Mark Phillips: toy-grade & professional grade keyboards, vocals, guitar, bass
Many others - please contact us if you want to join the Sono Oto Orchestra
Influences
Beatles
Pharoah Sanders
Dogen Zen-ji
Kinks
Karl Marx
Elliott Smith
The Ethiopians
Sounds Like
"Sono Oto's applesongs reflect a smart and seductive pop craftsmanship that'd be a hit in the veggie aisle or anywhere."
"Anything these guys learnt from their unique musical lineage seems to have been filtered into creating a multi-layered, beatific album of psychedelic Americana. Elegantly poised... random spacey effects... twinkling lo-fi electronics backed by touching vocal harmonies that would make a young Brian Wilson cry. The album's unifying feel of reflective folk-Americana puts them in the same orbit as their similarly ambitious musical peers the Flaming Lips and Grandaddy. In fact, this album is so perfect it makes you wonder what could happen if some of the worlds less inspiring indie outfits were shipped out to Cuba for six months of rigorous drum training..."
"Sono Oto's I'm in August
till July is a whip smart indie pop album. Filled with lush
moments, the whole thing can only be best compared to something off
The Soft Bulletin. [But] the wrote comparisons between the Flaming
Lips and Granddaddy can be squashed... Sono Oto, I'm looking your way
now shine not for the critics, but for everyone."
"Sono Oto make very likeable, inoffensive, indie pop rock, a pleasant dish of geek rock heard from bands like Apples in Stereo and Alfie. With loads of electronic elements, no song rains assault on the senses and the lackadaisical lyricism allows each song takes (sic) its sweet time reaching any semblance of a climax. The duo keeps each cut interesting and invested in the sweet sounds they're making.
"There is a uniqueness to this album that would easily lend itself to
more widespread distribution. Phillips himself sounds a little like
Jason Molina of Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. or that guy from
that country-pop band, The Thrills. But these are just small reference
points. Phillips departs from these comparisons in his songwriting.
The music here is clever and catchy in a lo-fi, Casio keyboard kind of
way that surely would find a larger audience."
There is a lot more to apples than petty disputes between Apple Corps and Apple Computers. Do you know why Johnny Appleseed planted so many seeds? Apples were the only source of alcohol on the frontier. They called it apple jack. And then there's the whole Adam and Eve thing (which was probably a persimmon, if you believe in that stuff) not to mention that thanks to an apple WE HAVE GRAVITY. Just think about it, if that apple had not hit Newton on the head, we'd all be floating around in space helplessly.
Besides that, they taste great. For these reasons (and more) Sono Oto has recorded an unbelievable EP in which each song is about an apple. (Granny Smith, Empire, Malus Domestica, Pink Lady, Northern Spy, and Honey Crisp.) Three songs are up on this page and the rest can be found on itunes. We're going to make the whole album available for free for a limited time. We'll be playing the last three Tuesdays of Feb. at Piano's. Come and bring your friends! Apples are too good to hoard for yourself.......
Mark Henry Phillips was born on Sept 13, 1981 in Columbus, OH. He moved to NYC in 1999 and makes music. Sono Oto was an idea shortly there after. Sono Oto is much more than a band; perhaps a collective is the proper term. Other times it is much less than a band. Still, the output of music with the marking "sono oto" is steady, eclectic, and highly enjoyable. Mark is already at work on another album about non-fruit. He likes music, sandwiches, public radio, and rainy days.
CLICK HERE to see a short film with a Sono Oto song as the score (give it a sec to load)
Alan Scheurman "Old Patterns" available now at www. alanscheurman.com Recorded at the UFO FACTORY and Produced by WARREN DEFEVER Available now for free DON'T PAY ANYBODY DON'T CLICK BUY IT NOW NO PAYMENTS TILL NEXT YEAR OR EVER
it may have been three days since i last listened to northern spy and just hearing it now made something catch in my heart (that's a phrase i learned from harlequins). it's just sooo sooo good it's crazy. i am waiting for those lps. x
Thank you for adding me. I'm Hanna's friend, the one who loved 'Northern Spy'. I've listened to the other songs and they're great too. Probably the best stuff i've heard in a long while. I want to join her in urging you to come play in Paris.
oh mark, just to let you know that one of my dear friends happened to listen to your song playing on my page and deemed it necessary to leave me a comment saying he loved it. he said it was "fatale", lethally great. last time he showed such enthusiasm was for one of the best spoon songs. so, well, just know you have one more fan (not liking you as a person either) in france. you should do some sending to the labels. do you want me to try in paris?
life's great on the road. i loved being in san fran for 7 weeks. i'm in nyc for a few days, then i go to boston for 2 weeks and toronto for 5 weeks! i'm also gigging while touring. we should record the cello with the guitar in december. i'll be back mid-month.
Mark! I just listened to one of our guitar and cello rehearsals from long ago and it sounded so beautiful. I miss making music with you! What's new and exciting?
so so so... are you coming to paris? can't remember the dates you mentioned. but if you are please let me know, and i'll hunt you through the city. hehe. so see you soon, maybe?
I am loving San Fran. Life on the road is good. I've been super busy with the shows every night and rehearsals for other gigs and promotion for my new CD. I miss you and making music with you!
come on, what's the problem about coming to play in Paris? you need a vacation anyway. give me a week, and i'll build up quite a following for you here. i can even book a venue. isn't it so tempting?
