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Born and raised on NYC’s Lower East Side during “one of the most fertile, creative and dangerous periods in history – the ’70s and ’80s,” Brain benefited from the multiplicity of experiences New York had to offer.
Recorded over several years, Jan. sees the artist/guitarist debuting the album Well, Then There’s That…, a diverse and emotional amalgamation of hardcore, art rock, shoegazey drone, fortified with some dub/reggae touches, and a buncha other stuff. Filtered through his particular processor, the album is honed by Brain’s lifetime of music absorption and a somewhat unique set of experiences: “ I just wrote what came to me. In dreams. As I walked home alone on the deserted pre-dawn streets…etc., I think I was able to synthesize my influences and create something expressive of who I am and what I’ve come to be. That’s the hope at least.”
The assemblage of musicians to help realize this vision was a feat in and of itself. “I wrote everything,” said Brain. “Played all the guitars/basses, did some percussion and ‘vocally styled’ two tracks. But obviously, there was a lot I couldn’t play. So…I called in some favors.” Among the diverse players who lent their talents are, most notably, ex Helmet/current Battles drummer John Stanier; jazz piano prodigy Eric Lewis; Antibalas trumpeter Eric Biondo; Def poet, rapper and actress La Bruja; and actor (The OC), drummer, and percussionist Ryan Donowho on buckets. The album also features contributions from Maurice Carr, drummer for the Michael Pitt fronted band Pagoda; Chris Hoffman, Pagoda’s cellist; Eric Steinen on drums; Mike Del Rio; and Paula Jaakola and Noelle Barbera on additional vocals. “And that’s just who made it onto the record,” said Brain.
Well, Then There’s That… also finds the debut of his label, Sensitive Guy Recordings. “Who else was gonna put this out?”
- CrankRank Peak: 498
- Song: That's What Matters