Tony "The great big voidish fiend" Lash: Drums, Loops.
Eric Matthews: Trumpet.
Ryerson Jr. "Knife Boy" Thee Slayer Hippie: Drums and Co-Writer on Dear Dying Friend.
Phil Baker: Bass.
Little Danny Riddle.
Obscuredbyclouds.net:
William: Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Synthesizers & Oscillators, Vocals.
Kevin of Church Bar: Keyboards, Lead Synthesizers, Oscillators, Backing Vocals.
Ian: Bass and Rock Staristic Idioms.
Jeff Norton: The Kentucky Overload (Past: Reinhardt Melz: Drumming Brilliance in honor of Hayer Slippy.)
Matt: Electric Guitars.
Influences
Tour:
XM Satellite Radio -- 2005 stay tuned for the upcoming live performance and interview on XM Satellite.
Portland: March 9th, 2002 James will perform with Courtney Taylor of the Dandy Warhols at the Ohm.
Los Angeles: Live performance and national broadcast on KCRW & Radio@AOL.com show NewGround hosted by Chris Douridas (Past A&R DreamWorks) on April 27th, 2002. Accompanying James will be Eric Matthews (Trumpet) and Phil Baker (Bass/Dianna Ross). Following the broadcast in Los Angeles: April 30th, 2002 at the Spaceland. On May 2nd, 2002 at the Silverlake Lounge.
Oregon: August 8th, 2002 James will opened for Chris Isaak at the Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon.
New York City: September 15th, 2002: James performs at The Tonic.
New York City: September 16th, 2002: WNYC interview & live performance with host, John Schaefer. Airs 2 PM EST.
New York City: September 16th, & 20th, 2002: The Knitting Factory & The Fez Ballroom.
James Angell invited to play CMJ in New York City.
James Angell & John Taylor (Duran Duran) play the Crystal Ballroom Lolas January 4th, 2003. Music Millennium at 1PM. (Sold Out)
Psycheclectic Records DVD in the works. Not officially released yet.
Sounds Like
JAMES ANGELL "PRIVATE PLAYER"
Psycheclectic Records
4½ Stars - All Music Guide Pick "The underground classic of 2002."
- The New Yorker
- The New York Times
- Magnet Magazine
- Alternative Press
One of the most interesting and ultimately valuable new records to come out of 2002, James Angell's Private Player is akin to Loves' Forever Changes in terms of overall elegance and strangeness. It becomes, in the end, a brilliant exercise in modern day psychedelia. Angell's music is unique in that he wields influences as far-flung as jazz, soul, pop and psychedelic music - often all at the same time. The result is an intoxicating, narcotic voyage, yet has all the luster of a classical piece. Its not 'easy listening' -- nor is it probably intended to be. Angell's lyrics are both freeform and literate, and combined with the multi-layered arrangements, create a cinematic, almost Bosch-esque atmosphere where the lines of sanity, reality and fantasy are often blurred. For an example of this, the listener is directed to the third track, 'Ed Blue Bottle', which puts all of these elements together. Unsettling -- yes indeed, beautiful listening, absolutely. Aside from the beautiful 'Treat Song' featuring guest trumpet player Eric Matthews, the album's highlight may be epic closer, 'Sweet Bell.' With it's eerie, childs voice providing an introduction to Angell's vocal before surrendering to a dissonant soundscape that can only be compared to Tim Buckley's Lorca album, this is one of the album's greatest moments. Private Player is an experience that needs to be played and re-played several times -- preferably in a row, before the listener can fully realize how much music is really happening. In this way, it challenges the listener to become involved. This is not always a popular thing to do in these days of doubt and limited attention span, but is indeed necessary. The underground classic of 2002.
- Matthew Greenwald
All Music Guide - Pick
Allmusicguide.com
THE NEW YORK TIMES:
"The Paul McCartney of ''Maybe I'm Amazed'' and ''Magical Mystery Tour'' would recognize a kindred spirit in James Angell, a songwriter whose album, ''Private Player'' (Psycheclectic), enfolds his voice and keyboard in orchestral wisps and swirls. Live, his melodies should take precedence over the tape loops. Sunday night at 8, with Eszter Balint opening at the Tonic..." - Jon Pareles, The New York Times Pop and Jazz Guide
Radio Live Performance/Interviews:
New York City - WNYC Radio 93.9 FM
On 'SoundCheck' WNYC 93.9 FM Radio hosted by John Schaefer, Portland singer/songwriter James Angell will perform live on the show during his interview on September 16th, 2002 at 2 PM EST. http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck
Los Angeles - KCRW Radio 89.9 FM
On 'Newground' KCRW Radio 89.9 FM and Radio@AOL hosted by Chris Douridas, singer/songwriter James Angell was interviewed and performed. This broadcast can be heard on jamesangell.com Accompanying James was Eric Matthews (Trumpet) and Phil Baker (Bass).
