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Camphor
Alternative / Indie / Flamenco

give me something for the pain...



RYE, New York
United States

Profile Views:  26015




Last Login:  7/9/2009
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   Camphor: General Info
Member Since4/9/2006
Band Websitehttp://www.camphor.net
Band MembersCAMPHOR is
Max Avery Lichtenstein
aided and abetted by

Jesse Blum
Robert Carlson
Gretta Cohn
T.D. Ellis
David Gold
D. James Goodwin
Grasshopper
Ken Kraut
Tony Leva
Jason Merritt
Sharon Moe
David Nagler
Jon Natchez
Jason Russo
Tony San Marco
Peter Sachon
Jesse Sparhawk
Justin Smith
Ryan Smith
Kevin Thaxton
and Regan Avery
(visual contributor)
Sounds Like

Outburn Magazine: "... more or less flawless ..."
Filter Magazine: "an immaculate first album.... highlighting Max's engrossing voice and expressive lyrics"
Stereo Subversion: "Camphor make a whole album that could be interpreted in many different ways, all of them good."
All Music: "Lichtenstein turns out to be a surprisingly effective pop songwriter, with a particular knack for choruses that subtly insinuate themselves into the subconscious after only a couple listens"
PopMatters: "Drawn to Dust is a beautifully organic album, full of songs with a complexity that practically breathes and whose life cycle you can hear."
Tiny Mix Tapes: "picture-perfect atmosphere..."
Detour Magazine: "This is music of worn wood and rough fabric made smooth, and it has a wonderfully lived in feel..."

Record LabelFriendly Fire Recordings
Type of LabelIndie


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Camphor's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

"Castaway" hits FUSE ON DEMAND  (view more)

"The Sweetest Tooth" featured in The Middleman TV series  (view more)

A brand new song on RCRD LBL, and an important announcement...  (view more)

"Castaway" broadcast on Much Music  (view more)

Vote for Camphor at The Deli poll...  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Camphor


music video

CASTAWAY
we're pleased to say that Pitchfork Media premiered the first video from Drawn to Dust...

Camphor - Castaway (Music Video)
..



             
 


     

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the OBLIGATORY BIOGRAPHY

The substance known as camphor has historically been used in religious ceremonies, as a moth repellent, as an ingredient in fireworks, for the embalming of the dead, and for medicinal purposes such as the alleviation of heart symptoms and fatigue.  It is also the name of a New York-based indie pop group built around the songwriting of Max Avery Lichtenstein. If Max's name rings a bell, you may recognize him from his unconventional instrumental music for critically-acclaimed independent movies including Tarnation, Jesus' Son and The King.  As a film composer, Max has proven himself quite adept at pushing emotional buttons with his beguiling sense of melody and judicious use of creative production techniques.

In 2006 Max decided it was time to explore the possibilities of music un-tethered to film.  He penned a collection of songs loosely exploring the Japanese concept of wabi sabi, the idea that greatness exists in the inconspicuous details of the world, and that heart-tugging beauty can be found in the imperfect and the broken.

With the outline of these songs in hand, Max pulled in friends and collaborators from the bands Mercury Rev, Beirut, Stars Like Fleas, Bright Eyes, Hopewell, The Silent League and Timesbold (of which he is also a member) to produce and perform the debut Camphor album Drawn to Dust, a delicately crafted and gracefully orchestrated chamber pop opus highlighted by Max's captivating voice and evocative lyrics.

Drawn to Dust is a synthesis of sound, style, atmosphere and philosophy that was built with a menagerie of character-rich instruments ranging from the organic (mariachi horns, strings, woodwinds and harp) to the manufactured (mellotrons, optigans, lo-fi electronics and more). The album offers up a dark but catchy listening experience reminiscent in flashes of artists like Nick Cave, Sufjan Stevens, Sparklehorse, Beck, Brian Wilson, Calexico, Broken Social Scene, Wilco and late-era Talk Talk.

