Woo-hoo! This is good news... been awaiting this one...
km


At 05:17 PM 3/4/2009, Tony Dale wrote:

>Hi folks,
>
>Excuse the intrusion, but it's been a while since we've had something new
>to offer our fine customer base, so we're glad it's a very special release,
>close to our hearts, and hopefully, very soon, yours. This won't be in the
>shops for a month or so yet, but for mailing list and web customers, it's
>available right now.
>
>Artist: United Bible Studies
>Title: The Jonah
>Cat No: CAM084CD, 10 tracks, 49:49 mins approx
>
>About the band:
>
>Originally formed in Ireland as a duo with an unhealthy desire to emulate
>the Incredible String Band, UBS quickly evolved into a collective and laid
>the groundwork for the Deserted Village label and associated activities.
>Since their formation in winter 2001 they have played and recorded
>sporadically-never settling on one recording method, or on one line-up.
>Previous CD "The Shore that Fears the Sea" showed a love of the unadorned
>beauty of Shirley Collins, Anne Briggs and Vashti Bunyan, Current 93 and
>Coil.
>
>Live shows throughout Ireland and Britain and most recently the USA
>(Including Terrastock '08) have seen them wildly improvise with up to
>twelve members, or play straight trad as a trio. Standard rock
>instrumentation is bolstered with theremins, fretless banjos, accordions,
>bugles... whatever comes to hand... Their philosophy is that all paths are
>equal, all approaches relevant. Members have sometimes met on stage for the
>first time.
>
>Though inspired by Irish folk, UBS have always seen themselves in a global
>context. They've had a slew of releases on microlabels across the planet
>and have invited many like-minded artists to tour Ireland with them
>including Avarus, Fursaxa, Corsano/Flaherty, Black Forest/Black Sea,
>Circle, Sunburned Hand of the Man and Josephine Foster. "The Jonah" is
>their third formal studio album, after "Stations of the Sun, Transits of
>the Moon", and "Shore…", and the first to garner international release.
>
>About the release:
>
>Camera Obscura is proud to be able to present to the world the follow-up to
>the band's masterful "The Shore That Fears the Sea" (Deserted Village
>2006), and it's a cornucopia of sonic delights, traversing the spectrum
>from delicate folk to sprawling progressive rock.
>
>The album title is a reference to the James Herbert novel where a "Jonah"
>is a cursed person who brings bad luck everywhere, and is also the title of
>the 16 minute avant/progressive folk suite that forms the record's
>centerpiece. Richard Youngs' progressive rock project Ilk provided the
>impetus for the band to make a "Prog Album" (which was the working title)
>so they started with the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink opus "The
>Jonah". It was the first track recorded for this album during a two week
>burst of industry and creativity when the band locked themselves away in
>Mullingar. David's imagery for the first section was partially inspired by
>the Vin Diesel film Pitch Black and it takes flight in all kinds of
>different dream directions from there. Running the gamut from delicate
>acoustic guitar to Sunn 0))) style doom metal and back again, it's an
>extraordinary feat of the imagination.
>
>Around this central track, a range of shorter tracks orbit, typically
>acoustic or folk-rock in nature with occasional experimental flourishes,
>they are characterized by glorious melodies and arrangements and a peerless
>array of guests. Current 93's Richard Moult provides synth and very David
>Tibet like vocals to opener "The Swallowing", and help out with the space
>folk piece "A for Andromeda". Ex Mellow Candle singer Allison O'Donnell
>provides vocals for several tracks, including the climactic conclusion to a
>Dave Colohan and Sharron Kraus duet version of the traditional "Lowlands of
>Holland". Sharron's stamp is elsewhere as well, playing tin whistle on
>"Veilsong" and her unique parlor guitar was borrowed to bring instrumental
>"Mirror in Clerkwell" to fruition.
>With a sound like expiring infant suns weeping for worlds they'll never
>warm, "The Jonah" should appeal to lovers of the likes of Espers, Black
>Forest/Black Sea, Sharron Kraus, and Nick Castro, as well as darker matter
>like Current 93 and Sol Invictus.
>
>Check out some sounds:
>
>Go to
><http://www.cameraobscura.com.au/obscura.htm>http://www.cameraobscura.com.au/ob\
scura.htm
>and select "Sounds" from
>the menu. There you will find a free download of "Lowlands of Holland" Or
>visit:
><http://www.myspace.com/unitedbiblestudies>http://www.myspace.com/unitedbiblest\
udies
>
>Price US$15.00 including shipping.
>
>Method of payment accepted is Paypal:
>Go to:
><http://www.cameraobscura.com.au/obscura.htm>http://www.cameraobscura.com.au/ob\
scura.htm
>to purchase on-line via
>Paypal. There is a link on the home page, as well as on catalog and release
>info pages.
>
>If having trouble ordering via Paypal through the site, send us your Paypal
>address, and we can send a invoice direct to you.
>
>Tony Dale | Ph: (intl)61-3-54232070/61-3-54232071
>Camera Obscura Records | Fax: (intl)61-3-54232071
>P.O. Box 5069 | Cell: (intl)61-412-976028
>BURNLEY VIC 3121 | <mailto:adale%40tpgi.com.au>adale@...
>Australia | <http://www.cameraobscura.com.au>http://www.cameraobscura.com.au
>| http://camobsrecs.blogspot.com
>


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