Website: http://www.spinner.com/floor.jhtml?url=%2Fnewground%2F_main_archive121001.jhtml&_requestid=1510904
London - X-FM Radio Radio Play
Private Player debuted on London's X-FM during an interview with Courtney Taylor of the Dandy Warhols. The tracks played were: 1. Ooh love, 4. Call off the war, 7. Dear dying friend.
Website: http://www.xfm.co.uk/
More Radio Play:
So far, radio play also extends to WBAI 99.5 New York City, KOPB - Oregon Public Broadcasting David Christianson/Steven Cantor, Interview on KNRK in Portland, WAPS in Akron Ohio, WCBN - University of Michigan.
The New Yorker
September 11, 2002
The Knitting Factory Sept 16, Tonic Sept 15: The singer-songwriter James Angell comes out of the Portland, Oregon, scene that gave birth some ten years ago to the Dandy Warhols... (he was the front man of a band called Nero's Rome with the Dandy, Courtney Taylor as drummer.) After dropping out of the music world to raise a daughter and build a house, Angell returns with an album of ambitious orchestral psychedelia, "Private Player," that's earned justifiable comparisons to the hallmark of the genre, Love's "Forever Changes."
- John Donohue
The New Yorker
Magnet Magazine
June, 2002 Issue ..54
Angells piano, songs & vocalsthe latter sounding at times like the whispered sing-speak of Ira Kaplan or Freddie Mercury subdued by the purr from a pack of affectionate house catsthat row this skiff of an album over placid waters. Dear Dying Friend chugs along to the rhythm of an electronic camel, becoming friendlier with each chorus, the synthesized push-and-pull finally giving way to a more organic version of this lugubrious tempo. Treat Song, with Eric Matthews muted trumpet, lopes along like the heart of Saturday night as Angell lullabies his daughter into dreams of spaceships and log-perched ponderances. Ooh Love is a tease, flirting and breaking promises. Angell hangs onto slow, elastic cadences and comes up with an album just odd enough to have never given bloated and pallid arena pop such as ELO or Elton John any trouble, though he often sounds like a smarter version of both.
- Bruce Miller
Magnet MagazineAlternative Press
October, 2002 Issue ..171
This is Baroque orchestral rock thatll make you feel like youre smashed on absinthe. How is it? With its beautiful tunes and emotive vocals Private Player introduces a major new talent. Kindred spirits: David Bowie, Tim Buckley, Rufus Wainwright
- David Segal
Alternative Press
Pop & Politics - James Angell "Private Player" by Tanya Selvaratnam
Once in a while, a song gets under my skin and stays there. But rarely does an artist create eight songs that seep into my psyche at the same time. That is the achievement of James Angell's latest disc "Private Player." This is music to trip to, swoon to, and jump into. And the more I listened to it, the more I got sucked into its sublime entropy.
Layering is the drug here. Every piece seems to derive its influence from a different musical archetype, but there is nothing formulaic about the tracks. Try to identify the sound and you will fail. It's as if someone threw Bowie, Eno, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Radiohead and Tim Buckley into a blender...and then threw out the recipe.
James Angell honed his nonconformist attitude after burning out on the frenetic Portland, Oregon music scene and on a deal with Capitol Records for his then band Nero's Rome. He says he can't think about the record industry because that's what screwed him up before. He couldn't think anymore about writing what naturally appeals to an audience. He wanted to get back to trusting his gut instincts and not listening to A&R guys who were mostly interested in second-guessing the mass market. So he dropped out and retreated with his wife Erin and daughter Astrid Zora to a house in the woods that he built with his own hands. During his Whitmanesque idyll, he found the hunger to make music again.
The album is appropriately called "Private Player," because he says he crafted songs that appeal to himself, especially to the self he was as a child. He explains, "Kids can smell bullshit a mile away. They respond intuitively." In his self-imposed exile, he developed a sound that he describes as "4th dimension"--strongly rooted in reality, but boldly exploring a world hidden in the subconscious. He wanted to position musical ideas together that aren't supposed to stand side-by-side. Enlisting the help of musicians like Eric Matthews, Tony Lash, brother Theo Angell (Jackie 'O Mommy Lover), former bandmate Tod Morrisey (Neros Rome), and even his daughter, Angell fleshed out his musical fantasia.
The isolation is about to pay off. Chris Douridas, the highly influential DJ of KCRW, has already named James Angell a "new ground-breaker" and interviewed him on the nationally broadcast show "Spinner's New Ground" at the end of April; All Music Guide called "Private Player" the "underground classic of 2002."