Camphor's debut received great acclaim in the U.S., where the CD was released in April 2008 on Friendly Fire Records. To accompany the release, Max produced a unique music video for the record’s first single “Castaway”… a cinematic retelling of the classic siren myth as performed by a cast of PLAYMOBIL® characters. The video caught the eye of Pitchfork Media who premiered the clip on their Forkcast, and it has subsequently been featured on many of the most prominent music bogs and online magazines (including Spin, PopMatters, Detour and Better Propaganda). A follow-up video for the album’s second single is in the works. The band is soon heading to Europe, where releases of Drawn to Dust are planned for late 2008. 

 

 
     






   Camphor's Friend Space (Top 16)
Camphor has 441 friends.
 Fuse On Demand 


 Friendly Fire 


 Max Avery Lichtenstein 


 regan 


 timesbold 


 whip 


 D. James Goodwin 


 gretta cohn 


 kevin thaxton 


 a million billion 


 David Nagler 


 Jon Natchez 


 Jesse Sparhawk 


 The Silent League 


 Stars Like Fleas 


 The Clubhouse 





Camphor's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 58 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Sissi Lewis





Jan 22 2009 12:15 PM

C'est bien sympa aussi ici :)
++
Sissi Lewis





Jan 27 2009 12:57 PM

Thank you ! Beautiful music
Callivero





Jan 21 2009 11:44 PM

"Quand le dernier arbre aura été abattu - Quand la dernière rivière aura été empoisonnée - Quand le dernier poisson aura été péché - Alors on saura que l'argent ne se mange pas." Geronimo

ichinosuke





Dec 20 2008 2:03 PM

thanks for the add.

beautiful music.

greetings from japan.
Callivero





Dec 25 2008 9:58 PM



friendly and "musically" yours, Véronique.
Alena





Dec 16 2008 9:46 PM

thank you sir :)
Callivero





Dec 10 2008 6:19 AM

merci de parler français, c'est très agréable, est-ce que vous le parlez couramment ?
Merci pour votre musique, bonne journée, véronique.
MO





Sep 9 2008 9:36 AM

Photobucket

ATTENTION !! MESSAGE FROM FRANCE !!
L'Oreille de Moscou talks about you
this tuesday Sept 9th on RBG 101. 7 fm from 7.30 pm

Good listener
Sleepyhouse





Sep 4 2008 7:11 AM

sleep away the pain ! many thanks
Arsnova Malo





Sep 1 2008 1:18 PM

Thanks for the add!!
Bonne route !
Ciao,
Arsnova
The Scruffles





Jul 31 2008 10:30 PM

thanks! hope to see you play soon...any plans to play in the city?
GIRBIG





Jul 22 2008 3:11 PM

Your songs are great man!!!

BravoOOooOOOO...

Julien.
Pierred





Jul 17 2008 6:05 PM

Je vous remercie pour votre commentaire et l'ajout =)
Je viens de découvrir votre musique et j'adore !
En vous souhaitant une bonne continuation !!!!
Crayonsmith





Jul 16 2008 11:18 AM

Hey!

Great stuff and the video looks amazing!!
Devin





Jul 2 2008 8:54 PM

hey, man...
thanks for uploading some of your stuff to imeem. com
it's nice being able to stream more than just one song of yours on my page.
dieahnung





Jul 9 2008 7:43 AM

it is great to have you in our network... hope to see you soon in Berlin or Paris...
Rebecca





Jun 26 2008 3:52 AM

the pleasure is all mine, wonderful music!
The Midges





Jun 18 2008 7:53 AM

hi Camphor,

fine and natural music!
your songs are well arranged.
"the sweetest tooth" for example is a song that remains in one's head long after hearing it.

thanx for the add!

best wishes from berlin to rye, new york,

ciao mario of THE MIDGES.
E-Minor.





Jun 15 2008 2:24 PM

Hello hello Max.
The pleasure is mine.
You guys are amazing.
Ol' Two-Button





Jun 11 2008 2:16 AM

love your sound!
Xenophanes Productions





May 25 2008 4:45 PM

Only good ideas and performances here.
Sonja





May 11 2008 10:35 AM

Hi Max
This is truly a very beautiful record.
You all make such wonderful music!

Brazilian cheese rolls!
:-D
erin





May 6 2008 9:58 PM

thanks for the pretty tunes :)
Happy Days Are Here Again





Apr 26 2008 8:11 AM

Thank you! Your songs are awesome!
Dave A





Apr 22 2008 7:41 PM

love the video! great concept.
great job!
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