Charles Mingus, Brazilian folk music, Tom Waits, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Lightning Bolt, Romica Puceanu, Bukka White, Mark Dresser, The Pixies, Tan Dun, Taraf de Haidouks, Neutral Milk Hotel, Shostakovic, Bob Dylan, Eric Dolphy, Animal Collective, Robert Johnson, Toumani Diabate, James Brown, Joshua Marcus, Old Dirty Bastard, Moondog, Clementina de Jesus.
Sounds Like
All the possibility of the low-bowed upright bass are explored by Jack Ohly on his first album, Now Down. It evokes a subterranean world, or a rotting junkyard, or an empty urban alley, but most of all an encompassing loneliness. Everything thrums and clatters in Ohly's music, or smacks as sharply as the rain; his sounds are lush and endless. In addition to the upright bass, he also plays the piano, viola, and cavaquinho, even an Asian zither, and I suppose you're meant to listen with headphones, because the sounds corner you like a motley mob. But his primary instrument is his voice, which evokes Tom Waits, and seems ancient. He has Waits' storytelling knack, too--the songs feel like folk tales, though he's not as wordy as that might suggest. There is quiet menace and strangeness on the opening tracks: "Describe (so loud)," and the epic, shapeshifting melodies of "High Rise." "The Same Light" is an absolutely gorgeous Leonard Cohen-esque love song, so delicate it might break. Similar muted emotion seeps through his cover of the Brazilian folk song "Sereno de Madrugada," in which he's accompanied by Tanya Nagahawatte on vocals. The nocturnal blues of "Milk of the Moon" have a demonic sparkle, as rich as anything on the album. A beautiful release from Royal Rhino Flying Records; Cloud Records also offers limited edition hand-painted copies.
(Electiric Sailor 12/07) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Now Down” is a fairly gripping take on folk infused with unusual instrumentation and technique. Ohly's primary instrument is the upright bass which he plays by plucking and bowing, and in the case of the latter he makes extensive use of harmonics and overtones to infuse his ballads with rich complexity, color and tension, at times all but burying the thoughtful melodies in grizzly, taut washes of sound... Ohly is somewhat of a nomad, moving from Brazil to New England and now residing in Philly. In those travels, it's clear he's gleaned from his musical journey elements of song and experimentation, working through them with passion. Instilled in these uniquely musical songs is diversity itself: zither, metal sculptures, ambient sounds, “zheng” (quzheng?), bold vocals, liberal use of bass, formal experimentation--all adjoined with very capable musicians who pepper a second bass, banjo, horns and vocals throughout this graceful mix of international folk forms
(Foxy Digitalis, 3/08)
Milk of the Moon:
High Rise:
Describe (so loud)/ Burkan cocek live at JB's 11/14. With members of the WPO:
Jack draws from a wide range and it comes out in a wide range- low bowed upright bass to cavaquinho, soundscape to ballad, solo and with a second upright, drums, trumpet, other voices. He plays Brazilian with friends Gregg, Todd and Nayami under the name Old Goats and Eastern European music in the West Philadelphia Orchestra. His first album, Now Down was recently released- handpainted copies are currently available through cloud recordings www.cloudrecordings.com and manufactured copies are currently available through cdbaby cdbaby.com/cd/jackohly and royal rhino flying records www.myspace.com/royalrhinoflyingrecords.
Dust, a new album of music written for Beth Nixon's puppet/theater performance Mite We, is finished and will be released soon in a small edition. Music of termites and dustmites, elephant dreams and swim dreams, featuring Kimbal Brown, Joshua Marcus, Lucy Schneider, Dan Blacksberg, Susan Sakash and Jacob Mitas.
dig your stuff. i should have gotten back to you sooner but i don't check this myspace thing much. great music, thanks for having jacob give it to me. cheers
Come and hang out with me at the Fire, have a drink, and enjoy the music!
assemble Tues. Sept. 30 the Fire @ 412 W. Girard Ave (right next to the Fire Station @ 4th and Girard) Show starts @9pm Also with Mirror Stage, the Suspense, and the Color Karma $7