Eventually he would like to have the luxury of a record company behind him, so that he can support the right band to replicate onstage the sound of "Private Player." But for now, he's going to hit the road playing solo piano shows around the country and building the groundswell of support for his genre-busting sound. From the wandering of "Who's Wakin' Me Up?" and the heartache of "Treat Song" to the sweet sentimentalism of "Picture Perfect" and the psychedelia of "Sweet Bell," James Angell provides a complete and unusual journey. Listening to Angell's music is like watching a 1960s Kubrick film: you witness a landscape so odd, lush, disturbing, and visceral that you emerge with a hypersensitized experience of the immediate world. In fact, much of "Private Player" presents the listener with a cinematic experience, where the sounds conjure pictures that haunt and seduce.
The official release date is June 2002, but it's available online at www.jamesangell.net. Or if you're in LA, go see James play and you can pick up a CD there. And tell him Tanya sent you.
Upcoming Gigs:
Internet listening available on www.kcrw.com. Interview and performance on Spinner's New Ground with Chris Douridas. Broadcast on 89.9 FM KCRW in Los Angeles and on National Public Radio affiliates nationwide. Call KCRW at 310-450-5183 for more info.
Thursday, May 2, 2002, 9:15 p.m.: Live performance at The Silver Lake Lounge (2906 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026).
http://www.popandpolitics.com/articles_detail.cfm?articleID=1106
http://www.popandpolitics.com/articles_detail.cfm?articleID=1104
Arts & Entertainment
Coming out of the woods
- Scott D. Lewis
'About 21/2 years ago I thought, 'How did this happen? I'm living next to my parents . . . What am I going to do?' " James Angell says, remembering the epiphany that brought him back to making music. "I knew I had to start doing music again. I thought, 'I do not want to be in a band, I am not doing that again.' "
Angell learned about the realities of band life with Nero's Rome. In the mid-1990s, Nero's Rome was one of Portland's most promising bands, with Angell handling piano duties and sharing vocals with Tod Morrisey. The group's stirring mixture of epic rock and new wave flair inspired Capitol Records to offer a deal.
"It was heartbreaking," recalls Angell, "going back and forth, getting a deal, A&R guys getting fired, new president firing everybody and deals going out the window. It was pretty harsh." After Nero's Rome made a second album, a development deal was cut with Mercury Records but, Angell says, the money was mismanaged. With the well dry and his wife pregnant, Angell retreated to his parent's property in the woods south of Portland.
There, he designed and built his house and also worked as a carpenter (he's now building Super Digital's new facilities). But, as might be said, you can take the musician out of the music but you can't take the music out of the musician. Angell began feeling the need to create again.
"I've got a big upright piano out here," says Angell, "and I just started writing tunes. I got some recording gear and started tracking. Once I got the songs down with some vocals so I could get an idea of what I wanted to do, I started calling in various players to do this and that."
That list includes such local luminaries as Tony Lash, Eric Matthews, Daniel Riddle, Phil Baker, Steve Hanford and even former band mate Morrisey. Angell also asked for contributions from his brother and sister and young daughter, Astrid.
The resulting CD, "Private Player," is a lovely listen, though at times a bit unsettling, combining influences as diverse as Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Tim Buckley. Angell's compositions are sweeping, unhurried and embellished enough to keep the surprises coming without becoming cluttered. Angell's understated, breathy voice is the ideal complement, and, overall, this is music that comes from an artistic rather than commercial drive.
Which is not to say that "Private Player" doesn't have "legs." Influential Southern California radio station KCRW made it one of its picks and has invited Angell to perform on the air in April. All Music Guide has just given the album a fawning four-and-a-half-star review for its 2002 publication; and Magnet magazine is slated to do a story on Angell's music.
Greetings Eclectic Psyches! Hey, I listen to everything you send -- but it takes three weeks to get through it all so please give me time to respond. Thank you for giving us time to respond...
OBSCURED BY CLOUDS:
BLURBS:
“…Obscured By Clouds unquestionably have immense potential. …Heavy psychedelic twists…The band manage to create pieces that veer from the more extreme, doom-laden riffs to the occasional lilting ballad, and surprisingly it’s a blend that works well.” - Classic Rock Magazine Presents Prog! AUG 2009 (London)
“Trippy textures and trances melt into ominous psychotronic sensations..." -Creem Magazine
Sounds like “…Type O Negative and Mastodon…the results are exceptional and impressive.” - Classic Rock Magazine (London)
“They resemble a more inspired Soundgarden… It’s an aural entente between UK/US psych templates…” - Shindig! (London)
Obscured By Clouds “Portland, Oregon based art rock band…William Weikart is the brain trust and founder of the ensemble…Playing guitars, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, and oscillators, Weikart formed a new personalized approach to Pink Floyd's music without covering their material, but instead attempting to expand on it from his own perspective.” - All Music Guide 2009
“Obscured By Clouds…employs a hefty dose of Pink Floyd influence as a launching pad…into space/psych/prog realms, which also summons hints of Nick Drake, Bowie on barbiturates, and Hawkwind. The sonorous, echo-laden “Faiths’ Soul” even brings Jimi Hendrix to mind at his most heavily psych-ic. All is delivered with melodic panache…. …Psycheclectic emphasizes strong song structures, so despite the mind-bending space/psych flourishes in arrangement and production, accessibility isn’t an issue.” - Progression Magazine
AUG 28 FRIDAY: Obscured By Clouds @ The Whisky a Go-Go - Los Angeles, CA
Honda Motors & Yahoo have selected one of OBC’s songs “Cast Close The Gate” to stream to 120 million estimated listeners via their Honda Motors Music Widget.
