Valisystem A & Klawpeels:Mission Checkup (deluxe single)
High Castle Teleorkestra
7-Inch Vinyl Download |
|
HCT's sophomore release is a superbly-produced double single written by Bär McKinnon (Mr. Bungle, Umlaut) and featuring Danny Heifetz (Mr. Bungle) on drums. Available in download (including 11 bonus tracks), limited-edition 7-inch vinyl (comes with full download), and a thematically-linked t-shirt. 7-inch supplies very limited. Final official mixes mastered to JH110B ¼ inch tape as always.
Side A is Bär's monster composition, Valisystem A. This piece would've been a great candidate for one of his more well-known acts, had it appeared in a different era!
Side B, KlawPeels: Mission Checkup, a 1950’s-inspired, gothic instrumental in the 47/64 meter, penned by Tim Smolens and tuned in accord to the Treaty of Versailles.
Valisystem A marks the first time that HCT has recorded one of Bär McKinnon’s compositions. While he initially demoed it on a cassette 4-track, with the intention to keep it sparse and minimal, we must truthfully report that this did not happen. The project has ballooned to 250+ tracks and the host barely has the CPU to render the mix. While HCT is still working out the kinks of international collaboration, with the disparate moving parts and warbly back-and-forth communications, the initial results are nonetheless stunning. This selection features the distinctive drumming of Danny Heifetz, who also tickles the shimmery vibraphone here, an impressive multi-part string section crafted by Timba Harris, the vintage guitar stylings of Chris Bogen, guest french horn and bassoonist, a hodgepodge of basses (upright, p-bass, synth bass, hollow bass), tenor sax, clarinet, flute, wild throngs of lead and background vocals by Bär, tape-saturated percussion, Tim's real grand piano, the rare Hohner Pianet N electric piano, a kooky and morphing assortment of oddball synths and lo-fi keyboards from asynchronous eras, male choir, an emotionally-moving interlude, the vague looming threat of becoming a full-blown pop song that never quite materializes, multiple unclassifiable genres, a repetitive instrumental “chorus” that exhibits spaghetti western traits, and indescribably more. Valisystem A takes the listener on a blustering ride across the universe atop the pink beam of an ancient satellite.
KlawPeels: Mission Checkup is the B-side and provides a balanced contrast to the rompin', stompin' fanfare of side A. This number is a 50s-style, gothic instrumental featuring the pedal steel work of Stian Carstensen. The listener will be treated to a heavy dose of Joe Meek aesthetic timbres, saturated Farfisa and B3 organs, tremolo-soaked baritone guitar that'd make Mancini proud, timpani, Tim's grand piano tuned to just intonation, tenor saxophone, acoustic guitar, wild vintage surf percussion, grooves & fills by hermit-like guest stick man, Vinnie “Saturn” Metts. This recording contains multiple oddities and conceals a bonafide mystery. The time signature is the never-used 47/64, which is deceptively close to the very common 6/8, but with an additional 64th note truncated from each measure. When shaving such a small fraction from each bar, the result doesn’t sound “progressive” like odd meters oft do, but rather provides a unique, intangible “feel,” best perceived as ever-so-slightly rushing each new down beat. Furthermore, this song does not conform to the established western tuning note of A=440Hz, but instead employs the old French diapson tuning standard of A=435Hz. Such devices are subtle, but if one listens closely, it is clear that we are touching parts of that have rarely, if ever, been touched!
Pick up a download,7-inch and t-shirt today and enjoy the brilliant visual designs by our resident artist, David Dines.
Comes with extensive liner notes, album art, Klawpeels chord changes and lap steel chart.
- Official HCT drummer Dave Murray does not appear on these recordings because they were already underway when he joined the effort. Fans should rest well knowing that Dave is busy charting HCT's next metal journey.
-
0:00/5:17
-
0:00/3:45
-
0:00/5:21
-
Klawpeels (alt. mix) 3:380:00/3:38
-
0:00/3:39
-
0:00/5:10
-
0:00/3:41
-
0:00/5:12
-
0:00/5:17
-
0:00/3:36
-
0:00/5:13
-
0:00/3:42
-
0:00/5:16