Composed using an "exquisite corpse" method during the pandemic, where each player provided a partially complete track with instructions to expand their concept, enlisting an incredible set of musicians across the US & Europe, directed by Moe! Staiano, including Jesse Quattro, Fred Frith, Carla Kihlstedt, GW Sok, Amy X Neuburg, Darren Johnston, &c &c.
Personnel:
Aaron Novik-alto clarinet, percussion
Moe! Staiano-art direction, drums, percussion, shaker, piano, handclaps, bass, guitar, vocals, toy piano, bass drum
Tom Weeks-baritone saxophone
Oli Heffernan-bass
Steve Lew-bass
George Cremaschi-contrabass
Fred Frith-guitar
Ajay Saggar-guitar, vocals
Melne Murphy-guitar, bass, effects, glockenspiel, synthesizer, vocals
Andy Kerr-guitar, organ
Bill Wolter-guitar, piano, synthesizer
Darren Johnston-trumpet
Amy X Neuburg-vocals
Carla Kihlstedt-vocals
Fliss Kitson-vocals
James Smith-vocals
Jesse Quattro-vocals
Matthias Bossi-vocals
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Label: Surplus Industries
Catalog ID: 1980-2
Squidco Product Code: 34380
Format: LP + CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: USA
Packaging: LP + CD
Recorded in various locations from January, 2020, to April, 2022, by Bill Wolter and John Karr.
"Illusion of Consistency" is Surplus 1980's "pandemic" album, recorded remotely between 2020-2022 at each of the various player's homes. The music was composed using the "exquisite corpse" method-each player was provided a partially-finished track, with instructions to add their own unique musical vision. Surplus 1980 called upon musician friends across Europe and the United States to collaborate, including Fred Frith, Ajay Saggar, George Cremaschi, Aaron Novik, and many more. Once the musical foundation was completed, Staiano added lyrics. What each song would sound like in the end was a mystery, and that was half the fun!
Outro Intro
(Music: Staiano)
Moe Staiano: drums, percussion, bass
Melne Murphy: guitar
Bill Wolter: synthesizer
They Don't Cry Wolf
(Words: Staiano/Music: Staiano, Murphy)
Moe: drums, marimba, guitar, treated snare, additional bass, vocals
Melne: guitar
Bill: guitar
Steve Lew: bass
Some Few Facts (And One False One) About Birds
(Words: Staiano/Music: Staiano, Murphy, Wolter, Heffernan)
Moe: drums, vocals
Melne, guitar, vocals
Bill: guitar
Oli Heffernan: bass
The Surplus Bird Choir:
Carla Kihlstedt, G.W. Sok, Fliss Kitson, Jim Smith, Melne Murphy (same person as Melne),
Amy X Neuburg, Ajay Saggar, Jesse Quattro, Matthias Bossi
Last
(Words: Staiano/Music: Staiano, Murphy, Lew)
Moe: drums, percussion, treated piano, toy piano, bass drum, hand claps, guitar, vocals
Melne: guitar, effects, vocals
Steve Lew: bass
Aaron Novik: electro-acoustic percussion board (The Bat)
Illusion of Consistency
(Music: Staiano, Wolter, Murphy, Frith, Saggar)
Moe: drums, percussion
Melne: guitar, bass
Bill: guitar
Fred Frith: eerie guitar
Ajay Saggar: guitar loops
Darren Johnston: trumpet
This Song Is Not A Song
(Words: Staiano, Murphy/Music: Staiano, Wolter, Cremaschi)
Moe: drums, shakers, treated piano, guitar, vocals
Melne: bass, vocals
Bill: guitar
George Cremaschi: upright bass
Amy X Neuburg: additional "ha ha ha's"
Don't Speak Don't Breathe
(Words: Staiano/Music: Staiano, Murphy, Wolter)
Moe: drums, claps, vocals
Melne: bass, vocals
Bill: guitar
Not "Again"
(Music: Staiano, Murphy, Wolter, Kerr)
Moe: drums
Melne: bass
Bill: piano
Andy Kerr: guitar, organ
Aaron Novik: alto clarinet
Tom Weeks: baritone saxophone
(Words: Staiano, Murphy/Music: Staiano, Wolter, Murphy)
Moe: drums, percussion, guitar solo, bass, vocals
Melne: guitar, glockenspiel, Bebot synth, vocals
Bill: synthesizer
Amy X Neuburg: vocals
Jesse Quattro: vocals
This album was recorded from various times starting from January of 2020 through April 2022, and at various locations, mainly Oakland by Bill Wolter (with Moe, Melne, Bill, and Tom) at his home studio, good amounts at DVC College (with Moe, Melne and Bill) in Pleasant Hill by Bill Wolter, and additional recording assistance in San Francisco (with Moe and Melne) by John Karr at Ear Relevant. All other recordings were done either at home or in studio by the individual musicians themselves in Alameda (Melne), Oakland (Amy, Steve), Flowerpot Recordings in Santa Rosa (Fred) in California, Wood Hole (Carla and Matthias) in Massachusetts, Queens (Aaron), and Mountaindale (Jesse) in New York, Middlesbrough (Oli), and Kings Heath, Birmingham (Fliss and Jim) in England, Soundation Studio in Krommenie (Ajay) and Amsterdam (Andy and G.W.) in the Netherlands, Prague (George) in Czech Republic, and one location was forgotten which was either somewhere in Ohio or Brooklyn, New York (that would be Darren Johnston, he couldn't recall which, alas). Recording engineers: Bill Wolter and John Karr. Editing and pre-mixing by Bill Wolter. Further editing and mixing by John Karr with assistance by Moe Staiano. Mastered by Ian Beabout. Cover design and photographs by Moe Staiano. Additional important layout and design by Melne. It's important!
It should be noted that in the credits of instrumentation, you will see an instrument by the name of the "Bat." The Bat is an Electroacoustic Percussion Board with brass bars, threaded rods, loose bolts (for squeaky bird sound effects), nails, door stopper, etc. with a number of contact mics on the bottom of it. It was designed by instrument builder Tom Nunn, who has constructed many unique homemade, crafted instruments. Tom Nunn passed away back in June, 2022. The track 'Last' is dedicated to him."-Moe Staiano, Surplus 1980
![Illusion of Consistency [VINYL + CD + DOWNLOAD] (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