Next show @ Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles Friday night! The Obscured By Clouds Local CD Release Party! http://www.obscuredbyclouds.net
Summary Reviews for Obscured By Clouds "Psycheclectic"
Obscured By Clouds 2009-2010 Tour Dates:
· AUG 28 2009 Whisky a Go-Go!!! Obscured By Clouds in Los Angeles, CA Friday Night!
· SEPT 12 2009 Berbati's Pan Obscured By Clouds in Portland, Oregon Saturday Night!
· AUG 12 2009 The Doug Fir Obscured By Clouds in Portland, OR.
· JULY 29 2009 Studio Seven Obscured By Clouds in Seattle, WA.
· JULY 3 2009 Friday The Comet Tavern Obscured By Clouds in Seattle, WA. w/ WitchBurn, Valis & Stone Axe.
· JULY 1 2009 Dante’s Obscured By Clouds w/ Echo Helstrom, Love Grenades & ARZ.
· JUNE 26 2009 Laser-Light Show: Columbia City Theater Seattle, WA Friday Night! Obscured By Clouds w/ Echo Helstrom & Dream Tiger. (Laser Light Show w/ Austrailian Floyd's lighting director.)
· JUNE 6, 2009 6:00 PM (EST) RADIO Interview: WSHC 89.7 West Virginia w/ Olivia Maxwell. Online: www.897wshc.org. Past guest: Richard Lloyd, Gary Lucas , Koko Dozo.
· MAY 2009 Honda Motors and Yahoo select our song "Cast Close The Gate" to stream 120 Million listeners estimated hearing our music via the Honda Music Widget. Thank you Honda & Yahoo!
· APRIL 2009 Review in Classic Rock Magazine, London.
· APRIL 20, 2009 Interview in Progression Magazine.
· MARCH 2009 Interview in Ink19.
· JAN 22, 2009 Columbia City Music Theater Seattle, WA.
· DEC 2008 Review in Shindig! Magazine, London.
· SEPT 2008 Review in Creem Magazine.
· AUG 22, 2008 The Aladdin Theater Portland, OR Obscured By Clouds CD release party.
· AUG 21, 2008 Music Millennium (East) Free In-Store Performance Portland, OR.
· AUG 20, 2008 8 PM KNRK 94.7 Radio Portland, OR played our new CD.
· AUG 10, 2008 10 PM KUFO 101.1 CLASSIC ROCK Radio Portland, Viva-La-Luna Show w/Lisa Wood.
· JULY & AUG 2008 Review in BlogCrtics.com via online Seattle Examiner.
“Floyd devotees set the controls for arty grunge. …Although obviously conversant in UK 70’s prog, Portland’s William Weikart also knows his way round a doomy riff and a grunge melody. Switching from the sedated bad-dream drone of Zoe Zolofft to the lofty bombast of Cast Close the Gate, contemporary touchstones are Type O Negative and Mastodon’s artier moments. …When they stick to the more straight forward heavy psychedelia however, the results are exceptional and impressive.”
- Tim Batcup Classic Rock Magazine (UK) April 2009
"An ambitious prog-rock album where surface-sutured layers of trippy textures and trances melt into ominous simmering swatches of deep-seated psychotronic sensations before slowly coalescing together again."
- Jeffrey Morgan Creem Magazine September 2008
“Tough, fervid and intense, at various times over the course of Psycheclectic they resemble a more inspired Soundgarden with a bigger paintbox (‘Cast Close The Gate’, ‘Consider This A Message’), a characteristically glowering Thin White Rope (‘Zoe Zolofft’) and an even more raucous Nomeansno (‘Hot Little Box’). …It’s surprising and instructive to discover how well their brawny, muscular, scruff-of-the-neck acid rock offsets and complements Mooch’s birdsong, sitars and British pallor. It’s an aural entente between UK and US psych templates, no less…”
- The Reviews Editor Shindig! Magazine London, UK December, 2008
“…Obscured By Clouds unquestionably have immense potential. “Soft Cheeked & Worried is a classy melodic track that, along with the mellow acoustics of Love’s Love, hint at their hippy-trippy affinities. Faith’s Soul and Consider This A Message add some stoner rock, heavy psychedelic twists.” “…The band manage to create pieces that veer from the more extreme, doom-laden riffs to the occasional lilting ballad, and surprisingly it’s a blend that works well.”
