Familiar Trees is not technically a "band", however, banded by the songs that come through them. It is a recording project, live performances are few and far between. We are filters and love to record, believe in quality not quantity and we take our time to insure our songs are produced in a natural and unforced manner. Thank you for listening and sharing with your friends.
Musicians featured on familiar trees recordings (so far) include: Joel O'Neill (bass), Devin McNulty (bass clarinet), Shaun Darius Gottlieb (cello) , Jason Golday (guitar) , Davin Givhan (guitar), Tolga Yenilmez (percussion), Ryan Francesconi (guitar)
Lyrics for Nameless, Discreet Robots (most) & From Clay by M. Miyahara
Music composed, recorded and produced by Ken Negrete.
Influences
now, life, love, trees!
Sounds Like
Familiar Trees EP (cd in handmade felt pocket + leaf stitching) available at CDBABY & timereleaserecords.com / songs also @iTunes.
aural art, echoes of cocteau twins, bjork, shelleyan orphan, his name is alive, mum, hope sandoval (mazzy star), slowdive, Karen Peris (innocence mission), Mohave 3, Stina Nordenstam, Carrie, Juana Molina, Azure Ray, Sundays, Carpet Musics, Colleen, Aarktica, Angele David-Guillon (Piano Magic), Estelle (Elephant Parade). . . so we are told, what do you think? let us know.
Familiar Trees released their debut self-titled EP (limited edition) in October 2005 which featured a blend of acoustic (cello, bass clarinet, guitars, piano, brushed drums) arrangements combined with subtle electronics.
"Blending indie pop sensibilities with folk and ambient soundscapes, Familiar Trees is the dreamiest EP to be released in recent memory. Sustained keyboards, subdued acoustic guitars and crystalline, breathy female vocals flow throughout this mesmerizing collection of six pieces. Beautiful in every aspect, this EP comes in a hand-sewn cloth pouch." -Seldom Heard Radio
"Everyone was well impressed with the fancy stitched felt sleeve the disc came packaged in, then we put it on and floated off into a time of less stress, sun dappled ground (from filtering through a familiar tree, perhaps), and scent of cherry blossoms. Far from as new agey as that sounds, Familiar Trees walks the well loved, but somewhat overgrown, path previously tread by Mazzy Star and Slowdive, but both at their most quietly beautiful." -Fingerprints Record Store
"Desde California nos llega este Ep. del dúo Familiar Trees, integrado por Ken Negrete y Fabiola Sánchez; aunque los rumores indican que se encuentran trabajando en su nuevos disco, esto es hasta ahora lo único que tenemos de ellos. Editado en el año 2005 por Time Realease, este Ep sin nombre es una sutil combinación de texturas electrónicas y agradable instrumentación acústica de cuerdas, pianos y batería tocada con escobilla; los sonidos de la naturaleza no son dejados de lado y podemos escuchar a nuestro lado el canto de algún pájaro alegremente distorsionado. El clima de felicidad y armonía que se vive durante la escucha del disco, perdura por largo tiempo mientras la voz de Fabiola florece quién sabe en qué lugar de nuestra mente. Esto es el paraíso y la música de Familiar Trees lo ha creado." - LA SUITE
"Familiar Trees (Californie) est un trio utilisant cello, clarinette, guitare, piano, batterie jazz, le tout combiné à des arrangements electroniques d’une rare subtililté. La voix de Fabiola Sanchez, évoque la sensibilité et la fragilité d’une Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) ou d’une Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star). Le packaging en tissu fait de cette série ultra limitée un bien bel objet tant sonore que visuel." - musique.fnac
"The delicately textured vocals of Fabiola Sanchez take the tender, ambient pop-sensibilities of Ken Negrete and Joel O'Neill to otherworldly places. While Familiar Trees create music that has immediate appeal, there is something much deeper happening within the chords, flourishes, and atmospheres. "Minutes Pass" opens the EP, and you are swooned with the soft rhythm of shakers, carefully strummed acoustic guitars, ethereal keyboard drones, and hauntingly reverbed breathy vocals. Warm orchestral strings dominate "Discreet Robots", and it's (ironically) the most organic moment on the EP. Again, Fabiola's voice defines the song and turns it completely angelic. The breathtaking instrumental "Serum" has a relation to the instrumental tracks found on Goldfrapp's Felt Mountain, only Familiar Trees makes instrumentals more pristine and less synthetic. "Dreamstate" continues right where "Serum" left off, as the vocal-less track mixes warm strings to the euphoria. Artistic nature sounds with a space-like undertone, along with gentle acoustic guitars bring "Nameless" to its wonderful climax. The vocals are doubled at times, and their reverb evokes Elizabeth Fraser (CT). The final "From Clay" is almost lullaby-like, quiet and pensive, yet rich with sonic appeal, as the synths are tenderly accompanied by a lone piano. I'm not hyping this EP at all...it simply blows my mind in a very subtle way. This is when pop crashes into art. -the black and white magazine
Familiar Trees is currently recording, "Inner Course", a full-length record to be released upon completion. Listen to ...
'Sunspot' [V/A "Springs, Re:Makes and Mixes of RF": 2006] 'Kings' [RF & Lili De La Mora: Eleven Continents: 2007] 'All Of Us' , 'Here I Am' , 'Leafy Sanctuaries' and 'Between' [Familiar Trees: Inner Course: FORTHCOMING]
@ www.myspace.com/familiartreesaddendum or by clicking on the image link below
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