eyes. Do you feel the majority of the difficulties that hindered the album's release are behind you?
LS: Well, yes and no. Yes in that the major problems we suffered on the last record were due to Vonorn’s health situation. We had to wait for him to get out of the hospital, and learn to walk again, let alone learn to drum again. But the band is also not a full-time gig, so we don’t get to work on it 24/7. We also have to do most things ourselves, so all of these things take time.
But, knock on wood, we will have a live CD out next year on a label, and hopefully another new album will be out in much sooner than four years. I’d ideally like to release something new every other year.
6) Who do you think have been the biggest influences on you as a musician and artist?
LS: I don’t have a biggest influence. There are bands and artists I like for various reasons and you could point out various things in our music that sound influenced by this or that band, but I’ve never sat down and thought I wanted to sound like a particular band.
I know I like the controlled chaos approach of Van Der Graaf Generator. I love the live shows of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum and Acid Mothers Temple. I like Diamanda Galas’ and Peter Hammill’s vocal theatrics. I love the rhythms and heavy bass of groups like Magma. I like the heavy distortion of King Crimson mixed with moments of quiet beauty. I admire the Art Bears songwriting tremendously. I love the lyrical melodies of Pentangle and Fairport Convention. And I love the mix of light and dark in Comus.
But the music of The Red Masque, for better or for worse, is its own entity.
7) The Red Masque's music is very dramatic, relying on dynamics, shifts in tone, and deep lyrical content. Would you like to see the band work in anything from a multimedia/theatrics standpoint in a live setting?
LS: This is something the band has talked over many times. In theory I would say sure. From a practical point of view, I find the simpler the shows are the better the result. Unless you have your own sound crew, lighting crew, a lot of time to soundcheck etc., all of that would overcomplicate things. We are usually lucky to get 20 minutes to do a soundcheck at most venues.
We do have a guy, David Pym, who is working on videos for us, so we hope do things with him that involve video projections and the like. The one thing I am sure of is that I don’t want the theatrical/visuals to hamper the music because I think that will make the live show worse for wear. I’ve seen bands with these huge multimedia presentations and the music usually becomes secondary at that point. I wouldn’t want that to happen to us. I like our live shows to have a very primal, intense feel.
8) What would you say has been your biggest moment musically with The Red Masque?
LS: I am still looking for that biggest moment. There are definitely great shows though. I know the last show we played at Orion was probably one of our best. Playing at the NJ Proghouse is always fun. Playing with Dave Kerman and Paul Sears was a definite trip. Meeting other bands from all over is definitely a highlight. But I don’t think we’ve reached our biggest moment yet.
9) What's next for the band?
LS: A live CD on a label in 2009 (can’t go into details just now), plus working on new song material for the next album. We will also be putting out a video of an entire concert out for free download, hopefully within the next couple of weeks. I have been talking with the band Comus about possible East Coast, USA, show(s) so we’ll see how that pans out. We are also looking to possibly add on a multi-instrumentalist. Any interested parties should email theredmasque@theredmasque.com. We are also looking for festival gigs that we could possibly hang a short tour around, so if anybody wants to book us, also email theredmasque@theredmasque.com.
10) Do you have any final thoughts for us?
LS: Thanks for the interview.
LINKS OF NOTE:
http://www.myspace.com/myredmasque
http://www.theredmasque.com/
Pay-What-You-Want Full Album Downloads from The Red Masque! Plus Halloween Show!
Halloween Present for You
The Red Masque's debut EP, "Death of the Red Masque" (2001), and debut album "Victoria and the Haruspex" (2002) are now available for digital download through the band's site. You can pay whatever price you want via the Paypal donation button beside each of the file links. Please visit http://theredmasque.com/downloads.html for details and for the links.
UPCOMING SHOW: On Saturday, Nov. 1, The Red Masque will be performing at Orion Sound Studios in Baltimore. Improv-band Thee Maximalists will also be performing. Costumes are encouraged for this Halloween-themed show and there will be prizes and other surprises. Showtime is 8 PM. All Ages. $15. Please visit http://theredmasque.com/shows.html for information.
Here's a quick look, one week later, at how I am faring with the new music acquired at NEARfest 2008:
Le Orme - Live in Pennsylvania 2-CD/1-DVD set. Sound quality is excellent. Video is also very very good...of course, I had a 20 minute tease of this on the NEARfest 2005 DVD. UNFORTUNATELY, this is not their full set, as it excises the material from Collage as well as their rendition of Rondo. Still, a wonderful reminder of seeing this great Italian progressive band.
The Red Masque - Fossileyes. Very good stuff. A bit shocking, actually...their last release had several expansive tracks. The material here is shorter, punchier, more metallic...and every bit as edgy and avant as their past efforts. This is a long awaited album indeed...
Pure Reason Revolution - Live at NEARfest. Post production helped boost what was an energetic set marred by level issues. Harmonies sound richer, thanks to the ability to bring Chloe's voice up in the mix. Are they prog? Who cares! They were energetic, trippy, and very cool.
Strawbs - Live at the Calderone on Witchwood Records. With yesterday's surprising yet not overly so announcement that John Hawken was leaving the Strawbs again, buying this live release (which does not feature him) seems almost...prophetic. Sound quality is a bit rough, as I think this was sourced from a multiple generation off air recording...but this is Strawbs at their rocking best. Well nigh essential.
DFA - Work in Progress Live and 4th. Haven't gotten in as many listens to these, but I like what I am hearing so far. Mostly instrumental Italian prog with a bit of a jazzier bent.
Progday 2001 2-CD set. Only one listen in, and there's a lot to swallow here. Only really familiar with the Muffins and Ars Nova, so there's some work to do here.