- Rich Wilson Classic Rock Magazine - Presents Prog! August 5th, 2009
(We privilege obscure homage over heteronomy any day.)
“There is so much going on within this album that it takes many plays to fully explore the multi layers and sometimes disguised dimensions it contains. The production…is first class. …Both psychedelic and eclectic drawing from not only Floyd influences but releasing those energies and letting them go on their own journey…not only rewarding but is also fascinating and compelling. It is a brave move… “Cast Close the Gate” which opens with strident guitar work before developing into an extraordinarily accomplished track underpinned by some clever and effective drumming. “Love’s Love” appears with a wonderfully rich opening section and highly evocative lyrics.”
- Jeff Perkins Blog Critics Magazine August 25th, 2008
“…The album takes great inspiration from Pink Floyd, but really stands with its own persona. …Obscured By Clouds takes what they heard and learned from Pink Floyd and adapted it to their own play. And the thing is, these kids rock. Using "psycheclectic" as a portmanteau of "psychedelic" and "eclectic" very much describes the album itself. …Different songs (would) be described as everything from classic rock to feedback experimentation to folk to perhaps even Celtic in its epic descriptions of landscape and emotional impact. “Soft Cheeked and Worried," …flows from stark acoustic guitar emulating the barren desert with splashes of piano and moves to electric guitar playing just on the edge of feedback. "Zoë Zolofft" works as an homage to Syd Barrett in a "song about a girl, a sitar, and modern pharmakinetics", creating the "sonic imagery of the splintered spokes of a broken and wobbling wheel." "Love's Love" calls up images of love personified "with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment."
- Jeff Provine Blog Critics Magazine July 27th, 2008
“Portland, Oregon based art rock band Obscured by Clouds… Their sound also reflects the spacy, electronic-induced psychedelia of that era with modern sound reinforcements and technological digital enhancements. William Weikart is the brain trust and founder of the ensemble, initially inspired when he saw Pink Floyd's Live at Pompeii, and took cues from the dreamy vocals of David Gilmour and sparse musings of guitarist Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters. Playing guitars, Fender Rhodes electric piano, synthesizers, and oscillators, Weikart formed a new personalized approach to Pink Floyd's music without covering their material, but instead attempting to expand on it from his own perspective. In 2009 the album Psycheclectic was issued on the Psycheclectic label.”
- Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
“Dark, ambitious, brooding and atmospheric, it’s a bold and unique statement from a band that’s gotten the stamp of approval from Pink Floyd mastermind David Gilmour himself. The record is attention-grabbing from start to conceptual finish. You can bet money the record release show will be a brilliant affair.”
- Barbara Mitchell The Portland Tribune August 21st, 2008
“Obscured By Clouds newest CD “Psycheclectic" features dreamy meditative songs and harder rockin' tunes, and has already received airplay on such stations as KNRK and KUFO. The album veers from dreamy meditations to hard rockers, and is sure to please fans of progressive rock as well as orchestrated psychedelia.”
- Rob Cullivan The Outlook (Oregon) August 19th, 2008
“…Psycheclectic, (a) 21st-century interpretation of the music of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Obscured By Clouds certainly has a better grasp of their instruments and how to play them than most pop-rock groups on the market. Psycheclectic is an album that will only be appreciated by those who already love the music of Geddy, Neil, Alex, David, and Roger and the deep catalogs of both those transcendent groups.”
- (Music In My Ears) August 20th, 2008
“Psychedelicgrunge: who’d have thought it? …Think of an album including tracks from Pink Floyd, Rush, Screaming Trees and Faith No More, and then mix all the tracks together; it would be called Psychelectic and it would be by Obscured By Clouds. …If you fancy being in a dream while being awake… Clearly influenced by Pink Floyd…the opening track Soft Cheek and Worried is a homage to the Floyds early psychedelic era… They describe themselves as a band with a sound that is truly unique forgoing the standard formulas Its no surprise, then, to catch a bit of grunge influences in the music as well. Full credit is due for producing a professional sounding record and for a band who obviously know how to handle their instruments. Front-man and songwriter William Weikart clearly understands his music to be able to write such a variety of songs. A good debut effort and likely to be loved by fans of Roger Waters and company and likely to be understood by grunge kids; other music fans might find the droning guitars, abstract synthesizers and fantastical lyrics too much to be able to appreciate.”
- Rachel Butler Idio Magazine September 11th, 2008
“The band finds the right balance of hard-hitting and melodic rock on "Fatih’s Soul," which will catch the ear of fans of Northwest rock heroes Floater. "Psycheclectic" takes on the persona of a concept album, with deep imagery and recurring sound effects ingrained into a running theme, called "The Drip Feed." "Psycheclectic" is a good starting point for Obscured By Clouds — at least good enough to have caught the attention of Pink Floyd member David Gilmour and longtime engineer Andy Jackson, who have expressed interest in working with the band in the future.
- Ossie Bladine Vancouver Voice September 2008
“It's easy to forget in light of Floyd's gargantuan mainstream popularity, but their music originally came from truly weird, avant-garde origins. …Fortunately, the band is at its most interesting when they drop the Floyd homage and play straightforward, propulsive rock, like "Cast Close the Gate," or the Cult-like "Faith's Soul," both from their new album, Psycheclectic, which celebrates its release tonight.”
- NL The Portland Mercury August 21st, 2008
“No obscuring new record. Drawing inspiration from Pink Floyd and the psychedelic music of the ’60s and ’70s, local band Obscured by Clouds is releasing its second album, “Psycheclectic.” It features eight tracks written by William Weikart of Camas, the progressive rock group’s guitarist, keyboardist and lead vocalist. This album is more layered than the group’s first effort, “Bleed,” (1997) said Weikart... “This has much more complexity in songwriting, (and) much more instrumentation. There is a thematic flow that runs from song to song.”
- Elisa Williams The Columbian August 22nd, 2008
“…Obscured By Clouds show a knack for keen songwriting and psychadelic, progressive and introspective themes on Psycheclectic. They keep it honest by making it quite clear that, at their heart, they're just a hard rock band who are trying to come together into one cohesive unit. And it doesn't matter which side the band is on because they pull off both the psychadelic day-tripper and blue-collar rock'n'roller sounds quite well. You'll know already if this album is for you or not, but I must stress that if you've ever heard the term "progressive rock" and figured yourself to be a fan, GET THIS RECORD ASAP. Even David Gilmour likes Obscured By Clouds, and that's no lie. Their press release says so.”
“…The heartbeat opening "Soft Cheeked & Worried" will of course bring to mind that previously-mentioned megaband's classic "Dark Side Of The Moon" album, but the bottom drops out on that quick as the band kicks into a softly-spun acoustic jam, with a bright piano melody and distant, resonating electric guitar drifting overhead. As almost every song on the album does, this closes with a return to the bass-drum/heartbeat section of it's original intro and delves into what the liner notes describe as "Subconscious murmured dialogue", more or less short moments of spacey ambience that reach their logical destination on the rather surprising and disturbing closer "The Drip Feed". In between their influences mix from a somewhat standard progressive hard rock ala King's X or the more recent output from Rush, but almost always muddled with a metallic guitar nature that brings to mind King Crimson. The one song that'll leave the biggest impression has to be "Zoe Zolofft", which snakes along with a pitch-black groove that sounds straight out of a bad trip's bad trip.”
- Kevin Sellers Music Emissions October 26th, 2008
“Portland-based art rock band Obscured By Clouds…maintain heavy influence by psychedelic and art rock of the 60s and 70s, particularly experimental bands like Pink Floyd. The first track, Soft Cheeked and Worried, was my favorite song on the album… Much like Pink Floyd’s art rock, the vocals of Weikart are slurred and dream-like, as if spoken/sang through a megaphone in an echoing empty tunnel. Combine the vocals with various electronic sound effects and synthesizers, and it becomes a brilliantly original spin on its influence. As a fan of the musical style of the Floyd, I was surprised to find that Psycheclectic had retained many of their positive elements, and how much I liked the new originality. The tracks are all masterfully orchestrated and the talent of every member of the band is obvious. Another great example of this composition mastery is demonstrated in Track 5, “Faith’s Soul”. …But there is no mistaking that Obscured By Clouds took the essence that made Pink Floyd so revolutionary and re-birthed it into a solidly innovative work of art, able to stand on its own. …As Weikart has stated in interviews, his purpose for starting the band was to enjoy the concept of the band together. The creative influences of the Floyd combined with the seamless synergy of the members of Obscured By Clouds make for a truly enjoyable experience in freeform art rock.
- Leslie Waara NW Noise Reviews September 24th, 2008
“(OBC) They provide a “unique blend of resonance and transcendence.” Indeed, this album would’ve fit in in the 1970s, as Weikart’s vocals are a mixture of Gilmour and John Wetton (King Crimson’s vocalist on Larks’ Tongues In Aspic and a few after). Musically, they’re quite interesting... Opener “Soft Cheeked & Worried” is the best track on the album... It’s a very catchy track and leads into the album successfully. “Zoe Zolofft” is a bit jolting because of its militaristic time signature, perhaps representing a bad side effect of the drug itself. “Cast Close The Gate” is a straightforward rocker with plenty of attitude. “Love’s Love” has, as they describe it, a “…mellow cadence that ascribes the duality and simultaneity in few words with a Floydishly acoustic accompaniment.” It’s a pretty peaceful track. “Faith’s Soul” opens with a very heavy guitar tone... It also has a pretty hot guitar solo near the ending. “The Drip Feed” ...has some string instruments and weird noises, like water dripping, and is a somewhat successful attempt at tension filled ambience.”?