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Di Terra and Canto di Primavera. Two totally different sides to Banco. Di Terra is all instrumental and an unmitigated classic of the genre, while Canto di Primavera is shorter, song based vocal music, almost verging on pop. But both are excellent, and easily reward multiuple listens.
Kingfisher Sky - s/t. Haven't listened to yet :-)
Gerard - Sighs of the Water. Again, no listens yet. But I liked them when they played live at NEARfest 2002.
Yeah, I blew all the posting last week. A lot happened. I'm on a more even keel today though, so things should pick back up. In the first part of my festival wrap-up, I'm going to post my list of swag I brought back.It's a significantly longer than I thought it would be...
MY MUST BUYSI had a short list of titles I had to buy. If I got these the rest didn't matter. I got all three of my must buys:
Le Orme - Live in Pennsylvania 2-CD/1-DVD set. Sadly not the whole show...it misses Collage and Rondo. But still nice to have about 100 minutes of the 2 hour set.
The Red Masque - Fossileyes. Got it early enough to score the promo DVD along with it.
Nice.Pure Reason Revolution - Live at NEARfest. Does what it says on the label.
'IMPULSE BUYS'
This is kinda everything else :-)
Strawbs - Live at the Calderone on Witchwood Records
DFA - Work in Progress Live
DFA - 4th (both of these I got at Moonjune on the 2 for $25 deal)
Progday 2001 2-CD set (for 5 bucks I complete the collection)
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Di Terra (my friend Mark Guenther kindly picked this up for me)
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Canto di Primavera
Kingfisher Sky (the preview on the screen and PA sold this one)
Gerard - can't remember the title (my friend Kevin Cosentino was kind enough to pick this one up)
Fireballet t-shirt (free! and not in my size!)
Fireballet CD sampler (free! and IN my size!)
NEARfest 2008 T-shirt (in progfan size! dark grey with the dual twisted dragon logo)
NEARfest 2008 programme (for which a story exists for later)
The Red Masque have signed with progressive label RER USA (www.rerusa.com) and will be releasing their new album, Fossil Eyes, in late June 2008 through RER USA's own label Ad Hoc Records.
RER USA was founded in 2003 by David Kerman as the exclusive North American distributor of the English label, ReR Megacorp, a twenty five year old company that defines the vanguard of experimental, progressive, interesting and genre-defying music. The Red Masque expect to have the new album available at the North East Art Rock Festival (NEARFest) from June 20-22 at the RER USA vending booth for purchase. Members of the band will be on hand to sign copies. Fossil Eyes will be available through RER USA's webstore by late June. More details forthcoming....
We will also have some show announcements and other news in the next week or so, and we have recently updated our website with a much needed overhaul. Please stop by and visit!
www.theredmasque.comThank you,
The Red Masque
They've played most every Prog Festival in the U.S. but never played our nations capital!
On May 17 that changes when IZZ comes to Washington to play with some SOAR bands at Artomatic. Artomatic is a month-long multimedia arts event that draws together visual artists, musicians and performers and brings their work to the community without charge. More about AOM here: http://www.artomatic.org/about/facts
SOAR started working with AOM last year, with a few SOAR bands playing multiple sets over the month. This year we've lumped them all in one day. The line up includes:
On the Electric Stage starting at 4PM
Conduit
Kinetic Element
Cliff Art
Ephemeral Sun
IZZ
On the Cabaret Stage:
Gary Rouzer (solo bass)
Circus of Saints
Rob Martino (stick)
And between sets, there are six floors of visual art to peruse.
FIRST FRIDAY ON FRANKFORD AVENUE
GERM PRESENTS The Red Masque, "Philadelphia's premier avant rock band"
This Friday, much deserved excitement surrounds the Lisa Spera/Lydia Hamilton Brown photography art opening at the Highwire Gallery, just one block away from us (www.kenbmiller.com/highwire/index.html). We're hoping their sun catches our rainbow on fire (sorry, Douglas), as we simultaneously host the disciplined chaos of progressive rock titans THE RED MASQUE.
City Paper described them as the "darkness of Hammer Horror ambience and cursedly complex musicianship (think Gong meets Bauhaus) with only feedbacking noise, sound-collage clustering and the howl of vocalist Lynnette Shelley to light its way." Plus, they sing about some of your favorite Germ subjects! Cthulhu, pre-Cambrian insects, Atlantis…
News courtesy of TRM vocalist Lynnette Shelley:
The Red Masque are pleased to announce that work on their new album, Fossil Eyes, is finally complete and is being sent off to the record label. Vonorn wrapped up productions this weekend, and the final song list is below:
01. The Spider Is the Web
02. Carbon 14
03. Gliese 138
04. Das Snail
05. The Worm
06. Carbon 13
07. Lost in the Petrified Forest
08. The Hive
09. Polyphemus
10. Metamorphosis
11. The Anti-Man (Not Afraid)
To see a picture of the cover, go to:
http://www.theredmasque.com/images/FRONTCOVER-FINAL.jpg
As soon as the band has release date information from the label or further details, we will let you know.
As a reminder, The Red Masque will be performing on May 2nd in Philadelphia at Germ Books and Gallery (2005 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125; 215.423.5002). This concert is featured as part of Philly's "First Friday" Arts Crawl. Show time is 7 PM and admission is FREE but donations accepted. This will be a very intimate concert experience with a limited number of seating. Germ Books is also an unusual space and describes itself as an "alternative independent bookstore that [provides] access to ideologically unpopular books; books that address difficult social topics; books that don't cater to the lockstep mentality of the current counterculture; and books that reveal who our true masters are: The UFO Overlords."