- Jordan Blum Delusions of Adequacy October 7th, 2008
“When I first received Psycheclectic by the duo Obscured by Clouds, whose name comes from a lyric from a Pink Floyd song, my first thought was that this was going to be some drone-heavy electronic NyQuil. I was pleasantly surprised when I actually listened to it. It has a little bit of everything.
The opening track, "Soft Cheeked & Worried," takes about a minute to get going, but once the acoustic guitar and piano get going, it starts to sound like the bastard child of Elton John's "Rocket Man." Then the vocals of William Weikart enter. He sounds like a darker version of Roger Waters. Especially on this track, the positive music and Weikart's cryptic voice counter each other to perfection.
"Zoe Zoloft" is intentionally plodding with the drums, played by Poison Idea's Thee Slayer Hippy (I can't make this stuff up), keeping a heavy rhythm as if he just had his Zoloft. They follow that up with "Cast Close the Gate," a straight-up rocker with an eclectically electronic twist. It's like adding the lime to a Corona. It's already good, but they made it just a little better.
"Faith's Soul" is a page straight out of A Perfect Circle's catalog. It's almost seven minutes long, filled with guitar solos, lyrics that could have come from a seedy back alley ("Statues of stone will be a witness against us/ I am a ghost, finite, and transparent... hollow") and an outro that could fill a stadium.
Psycheclectic is a record that has a little bit of everything. It starts off like it could be acoustic or even alt/rock similar to Days of the New. But once you reach track three of this eight-track, 41+ minute album, you realize that you haven't even scratched the surface yet. One listen is not enough to get everything that Obscured by Clouds has to offer on this album.”
- Tim Wardyn Ink 19 November 2008
“I think it’s fair to say that we find the defendant guilty, your honour, of being big fans of Pink Floyd. Fortunately the Oregon outfit avoids the sort of outright imitation that might generate incessant teasing, and the superb production of ‘Psycheclectic’ reveals a lot of capable musicianship. The band seems adept at shifting between the acoustic subtleties of opener ‘Soft Cheeked and Worried’ as the crunchier guitar of ‘Cast Close’. Mainman William Weikart’s forceful vocals aren’t too shabby either.
The band’s Floyd fanaticism carries on through the lyrics, with the stomping ‘Zoe Zoloft’ bearing an appropriately druggy theme. The submerged female vocals that pop up in it (and other songs) can be a trifle annoying, but at least they don’t ask if you’d like to take a bath – that would be going too far.
…At root, ‘Psycheclectic’ is a sincere act of worship and a polished update of the psychedelic prog rock of the early 1970's that fans of the era might want to check out a few tasters ... whether they’re then inspired to pick up a copy or just stick some Floyd on or in the music-playing device of their choice is up to them. (Exhibit F. Track eight, ‘The Drip Feed’ ... thathump ... thathump ... thathump).”
- Andrew Carver Penny Black Music – UK, November 2008
“It's easy to forget in light of Floyd's gargantuan mainstream popularity, but their music originally came from truly weird, avant-garde origins. …Fortunately, the band is at its most interesting when they drop the Floyd homage and play straightforward, propulsive rock, like "Cast Close the Gate," or the Cult-like "Faith's Soul," both from their new album, Psycheclectic, which celebrates its release tonight.”
- NL The Portland Mercury August 21st, 2008
JAMES ANGELL.com:
THE NEWYORKER said "...Angell returns with an album of ambitious orchestral psychedelia, "Private Player," that's earned justifiable comparisons to the hallmark of the genre, Love's "Forever Changes."
THE NEW YORK TIMES:
"The Paul McCartney of ''Maybe I'm Amazed'' and ''Magical Mystery Tour'' would recognize a kindred spirit in James Angell, a songwriter whose album, ''Private Player'' (Psycheclectic), enfolds his voice and keyboard in orchestral wisps and swirls. Live, his melodies should take precedence over the tape loops. Sunday night at 8, with Eszter Balint opening at the Tonic..." - Jon Pareles, The New York Times
ALTERNATIVE PRESS: "With its beautiful tunes and emotive vocals 'Private Player' introduces a major new talent."
Got independence? And music for your eclectic psyche? Yes, we hold our truths more self-evident... And what is this shift of technological power into the hands of individuals going to do to the large record companies? How big is this universe, or better yet -- how microcosmic can we get?
What is that hidden space in our souls that hold those memories of our favorite songs and films? How do you find the source of that eclectic feeling from your past with the elusive impact it has upon your future? Too much good music and film are never experienced and we wanted to make a stand. Psychecleticism is derived from the impact these eclectic events have upon our psyche, and how they impact our future. The psyche's ability to absorb the impression of the eclectic while being blind to its origin is beguiling. By re-engineering the limitations of the term psychedelic with the psyches eclectic undertow, we've created a form that does not limit us to psychedelias timeline -- rather it expands the experience of all things psycheclectic. A path divergedand a while back we asked, "If a band fell in the forest would they make a sound?" Now we are asking, "If you could see the forest through the trees, would it still be made of wood?" The ever-expanding attention span of musical taste has a wider audience to fill this new bandwidth.
The foundation named in memory of Linda McCartney known as The Garland Appeal has played a welcome and effective role in our humble beginnings. With help from Eric Matthews and Dennis D'Amico we have two of our flagship bands appearing on the next Garland Appeal release. Both James Angell & others are featured on this release. A symphony will back these performances with orchestrated parts at the upcoming release of the compilation CD.
JAMES ANGELL - PRIVATE PLAYER SEPT 24, 2002:James Angells debut has warmed the hearts of musicians and music lovers everywhere. With 4½ Stars for this ALL MUSIC GUIDE - PICK it was named, The underground classic of 2002. ALTERNATIVE PRESS voted this album as, "Baroque orchestral rock that'll make you feel like you're smashed on absinthe." Sound like a good time?
Angell has pushed forward with eighteen (18) new songs and is preparing for the next release his greatest work yet.
More ALL MUSIC GUIDE: "Angell's music is unique in that he wields influences as far-flung as jazz, soul, pop and psychedelic music - often all at the same time. The result is an intoxicating, narcotic voyage, yet has all the luster of a classical piece. One of the most interesting and ultimately valuable new records to come out of 2002." Even kooky krazy kokakoler Courtney Taylor (Dandy Warhols) groov'n up slowly prophesizes, "Every hipster and poser is going to be ripping from it to save their souls." His distant cousin John Taylor of Power Station and ah, Duran-Duran has joined up to play bass at the live shows...
OBSCURED BY CLOUDS - PSYCHECLECTIC November 11th 2008:Obscured By Clouds underground, retro-cycle, second unofficial EP's debut has sent a subsonic message...so if you understand subsonic undertow then you are in luck...
Out of the revolution we stand in your favorite local haunt. Psycheclectic Records was spawned in 2000 with a local artists' intent. ...A label by musicians for musicians. A spark perhaps for a foundational movement to better protect musicians and their works. We provide for our artists future, join us to take steps forward in support of music.
We are always open to hearing music here. And in that purpose we hold true that what is 'good' in music is the strength of the progressive movement toward better music. Is it a waste of time to lead the parade posturing and shouting aloud regarding how bad some music may be? How about keeping the ego to ourselves (thanks) and getting to the point. The critics may have spent the last ten years defining whats bad Since then, we've missed the opportunity to build the foundation of what is good in music. Perhaps weve grown to simply not care what critics dont like anymore... If you're unhappy with the music scene, it's more than likely the result of people not defining what is good in music. What you like and why you like it is really all that matters.
We're extending our reach by placing timelessness first. You wont get any limitations from us.
Hey there!!! just wanted to share Alicia Keys "Doesn't Mean Anything" covered by me :) on you tube. Just having a little fun. Check it out on my page. How's it going?
MONOTONIX Saturday 28th November Nice n Sleazys, Glasgow
The release of their new album tops off a whirlwind year of touring, the infamy surrounding their charged live perfomances steadily mounting. Rightly so, check out this youtube link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmEHu-QAgNE&feature=related - and marvel at one of the typically unpredictable gigs of the band that Spin have declared the "most exciting live band in rock'n'roll."
Have a listen www.myspace.com/monotonix
Support from The Elvis Suicide
Tickets Available from www.tickets-scotland.com 0141 204 5151 www.ticketweb.co.uk 08444 77 1000
******* newness ******* hey, how was your summer? We are finally ready to start promoting my 'I Surrender' single with my album, 'Ella Trip' coming right after -yey!! What d'ya think to the video teaser? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsyGWtW5xQY
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
Hey! It's Damon from Set Theory. We are looking for a male or female vocalist in the NY area (we're based in Westchester, NY). If you know of anyone interested, please e-mail me here. We would really appreciate any help!
Our recent songs can be heard on our MySpace page.
Don't miss DECADENCE "an evening of sinful self-indulgence" -- Saturday December 12th. Come out and party in style!!!! Check out the page for more details.
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